HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Most overused defender in the NHL this season?

they should both be thrown into the trash heap we call the KHL

they should both be thrown into the trash heap we call the KHL
- Lucas.Neilson

zaitsev is a better player, but with a worse contract......at least we got Connor Brown in the deal

zaitsev is a better player, but with a worse contract......at least we got Connor Brown in the deal
- sensarmy_11

zaitsev is not a better player, he too is horrendous.

brown is a decent player.

Whenever I see a "hotstove" article I want to see the opinions of more than just 2 guys. Surely it can be done?

James, why would it make sense to overplay a bad player on any team other than the Leafs? Surely the other 30 teams can evaluate talent to an extent as well, no? Or did I misinterpret this:

"The entire thing would make sense on any other team, but it's extremely weird that the Leafs are the ones who've done this"

Because the Leafs are the one team that hired a stats-based GM and they picked him over legend Mike Babcock, and they have a 9 person analytics dept. which I believe is six people more than anyone else.

Because the Leafs are the one team that hired a stats-based GM and they picked him over legend Mike Babcock, and they have a 9 person analytics dept. which I believe is six people more than anyone else.
- James_Tanner

Right, but that's the GM, not the coach. So I would agree that re-signing him was odd, but Babcock was the one who had the final say in his deployment. And we all know he doesn't give a hoot for them.

But wouldn't you say it would also be off for a team like CBJ or Chicago to do the same? I believe Chicago was, at least at one point, the leading analytics-based organization in the league.

Because the Leafs are the one team that hired a stats-based GM and they picked him over legend Mike Babcock, and they have a 9 person analytics dept. which I believe is six people more than anyone else.
- James_Tanner

maybe shanny doesn't know what he's doing?

maybe dubas good good at interpreting stats and applying him to the real world?

isles are looking good for the playoffs though.

Geez, get a load of Tanner's take....oh wait... he's right.

maybe shanny doesn't know what he's doing?

maybe dubas good good at interpreting stats and applying him to the real world?

isles are looking good for the playoffs though.
- Tumbleweed

I’m pretty sure Chyka is “stats based” too.

Geez, get a load of Tanner's take....oh wait... he's right.
- OzBolts

I'd argue that Zaitsev is up there too. Hell, Duncan Keith and Mike Green make compelling cases, too.

I'd argue that Zaitsev is up there too. Hell, Duncan Keith and Mike Green make compelling cases, too.
- jmatchett383

I felt the same with Girardi last year. Blegh.

I felt the same with Girardi last year. Blegh.
- OzBolts

Now you've got his replacement in McDonagh. At least McDonagh was actually good once.

I’m pretty sure Chyka is “stats based” too.
- Tanooki

doesn't have the budget for it.

has too improvise and do it old school. turn on the tv watch a game or pickup the phone and talk to somebody.

doesn't have the budget for it.

has too improvise and do it old school. turn on the tv watch a game or pickup the phone and talk to somebody.
- Tumbleweed

"How did he Corsi? Was he xGF?"

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Most overused defender in the NHL this season?
- ToddCordellVAN

Trouba. He is a good player, but Fox and DeAngelo have outperformed him on a nightly basis. Signing Trouba to 8M, and having Shatts buyout combine for 14M AAV next season was a ridiculous move by their GM. Now Shatts has 20 points in 24 games in Tampa......... With Smith/Staal still combining 11M AAV for the next two seasons, it really didn't make any sense to bring in this pricey D, who has been underwhelming.

Honorable mention to my Devs P.K. Subban. He looks slow and has shown no signs of being a top pairing D. The only good thing is that the Cap hit doesn't appear to be hindering them, as Hall likely won't be a Dev, and Greene/Simmonds 10M will be off the books. Should have about 28M cap space this offseason.

Trouba. He is a good player, but Fox and DeAngelo have outperformed him on a nightly basis. Signing Trouba to 8M, and having Shatts buyout combine for 14M AAV next season was a ridiculous move by their GM. Now Shatts has 20 points in 24 games in Tampa......... With Smith/Staal still combining 11M AAV for the next two seasons, it really didn't make any sense to bring in this pricey D, who has been underwhelming.

Honorable mention to my Devs P.K. Subban. He looks slow and has shown no signs of being a top pairing D. The only good thing is that the Cap hit doesn't appear to be hindering them, as Hall likely won't be a Dev, and Greene/Simmonds 10M will be off the books. Should have about 28M cap space this offseason.
- bikeguy99

this is crap

Now you've got his replacement in McDonagh. At least McDonagh was actually good once.
- jmatchett383

McD's been fine. Not great, not bad. He's been perfectly serviceable as a #3.

Cernak and Serg have been fine. Shatty has been awesome. Schenn, Coburn and Ruuta have been what you want from them.

Heddy is Heddy as always.

Our issue is not the D corps. Vasy's sub-.910 sv% sure is looking ugly with that stupid contract kicking in next year.

McD's been fine. Not great, not bad. He's been perfectly serviceable as a #3.

Cernak and Serg have been fine. Shatty has been awesome. Schenn, Coburn and Ruuta have been what you want from them.

Heddy is Heddy as always.

Our issue is not the D corps. Vasy's sub-.910 sv% sure is looking ugly with that stupid contract kicking in next year.
- OzBolts

I never thought Coburn got a fair shake. He was never going to live up to being a #8 overall pick, but he was a damn fine defenseman if you didn't put him on the top pair.

zaitsev is not a better player, he too is horrendous.

brown is a decent player.
- Lucas.Neilson

Zaitsev isn't leaps and bounds better, but he is better. i'm willing to bet if you offered GMs both players, on the same contracts, most of them would take Zaitsev

I'd argue that Zaitsev is up there too. Hell, Duncan Keith and Mike Green make compelling cases, too.
- jmatchett383

I'll take Ceci over all of them. Check out the term on those

McD's been fine. Not great, not bad. He's been perfectly serviceable as a #3.

Cernak and Serg have been fine. Shatty has been awesome. Schenn, Coburn and Ruuta have been what you want from them.

Heddy is Heddy as always.

Our issue is not the D corps. Vasy's sub-.910 sv% sure is looking ugly with that stupid contract kicking in next year.
- OzBolts

Goalies are not worth signing massive $ and term too. At least he's young unlike Price and Bobrovsky

I'll take Ceci over all of them. Check out the term on those
- RogerRoeper

if you're looking at contracts, sure........but in terms of talent and ability to actually play hockey, Ceci is easily the worst of that group

if you're looking at contracts, sure........but in terms of talent and ability to actually play hockey, Ceci is easily the worst of that group
- sensarmy_11

Not sure I agree about "Easily" Seabrook looks finished. Not an NHl player and 5 years left.