Increased importance for Martinez, Voynov

Following up on the previous item, about offensive output of defensemen, Drew Doughty clearly gets the most attention in that area, but Alec Martinez and Slava Voynov also play a big part. An increasing part, in fact, given that Jack Johnson has moved on to Columbus. Martinez and Voynov have increased importance on the power play. Since returning from the AHL, Voynov has two goals and three assists in nine games. Martinez has four assists in his last 11 games. Here’s what Darryl Sutter said today about each of the defensemen…

(on Voynov…)
SUTTER: “The big thing I’ve tried to work with him on in his stick. Because he’s not a big guy. He’s going to get stronger and he’s usually the youngest defenseman on the ice. It’s just the use of his stick. The best guy I’ve ever seen, his size, who could use his stick to play bigger was Chris Chelios. That’s what he has to learn. He’s got to use his stick as a deterrant more, and take full use of it. If you keep your stick in close to you, you’re only covering two or three feet. If you get it out and you’re strong on it, you can cover five or six more feet.’’

(on Martinez…)
SUTTER: “We’ve given him some power-play opportunities, but it is a reward. I’ll tell you exactly what I tell him. `If you want to play on the power play, the second power-play unit or whatever, they you (have to) do things right 5-on-5.’ He has to be a really good competitor. That’s the only time he really has a problem, is when the game is about being a good competitor.’’

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