J22*
Guest
He's a good two way player though, and already a better offensive player and is getting better and better at faceoffs.
Yes, Koivu is great as a defender, but Granlund is also above average... he just doesn't have Koivu's size to go with his skill to be GREAT defensively.
It's Koivu's size that is the difference maker there IMO.
As for "tougher assignments" yes and no for both player. Koivu plays against the oppositions top forwards, Granlund faces the oppositions top defenders.
Just like the Wild put out their best offensive D-men "mostly" while Parise and Granlund are on the ice, and their best defensive D-men when Koivu's line is out there.
Offensively, Granlund plays against the top defenders and is still around the same PPG as Koivu is, while Koivu is playing lesser defenders and LOTS more PP time.
As definition for tougher minutes goes... Koivu gets the tougher minutes because he gets the D-zone starts and has to play a shutdown role.
Sorry, but No, and it's not even really debatable. Granlund is nowhere near even average in his own end.