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All tank team Atlantic Division |
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Ryan Wilson
All tank team - Metropolitan Division
July 25, 2019, 7:13 AM ET [230 Comments] Recently I had a series of blogs where I tried to come up with the best team a single division could provide. Each team was represented by a single player and the players had to play their “natural” position as stated by the website Cap Friendly.
This next series is going to focus on the opposite. I am going to try and select the worst team each division could submit under the same guidelines. If you were trying to tank and secure a high draft pick these would be the teams to assemble. I will try to use players who play on a regular basis and I will be refraining from using backup goaltenders.
The rules
My parameters are that you can only take one player from each team in the division.
You need to have a regular starting lineup with a center, right wing, left wing, right defense, left defense, and goalie.
There will be two bench positions for an eight team division. I’m going to take one forward and one defenseman.
I am using cap friendly to guide me on the positions.
Today is the Atlantic Division
Vladimir Sobotka, Center
Sobotka was part of the failed O’Reilly trade the Sabres made. It was a great cap dump move
by the Blues. Sobotka had a hiatus from the NHL where he played in the KHL. Since he has
come back he has not been good. He’s a complete drag on the on-ice product. He is currently
not capable of a sheltered role let alone an elevated one.
Luke Glendening, Left Wing
Glendening is one of the many depth players Ken Holland gave term to and ultimately sunk the
Red Wings to their current standing in the NHL. He has been ineffective for years however his
usage speaks to somebody up to the task. In his last four years he has a points per 60 of 1.08.
He is unable to drive play and clearly his offense cannot make up for those shortcomings.
David Backes, Right Wing
Once upon a time Backes was a very good NHL player. Currently, he is suffering from an aging
curve and a bloated contract. He was consistently a healthy scratch on the Boston Bruins
during their run to the Stanley Cup Final. His self-perceived value at this point is to be tough
and physically challenge opposing players. This one-dimensional kind of player rarely
contributes to winning hockey games.
Karl Alzner, Left Defense
One of those contracts you knew was terrible the day it was signed. After playing 82 games in
his first year of the contract he was limited to only nine NHL games in 2018-19. He played 34 in
the AHL. His time in the AHL is prime evidence of his inclusion on this team.
Cody Ceci, Right Defense
He has been an analytical punching bag for quite some time now. Both his CF% and xGF%
have hovered in the lower to mid-forties the past few years. His numbers relative to teammates
has been consistently negative. His overall impact on team performance has been negative.
Craig Anderson, Goaltender
Anderson has had a decent NHL career. His previous two seasons had him at a .903 and .898
all situations goaltender. The fact is age has caught up and the performance is not currently in
line with what it was the rest of his career.
Noel Acciari
Acciari is a non-descript depth player who has high defensive zone starts and OK possession.
There is no offense and thus stays in line with the theme of this team. Somebody who is not
able to contribute to the puck going in the opposition’s net.
Luke Schenn, Defense Reserve
At one point in time Schenn was considered much needed life blood on a Maple Leafs blue line.
That was over a decade ago. Since then he has spent time toiling as a stay at home defender
with minimal ability to positively impact play.
Glendening-Sobotka-Backes
Alzner-Ceci
Anderson
Acciari
Schenn
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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