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Le Thrill · 12-05-2023, 04:36 PM

Some teams get to the offensive zone and just can't get the puck in the net, some teams constantly have the puck in the neutral zone, some teams get 40 shots a game and net 8 of them but for any of these to occur a good defense is needed, a great offensive team can put up 10 points in a game but it's pointless if their defense allows 11.

I want to compare two teams, both in different stages of development. One team in the midst of a rebuild, the other vying for a championship, both in the same conference, we will compare the Seattle Argonauts to the Texas Renegades. (This is not meant to be a statement on any player on either teams effort or talent, just an analysis.)

Texas' players who have led this team to a convincing 4-0 record should be better than the Seattle players who've been along for the 0-4 ride at just about everything right? Yes, you are right, but the big differences do not lie in the offensive stats, Texas clearly has the edge but the numbers are comparable, many with a difference of just 1-2 points, the massive gap that Texas holds over the Argonauts is in defense. The Texas' player with the worst defensive read holds a 15 in that category, that would tie him for 5th highest defensive read on Seattle. This trend sticks true to multiple other stats, Texas' worst checker would be tied for 6th in Seattle, Worst in position for Texas holds what is around the average positioning stat in Seattle, so on and so forth.

This is the difference between 4-0 and 0-4 team, one team allows 40+ SPG while the other only allows 26.25 SPG, I'll let you guess which is which, another testament the importance of defense is looking at what the goalie is doing to keep the puck out of the net, to say Seattle's Willie Miller is not doing his job is completely incorrect. Willie has a 5.26 GAA yet still hosts a higher save percentage than either of Texas' goalie. This onslaught of scoring is nothing but a defense issue, period. In fact I'm confident Willie will win this team games they would otherwise get crushed in.

Seattle can score if they get to their zone too, if all 3 players that have scored a goal for Seattle were put on the Renegades, Salming and Parast, who host 28.6% and 25% S% respectively, would be top 5 in S% for Texas and the third, Kennedy III who has a 14.3% would be top 7 on this Renegades squad but between all three of the these players, the highest DGR is Salming with a 62, that would be third to last on the Renegades.

All in all, defense isn't the most fun part of hockey, you don't get the sick dangles, the nasty snipes, the beautiful apples that travel tape to tape, but it's importance cannot be overstated. Seattle is not able to leave their defensive zone and because of that, their great offensive talents are completely nullified. Seattle doesn't win the cup with only a new and improved defense, but they could certainly be looking forward towards a much more competitive year with it, rather than the most likely last or 2nd to last divisional finish they will suffer this year.

**bbjygm** · 12-05-2023, 05:43 PM

Hodor!

(go Renegades!)

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