Blue Line Buzz: Postseason Edition

Playoff hockey is all about the long game. It's a pretty simple question of math – would you rather a point-per-game player for one series or a half-point-per-game player for three series? Keep in mind, over the past five playoffs, defensemen who have scored points in the double digits have also advanced past the first round. The league's top-scoring defenseman this year – Erik Karlsson, if any of you needed reminding – is not participating.

In playoff pools, you're no longer looking to pick the best player possible, but rather the ones on good teams with the prospect of a long playoff run. Much like a puzzle, it's all about finding the right pieces rather than the biggest or most colorful ones.

With that in mind, here's your playoff primer for defensemen, ranked by team and potential key contributors, with recommended picks in bold for emphasis.

The Cornerstone Piece

Washington Capitals – John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Niskanen, Karl Alzner

With 39 points in 56 games, Carlson was on pace for 57 points over a full season, which would place him just one shy of cracking the top five in blue-line scoring. He's by far the best option among Caps defensemen, and even if Barry Trotz is preaching defense first in the postseason, the team's shutdown pair is Niskanen and Alzner. Orlov is a dark horse, having tied Carlson in goals by a defenseman with eight; he might be the most offensively talented of the bunch, but plays about five minutes fewer per game. The Caps are the toast of the league and should reach the Eastern Conference Finals at the very least.

Anaheim Ducks – Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler

As good as the Ducks are and as long as their playoff run might be, figuring out who to take among their top trio is a pretty tough conundrum. Last postseason, Vatanen led the way with 11 points, but Lindholm and Fowler were just one point behind with 10 each; you could cover your bases and pick one of three knowing they're all good options, or pick all three and hope the Ducks go all the way. Special teams can make or break a team in the playoffs, and the Ducks finished the season with both the No. 1 power play and the No. 1 penalty kill, which gives Vatanen and his team-leading 19 power-play points the advantage; however, the Ducks could also face a second-round exit at the hands of the Kings.

St. Louis Blues – Kevin Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko

Shattenkirk was the Blues' leading scorer in the playoffs last year with eight assists in six games, and there's no reason to think he won't be leading the offensive charge from the blue line this season. There's also the added bonus that the Blues have improved and are expected to beat the Blackhawks this spring. It's still a dicey series that should go seven games, but if the Blues can get past the first round, they should be able to punch a ticket to the Conference Finals. Pietrangelo's a pick for those who are bullish on a long playoff run, but he's been more of a participation prize than a consolation prize with just five points in his past 18 playoff games, while Parayko is a bit of an unknown as he heads into his first-ever NHL playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings – Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez

The good news is that Doughty is the best defenseman in the playoffs, but the bad news is that once the Kings dispatch the Sharks in the first round, they'll have to face the Ducks in a series that could go either way. Having missed the playoffs last year, the Kings should be fresh and motivated, and no one drives the engine more than Doughty. His relentless, in-your-face attitude is perfect for a team trying to reestablish itself among the elite, and he's a proven playoff performer with 50 points in 76 games. Muzzin will hold more value if he plays with Doughty, while Martinez hasn't played since April 2, which means Doughty's the only guy worth picking.

The Interlocking Pieces

Pittsburgh Penguins – Kris Letang, Justin Schultz

Letang outscored the next-highest-scoring Pens defenseman (Trevor Daley) by 45 points, and that gap alone should be enough reason to consider Letang only. The highly regarded Olli Maatta (questionable for Game 1) managed just 19 points in 67 games and enters this year's playoffs as an unknown quantity after missing last year's due to shoulder surgery. That leaves Schultz, who has fared much better in Pittsburgh with eight points and plus-7 rating in 18 games after leaving Edmonton, but averages just 14:13 per game under Mike Sullivan and has been known to cave under pressure – not exactly a guy you'd want in the playoffs. After toughing out a series against Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers, can they then beat Braden Holtby and the Caps? Head and heart both say no.

Florida Panthers – Aaron Ekblad, Brian Campbell

The Panthers are good – probably not good enough to warrant a Conference Finals appearance on talent alone, although it seems as though they'll backdoor their way into one. The Islanders shouldn't pose a problem, nor should the Lightning or Red Wings, so the Panthers will see at least two series, but if they win, it won't be because of defensive scoring. Ekblad and his 15 goals provides the best option, but even at his best, he doesn't blow people away with his offensive prowess. Campbell is having a great season and has scored eight points in his past 14 playoff games, but is also three years removed from his last postseason, and you have to wonder how long he can keep up his pace.

Dallas Stars – John Klingberg, Alex Goligoski, Stephen Johns

If the Blues and Blackhawks beat each other to a pulp – which will happen – the Stars are the biggest beneficiaries. With a relatively easy matchup against the Wild, the Stars are poised to at least make the semifinals, barring some kind of goaltending collapse. (It could happen.) But the real question is whether the team has enough collective experience to make it all the way with such a young core. Klingberg and Johns are exciting prospects, but both are entering their first NHL playoffs, though Goligoski's limited showing offers some intrigue (14 points in 21 career playoff games).

