Is White Better Than Rafalski?
vs. 
Well, our friend over at Detroit Hockey Report certainly seems to think so. In an intriguing, comprehensive post entitled "Ian White is an Upgrade over Brian Rafalski", DHR began by reflecting on the summer and how White’s signing was a great one, an argument I don't disagree with:
...Ken Holland and his team pulled off quite possibly the best and most financially savvy deals of the off-season.
He continues by comparing White and Rafaski's 2009-10 stats (as Raffy was injured last season) and notes that they were very similar:|
2009-10 |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
+/- |
PIM |
PPG |
S |
H |
BK |
GvA |
TkA |
|
Brian Rafalski |
78 |
8 |
34 |
42 |
23 |
26 |
5 |
134 |
39 |
101 |
72 |
24 |
|
Ian White |
83 |
13 |
25 |
38 |
8 |
51 |
3 |
173 |
54 |
137 |
69 |
35 |
Looking at their numbers side by side shows the picture a bit more clearly. The goals, assists, power play goals are all pretty close. The +/- could be moot as White played for Toronto and Calgary, two teams in the lower half of the standings. White and Raflaski play a very similar style, both smaller guys by NHL standards. They both move the puck well and have above average skating ability, both of them have powerful shots and can man the point on the power play.
Moreover, he believes White sets himself apart as a physical presence:
Where White begins to separate himself from Rafalski is the physical aspects of the game, he plays with an edge, doesn’t get knocked off the puck like Rafalski was prone to. Looking at the latter part of the stats above you can see White hits more, blocks more and may have an edge on takeaways as well.
Now I’m very happy with White’s play so far. He’s been physical and up with the play, just as I had hoped. However, I’m far from saying he’s better than Rafalski, or even his equivalent. One area which Rafalski shines is his vision and intelligence from the point and his chemistry with Lidstrom on the power play. Rafalski knew when and where to pass the puck on the point. And he made those decisions quick, almost quicker than anyone I’ve ever seen. He could get the puck low to Datsyuk or give a tipable shot to Homer better than anyone out there.
White, while picking up a few goals already, has looked lost on the power play when compared to Raffy. He likes to roam, which is great at times, but leaves him out of position when we need that point man to move the puck. His skills are there, but his puck intelligence isn’t. Plus, while I know it is early, he simply does not have the chemistry with Nick yet that Rafalski seemingly was born with. I’m sure this will change over time, but that’s been a big part of the power play’s 1-19 start.That all being said, I’m still happy with the new number #18. I agree that age wise, he's a huge upgrade from Rafalski, being only 27. He’s a hard worker with a great future with Detroit. But better than the best player on Team USA last Olympics? In my mind, not quite yet.
But what are your thoughts?
I was gonna say pretty much everything u did, and thought I'd be the only one to think like that lol. White will get better with nick but rafi could just set up goals way better and make the powerplay really work. Even last year at the beginning I think he had like 29 assists in 30 games or so before he got that 1st goal. His vision was way better but ian does have the hitting and blocking. Rafi's retirement upset me the most this summer honestly
I think if you give him ice time and proper linemates he'll do well. He was always playing on godawful leafs and flames teams. And it seems like Babcock will let him play as far as his ability can take him.
He's no Rafalski but I think he could have a career year here (40 points is possible.)
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/30/ian-white-doesnt-miss-wilson
“Unless you are a superstar, mere mortals turn into good players around the age of 27, which is what he is,” Babcock said.
I would like to clarify that in no way am I saying that Ian White is better than Rafalski. I believe that White is an upgrade over what we would have gotten from Raffy this season. There is no question that Rafalski saw the game with an eye that only the best posses. White could potentially become a top defender in the NHL, learning from Lidstrom will only help and being that hes only 27 he has a good start on a promising career that should only flourish if he stays in Detroit.
thanks for the link!
@DetCapC19 Fair enough, though offensively, last season, Raffi seemed decent. It was his D game that really struggled.
I'm actually really liking White just now, really happy with his signing. Too early to gauge if he's up to Raffi yet, but Detroit has the habit of turning average players with potential into great players, e.g. Cleary, Helm, even D and Z were late picks compared with their elite standing now. You never know White might match up.
Wow, I didn't realize that White was younger than Ericsson (by 3 months). That impresses me.
I'd say he's better from the standpoint of wanting to play, the desire white has to want to prove he can be on this squad for a long time vs the last year or so of Raffi's ho-hum approach to the game, which he admitted, is what I think everyone is seeing right now. Of course when you bring in a young go getter with the drive to be number one he'll out shine the old gaurd. Time will be the tell all in this situation.
@D.M.N I disagree with your thoughts on Raffi. He never indicated anything but a professional approach. I never saw any "ho-hum" from him. Sure he wasn't over the top, but he was a professional thru and thru.
@moorecha in his retirement speech he said hockey was no longer his top priority, and it wasn't even in his top 3, hard to believe he was out there giving 110%, like I believe White is doing currently. I'm not saying Raffi wasn’t professional about it, the men realized he didn’t have the get up and go anymore and hence he retired early. I was trying to illustrate that right now after 4 games. White, a man whose top priority in life probably is, wanting to make a lasting impression on the wings as to remain with the club for a long time would look infinitely better compared to a man whose last season was filled with doubt about what he wanted to do in life. Therefore because the drive or motivation of these two players are extremely contrasted, time will have to be the ultimate decision maker of whether or not White truly is the better player.
@DetCapC19 I see what you are saying, and it could as well be true... Either way, I'll always see raffi in a good light with his time in Detroit, and continue to hope White turns into a player that can at least be mentioned in the same sentence when being compared to him...
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@D.M.N Good point. Perhaps I'm splitting hairs here but perhaps hockey was still a priority for him, but he just didn't enjoy the fact that it was. Because playing on bad knees and a wonky back would require dedication and committment - qualities that he demonstrated last year but clearly wasn't willing to moving forward.
And you're right - no comparison to 2008 Rafalski.
@DetCapC19 once again, just going by his speech, he stated he made up his mind 2 months prior, that was before playoffs so you'd have to think it was eating at him for a majority of the season... Now if the question was is White better than a 2008 raffi, the raffi Holland said the wings don't win the cup without... Well then, we wouldn't even be discussing this.
