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Calgary4LIfe · 09-24-2021, 02:07 PM

Just a few comments from what I read:

1) The "Brodie can't play the LS" stuff isn't really a thing. Brodie did VERY well on the LS paired with Engelland, and was arguably the best player on the team in those playoffs. Listening to Brodie after that terrible season, he himself stated that it was more about the playstyle as to why he had a poor season, and didn't even mention the LS. Is he better on the RS? Yes, but he is still good on the left. Playstyle + having to play with Hamonic = crap Brodie. Everything else = great defencemen. Look how much better Hanifin was last season after playing with Tanev or Andersson vs Hamonic too.

2) There are a number of thoughts about defensive pairings. Sure, having a stacked top pair is super awesome. Hopefully they can play 30 minutes a night too (doubtful). Even with the best case scenario of them being able to play half the minutes, what about the other half?

Andersson was awful last season. There was some advanced metrics posted up early this week which showed how terrible Andersson was (was it puck battles? I think that was it IIRC, but I might be wrong). I hope Andersson rebounds, but he is the slowest defencemen out there (maybe Gudbranson is slower now, but I that's not a given).

Zadorov isn't slow, but his agility is subpar - that's his weakness in his skating. It helps that he is big and has a reach, but having poor agility (not poor really, but probably below average) + a slower defencemen on a tandem may not be ideal.

Valimaki has shown he has some nice tools, but last season he has shown he is not ready for big minutes and more responsibility. Until he can show that in real game situations consistently, then he is a 3rd pairing young and (hopefully) improving defencemen. Makes sense to keep him there until he proves us otherwise. Gudbranson in the top 4 would be a mistake.

I think this is a rather logical way to approach the defence this year.

Last season, Hanifin - Tanev were essentially a 'shut-down' pairing - they contributed practically zero offensively for a long time, but were the best defensive pairing in the NHL. That has to change. Giordano is gone, and he was (once again) the top point producer on defence. Hanifin HAS to take that step forward. Having the best skating defencemen on the pair with the worst (at least in my opinion) is probably a good idea.

Zadorov has some pretty decent underlying metrics in terms of shot-suppression - perhaps him and Tanev can work well together being a 'shut-down' pairing (there really isn't anything else to their game, so if they can't form a formidable shut-down pairing, this season is going to get tough - good news, however - I expect them to be a good shut-down pairing). I am not a fan of shut-down pairings in this modern NHL - but at least this will be a more physical pairing while they do it too, which adds at least something else. I believe that as a defencemen, you need to be able to offer 2 things - the modern NHL defencemen should be able to offer offence/defence, or at least 'transition-playmaking/defence' (Brodie, and hopefully Hanifin this year). If not, and you are ONLY good at defence, you are not as valuable to your team in terms of winning games. Being physical and difficult to play against is adding something (not as important as offence obviously) but at least something 'more'. Nobody was scared playing against the top defensive pair last year, though perhaps frustrated. Hopefully this season they will both be frustrated and hurt.

I am not sure those pairings will work, but I think it makes sense for now. Zadorov - Tanev get the best lines. Hanifin - Andersson can be on the ice with Gaudreau - Monahan - Mangipane and hopefully be a fast strike offence type of unit. Zadorov - Tanev with Tkachuk-Lindholm-Coleman will be more of a 200ft line, and Zadorov can be there to get in those scrums with Tkachuk too.

Obviously being 4 lines and 3 defence pairings will shake things up somewhat, but I would like to see those combinations on the ice often. Backlund's line will of course get a lot of time with the Tanev pairing, as they are going to go up against the top lines most nights I assume.

This is going to be an interesting experiment, that's for sure. On paper, and based on last season's numbers, this is probably the lowest scoring defensive corps in the league, no? If not, it must be one of the lowest scoring on paper. I think they will still be solidly in the bottom 3rd at least after this season is over, but who knows? I won't say that Hanifin won't improve (his progression in terms of defence blew me away last season, as I didn't think he had the IQ to consistently be in such a good defensive position). Maybe he takes a step forward. Maybe Andersson took to heart what Sutter said about conditioning, and he has the energy to win more puck battles and take even a half-step forward offensively (great tools mostly, and I really think his footspeed has hurt him from taking that next step).

I will stop it there as we all know about Valimaki/Kylington - both very good offensive toolsets in different ways, but you can't count on them given their history thus far (but I bet both will be in the NHL for a long time - they are both 'modern' NHL defencemen that I think will have long careers as they continue to improve).

I am eager to see what this team can do this year. I am eager to see how hard they work every shift, and how quickly different players get put into the doghouse as Sutter breaks their bad habits that were ignored by Gulutzan, Peters and Ward. Yes, Peters too - Neal was only scratched once since signing here, and that was the last game of the playoffs - he was a blackhole everywhere on this roster and continually looked like he was barely making an effort - especially defensively - but he kept getting his minutes with Gaudreau - Monahan after every penalty kill).

This will hopefully be a breath of fresh air type of season. Team may not win a cup this year (with Sutter, who really knows??? lol). However, I bet they are an easier team to cheer, and I bet a few players will hit career highs or near career highs (Gaudreau and Monahan).

