steve141
Registered User
- Aug 13, 2009
- 1,144
- 240
Breaking in a rookie and having to cover his mistakes is somewhat different and harder. Lidstrom elevating his defensive partners play? Based on this season's play? Lidstrom is the only regular Red Wing d-man with a - +/-. This would suggest a review of his play this season is in order.
There's a guy that is doing exactly that. He is reviewing each Red Wings game and adjusting the stats according to who was actually involved in the plays that caused goals forwards or backwards. That means that a defenceman that takes out his man doesn't get a minus if the other defenceman and the goalie screw up. And you don't get a plus if you are just coming off the bench. Yes it is subjective, but should be a much better basis for comparison between team mates than raw +/-. Outside of the Red Wings organisation there's probably noone who has watched as much Red Wings video as this guy has this year.
Lidstrom's adjusted number for this year is +32, more than double that of any other defenceman on the team.
Here's the link: http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2010/12/9/1866269/cssi-tracking-post
There's also a post on each game, detailing his explanation for adjustments on every single play.
In general I agree with you that this is not Lidstrom's best year, but there is no way he isn't still by far the best defenceman on his team.
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