Too Many Left Defensemen in the system

[MBH]

Viro is my pick for the eventual Seider partner that works.

Could. Smart. Kind of slick. Good, quiet D.

If they're that good, they should make their own opportunities. I know, I know.. Coaches are mean ol' boogeymen that hold down this guys who would show something if they just got a chance. You EARN that chance and opportunity to develop by showing something that they want to develop in you.

And every other team is trying to give opportunities to their own guys. They want to play their own Donovan Sebrango instead of trading for an LD from the Wings. Seeing value doesn't mean that the player is entitled to an opportunity to see the value through. You have to keep pushing as a young player. That's what the Wings are doing.

It has nothing to do with "mean."
Coaches have to make choices, right or wrong.
Those choices impact careers.
Not every organization has Donovan Sebrango. The kid played for Canada in the WJC. That counts for something.
If he's not good enough to beat out Edvinsson, McIsaac and Johansson, I get it.
So trade him for someone's center or RD or RW or whatever fits.
It helps our organization and it helps Sebrango.

 

[PullHard]

There was a time when all 6 D guys on the NHL roster were left handed and we were a cup contending team

I know it's nice to have balance but this is overanalyzing a non issue

 

[norrisnick]

There was a time when all 6 D guys on the NHL roster were left handed and we were a cup contending team

I know it's nice to have balance but this is overanalyzing a non issue

Was there?

Konstantinov
Murphy
Chelios
Rafalski
White

1991 to 2013 we had a full time RHD

 

[PullHard]

Was there?

Konstantinov
Murphy
Chelios
Rafalski
White

1991 to 2013 we had a full time RHD

We may have technically always rostered one but as I recall there was a lot of table pounding done on this forum back in my early days of posting (some of the pounding I will take responsibility for) to get an/ more RHD(s). Yes technically the leathery corpse of a 40+ yo Cheli playing as a 6/7D was on the team at this time.

Edit: I think my specific point in time that I had in mind was when Rafalski was basically done and Stuart was slowing down. In my mind something like

Lidstrom - Rafalski
Kronwall - RHD
Stuart - anyone competent

Was the goal. Rafalski retired not long after this and Stuart cratered quick but also left pretty soon after this point in time too. White came in and actually passed my eye test well but between Babcock and painkillers his career was about to go down in a fiery mess.

 

[Frk It]

If anything, maybe we should have advised Johansson or Viro to play overseas with the amount of bodies we were expecting to have in Grand Rapids. Maybe they lacked a little foresight there.

At the same time, if you think your favorite team is just going to leave spots open for every 3rd, 4th, 5th round pick they make etc… you’re probably going to be disappointed.

 

[The Red Line]

I feel like you're going out of your way to criticize Yzerman just for the sake of finding a reason to do so. As others have pointed out, having too many is far better than having too few.

I like Sebrango and Viro just fine, but they're pretty far down the depth chart and I would lose no sleep if they end up on another team in a year or two.

 

[Gniwder]

I do care.
The Wings cared enough to sign them.
They saw value.
What? 40 percent of picks get signed?

Maximize opportunity.
If you have too many LD in the AHL, trade them for Cs or somewhere you have need.
1 - It improves the overall team - which improves development.
2 - It doesn't stifle good young players who need opportunity.

We're talking about kids with really low chances of making the NHL.

NHL teams do trade players to improve their AHL teams, but it's never been a high priority. Veteran AHL players like Czarnik are always available if a team is willing to pay ($450k for him).

If it happens it happens, but nothing to really worry about. I doubt trading Sebrango yields anything better than a Savage/Zito/Lombardi level player.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Maximize opportunity.
If you have too many LD in the AHL, trade them for Cs or somewhere you have need.
1 - It improves the overall team - which improves development.
2 - It doesn't stifle good young players who need opportunity.

It will happen. It's just too early. Edvinsson, Johansson, Viro, Sebrango, Wallinder, McIsaac.. have a combined 0 NHL games.

 

[Fil Larkmanthanasiou]

The best of the D prospects at camp and in the exhibition (although he only played one game)

No such thing as too much. Not having "too much" is how you get Ouellet, Sproul, and Marchenko. This logjam will filter those guys out.

The best of the D prospects at camp and in the exhibition (although he only played one game) was Biakabutuka and they didn't have room to keep him.
I always thought that it would be best for Sebrango to go back to junior last season to have a leadership role and develop his offense

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If anything, maybe we should have advised Johansson or Viro to play overseas with the amount of bodies we were expecting to have in Grand Rapids. Maybe they lacked a little foresight there.

At the same time, if you think your favorite team is just going to leave spots open for every 3rd, 4th, 5th round pick they make etc… you’re probably going to be disappointed.

Johansson staying in Sweden would have been fine. Bring him to GR next year.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Johansson staying in Sweden would have been fine. Bring him to GR next year.

No, it was definitely time for him to come over. And he should be prioritized over Viro & Sebrango. Johansson is older, drafted higher, has more upside, and is performing better.

 

[Gniwder]

No, it was definitely time for him to come over. And he should be prioritized over Viro & Sebrango. Johansson is older, drafted higher, has more upside, and is performing better.

Well enough not to get sent to Toledo but 3A and -3 in 19 games isn't even close to Djoos level. Right now he's a poor man's Djoos (22 pts in 62 AHL games his first season). Hopefully he busts out his second AHL season like Djoos and then wins the Cup his third season, lol.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Well enough not to get sent to Toledo but 3A and -3 in 19 games isn't even close to Djoos level. Right now he's a poor man's Djoos (22 pts in 62 AHL games his first season). Hopefully he busts out his second AHL season like Djoos and then wins the Cup his third season, lol.

Not sure if serious. Definitely Johansson is a better skater with more defensive ability than Djoos. The production will likely come soon.

 

[Gniwder]

Not sure if serious. Definitely Johansson is a better skater with more defensive ability than Djoos. The production will likely come soon.

Better skater for sure, but one of them has a Cup ring and it's not AlJo. Djoos' issue wasn't positioning, he got bowled over in the NHL. I still don't think AlJO fairs any better.

 

[13to40]

If anything, maybe we should have advised Johansson or Viro to play overseas with the amount of bodies we were expecting to have in Grand Rapids. Maybe they lacked a little foresight there.

At the same time, if you think your favorite team is just going to leave spots open for every 3rd, 4th, 5th round pick they make etc… you’re probably going to be disappointed.

Couldn’t agree with this more.

We should be creating a partner ship over seas with a European club. Create a pathway for our prospects to get pro games in while being able to fully monitor and control their ice time and development.