You aren't going to win games with out scoring goals, and I don't care how many "offensive" defensemen you have, you still need your forwards to be leading that category.
This idea that in order to be a successful team you can pass with a mediocre defensive core. Pittsburgh did it without Letang and Daley a few years ago, stacked offense and Fluery in net. Devils made it to the finals in 2012 with a bunch of mediocre guys on defense, backed by Marty Broduer playing out of his mind.
Vegas
Offense - Lethal
Defense - Solid with no "superstars"
Goaltending - Out of this world, Elite
Washington
Offense - Strong, Solid bottom 6, Ovechkin
Defense - Solid on all pairings, quiet playmaker Carlsson
Goaltending - Elite
Tampa Bay
Offense - Stamkos, Kucherov, Point, Palat, Johnson, etc..
Defense - Probably the most stacked D in the League
Goaltending - Elite (but any of Tampa's struggles link back to shaky goaltending)
Winnipeg
Offense - Fast, strong, skilled = sexy
Defense - Offensive contributors, smart defending
Goaltending - Elite
A constant on each of these teams is a forward group that scores, with help from the defense, and a goaltender that is consistent, with help from the defense.
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