Crazydounut
Registered User
Nough' said I think
I’d be happy if he got a substantial number of votes this year, but he’s going to need more games like last night to make that happen. Meaning not just playing well in losses, but generating points in wins.
Exactly this. I mean who was the last defensive dman that won it, Langway? That's not a bash on guys like Karlsson at all, just goes to show how difficult it is to win the award as a defensive dman in any era.He’s not going to score enough to get that kind of recognition unless the Canes inexplicably win 50 games and he’s a +50 or some ridiculous number. I can’t remember the last defenseman that won the Norris and didn’t play significant PP minutes.
He's not particularly dangerous with the puck at the point in terms of shot, passing, or movement. Even if he's a tier ahead of Burns or Karlsson defensively, it's not going to make up the difference between 35 points and 75 points.
Slavin for Norris...I don't think we win that trade.
to be fair to Karlsson- he is great on defensive side of the game too
I can agree that he is not physical, but IMO his stick work is pretty good, and together with his speed and positioning - it all makes him good on defensive side of the game. Maybe I choose wrong word previously, he is not great, but really good as a defensive defender when needed. His offense is all people talk about, but his defensive plays are very good and he is playing in a lot of them.To be fair....this is a pretty significant overstatement. Karlsson is "adequate" on the defensive side of the puck. His skating makes up for a lot of other ills, but for all his shiftiness, his defensive stickwork isn't particularly outstanding and he's anything but physical.
Hasn't he basically won the last couple of shootouts we've been involved in?
How can you say that? I mean, have you seen it?His backhand from the point is not as effective as it is when he's on a breakaway.
If he gets a substantial number of votes it’ll be because he was the best defenseman in the league this year. And that’s a good thing.
Exactly this. I mean who was the last defensive dman that won it, Langway?
He's got sweet moves. Why isn't he used on the PP more? Is it because his shot sucks or we'd rather his minutes be used for PK and even strength?
Not necessarily that he was the best... I can’t remember if they do Norris votes 1-3 or 1-5, but even a bunch of 5ths would be a sign of a fantastic season for him. To do that as a defensive-minded guy is outstanding.
Chara, then Langway. Chara was a huge departure from the norm and it took him still being pretty good offensively.
Slavin’s at his best offensively when he’s skating with the puck, we saw that last night. He actually does have pretty good handles coming across the line and every now and then we see this playmaker side emerge where he zips through coverage to the slot.
The problem is, that kind of skill set isn’t very useful on the PP. Defenses tend to play the point men very conservatively, unless there’s a Faulk-like slapshot threat up there. So it doesn’t do much good for your point guy to be up at the blue line looking for chances to carry the puck to the slot... it’s just not going to happen and is a good way to get a SH break going the other way. So barring a switch to forward, where he still wouldn’t be any better with the puck than the guy he replaces, there’s just not a useful function for Slavin during the PP.