If they’re serious about improving their blue line and contending for the Stanley Cup this season, Walker needs to be one of, if not their, first choice for defensive help.Morgan Rielly, the Maple Leafs’ star defenseman, is unquestionable. attacker and therefore must be paired with the defender on the right side.
Lyubushkin fits the bill for “defense first,” but I wouldn’t call him a positive in his own mind — he was the third-worst defenseman in the league in xGAR with a minus. -6.8 and the stat really isn’t much more forgiving when looking at his entire career.On the other hand, Walker is the defensive guard the Maple Leafs need alongside Rielly and has an underrated two-way game that would likely lead to a little extra buzz on the offensive end.
belt According to defensive xGAR, Walker is fourth among NHL defensemen behind Miro Heiskanen, Olli Maata and Alex Vlasic. On John Tortorella’s Flyers, Walker ranks fourth among defensemen in expected goals per 60 (xGA/60), facing the third and toughest competition on the ice. He is not afraid to block shots and uses his body to prevent the opponent from entering the zone..
