HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Which NHL team has the worst defense core?

Colorado has 3 NHL defensemen signed right now...you'd have to think it would be them...

Colorado has 3 NHL defensemen signed right now...you'd have to think it would be them...
- BashCH

Barrie and Johnson are good defenseman that's the only reason why I couldn't pick them

The reverand may not be the best, but not a 7/8. i remember not to long ago, when he played a vital top-4 role, on a teams stampede through the playoff field...

Barrie and Johnson are good defenseman that's the only reason why I couldn't pick them
- AdamFrench

Same

The reverand may not be the best, but not a 7/8. i remember not to long ago, when he played a vital top-4 role, on a teams stampede through the playoff field...
- joecool2931

So did Ron Hainsey.

Devils and it's not a contest

The reverand may not be the best, but not a 7/8. i remember not to long ago, when he played a vital top-4 role, on a teams stampede through the playoff field...
- joecool2931

Problem is he played top pair last year, and it was disastrous, I'm not sure Andy Greenes regression is so much age as it is going from having Adam Larsson as a partner to Lovejoy. Devils love to ride Greene with tough minutes, putting Lovejoy in those situations guarantees a bottom 3 finish.

Andy Greene is one of those players that was very under rated and then became so-often-called-underrated-that-now-he's-overrated and now he's just aging and would be much better suited in a second or third pairing role.

Barrie and Johnson are good defenseman that's the only reason why I couldn't pick them
- AdamFrench

I Knew you loved my boys

What about our savior, Iron Mike Kapla?

But yeah, our D is horrible.

When David Schlemko was probably your best defensive signing you're screwed. And then you let the guy walk away?!

When you trade pics for Mirco Muller and let Seth Helgeson walk you might not have made any real progress. We'll see.

When you never give Vojtec Mozik and NHL shot but he's hands down your best defender in the AHL, it's not great asset management.

When you sign Kyle Quincey off the scrap heap and then trade him for a worse defender in Dalton Prout, it's a problem.

When you add Victor Loov, Brandon(?) Gromley and Marc-Andre Gragnani you're scraping bottom. I won't even mention Auvitu....

It's pretty ugly. Hopefully somebody steps up and surprises us.

Colorado has 3 NHL defensemen signed right now...you'd have to think it would be them...
- BashCH

No way, Avs have a sexy core.

BarBAErio cant do no wrong

What's up ladies? pic.twitter.com/2B5qjPzOLG

— Dario (@DarioinDenver) February 26, 2017

The Wings or Devils.

Yeah, we do have the worst d in the nhl. I actually think our forward core isn't near the worst, but that may be a little biased and is including zajac as healthy

A bit outside the box, but how about Montreal? Shea Weber can obviously still play, but if you look outside of him it's pretty grim...

Sergachev, Markov, Beaulieu, and Emelin all out the door. Replaced with pylons like Schlemko, Morrow, and Streit

And I don't care how much $$ Alzner is being paid. That guy is junk

A bit outside the box, but how about Montreal? Shea Weber can obviously still play, but if you look outside of him it's pretty grim...

Sergachev, Markov, Beaulieu, and Emelin all out the door. Replaced with pylons like Schlemko, Morrow, and Streit

And I don't care how much $$ Alzner is being paid. That guy is junk

Still better than NJ in my opinion...

I really don't think Toronto's is much to brag about though. Reilly had an off year and needs more time to grow into his role. Gardiner makes some of the most ridiculous giveaways, Zaitsev was good but not great - reminded me of Gardiner at times. They still don't have a solid guy in their own end.

Still better than NJ in my opinion...

I really don't think Toronto's is much to brag about though. Reilly had an off year and needs more time to grow into his role. Gardiner makes some of the most ridiculous giveaways, Zaitsev was good but not great - reminded me of Gardiner at times. They still don't have a solid guy in their own end.
- mgriffen

Very true. Leafs d corps is certainly not top tier. But there are enough options, outside of Rielly, Gardiner and Zaitsev, to feel comfortable about. Between the two Swedes they plucked from the SEL, Dermott, Liljegren, Hainsey, and Carrick, they'll be able to cobble something decent together. If they manage to hit another homerun with one of the kids (a la Zaitsev), they'll be doing quite well

The issue with Montreal is that there's nothing in the pipeline to replace all of these old plugs

Very true. Leafs d corps is certainly not top tier. But there are enough options, outside of Rielly, Gardiner and Zaitsev, to feel comfortable about. Between the two Swedes they plucked from the SEL, Dermott, Liljegren, Hainsey, and Carrick, they'll be able to cobble something decent together. If they manage to hit another homerun with one of the kids (a la Zaitsev), they'll be doing quite well

The issue with Montreal is that there's nothing in the pipeline to replace all of these old plugs
- AxlRose91

Simply because Shea Weber is that (frank)ing good, Habs still have a better defense than the Leafs today. Petry and Alzner are good players despite what you're implying.

As for the future, you're entitled to believe in Dermott, Liljegren and other young guys but so are the Habs who have interesting prospects on defense like Victor Mete and Juulsen.

jesus. we know our d stinks. this blog is just kicking the dog.

Still better than NJ in my opinion...

I really don't think Toronto's is much to brag about though. Reilly had an off year and needs more time to grow into his role. Gardiner makes some of the most ridiculous giveaways, Zaitsev was good but not great - reminded me of Gardiner at times. They still don't have a solid guy in their own end.
- mgriffen

DeKeyser for Gardiner.

jesus. we know our d stinks. this blog is just kicking the dog.
- AkA

nope you should feel bad, we all should feel bad about your D

nope you should feel bad, we all should feel bad about your D
- DDM-Coga

(frank)ing Coga, bashing on the only team he can.

(frank)ing Coga, bashing on the only team he can.
- Scabeh

He takes what he can, whenever he can.

the Stars D looks pretty bleak.

the Stars D looks pretty bleak.
- Blackstrom2

Methot, Hamhuis, Klingberg and Honka?