Joel Edmundson has quickly become a fan favorite in Raleigh after he was acquired in a trade with St Louis, but here’s why he needs to be moved to the bottom pair for the Hurricanes.
Joel Edmundson has become loved by Caniac nation. He’s made some great defensive plays while partnered alongside Brett Pesce. So why is it time to move the big Brandon, Manitoba native out of the top 4 for the Carolina Hurricanes?
Well, let’s start with how he’s played this season. Steady Eddy three goals and six assists this season and is a +9. From those stats you’d suggest he’s been fine for a stay-at-home defender. However, the analytics suggest something else entirely. Before I dive into those, Edmundson has not been playing well over the past few games. He’s looked overwhelmed, and these numbers prove it.
Edmundson has an expected goal per 60 mins played for of -0.55, an expected goals against per 60 minutes played of 0.202. This means there are more goals being scored on Edmundson than Edmundson is scoring. His Corsi For per 60 minutes played is -0.18 and a Corsi against per 60 minutes played of 1.48. More shot attempts are being taken against Edmundson than Edmundson is taking.
These stats are not horrific. but they are predominantly stats for a 3rd pairing D man. This isn’t a big deal on most teams, except there is a simple solution and it’s sitting on the 3rd pairing right now. Jake Gardiner is the answer. Many of you still want to fire Jake into the sun, and I understand that, but he was signed as a top 4 D man and a solution to trading Faulk. Plus, he’s an analytical darling.
Jake Gardiner’s analytics read as -0.244 goals for per 60 minutes played, and 0.113 goals against per 60. These are base stats basically suggesting he’s giving up more against than he’s scoring, but here’s the kink. Expected goals for per 60 minutes reads 0.142 and a 0.037 goals against per 60. This shows that he’s been unsustainably unlucky going forward, and he’s been quite sound defensively as of late.
Jake Gardiner and James Reimer teamed up to keep this a 0-0 game late in the first. Gardiner gave Ryan Dzingel a boost, Reimer made the save on Nazem Kadri and then Gardiner swatted the puck out of harm's way. pic.twitter.com/xH23SdlHEq
— Michael Smith (@MichaelSmithNC) December 20, 2019
Gardiner played top 4 minutes throughout his career in Toronto and is one of the few defenders who can open a team up with a single pass. He’s capable of throwing up 50 points from the blue line, and he’s done it before. Gardiner was acquired for nothing in free agency turning down more money to come to Carolina. Moving him into a position to play with Pesce, who can cover for his defensive lapses, is putting him in a position to succeed.
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Edmundson was acquired in the Justin Faulk trade. He was a 3rd pairing D man who at times was scratched out of the lineup. His analytics suggest as much. He is often injured or seen as a lesser of two strengths. He is not someone a contending team should have in their top 4. There’s a lot of things Eddy is good for. Being in the top 4 is not one of them.
We all want to see this Hurricanes team do well because we want to see this team win. We are all fans of the Hurricanes. What puts this team in the best poisition to win is playing Gardiner in the top 4 and moving Edmundson to the bottom pair. Gardiner has been the better defender so far this season, and he deserves his chance.