Line Combos: Defensive Pairings

[ConnorMcMullet]

How would you do the defensive pairings next year? One thing that has slipped my mind is that Andrej Sekera can play the right side. He went back and forth during the 2016-17 season and, if I remember correctly, performed pretty well there. I think he could make a solid second pairing with Nurse. If Klefbom and Sekera stay healthy and rebound, I their defense could be pretty solid with the emergence of Nurse, and hopefully, Ethan Bear. I would have their lines as:

Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Darnell Nurse - Andrej Sekera
Kris Russell - Ethan Bear/Matt Benning

Click to read more...

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

If Bear is on the team next year the team has failed miserably in getting a depth D. Bear needs a good season in the AHL at least to improve his game.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

If Bear is on the team next year the team has failed miserably in getting a depth D. Bear needs a good season in the AHL at least to improve his game.

100% this. The defense needs an upgrade and Bear needs to develop more.

 

[EDMOILERS9729]

Nurse-x
Klef-Larsson
Russell-Sekera
Or
Klef-Larsson
Nurse-x
Russel-Sekera
Or if we draft Bouchard
Klef-Larsson
Nurse-Sekera
Russell-Bouchard

 

[Zaddy]

My guess for what TM will do is this:

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Benning
Sekera-Russell

Gives us three pretty balanced pairings and you can give Klef and Benning soft-ish offensive minutes while having the other two pairings split the tougher defensive minutes.

The other alternative is just rolling with what worked in 16/17

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekera-Russell
Nurse-Benning

But even then you can rotate Nurse and Sekera depending on how those pairings do.

 

[Little Fury]

klef-Lars
Nurse-Sekera
Russell-Benning

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Really depends on the health of a lot of guys.

Though who the top 4 is, it's set with Larsson, Sekera, Nurse, and Klefbom; but really Larsson is the only one you can pencil into a slot.

N/K/S-Larsson
The other two

This leaves you with Russell anchoring the bottom pairing (not the worst situation). This also means you could afford to go after a lower end defenceman and focus on a RH PP specialist. Just someone to push Benning and Bear.

A Cody Franson, Yannick Weber, Chris Wideman, or Jan Rutte type.

 

[backhandsauce]

Nurse-Karlsson
OEL-Larsson
Klefbom-Green

 

[syz]

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekera-Nurse
Russell-Benning

If everybody's healthy/back to not being garbage. Much like last off-season, ideally they'd head into the year with Nurse and Russell as the third pairing (I still don't trust either of them to play top 4 minutes all year), and Benning in the AHL, which would mean finding another top 4 D.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

I was disappointed there wasnt much stanton, simpson, mantha ....lowe etc....even auvitu......even.....auvitu

 

[shoop]

My guess for what TM will do is this:

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Benning
Sekera-Russell

Gives us three pretty balanced pairings and you can give Klef and Benning soft-ish offensive minutes while having the other two pairings split the tougher defensive minutes.

I get that Koala might do this, but that doesn't make it a good thing. Nurse had that great start to the year when he played second pairing minutes. Every time they tried to play him on the first pairing he really struggled.

This could work if Sekera is healthy.

Sekera-Larsson
Klefbom-Russell
Nurse-Benning

Let Nurse learn how to anchor a pairing. Ideally we get a rhs/pp specialist who can bump Russell down and run with Benning as the 7D.

 

[Captain Controversy]

Klefbom - Larsson is a must.
Nurse - Benning/gryba/Traded D man
sekera - russell

 

[Les Pantalons Fancie]

Klefbom - Larsson is a must.
Nurse - Benning/gryba/Traded D man
sekera - russell

Completely agree. In 2016-17 this was our best unit in both regular season and playoffs. 2017-2018 was a season where both missed around 20 games each due to injury/personal. This should be the one defensive pairing set in stone, not tampered with or part of a trade package. The most important challenge/goal is to find the perfect partner for Nurse.
For me it's:
Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - XXX (Right-handed shot with 1st PP minutes)

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Impossible to say until a week into July.

If we don't make any significant moves:

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Sekera
Russell-Benning

 

[SaltNPeca]

In desperate need of a #1/2 D boyos.

Klef and Nurse are emerging. Larsson can play 1-4, but cot daymn we need a stud back there so bad it hurts me on the inside.

 

[Mav3rick07]

Dahlin - Reinhart
Auvitu - Davidson
Ference - Lowe

 

[Aerchon]

The Russell hate is strong. He, of all our defenders, was probably the most consistent. He is a solid complimentary #4 top 4 guy. Sekera was our #1 two years ago while primarily paired with him.

Nurse really fell apart as the season went on and had a terrible worlds. He has the talent to be a great anchor for the bottom pairing and sometimes move up but if we are playing him where he should be thats at least where he should start.

Russell Larsson: instead of Larsson having to babysit Klefbom or Nurse he gets a legit experienced top 4 defender to work with. This pairing should have no trouble shutting down oppoents and depending on chemistry maybe bring out Larssons offensive game. A pairing reliant on chemistry to be truely successful but one id like to see start the season.

