Jonas Brodin
ON-ICE VALUE
First-Pairing Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Defense: Brodin is arguably the best shutdown defender in the league. His positioning is borderline immaculate, as you’ll never find him on the wrong side of the puck. He also plays a very tight gap in the neutral zone, cutting down the puck-carrier’s options before they can even see them. With his wheels and reach, he can cover a lot of ice.
Skating: He’s an effortless skater who seems tailor-made to contain the new breed of NHL stars. While many blueliners lose their bearings at high speeds, Brodin displays a sense of calm at that frenetic tempo. He holds his ground until the very last second to delay the puck-carrier and then uses his speed to turn and maintain inside positioning.
Vision: No one thinks of him as a puck-mover, but Brodin does show great patience and IQ when picking his passes. He has a good feel for where everyone is on the ice. His anticipation allows him to hop onto loose pucks and execute well-timed pinches in the offensive zone.
WEAKNESSES
Shot: He’s only sniffed double-digit goal totals twice. Both times, his shooting percentage was unsustainably high. Generally speaking, he isn’t the best shooter from the blue line. Brodin can shuffle east-west and get his bids through traffic, but there’s little velocity to them.
Passive: Brodin has all the skills to control more of the game, but he appears content to serve as a defensive safety net. With a slight increase in assertiveness, he would boost his production and get the recognition he deserves as one of the finer three-zone blueliners in the world.
