The defenseman of the Blue Jackets -Part Deux

[Nordique]

The year Karlsson won Norris trophy he was top-5 in the NHL in turnovers. Every year he's among leaders in that department. Norris trophy became a "midfielders" trophy a long time ago.
And l think if Wiz was in place of Letang the year Pittsburg won Stanley Cup that wouldn't have changed outcome.

Speaking of Wiz. People probably forgot that a left handed shot on power-play was one of the biggest Jackets problems for decade. That's why the Jackets were paying Duvie Westcott for many years. If you look around the NHL you will see at least 10 teams that would pay a lot for the skill set Wiz possess. Yes, he pisses me off making stupid plays time after time, but what he brings to the table is very important.

Yep, go back a few years and you'll see alot of posts on this board screaming for a right handed shot from the point.

Its been said before, "you get the good with the bad with Wizniewski."

Personally I think the good is seriously outweighing the bad so far this season (he's leading the entire team in points atm).....as it should given the price tag.

 

[Viqsi]

Fortunately, I, like most on the internet, can summon gigantic gobs of outrage at a moment's notice, so the opportunity is never truly missed!

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!

oh, wait, sorry, false alarm

 

[blahblah]

What kind of amuses me is that for all the complaining about Wiz, he's been credited with 9 giveaways this season and 15 last season. If you prorate out last season, for missed games, he isn't even in the top 100 either year.

I'm more concerned about his defensive zone coverage than the occasional mismanagement of the puck. The later isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

 

[bizzz*]

Yep, go back a few years and you'll see alot of posts on this board screaming for a right handed shot from the point.

Its been said before, "you get the good with the bad with Wizniewski."

Personally I think the good is seriously outweighing the bad so far this season (he's leading the entire team in points atm).....as it should given the price tag.

I messed up left/right handed in my post. Off course Wiz and Westcott are right handed.

And speaking of give aways. Only 2 NHL defensemen with 10+ games have not committed a single turnover this season. One of them is David Savard, and he already has played 16 games! I find this fact amazing. Another one is also related to the Jackets - it's Rusty Klesla, but he's played only 12 games.
3 defnsemen with 10+ games have 1 give away and all the other 200+ have turned the puck over at least twice.

Or you can put it this way. Only one NHL defenseman with 15+ games played has committed less than 2 turnovers this season. David Savard has zero. And he also leads this team's defense in hits and the whole team in plus/minus despite the fact he played 4 games less than Wiz, Johnson and Murray.

 

[major major]

This JJ conversation is pretty damn silly. It's routinely discussed that he has flaws. It still doesn't deter from the fact that he's big minutes NHL defenseman. He's more mid-pack, but his cap his is great and we've proven we can win with him.

Me: "The food tastes terrible"
You: "Ah, but the portions are so big."

The coach agrees with you, I'll give you that.

 

[major major]

I messed up left/right handed in my post. Off course Wiz and Westcott are right handed.

And speaking of give aways. Only 2 NHL defensemen with 10+ games have not committed a single turnover this season. One of them is David Savard, and he already has played 16 games! I find this fact amazing. Another one is also related to the Jackets - it's Rusty Klesla, but he's played only 12 games.
3 defnsemen with 10+ games have 1 give away and all the other 200+ have turned the puck over at least twice.

Or you can put it this way. Only one NHL defenseman with 15+ games played has committed less than 2 turnovers this season. David Savard has zero. And he also leads this team's defense in hits and the whole team in plus/minus despite the fact he played 4 games less than Wiz, Johnson and Murray.

I'm loving Savard, but!
I'm not sure how much to trust these stats. I'm doubtful there is a consistent definition of "turnover" or "giveaway" that is being applied across the league evenly.

 

[thebus2288*]

Say what you want about stats but he's terrible at handling the puck and literally only useful when standing still just inside the other teams blueline. I don't know how a lot of those guys tally stats but 9 giveaways is just wrong. Maybe 9 in a week. And he's not even comparable offensively to Subban, Karlsson, Letang at all. Defensively, yes. The dude cannot skate. Not capable of jumping in the play like JJ, Murray or Tyutin.

