Behind Enemy Lines
Registered User
Dunn is definitely a great player more of an offensive driver. You see the hit in terms of Kraken goal scoring but not necessarily in their goal suppression numbers. Dunn played only 59 games this year so an even bigger role fell to Larsson in terms of top pairing role and responsibilities on the goal suppression side (again where the Kraken were above league average).What's missing out of this analysis is Vince Dunn who I think greatly impacts Larsson's on ice results.
Larsson is a solid value contract all things considered with his time on ice, goal suppression work including key situational deployment. Of course that doesn't include positive intangibles of leadership, grit, and character which aren't necessarily measurable but valued by NHL management, coaching, and players.
EDIT: Just to add Borgen's icetime threshold was 22:51. Larsson had 18 games of over 25:00 icetime which reinforces the team's need to have him on the ice at critical situations and ability to do so. And missing his offensive driving d-partner for a 1/4 of the season cost Larsson offensive production results which likely at minimum catches Borgen's totals.
I've long felt there is a blindspot in some of the advance stat modelling that devalues goal suppression defensive defensemen. Helpful to overlay more information into the process to evaluate.
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