NHL teams ranked by defense group

[dieHARDflameZ]

Look BigSmoke, I get it, you’re a giant Leafs fan posting on a Flames board trying to convince us all that they have a great D. I disagree with you. I think they are stacked on offence and they have a goaltender who despite early season struggles, really turned his game around and that along with elite coaching was the reason they made the playoffs.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by BigSmoke

Based on what stats? He was good last season but far from elite.
You are trying to spin it as he kept them in the playoffs.

Andersen stopped more pucks than any other goalie in the League last year.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by BigSmoke

...Don't you think you are overrating Andersen quite a bit? What team would leap them? They finished way ahead of Florida for 3rd. It wasn't even close...

A ten-point swing is not an unreasonable difference between excellent and average goaltending.

[BigSmoke]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

A ten-point swing is not an unreasonable difference between excellent and average goaltending.

So are they good enough to crack the top 3 this year? I think Florida is better than last year.

Maybe a team with Anderse again, Rielly, Kadri, Tavares, Marner, Matthews/ Marleau misses the playoffs.

No wonder you think they are overhyped. You think they are not even good.

[BigSmoke]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Andersen stopped more pucks than any other goalie in the League last year.

True, but he also started the most games and played the most minutes.
Andersen's backup actually had better stats with that same D FYI. And Mcbackup was on waivers the previous season. He suddenly at 34 had a career year. Humm. Maybe that D isn't too bad and you are giving Andersen too much credit.

Curtis McEhinney

18 15 11 5 0 1 528 35 2.15 .934 3 980

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by BigSmoke

So are they good enough to crack the top 3 this year? I think Florida is better than last year.

Maybe a team with Anderse again, Rielly, Kadri, Tavares, Marner, Matthews/ Marleau misses the playoffs.

No wonder you think they are overhyped. You think they are not even good.

God...

Is this what we can expect from you for the duration of your time here at CP? You know, most other posters who do not identify as Flames fans make actual contributions to a variety of other conversations and don't merely exhaust themselves with hand-waving, apologetic defences of their favourite teams. This is going to get very old very fast if you are running on this tack.

[BigSmoke]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

God...

Is this what we can expect from you for the duration of your time here at CP? You know, most other posters who do not identify as Flames fans make actual contributions to a variety of other conversations and don't merely exhaust themselves with hand-waving, apologetic defences of their favourite teams. This is going to get very old very fast if you are running on this tack.

I am picking Calgary to win the division.

But you guys are vastly underrating Edmonton. They are back in the playoffs this year.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by BigSmoke

I am picking Calgary to win the division.

But you guys are vastly underrating Edmonton. They are back in the playoffs this year.

Hahahaha good one. That’s like saying you guys are vastly underrating the Canadians. They are back in the playoffs this year. Yeesh.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

Hahahaha good one. That’s like saying you guys are vastly underrating the Canadians. They are back in the playoffs this year. Yeesh.

and yet the Oilers are shorter odds to win the SC than the Flames.

I would rather go into the season taking the Oilers as a serious team like the start of last season rather than writing them down as weak sisters of the poor.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

and yet the Oilers are shorter odds to win the SC than the Flames.

Which is a scathing indictment on the actual correlation between betting odds and the true probability of NHL results. Edmonton is no good.

I would rather go into the season taking the Oilers as a serious team like the start of last season rather than writing them down as weak sisters of the poor.

Of course, the team needs to take every one of its opponents very seriously. But we as fans enjoy the luxury of consequence-free investment in sports. You go ahead and hold onto your belief in the Oilers because "reasons." I will continue to loudly and proudly proclaim my complete and total disdain and lack of respect for that entire organization, the team, the on-ice product, and the players.

Edmonton is no good. No one can save them. No one.