IMO I just think our defense as a whole is too offensive minded. But you have to give to get. So it pretty much comes down Wiz, Tyutin and Johnson who have enough value to bring back anything legit. But now Wiz is a Norris candidate so we can't get rid of him. JJ and Tyutin are both on pretty good contracts so it ups their values a bit. I think adding something good to 1 of them say a 1st+2nd or good prospect or something could get us somebodys young forward and a defensive d man back.

 

[Crede777]

Savard is pretty good at handling the puck in our end. He struggles with it in the neutral zone and in the offensive zone though. It's like he's trying to do too much or something.

If you want to talk about guys who have value pretty much only on the blueline, it's Wisniewski. Although his bobbling of the puck trying to keep it in the zone does raise some issues. He has worked on his backchecking and it seems to be slightly better, but he's there for his shot and everybody knows it. Then again, he's a leader in points for the team so... what can I say? Let him live.

Murray looks good no matter where he has the puck. Johnson often is the same, but his lack of consistency this season is a bit concerning.

See what we can get for Nikitin. If it isn't enough, maybe look to move Tyutin although I would prefer to keep him.

 

[major major]

Savard is pretty good at handling the puck in our end. He struggles with it in the neutral zone and in the offensive zone though. It's like he's trying to do too much or something.

If you want to talk about guys who have value pretty much only on the blueline, it's Wisniewski. Although his bobbling of the puck trying to keep it in the zone does raise some issues. He has worked on his backchecking and it seems to be slightly better, but he's there for his shot and everybody knows it. Then again, he's a leader in points for the team so... what can I say? Let him live.

Murray looks good no matter where he has the puck. Johnson often is the same, but his lack of consistency this season is a bit concerning.

See what we can get for Nikitin. If it isn't enough, maybe look to move Tyutin although I would prefer to keep him.

It better be a huge haul (legit topline scorer) to justify moving Tyutin. I think he's our best (though being eclipsed by Murray) and a legit top-pair d-man.

 

[bizzz*]

Say what you want about stats but he's terrible at handling the puck and literally only useful when standing still just inside the other teams blueline. I don't know how a lot of those guys tally stats but 9 giveaways is just wrong. Maybe 9 in a week. And he's not even comparable offensively to Subban, Karlsson, Letang at all. Defensively, yes. The dude cannot skate. Not capable of jumping in the play like JJ, Murray or Tyutin.

The Red Wings disagree.

I'm not sure how much to trust these stats. I'm doubtful there is a consistent definition of "turnover" or "giveaway" that is being applied across the league evenly.

Yes. But that's hits, turnovers and plus/minus. Statistically he's the best on the Jackets defense at everything. Even if they miscount giveaways at Nationwide (and I assume they really do), he still hasn't had a single turnover on the road as well. That's unique.

 

[thebus2288*]

Come on, 1 play. That's all on Brunner's Jack Johnson like shinpad giveaway and some terrible Wisniewski like defensive coverage by the Wings. Once again Wiz barely had to do anything to get that assist. Dorse with the pass across ice and Prospal with the spin are way more responsible for that goal.

 

[dnmccoy]

I miss Dorse

 

[bizzz*]

I miss Dorse

Watching Broonz-Rags. Dorse still takes stupid penalties. Just got 2 dumb minors in a row.

Come on, 1 play. That's all on Brunner's Jack Johnson like shinpad giveaway and some terrible Wisniewski like defensive coverage by the Wings. Once again Wiz barely had to do anything to get that assist. Dorse with the pass across ice and Prospal with the spin are way more responsible for that goal.

You can describe any breakaway like that. Its always defensive lapses. Wiz had to make himself open in offensive zone and pass the puck, which he did.

 

[thebus2288*]

We need 2 different DEFENSEmen

 

[major major]

Leading the team in primary points (goals and first assists) per ice time is Johansen and Dubinsky, with a bit under 2 primary points per 60 minutes.

Dead last is Jack Johnson, with a quarter point per 60 minutes. That's high risk, no reward.