Thursday, April 15, 2010

Follow up Defenseman Analysis


Here's the goods - the updated follow up chart to my deadline masterpiece. I'll comment later....

Thursday, March 4, 2010

So how's our D? One view of the Sens rearguards


I know I said I wasn’t into blogging just polluting other blogs with tongue in cheek comments for a laugh or the odd thoughtful piece of insight, but after yesterdays record deadline of trades which consisted of mostly tweaks, thought I’d throw them here instead of copy and pasting comments on my usual daily blog reads.

With the lack luster and disappointing trade deadline of 2010 I thought I would compile my thoughts on the Senators D corps from the perspective of our “bubble” defensemen -the #6 and 7 guys, and our newly acquired hitter, Andy Sutton.

At first I didn’t know what to think. I was hoping, like many sens fans, that we’d see an upgraded offensive type D come in. The name of Kurtis Foster was mentioned as a point shooter for the PP, but it appears Tampa didn’t want to part with him since they have an illusion they will be around for the second season. When that piece didn’t happen, the focus becomes on looking at what we have and can it get us to the second round, assuming the bed stays clean and we post the 92+ points to get us there in the East.

So Andy Sutton, what do you bring? People are probably going WTF? How the hell does this make us better? Well I’m gonna try to tell you. In order to evaluate this acquisition I thought it best to analyze the other names that were bandied about prior to NHLs Christmas 2010. To this end I’ve put together a chart of important stats – at least ones I see as important when evaluating the D. Aaron Ward, Dennis Seidenberg, Dan Hamhuis, Sutton along with Z Michalek – not that he was really on anyones radar but perhaps my own – because I thought of him as a depth D man, reliable, affordable and a side mention goodwill pickup to play with his big bro (family factor). I keep him on there to compare to Campoli and Karlsson, who have similar numbers and really are what fills our #6/7 defensemen.

I’ll resist taking a giant shit on Filip Kuba. He is what he is, a 6-4 220 lb lamb, who when he’s on his game can generate the O – via clean crisp timely passes but that’s about it. I refer to him as Spezza on D. Once upon a time he found the twine 15 times in a season. And it seems will have trouble totaling that for the Sens over his entire contract. But I digress.

Andy Sutton is everything Kuba is not – a shot blocking, bone crunching mountain of a man that just made our back end quite a bit more formidable, and as I write this he’s becoming really endearing to my heart. Looking at where he sits in stats for those two alone – a top 10 hitter and shot blocker (#2 behind Seidenberg) makes him our top shutdown D. You’re going holy fuck – what? “We have a love for Phillips and Volchenkov. They are our shutdown pair. You’re full of shit. Fuck off, go away.” Sorry to bust your bubble it’s true. Move over Philchenkov, big Andy’s in town.

I don’t know where he’ll fit exactly. He averaged almost 21 minutes a game on Long Island. A number that fits in with Phillips’ and Volchenkov’s minutes. I’m thinking if he’s on with Kuba – maybe he’ll complement his softness or with Karlsson, to cover his ass as he tries to dangle the puck up ice to make something happen offensively. Or with his good buddy Big Country to make shutdown pair 2 or 1B or wherever you want to rank them. Imagine Suttchenkov and Phillarkner – maybe that’s a 1A, 1B shutdown set right there.

Campoli becomes our #7. But a closer look at his numbers reveal that he is adequate, the only weak areas I see are in shot blocking. He hits at least once per game, and contributes something offensively. He really needed to step up the O a little bit and could have solidified that number 2 spot. But unfortunately didn’t and now finds himself on the same bubble he was on in New York. Shit on him all you like, he’s not Picard nor Lee so rejoice.

I don’t want to touch on what if Kuba is hurt long term or if Kuba and Karlsson go down for any period of time - thoughts of Lee or Bannister with Campoli are almost nightmarish so let’s shift gears.

With our talented top 9 forwards and 4 or 5 solid 4th liners we should have the depth and D to do damage in the playoffs. The Achilles heel may be the lack of offensive D. While only a handful of teams have had success without a bonafide number 1 D (New Jersey?) I think we have enough to compensate. The real Achilles though will be between the pipes. And I don’t want to touch that topic with a ten foot pole.

The chart … to be updated after Sens game #82.

Cheers!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Filler

I don't really wish to blog about anything. I just set this up so I can comment on other blogs (Largely Ottawa Sens hockey blogs) somewhat less than totally anonymous. So if you came here expecting some wonderful thoughts and witty commentary on life, you will be sorely disappointed. Have a terrific day!

Sincerely,
Master of Puppets