Quote:
Originally Posted by killer_carlson
He is one of the league leaders in goals from a defenceman. He is on the first PP unit now as well. He isn't a 5th defenceman. He is an expensive 2nd pairing guy who is producing this year and delivering exactly what was expected of him when he was signed.
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If we keep Wideman for the duration of his contract then he needs to be a 3rd pairing guy 5-on-5, but QB of the PP. The guy has a great shot but he's a gong show in his own zone. We would get the best out of him if he played isolated minutes so his mistakes were marginalised, but then unleash him on the PP. Obviously in that scenario we would need to acquire a real 2nd pairing defenceman, or at least someone with that upside.
If Wideman is traded we need to find a replacement, if we indeed have designs on pushing for the playoffs. Without him on the team Engelland becomes a 2nd pairing guy and that is pretty terrifying. I can understand the desire to cash in on an asset at peak value, and Wideman could be near that with his goal output from earlier in the campaign. He'd be tough to replace (even considering he is a nightmare in his own zone).
Either way, one of the next moves Treliving makes needs to address the defence. Despite having 2 excellent players on the 1st pairing the defence is pretty weak.