Just as is the case with the 12th forward, with the return to health along the Golden Knights blueline, All Star head coach Gerard Gallant has some tough decisions to make heading into Wednesday’s playoff opener.
Nate Schmidt, Brayden McNabb, Colin Miller, and Shea Theodore are certainties to be in the lineup. Deryk Engelland is likely to be crack the lineup but there’s at least a bit of decision making needed with him as his play has seemed to slip as the season has worn on.
That leaves four defensemen with just once spot available in the Vegas D-core. As we did with the forwards, here’s a pros and cons list of each player and then both Ken and I made selections as to who we believe will get the call.
Luca Sbisa
20 Playoff games
1 goal, 4 points, -10 rating, 17:15 ATOI
Pros: Sbisa was one of the most reliable Golden Knights defenseman to start the season, was once considered VGK’s superstar shadown, and he has played several playoff games. Before being injured in mid-November Vegas was 10-5-1 with him in the lineup. Usually, Sbisa was paired up with Nate Schmidt and split duties covering the best forwards in the NHL. Like Englland, Sbisa is best staying home and protecting the net. Although he has done his share offensively. When Sbisa records a point the Golden Knights are 10-1-1 this season.
Cons: Sbisa has been hampered with injuries most of his career, and this year has been no different. Vegas was expecting a healthy defenseman after playing a full 82 games in Vancouver last season. It’s uncertain how injured he is, or if he’s even healthy enough to play against the Kings. Sbisa has suited up for 20 postseason games, going 8-12 with three different franchises. Sbisa could be the better overall option but Gallant may decide to go with Engelland because of similar style and trust.
Brad Hunt
0 Playoff Games
Pros: When it comes to the perfect second unit power-play defenseman, Hunt is your guy. On top of his quick shot instincts, effort and character, Hunt’s skating ability allows him to quickly retrieve the puck and get it out of the defensive zone. Hunt can be a big component to the Golden Knights effective tempo.
Cons: Skill and size. It’s unfortunate but both work against Hunt. While he can add another threat offensively on the ice, Gallant wants a defenseman that can slow down the opponent in the defensive zone using his body. Hunt can do that against certain matchups, but the overall physicality of the Kings will likely keep Hunt out of the first round lineup.
Jon Merrill
0 Playoff Games
Pros: Merrill has been a good depth defenseman this season. When Gallant needs extra defense, Merrill will get the call over Hunt. After weeks of being a healthy scratch, he was ready to jump into action whenever he was called. If there are injuries Merrill could fill third pair minutes.
Cons: Merrill’s not the fastest or slickest skater on the ice. At times, he can get lost in the defensive zone allowing open shooting gaps for opponents. In the playoffs one uncontested shot could cost the series.
Zach Whitecloud
0 Playoff games
Pros: In the 2016 postseason, a 20-year-old defenseman with 19 NHL career games played in six playoff games. That player was Shea Theodore. It probably won’t be the case but it’s not out of this world for a young inexperienced kid to see postseason action.
Cons: Really hard to come up with many because of his limited action. He’s got the size to absorb heavy play, but could be too inexperienced to trust against the Kings. Also, he wasn’t on the ice with the team in their first postseason practice. There’s almost no way he gets the call.
Projected Lineups
Jason Pothier
Schmidt-Sbisa
Engelland-Theodore
Miller-McNabb
Ken Boehlke
Schmidt-McNabb
Engelland-Theodore
Miller-Sbisa
Carmine
No Hunt please. Sbisa with Miller will make Colin offensively dangerous.
Schmidt-McNabb
Engelland-Theodore
Miller-Sbisa
Joe
Sorry Jason, but I will have to go with Ken again. The familiarity of 88 & 3 playing together for long stretches of the season makes the most sense when playing against top competition. And I agree with Carmine, having 6 & 47 facing LA’s bottom two lines really gives them a chance to do some damage on the offensive end.
Also, I thought Whitecloud was ineligible for postseason play since he wasn’t on the roster as of the trade deadline. Could you please clear that up? Thanks.
John Theivagt
He is not eligible to be on the playoff roster as he was not under contract prior to the trade deadline. To quote Katya Knappe’s article regarding the trade deadline:
“When
The trade deadline this year is Monday, February 26. As always, the exact deadline is 3 p.m. New York time. To be eligible for the playoffs, a player must be under contract to the NHL team he will be playing for by that time. You can trade anyone you like after the deadline, but they aren’t eligible for the playoffs on their new team, so it rarely happens.”