Highest 5v5 xGF% from a defensive pair so far this preseason:
84.68% — McNabb & Theodore
72.12% — Hughes & McWard
58.16% — Orlov & DeAngelo
56.17% — Chabot & Chychrun
55.55% — Lindell & Lundkvist
Cool stat, so far Hughes has carried with a couple goals, while Mcward has taken a few penalties. I’d be curious to know where they rank defensively.
Highest 5v5 xGF% from a defensive pair so far this preseason:
84.68% — McNabb & Theodore
72.12% — Hughes & McWard
58.16% — Orlov & DeAngelo
56.17% — Chabot & Chychrun
55.55% — Lindell & Lundkvist pic.twitter.com/JO4YHHdznR— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) October 2, 2023
by AAfreakinRON
9 Comments
On the Canucks, Mcward (58 CF%) and Hughes (56 CF%) only trail Hronek (60 CF%) for highest CF% (The total of Corsi For shot attempts divided by the total of Corsi For shot attempts and Corsi Against shot attempts). It’s only a couple games, but the other advanced stats seem favourable for Hughes and Mcward too, I feel like Mcward could stick.
Source: [Natural Stat Trick](https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=1&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=y&team=VAN&pos=D&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL)
McWard is carrying Hughes, i think we should look for a better d partner for him.
What if Cole McWard is just that guy? Obviously there’s a lot to prove, but what if?
The more the pre-season has gone on, the more I am convinced the team should just load up the top-4 with Hughes, Hronek, Cole and Myers.
If they need to shelter McWard/Juulsen, and play them ~15 minutes/night while double shifting Myers/Hronek…
Just play that guy (McWard/Juulsen) on the 3rd pairing with Soucy.
Obviously, this is carried by Hughes going god mode so far, but I do think McWard is a good stylistic fit for Hughes. There’s something to be said about pairing him with another fast, puck-moving defenseman and just letting Hughes light things up while Cole-Hronek eat the heavier defensive minutes. Which we can do now that we have actual depth below the top pairing.
The major question is McWard’s lack of pro experience. Can he acclimatize quick enough to make this work? He’s looked decent but you can tell he’s not fully comfortable yet, especially on the defensive side of things.
I really think Hughes is so good now he can elevate almost anyone. A Sedin on defense.
YOURE A LOOSE CANNON MCWARD, leave your badge on gun on my desk!
Where did he come from?
Pff these stats are dog water. Not enough to analyze and those stats are all Hughes