09-24-2021, 02:07 PM	#38
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Just a few comments from what I read: 1) The "Brodie can't play the LS" stuff isn't really a thing. Brodie did VERY well on the LS paired with Engelland, and was arguably the best player on the team in those playoffs. Listening to Brodie after that terrible season, he himself stated that it was more about the playstyle as to why he had a poor season, and didn't even mention the LS. Is he better on the RS? Yes, but he is still good on the left. Playstyle + having to play with Hamonic = crap Brodie. Everything else = great defencemen. Look how much better Hanifin was last season after playing with Tanev or Andersson vs Hamonic too. 2) There are a number of thoughts about defensive pairings. Sure, having a stacked top pair is super awesome. Hopefully they can play 30 minutes a night too (doubtful). Even with the best case scenario of them being able to play half the minutes, what about the other half? Andersson was awful last season. There was some advanced metrics posted up early this week which showed how terrible Andersson was (was it puck battles? I think that was it IIRC, but I might be wrong). I hope Andersson rebounds, but he is the slowest defencemen out there (maybe Gudbranson is slower now, but I that's not a given). Zadorov isn't slow, but his agility is subpar - that's his weakness in his skating. It helps that he is big and has a reach, but having poor agility (not poor really, but probably below average) + a slower defencemen on a tandem may not be ideal. Valimaki has shown he has some nice tools, but last season he has shown he is not ready for big minutes and more responsibility. Until he can show that in real game situations consistently, then he is a 3rd pairing young and (hopefully) improving defencemen. Makes sense to keep him there until he proves us otherwise. Gudbranson in the top 4 would be a mistake. I think this is a rather logical way to approach the defence this year. Last season, Hanifin - Tanev were essentially a 'shut-down' pairing - they contributed practically zero offensively for a long time, but were the best defensive pairing in the NHL. That has to change. Giordano is gone, and he was (once again) the top point producer on defence. Hanifin HAS to take that step forward. Having the best skating defencemen on the pair with the worst (at least in my opinion) is probably a good idea. Zadorov has some pretty decent underlying metrics in terms of shot-suppression - perhaps him and Tanev can work well together being a 'shut-down' pairing (there really isn't anything else to their game, so if they can't form a formidable shut-down pairing, this season is going to get tough - good news, however - I expect them to be a good shut-down pairing). I am not a fan of shut-down pairings in this modern NHL - but at least this will be a more physical pairing while they do it too, which adds at least something else. I believe that as a defencemen, you need to be able to offer 2 things - the modern NHL defencemen should be able to offer offence/defence, or at least 'transition-playmaking/defence' (Brodie, and hopefully Hanifin this year). If not, and you are ONLY good at defence, you are not as valuable to your team in terms of winning games. Being physical and difficult to play against is adding something (not as important as offence obviously) but at least something 'more'. Nobody was scared playing against the top defensive pair last year, though perhaps frustrated. Hopefully this season they will both be frustrated and hurt. I am not sure those pairings will work, but I think it makes sense for now. Zadorov - Tanev get the best lines. Hanifin - Andersson can be on the ice with Gaudreau - Monahan - Mangipane and hopefully be a fast strike offence type of unit. Zadorov - Tanev with Tkachuk-Lindholm-Coleman will be more of a 200ft line, and Zadorov can be there to get in those scrums with Tkachuk too. Obviously being 4 lines and 3 defence pairings will shake things up somewhat, but I would like to see those combinations on the ice often. Backlund's line will of course get a lot of time with the Tanev pairing, as they are going to go up against the top lines most nights I assume. This is going to be an interesting experiment, that's for sure. On paper, and based on last season's numbers, this is probably the lowest scoring defensive corps in the league, no? If not, it must be one of the lowest scoring on paper. I think they will still be solidly in the bottom 3rd at least after this season is over, but who knows? I won't say that Hanifin won't improve (his progression in terms of defence blew me away last season, as I didn't think he had the IQ to consistently be in such a good defensive position). Maybe he takes a step forward. Maybe Andersson took to heart what Sutter said about conditioning, and he has the energy to win more puck battles and take even a half-step forward offensively (great tools mostly, and I really think his footspeed has hurt him from taking that next step). I will stop it there as we all know about Valimaki/Kylington - both very good offensive toolsets in different ways, but you can't count on them given their history thus far (but I bet both will be in the NHL for a long time - they are both 'modern' NHL defencemen that I think will have long careers as they continue to improve). I am eager to see what this team can do this year. I am eager to see how hard they work every shift, and how quickly different players get put into the doghouse as Sutter breaks their bad habits that were ignored by Gulutzan, Peters and Ward. Yes, Peters too - Neal was only scratched once since signing here, and that was the last game of the playoffs - he was a blackhole everywhere on this roster and continually looked like he was barely making an effort - especially defensively - but he kept getting his minutes with Gaudreau - Monahan after every penalty kill). This will hopefully be a breath of fresh air type of season. Team may not win a cup this year (with Sutter, who really knows??? lol). However, I bet they are an easier team to cheer, and I bet a few players will hit career highs or near career highs (Gaudreau and Monahan).