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Reader Debate: Clayton Stoner

November 22, 2014, 11:05 PM ET [22 Comments]
Ed Stein
Anaheim Ducks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
This is the first of what could be many reader debates in this space. Clayton Stoner has been the Ducks most polarizing player so far this season.

I'm going to be handling the “pro-Stoner” side, but I'm also going to be using some past reader comments.

Clayton Stoner was brought in to be a physical presence and to be a defensive oriented defenseman. He has done both. He leads all defensemen in hits. His hits make a strong statement as Dustin Brown can attest to.

How about blocked shots? Its actually a measure of defensive acumen. Stoner is 2nd in the team. How about turnovers? Stoner has the fewest on the team among defensemen. Its funny that positioning is mentioned when Stoner is one the better defensemen when it comes to his positioning for the Ducks.
Sniper11 – Nov 18

He is second on the team in blocked shots and has the most blocks over the past month.

Stoner has been one of Anaheim's better defenders all year. His positioning and strength in the slot is what the Ducks were missing in the playoffs. His effect on Manson has been especially underrated. The kid has made huge strides since his first two games. You can see stylistic differences in his game : his gap control is a really good example. This is good coaching and you can see it if you go to a game and watch the way Stoner interacts with him between whistles.
Sniper11 – Nov 17

I'm going to agree again. Stoner has been paired with young defensemen all season. He has embraced the role mentor. There are no stats for this, just what you see. What you see is a patient veteran explaining things to younger players.

Hey, I love Stoner, and think he's been just fine so far. He's a defensive defenseman. I have no problem with his salary. I like him better than Allen and Fistric.
Yzermaneely – Nov 3

I wish that was a ringing endorsement. Quite frankly if the Ducks had not acquired Stoner, either Allen or Fistric would be the sixth defenseman. That would have been a very bad situation for the Ducks. Stoner has played his role as well as Bob Murray could have hoped. For when he signed Stoner.

The objections I've had about Stoner in the past had to do with the big contract he received. I had thought the money spent on him could have been better spent. I'm not totally ready to give up on that, but I will say that there are many more intangibles that Stoner has brought to the table than I expected.

The anti-Stoner side of the argument has been written by a very loyal reader, selanne4pres.

So let’s get the record straight right off the bat. Clayton Stoner is not an effective NHL defenseman. Oh but people say that he does not have to contribute often because he is a defensive defenseman? Excuses. Stoner brings the entire team down while he’s on the ice. Quite honestly I have never seen anything like it.

Personally, I have a goalie background. It gives me the chance to see the game in a completely different way from a skater or a casual viewer. Just like advanced stats are attempting to show I have always noticed teams that possess the puck are more likely to win games. In order to accomplish this, a team not only needs to hold on to the puck but not allow the opposition to take shots. This makes speed, passing, and pressure an essential trait for every NHL defender.

As you all know Stoner was given a four year thirteen million dollar contract. This came just a few days after a roster spot was cleared with the trade of Luca Sbisa (thank god). I guess Murray’s rational here was let’s give our excess money to another pylon since we have plenty of room. That gave the Ducks a total of nine signed defenseman for the 2014-2015 season. Seem a little ridiculous? Probably, but since this is not a rant on Bob Murray I will just move on. What was most alarming about this signing is that it gave us three players with the same skill set. Allen (Gaborik’s little helper), Fistric, and now Stoner. None served a purpose on the team besides playing the occasional minutes on the PK, yet for some reason GM’s still value grit and players that compensate a lack of skill for compete level. Not only was Stoner overpaid, but his money could and should have been used for other types of players.

In my opinion Stoner’s biggest shortcoming is his skating. It is so apparent that I have started calling him an NHL level bender. The guy cannot skate with a normal posture. He bends perpendicular to the ice at the waist every time a skater comes at him. A defender cannot move effectively if his body is not balanced, which allows skaters to skate to the outside and get around him. People may argue that Stoner is still able to block shots; however, this stat does not have a significant effect on the game. A shot is still a shot no matter if it gets through or not. Add in Stoner’s complete inability to pass to his own team and lack of hockey sense and you get a player that should put icing the puck on his resume. I’ll even throw one stat in here. Stoner is 171st in the league with a GA/60 of 4.11 (only for players above ten games). That is not Stanley Cup material. This may all change if Manson continues looking like a wonder child but my point still stands. Stoner does not deserve a consistent spot on this team. My ideal defense:

Fowler-Lovejoy
Lindholm-Manson
Beauch-Vatanen

Now its time to hear from the rest of the readers. What do you think about Stoner?

Thanks to selanne4pres for his well thought out arguments.

-Ed
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