MaxTheLimit
Hockey ruins all my personal relationships
I am only saying "Huh" because someone called him "the most underrated player on the team". That's all. I kind of understand what people like about him, but saying his is the most underrated player is kinda crazy. Have you heard people in here gush over him?
I haven't really seen a lot of people gush over him. I've seen a hell of a lot of criticism, and people saying all nature of negative things.
I've been maintaining for a while that Ceci is suffering from being miscast. He is playing top4 minutes as a #2 shutdown RD. That's not who he is. I was hopeful that he could develop into a top 4 guy, but it doesn't seem to be happening. In a more protected role, I'm betting Ceci would look a lot more solid. If he was our 3RD, and given bottom pairing minutes against the right matchups, and given some offensive zone starts ( Ceci was deployed in the defensive zone at the highest ratio of any Sens D ), I think that he would be much more suitable.
People have argued that Wideman should be moved up from 3RD to 2RD, but when he was, he also struggled badly.
Basically, I see the Sens as having 1 top line RD in Karlsson, and 2 bottom pairing RD in Ceci and Wideman. I don't think either are skilled or well rounded enough to take on the large role of holding the fort until Karlsson can get back on the ice. Neither are 25+ minute Dmen. That's why they both struggle when they are placed in that role.
At this point, even though I hate when Dmen play their off side, I think it'll be time to move Phaneuf over to 2RD and see if one of Claesson, Methot, or Chabot can play as 2LD.
I'd say, at this point, the best option may be:
Methot-Karlsson
Chabot-Phaneuf
Claesson-Ceci
I'd expect Wideman to be taken by LV. If he's not, things would change a bit. Obviously.
It's just my opinion, but I don't think that Ceci is this dumpster player with no value, like some think. He's just not a top4 guy. Which is why he gets into a lot of trouble when deployed like a #2RD shutdown guy.