Sekera Bear: another interesting pairing but another gamble. Requires a ton out of Sekera. He needs to be healthy and back to top form to babysit/develop Bear. Bear has shown no capacity to be a top 4 defender but I really liked what I seen from him and with an incredible offseason and a healthy Sekera to tutor... This pairing "could" be pure platnium. Better than gold. Sekera can thrive with a Bear type offensive defenseman.

Nurse Benning/Klefbom: this pairing really shows the depth of our defence when healthy. Not all teams have 5 legit top 4 defenders. I really like Nurse Benning as a bottom pairing. But with Klefbom in the mix I would assume Benning is our #7. Which puts Nurse or Klefbom in the unfavorable position on thier offside. Klefbom should have the skill to make that transition but who knows.

The above pairing are my picks more for interesting conversation than what I believe will work. I think if we are being safe we just go with:

Klefbom Larsson
Sekera Russell
Nurse Benning

Its the most balanced group when everyone is playing to thier strength. However it relys completely on Klefbom returning to form. This is what we started with this last year and he and Talbot quickly and effectively killed our season. Id hate to see Klefbom even put in this position really.

In a perfect world we trade Klefbom + 10th for Risto + 32 or Klefbom + 10th for Trouba.

Sekera Trouba/Risto
Nurse Larsson

Thats a great top 4. Russell anchors the bottom pairing as a righty or lefty. #6 and 7 completely flexible. Plus can move up if needed.

Russell Bear is really the perfect bottom pairing as well.

Want to see some of our youth get legit nhl time. Laggeson really intrigues me. Jones as well. Bear of course. New guy signed in the SEL.

I dont hate Russell but at the same time his contract is not great. With any luck he is replaced internally for a much cheaper and potentially better option once his no movement is up.

 

[Joey Moss]

Sekera rarely played the right side in 2016. He was consistently on the left with Russell on the right. Sometimes Benning on the right.

I don't know why we changed so much of what worked the year prior. Get that PP defenseman to play with Nurse and role with this:

Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - xxx
Sekera - Russell
Benning

Bear needs to start in the AHL.

 

[Joey Moss]

Trouba is one of the most overrated players in the league. Awful hockey sense and decision making. Nurse is a much better player.

Can't believe people want him. Klefbom and 10th overall would be an absolute nightmare of a trade.

Ristolainen on the other hand I'd have time for.

 

[La Bamba]

Trade Klefbom and Benning

Nurse - Larsson
Sekera - Faulk?
Russell - (TRADE)

I wouldn't mind Faulk (at a fair price). Maybe he can find chemistry again with Sekera

...And damn Kris Russell's contract. 4M for a bottom pair guy...

 

[Little Fury]

Trouba is one of the most overrated players in the league. Awful hockey sense and decision making. Nurse is a much better player.

Can't believe people want him. Klefbom and 10th overall would be an absolute nightmare of a trade.

Ristolainen on the other hand I'd have time for.

Trouba is a better defenseman than Nurse and miles ahead of Ristoleinien (who is terrible).

Depending on their respective salary demands, I'd do Nurse straight across for Trouba.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

How would you do the defensive pairings next year? One thing that has slipped my mind is that Andrej Sekera can play the right side. He went back and forth during the 2016-17 season and, if I remember correctly, performed pretty well there. I think he could make a solid second pairing with Nurse. If Klefbom and Sekera stay healthy and rebound, I their defense could be pretty solid with the emergence of Nurse, and hopefully, Ethan Bear. I would have their lines as:

Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Darnell Nurse - Andrej Sekera
Kris Russell - Ethan Bear/Matt Benning

If sekera doesnt even semi return to form, I dont think he can play either side at a NHL level.

 

[Little Fury]

The Russell hate is strong. He, of all our defenders, was probably the most consistent. He is a solid complimentary #4 top 4 guy. Sekera was our #1 two years ago while primarily paired with him.

This team is going nowhere if Russell is in the to 4, that's all there is to it.

In a perfect world we trade Klefbom + 10th for Risto + 32 or Klefbom + 10th for Trouba.

Trouba for Klef straight up would be tolerable. Add in the 10th though? No thanks. Risto? Hellll no. The guy is a decent PP specialist but he's junk at 5v5.

Want to see some of our youth get legit nhl time. Laggeson really intrigues me. Jones as well. Bear of course. New guy signed in the SEL.

None of those guys should even get a sniff of NHL action unless injuries have completely decimated the group. I could maybe see Bear getting a look as a 7th D PP specialist, but I'd rather he crush the AHL.

 

[Joey Moss]

Trouba is a better defenseman than Nurse and miles ahead of Ristoleinien (who is terrible).

Depending on their respective salary demands, I'd do Nurse straight across for Trouba.

That is laughable to me.

Trouba showed one season of promise offensively, which was 2016-2017. Aside from that he's produced what Nurse did last year his whole career. He and Nurse have similar offensive potential, so you're not getting anything more there. Trouba has skating, size, physicality, big shot, and yet he can't put it together. You watch him play and he makes bone headed decisions with the puck and poor reads defensively. He's going into his 6th season next year and hasn't really taken a step.

 

[Cloned]

Nurse - Sekera is a horrible pairing IMO.

Nurse needs someone who is very positionally sound. Sekera is too much of a rover himself and that pairing would give up the most ridiculous goals.