Several teams (most notably Nashville) have a logjam of young offensive D-men that will be competing for space on the #1 powerplay unit.

For each of the following four teams, who do you see has the most offensive upside considering their current situation? In particular, who do you see as the most likely powerplay quarterback in 2-3 years? Points only, +/- or PIMs don\'t count.

Chicago: Seabrook vs Keith vs Barker

Detroit: Lebda vs Kindl vs Kronwall

Nashville: Weber vs Koistinen vs Suter vs Hamhuis vs Klein

San Jose: Carle vs Vlasic vs Ehrhoff

Thanks for your input!

raffi

Post edited by: raffi, at: 2007/08/28 09:55

Chicago: I like Barker\'s offensive upside but he should\'ve stepped into the big time by now. Seabrook brings an all round game and he produced immediately. Seabrook\'s the sure thing and will anchor the Chicago D, but if Barker develops as everyone thought watch out. Safe money: Seabrook, High Stakes: Barker. I know I shouldnt write off Keith but I dont think he\'s in the same league, he\'s good but not that good.

Detroit: It wont be Lebda, at least not from a fantasy perspective. Lebda may be the future rock of Detroit\'s D but he wont put up big numbers. Kronwall has the most offensive potential, but the guy\'s clearly on his way to playing 40-50 game seasons. I think Kindl\'s stuck in the middle, I dont know a lot about him but I dont see him as a star.

Nashville: Let me preface this by saying I really like Hamhuis and Suter, but Weber\'s in another stratusphere. I saw the Kelowna teams he played on back in the WHL and I saw him pair up with Phaneuf at the WJHC and he\'s a stud. He set the tone for those Kelowna teams and provides offensive punch to boot. Weber is a franchise d-man.

San Jose: I like to think it\'s gonna be Ehrhoff. He\'s got the tools, he\'s a top notch skater and should be a premier offensive d-man, at least in my books. On the other Carle\'s actually put up numbers and Vlasic was impressive in limited action as a rookie. This one\'s a hard call, but I\'m gonna go with my heart (probably the wrong word) and pick Ehrhoff.

Thanks for your excellent response, _dl.

Let me add something then -- Assuming Weber stays the #1, who do you like to be the #1b D-man in Nashville? Which one of the remaining guys do you see co-anchoring the #1 PP unit with Weber in 2-3 years?

Chicago: Barker 1A Seabrook 1B, but if barker can stay healthy he\'ll easily be the #1 guy.

Detroit: I think Kronwall should easily be the #1 guy, has shown how well he can play when he gets the ice time, I dont see Kindl being a #1 guy in a team like Detroit.

Nashvile: Weber by miles and miles, if you want a second guy I\'d go with Suter and then Hamhuis.

San Jose: From what we\'ve seen now it has to be Carle first. After this year when we\'ll see what Vlasic can do we\'ll be able to decide easier who is better. Carle first for now.

__________________
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F-Backstrom,Getzlaf,E.Staal,St-Louis,B.Richards,Burrows,Semin
Whitney,Giroux,Hartnell,Ju.Williams,Ruutu,Malone,D ubinsky,Hudler,Jagr
D-Edler,Boyle,Byfuglien,Daley,Foster
G-Luongo,Brodeur,Vokoun,Rask,Hedberg

F- Crosby,Malkin,Marleau,Krejci,Neal,Tavares,Fillipul a,Stafford.Stepan
Giroux,Fleischmann,Versteeg,Burrows,Ruutu,Jagr,Ber geron,Berglund
D- Keith,Lidstrom,Goligoski,Letang,Phaneuf,Carlson,Ty tuin
G- Luongo,Crawford,Backstrom,Lehtonen

Chicago : Barker

Detroit : Kronwall

Nashville : Shea who ? B)

SJ : Vlasic

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Pts only
Start 9F, 1 rookie, 5D and 1G

F : Iginla, Marleau, Eriksson, Berglund, Jagr, Kunitz, Kopitar, Marchand, Hossa
Rookie : Schultz
D : Carlson, Campbell, S. Weber, Seidenberg, Gonchar
G : Lehtonen

Bench : Hudler, Colborne, A. McDonald, Selanne, Zidlicky, Orlov, Lindback, Luongo, Halak

Minor : Weiss, Jurco, Jarnkrok, Kaberle, Lack