All LHD or LHD/RHD - How Much Does it Matter?

[SHANNYPLAN]

Q. Hughes - Slavin
Heiskanen - - Josi
Hedman - Morrisey

vs

Q. Hughes - Weegar
Heiskanen - - Jones
Hedman - Andersson​

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[CanadienShark]

In this example, I'm taking all LHD. All things being equal, I want the balance.

 

[Kcb12345]

Heiskanen plays the right side anyways, for better or for worse

 

[Regal]

Heiskanen plays the right side anyways, for better or for worse

Josi played a decent amount on the right with McDonagh this year too. I’ve often thought it would make sense to try it with Quinn Hughes as well, since it’s easier to find lefties. I think for defensemen who have great puck skills it’s easier to swap.

I think it probably makes sense to take the better talent in this scenario.

 

[RefalancheStillLose]

Team A is so much better, that it doesn't matter

 

[Voight]

In this example, I'm taking all LHD. All things being equal, I want the balance.

 

[biturbo19]

Heiskanen plays the right side anyways, for better or for worse

Yeah. It really comes down to how comfortable and capable the specific players are, of playing their off side. Not all Lefties are created equal. Heck, there are some out there like Theodore, arguably Dahlin, who are actually better and more comfortable on their off side.

In this case, i'm fine with Heiskanen and Josi playing their off side, and i wouldn't be too afraid of Morrissey playing there either.

Now...if you have a bunch of Left handed D who are really uncomfortable playing their off side, and/or your coaches have a system that really emphasizes picking up pucks and being on that strong side...it can quickly become a serious problem that can be exploited.


The other real issue is when it comes to the Powerplay. Depending on what the rest of your personnel looks like, it can be really limiting to not have a RH shooter option at the point.



It's also kind of funny that you selected Weegar for the team with RH defencemen, since he's one of the only guys i can even think of, that i've seen play as a Right Shot defenceman at Left D.

 

[johnnybbadd]

Most lefties have played the right side in their developmental years and there are many that are actually better and more comfortable playing the right side. We all know that having a righty against the wall in the d zone is ideal so I would say that you need a right shot in the pairing that plays the most d zone faceoffs. Other than that it doesn’t matter much.

 

[Not Canada Drai]

I prefer ADHD.

 

[ijuka]

Well out of these choices, the 3 LHD are all better than the 3 RHD.

 

[GRob83]

I'd rather have all RHD

Makar - Fox
Weegar - Bouchard
Karlsson - Dobson

Carlson, Faber, Doughty, Letang...