DeKeyser

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

It's his second year in the league and he's already the #2 guy.

???

Yeah on a team with Kyle Quincey, Jakub Kindl, Brian Lashoff, Jonathan Ericsson, Brendan Smith, and rookie Xavier Ouelett. Hardly surprising that a 3-4 guy is already better than every defenseman on our team not named Kronwall.

 

[SoupGuru]

Yeah on a team with Kyle Quincey, Jakub Kindl, Brian Lashoff, Jonathan Ericsson, Brendan Smith, and rookie Xavier Ouelett. Hardly surprising that a 3-4 guy is already better than every defenseman on our team not named Kronwall.

OK, with a top pairing defenseman added, he's pushed down to a 3 or 4, which is where you expect him to top out. You're basically saying he will never be better than he is now. I don't see it.

 

[Frk It]

OK, with a top pairing defenseman added, he's pushed down to a 3 or 4, which is where you expect him to top out. You're basically saying he will never be better than he is now. I don't see it.

He could get better as a player in the same role, as we get deeper on the back end, which is exactly what I expect to happen.

People put too much stock into the #2, #3, #4 titles.

 

[14ari13]

I think a lot of people underrate making safe plays and keeping the play in front of you.

It's hard to bring Lidstrom into any conversation without the conversation getting derailed, but I think it's obvious that DeKeyser's biggest role model is Lidstrom. Lidstrom's defensive game was 90% positioning and 10% stick. Plays just die when they go towards DeKeyser.

I think his point production comes from finding the right guy to keep the play alive. I think he sees the ice pretty well and knows where his outlets are and what the safe play is all the time. The safe play can end up being a step away from a goal.

When I saw DeKeyser the very first game, my first thought was Lidstrom. DeKeyser is smart and reads the game really well.

Yes I think when all is said and done he will be better than Kronwall. He is still very young and I would argue he is the 2nd best defenseman we have. Just watch him play.

I also think he might end up being better than Kronwall. Not saying he will, but I see the potential. The time will tell.

 

[Actual Thought*]

When I saw DeKeyser the very first game, my first thought was Lidstrom. DeKeyser is smart and reads the game really well.

I also think he might end up being better than Kronwall. Not saying he will, but I see the potential. The time will tell.

Obviously none of know for sure but I don't think it is crazy to think a 2nd year defenceman in the NHL will develop and improve. As you said, he is very smart and his positioning is superb for such a young player.

 

[Actual Thought*]

He could get better as a player in the same role, as we get deeper on the back end, which is exactly what I expect to happen.

People put too much stock into the #2, #3, #4 titles.

What are the glaring flaws in his game that lead you to believe he will never mature into a larger role?

 

[NervousPerson]

Found this link via Malik from the Hockey Writers:

"Fast forward to today, and DeKeyser has quietly become a dominant shutdown defenseman. Coach Mike Babcock has praised DeKeyser, suggesting that he and partner Kyle Quincey have been Detroit’s best defensive pairing. In fact, DeKeyser has quietly taken the principles of coach Mike Babcock’s shot suppression system and become one of the best defensemen in the NHL at suppressing scoring chances."

http://thehockeywriters.com/danny-dekeyser-detroits-defensive-superstar/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=danny-dekeyser-detroits-defensive-superstar

I do like him a lot but this article makes him sound amazing.

 

[SoupGuru]

I don't think it would be too controversial to say that DeKeyser is the best defender on the Wings. His ability to read the play coming at him is top notch. Kronwall has a better offensive game but DeKeyser is learning those ropes too.

Positioning positioning positioning

 

[Laser Rayzor]

I don't think it would be too controversial to say that DeKeyser is the best defender on the Wings. His ability to read the play coming at him is top notch. Kronwall has a better offensive game but DeKeyser is learning those ropes too.

Positioning positioning positioning

That is quite the controversial opinion. I'd say anyone that says DK is the best D-man on the Wings would be in the minority.

 

[SoupGuru]

That is quite the controversial opinion, I'd say anyone that says DK is the best D-man on the Wings would be in the minority.

The terms we use cause confusion.

There should be a word for "a guy actually playing defense when the other team has the puck"

That's what DeKeyser is good at.

"Playing the position of defenseman on a hockey team" is a different thing and Kronwall is the best at that for the Wings.

 

[Laser Rayzor]

The terms we use cause confusion.

There should be a word for "a guy actually playing defense when the other team has the puck"

That's what DeKeyser is good at.

"Playing the position of defneseman on a hockey team" is a different thing and Kronwall is the best at that for the Wings.

Ahh I see, then I'd agree with you.

 

[TimoneX]

DDK quietly kills odd man rushes against. The guy makes great decisions.

 

[The Zermanator]

I think Kronwall is better offensively and defensively, but wouldn't be surprised if DeKeyser overtakes him defensively in 2 or so years. I think DeKeyser has the edge for defending 2 on 1's though.

 

[Satrebil]

Safe to say that DDK is the closest Brad Stuart replacement we've had since he left.

Less physical, bit more offensive, but a defense-minded defenseman.

 

[JPE123]

I don't think it would be too controversial to say that DeKeyser is the best defender on the Wings. His ability to read the play coming at him is top notch. Kronwall has a better offensive game but DeKeyser is learning those ropes too.

