Last Year's Top Defensive Pairings

by Bob Wage on Jul 30, 2009 2:49 PM EDT

Previously, we looked at various forward combinations from last year and compared their statistics. Now it's time for the defensive pairings. Not surprisingly, Tim Gleason and Joe Corvo spent the most time together as the number one pairing, even though Joni Pitkanen actually spent more total time on the ice. The following results are tabulated while at even-strength:

	Line	Shifts	Points	Point per	Goals	GA
	Combo	Together	Together	Shift Ratio	Allowed	per shift


1	Corvo-Gleason	3659	11	0.3%	38	1.0%
2	Babchuk-Pitkanen	2178	19	0.9%	15	0.7%
3	Pitkanen-Seidenberg	1864	15	0.8%	17	0.9%
4	Wallin-Seidenberg	1588	9	0.6%	15	0.9%
5	Corvo-Pitkanen	687	5	0.7%	13	1.9%
6	Babchuk-Wallin	626	3	0.5%	7	1.1%
7	Corvo-Seidenberg	579	10	1.7%	6	1.0%
8	Corvo-Wallin	549	2	0.4%	3	0.5%
9	Gleason-Pitkanen	501	7	1.4%	4	0.8%
10	Corvo-Kaberle	404	4	1.0%	3	0.7%

I incorporated information from the two stat sites on one chart for this comparison and included the goals against on the right. Sometimes Babchuk and Pitkanen got a bad rap for their defense, but their plus/minus and the stats from above indicate that teams did not score very often against them as a pair. The only pair with a lower GA ratio was Corvo/Wallin and they played one quarter as often together.

Keep in mind though that Gleason and Corvo usually played against the opposition's best.

Arguably the team's overall best defensemen, Corvo and Pitkanen, did not perform very well as a pairing during even-strength play. But for powerplay opportunities, the story is a little different.

	Line	Shifts	Points	Point per
	Combo	Together	Together	Shift Ratio


1	Corvo-Pitkanen	533	20	3.8%
2	Corvo-Seidenberg	309	12	3.9%
3	Babchuk-Pitkanen	289	15	5.2%
4	Corvo (and 4 forwards)	248	7	2.8%
5	Babchuk-Seidenberg	172	4	2.3%
6	Pitkanen-Seidenberg	87	4	4.6%
7	Corvo-Gleason	82	0	0.0%
8	Kaberle-Seidenberg	57	4	7.0%
9	Corvo-Kaberle	57	0	0.0%
10	Corvo-Rodney	40	5	12.5%

As you can see, the two offensive minded defensemen, (Corvo and Pitkanen), led in combined shifts and in total points while playing together with the man advantage. While Corvo and Seidenberg took more shifts together, more points were actually scored when Babchuk and Pitkanen were on the ice together.

Look at the high point percentage the brief time that Rodney and Corvo were on the ice together. The Canes are going to have to take a long, hard look at Bryan Rodney at training camp.

Once again, all stats taken from Dobber Hockey and Hockey Analysis.com.

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Comments

I liked what I saw of Rodney in the games he played with Carolina last season. That’s why I posted elsewhere that I think after training camp he might actually be in the third defensive pairing when the season starts.

by ncdavid on Jul 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

What the heck are they smoking over at Jasper’s Rink, and why aren’t they sharing??
Bogosian at #4? That’s almost as bad as their forwards ranking of Stamkos.

Of course my top 10 would be biased, 1-4 would be Tim Gleason.

by Caniac1026 on Jul 30, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

I was just reading the same thing. Babchuk??!!!! But not Gleason – who’s invited to the USA olympic camp. Not Corvo They struggled with Aaron Ward in the comments too. At least Pitkanen is got some recognition which makes me a little more comfortable that their intentions aren’t totally narcissitic.

Why don’t they focus on their own team rather than evaluating others, of which they know nothing? Too obsessed with individual stats and not “team-building”.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jul 30, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah…..that article is full of stupid.

This is what they have to say about the “6th best” blue liner in the division?

“Kubina’s atrocious minus-15 rating jumps off the screen at you, but he was plus-12 over the previous two seasons. Then again, he is minus-102 over his eleven-year NHL career. Seriously, $5 million for this guy?”

by Iggy Reilly on Jul 30, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

As long as he’s a minus against the Canes, it sounds like a great aquisition for ATL :-)

by Caniac1026 on Jul 30, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

But according to the same article, the Thrashers have 3 of the top 10 d-men in the division.

I know Kubina is a new addition, but seriously, the team that is SECOND TO LAST IN THE ENTIRE NHL in goals against per game last year has 3 of the top 10 d-men in the division?

by Iggy Reilly on Jul 30, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Aren’t ya glad we have Bubba and Cory who are both so much more disciplined bloggers??? Though I do believe they love the Canes as much as any blogger loves their home team, they are just a lot more rigorous about how they present the statistics and the stories.

Fits in nicely with the story on the relationship between blogger and traditional press. Can’t realize have a broad-brushed approach on who is credible and who is rabble rousing?

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jul 30, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

argh

Should have read “Makes you realize you can’t have a broad-brushed approach….”

I better go open that beer and turn on Game 7 vs NJD. I’ve been looking forward to it all day (we won didn’t we?)

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jul 30, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I still have it DvR'd

That and Game 7 vs the Boo-ins.

What a nice pick me up.

If money's the root of all evil then why do so many
churches brow beat their members for more?

by lcd2you on Jul 30, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

It was great. I’d forgotten some of the early goals. Canes looked awesome. Gleason was a star, among others.

We gathered round the TV for the last 5 minutes to whoop and holler. Family togetherness at its finest.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jul 30, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on...

They obviously don’t watch every game for every team. And you know Babchuk’s stats show him to be the best skater on the entire Hurricanes team, duh.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 30, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been waiting for you to sharpen your teeth and head up there to join the fray and argue the Canes viewpoint. But then again, why bother?

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jul 30, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha...

I don’t snoop too often. And yeah, I doubt I’d get much of anywhere anyway, so why bother indeed.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 31, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

They’ll find out soon enough. Let the teams sort it out on the ice.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jul 31, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

09-10 pairings?

corvo-ward
pitkanen-gleason
alberts-wallin

i, too, liked what i saw from rodney when he was up. it’ll be interesting to see how this shakes out through training camp and the start of the season. how will the Canes shape their blueline to maximize/support the offense? really pleased with the acquisition of Award and the potential of the Rats to contribute. Coach Mo could have a lot worse pieces to play with.

by Gillimus on Jul 30, 2009 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

HAHA

jasper’s rink,A diving sod farmer.I asume that person was talking about stall,i guess they dont watch much hockey other than the caps.

by caniacpanther on Jul 30, 2009 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

Missing

What jumps out at me from the stat list is that losing Seidenberg and Babchuk leaves big holes in our old PP unit. Corvo and PItkanen better be ready to produce. Or Rodney? Or we could still sign one of them.

by drifterscape on Jul 31, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions