Is Lindholm-McAvoy even a "pair". Yes they are the top 2 defenders for Boston; but are they a true pairing?

I'd say Hawks are bottom 5 but not last. Jones is over hated, it'll just be a question if whatever rookie (likely Vlasic) is paired with him can hold his own. If Vlasic does start on the top pair they'll at least have one of the tallest top pairings in the league at 6'6" and 6'4".

What’s the argument against it? Ekholm is one of the best 5v5 D in the NHL. Bouchard is above average-elite at everything at 5v5

Especially when you look at playoffs

And the issue is they didnt fix it they just running it back

Pairing will be good but being sheltered with McDavid or Draisaitl + other factors wont put them same convo as the other pairings mentioned.

Could also basically say any Dpairing from VGK at this point to

As everyone there's just good

No in fact does sending Bouchard down to meet cap requirements count as subtracting

But yea they need at least 2 Dman to be in that conversation

Ekholm sucks at special teams, but there are only a handful of defenseman who are better two way defenseman at 5v5. He’s a more physical Devon Toews.

* This isn’t analytics for anyone who wants to use that argument

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damn bro charge your phone

Then there’s Bouchard. Not many D in the NHL who are as well rounded as him offensively. He can do it all at an elite level.

I’m open to seeing legitimate counter arguments not just based on personal preference . I’m not an oilers fan, I have no dog in the fight

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I’m at the beach, don’t have a charger on me!

Ah. Well, hope it doesn't die there!

I live across the street it’s all good lol

Columbus is gonna be a team to watch as its interesting their GM made a lot of win now moves when it was unnecessary yet they still have a nice prospect pool

Who knows may not be done

Think you're just a lot more bullish on that grouping than me.

Ekholm - Bouchard is legitimately fantastic. Top 5 is maybe a bit much for me at this point after only 21 games where well over 50% of their time was spent with the best player in the world (over 75% if you throw Draisaitl in there as well). Not to take anything away from them, they're great, just want to see more before a declaration of top 5, especially with Ekholm's age.

The rest is just kind of meh for me.

Nurse obviously has great offensive numbers, but so often I watch him play and just think to myself, "I have no idea what you were doing there"

Kulak I like in a bottom pair role.

Not a fan of Desharnais - oftentimes looks like he doesn't belong on NHL ice.

Broberg I also like but is having trouble carving out a role for himself. Not that they've given him a ton of opportunity to do so.

Then you've got Ceci sitting there at 3 and a quarter. Not sure what the plan with him is.

I think there is a clear-cut TOP 4 pairings in the NHL, and the arguments to be made start around the "5th best" ranking with less all-around greatness and situational pros/cons, deployment, and playstyle factoring in.

Great all-around top pairings:
Toews-Makar
Martinez-Pietrangelo
Slavin-Burns
Lindgren-Fox

If Lindholm-McAvoy was an actual full-time pairing: I'm sure they would rank high. As would Heiskanen and Josi if they actually had a solid/regular partner.

In the Running:
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Anderson-Doughty
Dunn-Larsson
Samuelsson-Dahlin
Forsling-Ekblad
Lindholm-Carlo
Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Sergachev-Cernak
McNabb-Theodore
Middleton-Spurgeon
Morrissey-Pionk
Pelech-Pulock
Petterson-Letang
Hedman-Perbix
Ekholm-Bouchard (small sample size)
Chabot-Chychrun is one to watch if they stay healthy and together.

Avs get Kiviranta on a PTO. Capfriendly users win again

It comes full circle

calgary has a sneaky good D core, especially if they get kylington back. i also think toronto’s d is getting too much hate

If Toronto can figure out how to add Bear when hes healthy they got something interesting

Rielly-Bear
Brodie-Klingberg
McCabe-Liligren

Gio can rotate

But yea Brodie-Klingberg is perfect as one can help the others weakness. Brodie is amazing defensively but 0 offense now. Klinberg's the opposite. Match made in heaven

I really liked the Flames D 1-6; just that their top pair (Hanifin-Andersson) struggled last year and Weegar-Andersson didn't get as much time together; perhaps that will change with Hanifin on his way out.

The ekholm Bouchard situation is interesting because while ekholm should see a decline due to age Bouchard should see improvement. Will be fun to see how it plays out.

I think Ceci is what a ton of teams, like the Sabres,
want: the guy who takes minutes to keep the top guys from over exposure. I personally think 2-4 mil for Ceci or similar on my team (stl) would be very helpful. Love me some Bobby Bortuzzo but he’s at the career stage where he starts making guys like Ceci seem appealing.

I’m v bullish on edmontons defense. I didn’t think it could be possible for me to root for Evander Kane either, yet here we are. Except when they play stl.

Sorry to just Spam quote everyone but I think this topic is pretty interesting!
I think one guy being elite helps a pair. Having someone like Dahlin, Hamilton, McAvoy or Heiskanen definitely gives their pair a significant advantage IMO if they have a top pairing guy or top 4, who is solid defensively next to them because of their game breaking abilities. Statistically Ekholm and Bouchard who broke out offensively in the playoffs could disprove my theory but I don't think or just feel that they will not be as consistent over a full season. We will see. Lindholm - McAvoy may not be a pairing just through that one out their because for some reason it came into my mind lol.


Edit: nvm it didn't quote everyone

Not related to hockey but freaking nuts anyone see what the Angeles just did

Imagine an NHL team did that ****

Wow is that bad

Dont care, Davis Schneider runs the league