Breaking News: NHL Maple Leaps finally sign forward Chris Tanev for $115 Million’s deal….
The forwards like it too. The much-ballyhooed shutdown line of Markus Granlund, Brandon Sutter, and Derek Dorsett doesn’t do so much shutting down when they’re not on the ice with Tanev.
In fact, the shutdown line gives up nearly 15 more shot attempts against per hour without Tanev. Their offensive numbers also crash without Tanev on the ice, which is generally a sign that they can’t get out of the defensive zone. A lot of the credit they received early in the season should have been redirected towards Tanev.
The duo complement each other well — Hutton is more free-wheeling, while Tanev tends to stay-at-home — and have helped the Canucks become one of the stingiest teams in the league. The Canucks allow the fourth fewest shots on goal in the NHL, and the third fewest goals.
Hutton and Tanev have been on the ice for just 4 goals against at even-strength, an impressive feat given the quality of competition they face. Among defence pairs that have played at least 80 minutes together this season, only three pairings in the NHL have allowed a lower rate of shot attempts against and only one of those pairings, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson, can be said to play a similar role as Hutton and Tanev.
In other words, Hutton and Tanev are legitimately one of the best shutdown pairs in the entire NHL. While Hutton is an underrated defenceman with a well-rounded game, let’s face facts: he’s not a shutdown defenceman on the top pairing without Tanev. The veteran makes things a lot easier for Hutton on the ice, and not just with his sound positional play.
“You might not know it, but he’s always talking out there,” says Hutton. “He’s very quiet off the ice, but on the ice he’s letting you know where he is. He’s always in the right position, he’s got a great stick, we just work well off each other.”
“Tanev seems to help everyone he plays with,” says head coach Travis Green. “I’m guessing that all the defencemen like playing with Tanny.”
The forwards like it too. The much-ballyhooed shutdown line of Markus Granlund, Brandon Sutter, and Derek Dorsett doesn’t do so much shutting down when they’re not on the ice with Tanev.
In fact, the shutdown line gives up nearly 15 more shot attempts against per hour without Tanev. Their offensive numbers also crash without Tanev on the ice, which is generally a sign that they can’t get out of the defensive zone. A lot of the credit they received early in the season should have been redirected towards Tanev.
