WesMcCauley
Registered User
- Apr 24, 2015
- 8,616
- 2,600
What team has the best defensive core going into 2016-17?
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Spade
Resident Tool
This one's a little more subjective than the first thread was, so I can't really use stats to organize it.
If we're talking top to bottom 1 through 6, I like San Jose the most. If we're just looking at top 4, San Jose's still top tier but they're joined or surpassed by the likes of Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Washington and Anaheim. Calgary could be there as well just based on top 3 alone, but given they haven't proven anything under a coach who knows something besides a counterattack game it's hard to justify that kind of placement.
Burns is one of the top offensive defensemen around, Vlasic is arguably the best pure defensive defender in the game (yes I know he can put up points, but he prioritizes and specializes in shutdown defense to a higher extent than the traditional two-way defenseman). Martin is a veteran-savvy two-way guy who can skate, Braun is a solid 2nd pairing player, Dillon is a capable NHL defenseman even if he's limited offensively (and definitely not to the extent that Polak is) and Schlemko is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. They have capable guys who can fill in too in case of injuries, like Mirco Mueller (bearing in mind that "capable" is based on being not a liability in that role, and Mueller can play as a number 5 or 6 in a pinch IMO). Overall, it's a great mix of mobility, smarts, physicality and puck skills.
If we're talking top to bottom 1 through 6, I like San Jose the most. If we're just looking at top 4, San Jose's still top tier but they're joined or surpassed by the likes of Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Washington and Anaheim. Calgary could be there as well just based on top 3 alone, but given they haven't proven anything under a coach who knows something besides a counterattack game it's hard to justify that kind of placement.
Burns is one of the top offensive defensemen around, Vlasic is arguably the best pure defensive defender in the game (yes I know he can put up points, but he prioritizes and specializes in shutdown defense to a higher extent than the traditional two-way defenseman). Martin is a veteran-savvy two-way guy who can skate, Braun is a solid 2nd pairing player, Dillon is a capable NHL defenseman even if he's limited offensively (and definitely not to the extent that Polak is) and Schlemko is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. They have capable guys who can fill in too in case of injuries, like Mirco Mueller (bearing in mind that "capable" is based on being not a liability in that role, and Mueller can play as a number 5 or 6 in a pinch IMO). Overall, it's a great mix of mobility, smarts, physicality and puck skills.
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SLAPSHOT723
QU! Bobcats!
The Stig
Your hero.
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Calgary has the best D in the league
Could be worse, could be the Rangers.
Boy, did that shine wear off quickly. :/
OvermanKingGainer
#BennettFreed #CurseofTheSpulll #FreeOliver
Calgary has the best D in the league
I am not sure what you're trying to imply with that. We do have one of the better D cores in the league, maybe even the best. Based on the tone of your post you don't understand that systems, forwards, injuries and goaltenders contribute to the poor on-ice performance of our team last year.
We very well might have the best D in the league if our coach is sensible enough not to pair Wideman and Engelland back together.
Gio-Brodie - Probably the best D pair in the league unless Josi-Subban proves otherwise. Both point producers with great puck moving skill, defensive skill, and incredible chemistry.
Jokipakka-Hamilton - Solid shot suppressing LD with elite shot generating / point producing RD
Wotherspoon-Wideman - Solid shot suppressing LD with quality point producing RD
Jokipakka and Wotherspoon are still unproven as #4 / #6 respectively. But unproven =/= poor. Four of our defenseman can go off for 45+ points, and as long as Jokipakka and Wotherspoon can be adequate in a stay at home role (which they were in a smaller sample with us last year) that is a balanced group. Only wrench in things is Deryk Engelland and our organization's love for him.
Anyways to answer the OP, it's San Jose for now, followed by Nashville and then maybe Chicago. Calgary is probably 4th. L.A. Pitt Tampa St. Louis round out the top tier.
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Blackhawkswincup
RIP Fugu
I would put it at Preds or Hawks
Hawks brining in Kempny and Campbell is big upgrade and slots TVR out of #4 spot ( A role he was overwhelmed with at times and Rozy into vet #7 role to play rarely
Also have Pokka sitting in Rockford if a trade/injury occurs or a guy like Kempny doesn't work out. Same with Gustafsson
Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-Hjalmarsson
Kempny-Van Riemsdyk
(Roszival)
Pokka + Gustafsson in AHL if needed
Hawks brining in Kempny and Campbell is big upgrade and slots TVR out of #4 spot ( A role he was overwhelmed with at times and Rozy into vet #7 role to play rarely
Also have Pokka sitting in Rockford if a trade/injury occurs or a guy like Kempny doesn't work out. Same with Gustafsson
Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-Hjalmarsson
Kempny-Van Riemsdyk
(Roszival)
Pokka + Gustafsson in AHL if needed
JaegerDice
The mark of my dignity shall scar thy DNA
- Dec 26, 2014
- 25,161
- 9,414
Nashville, San Jose, Chicago
St Louis is pretty high up the list.
Carolina is up and coming QUICK.
St Louis is pretty high up the list.
Carolina is up and coming QUICK.
SLAPSHOT723
QU! Bobcats!
Don't disagree, I'm just saying on paper.
Josi-Subban
Ekholm-Ellis
is a ridiculous a top-4.
sjsharks92
Shark Tank Commander
Well, we don't quite yet know who that is, but Bitetto looked pretty good to end the season, Matt Carle while he isn't the top pairing guy he used to be, he can still be good, enough, Yanick Weber is a bit of a project but I think he'll fit in Lavy's system.
The one thing I know for certain about Nashville's defense is, it can skate.
The Stig
Your hero.
Because last year thats what everyone was saying on the mainboard to the point where it became a meme and then the season went the way it did. Its a joke from last year.
JZCislesHockey
Registered User
Homer but the Islanders have a really solid D.
Leddy-Boychuk
de Haan-Hamonic
Hickey-Pulock
Mayfield
Pelech
Leddy-Boychuk
de Haan-Hamonic
Hickey-Pulock
Mayfield
Pelech
What are the point of posts like "Well, MY team isn't the best. But everyone think about MY TEAM cause they're pretty decent!"
Canadian Canuck
Hughes4Calder
Nashville's third pairing is nothing to write home about though.
Then again, they'll probably only get 8-10 minutes per game.
Then again, they'll probably only get 8-10 minutes per game.
lindholmie
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2015
- 1,971
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Because there is ambiguity in what "best" means? I don't know. Wild certainly aren't the best at scoring, but in other areas they could very well make a case for being "the best" or top 5 or whatever. What's the point in listing anything but the ONE SINGLE team you think will be best? Lighten up, francis, no one is detracting from your Sharks' ranking.
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