Season 24 Challenges Thread - Due Tuesday, August 22nd

[John - Sharks]

You may challenge any 2 skaters for SP, SK, DF.

Also, you may challenge any newly created prospects without limit.

[Alex]

Pending challenges:

Reilly Smith - DF
Nikita Zaitsev - DF
Nikia Tryamkin - DF
Nikolai Ehlers - DF

[Kris]

Do we need to justify challenges?

[Alex]

Do we need to justify challenges?

Oh, definitely. If you look at past challenge threads you'll see the scope of challenges. I just put those as a place holder so I know who I'm challenging.

[Carolina Gm-Andrew]

Joe Thornton DF 63 Requesting 70

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2644 ... s-penguins

Thornton is probably best known for his playmaking abilities, and he made his first obvious contribution of the Cup Final in that regard in Game 3 with a pair of assists. He’s also long been an analytics darling, though, in large part because of the way the ice tilts when he’s on it.

https://www.fearthefin.com/2017/7/2/159 ... -8-million

He has helped lead this team to new levels and continues to be one of the top two-way centers in the League.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sharks-joe-t ... --nhl.html

Thornton posted 70 points in 80 regular-season games, his lowest total since 2001-02, when he had 68 points in 66 games. But he led the league in takeaways with 114, and he won 54.4 percent of his faceoffs.

again this season he finished top 15 in takeaways. Hes only behind the following natural centers

Auston Matthews
Connor Mcdavid
Patrice Bergeron

Pretty elite company. Requesting a boost to 70DF which on my team will put him one above Krejci but still below Jordan Staal 72.

Braydon Coburn DF 71 Requesting 72

http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/player/39

Moves very well for a 6-5, 226-pound defender and owns both shutdown and all-round qualities. Is capable of logging big minutes and playing on either side of the ice. Can rush up ice with the puck.

[stickboyy]

Darnell Nurse DF 69 to 71
1.11 Minutes SH ice time /game
53 blocks, 1,2 blocks/game

JG Pageau DF 67 to 73
2.10 minutes sh ice time/game (24th of NHL forwards)
79 blocks, 1 block/game

[saif]

Filip Forsburg - DF 60 asking for 74

he's listed as a 60 here, yet in SHL, GVFHL, CDNHL he's still as 74,

further evidence coming

[Stefan - SabresGM]

Ivan Provorov - 70DF asking for 74DF.

166 Blocked Shots, good for 11th in the league.

"Provorov showed just how much better he's gotten when the Flyers and Blackhawks played at Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 3. He was matched against Patrick Kane, last season's Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner, on 13 of Kane's 19 shifts and held him to one assist and two shots on goal at even strength."

"Kane isn't the only top scorer Provorov has blanketed. During the Flyers' recent 10-game win streak, in addition to Kane, Provorov played head-to-head against the Calgary Flames' Sean Monahan, the Boston Bruins' David Krejci, the Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen, the Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr, the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.

At even strength, those 11 players combined for two goals (one each by Krejci and Barkov) and 26 shots on goal. Kane, Johansen (one), Jagr (one), McDavid (one), Benn (zero), and Larkin (one) were held to one shot or less."

"When given the opportunity he's done a very good job of shutting those guys down and taking their time and space away," said Andrew MacDonald, Provorov's defense partner. "He's able to close very well because of his skating and recover if need be. Got a really good stick that he uses to his advantage."

Provorov was awarded the Barry Ashbee trophy, given to the Flyers “most outstanding” defenseman. Needless to say, he earned it.

[rodspike]

Zach Hyman - DF - Led all NHL forwards in PK ice time. Enuff said. Current 69, Requested 75

[RichBasterd]

Dennis Seidenberg
DF 72 Asking 74
SK 65 Asking 67

He was solid defensively, he was driving play forward, and was producing himself.

A solid defender...

But keeping Seidenberg on the team was worth it. He finished with a +25.

Final Grade: B-

https://eyesonisles.com/2017/05/05/new- ... eidenberg/

ASSETS:
Is adept at logging big minutes and is a sound defender. Moves the puck quickly and efficiently out of the defensive zone. Knows when to pinch in from the point. Is capable of playing on either side of the ice.

http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/player/2423

Seidenberg just finished up a wildly successful stint with host Team Germany at the IIHF World Championships, where he was named Directorate Best Defenseman (the tournament’s best defenseman) after leading all D-men with a goal and eight points.

