James Tanner: Why Yandle Is One of the NHL's Best Defensemen Often underrated as a one-dimensional player, Keith Yandle has been one of the best for a long time.

But he'd sure look good in another teams colours if the Coyotes want to rebuild the right way!

I'd probably call him a great #2. Just outside really the top 30

Good write up James

I'd compare Yandle to Brent Burns if you have a shutdown defender as his partner he will be great...........to start the season we had Burns paired with Mirco witch was a disastrous cause for all his good Burns isn't a shutdown defender and to ask a rookie to babysit Burns it just wasn't good. We trade for Dillon a complete 180 as Dillon is the yin to Burns yang.
But that's the key if you have shutdown defender with Yandle that pair would be great & that's what teams need to have who ever is looking to trade for him imo.

When you say massive, you mean...?

I'd probably call him a great #2. Just outside really the top 30
- TheNugeIsHuge

Based on what? I just gave you some pretty objective information that suggest he's an elite #1 and in the top 5 - ten at the worst.

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

Good write up James

I'd compare Yandle to Brent Burns if you have a shutdown defender as his partner he will be great...........to start the season we had Burns paired with Mirco witch was a disastrous cause for all his good Burns isn't a shutdown defender and to ask a rookie to babysit Burns it just wasn't good. We trade for Dillon a complete 180 as Dillon is the yin to Burns yang.
But that's the key if you have shutdown defender with Yandle that pair would be great & that's what teams need to have who ever is looking to trade for him imo.
- SJSharks39

My thinking is to take this information a step further - I believe that if Yandle and OEL played together they would be dominant. Unfortunately that never happens 5v5.

I don't believe you need a "stay at home" to go with a puck mover, I truly believe most NHL coaches are beyond that at this time. Yandles most common partner is Stone this year and he's a puck mover too. They play at 50% possession on a crap team.

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

Honestly, if he didn't play in Phoenix, he already would be.

PK and EK have Norris Trophies. If Yandle gets traded, he'll win one soon.

Was actually really hoping the bruins would make a play on him.

Chara - Seidenberg
Yandle - Hamilton

that would be beautiful to see

Honestly, if he didn't play in Phoenix, he already would be.

PK and EK have Norris Trophies. If Yandle gets traded, he'll win one soon.
- James_Tanner

I hope Burns can get some love for the Norris this year Dam east coast biased

This blog completely ignores the fact Yandle plays against teams second lines, not top competition; and starts most of his shifts in the offensive zone. If you were trying to prove Yandle was one of the NHL's best second pairing defensemen, this would be a very compelling blog.

This quote suggests that traditional ways of thinking about defensemen are wrong. You don't need slow, plodding, crease clearing tough defensemen - they are ineffective. Instead, a puck moving defenseman who gives you a positive possession total over the aggregate is far, far more valuable.

The quote suggests that given the choice between a defensemen who is strong defensively or strong offensively the latter is better. But your premise of it having to be one or the other is flawed. Yes, a guy who is a 10 offensively and a 4 defensively is more valuable than a 4 on offense and a 10 on defense. But neither is anywhere close to as valuable to a guy who is an 8 or 9 on both ends of the ice. If Yandle has a slight edge offensively on some of the top defensemen in the NHL; their overwhelming superiority to him defensively still puts them in a whole other category value wise.

I hope Burns can get some love for the Norris this year Dam east coast biased
- SJSharks39

Isn't Burns brutal in his own end?

Reminds me of a poor mans Bryan Campbell. A pretty solid top 4 Dman who can (and still does) log minutes and put up numbers. Lack of solid Defense will keep Campbell (and Yandle) from the handle of a "top 30" defenseman.

Isn't Burns brutal in his own end?
- rangerdanger94

He struggles with defending zone entries...........but the Norris usually always goes to the highest point getter.

I like Yandle. I think he's a great top-pairing guy. I do think some of his possession stats are inflated due to Phoenix's system the past few years but he's a great offensive-minded defenseman. He was brutal last year though and lost his spot on Team USA's Olympic team which was virtually a lock due to his poor play.

