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BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:06 pm
by stateofhockey6
What teams have the strongest Defenders? <p></p><i></i>

Re: BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:08 pm
by boblee
Apple Valley has Medvec and Fischer with Beggs in the net...Strong forces there. <p><br><br>_________________<br><br>BOB</p><i></i>

Re: BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:16 pm
by stateofhockey6
It defenitely is not centennial. They're going to have to rely on their offense to win games.<br>White Bear is always big in the defense department.<br>Hill Murray must have solid D because their sophomore goalie Phillipi has solid stats. <p></p><i></i>

Re: BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:57 pm
by puckjazz
I'm not sure which team is "best" but I'm curious - what stats are the best indictor of a team's defensive effectiveness?<br><br>Goals against average is an overall indicator, obviously including goaltending.<br><br>Save percentage obviously is the best measure of goaltending.<br><br>Shots on goal may be the best measure for defensive play.<br><br>Is there something else people look at? <p></p><i></i>

Criteria

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 3:09 pm
by Kodiak
I would say that being able to break out the puck, limiting shots taken within the greater "slot" area and not allowing rebound goals is the best indicator of a great defensive team. It's more of a brains and technique thing than skill and strength, although if you can put all of those together... well... even better. In these regards, I think Holy Angels is the best team in the D zone, even though they don't spend much time there, but that's probably the biggest part... being able to break the puck out, which involves everybody on the ice, not just the defensemen. Great coaching and coachable kids=great play in the defensive zone, and Holy Angels looks like they have it all. <p></p><i></i>

Re: Criteria

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:34 pm
by stateofhockey6
I've got to go with kodiak here. <br>AHA is solid, they could problably win a few games with a C Peewee goalie in the net <p></p><i></i>

Re: Criteria

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:42 pm
by gr19
White Bear Lake is very good defensively. Both games I saw them in they were solid. <p></p><i></i>

tough d

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:58 pm
by 3for3
totino grace is awfully tough 5 on 5. Last years top defensive team also. <p></p><i></i>

Best Defensive

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:59 pm
by HillFanatic
I watched Hill at the tourney this past week....11-0 must say something for their D. I know all 4 seniors are very solid. <p></p><i></i>

Re: Best Defensive

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:21 am
by Dangle88
The warriors from brainerd have outstanding defensive... Captains Peltoma and Sneep really lead this defensive unit, and also sophomore Drew Olson really likes to lay the lumber<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

Re: Best Defensive

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:16 am
by Grovetown Scotty
Both Hill and White Bear very good on defense. Hill may have better defenseman, but White Bear forwards are always back helping out. <p></p><i></i>

Wait a minute

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 10:33 am
by Just apuck
I don't disagree with the names mentioned but before you tout how great specific defensemen are you should also consider how much these teams are helped by their hard back checking forwards and good goalies. They (defensemen) can't keep the GA down by themselves. There are any number of great defensemen on various teams that may not find that great assistance to their ability to keep the GA down for whatever reason. Many of whom could play on these teams themselves and be thought of as good if not better. <br><br>Likewise a good scoring team many times scores on great plays started by their aggressive defensemen and their (forwards) confidence in being able to aggressively forecheck , knowing their defense most times will keep the puck in the zone for them.<br><br>You need both for a truely great team. Just something to think about when you start naming names in this thread. It's getting things done when you don't have both that makes one player stand out. Find the guys who make the most of what they have as a team and still manage to do a consistent job at defending. <p></p><i></i>

Awwww sorry

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 10:48 am
by Just apuck
The intent here is best defensive "teams" but to the extent of what? Many of the teams you mentioned have very talented fowards who also keep the pucks out of the d zone as Scotty mentioned with also some great goaltending. Kodiak I would agree with your points on the criteria of determining the strong d. So with respect to Kodiak's contribution, how do the AHA, HM, WBL and other teams measure up specifically? Its easy to make a statement...I'd like to hear more on why? <p></p><i></i>

WBL

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:24 pm
by WatchOutFor44SteveMoore
White Bear Lake has a huge physical team and is very intimitating. I'd like to say they are one of the top defensive teams. <p></p><i></i>

Re: WBL

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 8:18 am
by wbmd
And they should be an even better defensive team next year if all five of the underclassmen return. <p></p><i></i>

re: wbl

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:19 am
by Ibleedgreen
wbl going back to the 2001 season has had strong defensive teams however this group is not one of them. they are very undisciplined and although they have some size there are no intimidating blue liners other than maybe wolfgram. even so wolfgram is no mercado or beaverson. those two would make the oter team run the other way.<br><br>question for all you wb supporters........... if wb has such an intimidating defense and the state's best goalie, why are they 7-4-1 with 37 goals for and 25 against?<br><br>i think the d, goalie, and program are all overrated. <p></p><i></i>

Re: re: wbl

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:27 am
by wbmd
The program is very overrated this year. <br><br>Actually, their good defensive teams go back to the '99-'00 season. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... md>wbmd</A> at: 1/2/06 11:29 am<br></i>

Re: re: wbl

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 12:03 pm
by WBLBEARS06
<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>question for all you wb supporters........... if wb has such an intimidating defense and the state's best goalie, why are they 7-4-1 with 37 goals for and 25 against?<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>They have had a lot of off ice issues and some injuries, they also start off kinda slow and pick it up in the 3rd period. I think that having 8 days off will help a lot as well. I think that if they beat moorhead next friday they have will a nice momentum swing for the rest of the season because they play nothing but conference teams most of which are easy other than CDH and roseville. <p>The curse lives on.....</p><i></i>

Re: re: wbl

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:45 pm
by wbmd
If they're all so called easy teams in their conference, then how come they had trouble with Woodbury and only beat Hastings 1-0? <p></p><i></i>

