We got lucky with Orpik bouncing back like he did in 2015. He's trending downwards again, I hope we're not getting the pylon version of Orpik permanently.
How is being next to Doughty being put in a position to fail? I could understand if he was playing with Karlsson or Subban or Letang who like to jump on the rush, but Doughty is perhaps the most balanced D in the league. He only pinches when it's safe to do so. I've never seen him get caught up the ice on a turnover. Yes, they had some tough minutes to play, but Ehrhoff had the best possible partner in the league.
What's the ideal scenario for Ehrhoff? A stay-at-home guy like Alzner or Vlasic?
Ehrhoff's best hockey ever was played with Edler, and 2nd best with Vlasic in San Jose. Edler is a stay at home guy who is an average skater with a booming shot and good offensive (but not puck rushing) skills, Seidenberg was a very similar player in his prime. He's better on the right than on the left and needs that kind of partner. Doughty is definitely not a babysitter and plays on the right, his best hockey was done with Scuderi and Muzzin who played a stay at home role. Ehrhoff is not a stay at home guy, his defense is based on skating back really fast during a rush and checking people as they're carrying the puck down his side. Also with Doughty he was facing the toughest competition and as such got slaughtered.
Right now his best partner is of an Hjarmalsson/Edler/Vlasic/McDonaugh/Alzner (with a bit more puck moving skill) mold, but facing 2nd/3rd pairing QC where it can be a 2nd pairing version of those players, he's no longer capable of going up against the best but he can still be very good. If you put him up against top lines the only one in the league who could carry him right now is Keith and possibly Suter.
I can buy that Seidenberg is done I guess, but I feel like he might have a slight improvement in mobility with enough rehab where he's a suitable bottom 3 D again. I remember he was a monster in the Bruins' cup run and he wasn't the fastest skater than so it's not like that is a core part of his game.
I'm fine with what we have, provided they put out Carlzner as the top pairing and Niskanenov as the 2nd pairing, then put Orpik with Schmidt for sheltered minutes/use Orpik for PK. I think Orlov will surprise a lot of people after getting a healthy year under his belt in which he broke out offensively, and could be a good #3 for us if we play him with Niskanen. Hopefully Trotz isn't stubborn about Orpik-Orlov and Schmidt-Carlson.
Orlov actually kind of reminds me of a Russian Ehrhoff.