He's a defenseman any team could use, but stay-at-home defensemen provide your team with a different dynamic and are also important.

This blog completely ignores the fact Yandle plays against teams second lines, not top competition; and starts most of his shifts in the offensive zone. If you were trying to prove Yandle was one of the NHL's best second pairing defensemen, this would be a very compelling blog.



The quote suggests that given the choice between a defensemen who is strong defensively or strong offensively the latter is better. But your premise of it having to be one or the other is flawed. Yes, a guy who is a 10 offensively and a 4 defensively is more valuable than a 4 on offense and a 10 on defense. But neither is anywhere close to as valuable to a guy who is an 8 or 9 on both ends of the ice. If Yandle has a slight edge offensively on some of the top defensemen in the NHL; their overwhelming superiority to him defensively still puts them in a whole other category value wise.
- Antilles

Sorry, but you're wrong. The fact is, quality of competition is not really a factor over a large sample size. If you play against better guys, you play with better guys. If you play against weaker players, you play with weaker players etc.

This is a fairly established fact. QOC matters, but more or less in smaller samples.

Reminds me of a poor mans Bryan Campbell. A pretty solid top 4 Dman who can (and still does) log minutes and put up numbers. Lack of solid Defense will keep Campbell (and Yandle) from the handle of a "top 30" defenseman.
- jackzack87

I can't win.

This kind of response literally makes me want to smash my head into a break wall.

Based on what? I just gave you some pretty objective information that suggest he's an elite #1 and in the top 5 - ten at the worst.
- James_Tanner

based on who I'd personally rather have.

Doughty, Weber, Pietrangelo, Chara, Karlsson, Suter, Subban, McDonagh, Keith, Seabrook, OEL, Giordano, Brodie, Hedman, Kronwall, Letang. I think a case can be made for guys like Andy Greene, Shattenkirk, Fowler, E Johnson, Burns, Hamuis, Byfuglien, Carlson, Green, Edler. Potentially Lindholm, Hamilton, Brodin, Murray, Ekblad, S Jones, Rielly, Trouba in the near future.

I like Yandle. I think he's a great top-pairing guy. I do think some of his possession stats are inflated due to Phoenix's system the past few years but he's a great offensive-minded defenseman. He was brutal last year though and lost his spot on Team USA's Olympic team which was virtually a lock due to his poor play.

He's a defenseman any team could use, but stay-at-home defensemen provide your team with a different dynamic and are also important.
- rangerdanger94

No, he lost his spot on Team USA because it was ran by morons who don't understand hockey in the 21st century.

How can his possession stats be inflated when he plays on a horrible team that constantly loses? Also, a defensive team that creates very little offense.

If anything, playing on Phoenix makes his stats all the more incredible and suggests they'd be even higher if he played on a team with an elite forward or two that actually tried to score goals.

I can't win.

This kind of response literally makes me want to smash my head into a break wall.
- James_Tanner

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

based on who I'd personally rather have.

Doughty, Weber, Pietrangelo, Chara, Karlsson, Suter, Subban, McDonagh, Keith, Seabrook, OEL, Giordano, Brodie, Hedman, Kronwall, Letang. I think a case can be made for guys like Andy Greene, Shattenkirk, Fowler, E Johnson, Burns, Hamuis, Byfuglien, Carlson, Green, Edler. Potentially Lindholm, Hamilton, Brodin, Murray, Ekblad, S Jones, Rielly, Trouba in the near future.
- TheNugeIsHuge

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.

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

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

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

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

No, he lost his spot on Team USA because it was ran by morons who don't understand hockey in the 21st century.

How can his possession stats be inflated when he plays on a horrible team that constantly loses? Also, a defensive team that creates very little offense.

If anything, playing on Phoenix makes his stats all the more incredible and suggests they'd be even higher if he played on a team with an elite forward or two that actually tried to score goals.
- James_Tanner

He said in an interview himself that he was playing poorly and didn't expect to make the team.

The Yotes have been a pretty average possession team over the last 3-4 years. So it's not like he's putting up amazing numbers on a terrible possession team. He isn't even top 10 on your team this year in CF%.

Do you think that OEL is a better player than Yandle?