Where do you rank Columbus defense in the NHL?

[ViD]

Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
David Savard - Vladislav Gavrikov
Ryan Murray - Dean Kukan

Marcus Nutivaara
Scott Harrington

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[Merrrlin]

Somewhere in the tier with Minnesota, Boston, St. Louis and Carolina. Top 5 for me.

 

[DickSmehlik]

Top 3 easily.

A couple of teams might have stronger dmen on the back end but that first pair...

 

[I am not exposed]

Somewhere in the tier with Minnesota, Boston, St. Louis and Carolina. Top 5 for me.

What this poster said.

 

[Bleeker]

2nd behind Carolina

 

[EdJovanovski]

Top 10
Coach/System is arguably #1 though.

 

[34]

Top 3 defensive team in the NHL easily.

You have to give credit where it is due... they are tough to play against! Just ask the Lighting from last season and Leafs this season! Both very potent offensive teams shut down.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Definitely Top 10... I struggled to put it Top 5 but I think you could make a pretty damn good case for it and I ultimately did say Top 5.



Carolina
Tampa Bay
St. Louis



I would say those 3 are for sure better... After that, Boston, Columbus, Vegas, Nashville, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota... They're all pretty close to one another but I'd have CBJ towards the top of that group.


So ya, Top 5. Heavily influenced by the 2 absolute studs in Werenski and Jones carrying the top. I dont like the overall depth of that group as much as a couple other teams like Nashville, but the top 2 just make them so damn good when both guys can play almost half the game for you.

 

[Pitaya]

Their actual defense isnt top-5 at all but their team defense and system are top-5

Since I saw the question as their actual
defensive lineup they are outside the top-10 but I said top-10 based on including the system they play in

Kind of like the Islanders - amazing defensive team whos actual defensive roster isnt that great

 

[Gurglesons]

Top ten.

CAR
BOS
PHI
TB
CGY
STL

Are all Ds I take easily ahead of it.

 

[Ignite111]

I would say around 7/8 with the islanders.

 

[ViD]

Their actual defense isnt top-5 at all but their team defense and system are top-5

Since I saw the question as their actual
defensive lineup they are outside the top-10 but I said top-10 based on including the system they play in

Kind of like the Islanders - amazing defensive team whos actual defensive roster isnt that great

I think the second pairing is grossly underestimated.

Gavrikov and Savard are arguably the best shut down pair in hockey outside of first pairings. They came out of the Leafs series with team leading +4 rating each

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

If you don’t put them in the top 5 you don’t know how good Gavrikov is.

The Jackets have a textbook defense. When we’re talking about #1 guys, #2 guys etc. they have appropriate guys playing the right roles. and Murray is better than a #5 dman.

 

[ClevelandUke]

not enough credit being given to the Savard-Gavrikov pairing

But it's hard to argue with the data. Per MoneyPuck, the Savard/Gavrikov pairing has the 11th best expected-goals for percentage in the NHL (among pairings with 700+ minutes), at 51.8%. That's one spot ahead of the Zdeno Chara/Torey Krug pairing in Boston.

a guy like Ryan Murray is playing the #5 role right now.

 

[wintersej]

not enough credit being given to the Savard-Gavrikov pairing

But it's hard to argue with the data. Per MoneyPuck, the Savard/Gavrikov pairing has the 11th best expected-goals for percentage in the NHL (among pairings with 700+ minutes), at 51.8%. That's one spot ahead of the Zdeno Chara/Torey Krug pairing in Boston.

a guy like Ryan Murray is playing the #5 role right now.

Chara and Krug is not a pairing.

 

[ClevelandUke]

Chara and Krug is not a pairing.

But yet it is. thats a good try though

 

[uncleben]

Not a top team on paper, but with their system on the ice they put together a top 5/10 D

 

[wintersej]

But yet it is. thats a good try though

Chara and Krug are the Bruins top 2 LD. They are very very much not a pairing. You have been striking out all night between this and you comments about naturalstatrick.

 

[ClevelandUke]

Not a top team on paper, but with their system on the ice they put together a top 5/10 D

thats flat out wrong

 

[ClevelandUke]

Chara and Krug are the Bruins top 2 LD. They are very very much not a pairing. You have been striking out all night between this and you comments about naturalstatrick.

Striking out, right. lmao

 

[abo9]

Honestly, I thought it was a poll to flatter CBS ego after winning against the Leafs (and maybe it is). However, the results speak for themselves. As a team, they had the 3rd lowest goals allowed in the NHL this year. 11th last year and 9th the year before.

Considering that Zach Werenski, Seth Jones and Vladislav Gavrikov are key cogs and all 24 and under, I think it's fair to assume that they're a top 10, or even top 5 D today?

Sounds like a surprise every time they win a series, but that team is coming together nicely even on paper :O

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

The top pair, namely Jones, is in contention for the top pairing in the NHL. The rest is not as impressive. Top 10.

 

[Regal]

Striking out, right. lmao

I'm pretty sure you read Carlo wrong. Here's a screenshot of all the Bruins defense pairings from that site:


No Krug-Chara.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

But yet it is. thats a good try though

Krug and Chara might be the one combination that has never happened.

 

[Gurglesons]

Everyone knows Chara pairs with McAvoy.

Also LOL at Savard - Gavrikov being the best shutdown pair in the league. JFC.

Columbus was barely in the playoff picture and a ton of their metrics show that their goaltenders were a huge reason for their defense play. Just like every Trots team.