A better comparison for Yandle is Shea Weber or Erik Karlsson. That's how good he is.
- James_Tanner

Those 2 players are totally different yet they're both comparable to Yandle?

He will be considered the NHL's best defenseman as soon as he gets traded to the Leafs...at least on TSN and Sportsnet!!!!
- Nolanders

If this is how you feel then there's really no point in going any further. Laughably bad. OEL>>Yandle
- TheNugeIsHuge

Says the guy inventing opinions out of thin air. OEL = Yandle. There isn't much to choose between them. OEL probably has a better hockey IQ but Yandle is more flat-out talented with the puck.

They are both amazing players and in the right situations either could win a Norris. Both are likely going to end up in the Hall of Fame.

Says the guy inventing opinions out of thin air. OEL = Yandle. There isn't much to choose between them. OEL probably has a better hockey IQ but Yandle is more flat-out talented with the puck.

They are both amazing players and in the right situations either could win a Norris. Both are likely going to end up in the Hall of Fame.
- James_Tanner

So if you think OEL = Yandle and that Yandle is top 5 in the league, then OEL is too. The Yotes have 2 of the top 5 defensemen in the league?

So if you think OEL = Yandle and that Yandle is top 5 in the league, then OEL is too. The Yotes have 2 of the top 5 defensemen in the league?
- rangerdanger94

I really don't believe in ranking them 1 through 10 or whatever. The thing is, different guys do different things, teams have different needs etc.

Do I think the Coyotes have two of the NHL best dmen, and that both are elite #1 guys? Absolutely.

Are there guys I'd rather have? Sure, but the list is short. I think there are about 15-20 guys in the NHL who you could easily argue are top ten defensemen and its extremely subjective and there's no way to prove it because we all value different things.

So if you think OEL = Yandle and that Yandle is top 5 in the league, then OEL is too. The Yotes have 2 of the top 5 defensemen in the league?
- rangerdanger94

Of course. They are going to be one of the first teams in history to have 2 of the top 5 defensemen & a guy who is capable of scoring what would have been top 15 in points last year all stay healthy for the whole season, but finish in the bottom 3.

Says the guy inventing opinions out of thin air. OEL = Yandle. There isn't much to choose between them. OEL probably has a better hockey IQ but Yandle is more flat-out talented with the puck.

They are both amazing players and in the right situations either could win a Norris. Both are likely going to end up in the Hall of Fame.
- James_Tanner

Yes I invented this opinion to achieve the ultimate goal of believing what most people do and not 1 single delusional yotes fanboy.

Yandle's a bit better offensively, but there's a reason he averages 6 seconds a game on the PK and OEL carries the harder minutes. He isn't much in his own end. Kind of important if you're gonna be compared to the elite like Doughty Weber

But unless you're a professional hockey scout, or you've mined an incredible amount of data, you are basing this entirely on reputation.


Yandle is better than most of those players.
- James_Tanner

Curious, James, which ones you think he's better than. I will grant you a few. But not: Suter, Keith, Seabrook, Chara, Doughty, Subban, maybe McDonagh. After that, I think it becomes a lot more debatable. I also think you have to look at guys like Hedman, OEL, Brodin and Trouba for their upside. I also think Jake Muzzin would enter in this conversation somewhere.

Unfortunately, IMO, defense is the least understood position by most fans. Which includes a lot of the media. I agree that way too much emphasis is put on points. The best guys are the ones who do great things at both ends and play the huge minutes: Suter, Chara, Keith, Doughty. Maybe Chara is on the downward side. But those are the guys who make differences in games by what they take away from opponents playing huge minutes and then contributing on the other end.

I don't put Yandle in their class.

Just my .02. Interesting thought provoking blog, regardless.

(and you can call me a homer, but Seabrook has taken it to another level this year, guy would be def in the Norris conversation this year. Won't be because he splits votes with Keith and doesn't put up the huge points).

Why? That's not that unfair.

