Top 20 D in the NHL?

I gotta admit I got totally hung up when I saw Tomas Kaberle. What a joke. I know there's an east coast bias, but when it's a VAN site putting Kaberle in the top 20 I'm not sure how there's any room to complain. It almost made me overlook the fact that J-Bow, Gooch and Phaneuf are on the list as well.

over 1 year ago Rob Parker 16 comments 0 recs |

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How kind of them to add Streit as number 22 considering he’s better than at least 5 guys on that Top 20 list easy.

"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich

by Carl Putnam on Jul 29, 2010 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

I know, right. He has been under the radar for so long and I think the Olympics really showed he’s not just a PP specialist.

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Jul 30, 2010 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Outside the Top 10 there are about 30 guys who could be 11-20.

But yeah…

Choking since 1985.

by macvechkin on Jul 29, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed, but Kaberle isn’t one of them.

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Jul 30, 2010 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

One of the commenters claims to be a “DIE-HARD CAPS FAN” and says Mike Green should be off that list and Jeff Schultz should be on… I want some of those crazy pills.

by JimCareyFanClub on Jul 29, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

I think the authors are looking more at fantasy perspective than actual winning hockey games. I’m really not sure if there’s another explanation for this.

Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!

by Knee high to a duck on Jul 29, 2010 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

Well, “highly” penalized guys are good from a fantasy perspective but not so great for winning. That’s right, Schultz does not get penalized all that much. (I’ll admit I have not read that article or checked out the PIM’s of the guys on the list but that’s a possible theory.)

Rocking the Red since 1975

by CapsFan75 on Jul 30, 2010 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah good point. Kabele will always have pretty good fantasy numbers.

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Jul 30, 2010 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

This guy must vote on the Norris Trophy.

"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."

by The Ghost of Bebop on Jul 30, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

The List

Please Remove:

Rafalski: Still a good player, but not a top 20 in the league anymore… definitely a top pair guy though

Gonchar: When he’s healthy, maybe… except he’s missing lots of games lately… part of being a top 20 is being there every night

Phaneuf: Top 20 hitters yes…top 20 overall on D…no

Bouwmeester: Used to be on the list….still a top pair guy, but not top 20 overall.

Add:
Mark Streit: The guy can bring it, and does, every night

Zach Bogosian: Watch this kid in Atlanta… he’s got all the tools, a shame he plays for such an awful team

Jeff Schultz: Hey, +50 is +50… the guy is one of the best defensive defensemen in the league

Brian Campbell: Yeah he’s overpaid, but he’s still a very effective player…

Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 30, 2010 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

I am in no way, shape, or form buying Jeff Schultz as a top-20 D in the NHL. +50 is the result of an absurdly high save percentage behind him and a lot of 8-19-22 time in front of him. Jeff is a fine player and I’m glad he’s on the team we root for, but he’s absolutely not better than all but 19 other D in the NHL.

Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!

by Knee high to a duck on Jul 30, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. I wouldn’t have him top 20 right now either. It’s kind of tough to really formulate a top 20 but I know that this list definitely isn’t right.

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Jul 30, 2010 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know where Schultz would rank in that list but he’s certainly underrated. As flawed as the Plus/Minus statistic is, he and Green have been our top 2 in that department for the last two years (even though they flip flopped their relative order.)

Rocking the Red since 1975

by CapsFan75 on Jul 31, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m with ya on not being top 20

but…

“absurdly high save % behnd him”?

by Brainumbc on Aug 2, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

How do you distinguish between saying Schutlz benefited from “an absurdly high save percentage behind him” and the BtN article about save% on/off? How is Schultz the beneficiary of the high save % but the other D are the causes of higher save %?

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Aug 2, 2010 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

No love for Lubo?

Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.

by jordanDC on Aug 6, 2010 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

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