But their numbers are very similar. Don't know if we can draw a conclusion with numbers that close.
Based on the eye test, it looks like they drag each other down. There were a couple playoff games where Bieksa didn't even look like a competent AHL defenseman, let alone a decent bottom pairing NHL defender.
I'm also not so sure it helps an individuals possession metrics that much playing on a good team, but with below average teammates at the bottom end of a roster. There are a lot of poor possession 4th liners and bottom pairing dmen on great teams...
I'm trying to find a silver lining in Bieksa's season that makes him a salvageable player at this point. Don't see any signs of that, either from watching him or looking a the numbers. For all the flak Sbisa got this season, Bieksa was a much bigger disappointment.
Bieksa has been a disappointment. But at least his contract runs out next year.
Sbisa got resigned + pay raise. I'd be much more critical of the Sbisa signing than I am of a older player declining.
I mean looking at his overall advanced stats in a more digestible format you can draw the conclusion that Bieksa is terrible in his own zone.
But as you can see he still generates offensive at a top 2 level.
Then you look at Sbisa where the only positive thing he has going for him is that he's a bottom pairing defenseman when it comes to shots in which case Bieksa is the one that's boosting those stats.
It becomes even worse when you look at who Sbisa has been paired with.
http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=992&withagainst=true&season=2014-15&sit=5v5
Top players played with:
Dorsett ( 313:56) (CF% 44.9)
Vrbata ( 297:14) (CF% 52.8)
D. Sedin ( 296:57) (CF% 52.8)
H. Sedin ( 296:35) (CF% 53.2)
out of the top 4 only 3 of the players he's paired with are possession drivers. This is one of the only reasons his advanced stats actually look like they are bottom pairing level.
