David Legwand's defensive ability

[Vesa Awesaka]

Sens fans seem to think that he'll be a very good defensive player. Just curious on what nashville fans think of his game. Is he really good defensively like most sens fans seem to think he is?

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[I Will Son]

In his prime I personally think he was elite defensively.,

He is awesome on defense. You'll be satisfied

 

[triggrman]

Yeah he is as good as Fisher better at times.

 

[PredsV82]

Sens fans seem to think that he'll be a very good defensive player. Just curious on what nashville fans think of his game. Is he really good defensively like most sens fans seem to think he is?

not sure how much age is catching up to him but he was almost always centering the line we would put out against the oppositions top line.

unfortunately, his defensive prowess seemed to come at the expense of offensive production, much to the dismay of much of the fan base. but that was largely due to our expectations based on his #2 overall draft position.

If your expectations are a defensively responsible #3C who is solid on the PK, you won't be disappointed

 

[Persona5]

Reading through some of these posts makes me laugh. The gripe from most fans about Legwand was his inconsistency and that included his defensive play as well as his offense. He can be really good at both ends one shift and then have a brain fart the next shift. Really solid player but if you are looking for consistent defensive play shift to shift you may be disappointed.

 

[deanwormer]

not sure how much age is catching up to him but he was almost always centering the line we would put out against the oppositions top line.

unfortunately, his defensive prowess seemed to come at the expense of offensive production, much to the dismay of much of the fan base. but that was largely due to our expectations based on his #2 overall draft position.

If your expectations are a defensively responsible #3C who is solid on the PK, you won't be disappointed

Actually, OUR fanbase expects Malkin or Thorton as a #2 - Leggy is a fine #2C. He was top defensively in his prime, I'd expect him to be pretty solid still. The circle is probably where he's most inconsistent - he can have great stretches and then have a game where he wins 1 all night.

And - fanbase - for those of you who STILL think Leggy has never been a solid top 6 - he was 34 in C scoring last year, which put him just ahead of that fellow out in LA named Carter, ahead of Fish, ahead of Sedin, ahead of Ribs, ahead of Kessler, tied with BRichards. The good news, Olli was in the top 60, albeit just barely, so if he can maintain, Ribs bounces back a bit, and Hook plays anywhere near what he looks capable of, we'll have 3 #2s, and then we'll get Fish back.

 

[PredsV82]

Actually, OUR fanbase expects Malkin or Thorton as a #2 - Leggy is a fine #2C. He was top defensively in his prime, I'd expect him to be pretty solid still. The circle is probably where he's most inconsistent - he can have great stretches and then have a game where he wins 1 all night.

And - fanbase - for those of you who STILL think Leggy has never been a solid top 6 - he was 34 in C scoring last year, which put him just ahead of that fellow out in LA named Carter, ahead of Fish, ahead of Sedin, ahead of Ribs, ahead of Kessler, tied with BRichards. The good news, Olli was in the top 60, albeit just barely, so if he can maintain, Ribs bounces back a bit, and Hook plays anywhere near what he looks capable of, we'll have 3 #2s, and then we'll get Fish back.

Dont misunderstand my post. Leggy was indeed a #2C in his career here. I was one of his supporters. But expecting him to be a #2 C going forward may be too much, whereas expecting a #3C whose primary responsibility is defense and PK will probably be easily fulfilled

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Dont misunderstand my post. Leggy was indeed a #2C in his career here. I was one of his supporters. But expecting him to be a #2 C going forward may be too much, whereas expecting a #3C whose primary responsibility is defense and PK will probably be easily fulfilled

I actually think he's better suited to a #2 than a #3 at this point. His defensive play has been sliding off over the past few seasons, and he had played an increasingly diminished role on that side of the puck and the PK (down from 90+ minutes in '11-'12 to something like 7 last season). Now part of that is also due to having a guy like Gaustad to eat those minutes, so it's tough to gauge how much was simply Trotz loosing the reins a bit, and how much was Legwand's defense slipping.

Back to my main point. Giving Legwand easier minutes in a #2 scoring role where he can concentrate more on the offensive side of the puck, like he has the last few seasons, is probably making better use of him than matching him against other teams' top forwards in a #3 role, especially as his physical abilities start to decline.

 

[Flamingo]

Well, Leggy is centre for our first PP unit, so you can see what's expected of him here.

Or, rather, there, on Thursday night, baby!!!

 

[jstreet]

He is solid defensively, carries the puck up ice, and scores 2-3 amazing goals per year. He also disappears for 10 game stretches at a a time. That is what you can expect out of him.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Curious as to what preds fans think the reception will be like for David's return opening night? I imagine nothing but positive?

