Midseason Report Card: Defensemen

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 2:12 PM MST Comment 42 comments

Midseason Report Card, Part 97: The Electric Bugaloo Strikes Back (aka The Defensemen).

Brett Clark

#5 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Born: Dec 23, 1976

One of the reasons I defended Brett Clark's extension two summers ago was the fact that Clark would provide decent offense while still being responsible defensively. Well, the offense has dried up - he's on pace for just 14 points, by far his lowest total as an Avalanche. How much of that is system and how much is Clark is debatable, but the numbers are the numbers. Defensively, Clark has been blocking a boatload of shots (as usual). Other than that, he's been his normal old relatively-solid-but-still-prone-to-getting-beat-too-often-self. Certainly a useful guy to have, but not one who isn't expendable (hint, hint). Oh, and what is the point of the fucking mouthguard if you aren't going to have it in your mouth?

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 41GP 2G 5A 7P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: 41GP 4G 10A 14

2008-2009 Projection: 82GP 4G 10A 14

Grade: C+

Kyle Cumiskey

#48 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 5-10

Weight: 187

Born: Dec 02, 1986

Cumiskey hasn't played enough to evaluate, but I'm such a nerd about completeness that I have to include him.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 3GP 0G 0A 0P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: 30GP 0G 5A 5

2008-2009 Projection: 82GP 4G 10A 14P

Grade: INC

Adam Foote

#52 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-2

Weight: 220

Born: Jul 10, 1971

Foote has been a bit of a disappointment so far this year. He's had some good stretches, but also some terrible stretches (such as the last few games he played before his latest injury). And, geez, I know we didn't get him for his offense...but 4 points? That's awful even by his standards.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 30GP 0G 4A 4P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: N/A

2008-2009 Projection: 60GP 0G 8A 8P

Grade: B-

Scott Hannan

#22 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-1

Weight: 225

Born: Jan 23, 1979

Hannan has very quietly put in a solid first half of a season. He's faced the other team's top forwards a lot, and has generally done a good job. Offensively, he's been worse than Foote, which is really saying something. Could Foote and Hannan be the lowest scoring defensive pairing in history? Beyond the offense, I think the first 41 games this year are exactly what the Avs thought they were getting two summers ago.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 40GP 0G 2A 2P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: 41GP 1G 12A 13P

2008-2009 Projection: 81GP 0G 4A 4P

Grade: B+

Jordan Leopold

#44 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Aug 03, 1980

If he doesn't slip in the shower or something, on he Thursday he will play in game number 44 - tops for him in an Avalanche uniform. Leo is off to a good start offensively, and could conceivably get to career highs in goals (9) and points (33) and perhaps even assists (24). Somehow, Leopold's goals always seem to come at opportune times. Although he only has one game winner (suck it, Osgood), so maybe that's just my imagination. For the 2nd year in a row, Leopold got off to a very shaky start defensively but has gotten better.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 41GP 5G 9A 14P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: 14GP 3G 1A 4P

2008-2009 Projection:82GP 10G 18A 28P

Grade: B

John-Michael Liles

#4 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 5-10

Weight: 185

Born: Nov 25, 1980

McDreamy is off to a fine start offensively and, barring injury, should get back to the 40-point level this year. While I kind of thought he'd be putting in 50 or 60 point seasons by now, that disappointment is tempered a bit by the fact that Liles is so much better in his own end these days. A couple of years ago, Liles had 31 hits in a season. He has 41 already, and the only defenseman on the Avs with more is Ruslan Salei (think about that one for a second). Maybe it's my hormones talking for me, but I think he's been terrific so far this year.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 39GP 5G 14A 19P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: 40GP 2G 14A 16P

2008-2009 Projection: 80GP 10G 29A 39P

Grade: A-

Ruslan Salei

#24 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-1

Weight: 212

Born: Nov 02, 1974

Disappointing. His hits are down, his scoring is down and too often he seems to be mailing it in. He's still been our most physical defenseman in the first half, but overall it's been a "meh" 41 games.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 39GP 1G 9A 10P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: N/A

2008-2009 Projection: 80GP 2G 18A 21P

Grade: C

Daniel Tjarnqvist

#29 / Defenseman / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-1

Weight: 207

Born: Oct 14, 1976

Tjarmin Ultra has been solid and unspectacular in a limited role this year. Not that there's anything wrong with that; that's the kind of stuff you want to see from your 7th defenseman. He's had a couple of defensive gaffes and a few big offensive plays. Other than that, there isn't a lot of noteworthy stuff, other than the fact that Tjarnqvist seems to be 100% comfortable with his role.

