I think people forget really quickly he's young as hell and was rushed into the league. Chara was pretty brutal when he started out, and he's turned out just fine. Dmen in his mold can take a really long time to develop.
I don't expect Schenn to be as good as Chara, but the point here is he's shown flashes in Toronto and Philly of being a very good dman. It's still early to throw him under the bus, then order the bus driver to back over him again.
Yeh, 3 years out of 5 aged 18-22 he was a 22 minute, 25 point shut down D man. (so a 3-4) 2 years he was a 17 minute 15-20 point D man with average D. (so a 5-6)
He has already proven for more than half of his young career he can do himself justice in an important role.
If he finds consistency with age there are not that many players who can do that role as effectively. Not saying that role will make a team successful on its own, but that kind of player is a big part on successful team defences.
People need to stop getting on his back for nor being a #1... everyone knew he was not going to be that when they traded for him.
Tbh there are less than 10 #1's in the NHL really, and maybe another 10 guys who give off the pretence of a number 1 at times with average defence but ~40 points every other year.
Weber, Suter, Chara, Keith, Seabrook, Doughty, Subban, Karlsson, Pietrangelo and OEL are the only guys in my mind who even have a claim they are a true #1 d man.
Heck, Coburn, Kimmo and Streit are all arguably in the top 60 d men in the NHL averaged over the last 3 years!
There are not that many good d men to go around in this league.