Most definitely, I think the point of contention is that he is the main reason Gudbranson has been a disappointment.

It is probably part of the reason, as is Guddy's injury but even despite those things occurring Erik was playing some pretty terrible hockey.
- belcherbd

This is true. It snowballed on Guddy. Especially playing top pairing minutes with Hutton when Edler and Tanev were out.

I watched a whole episode of Canuck TV last night for the first time. Separate Edler and Tanev interviews.

what kind of hit me in the face was:

Edler has been here for 10 years.

2011 is really a long time ago.
- hillbillydeluxe

wonder how many more productive years are left

wonder how many more productive years are left
- SMBDragon

One year and 45 more games

Nashville is proof of loading up on D. That Johansen/Jones trade is what can happen when you have a loaded backend. One Dman goes and they don't miss a beat.
- Kaynine

And what have they ever won in their 18 years? They've only been to the second round three times and never beyond.

Stanley Cups 0
Conference championships 0
Presidents' Trophy 0
Division championships 0

It's pretty straight forward. You take his stats from when he started to play top-4 minutes last year and you compare them to the games he played the first half of last year(bottom pair) and realize he was statistically our worst top-4 d-man in that time period in the top-4. His bottom pair minutes (his first half of last year) were very impressive. Injury put him over his head, bad management has kept him there.
- neem55

OK.

Hutton had 10 points in his first 38 games last year and 15 in his last 37.
He averaged ~16 min per night in his first 38 games and ~ 21 min per night in his last 37 games.

He actually produced more in the 2nd half when that ice-time went up.
http://www.nhl.com/stats/...sPlayed,gte,1&sort=gameId

New system, new teammates, new opponents and new expectations. The guy deserves a lot more slack than people such as yourself are giving. I have confidence he will adjust and be successful in Van as a top-4 guy.
- neem55

plus injured and overplayed top pairing minutes with green partner added to it.

wonder how many more productive years are left
- SMBDragon

yeah, I dunno.

It just surprised me a little. In a way it hasn't seemed that long but he is the vet now.

Even Tanev seems like a veteran now.

I think Salo was my fav from when these guys broke into the league.

wonder how many more productive years are left
- SMBDragon

He's playing well defensively this year, which is lost on a lot of people. He eats a lot of tough minutes for the Canucks, very much underappreciated!!!

He's playing well defensively this year, which is lost on a lot of people. He eats a lot of tough minutes for the Canucks, very much underappreciated!!!
- LeftCoaster

Nice interviews him and Tanev.

I guess we will see the interviews a few times during the intermissions on this road trip.

Gudbranson clearly needs a veteran partner still, he's not quite ready to be the mentor. Hutton has not played well, even with Hamhuis he constantly exposed himself. Gudbranson/Tanev, Stecher/edler. Tree, Sbisa and Stecher are making cases for themselves, but only one of them really has the experience to take on more minutes IMO. It's a marathon to play D in the NHL, you cant rush it (ask Hutton).
- neem55

I agree, I don't think Guddy is ready to shelter one of the kids and likely would be excellent on a pair with Edler.

Hamhuis and Hutton played a whopping 23 min together last year, I'm not sure which player you were thinking of but I doubt it was Hamhius.

He's playing well defensively this year, which is lost on a lot of people. He eats a lot of tough minutes for the Canucks, very much underappreciated!!!
- LeftCoaster

so often maligned for mistakes made out of unrealistic expectations. Helped he changed sticks finally

so often maligned for mistakes made out of unrealistic expectations. Helped he changed sticks finally
- Nuck4U

Agree

He's playing well defensively this year, which is lost on a lot of people. He eats a lot of tough minutes for the Canucks, very much underappreciated!!!
- LeftCoaster

Definitely, played well last year as well. We all hoped he would find more offense but that's not the type of player he is.

New system, new teammates, new opponents and new expectations. The guy deserves a lot more slack than people such as yourself are giving. I have confidence he will adjust and be successful in Van as a top-4 guy.
- neem55

I agree with this.

add that it was a new system for the entire D. They're settling into it too. I think we are finally seeing things settle down that way

OK.

Hutton had 10 points in his first 38 games last year and 15 in his last 37.
He averaged ~16 min per night in his first 38 games and ~ 21 min per night in his last 37 games.

He actually produced more in the 2nd half when that ice-time went up.
http://www.nhl.com/stats/...sPlayed,gte,1&sort=gameId
- belcherbd

and his relative corsi numbers/shots/possession numbers plummeted to earth.

One year and 45 more games
- VANTEL

well he IS having a good year under the new D system too

I agree with this.

add that it was a new system for the entire D. They're settling into it too. I think we are finally seeing things settle down that way
- SMBDragon

It's not a new system this year. Lidster was brought in the year before? or perhaps even when WD came in and has been running the D, including this year, since.

well he IS having a good year under the new D system too
- SMBDragon

His trade value this opff-season after the expansion draft will be high. Hopefully then or next TDL he is moved as he is having a great year (he had a good year last year too, just injured too much)

yeah, I dunno.

It just surprised me a little. In a way it hasn't seemed that long but he is the vet now.

Even Tanev seems like a veteran now.

I think Salo was my fav from when these guys broke into the league.
- hillbillydeluxe

salo had a huge role on the D. He had a lot of trouble winning when he was injured.

It's not a new system this year. Lidster was brought in the year before? or perhaps even when WD came in and has been running the D, including this year, since.
- belcherbd

He came with WD. Jarvis I think is who Dragon is referring, who likely changed some things with respect to overall d-strategy, maybe forwards more specifically but likely both.

wonder how many more productive years are left
- SMBDragon

Scoring wise it's been down trying to be the defensive guy with Stecher as a partner. PP afterthought too. But if like Vantel says it is end of contract let's just hope OJ and/or Tree will be ready to take over.

salo had a huge role on the D. He had a lot of trouble winning when he was injured.
- SMBDragon

What always impressed me was he never seemed to take time to get back into game shape from injury, he'd come back and never miss a beat. Guess cause he was injured so much

and his relative corsi numbers/shots/possession numbers plummeted to earth.
- neem55

His Corsi did drop but his GF% increased as well as his deployment in the defensive zone. Remember he started playing with Tanev and they were being deployed against the top lines.

Anyways we clearly disagree.

Hi!

Nice to see all the chit-chat this morning, thanks for stopping by!

The new blog's up now:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...cago-Blackhawks/194/82362

He's playing well defensively this year, which is lost on a lot of people. He eats a lot of tough minutes for the Canucks, very much underappreciated!!!
- LeftCoaster

yes.
remember back last season when you watched the D carefully and realized there was no system? Then I said IF a new D system was in place Edler would be a force again. Here we are seeing exactly that.
With D you need a framework to work within and your guys will be performing better.