Stars vs Oilers: Rank the D

[ManofSteel55]

He’s lead the league in goals against in the playoffs without even playing all the rounds.

Ceci drags him down but he also sucks, definitely not Finnish Slavin like some Dallas fans think

He doesn't suck. Without Ceci, he'd probably slot in right around Nurse or Walman.

 

[majormajor]

I think a lot of folks are making lists based on how these players were in previous seasons. Or just pure reputation. I'm trying to rank them mostly on this playoffs.

Neither Bouchard or Heiskanen had a great regular season. And Heiskanen is now just coming off of his injury, so perhaps that's why he hasn't had a special showing. But clearly all the folks ranking Heiskanen ahead of Bouchard are doing it based on what they've seen from Heiskanen in previous seasons right? Because Bouchard is the more impactful player right now. Bouchard has set a very very high bar with his postseason play.

Bouchard

Heiskanen (Ekholm might be around this level if healthy)
Harley

Walman
Kulak
Lindell

Klingberg
Nurse

Bichsel
Ceci
Lyubushkin


It's a bit hard to tell with Dallas' defenders because they have several guys - Lindell, Ceci, and Lyubushkin, all getting hard defensive minutes, and all getting solidly outscored. They aren't succeeding, but it's a tough challenge. So I'm partially ranking them based on previous play. Otherwise LIndell might be even lower. Bichsel has better results but gets easier deployment. He'll be a great player but you can still see him bobbling a lot of pucks under pressure.

Kulak is perhaps the most underrated. Yes he's struggled at times in top 4 roles in previous seasons but he's playing really hard minutes in this playoffs, big minutes and usually defensively skewed, and crushing at it. Rangy defender and his escape speed is a problem for forecheckers.

 

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

How are you guys ranking Lindell so high?

Every time I’ve watched him, he’s either getting scored on or screening his goalie or both.

 

[avocadosmoothie]

How are you guys ranking Lindell so high?

Every time I’ve watched him, he’s either getting scored on or screening his goalie or both.

probably reputation

the series thread has seen posters call him the Finnish Slavin

 

[OilerTyler]

Heiskanen and Harley are the only Dallas d-men that would crack the Oilers lineup right now.

 

[commie]

How are you guys ranking Lindell so high?

Every time I’ve watched him, he’s either getting scored on or screening his goalie or both.

Don’t you know Lindell is the Finnish Slavin? Can play on 30 other team’s top pairing?
Opposing fans have never seen a D defend like this Finish Slavin.

/s

 

[Donner]

Bouchard is the best D of the bunch now, probably best D in the playoffs

But MH is also coming off injury and a better D when healthy and playing at highest level

Playoff Bouchard has been a top 3 D in the league for the last 3 years

 

[OG Eberle]

We call this the Inverse Matthews Effect

 

[Oleksiak]

We call this the Inverse Matthews Effect

Because Matthews knows how to play in his own zone and Bouchard doesn't.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

He doesn't suck. Without Ceci, he'd probably slot in right around Nurse or Walman.

He wasnt very good before Ceci got there to drag him down.

 

[TheBeard]

According to the ladies, My D gets a C-

 

[Coffey]

Cam Fowler also had a hell of a first round!

He had half of those points in one game!

 

[Coffey]

Because Matthews knows how to play in his own zone and Bouchard doesn't.

He’s definitely the Leafs best dman.

 

[Zenos]

Heiskanen
Harley
Ekholm
Lindell
Bischel
Petrovic
Ceci
Stecher
Kulak
Walman
Klingberg
Nurse
Bouchard

This guy deserves a prize simply for consistently sticking to this bit for so long.

 

[tfwnogf]

Oilers - S tier
Dallas - D tier

 

[BeranekAndNeck]

Because Matthews knows how to play in his own zone and Bouchard doesn't.

Matthews’ zone:

 

[CupofOil]

Poor Cody.. I do like him as a d. Just not at more than 20. He is kulak.

Kulak is better than Ceci.
I think it was somewhat close the previous few years although I still gave Kulak the edge because of his playoff showings and ability to move the puck and skate out of trouble but he's blowing Ceci out of the water in these playoffs. He's played a huge role with Ekholm down and has crushed it.
I think Ceci is a better PKer while Kulak is quite a bit better at even strength.

 

[CupofOil]

I think the Dallas group is better. One of their edges. Along with Ott in net. Deboer in Game 7. But, a lot of fans see it differently. The answers have been all over the place. Most agree Heisk is the best D and then it goes to hell after that.lol

I think this series is going 7. I think Dallas is the best team left in the playoffs. However, I will cheer like hell for our 'cycles' and 'relentless pressure'. And have enjoyed the hell out of all of it since no lead is safe. I'm also a huge Bouch fan so it's been interesting to read. He's been as high as 2 and as low as 15.lol

Calling Dallas the best team in the playoffs is an interesting take

 

[ManofSteel55]

He wasnt very good before Ceci got there to drag him down.

Yes he is. Let's not be that franchise that unnecessarily drags down the other teams players. Lindell is a fine second pair defenseman on any NHL team.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Calling Dallas the best team in the playoffs is an interesting take

Well they are the top seed remaining.....even if they certainly haven't played like it the last two games.

 

[Drizzzt]

Lindell xGF 10.98 xGA 14.42
Bouchard xGF 14.1 xGA 8.59

Lindell 2 points, Bouchard 15 points.

But sure, let's rank Lindell ahead of Bouchard.

He's talking about a DEFENCEman, not a goal-scoring 2-way Forward that plays on defence.

 

[MessierII]

He's talking about a DEFENCEman, not a goal-scoring 2-way Forward that plays on defence.

So why is his expected goals against almost twice as good?

 

[PuckG]

He's talking about a DEFENCEman, not a goal-scoring 2-way Forward that plays on defence.

That supposed DEFENCEman is playing some pretty shit defence compared to the “2 way forward.”

 

[Miro4Norris]

Please rank the top 6 D in the series.

Oilers top 6 are
Bouchard
Nurse
Walman
Stecher
Klingberg
Kulak

Stars top 6 are
Heisk
Lindell
Harley
Ceci
Bischel
Petrovic

I go:
Heisk Harley Bouch Nurse Lindell Walman

And I'm positive that won't be popular. So let's see yours.

Note: Ek hasn't been part of the series so I left him out.

1. Miro
2. Bouch
3. Ekholm
4. Lindell
5. Nurse
6. Harley(although Dude has been horrible this series..)
7. Walman
8. Klinger
9. Bicshel
10 kulak
11 Ceci
12 Stetcher
13 Petro
14Lub

 

[Troy McClure]

My team's #1
My team's #2
My team's #3
My team's #4
Your team's #2
My team's #5
My team's #6
Your team's #1
Your team's #3
Your team's #4
Your team's #5
Your team's #6