2008-2009 1st Half Stats: 13GP 2G 1A 3P
2007-2008 1st Half Stats: N/A

2008-2009 Projection: 26GP 4G 2A 6P

Grade: C+

So, there's your defenseman as I see it through 41 games this year. To summarize:

Liles: A-
Hannan: B+
Leopold: B
Foote: B-
Clark: C+
Tjarnqvist: C+
Salei: C
Cumisky: I brought my pencil.

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Read More: 2008-2009 midseason report card, Daniel Tjarnqvist (D - COL), Ruslan Salei (D - COL), John-Michael Liles (D - COL), Brett Clark (D - COL), Adam Foote (D - COL), Scott Hannan (D - COL), Jordan Leopold (D - FLA), Kyle Cumiskey (D - COL), Goalies(Source Name), Former Avs I(Sauer, Finger, Skrastins), Former Avs II(Theodore, Brunette, Richardson), Former Avs III(The rest)

Comments

what about Leopold's defense?

it’s been singularly awful in my opinion, and the stats back that up: http://www.milehighhockey.com/2009/1/12/718802/a-couple-interesting-stats#11363653

don’t get me wrong, I like Leopold as a player and I hope he picks it up, but he’s really struggling in his own end.

by thedoctor on Jan 14, 2009 2:32 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I agree that he was awful at the start of the year (although not quite as bad as the mysterious zombieleo we saw to start last season). but I also think he’s gotten much better lately.

case in point – he’s only been on the ice for 2 EV goals against in the last 9 games.

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 2:53 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

(I did that quickly, so don’t quote me or anything)

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 2:54 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

good point, but his body of work even when uninjured is still scary to me. I don’t know who I’d rather trade (and I think we’ve almost got to trade one of them) between Leo or Clark. Both have significant downsides.

But I love the grades as always, and agree with everything but Leo.

by thedoctor on Jan 14, 2009 3:23 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you have to trade Clark if you can get anyone to take his salary. Hopefully they could sign Leo for less again. Clark isn’t worth 3.5M, and Hannan hasn’t been worth his 4.5M. Speaking of Hannan, while I agree that he has been able to shut down guys at times this season, overall I’m still pretty underwhelmed by his play. His skating, in particular, has been horrible lately. I honestly wonder if he is playing with an injury?

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 14, 2009 3:26 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of salaries

Do you weigh grades against salaries and/or expectations, or is it a pretty straight performance based curve?

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 14, 2009 3:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I try to do it as a straight performance thing, and not take into account the other stuff. I’m sure there’s some unintentional bias in there too, though; if I hadn’t seen Salei last spring, I’d probably be giving him a higher grade for this year.

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 3:44 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

also, I think Clark’s low point total really will make it difficult to move him. right now, Giguere has to sell someone on him for his defense alone and that’s a tall order.

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 3:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Not if you

find a team who wants to get rid of a fellow defenseman who has worn out his welcome, doesn’t fit the current coaching regime’s system, and has a managable contract. Throw in a mid round draft choice, and it just might happen.

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 14, 2009 7:34 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

yep. I still like Clark’s play as a 2nd pairing guy, but he sure hit pay dirt. ON the plus side, FG’s super cautious terms on contracts have really spared us hurt some other teams have experienced. Imagine being saddled with Jovo’s contract, or Finger’s, or god forbid Redden’s (involuntary shudder).

by thedoctor on Jan 14, 2009 3:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Clark

I disagree. I think he has been pretty awful this year. He clears the zone worse than anyone else on defense, and he is often caught out of position for goals against. I think he has been terrible this season.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2009 3:52 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I am deeply saddened that Clark is not playing as well this year as he had been. His contract would be much better if he hadn’t slipped. I guess he did earn it by being ‘the guy’ for 2 years here.

Any thoughts on what caused the downturn? The big injury last year?