Re: re: wbl

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 2:18 pm
by WBLBEARS06
well, faust was injured for the woodbury game, so im sure he would have helped. they shutout hastings and wbl had almost 30 shots on net that game <p>The curse lives on.....</p><i></i>

Re: re: wbl

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:42 pm
by Zamman
AHA has fast and killed D, they have good control of the use of their sticks and have the best D coach in the state, Guy Olson. <p>________________________________<br>Academy of Holy Angels<br>2005 GIRLS STATE CHAMPS!<br>2002 & 2005 BOYS STATE CHAMPS!!<br>GO STARS!!</p><i></i>

Re: BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 6:59 pm
by Allezpro
There have been several good posts about team defense. Unfortunately, there are probably few perfect stats that provide an objective view of the effectiveness of a team's defense. Assuming that a team's goals against average is due, in part, to the success of the defensemen (and of course the goalie), below are the top 25 team's stats in ascending order based on GAA.<br><br>Team&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Sect&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp W&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp L&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp T&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp GF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp GA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp GAA<br>DELANO&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 8&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 33&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 11&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.222<br>ST LOUIS PARK&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 43&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 13&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.300<br>HERMANTOWN &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 10&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 71&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 15&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.364<br>RED WING &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 36&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 13&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.444<br>BENSON/MORRIS &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 4A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 8&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 58&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 13&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.444<br>DULUTH MARSHALL&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 10&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 68&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 15&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.500<br>HILL MURRAY &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 11&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 60&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 17&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.545<br>HOLY ANGELS &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 46&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 12&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.714<br>DETROIT LAKES&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 8A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 10&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 68&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 19&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.727<br>BLOOM JEFFERSON&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 38&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 21&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.750<br>LAKEVILLE NORTH &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 44&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 21&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.750<br>ROSEAU &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 8AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 60&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 22&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.833<br>CRETIN DERHAM HALL &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 10&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 56&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 22&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.000<br>CLOQUET&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 30&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 16&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.000<br>WHITE BEAR LAKE&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 4&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 37&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 25&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.083<br>EDEN PRAIRIE&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 38&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 23&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.091<br>TOTINO GRACE&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 35&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 22&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.200<br>ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 28&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 20&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.222<br>GRAND RAPIDS&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 37&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 27&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.250<br>ROGERS &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 48&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 27&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.250<br>WARROAD &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 8A&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 48&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 25&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.273<br>STILLWATER &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 34&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 30&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.308<br>APPLE VALLEY&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 41&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 28&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.333<br>ST PAUL JOHNSON&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 52&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 28&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.333<br>BENILDE&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6AA&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 5&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 44&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 26&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.364 <p></p><i></i>

Re: BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:05 pm
by east hockey
The problem with these stats, of course, is that they don't take into account the teams' opponents. As such, it doesn't really have much to do with the best defensive teams. You'd have an extremely difficult time convincing anybody that Delano was one of the better defensive teams in this state.<br><br>Lee <p>____________<br>Message Board arsonist since 2005</p><i></i>

Re: BEST DEFENSIVE TEAMS

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:45 pm
by Allezpro
East Hockey,<br><br>You're absolutely right--this is only one stat that should be considered when evaluating a team's defense or goaltending. But most of the other posts are based solely on opinion. If you look at the list, several of the teams that received comments in earlier posts are in fact among the top teams in GAA--Apple Valley, Holy Angels, White Bear Lake and CDH. There are also other teams with low GAAs that haven't been mentioned--some of which have difficult schedules. <p></p><i></i>

Team Defense GAA/Schedule strength

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:39 am
by hsskycam
I thought this was another interesting way to look at the stats. <br><br>Team SS GAA GAA/SS<br><br>ST LOUIS PARK 10.7 1.300 0.121495327<br>RED WING&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 10.6&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.444&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.136226415<br>HILL MURRAY &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 11.2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.545&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.137946429<br>HERMANTOWN 9.4&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.364&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.144680851<br>DULUTH MARSHALL 10.1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.50&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.148514851<br>AHA 11.3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.714&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.151681416<br>BLOOM JEFFERSON 11.3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.75&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.154867257<br>LAKEVILLE NORTH 10.9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.75&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.160550459<br>CLOQUET 11.4&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.00&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.175438596<br>ROSEAU &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 10.3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.833&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.177961165<br>WHITE BEAR LAKE 11.7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.083&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.178034188<br>CRETIN 11.0&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.00&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.181818182<br>EDEN PRAIRIE 11.4&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.091&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.183421053<br>DELANO &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 6.6 1.222&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.185151515<br>GRAND RAPIDS 11.7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.25&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.192307692<br>DETROIT LAKES 8.8&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.727&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.196250000<br>APPLE VALLEY 11.4&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.333&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.204649123<br>TOTINO GRACE 10.4&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.211538462<br>STILLWATER 10.9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.308&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.211743119<br>BENILDE 10.7&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.364&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.220934579<br>WARROAD 9.3&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.273&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.244408602<br>ST PAUL JOHNSON 9.1&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.333&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.256373626<br>BENSON/MORRIS 5.2&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 1.444&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.277692308<br>ST CLOUD CATH. 7.9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.222&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.281265823<br>ROGERS 6.9&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 2.25&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 0.326086957<br><br>Another thing when I was watching a NHL game the other night the announcers were considering this same issue and they mentioned four areas to consider for team defensemen:<br><br>1) Team should have at least one thirty minute guy. (I took that to mean 1/2 game)<br><br>2) Be physically tough<br><br>3) Good puck movement quickly out of d-zone on breakout<br><br>4) Have at least one d-man who can QB powerplay<br><br> <p></p><i></i>