Wideman A
Brodie A
Gio C
Bouw A
Butler D-
Sarich C
Smith C
Wideman and Brodie ar a great tandem and I really think Brodie is overshadowed by guys like Fowler and Shattenkirk as a really good up and coming defensemen because of their draft position. Kind of in the second tier of top young Dmen behind guys like Petriangelo and Subban.
Bouwmeester is heads and shoulders better than the player he was for the first couple years and its obvious to me now that Brent's system was holding him back and forcing him to play a way that he doesn't know how to play. If he continues this way his salary will be earned.
Gio has seemed tentative at some points and looks to be settling in a bit to the top 2 role. I have never seen him blindly rim the puck so much, even going into the ozone when there are much better options around. Hopefully he can continue to be on the side of progress.
I think Smith is a servicable bottom defenseman than can be moved into the top4 if need be. I don't understand why its even a question to sit him over Butler at any point.
Sarich is Sarich. He is doing exactly what I expect of an aging physical dman.
Butler is just awful. Everytime I'm watching a replay of a goal against and say to myself "Where's the other dman?" Butler seems to slide into the frame late. Some people were saying last year that he's a good dman just over his head on the top pairing. I'm glad he's being exposed for what he is, which is awful no matter who he is playing against. Ship him out IMO, we don't need him.
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