I’ve gone on record plenty of times as both a defender of, and complainer about, the Nashville Predators’ third defensive pairing. I feel more than willing to complain about bad defense on the third pairing when it’s merited, but I get rebuked quite often when people assume I expect the third pairing to play to like Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis.
Of course, I don’t expect that at all, but being taken to task several times for this perceived belief is what’s led me to become a champion of the third pairing. I’d like to think I have a firm grasp on what’s to be expected from the these gritty and often maligned ice warriors.