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Player Discussion Erik Gudbranson (D) to Sens for 5th round pick

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Alf Silfversson

Alf Silfversson

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Jun 8, 2011
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Xspyrit said:
Methot was great but he wasn't necessarily used as a pure shutdown D-man (like Ceci strangely was) during his time in Ottawa

Marc Methot Stats | Hockey-Reference.com

He actually had more oZS% (50.9 vs 49.1). Starting from 2015-16, Ceci had dZS% between 54 and 58%. It has a direct effect on CF% because if you're often starting in your own zone against the league's best players, you will end up with a negative CF% most of the time, no matter how good you are. Methot also played on stronger Sens teams than Ceci did post Boucher, except for that 1st season where Boucher had the team buy in his systems.

Having Ceci as a shutdown D-man is still a puzzling decision to me, atlhough I understand that Boucher options were limited as the budget wasn't opened to bring in more options and fill more holes in the lineup, particularly after Methot was gone. A shutdown D-man needs to be strong, mobile enough, have good positioning but also need quick decision making, which was actually Ceci weakness.

Gudbranson should be used as a pure shutdown D-man so his advanced stats won't look great but the hope is that he does better than Ceci, which should be the case because he is more designed for that role than Ceci ever was.

One thing should be expected, some people will harp on Gudbranson because he will get "caved in" by the league superstars, supported by poor advanced stats. Even if corsi stats look bad, the hope is him, the goalies and other players/D-men are able to limit goals against.
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It sounds like Gudbranson's regular partner to start the season will be Chabot so I think he'll get his share of OZ starts.

Kinda the same reason Methot got his OZ starts (playing with EK). Zone starts don't tell the whole story of what Methot was asked to do. He was there for shutdown purposes so that his partner (the most dynamic D of the last 20 years) could push the puck forward with less worry about the puck going the other way.

We'll see how Gudbranson does. Anaheim fans seemed to think he was decent, while fans in Vancouver and his other stops are, let's just say, much less impressed by Gudbranson. Hopefully he's a good fit here.
 
Xspyrit

Xspyrit

DJ Dorion
Jun 29, 2008
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Alf Silfversson said:
It sounds like Gudbranson's regular partner to start the season will be Chabot so I think he'll get his share of OZ starts.

Kinda the same reason Methot got his OZ starts (playing with EK). Zone starts don't tell the whole story of what Methot was asked to do. He was there for shutdown purposes so that his partner (the most dynamic D of the last 20 years) could push the puck forward with less worry about the puck going the other way.

We'll see how Gudbranson does. Anaheim fans seemed to think he was decent, while fans in Vancouver and his other stops are, let's just say, much less impressed by Gudbranson. Hopefully he's a good fit here.
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Not really wanted to talk about Methot's role but more about the statistical impact dZS% vs oZS% has. Methot was there to be EK's big brother, Gudbranson might have the same role with Chabot, which could help him to not be "caved in". The good thing is that maybe DJ will use Zaitsev more accordingly. If EG can play the role adequatly, it helps the whole defense to "fall into place"

Also wanted to talk about Ceci usage. He had a bit of EV TOI with Chabot but mostly played with (declined) Phaneuf, Borowiecki, Harpur, rookie Lajoie or rookie Wolanin... His hockey IQ (more specifically decision making) is far from a strenght but the point is he has been put in truly awful situations in Ottawa, playing against heavy competition in a shutdown role with weak linemates, and he was not even made for that role to begin with. The vast majority of D-men you will use the same way will be "caved in", ex Zaitsev last season. Gudbranson might be better for the job and playing a lot with Chabot will certainly help so there's hope that he doesn't become a whipping boy too fast.

Burrowsaurus said:
Is he hard to play against
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From a couch perspective, maybe not. From the ice perspective, it might hurt. Many players are ready to pay the price though. Those who don't will play on the perimeter if the opposing team makes the front of the net an hostile territory.
 
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Hale The Villain

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Gudbranson is hard to play against in the same way Ceci was hard to play against - he was big and fast. Most players can't out-skate them and dominate them physically, but they sure are easy to out-think and out-skill.

Gudbranson is more physical, but that hardly makes him a good defenseman. There's a reason he's playing on his 4th team in under 3 years.
 

JD1

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Hale The Villain said:
Gudbranson is hard to play against in the same way Ceci was hard to play against - he was big and fast. Most players can't out-skate them and dominate them physically, but they sure are easy to out-think and out-skill.

Gudbranson is more physical, but that hardly makes him a good defenseman. There's a reason he's playing on his 4th team in under 3 years.
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Gudbranson is mean. Ceci was never mean
 
Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick

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Can we get some promotional material made up for "Sens discount teeth removal. Your one stop shop for Canadian dental extractions"
 
SensFactor

SensFactor

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Gudbranson is a huge piece of our game this year. He just needs to be a Methot. A leader, hard to play against mofo and support for Chabot.
 
Sensmileletsgo

Sensmileletsgo

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Oct 22, 2018
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SensFactor said:
Gudbranson is a huge piece of our game this year. He just needs to be a Methot. A leader, hard to play against mofo and support for Chabot.
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Apparently a solid defensive guy who can line up against the teams top players while letting his partner do his thing is really difficult to come by.
 
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