There are moments where Detroit Red Wings rookie defenseman Anton Johansson looks spectacular.
He'll steal the puck from the offense and set up a beautiful play or drive the puck through the neutral zone with fluidity. He's continued to steadily improve his defensive game as well, focusing less on pinching and more on playing smart. While he's been sheltered thus far, playing an average of 13:48 a night, his lack of play time isn't his biggest issue.
His defensive partner is.
The Red Wings acquired Andreas Englund on a waiver claim from the Calgary Flames. This initial move was confusing, as it seemed like the Red Wings were going to sign Simon Edvinsson at any minute. This, of course, was not the case, and since then, Englund has played 11 games for the Red Wings, failing to record a point in that timeframe.
It's not that Englund is a bad defenseman -- it's that the Red Wings could (and probably should) find a better fit for Johansson as a partner.
Englund is big, hits hard and plays around 13:09 a night. If the Red Wings didn't have Ben Chiarot on the roster, he'd likely bring a dimension to the game beyond Moritz Seider's physicality. That's what makes his deployment so confusing. He's not much of a needle-mover when compared to the other defensemen on the roster. Once Simon Edvinsson returns, he'll likely hit waivers again, but, until then, he's stapled to Johansson.
The Red Wings need to rectify this as soon as possible.
Red Wings already have a solution on the roster
Fortunately, there's a solution already within reach for the Wings. Jacob Bernard-Docker, recalled a few days back by Detroit, is an ideal, if temporary, fit for Johansson on the bottom pairing. Bernard-Docker has already shown his capabilities as a bottom pair guy last season, usurping Axel Sandin-Pellikka's role in the later half of the season. He's a safe, if not unexciting pick, and one that could certianly play to Johansson's strengths.
Where Johansson has to play with a little more caution while partnered with Englund, he can take risks and generate more offense alongside Bernard-Docker. This would, in turn, unlock a bit of that offensive flash we saw during the preseason. Through 16 games, Johansson has four points -- a goal and three assists. It's not terrible, but it's clear there's some untapped potential there.
Tough decisions coming for Red Wings with defense
The biggest decision to monitor over the next few weeks (apart from Simon Edvinsson's contract) is the current defensive setup. If rumors are believed to be true and the Red Wings do sign Edvinsson, who comes out of the lineup? It's likely safe to assume that Englund would be the first casualty, but what happens when Albert Johansson returns to the fold?
The Red Wings' second pairing of William Wallinder and Justin Faulk is exceeding expectations, producing and possessing the puck at a high level. It's unlikely that they'd break that pairing up. Moritz Seider is, of course, a lock on the roster. Assuming Edvinsson is back - and Albert Johansson makes his return - who comes out of the lineup after that? Would the Red Wings send Anton Johansson back down to the AHL? Or would they finally bench Ben Chiarot?
Keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks as lineup updates contineue to trickle through.
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