Better D: Oilers vs. Canucks

[Love]

Canuck fans have been telling me they have the better goalie, better top 6 (better than Florida too btw) and better defense than the Oilers for a few years now. Guess what's happened during that time? Excuses time, that's what time.

The Canucks have one of the worst D cores in the League. If it wasn't for Hughes they'd be dead last. I don't even think their 4-6 make Edmonton's roster and that says something because we have a very average D core.

If the Canucks defence and goaltending is apparently so overhyped then why do the Oilers allow way more goals than the Canucks

 

[thadd]

I didn't realize Schenn signed with Vancouver. Good pick-up!

 

[lawrence]

In this one it’s the Canucks. Oel is solid. He’s overpaid as hell but he’s a solid dman. Hughes is a beast, dermont is solid and myers seem to have found another gear under bb. Canucks is more well rounded. Absolutely there are huge question marks here. Still it’s the Canucks.

 

[lawrence]

I didn't realize Schenn signed with Vancouver. Good pick-up!

He fits very well with Hughes. He’s literally a body guard for him and others Liz It’s just his mobility is questionable. At 800k he’s a steal and why teams were after him.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Now compare the two team’s offense, QoC, QoT, primary vs secondary points and you will realize their ES scoring is not the same.

You're aware that Nurse faces some of the hardest QoC matchups out there right?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

In this one it’s the Canucks. Oel is solid. He’s overpaid as hell but he’s a solid dman. Hughes is a beast, dermont is solid and myers seem to have found another gear under bb. Canucks is more well rounded. Absolutely there are huge question marks here. Still it’s the Canucks.

Dermott is someone who is required to be extremely sheltered to even have any signs of success.

Anything but solid.

 

[Phrasing]

You're aware that Nurse faces some of the hardest QoC matchups out there right?

Reread

 

[MessierII]

Nurse is better than Hughes. On another planet defensively.

 

[lawrence]

Nurse is better than Hughes. On another planet defensively.

Nope. If nurse was 5’10 he be shit. Let’s have Quinn Hughes and nurse switch places. (Take away his McDavid) dude will be a 20 point dman on a Canuck roster. He’s lucky to rack up points under McDavid and drai.

 

[MessierII]

Nope. If nurse was 5’10 he be shit.

He is better. Nurse can carry a top pairing defensively. Hughes leaned heavily on Tanev. Without him he’s struggled. Hughes is more skilled with the puck but outside of that nurse is better at everything and brings a mean streak to boot.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Nope. If nurse was 5’10 he be shit. Let’s have Quinn Hughes and nurse switch places. (Take away his McDavid) dude will be a 20 point dman on a Canuck roster. He’s lucky to rack up points under McDavid and drai.

Hughes is a glorified rover...and not good defensively, nor will be ever be due to his small size

 

[Jared Dunn]

Canucks have the worst D in the NHL

I haven't skated in 2 years and I might get a call from Montreal this year

 

[DJJones]

Oilers have some promising young guys. Vancouver has Hughes.

Not great aside from that. They played well last year but kulak/Ceci on paper looks like a horrendous second pair. Either of them take a step back and it's rough.

Vancouvers d cap structure is just terrible and I don't know how you fix it. Gotta trade a forwards one for one.

 

[strattonius]

He is better. Nurse can carry a top pairing defensively. Hughes leaned heavily on Tanev. Without him he’s struggled. Hughes is more skilled with the puck but outside of that nurse is better at everything and brings a mean streak to boot.

68 pts in 76 games. I can't wait to see how good Hughes is when he isn't struggling.

Hughes is a glorified rover...and not good defensively, nor will be ever be due to his small size

He's pretty good defensively. It's just that when he has the puck he's a one man breakout machine - truly a special player to watch.

 

[MessierII]

68 pts in 76 games. I can't wait to see how good Hughes is when he isn't struggling.

You have to able to actually play D. Hughes is extremely skilled but since losing Tanev as a partner his defensive game has been a mess.

 

[strattonius]

You have to able to actually play D. Hughes is extremely skilled but since losing Tanev as a partner his defensive game has been a mess.

His defensive game hasn't been a mess at all. That is an exaggerated hf take after he had a rough sophomore season.

Tanev was an excellent partner for Hughes he stanilized the backend when Hughes would rover the puck upnthe ice. Put it this way though - Hughes is so good He's made Luke Schenn relevant again.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

You have to able to actually play D. Hughes is extremely skilled but since losing Tanev as a partner his defensive game has been a mess.

Well Nurse ain’t great defensively or offensively. I doubt there’s a D ranking by any expert that would put Nurse ahead of Hughes.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

His defensive game hasn't been a mess at all. That is an exaggerated hf take after he had a rough sophomore season.

Tanev was an excellent partner for Hughes he stanilized the backend when Hughes would rover the puck upnthe ice. Put it this way though - Hughes is so good He's made Luke Schenn relevant again.

Nurse was so good he made Ceci relevant again

 

[MessierII]

Well Nurse ain’t great defensively or offensively. I doubt there’s a D ranking by any expert that would put Nurse ahead of Hughes.

Nurse is great defensively and pretty solid offensively he just doesn’t play on the top PP unit. 5 on 5 nurse is one of the top scoring D in the league. His defensive results 5 on 5 are really good considering the minutes and competition he faces. The guy is a horse.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Nurse is great defensively and pretty solid offensively he just doesn’t play on the top PP unit. 5 on 5 nurse is one of the top scoring D in the league. His defensive results 5 on 5 are really good considering the minutes and competition he faces. The guy is a horse.

He plays a lot of minutes. On that we agree.

 

[Mrb1p]

Realistically neither

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I'd rank the 12 dmen like this.


Quinn Hughes
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Tyler Myers
Kyle Burroughs
Travis Dermott
Tucker Poolman
Jack Rathbone
Luke Schenn
Evan Bouchard
Ryan Murray
Darnell Nurse
Brett Kulak
Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg
Cody Ceci
Slater Koekkoek

Clear winner for Vancouver.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Well Nurse ain’t great defensively or offensively. I doubt there’s a D ranking by any expert that would put Nurse ahead of Hughes.

-best ES goal differential on the team at +12 (better than Hughes)
-plays monster ES minutes against the elites (4th the line in ES/game)
-plays the most PK of any defenseman on the team (something Hughes doesn't do much)
-top 44 in ES points
-6'4" and tough, not small like Hughes

no he'll never be a major offensive d-man cause he doesn't get gobs of PP time, but he's Mr. Everything for the Oilers and brings physical elements Hughes will never have

 

[Breakers]

You have to able to actually play D. Hughes is extremely skilled but since losing Tanev as a partner his defensive game has been a mess.

Umm Hughes just had his best season defensively from an underlying standpoint

But nice try though

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Umm Hughes just had his best season defensively from an underlying standpoint

But nice try though

Yeah, Hughes defensive game is underrated. Posters who say it’s a mess obviously didn’t watch him last year. Had a solid season playing with Luke Schenn as his most regular partner.
I also don’t think Nurse is great defensively even though he does play huge minutes for the Oilers and plays an important role on the D. He just makes too many mistakes.
There isn’t any ranking of D that would put Nurse anywhere close to Hughes.
That said, while Hughes is clearly the best of both groups, I didn’t vote in the poll as the Oilers have better depth and neither D group is very good overall.