The guy I was talking about earlier was Esa Lindell.
I watched him a lot in the playoffs trying to get a gauge on why he is so loved.
He makes a couple of "flashier" defensive plays, as in a key poke check or a big block, something of that nature. People then see it and go "wow he is so good defensively" but, mehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - he has some solid instincts for sure, but top of the class?
I found he loses his positioning a decent number of times, he can't move the puck too well and gets stuck in several key mistakes. He's alright on the PK, but it's not like he's a guy who shuts it down every time. Look at Tampa Bay's two goals in game six - Point walks right into the middle of the ice to grab his rebound and Lindell kind of just stands there? He's not really covering anyone. I'm not entirely sure what he was doing. Maybe he thought he was covering the pass but then he lets Point walk right in to collect his rebound and Janmark has to chase him back?
2nd goal against he skates into the middle way too far and leaves Coleman wide open, baited and see you later.
In 2017-18, Lindell had a really nice season that maybe started the reputation. 52% possession, 55% GF at 5v5, and a 57% HD CF. That year, he was exactly what his reputation touted him to be.
This season, Lindell had about a 46% Corsi at 5v5, 47% GF at 5v5, but at least a 53% HDCF to show he can still make those key defensive plays to save some face. It does show how little Dallas can produce though offensively when he is on the ice.
In the playoffs though, he put out a paltry 43% Corsi, 39.5% GF at 5v5, and 45.6% XGoals. Those are nasty bad numbers. 26 5v5 goals were with him on the ice in only 26 games.
Can I vouch for Lindell being a decent 2nd pairing guy who you can use defensively? Yes. Can I vouch for him being a top defender that dominates and can play the top pairing? Eek.