Josh Manson: The Best Defenseman You’ve Never Heard of

[LastWordArmy]

Josh Manson: The Best Defenseman You’ve Never Heard of

Jake Muzzin, T.J. Brodie, Alfred. They’re the oft underrated sidekicks to dazzling heroes, but there is another. One whose skill undoubtedly places him among the best defenders in the NHL, but mention his name to a casual fan, and even to the more fanatic followers of the NHL, and in return you’re greeted with quizzical stares; eyes that gleam with a flicker of recognition before it’s wisped away. Just who is this mystery defender? His name is Josh Manson.

Who is Josh Manson?

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2016/11/13/josh-manson-best-defenseman-never-heard/

Click to read more...

 

[Lord Flashheart]

"Primarily, Manson is a fantastic shutdown defender, and pairing him with Fowler has turned Fowler from a defensive liability into half of one of the best shutdown pairings in the NHL."

Just plain wrong.

 

[snarktacular]

"Manson has been the Ducks best defender by miles this season but he’s also been one of the best in the NHL."

 

[Sojourn]

That was disappointing. More evidence of stats being misused.

 

[Sean Garrity]

I actually was interested to read the article based on the title, and then was disappointed it was all fancy stat related.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Never one to put up points, Manson’s primary ability comes in his ability to drive play. This season, only Nick Ritchie has allowed fewer attempts against per 60 minutes (CA60) for the Ducks, but what’s more impressive is the improvement in Cam Fowler’s game.

Much like Muzzin, Manson has spent much of his NHL career in the shadow of a bigger name. Whether it’s Lindholm, or Fowler, Manson has always been their Alfred, quietly toiling in the background, rarely noticed, but the driving force of a dynamic duo. He is, simply put, the best defenseman you’ve never heard of.

So, Ritchie is our best shutdown defender, and Manson is the driving force on the blue line, not the complementary player.

Where are the folks that tell me stats don't lie right now?

 

[Nurmagomedov]

It seems these people don't actually like hockey all that much. How else do you explain their complete unwillingness to watch a game, ever.

 

[Vinegar Strokes]

That's too bad. You could easily write an interesting article about Josh Manson without fabricating the truth using selective statistics.

 

[Ducks in a row]

Manson has played with Lindholm last season helping him have good advanced stats. Fowler has had crappy defense partners before dragging down his advanced stats. Fowler - Manson has been a good defense pair because Fowler leads the pair without someone dragging him down having two good defenseman paired up who knew? Manson is much better defenseman then Fowler has been having before so what we are seeing is what happens when Fowler has a good defense partner and it isn't because that defense partner is better then him. As long as we have a good defense partner who doesn't drag down the pair I want Fowler remaining a Duck.

 

[Exit Dose]

Manson for McDavid+

 

[pesko]

Yeah, no. Manson is good, but there's no way he's "the driving force of a dynamic duo" over Lindholm or Fowler. Sure, if you look at these charts in isolation you could reach a conclusion like that, but it's plainly obvious to anyone who's watched the Ducks play that it's not the case. This is a prime example of the tunnel vision caused by looking at stats alone outside of the wider context.

 

[Paul4587]

Manson is a good defenseman but that article was clearly written by someone who has never seen him play and let's corsi do all their work for them.

Edit: hopefully some of these new fancy stats GMs are as shortsighted as most of the hockey writers are these days and hand us a top tier young forward on an ELC for Manson this offseason. That would make my day. If only GMs were that stupid.

 

[PuqTalk]

Manson is a great defender, incredibly underrated. But so is Fowler, lmao.

 

[Kalv]

Manson for McDavid+

Oilers would have to retain for us to make sure we can fit Connor in

 

[dracom]

We might be the only fanbase that actually disagrees with people when they hugely compliment our players, lol.

 

[Exit Dose]

We might be the only fanbase that actually disagrees with people when they hugely compliment our players, lol.

It's because people usually just scout the stats, as opposed to using both the stats and observation to come to what is the best way to understand what's happening.

 

[Elvs]

Ducks depth chart:

Josh Manson
Clayton Stoner
Sami Vatanen
Cam Fowler
Kevin Bieksa
Hampus Lindholm
Korbinian Holzer

Because corsi.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

But I have heard of josh manson....

 

[Kalv]

Ducks depth chart:

Josh Manson
Clayton Stoner
Sami Vatanen
Cam Fowler
Kevin Bieksa
Hampus Lindholm
Korbinian Holzer

Because corsi.

Chayka biting his fingers now that he didn`t took Stoner from us when we were (probably) shopping him in the summer


Stoner`s been solid tho and Manson as well but no way in hell they are our key defensemen. Also - water is wet

 

[Gliff]

"pairing him with Fowler has turned Fowler from a defensive liability into half of one of the best shutdown pairings in the NHL"

I'm sorry but this shows right off the bat how little you know about Fowler or the Ducks defense.

 

[Paul4587]

Ducks depth chart:

Josh Manson
Clayton Stoner
Sami Vatanen
Cam Fowler
Kevin Bieksa
Hampus Lindholm
Korbinian Holzer

Because corsi.

Corsi slotted in two of the bottom three right at least! See it is sometimes right

 

[eternalbedhead]

Kinda saw this coming when Fowler's advanced stats weren't hitting the tank in the early-going with Manson. Fowler isn't improving because of Manson. (although playing with someone who isn't a complete pylon for once certainly doesn't hurt) Watch him play. He's been playing better than he's ever played before, and he was one of the main reasons our D-core stayed afloat without Lindholm.

Manson's a solid defender; a very good new-age DFD. I love him, would never want to see him go. But he's not a superstar by any stretch of the imagination, regardless of what advanced stats say.

 

[HanSolo]

Yeah, no. Manson is good, but there's no way he's "the driving force of a dynamic duo" over Lindholm or Fowler. Sure, if you look at these charts in isolation you could reach a conclusion like that, but it's plainly obvious to anyone who's watched the Ducks play that it's not the case. This is a prime example of the tunnel vision caused by looking at stats alone outside of the wider context.

I think it's fairly obvious that Manson is good enough to let his partner, be it Lindholm or Fowler, have room to play his game effectively. But he's certainly not carrying the mail for either guy.

 

[AngelDuck]

Manson is what we wish Bieksa could be for us.

 

[70sSanO]

Hmmm... I wonder if Colton Praill lives in Las Vegas.

John