Remember all the chatter about Colton Sissons’ $4.25 million AAV? Most of us, myself included, thought it was way too high for a guy many pegged as a fourth-liner. Well, after more than 10 games under the new coach, it turns out we all messed up big time on that take. We might have looked at what that contract implied about his play and just shook our heads, but the reality check is here, and Sissons is delivering.
The Sissons Breakdown: More Than Just a Contract Number
Let’s be real, Sissons wasn’t a popular signing. A lot of the worry came from how that salary cap was soaring, but people still thought he was destined for the fourth line. But here’s the kicker: we were all wrong. He doesn’t have a bunch of crazy, above-average role-specific skills beyond his skating speed and his faceoff ability, but for his level, that’s totally normal. He’s also not got any massive flaws, which is huge. He’s fine on the PK, but nobody’s calling him elite there. He’s fast, kills it at faceoffs, and honestly, he’s a lot like Pontus Holmberg: not exactly “good” as much as “just never bad.” That means his performance doesn’t have these wild swings day to day.
Now, offense? Not his strong suit. His early goal-scoring has been pretty flukey, so he’s probably not going to light up the scoreboard or give you those strong positive fan emotions from highlight-reel plays. But here’s where he shines: I thought he wouldn’t offer much as a winger, but he actually looks just as good there with Nick Paul at center as he does running the third line himself. He clicks so well with Easton Cowan and has played great with Gavin McKenna too. While he doesn’t quite fit with the grinder fourth-liners, his absolutely excellent defensive impacts mean he can hold his own against tougher competition than those guys. His on-ice numbers probably aren’t going to blow anyone away because, let’s face it, the Leafs as a team are struggling five-on-five to control the puck like they should. But Sissons being on the ice means there’s a functional third line, no matter if John Tavares is in the lineup or not. And that, my friends, is exactly the job done.
Why His Performance Matters So Much Right Now
Look, Puckpedia has this cool contract depth chart feature, and for NHL 3Cs, Sissons’ AAV is the 14th highest, which puts him not just at average, but practically at the median. He’s making $750,000 more than Scott Laughton, and honestly, I think he’s a much more plausible third-line center than Laughton ever was. All those initial cautions and caveats about Sissons? They were just off the mark.
What Sissons is doing, making that third line functional no matter who’s in or out, is exactly what this team needs when they’re struggling to control the puck at five-on-five. While we’re still waiting for more real information on guys like Darren Raddysh or Sergei Bobrovsky before making any big calls there, Sissons has stepped up big. And don’t forget, Jack Roslovic was another guy I was super interested in digging into. But for now, Sissons is the story. We were dubious about that $4.25 million, but man, he’s showing up. Let’s see if he can keep silencing the doubters and keep that third line humming for the rest of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
Leave a Reply