Player Discussion Kevin Shattenkirk

[FJB]

I don't care about his defensive lapses as long as they don't cost a bunch of games and he still puts up points. Now if he plays horrible defense and just shoots it wide the rest of the year, then I'd be mad.

 

[True Blue]

I don't care about his defensive lapses as long as they don't cost a bunch of games and he still puts up points. Now if he plays horrible defense and just shoots it wide the rest of the year, then I'd be mad.

They have certainly cost before the last 3 games. Not just his but the defense overall.

Saying you do not care about defensive lapses is a bit short sighted. Being a defensive liability on the ice is not a positive trait. Eventually it costs you. Often in the worst possible time.

Again, if he needs to be shielded each and everytime Crosby or Ovechkin is on the ice, his overall effectiveness is diminished.

 

[True Blue]

We have some people here who don’t think any amount of offense makes up for anything less than stellar defense. They even seem to hold defensive lapses against puck movers more than they do against guys without offensive skills. They’ll literally never be happy with any d man who puts up points because of perceived defensive problems. They’d complain about Karlsson if he were on this team.

Yikes. Heaven forbid that we criticize the apple of everyone's eye. What a horror to call a spade a spade. Yeah.... I would detest having a Karlsson on the team.

 

[True Blue]

Anyone who expected him to be some stellar defensive player had not seen him play extensively in the past. He's a top-4 guy who provides A TON of offense. There are literally very few defensemen in the league who put up points like Shattenkirk can. That's something this team has lacked for a VERY long time.

I do not disagree with that assessment. My comment with him is that if he needs to be hidden from the opposition's top players, that will eventually come back to haunt you when you need your top performers on the ice.

There is nothing wrong with having Shattenkirk be a better player in his own end. You can still generate offense and be defensively responsible. He can be taught.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Our PP zone entries right now may be as good as we have had here since Leetch. That first unit is on the right page in that regard.

 

[nyr2k2]

Limited defensively, gifted offensively. Does it really take five pages to acknowledge he is who we thought he is?

 

[True Blue]

Limited defensively, gifted offensively. Does it really take five pages to acknowledge he is who we thought he is?

Not really. Because that is exactly who he is. I do however harken his signing was discussed and he was touted as as a top pairing defenseman who was not sheltered by his previous teams.

Anyway, this is all just a long winded way of the point being that in my view, it is all well and good now. But it can cost the team dearly in the playoffs.

 

[haveandare]

Yikes. Heaven forbid that we criticize the apple of everyone's eye. What a horror to call a spade a spade. Yeah.... I would detest having a Karlsson on the team.

The apple of everyone’s eye? People have been whining about his defense since the second we signed him.

I gaurantee you a certain amount of people would be whining every time a goal against was scored with EK on ice. Shattenkirk makes a weak defensive play and it’s “I told you so,” “horrible defender” etc. McDonagh makes the same play and it’s crickets. Everyone makes weak d plays sometimes. Shattenkirk doesn’t make an insane amount of them and he scores like a top forward.

We also don’t play a d style that plays to his strengths. I could be remembering wrong but I think I read that he has been excellent denying zone entries in the past. NYR surrenders the top of their zone routinely.

 

[Thirty One]

The apple of everyone’s eye? People have been whining about his defense since the second we signed him.

Like any other topic on hfboards.mandatory.gov, there is a side very motivated to take one position and a side very motivated to take the opposite position.

 

[haveandare]

Like any other topic on hfboards.mandatory.gov, there is a side very motivated to take one position and a side very motivated to take the opposite position.

This is true

 

[darko]

He's been as good as advertised. Defensive lapses here and there but more than makes up for it on the offensive end. Well worth the money.

 

[Inferno]

Worth....Every....Penny.

 

[eco's bones]

Worth....Every....Penny.

He does have his not so good moments but yeah I agree. Our power play is all of a sudden a dangerous thing and he's the biggest reason why.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Shattenkirk 5v5 ehhhh it’s alright
Shattenkirk On the PP = GOD

 

[Rangers in 7]

His defensive lapses are so blown out of proportion. Even excellent defensive defensemen make bone headed plays. I mean he’s playing unbelievable right now and some people want to complain that he’s not a defensive wizard

 

[Mikos87]

It's about limiting his exposure. They're doing that now, and it's paying off well. Let him get every offensive opportunity that he can get, this is your best playmaker on the team.

Keep the match-ups such that he isn't forced to defend guys that will take it wide on him, and away from the forechecking speed demons, and Shatty will thrive. They've been doing that during the winning streak.

Shatt's should buy Nic Holden a steak dinner for making it possible.

 

[Tawnos]

So after almost a quarter of the season, I’ve decided there’s only one way to evaluate Shattenkirks contribution to the team. It’s all situations plus/minus. Not the convoluted way they do it normally... I mean all situations. Nothing matters but the offense he helps create, and there seems to be only very rarely goals for while he’s on the ice that he didn’t have some kind of hand in. He tends to find the puck and the puck tends to find him.

Right now I think he’s +8 all situations. In 20 games, that’s a pretty good number.

 

[haohmaru]

Yikes. Heaven forbid that we criticize the apple of everyone's eye. What a horror to call a spade a spade. Yeah.... I would detest having a Karlsson on the team.

Detest having a Karlsson on the team? Why? There's not a team in the league that wouldn't love to have that guy on the back end.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Detest having a Karlsson on the team? Why? There's not a team in the league that wouldn't love to have that guy on the back end.

True Blue is part of the old school crowd that thinks Dale Purinton is a good solid defenseman because he hits and fights.

 

[Crease]

He might end up leading the team in scoring.

 

[Ori]

Two words horrific defense, but we love his offense.
Actually he has improved part of his defensive play lately - I don`t trust him like Skjei or Ryan Mc. with defensive tasks, but he is indeed gifted on our PP unit.

 

[romba]

His defense is adequate against average competition and not great against higher level competition. As advertised. And his offensive contribution has been outstanding. He's not the strongest or quickest in the D zone and was correctly never touted as a complete 2 way defender.

I'm sick of needing to make excuses for offensive players who fail to perform here ala Nash in the past few years. 'Better than expected 2 way game' is great, but unless your name 'Holik' the big bucks are generally put down for goals. It's nice that someone is fulfilling/exceeding expectations for once, especially as a big FA signing who more often than not underperform. Yet, unsurprisingly, people still find cause to complain.

 

[Cassano]

Yandle was great, but Shattenkirk is a much better fit.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

He does have his not so good moments but yeah I agree. Our power play is all of a sudden a dangerous thing and he's the biggest reason why.

Like every single NHL player that has existed ever?

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Yandle was great, but Shattenkirk is a much better fit.

I will remember the Yandle - Wrath pairing eternally.