Motte and Bailey
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2017
- 3,692
- 1,556
On the defense I'm of the opinion that losing Edler and Tanev eventually will be addition by subtraction. They aren't dynamic enough to play the kind of style I want to see which is Quinn Hughes style breakouts with 6 defenders who can actually consistently carry the puck in and out of the zone and make plays while being smart with their positioning and their sticks in the defensive zone. I also want the defense to be smart with their bodies - Chris Tanev's strategy of defending by risking his body to block shots for 25 minutes a night is not smart it's very stupid. Edler is too old and not consistent enough.
Right now we only have Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers who are capable of playing the ideal transition defender role. Potential targets in free agency are Tyson Barrie and Alex Pietrangelo who can both play that way. Coming up the system we have Tryamkin who likes to play that way (still to be seen if he can do it in the NHL) and Jack Rathbone who looks very promising with his elite skating and offensive instincts. Juolevi and Brisebois are less certain.
LHD
Hughes
Tryamkin
Rathbone
Juolevi
Brisebois (?)
RHD
Myers
Barrie/Pietrangelo
Woo (maybe)
Rafferty (?)
Bolded are the only players who are locks to be able to play this style successfully in the NHL. There's definitely work to be done to improve that count. As a rule I believe the best path forward for building the defense is to focus on drafting and developing these defense men and then maybe taking advantage of an opportunistic free agent signing like Barrie/Pietro. If we find ourselves with extra depth in another area I'd explore a trade as an absolute last resort. It's always better to grow your own defensemen. So I would use the 2020 or 2021 pick to pick a right handed defenseman who fits the mold of a transition defender.
Right now we only have Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers who are capable of playing the ideal transition defender role. Potential targets in free agency are Tyson Barrie and Alex Pietrangelo who can both play that way. Coming up the system we have Tryamkin who likes to play that way (still to be seen if he can do it in the NHL) and Jack Rathbone who looks very promising with his elite skating and offensive instincts. Juolevi and Brisebois are less certain.
LHD
Hughes
Tryamkin
Rathbone
Juolevi
Brisebois (?)
RHD
Myers
Barrie/Pietrangelo
Woo (maybe)
Rafferty (?)
Bolded are the only players who are locks to be able to play this style successfully in the NHL. There's definitely work to be done to improve that count. As a rule I believe the best path forward for building the defense is to focus on drafting and developing these defense men and then maybe taking advantage of an opportunistic free agent signing like Barrie/Pietro. If we find ourselves with extra depth in another area I'd explore a trade as an absolute last resort. It's always better to grow your own defensemen. So I would use the 2020 or 2021 pick to pick a right handed defenseman who fits the mold of a transition defender.