Campbell's having an off season offensively, but has still been a solid 1-2 guy for years. You can argue Yandle is a bit better offensively, but I'd argue Campbell's better defensively in a harder role
- TheNugeIsHuge

Spot on.
Very similar players, high on the Offense, at the cost of solid defense.

Guys like Karlson and Weber are guys who win Norris trophies and make you drool when you think of adding them to your team. OEL is closer to being a top 20 Dman, but Yandle, while would probably fit easily into the top 1-2 spot on most teams, especially on the PP and offensive zone, doesn't have what Karlson and Weber have.

Either this tanner dude is actually legitimately out of his mind and rides an uneducated Yotes boner every day, or he is just in this blogging thing for the hits. If that's the case, we're the suckers for enjoying this drivel.

Yes James. Prepare to be flamed like I was two years ago One of the better number 2's in the league.

He is good. but not top 10, barely top 30. IMO, if a guy cant play defense, he shouldnt be playing defense. Yandle would be great with a shut-down Dman, but the top guys make their partner better, not other way around. you can line up any AHL dman with Chara and its a decent pairing.

Yandle is good, just not great. if he was, AZ would be playing better.

Being that Yandle would be the Flyers best D-man should he get traded there in an alternate universe... I dont really have anythig bad to say about him, however, he is not "one of the best D-men in the league". Even OEL is better than Yandle....

Yes James. Prepare to be flamed like I was two years ago One of the better number 2's in the league.
- AdamFrench

I'll agree to that. Just around/outside top 30 D league wide. Top 5? Give me a break

I'll agree to that. Just around/outside top 30 D league wide. Top 5? Give me a break
- TheNugeIsHuge

I agree...but it's James. He lives for the spotlight, it's why he's a cool guy to talk with.

He is good. but not top 10, barely top 30. IMO, if a guy cant play defense, he shouldnt be playing defense. Yandle would be great with a shut-down Dman, but the top guys make their partner better, not other way around. you can line up any AHL dman with Chara and its a decent pairing.

Yandle is good, just not great. if he was, AZ would be playing better.
- richardson30

I agree with the essence of this. The best guys play huge minutes, take a lot away from the other team and can still contribute on the other end.

does any one know what AZ is looking to get back for Yandle? not sure if they are rebuilding and want picks back, or if they want quality NHL talent going back.

Curious, James, which ones you think he's better than. I will grant you a few. But not: Suter, Keith, Seabrook, Chara, Doughty, Subban, maybe McDonagh. After that, I think it becomes a lot more debatable. I also think you have to look at guys like Hedman, OEL, Brodin and Trouba for their upside. I also think Jake Muzzin would enter in this conversation somewhere.

Unfortunately, IMO, defense is the least understood position by most fans. Which includes a lot of the media. I agree that way too much emphasis is put on points. The best guys are the ones who do great things at both ends and play the huge minutes: Suter, Chara, Keith, Doughty. Maybe Chara is on the downward side. But those are the guys who make differences in games by what they take away from opponents playing huge minutes and then contributing on the other end.

I don't put Yandle in their class.

Just my .02. Interesting thought provoking blog, regardless.

(and you can call me a homer, but Seabrook has taken it to another level this year, guy would be def in the Norris conversation this year. Won't be because he splits votes with Keith and doesn't put up the huge points).
- John Jaeckel

Hey, good post. I don't necessarily agree with it all, but at least you're thinking and not just spouting the same reputation based nonsense that prompted this blog in the first place.

I think if Yandle played for Chicago, he might be considered better than Keith - which really illistrates the problem here: how do you compare a guy who's played on a terrible team for five years vs a guy who has played on an elite one? If I was building a team today, my first D pick would be Hedman.

