Speculation: Defender Pairings

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Next season:
Kronwall-Ericsson
Dekeyser-Green
Ouellet-Marchenko

Leggo

 

[ap3x]

Would like to see:

Kronwall - Zidlicky
DeKeyser - Big E
Quincey - Marchenko

Smith

Expect to see:

Kronwall - Big E
DeKeyser - Quincey
Smith - Zidlicky

Kindl

 

[Hendricks433]

Next season:
Kronwall-Ericsson
Dekeyser-Green
Ouellet-Marchenko

Leggo

Q is still signed next year. We gave him a 2 year deal. Would like to somehow get Big E off the top pairing as well.

 

[ap3x]

Seems Smith and Marchenko will battle it out.

Zidlicky on #1 PP?

Guess rather on the 2nd.

 

[Kronwalled55]

I really hope Zidlicky gets top pairing duties. He's plenty capable of handling it, and Ericsson needs to be getting as few minutes as possible.

 

[Sentinel]

I'd imagine Zid plays on the top pairing. There was no point in bringing him in otherwise. Third pair has little effect on things.

 

[Hendricks433]

I'd imagine Zid plays on the top pairing. There was no point in bringing him in otherwise. Third pair has little effect on things.

Agreed, he should be on the first or second pairing. My guess is if Q comes back we don't want to split up Q and DK.

Kronner, Zid
Q, DK
Big E, Marchenko/Smith

 

[wingfan]

All this Smith hate is just mind boggling. The kid has the 10th highest Usage Adjusted Corsi % among dmen in the NHL over the past 3 seasons. That screams #7 Dman to me...

 

[Frk It]

All this Smith hate is just mind boggling. The kid has the 10th highest Usage Adjusted Corsi % among dmen in the NHL over the past 3 seasons. That screams #7 Dman to me...

Sorry for being dense, but what does this mean exactly?

 

[RedMenace]

All this Smith hate is just mind boggling. The kid has the 10th highest Usage Adjusted Corsi % among dmen in the NHL over the past 3 seasons. That screams #7 Dman to me...

But have you watched him play? Sure there are flashes of talent, but he's just not putting it together, fancystats be damned.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Sorry for being dense, but what does this mean exactly?

based on his usage (QoC, zone starts, quality of teammates) he has 10th highest shot differential or corsi.

sort of like relative corsi but improved version of it.

that said, usage-adjusted stats are still infancy stages and ignore some things.

 

[wingfan]

Sorry for being dense, but what does this mean exactly?

Basically factors out how a player is used(QoC, zone start %, quality of teammates) and creates a baseline against which all players are measured. It's basically a way for you to stack up Corsi% without having the bias of what match ups a Dman gets, where his zone starts are, etc.

 

[ap3x]

And what's to gain from being so well in it, when he's an IQ below room temperature?
Many had high hopes on him before the season. But they didn't turn out to be satisifed so far.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Q is still signed next year. We gave him a 2 year deal. Would like to somehow get Big E off the top pairing as well.

I'm aware. I said LEGGO.

 

[SoupGuru]

I'd love to see him paired with Dekeyser. That would be in the spirit of Lidstrom and Rafalski. That does kind of create a mess with the other guys but maybe Quincey is actually stable on any pairing now.

 

[DanZ]

I'm aware. I said LEGGO.

The Wings are not going with a rookie third pairing in the playoffs

 

[Satrebil]

The Wings are not going with a rookie third pairing in the playoffs

Likely not, but the next 20 games present a big opportunity.

 

[DanZ]

Likely not, but the next 20 games present a big opportunity.

Sure, but I just don't think Babcock will roll with two rookie defensemen when we're healthy. Maybe one, preferably Marchenko, but two might be asking for trouble.

 

[Laser Rayzor]

Judging by NJD fan comments I don't want Zid on the top pair and I want him paired with a solid stay at home type, so my best option of realistic pairing would be:

Kronner-E
KFQ-Zid
DD-Smith
Kindl

KFQ and DD can be interchanged but we've seen a KFQ-Smith pairing before and it's hot garbage in the past and I think KFQ-Zid would work well together.

 

[ap3x]

Just curious how Kronner lined up with Zidlicky would work out.

 

[InjuredChoker]

khan said smith likely pairs with zid.

that could be... um, interesting.

 

[DanZ]

I think if we're icing our best D pairs it's:

Kronwall - Ericcsson
DeKeyser - Zidlicky
Quincey - Marchenko

I think Smith will slip in there though and it might end up:

Kronwall - Ericcsson
DeKeyser - Smith
Quincey - Zidlicky

Obviously, ice time would be pretty well spread out with this option. I don't think a Smith - Zidlicky pairing would be very good defensively, which is why I think both should be paired with defensively sound defensemen.

 

[ap3x]

khan said smith likely pairs with zid.

that could be... um, interesting.

Would be typical... At least I'm mentally prepared:

Would like to see:

Kronwall - Zidlicky
DeKeyser - Big E
Quincey - Marchenko

Smith

Expect to see:

Kronwall - Big E
DeKeyser - Quincey
Smith - Zidlicky

Kindl

 

[Flowah]

Maybe in the regular season, but if they think Marchenko is better he'll play in the playoffs.

If they think Marchenko is better, isn't it a good idea to get the d pairings to gel and give Marchenko a bit more NHL experience?

I personally think Marchenko has seemed more solid on the third pairing than Smith.

 

[Flowah]

I'd imagine Zid plays on the top pairing. There was no point in bringing him in otherwise. Third pair has little effect on things.

Does it? Babcock seems to like to keep the defense rotating, just like his forward lines. Not overplaying the top6 or the top4. If Zidlicky gets that + good PP minutes, he has plenty of time to make an impact.