Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Man ... not sure if it's just me, but you sure come off with a tone these days with all the pissy replies.
|
Well, I don't see myself taking personal jabs at anyone, whereas others feel no trepidation taking personal jabs at me for having an opinion. So I'm not going to apologize for having a "tone".
Quote:
|
He's a third pairing defenseman, which means you're generally sheltered in all 32 NHL cities, and not just Calgary. If Valimaki was playing he'd be sheltered too.
|
I agree.
I also agree that Zadorov is probably better in his own zone than Valimaki.
My point however, is that even guys like Justin Schultz or Erik Gustaffsson can be and have been positive goal-differential players in a 3rd pair role, so overprioritizing defensive play just doesn't seem logical.
I even don't have a major problem with Zadorov's play as an individual in that role, but when Zadorov-Gudbranson is on the ice for nearly a third of the game, it reflects in the final score. 1-1... nothing happens hockey where if your top line isn't producing, you're probably not going to win.
To date, the best 3rd pairs Treliving has put together, IMO, have been
Schlemko-Diaz (2014-15)
Kylington-Prout (2018-19)
Forbort-Gustafsson (2020-21)
And one might argue that Zadorov is, at worst, better than all but Forbort in that group of six players defensively.
But it doesn't matter... because on a pair with Gudbranson there's a glaring lack of balance. Even on the road they're typically playing against the opponent's lesser players. And when the opponent does try to take advantage,
even the defensive-minded Zadorov-Gudbranson pair will get exploited by other team's top players defensively.
Valimaki-Gudbranson were showing a lot of those positive signs that those past 3rd pairs showed... the ability to get the puck out their zone, and make things happen offensively. If Valimaki had a poor game (he did), it didn't cost us precisely because of who that bad game was against. But when Valimaki has a good game, the ceiling for the team is much higher.
Playing not to lose... playing for the loser point... I'm not a fan of this. Valimaki-Gudbranson has potential to be the best 3rd pair we've had in the entire Treliving era - even if Valimaki is not yet as consistent as I'd hope.