Our defense

[Winged Wheel Willy]

Since we had the goaltending discussion, I think it’s only fair to pivot to the defense. Especially because a solid portion of us believes that this is where the problem really lies.

So let’s put our current roster players (No Edvinsson. We all know he should be here, but he ain’t) into the slots they should fill ideally in your opinion on a playoff team.

I think we are 1 top pair and 1 2nd pair player short. 4 of our dmen should be deployed on a 3rd pair and one should be watching:

X - Seider
Walman - X
Ghost - Chiarot / Maata - Holl
______________
Petry

Click to read more...

 

[WF19]

Seider, Walman, Ghost

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Seider is obviously a top pair guy, I think Walman is a good number 3 and Ghost is a second pairing guy. Both can play well with Seider it seems which is nice.

Problem I have with the defense is Mo usually gets 23 ish mins, Walman is probably at 19 mins, and the rest are pretty close in TOI. So that means Ghost, Petry, Holl, Maatta, and Chiarot(who I think has been fine for the most part). Are playing roughly the same amount. I'm pulling numbers from my ass so Maatta and Holl might have way less but surely doesn't feel like it.

So it feels like anything that comes out after Walman-Seider is a third pairing.

 

[jkutswings]

Are we basing this on the entire season or just last night?

Because the latter would be zero.

 

[Macoun]

We have one number 1 defenseman and six 5,6,7 defenseman.

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

Are we basing this on the entire season or just last night?

Because the latter would be zero.

Not only entire season, but in general what you think these players are and where they should be slotted.

 

[jkutswings]

Overall I'd say that Walman and Chiarot have played like second pairing guys this season. Ghost has been a #2/#3 tweener most of the time. Seider has been good enough to stay on the top pair, with the typical learning curve ups and downs.

But Detroit cannot seem to get any consistency out of Maatta / Petry / Holl. If any of those 3 were even a steady #5, it would be a noticeable improvement - they each seem to alternate between "reasonable plug" and "brain fart factory".

Until now I've been on the side of preaching patience with bringing up Edvinsson. But I don't know how that can continue with this level of mess.

EDIT - Ideally I'd want a better partner for Seider, Edvinsson with Ghost on the second pair, Walman and Chiarot as third pair, and the rest to hit the trebuchet. But at minimum they REALLY need to add a top 4 defensive defenseman.

 

[GMR]

Seider for sure. The rest depends on which team you’re comparing it too.

Edvinsson would be the second.

 

[RedWingzz]

Seider
Walman
Ghost as a specialist
--------------------
Edvinsson, but he's still not here

 

[Frk It]

(Last night aside) Seider is a high end defenseman I’ll continue to say should get 25 minutes + a night.

(Last night aside) Walman has generally played well for the last year or so and looks like a guy I’m very comfortable playing in the top 4 for the foreseeable future.

Ghost is a good player but a flawed one, and I understand sheltering or limiting his minutes.

The rest of the defense could get waived tomorrow and I wouldn’t give a f***.

 

[Filppula]

I know he’s not some defensive stud, but our defence is why I had issues trading away Hronek.

 

[RRhoads]

I know he’s not some defensive stud, but our defence is why I had issues trading away Hronek.

I think the biggest issue with keeping him is his next contract.

 

[Christien]

Accidentally voted 4, but there is 3 IMO.

Seider, Walman, and Gostisbehere

 

[WF19]

I know he’s not some defensive stud, but our defence is why I had issues trading away Hronek.

I'll take ASP for that trade. Even after seeing Hronek doing well.

 

[19 for president]

If the Wings could land a LD that could really pair with Seider and knock down Walman, I would not be opposed.

Run something like:

Seider-XXX
Ghost-Ed
Chiarot/Holl-Walman

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

If the Wings could land a LD that could really pair with Seider and knock down Walman, I would not be opposed.

Run something like:

Seider-XXX
Ghost-Ed
Chiarot/Holl-Walman

Agree with the trade idea, but I think you’re asking for trouble pairing a rookie with Ghost. I’d like a steady stay at home dman and stabilizer for Edvinsson. One who doesn’t roam so much and is better in his own zone.

 

[Macoun]

If the Wings could land a LD that could really pair with Seider and knock down Walman, I would not be opposed.

Run something like:

Seider-XXX
Ghost-Ed
Chiarot/Holl-Walman

Those are worse pairings than we have right now

 

[Pavels Dog]

Let's be honest, very few teams have more than 2 legit top 4D. Teams with 3 are generally considered among the strongest defensive units in the game. Not sure any team has 4.

 

[odin1981]

I said 3. Walman, Ghost, and Seider.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Agree with the trade idea, but I think you’re asking for trouble pairing a rookie with Ghost. I’d like a steady stay at home dman and stabilizer for Edvinsson. One who doesn’t roam so much and is better in his own zone.

Walman -Seider
Chiarot -Ghost
Edvinsson - Holl

Maybe find a way to get Tanev.

 

[Macoun]

Walman -Seider
Chiarot -Ghost
Edvinsson - Holl

Maybe find a way to get Tanev.

Chiarot and Ghost is a terrible
Pairing

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

Let's be honest, very few teams have more than 2 legit top 4D. Teams with 3 are generally considered among the strongest defensive units in the game. Not sure any team has 4.

Great point. VGK has 4+ I think. Maybe NYI has 4. After that it gets pretty thin. Even BOS only has 3 + a pp specialist.

 

[theYman]

What about defensive forwards since we're talking about defense here? I feel that's part of our problem. Not enough good 2 way defensive forwards on this team imo.

 

[jaster]

Let's be honest, very few teams have more than 2 legit top 4D. Teams with 3 are generally considered among the strongest defensive units in the game. Not sure any team has 4.

How are you defining "top 4D"?

 

[norrisnick]

How are you defining "top 4D"?

The same parameters that label Larkin a 2C...