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Thelastheraclid · 05-05-2019, 09:49 AM

Not too long along I saw an article about the importance of second pairing defensemen in the SHL. I’m not on a second pairing so in a bit of narcissism I have gone through and ranked the third pairings of each SHL team. I combined all the stats of the pair but did not take out anything that may have been done outside of the pairing, such as power play or penalty kill time. I also didn’t check out how the pairings are deployed and how the forwards in front of them affect their play. It could be more in depth and accurate but I barely have time to do the bare bones stuff.

Anyway, I tabulated each pairing’s numbers in thirteen categories: goals, assists, points, plus minus, hits, shots, shooting percentage, on net percentage, blocks, points per 60, hits per 60, blocks per 60, and goals created. I then went and ranked each team’s pairing in each category and averaged all the rankings together to see which pair is the best.

Spreadsheet for those interested: Link

Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.

15. Minnesota Chiefs - Caelan Fearghal and Luisa Koller
Combined TPE: 825
Rank average: 9.92

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Minnesota’s third pairing is bad. In fact, the only categories where they really struggle in are on net percentage, blocks, and blocks per 60 where they are ranked last in all three. The problem here is that they are middle of road in almost every other category. There is nothing that they excel at really, which is fine for a third pairing especially one on the lower end of the TPE pool.

14. New England Wolfpack - Jacob Geza and Jimmy Cahill
Combined TPE: 842
Rank average: 9.69

Once again not a bad pairing just an average one. They’re worst categories are plus minus (last) and goals created (3rd last) which tells me they either aren’t deployed as much offensively or aren’t built or have an enough TPE to drive the play offensively.

13. Tampa Bay Barracudas - Brett Jones and Michael Owens
Combined TPE: 318
Rank average: 9.15

These two have by far the lowest combined TPE of all the pairings. What pushes them up over the previous two pairings is that their hits/60 and blocks/60 are both ranked top five in the league. They have had some serious luck offensively, being ranked third in shooting percentage but second to last in on net percentage.

12. Hamilton Steelhawks - Nikolai Evans and Jean-Pierre Gay
Combined TPE: 981
Rank average: 8.46

This is a physical pair. They ranked fourth in hits and second in hits per 60. The downside of this pairing is that they don’t generate much offense, ranking 12th in p/60 and 13th goals created, but then again as a 3rd pairing that isn’t their job.

11. Texas Renegades - Pierre Laroche-Durocher and Karno Gronkjaer
Combined TPE: 908
Rank average: 8.15

Torts dreams of a pairing like this. They are third best in blocks, second in blocks/60 and fourth in hits/60. To make that even better despite being second to last in points they are 3rd best in +/-. These guys are defense first and leave all that fancy point scoring to the other three guys on the ice.

10. Toronto North Stars - Callum MacElroy and Wolfhard Richter
Combined TPE: 462
Rank average: 7.76

It is pretty surprising to see a pair with such low TPE to be this high on the list. They block a decent amount of shots while they are on the ice but also drive offensive play a bit. They are in the top half when it comes to shots, shooting percentage, and on net percentage. They aren’t necessarily the one getting any credit for the offense but they are setting up Toronto for scoring chances.

9. Buffalo Stampede - Cassius Darrow and Samuel Jalopski
Combined TPE: 1240
Rank average: 7.46

A pairing that trends more to the defensive side. They are middle of the road when it comes to points but are ranked fourth in getting shots on net. Their plus minus is also middle of the pack which says the guys up front aren’t burying any rebounds they create. Their strongest point is that they block a lot of shots. Keeping the strong play in their own zone up will lead to more success in the other end.

8. Calgary Dragons - Brennan Kennedy Jr. Chuck Goody Jr.
Combined TPE: 1043
Rank average: 6.76

The best goal scoring 3rd pair in the league with 4 so far this season. They also have the best shooting percentage. To add to that they have the 3rd best on net percentage. They aren’t much of a threat physically however which could lead to problems if they match up against the more grindy 3rd or 4th lines of the league.

7 (tie). San Francisco Pride - Leopold Lockhart and Fedor Shirobokov
Combined TPE: 1738
Rank average: 6.61

These two combine for by far the most TPE of all the 3rd pairings. They also play the most out of all the pairings. They are top 3 in hits and top 4 in shots and blocks. They are kind of doing it all but aren’t converting their hard work into points. I think that it evens out as the season moves on if they keep up their dominance in hits, shots, and blocks.

7 (tie). New Orleans Specters - Adam Kaiser and Patrick Brumm Jr.
Combined TPE: 1307
Rank average: 6.61

It is fitting that New Orleans takes the most shots. They don’t worry too much about the defensive side of the game. They are 2nd in goals and 3rd in assists, points, p/60, and goals created. You don’t have to worry about play in your end when you spend all night at the other end of the ice.

6. Edmonton Blizzard - Viktor Valentine and Chippy Chiclets
Combined TPE: 1252
Rank average: 6.15

These two are very similar to New Orlean’s pairing. What elevates VV and CC above them is their physical play. They don’t block a whole lot of shots but they take the body when they can. If they could block some more shots they would be monsters.

5. Manhattan Rage - Craig Finley and Dwayne Wyder
Combined TPE: 1305
Rank average: 6.07

Far and away the most offensively talented 3rd pair in the league. They have almost twice as many points as the 2nd ranked team. They have created around 9 goals for the Rage so far this year which is around 11 percent of their total goals. They fall down to the five spot because they poor on net percentage and virtually no physical game to speak of.

4. Los Angeles Panthers - Willie Fisterbottom and Matthew Leetch
Combined TPE: 1156
Rank average: 6

This pair is ranked fifth in points, p/60, and goals created and also second in hits. They don’t block all that many shots but it doesn’t bring them down all that much. They are a pass first pairing, ranking 11th in shots.

3. Winnipeg Jets - Dylan Karlsson and Max Poulin
Combined TPE: 1043
Rank average: 5.76

These two are the tops in on net percentage, blocks, and blocks/60. It is good that they block so many shots otherwise their plus minus would be even worse. Either their offensive linemates need to start burying what they get through or they need to do it themselves. A little more offensive power for these two would make them a terror.

2. West Kendall Platoon - Nat Emerson and Ethan Ross
Combined TPE: 1060
Rank average: 5.15

These two sport the best +/- of all the pairs and rank 2nd in goals, assists, points, shooting percentage, p/60, and goals created.The only thing holding these guys back from being the best pair is a very bad on net percentage. If they can find a way to get more of their shots on net look out.

1. Chicago Syndicate - Svatoslav Bodnar and Helmuts Akmenlauks
Combined TPE: 1124
Rank average: 5.07

Just barely squeaking by WKP is Chicago. These two play a HEAVY game. They have 61 more hits than the next closest team. They also have the 2nd most blocks. To go with that they also have the 3rd most shots and 2nd best on net percentage. Their plus minus is what is keeping them from running away with the whole thing.

Bonus chart!
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