AmazingNuck
Registered User
Nope.
Ehrhoff was sheltered with his minutes here. His QoC wasn't great, and he sifted down to the bottom pair during games where they had to protect him. In the playoffs, he got exposed.
I don't want a PP specialist you have to shelter like that. And then perhaps make an even make a bigger mistake by giving him 5.6m or whatever. He was good for what he was, but this team needs to play a harder, more consistent brand of hockey.
First off, PP specialist =/= sheltered. We shelter the Sedins as much as we sheltered Ehrhoff. I never remember him being sifted down to the bottom pairing as you claim. In the playoffs, the entire team was exposed and Ehrhoff had a torn shoulder for which he had to have surgery.
I don't think you understand the definition of PP specialist. A PP specialist is a defenseman who plays only the powerplay and sheltered even strength minutes for the purpose of resting other defensemen. Ehrhoff played the powerplay, but he was also a penalty killer and played ES minutes extensively. There's a difference between being sheltered and matching up, and with a coach that's notorious for matching up, his QoC is naturally low. Why? Because it makes no sense to play a player like Ehrhoff against players like Thornton or Toews. We have defined ROLES to do that. Ehrhoff's was to score and play adequate defense, which he excelled at.
Ehrhoff's as much a PP specialist as Daniel and Henrik. In fact, without Ehrhoff, Edler's being "exposed defensively" by your logic. Edler has not been the same defenseman without Ehrhoff, nor have the Sedins been the same forwards without Ehrhoff.