#1 PP D-men

[LawMan]

I love to focus on under the radar D-men who put up a solid number of PPP. The easiest way to put up PPP is to be on the #1 PP. Here's some analysis I've done. The teams are listed by most PPG per game last year as well as the D-men currently playing on said PP according to dailyfaceoff. http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/. Most of them have been updated within the last few days, and now that we’re near the end of the pre-season coaches are closer to setting lines.

For a few teams I’ve added in brackets the guy(s) who could still get #1 PP time either due to play or injury of the #1 guy *cough* Letang *cough*. I would appreciate insight form anyone on the guys listed in brackets.

1. Detroit Red Wings- Mike Green
2. Philadelphia Flyers -Mark Streit
3. Washington Capitals- John Carlson
4. St. Louis Blues Kevin Shattenkirk (Pietrangelo)
5. San Jose Sharks -Brent Burns
6. Dallas Stars - John Klingberg (Goligoski)
7. Tampa Bay Lightning - Anton Stralman (Hedman)
8. Columbus Blue Jackets- Jack Johnson
9. New York Islanders – Nick Leddy (Boychuk, Zidlicky)
10. Pittsburgh Penguins – Kris Letang (Maata, Pouliot)
11. Calgary Flames – Mark Giordano AND Dougie Hamilton
12. Winnipeg Jets – Dustin Byfuglien AND Tobias Enstrom
13. Ottawa Senators – Erik Karlsson AND Patrick Wiercioch
14. Los Angeles Kings – Drew Doughty AND Jake Muzzin
15. Chicago Blackhawks -- Duncan Keith
16. Vancouver Canucks – Alexander Edler
17. Arizona Coyotes—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
18. Toronto Maple Leafs – Dion Phaneuf AND Morgan Rielly
19. Carolina Hurricanes – Justin Faulk (Wisnewski)
20. Nashville Predators – Shea Weber AND Roman Josi
21. New Jersey Devils – Damon Severson AND Eric Gelinas
22. Edmonton Oilers – Justin Schultz (Sekera)
23. Montreal Canadiens – PK Subban AND Jeff Petry (Markov)
24. Florida Panthers – Aaron Ekblad AND Dmitry Kulikov
25. New York Rangers – Ryan McDonagh AND Dan Boyle (Yandle and Giradi)
26. Minnesota Wild – Ryan Suter (Dumba)
27. Boston Bruins -- Torey Krug (Chara)
28. Colorado Avalanche -- Francois Beauchemin AND Tyson Barrie (E. Johnson)
29. Anaheim Ducks -- Cam Flower AND Sami Vatanen
30. Buffalo Sabres – Cody Franson

[Pengwin7]

Solid list.
Many teams will use a single PP D-man who won't necessarily be PP1 or PP2.

TB, I believe, will likely have two strong units... and Stralman might be with one group, Hedman with the others.
I think you could consider a "slash" representation there. Stralman/Hedman.

Other teams do have a definite #1 D-man... ARI (OEL), PHI (Streit), PIT (Letang), SJ (Burns) etc...

Overall really good list, I can't say I know every PP1 unit for sure yet.
By each team's first game, we'll certainly have a good idea.

[RizzeeDizzee]

Appreciate you doing this. Since you asked for input, here's what comes to mind off the top of my head.

I disagree about Petry over Markov in Montreal - that's Markov's wheelhouse. Savard could get at least as much PP time as Johnson in Columbus. Zidlicky will 100% get more than Leddy; after all, Visnovsky did last year. Weber could unseat Edler in Vancouver. Niskanen could syphon away some of Carlson's time in Washington. And don't ignore Wideman in Calgary - he fared very well on the PP last season there. Maatta is a mirage - Pouliot gets any time Letang doesn't eat up. No way does Beauchemin see top PP ice time. Cody Ceci could see as much time as Wiercioch in Ottawa. Yandle probably pushes McDonagh to the side in NY. Jake Gardiner probably should be in small print for Toronto.

There's probably more, but like I said that was from my head.

[lektrix]

You really think Zidlicky just waltzes in and steals Leddy's PP time?

[RizzeeDizzee]

You really think Zidlicky just waltzes in and steals Leddy's PP time?

1000%. Leddy is not adept on the PP. In fact, he's never even averaged 1pp per 5 games played at any time in his career. Zidlicky, on the other hand, had 8PPP in 21 games with Detroit last season. Plus, if Leddy was even decent on the PP then the team wouldn't have leaned on the shell of his former self that Visnovsky was. Basically, Zidlicky gets swapped in for Visnosvky but actually pulls away even more of the PP time Leddy was getting last season. Lock it in.

[Referee3083]

For NJ, I think you have to put Larsson in parenthesis, if not have him on the 1st PP unit. He really started to come on strong in the 2nd half last year and the team is going to give him every opportunity to succeed.

- - - Updated - - -

1000%. Leddy is not adept on the PP. In fact, he's never even averaged 1pp per 5 games played at any time in his career. Zidlicky, on the other hand, had 8PPP in 21 games with Detroit last season. Plus, if Leddy was even decent on the PP then the team wouldn't have leaned on the shell of his former self that Visnovsky was. Basically, Zidlicky gets swapped in for Visnosvky but actually pulls away even more of the PP time Leddy was getting last season. Lock it in.

Agree with this too. Leddy couldn't fend off Boychuk last year and I can't see the Isles bringing in Zidlicky for his defensive acumen.

[MarmotKing]

Wow thanks for this! I just updated my draft list with your info!

[Big Ev]

I don't think Wiercioch is on the #1 PP

[PenguinHunter]

Winnipeg - I think Enstrom will lose PP time to Trouba or Myers, whichever one plays better. And it is likely that Enstrom gets injured.

