Confirmed Signing with Link: [CAR] D Jaccob Slavin signs extension with the Hurricanes (8 years, $6.46125M AAV; begins 2025-26)

[CanesUltimate11]

Using Natural Stat Trick for 2021/22 - 2023/24


GA Pesce 46; on ice GA/60 =4.95
GA Slavin 58: on ice GA/60 = 5.15
GA - GF Pesce 38; on ice differential/60 = -3.85
GA - GF Slavin 45; on ice differential/60 = -3.99

Admittedly not a lot to separate them. But given the tougher competition faced by Pesce, the actual results don't support a Slavin is "clearly" superior argument.

I started my original post acknowledging Slavin is an elite defender. Not sure why others get so "defensive" about the results indicating another defender is as good or ever so slightly better at one aspect of defending.

You do have to take into account D partners though. Pesce has Skjei and Slavin has Burns and before that TDA. Pesce/Skjei get a lot of the tougher matchups because there are out there as shutdown pair with the ability to score. Slavin/Burns(TDA) were out there to help drive offense plus be able play good defense.

 

[HockeyVirus]

It does feel like Slavin is highly over rated. In the same way OEL was in the early 2010's. THat doesn't mean he isn't a great player, but people talk about him as a top 5 dman and all of that and it simply isn't based in reality. The contract reflects that

 

[Derailed75]

You do have to take into account D partners though. Pesce has Skjei and Slavin has Burns and before that TDA. Pesce/Skjei get a lot of the tougher matchups because there are out there as shutdown pair with the ability to score. Slavin/Burns(TDA) were out there to help drive offense plus be able play good defense.

And the raw numbers don't always tell the whole story. There are minutes long videos of Slavin single handedly stopping 2 one 1's and 3 on 1's against some of the best offensive players in the game. While Pesce is really good and the Canes will miss him you won't find that type of highlight real for him

 

[tarheelhockey]

I find it hard to question numbers that are repeated for several years?

So the numbers are biased?

Of course numbers can be biased. “Is a better defender” is not the same thing as “is on the ice for fewer PKGA/60”.

At some point the numbers are the answer--many who watched the SCF say the Oilers were better regardless of the situation. Still, the Cup was awarded to Florida.

You just undermined your own point. The Oilers can in reality be the better hockey team and still lose a close series on factors other than being the better hockey team. This happens all the time and is part of the chaotic, unquantifiable nature of the game.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

It does feel like Slavin is highly over rated. In the same way OEL was in the early 2010's. THat doesn't mean he isn't a great player, but people talk about him as a top 5 dman and all of that and it simply isn't based in reality. The contract reflects that

He is THE or at least very close to the best defensive defenseman in the league. Whether you want to put that as top 5 in the NHL or not is up to you. I don't think anyone is claiming he's anything he isn't. He's an excellent defender who is also top 25 in even strength points and takes 0 penalties while playing 20-23 minutes a game.

 

[HockeyVirus]

He is THE or at least very close to the best defensive defenseman in the league. Whether you want to put that as top 5 in the NHL or not is up to you. I don't think anyone is claiming he's anything he isn't. He's an excellent defender who is also top 25 in even strength points and takes 0 penalties while playing 20-23 minutes a game.

Interesting way to say soft as shit. There is a reason the Canes never go deep in the post season.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Interesting way to say soft as shit. There is a reason the Canes never go deep in the post season.

Interesting way to show people you don't know what the hell you're talking about

Canes have made it to the final 4 as recently as the 2023 playoffs. What a waste of bandwidth

 

[BKarchitect]

Wait did some actually just say Slavin is soft because he doesn’t take boneheaded penalties, is always in good position and has the jets and hands to take the biggest stars in the league out of plays without drawing the attention of officials?

 

[Chrispy]

Interesting way to say soft as shit. There is a reason the Canes never go deep in the post season.

Ah, so you're not a hockey fan, you're a fan of CTE.

That explains a lot.

 

[thegazelle]

Superb signing of not just a solid defensive player, but also a top shelf character and integrity guy as well, respected by fans and teammates alike and who is very active in giving back to his community. A great ambassador of the game.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Interesting way to say soft as shit. There is a reason the Canes never go deep in the post season.

Noted Leaf's fan HockeyVirus is an expert on why the Canes, who have one at least 1 round every year in the playoffs and have been to two ECF's "never go deep in the post season".

Over that stretch, the Leafs have won 1 round.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Should be investigated for cap circumvention some under the table money in Carolina

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

It does feel like Slavin is highly over rated. In the same way OEL was in the early 2010's. THat doesn't mean he isn't a great player, but people talk about him as a top 5 dman and all of that and it simply isn't based in reality. The contract reflects that

OEL in the early 2010s had only 3-4 seasons of good/decent play under his belt.
Slavin has 10.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Should be investigated for cap circumvention some under the table money in Carolina

Why?

Again, who are the comparable deals out there that makes this such a fantastic deal? He is signed until 39 years old. It's market value (ish). Points get you paid at an elite level in the NHL, not defensive ability.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

It does feel like Slavin is highly over rated. In the same way OEL was in the early 2010's.

OEL was the best defenseman on a garbage team, Slavin is the best defenseman on a consistently top-5 team (though they may take a step back this year).

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Should be investigated for cap circumvention some under the table money in Carolina

Not really.

Like it or not, it's scoring that gets the big bucks for defensemen. Guys like Slavin and Pesce, who are insanely valuable on the ice and help teams win, don't rake it in when it comes to contracts as they don't put up big points and don't play on the PP.

Even though Slavin had the 21st most 5v5 points among defensemen in the NHL this year and 22nd most over the past 3 years combined, he doesn't get PP time and isn't a natural on the PP, so he won't get paid like defensemen that put up a lot of points.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Ah, so you're not a hockey fan, you're a fan of CTE.

That explains a lot.

.. What?

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

.. What?

Exactly

Should be investigated for cap circumvention some under the table money in Carolina

Just like all of the hometown Leafs players who left money on the table to sign with Toronto dirt cheap to live out their childhood dream

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Interesting way to say soft as shit. There is a reason the Canes never go deep in the post season.

Yeah I'm sure the Canes would go much further if Jaccob Slavin started taking stupid penalties in the playoffs. How'd that work out for Toronto with Nazem Kadri?

But sure, putting your best penalty killer in the box against the best players in the world sounds like a sound strategy.

 

[emptyNedder]

Interesting way to say soft as shit. There is a reason the Canes never go deep in the post season.

This is a terrible take. Slavin puts up defensively impressive numbers against the McDavids, Matthewses, and Pastrnaks of the league. He doesn't need to mug them in the process.

And numbers matter--otherwise teams should just play the games without keeping score and then let viewers vote so the best team isn't misidentified due to the vagaries of the game.

Numbers are even more important when you realize that people who "know" things are regularly unreliable as a source of determining the truth

 

[emptyNedder]

And the raw numbers don't always tell the whole story. There are minutes long videos of Slavin single handedly stopping 2 one 1's and 3 on 1's against some of the best offensive players in the game. While Pesce is really good and the Canes will miss him you won't find that type of highlight real for him

NHL Now: Feisty Friday | NHL.com

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Those are ranks in the entire NHL at that point. Not sure where Pesce ended up, but yeah, there are highlights if you want to see someone playing D.

 

[VainGretzky]

Very good contract solid solid dman