Let's go through the list of teams that made the "Final Four" of the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the last few years and see how many had a strong shutdown center that ate big minutes along his deep run into the playoffs.
2010:
Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews
Montreal Canadiens: Scott Gomez (don't believe me, check his Corsi and QualComp)
Philadelphia Flyers: Mike Richards
San Jose Sharks: None
2009:
Pittsburgh Penguins: Jordan Staal
Detroit Red Wings: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg
Carolina Hurricanes: Eric Staal (really)
Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews
2008:
Detroit Red Wings: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg
Pittsburgh Penguins: Jordan Staal
Philadelphia Flyers: Mike Richards
Dallas Stars: Brad Richards, Mike Modano
2007:
Anaheim Ducks: Sami Pahlsson
Detroit Red Wings: Pavel Datsyuk
Ottawa Senators: Mike Fisher (Jason Spezza was used too but only because of Daniel Alfredsson's two-way play)
Buffalo Sabres: Chris Drury
2006:
Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour
Edmonton Oilers: None (though they had Michael Peca, Jarret Stoll, and Shawn Horcoff, all of whom are very capable but not "bona-fide" I don't think; Peca once was)
Buffalo Sabres: Chris Drury
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: None
(I think I got most of it right, but I may have been off on some of the teams I'm less familiar with)
Out of these players, Rod Brind'Amour, Chris Drury, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Jonathan Toews, Jordan Staal, and Mike Richards I feel were especially important to their teams' success. These players put up strong offensive numbers and outscored their opposition, at least enough for their own team's depth to handle. The Capitals tend to spread things around a bit more, but I can't help but feel that Bruce Boudreau would get better results if he line-matched forwards. Who would be the shutdown center? Nicklas Backstrom looks like the guy. I have zero doubt Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Knuble can outscore any opposition they face. Using that line as a shutdown line would then, unfortunately, put more of a burden on the secondary scorers like Alexander Semin, who haven't exactly come through for the Capitals in the playoffs recently.
Is it more important to have a true shut down defenseman or pairing?
2010:
Chicago Blackhawks: Keith-Seabrook
Montreal Canadiens: Gill-Gorges
Philadelphia Flyers: Pronger-Carle and Timonen-Coburn
San Jose Sharks: None
2009:
Pittsburgh Penguins: Gill-Scuderi
Detroit Red Wings: Lidstrom
Carolina Hurricanes: None
Chicago Blackhawks: Keith-Seabrook
2008:
Detroit Red Wings: Lidstrom
Pittsburgh Penguins: Gill-Scuderi
Philadelphia Flyers: Timonen-Coburn
Dallas Stars: None (they had lots of injuries, losing their three best defensemen in the playoffs, but they used Zubov and Norstrom when they were healthy)
2007:
Anaheim Ducks: Niedermayer-Beauchemin and Pronger-O'Donnell
Detroit Red Wings: Lidstrom
Ottawa Senators: Phillips-Volchenkov
Buffalo Sabres: Lydman-Tallinder
2006:
Carolina Hurricanes: Hedican-Ward
Edmonton Oilers: Pronger
Buffalo Sabres: Lydman-Tallinder
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Niedermayer-Beauchemin
It looks like having a tag-team of shutdown center and shutdown defensemen/pairing/pairings is what makes "shutdown" matching so effective. Many of these pairings involve "name" players, but some, like Lydman-Tallinder, are more two solid defensemen who have good all-around abilities and some chemistry. That's all it takes. Furthermore, since these guys can eat up the tough minutes--and all of 'em--that lessens the burden on the other players, who will find it easier to play a good two-way game afterwards. It's not like each of the Caps' top three or four lines facing Michael Cammalleri or Sidney Crosby at different points in a playoff series.
Do the the Capitals have a shutdown pairing? Maybe. Boudreau will make sure to get Poti and his partner or Green and his partner against the other team's top line. Now with the added depth on defense with Carlson and Alzner, maybe he will trust two players to be his "shutdown" pairing and provide some continuity in pairings on defense. That, I feel, will go a long way towards making things flow more smoothly on the back end.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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ReplyDeleteI'm reading this blog more and more. And anonymous -- very constructive.
ReplyDeleteThe day Green shuts anyone down in the playoffs, other than himself, will be the day when Obama goes off on Nancy Pelosi, green-lights waterboarding, and endorses Sarah Palin for President.
ReplyDeleteGreen is the best offensive defenseman in the world. If you throw him out with a competent puck-possession line he doesn't need to play defense. I mean, Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble-Green-Schultz can likely outscore any other quintet in the league (except Lidstrom-Rafalski-Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Franzen/Holmstrom and Seabrook-Keith-Toews-Kane-Hossa). After that it's depth, and the Caps have better depth than most other teams in the league.
ReplyDeleteRed Army Line: What about Drew Doughty?
ReplyDeleteDoughty is good, but I posted a comment on Japers' Rink saying since 1998, no defenseman has had the offensive margin over his peers that Green has had the past two. Doughty has to prove himself a bit more, but he has good instincts. He's not a "rover" in the Niedermayer mold like Green is, though. More like a Lidstrom, a hybrid stay-on-the-point-or-rush type guy. At least that's my take.
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