Quoting: Jrader17
IDK if you've seen but the Athletic just did a piece about team's deployment of their D. They noted that Carolina has a top-3 that it leans on very heavily in Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei against elite competition, so no chance they trade Skjei, he's one of only 3 Rod trusts.
They also noted that Ethan Bear and Tony DeAngelo have both been heavily sheltered in playing more than 40 percent of their minutes against the low-end competition. That lack of apparent trust in Bear and DeAngelo perhaps explains why the Canes have been linked Chychrun.. and Chychrun despite his bad underlying's this year has put up great numbers against elite competition when he's been with a capable partner aka Alex Goligoski.
A top 4 or Slavin - Pesce and Chychrun - Skjei would be downright dominant.
Okay, let me poke a few holes here.
The Athletic (Civian) notes that Skjei is also the defenseman with the worst xGA on the team. He gives up more grade-A chances and more shots than anyone else. He's also the one with the worst denial of zone entries.
Yes, TDA and Bear are sheltered. One is a kid dealing with off--ice illnesses and ankle problems, the other is a PPG defenseman who's job is to score. That doesn't mean that they're not usable. TDA will not come off that top pairing with Slavin because Slavin is the PERFECT partner for him. Covers his defensive woes perfectly and allows him to attack like a mad man.
Skjei cannot play his off-side. Still raises an issue of what player plays RD.
And Chychurn has had bad numbers for a few years now... the last 2 years have not been good, and it's concerning. Analytics are also designed to isolate the statistics to the player, and remove the horrible teammate aspect. He's still on pace for one of the worst numerical seasons in the HISTORY of analytics. He's overhyped and overrated and I really do not want him in Carolina. I'd feel much safer with someone like Carson Soucey.
Josh liked this.
Reply
CapFriendly
CapFriendly