Repeating your point twice in consecutive posts doesn't make it true.
Not sure where all the Graves hate originated but it reminds me a lot of the Haula and Woods bashing during the regular season. I don't understand why this fan base has the inability to judge their own players other than by numbers or fuzzy "analytics".
Nothing about Luke's game suggests he was better defensively than Graves or Brendan Smith.
He has a flash to his game but is still a long way from being an NHL caliber defender.
It's easy to overlook those flaws when a team scores eight goals. That is an anomaly.
Miles Wood was terrible all season. He has been a bit better during the playoffs, but overall he is still the same guy he always was. Just waiting for his crushing Offensive zone penalty to rear its ugly head...you know its coming.
Erik Haula was criticized heavily the first half of the year, yes. However, I think most would now admit that that was because the coach was adamant about stapling him to Hughes, coupled with the fact that he could not BUY a goal. Haula, when slated properly in his role, is an effective player.
Luke Hughes is NEVER going to become a stalwart defensively. Hell, if he did, he might become the best DMan in the league. That is not his game. His game is quick zone exits, speed, and transition play. That is what was lacking in the first two games in Carolina....guys like Graves (and others, it wasnt just him) were getting pinned in the zone and allowing Carolina to just attack at will. Luke's best "defense" is being about to move the puck up and out quickly.
and Brendan Smith sucks ass. I am confident in saying that Luke is already a better overall player than him.
See this is what I'm talking about...
You can't say a guy who played 12:55 at even strength was "better defensively" than a guy who regularly plays 16 or 17 minutes at even strength...
Those two scenarios aren't the same. Those two players aren't doing the same thing. They're just not, it's not possible.
this argument makes no freaking sense.
Again, I want to know what your barometer (in minutes of ES ice time) for when we are allowed to rate guys.
so what you're saying is a guy that plays more always played better? Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds?