Comedy gold out of Edmonton

[KennyBanyeah]

Nice to see you join the conversation Coach Tortarella.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Nice to see you join the conversation Coach Tortarella.

I'm of the belief that a defenseman's first priority should be DEFENSE. All the talent Nashville has on defense has them sitting in the 8th spot. Big Whoop.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I'm of the belief that a defenseman's first priority should be DEFENSE. All the talent Nashville has on defense has them sitting in the 8th spot. Big Whoop.

...

3 pts out of second spot.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

...

3 pts out of second spot.

Minny has 2 games in hand.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I'm of the belief that a defenseman's first priority should be DEFENSE. All the talent Nashville has on defense has them sitting in the 8th spot. Big Whoop.

if all those guys did was defend and not score, you can remove 32% of nashvilles goal production this season

if Nash had some legit strength up the middle theyd be higher up the standings

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

if all those guys did was defend and not score, you can remove 32% of nashvilles goal production this season

if Nash had some legit strength up the middle theyd be higher up the standings

Goals are down throughout the league. Nashville isn't the only team with offensive issues.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Minny has 2 games in hand.

Oh man Nashville's really screwed then with only 54 games remaining!

Same with Chicago and STL, who are equal on games with Nashville. All hail the mighty Minnesotans!

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Goals are down throughout the league. Nashville isn't the only team with offensive issues.

If you honestly think that Nashville's problems (if you can call them that) are because of their blueline I don't know what to tell you.

But let's list at the successful teams (top 3 in each division) this year. Then we'll look at their #1 D-man. The list below is their style and how they're deployed. With the numbers on the right being their team rank in PPTOI and PK TOI among defensemen.

Montreal - Subban (offensive) - 1st in PPTOI, 3rd in PKTOI
Ottawa - Karlsson (offensive) - 1st, 5th
Detroit - Kronwall (more offensive than defensive but sort of 2-way) - 1st, 3rd

Washington - Carlsson (offensive) 1st, 4th
NYR - McDonagh (2 way, even though he doesn't lead the PP) 3rd, 1st
NYI - Hamonic? (they don't seem to have a true number 1 but Hamonic is probably it) 4th, 3rd

Dallas - Klingberg (offensive) 1st, 8th
St.Louis - Pietrangelo (about as 2-way as they come in terms of deployment) 1st, 1st
Chicago - Keith (2-way according to the numbers) 1st, 2nd

Los Angeles - Doughty (2-way) 1st, 1st
Vancouver - Edler (2-way I guess based on deployment)1st, 2nd
San Jose - Burns (offensive) 1st, 2nd


As you can see team success comes from having different types of number 1 defensemen. However, Hamonic and McDonagh are the only number 1s that get deployment favouring the PK over the PP. Every single other team has their number 1 defenseman leading their PP but not necessarily their PK.

One thing that's pretty obvious when looking at that list is that every single good team in the league has a top defenseman who scores to some degree. Which brings us back to the point that started this whole debate... Offensive skill is more valued than defensive skill on the blueline (or any skating position).

 

[dash]

It's Glen Sather night Friday night in Edmonton as the Rangers take on the Oilers - I hope they hang him from the rafters.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

theyre all SO HAPPY to be back in edmonton

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Grant Fuhr: "YOU GUYS SAID THERE WOULD BE COKE!@"


/

 

[dash]

Coffey in the above photo - Jesus, get me the hell outta here.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Messier: " wheres Connor? "

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Coffey in the above photo - Jesus, get me the hell outta here.

Coffee shouldn't even be there. He never blocked a shot in his life!! That's Kevin Lowe's spot goddam it.

 

[dash]

Jari Kurri - I could be fishing or playing no-limit hold 'em

 

[forty_three]

Never noticed how much Glenn Anderson looks like Eeyore.

 

[dash]

Never noticed how much Glenn Anderson looks like Eeyore.

It's those deadbeat dad eyes.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

It's those deadbeat dad eyes.

So I made the mistake of bringing this up with my chiro who has his signed jersey (and Horcoffs) framed in his waiting room lobby area ... i thought he was just a misguided Coiler fan but it turned out his family were family friends of Andersons parents going way back

Chiro almost went Chiro nazi on me ... "NO ADJUSTMENT FOR YOU!"

 

[dash]

 

[DragonfromTO]

My view on what it takes to be a #1 defemseman is probably very different from most.

1.He must be a leader. Someone everyone on his team trusts in any situation. That means he's got to at the very least have an A on his sweater.

2.He must have a physical presence. That means he must be able to clear the crease without any problems whatsoever.

3.He must be a good hitter. This means checking is a part of his game & he's good at it.

4.He MUST be among his teams leaders in BLOCKED SHOTS. If he's not willing to give up his body to keep the puck out of his net there's no point in him being a defenseman.

5.He should be on his teams 1st penalty kill unit. If he's not there's a problem.

6.He must be running the 1st powerplay unit.

7.He should average at least 40 points per season.

This is what it takes to be a #1 defenseman in my book. Josi isn't there yet as far as I'm concerned, but not many are. By the way both Josi & Weber are minus 2 & minus 6 respectively. I realize plus/minus isn't the greatest stat, but it does mean that more goals are being scored against their team when they're on the ice than when their off it.

By these particular standards Nik Lidstrom is not a #1 defenseman.