The Avs had been playing Bo a lot at RHD to start the season and there were some growing pains; it did settle down but it wasn't the best Bo we had. He stated that it took him awhile to get comfortable there but we ended up moving him back to 3rd pair LD for the rest of the season to date. He also has to find a "perfect partner" that will mesh with his playing style otherwise it doesn't work. Eric Johnson was the most successful partner he had and now they are both in Buffalo so hopefully that will help out.

What is in the water by Lake Superior that teams think lefty/righty on defense doesn't matter. 3 of the only teams in the league that have no balance are Buffalo, Toronto, and Ottawa?

It’s physically pains me to move a LShot D into the RD slots.

There’s a reason why even if hockey were to “lose positions” the game naturally would still stick inline with hand types and your core D will always be 3L and 3R.

Also OTT’s best move would be to find a hockey deal for Chychrun or Chabot (whoever they chose to keep, but JC must have an extension for Ottawa “in place”) and find a top pairing RD.

I think Buffalos 3LD was already great that’s why I would have as well, looked for a RD (COUGH COUGH SEAMUS CASEY IS RIGHT THERE!!!)(obviously would have been a different trade to navigate).

Yeah very few can do it so it should be the exception rather than the norm. It also great affects the powerplay design as you funnel pucks from the point and which hand your bumper needs to be.

Meanwhile LAK sit there with so many RHD that they can send Walker to Philly, Durzi to AZ, and STILL have a logjam for playing time on the right side.

I wonder if Ottawa and New Jersey plus a 3rd party could find a deal.

Ottawa trades whomever they don’t want to keep (TC or JC) and receive Casey plus Assets

New Jersey moves Seamus Casey while his value is so high and they have a logjam at RD

3rd party receives the defender from OTT and New Jersey receives a package of pieces they want/ need.

Casey has zero players infront of him in Ottawa except Zub, but Zub is a defensive specialist, and will not interfere with any icetime for Casey.

Looks like yet another year of “we like our group” for us

My buddy is convinced Detroit will grab Chychrun, Yeet ghostbear. He’s smarter than I am. Low bar, but still.

My old person hot-take will continue to be that the issue is a relatively new fascination and is overrated. Mostly a comfort level from guys who never played off hand side. It does make a difference on how you will approach a play (and especially on the PP), but no-one capable of playing top-four minutes should be unable to shift to the other side. It just takes some adjustment to get comfortable and retrain the brain a bit. Wouldn't be too keen on asking a young guy still getting confidence at this level to make changes to his game at the same time or ask a fringe defenseman to change his game around, but most guys should be able to get comfortable with a bit of time.
Doesn't mean guys won't have preferences, or that some guys won't play better on one side or the other, or that you shouldn't try to line up with those preferences in mind. Just think it's a relatively new coaching obsession to grab a dedicated number of L/R defensemen as opposed to grabbing the best four defensemen you can ice and try to find the right mix and partners for them regardless of handedness.

That'd be interesting for both parties. Presumably two deals, not for eachother.

Seravelli stating stl will retain half on buch

An entire year of Buchnevich under 3 mil against the cap…5.8 is already a killer number considering ufa market prices.

Somebody gonna hand over something they don’t want to hand over.

I think the speed of the game has required much quicker reactions and therefore the extra half-second of pivoting to get an off-hand player to prime passing/shooting position it does matter. Playing a puck with pressure, I do think it matters. Would love to see some analysis on it.

VGK has entered the Hanifin convo

If they get him they have the scariest Dcore

I get the arguments for. I understand it. I just say for my money, give me the best four defensemen I can ice and I'll worry about handedness later. If I had "too many" good LD or RD defensemen, I would not care. I just want the best collection of defensemen. I'm not worried about trading someone away just to have to go pick up someone with the correct handedness.

McNabb-Theodore
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
Hague-Whitecloud

He’s number 2.

Yeah I get that too, but I do think with many players you are only getting 80-90% of their best self on their off hand. It's just physics.

Many teams like to have offhand powerplay guys so they get direct shots on goal; if you only have lefty or righty you miss out on that too. Kind of the viewpoint of having wingers on their offhands is a benefit too.

I only think Lefty/Righty matters on offensive defenseman or powerplay quarterbacks. I don't think it matters with defensive-defenseman or penalty killers.

Casey has played a lot of LD in both juniors and NCAA (and center!). I don’t think he is as blocked as many think. If he is one of six best, he will play.

That's funny cuz Hanifin always reminded me of the "lefty Pietrangelo"

I enjoyed playing offhand as a forward so maybe that colours my thinking, but I don't remember any fuss about handedness in the old days.

Lol Hanifin to VGK

So glad he's not coming to the Atlantic lmfao. Better Vegas than Boston, Florida, or Tampa

Someone posted this on Twitter:


VGK gets:
Noah Hanifin 50% retained

CGY gets:
Nicolas Hague
David Edstrom
2024 1st
2025 3rd

That's great for the Flames (,if true).

Wonder how big Hanifin's VGK extension is

Gonna guess in the 6.5-7.5m range

As apparently that was also in play