Kiseo
Registered User
- Sep 16, 2013
- 7
- 17
I’ve been going to Preds games since 2005 and I never seen one of our defensemen so smoothly close the gaps between himself and an opposing forward rushing up the ice as I have with Stastney.Watch Stastney play. What does he do to forwards when they are pushing up the ice? Watch how he uses angles to eliminate time and space. He is listed at 6’ 183 lbs. He may not be considered a “long defenseman” by your standards but the way he plays the game does he really need to be?
Adam Wilsby is listed at 6’ 1” and 192 lbs. When you watch him play see what he’s doing to separate forwards from the puck. Watch how he’s checking in the defensive zone. Does he look out matched by the other team’s forwards? Is he usually in a good defensive spot or is he out of position most of the time.
Molendyk is 6’ 180lbs at 20 years old. He’ll add on more weight. Not going into his tangibles because most know them already.
Gibson 6’ 4” 209lbs. Again most know his attributes.
Skjei is 6’ 3” 210lbs. Playing in the right system he’s a good defenseman.
Mystery player that Trotz finds should be a bigger body stay at home defender.
I don’t care if the defenseman don’t have elite offensive skills, that’s what forwards are for. Are they good, sound defenders that can break up the opponents offensive cycle/play and transition the puck out of the zone and get excellent zone clearing passes. That’s what they should be elite at. I’m comfortable with the defensive corp I laid out if that’s what it ends up being in three years and thing they could be a solid back end for a contending team.
The above is the viewpoint of my own and doesn’t reflect the views of the organization or any associated with them.
If we are ever smart enough to call him back up and play him, watch him without the puck. It’s a thing of beauty.