The man believed to be the top defenseman on the market this offseason is now off the board.
Mike Green, three years, $6 million per year with Detroit Red Wings
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2015
The career Washington Capital (he was drafted by the club 29th overall back in 2004) was once one of the centerpieces of the high-octane Caps attack. Back in 2008-09, Green became just the 8th defenseman in NHL history to score 30 goals in a season (including 18 on the power play), adding 42 assists to total 73 points. He would finish second in Norris trophy voting that year, and again in 2009-10 when he set a career high 76 points. He would also be voted into the NHL’s First All-Star Team both years. Unfortunately, injuries, which had always been a problem in Green’s career (he’s played just one full NHL season) began to take a toll on the offensive d-man.
The nadir of Mike Green‘s career came in 2011-12, when he managed just 7 points in 32 games. However, Green has quietly put together two very solid offensive seasons since being pushed down the depth chart (he averaged just 19:06 in ice time in 2014-15), playing 70+ games in consecutive seasons for just the second time in his career, while posting 38 and 45 points and a Corsi For% of 52.2 and 53.
You know what you’re getting in Green when he’s in the lineup. He can run a power play and, despite his reputation as being weak defensively, has posted positive possession numbers in all but one season. The only question is if his current (relatively) healthy streak will last.
This excerpt, courtesy of Ken Hill’s Top 10 UFA Defensemen—>https://lastwordonsports.com/?p=148717
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