Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
I think you are right.
It's better to have players that can get the puck out of your own end rather stand back and wait for the other team to shoot.
It's better to have D that can generate a chance on a zone exit then one that just hucks it down the ice losing possession.
It's better to have five players then it is three playing offence when the puck is in the offensive zone.
If advanced stats tell us anything it's that there is limited room for one dimensional players. That includes offense only forwards as well as defence only D. You need three zone players now a days.
Obviously there is no clear line and some players are better at one thing then another. There is also room for special team specialists. But guys like Sieloff and Kanzig (probably) don't have the complete game necessary to fit today's NHL.
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Bringing the discussion forward from the 22nd round that Sieloff was still not good enough.
There is a team that went 100% with the type of d-men that you are describing. It was the Vancouver Canucks. When it came to the playoffs and Ferland was let loose they had absolutely no answer. Pretty sure they would if they had an Engelland in their system they would have dressed him to play against Ferland. Would the Flames have won that series if the Canucks hadn't totally lost focus every time Ferland was on the ice?
The Ducks found room for 2 stay at home d-men in Stoner and Despres in addition to Beauchimin who was able to provide the physical cover so that Lindholm could do his Brodie impression.
The Hawks only played 4 d-men but they had Seabrook who was on the ice half the time and the Flames have no one in their system (and there are very few in the league) that has a similar mixed of size skill and aggression.
Even the absolute poster team for run and gun.... the Lighting had Colburn dressing and playing 16 minutes a game despite being a give away machine.
If Gio was not injured and the Flames were able to go with Gio-Brodie and Russell-Wideman against the Ducks I think that Hartley would have Engelland playing more than his regular season ice time against the Ducks.