Defenseman scoring is the most random thing...

[ross10019]

However, owning Karlsson you have to either draft a player with fantastic +/- to counter Erik’s, or completely throw that category out the window.

Karlsson was +16 in 2011/12 and then +8 in only 17 games last year. The first year Ottawa was terrible and he was still learning the trade. This year, Ottawa was horrid defensively all-around, and Karlsson by his own admission still wasn't 100% healed from the achilles slice (problems pivoting). Karlsson's actually pretty good defensively for an undersized Dman, he's got that excellent stickwork and the obvious skating ability and hockey sense.

I'd bet Karlsson bounces back on the plus side of the ledger next year, and ends up comfortably on the plus side over his entire career.

[ross10019]

My approach for my multicat league in the sig has always beento have the very best D core in the league, that plus goaltending is what wins you championships. If you can have say 2 of the top 5 fantasy dmen, that is a huge advantage.

[SeaDawg]

I was thinking about this a bit myself. I tend to agree with 27Blue in that I don't think defense scoring is necessarily any more inconsistent than forward scoring when you look at the top 25-30 players. By and large, there are new names that pop into the list every year that may disappear next year. That said, where dmen scoring is really inconsistent, imo, is in the top 15. There are only 4 dmen in the top 15 this year that were in the top 15 last year as well: Subban, Weber, Yandle, and Kronwall.

My personal dilemma with dmen scoring involves my salary cap league. I simply cannot justify spending lots of money on dmen. The difference in scoring between a $3-4 million dman and an $6-8 million dman is generally only 10-15 pts. In H2H leagues, that is a tiny difference on a week-to-week basis and I'd rather make up those few points by spending a bit more money on goalies or forwards. Plus, nothing would upset me more if I spent a load of cash on Chara only to have Sekera easily outpoint him for a fraction of the money!

[2014olympicgold]

Karlsson isn’t very strong defensivly. He was put in positions to thrive offensively, like against 2^nd lines, starting in the offensive zone, starting against a tired 1^st line. He’s a lot better because he’s gotten physically stronger, but if you watch him, he still gives the puck up a fair bit. -30, +16, +8, -15 his last 4 yrs. Wipe out his -30 year (because he’s grown) and his +8 year (cause it was only 17 games) and he’s a +1. I’d still say he has a bad +/- for someone who puts up 70+points a year. Kronwall got 50pts, and was like +20.

[Bass56]

40 points is an arbitrary number. Every year you get 20-30 d-men who hit this milestone.

The same could be said for a 65ish point forward and I am sure you would have a similar number of names in and out of the group each year. Probably a little more variance with d-men but it isn't as random as it is being made out to be.


A quick look shows that of the top 25 scorers at the forward position last year (65+ points) - only 11 of those same players are in the top 25 in scoring this year.
The top 25 scorers at the defence position last year (38+ points) - only 14 of those same players are in the top 25 in scoring this year.

There are surprises, good and bad, at every position every year. Defence is no different. Kyle Okposo scored 4 goals last year... this year he would have scored 30. Surprises happen at all positions.

Good call Blue! I agree with this as well!

[suvojitde]

I would put Giordano in the list of Ds that can get 40+ consistently (the operative word is CAN)

[suvojitde]

I would put Giordano in the list of Ds that can get 40+ consistently (the operative word is CAN)

...and Letang if healthy (Big Injury Risk but a sure shot if healthy)

[Reuben]

Regarding Karlsson's +/-....yes, you'd like to grab a Dman who's great in all categories, but having a guy who puts up big G, A, Pts, PPG, PPA numbers is alright.

And +/-, along with PIMs, is one of the few categories that one can find players relatively easily for.

Ie - Boston, Anaheim, and Chicago Dmen all had pretty good +/- numbers this past year. Add one of those guys as your bench/depth Dman

I know that's kinda simplistic, but it's not necessarily wrong either

[Shiva Blaster]

My approach for my multicat league in the sig has always beento have the very best D core in the league, that plus goaltending is what wins you championships. If you can have say 2 of the top 5 fantasy dmen, that is a huge advantage.

This 100%. Quality goaltenders and defensemen are the biggest limiting factors in any league. Having the best of both is the easiest way to really separate your team from the pack. No one in my league will be able to compete with my D for the foreseeable future, they give me a huge advantage going into any match-up.

[dodospice]

In my keeper league where we have only 6 defence and keep 3 each season I am honestly set! OEL, Karlsson and Pietrangelo.. hard to get much better then that. (Only issue is I like to find that next young defenceman before he explodes, so I may reach on a guy each season haha)