Most underrated defenseman on your team

[Ducks in a row]

Fowler or Vatanen from the Ducks.

 

[BleedBlue14]

That means big players have to hit like a truck on every shift

If this is directed at Chris Thorburn I actually think he's viewed as useless because he hardly does anything but keeps playing. On the flip side though I agree with Reaves but my god I miss that guy and I'm sure most of the league is glad him and Upshall aren't flying around recklessly

The other source is the belief that Bouwmeester's contract has prevented the Blues from acquiring a #1 center.

I think the problem here is generally availability but I agree with you. Sorry for not quoting my phone will not let me bold things I don't want to make it look like I'm paraphrasing or picking points trying to disband you're statements.

 

[um]

probably been said already but Niskanen for the Caps, he's been the #1 Defensemen on the Caps for the past 3 years and he is a very solid #1D.

 

[SladeWilson23]

After last year, Devils fans forgot how good Andy Greene was and still is.

 

[rumrokh]

If this is directed at Chris Thorburn I actually think he's viewed as useless because he hardly does anything but keeps playing. On the flip side though I agree with Reaves but my god I miss that guy and I'm sure most of the league is glad him and Upshall aren't flying around recklessly

Not in the slightest. No, Thorburn is legitimately terrible. Blues fans just have a tendency to think that every big player who isn't constantly blowing people up is soft and useless. It's the Missouri version of the obsession with "truculence" and is a very all-or-nothing perspective.

 

[TopShelfWaterBottle]

FOWLER for ANA

 

[Deen]

Everyone knows who Vatanen and Fowler are.

 

[Exit Dose]

Everyone knows who Vatanen and Fowler are.

The subject is 'who is the most underrated'.

 

[helax]

Not a Nashville fan, but in the games I've seen so far Ekholm has been dominant defensively. Any Nashville fan who can give input?

 

[Theo Von]

So... I haven’t heard his name mentioned at all but Klingberg?!

 

[Aladyyn]

So far Scandella has outperformed the expectations set by what Wild fans told us. Looking like a top 2 guy out there.

Other than that, Taylor Fedun is underrated by our coaching staff but he's a tweener at best so I'm not sure anyone "needs to know" about him

Everyone else has mostly sucked, really.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

After last year, Devils fans forgot how good Andy Greene was and still is.

He's been my pick for the most underrated dman in the league for years now. It's amazing how he's never talked about. He's not a star but he's a good player.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Hainsey for Toronto. Has been a rock on the backend and the only consistent defender. Doesnt make stupid passes or get caught out of position often. Just gets it done. The Leafs best dman thus far.

 

[93LEAFS]

Hainsey, he's really freed up the game for Rielly right now, and just plays a smart/steady game. Rielly, Gardiner and Zaitsev are all so divisive, they could be extremely overrated or underrated by who you ask. For a bunch of reasons these guys are highly divisive.

 

[Aladyyn]

If I had to pick I'd say Ristolainen, for two reasons: (1) Scandella is the only other defenseman we've got who's any type of good. Hard to underrate bad players; (2) The advanced stats crowd have over-exaggerated the faults in his game. The biggest problem with Risto, by far, is his usage. He's been asked to play a crapload of very hard minutes (more and tougher than most undisputed #1Ds in the league play), while still being a young kid whose game certainly needs refining in some areas. He's a damn good hockey player, though.

It's funny because his 5on5 numbers are solid this season but almost every Sabres fan would tell you he's been worse than he was, say 2 years ago. Some usage adjustment and a competent partner are apparently all it takes.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

probably been said already but Niskanen for the Caps, he's been the #1 Defensemen on the Caps for the past 3 years and he is a very solid #1D.

This. I have zero doubts in my mind that he is better than Carlson but HF thinks otherwise.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Did Girardi finally retire?

Girardi has been great here. I expected him to be as bad as you and other NYR fans said he was (and from my viewings of NYR) but he has actually stabilized the PK and bottom pair. Awesome bottom pair guy and miles better than Andrej Sustr.

 

[triggrman]

Not a Nashville fan, but in the games I've seen so far Ekholm has been dominant defensively. Any Nashville fan who can give input?

Ekholm has been the best defender, followed by Josi. Golden boy Subban has looked like garbage.

 

[FlyersFanSinceBirth]

Gudas or MacDonald