Oel is Def the better defenseman already and he's 5 years younger than yandle. Yandle is a solid offensive d man who gets much easier zone starts and faces easier competition then oel. I think oel is closer to a top 15 dman spot then yandle. It's laughable that you would think yandle is a top 5 or 10 in the league. Weber, doughty, kieth, seabrook, giordano, Karlsson, sutter, mcdonaugh, pietrangelo, hedman, not in that order buts top 10 in league.
I would argue yandle most comparable player would be shattenkirk.

does any one know what AZ is looking to get back for Yandle? not sure if they are rebuilding and want picks back, or if they want quality NHL talent going back.
- richardson30

My guess is they want a top 6 forward, 1 or 2 1st rd picks and a prospect. Is he worth that price??? I wouldnt make that deal...

Yes James. Prepare to be flamed like I was two years ago One of the better number 2's in the league.
- AdamFrench

Haha I don't mind. But I still say he's a legit #1 and one of the best. Fact is, when he's on the ice, very very few players have the effect that he does. I agree that not killing penalties might detract from his value, but you also, but is anyone prepared to say that Phil Kessel isn't one of the top three wingers in the NHL just because he doesn't kill penalties?

Bottom line: Yandle has more impact positively on games than 99.9% of players.

Haha I don't mind. But I still say he's a legit #1 and one of the best. Fact is, when he's on the ice, very very few players have the effect that he does. I agree that not killing penalties might detract from his value, but you also, but is anyone prepared to say that Phil Kessel isn't one of the top three wingers in the NHL just because he doesn't kill penalties?

Bottom line: Yandle has more impact positively on games than 99.9% of players.
- James_Tanner

That is a true statement though...

Better than Kessel:

Perry, Voracek, Hossa, Ovechkin, Benn, Zetterberg, St.Louis, Landeskog.... I could keep going....

That is a true statement though...
- GOA88

He is good. but not top 10, barely top 30. IMO, if a guy cant play defense, he shouldnt be playing defense. Yandle would be great with a shut-down Dman, but the top guys make their partner better, not other way around. you can line up any AHL dman with Chara and its a decent pairing.

Yandle is good, just not great. if he was, AZ would be playing better.
- richardson30

There is so much wrong with this.....for one, lots of teams miss the playoffs with elite players (Stamkos, Tavares, kessel etc)

for another, and again, I realize I am writing against a VERY INGRAINED way of thinking, but you just do not need to pair Yandle with a "shutdown" D....he almost never is....His most common partner for 7 years was Morris, and not peak era Morris, but an average to decent player. This year it's Stone. He continues to dominate games.

Look at Brodie / Gio by conventional standards that shouldn't work...just a single example, but very revealing none-the-less.

Frankly, like I said, I don't really like to rank guys, but if there are 30 defenseman better than Yandle, I will eat my damn hat....there aren't even five who impact games to the extent he does.

Top five points.
Top five possession.

So he doesn't kill penalties, big deal.

Hey, good post. I don't necessarily agree with it all, but at least you're thinking and not just spouting the same reputation based nonsense that prompted this blog in the first place.

I think if Yandle played for Chicago, he might be considered better than Keith - which really illistrates the problem here: how do you compare a guy who's played on a terrible team for five years vs a guy who has played on an elite one? If I was building a team today, my first D pick would be Hedman.
- James_Tanner

Yandle isn't even close to kieth in any aspect at all. Kieth is a true elite d man who makes everyone around him better. Top 3 defensively and top 3 offensively. Kieth is a elite number one. You saying he would be better than kieth is laughable. Kieth is miles and miles better than yandle at everything.

Oel is Def the better defenseman already and he's 5 years younger than yandle. Yandle is a solid offensive d man who gets much easier zone starts and faces easier competition then oel. I think oel is closer to a top 15 dman spot then yandle. It's laughable that you would think yandle is a top 5 or 10 in the league. Weber, doughty, kieth, seabrook, giordano, Karlsson, sutter, mcdonaugh, pietrangelo, hedman, not in that order buts top 10 in league.
I would argue yandle most comparable player would be shattenkirk.
- 28Girouxsalem28

It sure is laughable. Look at me using actual data to compare my points while people disagreeing with me cannot muster anything other than reputation based arguments, logical fallacies and the ideas that have been disproved (i.e the role of shut-down guys, not playing two puck movers together, etc).