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Recovering hockey fandoc
- Oct 1, 2015
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Brendan Dillon makes The Athletic's Top 20 list of the most effective shutdown D. Canes lead with 3 in the group:
theathletic.com
Brayden McNabb and Brenden Dillon are throwbacks with the classic size, punishing hitting, battle-winning dominance and shot-blocking tools you expected from the stay-at-home defensemen of yesteryear. Both players have robust physical tools but the key is that they’re also smart with the angles and routes they take defensively. Their skating and puck skills also aren’t a liability, which is why they’ve continued thriving as top-four players on contending teams whereas other veteran defensemen with this archetype have been phased out.
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Who are the NHL’s best shutdown defensemen and why are they so valuable?
There are plenty of elite shutdown defenders who never get a turn in the spotlight because of the focus on points.
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Brayden McNabb and Brenden Dillon are throwbacks with the classic size, punishing hitting, battle-winning dominance and shot-blocking tools you expected from the stay-at-home defensemen of yesteryear. Both players have robust physical tools but the key is that they’re also smart with the angles and routes they take defensively. Their skating and puck skills also aren’t a liability, which is why they’ve continued thriving as top-four players on contending teams whereas other veteran defensemen with this archetype have been phased out.