alkurtz
Registered User
I think Girardi will be much better equipped to handle his inevitable aging than Redden was. Redden was a PMD who depended upon his quickness. When that quickness went, he was lost.
Girardi is a classic shut down D that depends upon his smarts, experience, and positioning. Skating and quickness have never been the heart of his game.
Over the course of his next contract, hopefully with us, I'm sure he will fall from the 1st pair to the 2nd. But that is unlikely to happen for a few years yet. Players like Girardi tend to last a long time and are always valued and in demand.
Although he may already have peaked, he still a fine player and will likely remain one for years, even as his skills erode. We can replace Cally, we can't replace Girardi.
Girardi is a classic shut down D that depends upon his smarts, experience, and positioning. Skating and quickness have never been the heart of his game.
Over the course of his next contract, hopefully with us, I'm sure he will fall from the 1st pair to the 2nd. But that is unlikely to happen for a few years yet. Players like Girardi tend to last a long time and are always valued and in demand.
Although he may already have peaked, he still a fine player and will likely remain one for years, even as his skills erode. We can replace Cally, we can't replace Girardi.