Chicago Blackhawks – Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook

Keith will miss the opening game, and when you add in the possibility of Corey Crawford being far less than 100 percent, the Blackhawks aren't a favored pick this year, especially against an improved Blues team. Keith was the lynchpin with 21 points in 23 playoff games last year, but there's a lot of skepticism concerning the Blackhawks. Seabrook led the team's defensemen in scoring, but he also appeared in 14 more games than Keith and is a clear step down when it comes to offensive production.

Tampa Bay Lightning – Victor Hedman

Since the 2004-05 lockout, only the Sabres (2006, 2007), Penguins (2008, 2009) and Rangers (2014, 2015) have made the Eastern Conference Final two years in a row. Can the Lightning join that group? Without Steven Stamkos (blood clot) and Anton Stralman (fractured leg), it's going to be tough. Hedman is the only defenseman of note, and only in a lengthy playoff run does he provide value. Forget about Jason Garrison – he's got a big shot, but can't get it off consistently enough to be dangerous. Detroit will be motivated with Pavel Datsyuk entering his final NHL season, so even the first round brings a little trepidation.

New York Rangers – Ryan McDonagh, Keith Yandle

Has the Rangers' window closed? Only a nuclear attack will keep McDonagh off the ice, but the noted playoff warrior will be playing with a broken hand, which will impact him negatively even if his greatest strength is his mobility. The pressure's on Yandle to provide a good playoff showing after leading all Rangers defensemen in scoring with 11 points in 19 games last postseason, but has been largely ineffective against the Pens in his career, notching just two assists and a minus-4 rating in 10 career games. He's a liability in his own end sometimes, and if the Pens push the pace – especially if Evgeni Malkin returns to the lineup – the Rangers could have trouble getting out of their own zone.

San Jose Sharks – Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic

The Sharks are underrated. Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture are two of the best all-round players in the conference and Joe Thornton is having a resurgent season, but can they make it out of the first round? Burns has been a beast on offense this season, but has a spotty playoff record, and without tightening his play in his own end, he may get trapped trying to get the puck out rather than generating shots on goal. The Sharks face an uphill battle and should expect to face the two other California teams, meaning their chances of a long playoff run aren't very favorable.

The Piece of Resistance

(If you're looking in this section, you're probably fishing for an early exit from your playoff pool as well.)

Nashville Predators – Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis

As deep as the Nashville blue line is, they're going up against an on-fire Ducks squad that also boasts the best special teams in the league. Weber and Josi are no-brainers, but Ekholm and Ellis provide some value as well if the top pair is preoccupied with shutting down the Ducks' offense. In any other year against any other team, the Preds would be an attractive pick.

Detroit Red Wings – Mike Green, Niklas Kronwall, Danny DeKeyser

Once a team that featured Paul Coffey, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and other marquee names, the Red Wings find themselves in a position of need at the blue line. Green is toast – he didn't fit in all season and it's hard to see him play better in the postseason, considering his recent production (two assists in 14 games last year with Washington). Kronwall missed a quarter of the season, the first time he's missed so much time in five years, and has never been an offensive player. DeKeyser is smart and smooth, but seems allergic to offense sometimes. It's time to turn the page for Ken Holland & Co.

Minnesota Wild – Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Mathew Dumba

Is Suter going to play 40 minutes a game? Because that's the only way the Wild can keep the Stars offense at bay. Suter's teams have never made it past the second round, and despite scoring a career-high 51 points this year, he's never been known to be an offensive dynamo or playoff scorer. Spurgeon and Dumba provide some intrigue for those who shy away from Suter, but neither is an established contributor.

New York Islanders – Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk

Not having Travis Hamonic (knee) is going to hurt. The Islanders have improved quite a bit over the past few seasons, but have found winning in the postseason particularly difficult. You'd think they've had enough tough losses to get over the hump, but this year may be the same story again with Hamonic, Anders Lee (broken leg) and Jaroslav Halak (groin) hurt, and an underrated Panthers team waiting for them. Leddy is steady but unspectacular, lacking the explosiveness and killer instinct to be considered a real offensive threat.

Philadelphia Flyers – Shayne Gostisbehere, Mark Streit

The only hope that the Flyers have of making out of the first round lies in the knowledge that Gostisbehere turned in a brilliant performance at the Frozen Four to lead Union College to their first NCAA title. This is the NHL, so of course things are harder, but as he has been for most of the season, the rookie is the Flyers' X factor. One rush by Ghost could change the tide of any given game, but the Caps will be zeroing in on him. Michael Del Zotto (wrist) and the aging Mark Streit won't be able to take the pressure off, and despite his late-season scoring binge, Radko Gudas is more about setting the physical tone than scoring.