Quote:
Originally Posted by FireGilbert
If the Stars come back to win does this disprove the theory you need to build your team around centres? Seguin hasn’t done much leaving Pavelski as their top centre but he is only 6th in team scoring behind 2 D and 3 wingers. The Dallas success seems more based around having two elite D plus incredible forward scoring depth.
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From the evidence at hand I'm getting the idea that you can compensate for not having top tier center quality with having elite puck moving and scoring defenders and having a system that allows them to be effective.
You need one or the other, along with quality depth down the lineup.
This is why players like Ekblad get taken first overall. But that caliber of defenseman that a guy like Heiskenan is developing into are few and far between, so its a gamble.
It makes sense looking at the Flames as well. Their best hockey during this rebuild has come when their defense was playing dynamic hockey and producing. Monahan isn't going to drive play but when Gio or Brodie are on and joining the play, it makes the forward lines a much greater threat.
If your dman can break up a play at one end then be at the other moments later setting up a quality scoring chance, that's as good as having a quality 1C. But again, rare breed of player to affect the game from that position.
Dallas struck gold having two top-end, young, producing defenders.
Yet to be seen but if Andersson raises his production game we could have a pretty good one going forward here as well.
