Martin is Back! New Defensive Pairings?
by Matthew Ventolo on Mar 17, 2010 1:39 PM EDT
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Paul Martin is back. The entire Devils' community is happy, relieved, perhaps drinking a little, and excited for his return on a very special Devils' night already. It's been a longtime waiting, and finally for the first time this season, the Devils are playing with a full healthy roster.
Martin is our #1 defenseman. Maybe not right this moment, but he will be come playoff time. It still amazes me a little on how much success the team has had this season without him (well actually I shouldn't....look at Marty and last season). Anyway, for the next couple of games, we should all except Martin to play 3rd pair minutes (say 15 minutes). With Salmela and Fraser scratched for tonight's game against Pittsburgh, Martin will likely be paired with Skoula and the usual top 2 pairs will remain. But this will not last. Martin will be in the top 2 pairs in the next week or two. His skating, his handling, and his leadership easily place him in our top 2 or 3 defensemen.
There has been A LOT of talk over the past couple months about the defensemen and their respective play. I think every defender has been criticized at least once for their mistakes, bad positioning, and bad offensive play. Mottau probably the worst, then Fraser, Greene, and Salvador, and then everyone else. The problem was Martin was out, the defense was limited, and all these men had to play and play significant minutes. Well Martin is back, the defense has good depth now, so now what?
The defense has played better the last 3 or 4 games. They are playing solid defense, and getting involved in the offense which is a great sign. They are still making mistakes here and there, but not to the extent they were a month ago. But now that Martin is back, changes are going to be made. Pairings will be broken and rearranged. One player who has played on the top 2 pairs will be brought down the 3rd pairing. There will be 2 defensive scratches a game (unless Lemaire plays 7 D, or Lou sends someone down to Lowell).
So here we go. Let's discuss this. Paul Martin is back...
Where does he go? Who does he get paired with? Who gets "demoted"? Who becomes the other scratch? Does someone get sent down, and if so, who?
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Not the way I'd like to see it,
but I expect these pairings.
Martin-Greene
White-Mottau
Salvador-Skoula
If anyone is going to get demoted, it will be Fraser. His play the last few weeks (though, to be fair, the entire defensive corps showed the same) displayed some significant flaws in his game, and some time down in the minors should help. I’d like to see Salmela as a 7D, since I’m not sure how much Skoula is going to be able to hold in the long term, and this way the defensemen will be seeing less minutes.
Martin-Greene on the same pairing will be putting all the offensive eggs in the same metaphorical basket. They are by far the best offensive d-men on the Devils, and it would be wise if they were split onto different pairings.
What's difficult...
Martin-Greene
White-Mottau
Salvador-Skoula or Salmela
This is the most likely. But like Jago said, both offensive defensemen on the same line? They should be split up. I feel White and Mottau are going to be paired just because they have been for past 2 seasons almost. They know how to play with each other, why mess it up? So who gets bumped to the 3rd pair? My guess would be Greene. Leaving:
Martin-Salvador
White-Mottau
Green-Skoula or Salmela
Each line is relatively even in defensive skill. The 1st and 3rd line both have that offensive ability. And the 2nd is the more defensive minded line. This team is more offensive minded than past teams, thus having 2 offensive-defensive lines instead of 1 would work better. This can also create more even ice time throughout the 3 pairs. Last night White and Mottau played 22+minutes (29 & 28 shifts respectively). Greene and Salvador played a little over 19 minutes (25 & 27 shifts), Martin played 18 minutes (22 SHF), and Skoula played 16:45 (24 SHF). White and Mottau were each on the ice shorthanded for 5+ minutes. Thus they all played around the same even strength time (Skoula 14+ ES-TOI). and the PK was good last night. If all 3 lines are getting 20+ shifts and all around the 23-18 TOI mark, I feel these lines would be best.
by Matthew Ventolo on Mar 18, 2010 1:46 PM EDT reply actions
I THINK....
i think that the pairings should be 1 Martin Salvador 2 Greene White 3 Salmela Skoula
Martin is undoubtedly the #1 Defenseman in my opinion nobody else is even close Mottaus mistakes will prove way to costly come playoff time and if he does stay and you know he will keeping him with White is just really stupid with these pairings you have a solid stay at home Dman and a Puckmover/Offensive minded Dman in each pair i think these players would compliment each other well and forward lines should be
Parise Elias Langenbrunner
Kovalchuk Zajac Zubrus
Rolston Mcammond Clarkson
Pandolfo Niedermayer Pelley
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