Who is your team's best defensive forward?

[MessierII]

What’s funny? Brown is unbelievable away from the puck. If he wasn’t he would have been waived this year.

 

[Mrb1p]

Suzuki easy

 

[Coffees]

Probably Nugent Hopkins. Connor Brown is really good too but plays way less minutes.

How far behind is McDavid now from RNH? in terms of defensive awareness. I know McDavid has been good defensively this year

What’s funny? Brown is unbelievable away from the puck. If he wasn’t he would have been waived this year.

You can't blame that Rangers fan, your own team board turned Brown into a meme last year even though he was not terrible.

 

[ESH]

Mikael Backlund has quietly been one of the best defensive forwards in the league for a decade now

 

[WhataKnight]

Knight’s don’t make this one easy.

Depending on health and what day of the week it is, this could be Karlsson, Eichel, Stone OR Roy.

 

[MessierII]

How far behind is McDavid now from RNH? in terms of defensive awareness. I know McDavid has been good defensively this year


You can't blame that Rangers fan, your own team board turned Brown into a meme last year even though he was not terrible.

McDavid has always been solid his biggest issue has always been flying the zone early to cheat for offense. It forces our D to make tougher plays than they should have to. This is especially prevalent when they him and Draisaitl together. Drai and him together are a defensive disaster but when they are clicking the offense more than makes up for it. When separated they both play solid D but neither are as polished as Nuge.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Nic Dowd maybe. Could end up being Lapierre.

 

[Coffees]

McDavid has always been solid his biggest issue has always been flying the zone early to cheat for offense. It forces our D to make tougher plays than they should have to. This is especially prevalent when they him and Draisaitl together. Drai and him together are a defensive disaster but when they are clicking the offense more than makes up for it. When separated they both play solid D but neither are as polished as Nuge.

Appreciate the insight, Mess.

Also, care to address the Connor Brown statement ?

 

[Soundgarden]

O'Reilly or Sissons.

 

[Coffees]

Nic Dowd maybe. Could end up being Lapierre.

Don't think Protas will take the next step? Lol that dude is the most underrated U23 Center in the game

O'Reilly or Sissons.

Puck pursuit : O'Reilly
Covering passing lanes : Sissons

correct or wrong ?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Trocheck for the Rangers.

Will Cuylle was great defensively for a rookie and a non elite rookie on the defensive end. He’ll be a stud defensive forward in another few years.

 

[RickyLafleur]

What’s funny? Brown is unbelievable away from the puck. If he wasn’t he would have been waived this year.

He was also one of, if not the best defensive forward in Ottawa before he was traded.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Don't think Protas will take the next step? Lol that dude is the most underrated U23 Center in the game

I actually almost included Protas in my post.

So yeah put him in the conversation.

 

[Coffees]

I actually almost included Protas in my post.

So yeah put him in the conversation.

San Jose will take him for a slight overpayment in picks

 

[Aladyyn]

We have a lot of turnover in the bottom 6 but of players that were on the team last year and still are this year, it might just be Zach Benson. Either him or Greenway.

 

[behemolari]

Barkov.. I guess

 

[Naster Okan]

Jason Dickinson

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Pageau for me, cizikas is close second.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I have high hopes for Nikolai Kulemin, personally.

If someone only watched hockey from October 2023 - March 2024, they might actually believe you know a thing or two.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Jets: Iafallo or Lowry. HM to Niederreiter.

 

[Macheteops]

Probably Nugent Hopkins. Connor Brown is really good too but plays way less minutes

McDavid is better at attacking the player with the puck

He tends to lose his man some when his guy doesn't have the puck in their own zone

 

[Nick Lang]

Not sure who it would be on the Canucks, Elias Pettersson or Dakota Joshua I think


Okay now your guys turn, feel free to talk about upcoming two way players or unsung heros of your team as well

Blueger or Miller for me as a Canucks fan. I can't actually believe I said Miller. Huge turnaround from 3-4 years ago.

 

[MessierII]

Appreciate the insight, Mess.

Also, care to address the Connor Brown statement ?

What can I say? Brown is really good defensively. This is a guy who didn’t score a single goal until the 65th game of the season on a team with cup aspirations. He wasn’t kept around for his secondary scoring lol. Hes a tenacious checker and smart player. Great defensive stick and knows when to pressure guys. Henrique and Janmark are strong defensive guys too but brown to me was the anchor on that line and his PK work is unbelievable as well.

 

[Muffinalt]

Jason Dickinson

About the only one we have too...

 

[FerrisRox]

What's with the gif?

Connor Brown was outstanding defensively for the Oilers, and was really good with the Senators before that too.

He plays a very tenacious style and is excellent positionally without the puck.