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Curious as to what preds fans think the reception will be like for David's return opening night? I imagine nothing but positive?

Mostly positive probably? There's an extremely vocal minority of the fanbase that is still bitter over Legwand's draft position and that he never became the type of franchise player you would normally see at that spot, that will probably boo him though.

 

[Drake744]

Curious as to what preds fans think the reception will be like for David's return opening night? I imagine nothing but positive?

There's no way it won't be overwhelmingly positive. The minority can rip on him all they want but there's a difference in not liking him as a player, and not giving him respect for playing here for 15 years when he's here as a visitor. It'll be good.

 

[PredsV82]

There's no way it won't be overwhelmingly positive. The minority can rip on him all they want but there's a difference in not liking him as a player, and not giving him respect for playing here for 15 years when he's here as a visitor. It'll be good.

I agree it will be positive. Its a bit of a shame that hes coming back on opening night, when there will be so much else going on...

 

[Upgrayedd]

Mostly positive probably? There's an extremely vocal minority of the fanbase that is still bitter over Legwand's draft position and that he never became the type of franchise player you would normally see at that spot, that will probably boo him though.

Hey they cant all be home runs... see: Daigle, Phillips for us lol, looking forward to the match thats for sure. Hope there is a little in house acknowledgement for the guy seems like classy pro by all accounts.

 

[ThirdManIn]

If I didn't have to work I'd be at the game cheering for him when he's announced. He didn't live up to expectations of some, but he still gave us a lot of his adult life. He was always professional. Hell, just this is reason enough to cheer the guy:

Then, you have the story about him having to sit on a stool in the shower after games because his knee needed surgery, but he kept playing since the team was so close to making the playoffs.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=12468104&postcount=51

That isn't an official media site, but I'd put money on anything Seth told me pertaining to the Preds.

 

[WartracePred]

Curious as to what preds fans think the reception will be like for David's return opening night? I imagine nothing but positive?

He was the first draft pick for the first major professional franchise in Nashville. During 15 years in Nashville, he never produced as much offensively as the fan base would've liked, but was the epitome of the two-way, blue collar player that Preds are known for. I'll be surprised if they don't show a clip of his empty-netter that sealed the Preds first playoff series win defeating Anaheim. Bridgestone Arena was never louder than when Leggy put that game away. And that's saying something because the Bridge can be pretty damn loud. I'll be disappointed if he isn't given a standing ovation.

 

[jstreet]

I'd give him a loud standing ovation

 

[Adz]

Me too! And I was one of the "disgruntled". I didn't dislike HIM, nor even his play (usually). He didn't live up to #2 pick, that's all. My "Legwand Sucks*" was more of a rally cry, but it did seem like we played better after he left for whatever reason.



*actually "Legwand you dumb***" but it was said with love.

 

[Drake744]

"Living up to being a #2 pick" is all objective. I said it for years (it doesn't mean I'm right or wrong) that if you look back at a draft and have a guy who's an excellent two-way forward for 15 years in the organization you have to count it as a win. Doesn't matter if you find him at #2 or #222. Sure you'd like to find those guys as low as possible in the draft but by no means should what Legwand gave us be unappreciated. That's also not taking into account that for his entire career here he played for a coach who was willing to sacrifice offense to ensure defensive production. He was great at that, but there's no definitive way to tell if he couldn't have been more of a point scorer if that was always his biggest role. He was a product of what was asked of him, and it's not sexy on the stat sheet.

 

[Jonesey]

As much as you know I don't care for "Mr. Predator", he was at times a very good player.

However, his inconsistencies plagued him his entire career, and he's running out of time to change that.

 

[NSH615]

He's back in town today and looks weird in red:

David Legwand is back on Bridgestone Arena ice for the first time since being traded last season #Preds #Sens

 

[Pred303]

when i think of legwand, i will forever think of him stealing the puck from hatcher and scoring that playoff shorthanded goal, the greatest single moment and the loudest in predator history.

while he might not have been the player we hoped he would be, he gave everything he had for this organization and i will always wish him and therefore the sens the best.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

As much as you know I don't care for "Mr. Predator", he was at times a very good player.

However, his inconsistencies plagued him his entire career, and he's running out of time to change that.

It's certainly not the level some would like, but 11 out of 14 seasons posting .5 PPG average or better is pretty damn consistent, 6 of those being .6+. His first full season (.39) and his 63 point season are really the only major variances off his average range.

 

[preds1]

when i think of legwand, i will forever think of him stealing the puck from hatcher and scoring that playoff shorthanded goal, the greatest single moment and the loudest in predator history.

Yep, for sure.

I also liked his stealing of this puck............. since he wasn't caught that is.
Will definitely stand and cheer for him tomorrow, no question about it.