What Defensive Pairings Will We See From The Anaheim Ducks?
By Paul Miller
What Could Work
Jan 25, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) fights for the puck with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Mark Fistric (28) during the Stadium Series hockey game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Looking beyond what has been known to work in the past, what pairings could be effective going into the new season?
Stoner-Vatanen
Clayton Stoner is very Bryan Allen like. He’s a big body, stays at the blue line, and likes to throw his weight around when possible. He can move guys off the puck, but can’t do much with it once he has it on his stick. Pair him with a mobile, puck-moving defenseman like Sami Vatanen to help round out the offensive gaps in Stoner’s game.
Vatanen is maybe the most obvious candidate, but Boudreau could try out Fowler, Lovejoy, or Lindholm in that complimentary position as well.
Beauchemin-Vatanen
Boudreau likes to pair right-handed shots with left-handed shots whenever possible which makes Vatanen a prime candidate to pair with the Ducks top defensemen.
Both Beauchemin and Vatanen like to play their game with a physical edge. Beauchemin plays a more defensive conservative shutdown role whereas Vatanen likes to get the puck and move it up-ice as much as possible.
Stoner-Fistric
Bob Murray has always been partial to players that have an edge to them. He’s gone to prove that even further by pursuing guys like Stoner and Nate Thompson in the offseason. Fistric is also a guy known to play with an edge and throw his weight around whenever possible.
Putting the two of them together may not make for a complete defense, but they’ll make for a very physical and hard-hitting tandem that could stifle opponents lines.
Boudreau has a lot of options to mess around with. Knowing Boudreau’s style of coaching, I’m sure we’ll see plenty of different defensive variations throughout the season.
Have a defensive pairing you like, on or off this list? Let us know in the comments or through social media.
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