New York Rangers - Yandle will definitely get consideration.

Colorado - I feel that Johnson will see some time there

Just my thoughts, expectations.

[LawMan]

My comments on your comments, thanks for input!

Appreciate you doing this. Since you asked for input, here's what comes to mind off the top of my head.

I disagree about Petry over Markov in Montreal - that's Markov's wheelhouse. - That's what I assumed to, like I said I simply typed what dailyfaceoff shows. I assume Markov is virtually a lock for PP1 given history and Petry isn't exactly a offensive stud.Savard could get at least as much PP time as Johnson in Columbus.- Glad to know this. I have a big asterisk next to Jack Johnson, I think he could have a huge year and he Hits a ton.
Zidlicky will 100% get more than Leddy; after all, Visnovsky did last year. - this is another PP I have my eye on, lots of forward stars, I was surprised to see Leddy there, what about Boychuk?
Weber could unseat Edler in Vancouver. - Good to know
Niskanen could syphon away some of Carlson's time in Washington. - Another guy I have starred is Carlson, I hope he flies slightly under the radar, could be huge PPP there.
don't ignore Wideman in Calgary - he fared very well on the PP last season there.
Maatta is a mirage - Pouliot gets any time Letang doesn't eat up. - could be a good ww pickup when Letang gets hurt.
No way does Beauchemin see top PP ice time. - E. Johnson in?
Cody Ceci could see as much time as Wiercioch in Ottawa. - Does Ottawa usually run 2 D-men on their top PP- looking at you BigEv
Yandle probably pushes McDonagh to the side in NY. - Another surprise. Given NYR's roster I think they are one of the few teams who could run 2 fairly balanced PP units.
Jake Gardiner probably should be in small print for Toronto.

There's probably more, but like I said that was from my head.

[Nikerato]

I live in Vancouver, and it's worth making a note of Ben Hutton.

He's been getting PP time during preseason, and he's impressing both on the PP and at evens. If he makes the team, there's just nobody that's as good as him at moving the puck right now. Including Weber and Edler. Our blueline makes me sad ..

[J0e Th0rnton]

I love to focus on under the radar D-men who put up a solid number of PPP. The easiest way to put up PPP is to be on the #1 PP. Here's some analysis I've done. The teams are listed by most PPG per game last year as well as the D-men currently playing on said PP according to dailyfaceoff. http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/. Most of them have been updated within the last few days, and now that we’re near the end of the pre-season coaches are closer to setting lines.

For a few teams I’ve added in brackets the guy(s) who could still get #1 PP time either due to play or injury of the #1 guy *cough* Letang *cough*. I would appreciate insight form anyone on the guys listed in brackets.

1. Detroit Red Wings- Mike Green
2. Philadelphia Flyers -Mark Streit
3. Washington Capitals- John Carlson
4. St. Louis Blues Kevin Shattenkirk (Pietrangelo)
5. San Jose Sharks -Brent Burns
6. Dallas Stars - John Klingberg (Goligoski)
7. Tampa Bay Lightning - Anton Stralman (Hedman)
8. Columbus Blue Jackets- Jack Johnson
9. New York Islanders – Nick Leddy (Boychuk, Zidlicky)
10. Pittsburgh Penguins – Kris Letang (Maata, Pouliot)
11. Calgary Flames – Mark Giordano AND Dougie Hamilton
12. Winnipeg Jets – Dustin Byfuglien AND Tobias Enstrom
13. Ottawa Senators – Erik Karlsson AND Patrick Wiercioch
14. Los Angeles Kings – Drew Doughty AND Jake Muzzin
15. Chicago Blackhawks -- Duncan Keith
16. Vancouver Canucks – Alexander Edler
17. Arizona Coyotes—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
18. Toronto Maple Leafs – Dion Phaneuf AND Morgan Rielly
19. Carolina Hurricanes – Justin Faulk (Wisnewski)
20. Nashville Predators – Shea Weber AND Roman Josi
21. New Jersey Devils – Damon Severson AND Eric Gelinas
22. Edmonton Oilers – Justin Schultz (Sekera)
23. Montreal Canadiens – PK Subban AND Jeff Petry (Markov)
24. Florida Panthers – Aaron Ekblad AND Dmitry Kulikov
25. New York Rangers – Ryan McDonagh AND Dan Boyle (Yandle and Giradi)
26. Minnesota Wild – Ryan Suter (Dumba)
27. Boston Bruins -- Torey Krug (Chara)
28. Colorado Avalanche -- Francois Beauchemin AND Tyson Barrie (E. Johnson)
29. Anaheim Ducks -- Cam Flower AND Sami Vatanen
30. Buffalo Sabres – Cody Franson

For Columbus, it should be David Savard. With Wisniewski gone, he looks to eat that portion of the PP time and he is Johnson's ES partner.

But thus far, their PP preseason even with Johnson playing has included him with Johansen, Foligno, Hartnell and Saad. Johnson excluded from the top unit.

He had 11 goals and 36 point last season and played 22 minutes a game. Only played on the 2nd unit last year, and eventually they decided to trade Wisniewski because Savard looked ready(They also extended Savard and Columbus fans were happy while non-columbus fans said "Who? Overpayment!"). At the time, Wisniewski played over 3 minutes a game on the PP, Johnson 2.42 minutes, while Savard had under 2 minutes a game on the PP and still had 10 PPP.

Top PP time with the big guns on the team is here for this man.

[Big Ev]

My comments on your comments, thanks for input!

Ottawa doesn't usually run a second d out there, not since gonchar. this might change this year with wiercioch. We will have to wait and see.