Positioning positioning positioning

Dekeyser is also very good with his stick defensively. I think his long reach really helps him. He still makes a few mistakes which is to be expected but overall the guy is a gem defensively

 

[14ari13]

Found this link via Malik from the Hockey Writers:

"Fast forward to today, and DeKeyser has quietly become a dominant shutdown defenseman. Coach Mike Babcock has praised DeKeyser, suggesting that he and partner Kyle Quincey have been Detroit’s best defensive pairing. In fact, DeKeyser has quietly taken the principles of coach Mike Babcock’s shot suppression system and become one of the best defensemen in the NHL at suppressing scoring chances."

http://thehockeywriters.com/danny-dekeyser-detroits-defensive-superstar/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=danny-dekeyser-detroits-defensive-superstar

I do like him a lot but this article makes him sound amazing.

I like it. I have several times that DeKeyser will become our best player, better than Nyquist and Tatar.
I think Babcock should try DeKeyser with Kronwall.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I like it. I have several times that DeKeyser will become our best player, better than Nyquist and Tatar.
I think Babcock should try DeKeyser with Kronwall.

He has, there is a drop off in his play when he deploys on the right-side. Kronwall suffers the same problem, it just isn't a great pairing, plus it weakens the staple part they both play in their own pairing.

 

[odin1981]

Don't see either as being realistic. Kronwall's not even considered a top 10 defenseman by a lot of folks. Do you see Dekeyser being better than Kronwall? If so, I don't know what to tell you. That's where people start to go really overboard with Dekeyser.

Not impossible per se, but to EXPECT it? Pump the brakes a bit here.

I could see him becoming a Vlasic style type defender in his prime but top 10 is one hell of a stretch.

You can really see how he has molded his game after Lidas though. Not that he has a comparable level of talent to him. But I think for the next decade or so all Detroit D's will be unfairly judged by the "Lidstrom effect". Because you know top 5 all time d's just come around every 10 years or so .

 

[Frk It]

Babcock with some comments and praise on Dekeyser.

"Is he an offensive defenseman? No. Is he getting better every day? Absolutely," Babcock said. "Is he a guy that one day can run a second power play? He's doing it for us right now, so obviously he's getting better. Is that his calling card? No.

"He makes the least mistakes of anybody on our back end," Babcock said before Monday's game against the Montreal Canadiens. "He's an elite skater, he's got an elite mind. He's ultra-competitive. He comes every day ready to play. He's changed our whole back end."

What I got- Dekeyser is great in his own end, improving offensively but not going to be an offensive defenseman, playing on the PP won't be his calling card when we are built properly on the back-end. Totally agree with all of it.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/02/mike_bdanny_dekeysers_elite_mi.html

 

[Hugh Mongusbig]

DDK is one hell of a player for the Wings, but he is no Nick Lidstrom.

If DDK continues scoring at the pace he has thus far in his career..... he is going to need a career in excess of 50 seasons and 4000 games to ever get within sniffing distance of Nicks' offensive numbers.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Babcock with some comments and praise on Dekeyser.



What I got- Dekeyser is great in his own end, improving offensively but not going to be an offensive defenseman, playing on the PP won't be his calling card when we are built properly on the back-end. Totally agree with all of it.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/02/mike_bdanny_dekeysers_elite_mi.html

Not much to disagree with there.

It is clear DK doesn't really belong on the powerplay, but Babcock puts him out there because he would prefer not to go the Samuelsson route (Smith) and leave the Red Wings powerplay prone to shorthanded chances.

While I think Smith deserves at least a look on the powerplay, his play with the puck in traffic is not promising and I understand being more conservative, especially when the powerplay is as good as it has been this year.

 

[Frk It]

Not much to disagree with there.

It is clear DK doesn't really belong on the powerplay, but Babcock puts him out there because he would prefer not to go the Samuelsson route (Smith) and leave the Red Wings powerplay prone to shorthanded chances.

While I think Smith deserves at least a look on the powerplay, his play with the puck in traffic is not promising and I understand being more conservative, especially when the powerplay is as good as it has been this year.

I'm of the opinion it's Smith's job to force his hand, and he hasn't done that.

Last year his ES production was so good it begged the question. This year that production has dried up and he's not looking after the puck lately. That combo isn't going to earn you any looks with Babcock, the guy who stresses constantly improving or getting passed.

Dekeyser on the flip side has continued to improve and gets rewarded. Smith has to elevate his play if he wants to earn a bigger opportunity.

 

[Satrebil]

I'm of the opinion it's Smith's job to force his hand, and he hasn't done that.

Last year his ES production was so good it begged the question. This year that production has dried up and he's not looking after the puck lately. That combo isn't going to earn you any looks with Babcock, the guy who stresses constantly improving or getting passed.

Dekeyser on the flip side has continued to improve and gets rewarded. Smith has to elevate his play if he wants to earn a bigger opportunity.

Frk It -- on the money, again.

Smith hasn't forced his hand.

DDK does continue to improve and while he'll never be a PP specialist, holds his own.

 

[Sentinel]

I feel more confident with him on defense than with Kronwall. He doesn't screen his own goalie the way Kronner does (remember 12 Hawks?).

 

[ap3x]

Don't you think that you're hanging that way too high? Seems like nitpicking to me. Both have his flaws from time to time.
Doesn't change the fact that Kronwall is our #1 d-man and a solid anchor in our defense.
And that's not say that DDK isn't bringing in high value as well and on his way to become a great d-man.