But the B's could have used a durable, defensive warrior like Seidenberg in the playoffs, when they lost three of their top four defensemen against the Ottawa Senators. A rejuvenated Seidenberg, able to play both the left and right side

“Well, at the time we felt like [Seidenberg's] game had really dropped off to where we thought he couldn’t contribute, and we wanted to see if some younger players could come in and help us out,” Bruins president Cam Neely said at the end-of-the-season press conference earlier this month. “I’ve got to say he played well this year for Long Island."

http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/joe- ... denberg-go

Seidenberg was a pleasant surprise for the Islanders this past season. After signing with the team during training camp, he was a solid veteran defenseman for the club.

This past season, he showed that he could still contribute at the NHL level.

Seidenberg is a valued commodity for the Islanders. A veteran defender who has plenty of playoff experience is a great addition for any team looking to make a playoff push.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/04/24/ ... extension/

Finished with 146 blocked shots on the season, top 30 among d-men in the league (28th overall)
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... ockedShots

He had 136:41 of PK time this season which put him among the top 100 d-men in the league
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... hTimeOnIce

Started in the defensive zone 52.6% of the time at even strength
https://www.hockey-reference.com/player ... nced::none

Alexander Edler
DF 72 Asking 75

Assets An excellent physical package, he owns an imposing frame, smooth fundamentals and all-round acumen. Can play on the power play, where he displays poise, composure and a heavy point shot. Excels in one-on-one situations

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player-bio/alexander-edler/bio

...the Canucks could rely on Edler to play a solid if unspectacular 20-plus minutes...

...it’s worth noting that each of his most frequent defensive partners still faired better with him than without last season.

Certainly, I’d struggle to formulate an argument to suggest Edler didn’t play an instrumental role in guiding Stecher along to a successful first season in the NHL.

https://canucksarmy.com/2017/05/19/canu ... x-edler-2/

He isn't flashy, doesn't pile up points offensively, but every blueline could use a guy like Edler.

He's just a really good, all-around defenseman.

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancou ... -289484132

...have to go without top defenseman Alex Edler...

...Soderberg’s shot was blocked by Edler...

No defenseman in Vancouver has averaged even close to Edler’s nearly 24 minutes of ice time per night...

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/artic ... d-reserve1

Edler is best compared to a #2 defender as shown in the following HERO chart


Finished with 138 blocked shots on the season, top 40 among d-men in the league (40th overall)
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... ockedShots

He had 175:28 of PK time this season which put him among the top 60 d-men in the league (54th overall)
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... hTimeOnIce

Anton Slepyshev
DF 55 Asking 60

He played a robust style averaging 1.6 hits per game while steering clear of the sin bin with just two minor penalties all year, while his ratio of takeaways (19) to giveaways (14) was the best of any winger on the team.

His boxcars were decent enough given the limited opportunity, notably a +5 which might have qualified for a bonus had he reached the qualifying threshold of 42 GP and which likely explained a few “coach’s decisions” down the stretch that restricted him to exactly 41 games.

Take for example goals scored for/against the Oilers on his watch, where among Oilers forwards with 300+ minutes he finished an impressive first in GF% at 63.2%, but last in GF/60 at just 1.61 goals per hour. This was accomplished through an otherworldly defensive record that saw opponents score just 0.94 goals per hour, by far the lowest on the team.

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hocke ... d-puzzling

He was a stable on the bottom-six and helped ignite a spark there...

With his size and speed, as well as his physicality can help him win battles for the puck.

Overall Grade: B

https://oilonwhyte.com/2017/05/27/edmon ... slepyshev/

[bluesgm]

Mark Scheifele
SP/SK currently 73

Asking for 78 for both


Scheifele has improved his strength and that has increased his speed and skating ability.... he is known as a tireless worker and has improved a ton since his initial rating of 73.

Here is an article how he won the fastest race and finished 2nd the year after and beat Evander Kane

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sport ... 92211.html

Article about his work ethic
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sport ... 69744.html

Scheifele is elite and needs to be rated as such

[Kris]

David Savard
71DF to 74DF

Top 60 in blocked shots
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... ockedShots

Top 50 in total PK ice time and PK minutes per game and most on Columbus, the 9th best PK team in the league:
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... hTimeOnIce

https://www.sportingcharts.com/nhl/stat ... tage/2016/

Top 50 in hits
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... amesPlayed

Comments on his defensive play:
https://unionandblue.com/2017/07/28/col ... id-savard/

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2017/5/23 ... vid-savard

[Kris]

Jaccob Slavin
73DF to 75DF
70SP to 72SP
72SK to 74SK

13th in total blocks among dmen:
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... ockedShots

83 takeaways compared to only 54 giveaways despite only 35 hits showing his defensive savvy:
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... ockedShots

5th in the NHL in total PK time and 7th in PK per game:
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggrega ... hTimeOnIce

Commentary:
https://cardiaccane.com/2016/12/07/caro ... efenseman/

https://www.canescountry.com/2017/5/3/1 ... -and-grade