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In this edition of the hotstove we share our picks for the most underutilized defenseman in the NHL.
Todd Cordell
I'll go with Brady Skjei.
Since the beginning of 2015-16, Skjei is 7th among 196 eligible defensemen (minimum 750 minutes) in 5v5 points per 60 with 1.17. The only guys ahead of him are Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, John Carlson, Dougie Hamilton and Dustin Byfuglien. The sample size isn't overly large but, obviously, Skjei is doing something right if he's in that group.
His underlying numbers are good, too, as he's 2nd among Rangers' defensemen in Corsi For% and they score 54% of the goals when he's on the ice.
Skjei can move the puck, he can skate, he puts up impressive numbers and, despite all this, five defensemen on the roster average more time on ice per game.
Play the kid.
James Tanner
Martin Marincin. He's the perfect example of a guy who is not rated highly because he doesn't score, wasn't drafted high, and was cut from a bad team. So, it seems however he plays, he doesn't earn any respect.
Obviously, this is mostly because he doesn't usually put up any points, meaning that any mistake he makes gets magnified.
If you don't worry about his rookie year, or the year he was forced to play with Mark Fayne, Marincin's team always puts more shot attempts on the opponent's net than he allows.
He even did it playing with Polak (who dropped from 55% to 47% without Marincin last year).
He is underused because the Leafs and their fans complain about a bad third pairing, and a thin defense, yet when paired with Zaitsev, they have put up a 58% CF over almost 60 minutes so far. Small sample size, but worth looking into when Rielly and Gardiner alone can make the other pairings good.
Martin Marincin is a very effective player and he should be a core part of the Leafs future. As a cost-effective 3rd pairing guy, every team should want him.
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