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Jan 14, 2009 6:57 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Me thinks Zombie-Leo could become the next MHH meme. Let the photoshopping commence!

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 15, 2009 9:52 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Why does Hannan have an N/A for 2007-2008?

I could swear he played all year last year. One of the benefits of not having a last name starting with S.

by exredcoat on Jan 14, 2009 2:55 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

simply because I’m an idiot and forgot to put it in. That’s fixed.

in case anyone is wondering, I don’t have Foote’s and Salei’s because they weren’t on the team then and so they aren’t in my dorky spreadsheet. I’m sure the info is out there somewhere, but I didn’t look very hard.

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 3:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think idiot is quite fair. I think that subconciously you were trying to forget the kind of year he had after being touted as a great signing in the offseason. I remember being really annoyed by him last year and this year I find myself liking him quite a bit more. That really skyrocketed when he managed to push Malkin’s buttons.

by exredcoat on Jan 14, 2009 3:15 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Pushing Malkin’s buttons was definitely a plus for him…but he needs to do that more often against our opponents; especially since we only see the Penguins once in a blue moon.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 14, 2009 6:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

You are definitely not an idiot. I love reading your stuff.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 14, 2009 3:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice job DD

And I love the pics.

Here’s my take- Foote just laid a giant stink pickle, which is making Clark vomit out his mouthguard. Hannan is looking the other way because that isn’t his defensive responsibility, while Leopold is grinning because he’s not on the ice and knows that it can’t hurt him if he can’t smell it. JML is watching Beachie undress in the stands to get his attention. It’s working, but she also got Rusty’s attention. Tarnqvist is just saying, “that ain’t solid, but at least DD at MHH thinks I have been”.

Sorry, sometimes life is just one giant fart joke to me….

I blame it all on my goalie

by TheRed on Jan 14, 2009 3:58 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Wait, what did you say

I was too busy trying to watch Beachie….

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 14, 2009 6:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

OMG

I’m crying I’m laughing so hard. Too freaking funny.

When hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too!

by BeachNSnowGirl on Jan 14, 2009 7:40 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Beachie

Your boyfriend got the best grade of everyone! It must be all those late-night tutorials you have been giving him. It’s it awesome that “The Face of the Avalanche” is not only super hot, but also a great player. He’d definitely make my Top 10 Hot Hockey Player List.

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 9:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice Job DDC

Agree with most of the grades.

Clarke’s C+ is aggravating because he was an A last year before he got hurt.
Hannan & Foote are frustrating because they’re being paid to be A guys.
Leopold gets a B- minimum just because he isn’t hurt.
Liles could stand to have a little more production, but he’s played well.
Salei feels worse than it is because he was B+ last year.
Charmin Ultra allowed me to pop my MHH create-a-name cherry, A-

It's so hot. Milk was a bad choice.

by JonHaven on Jan 14, 2009 10:25 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I actually think the amount they’re paid is added in the equation. It feels to me like it is, anyways.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 15, 2009 9:53 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

This blog sucks too.... does any one have anything good to say? UGH!

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:22 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

try www.shinyhappyavalanchefans.com

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 15, 2009 6:49 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That is the funniest thing I have read all day. Thanks DD!

Red Wings Suck

by texacogirl on Jan 15, 2009 4:00 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Want something to eat?

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 15, 2009 9:53 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

JM Liles is Dreamy

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 11:23 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The Baron Von Wolski is still a stud.

Despite getting shut down by Columbus, he still made things happen and needs to continue playing Center.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 15, 2009 11:59 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

does any one have anything good to say?

You mean positive AND constructive like, “This blog sucks too?” Mmmmmmkay there monodonomono.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 15, 2009 12:06 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

monodonomono.

Mr. Roboto

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 12:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That song

a couple of late 80s Aerosmith songs, and a whole plethora of garbage from Jackson Browne have to rate among the worst music of all-time. In my book, anyway.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 15, 2009 12:25 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That song

a couple of late 80s Aerosmith songs, and a whole plethora of garbage from ~~Jackson Browne~~ The Beatles have to rate among the worst music of all-time. In my book, anyway.

Fixed for my book….

I blame it all on my goalie

by TheRed on Jan 15, 2009 1:49 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs