Brewer vs Mara

I'm in a pool, and I have another defenseman to choose between Mara or Brewer (my pool takes every stats into account: shots on goal, points, PIM, etc...), who would you take ?

Fantasy: Mara (higher offensive ceiling)
Reallife: Brewer (more complete)

Fantasy: Mara (higher offensive ceiling)
Reallife: Brewer (more complete)
I agree with you saying Mara has a higher ceiling but I dont see him hitting that ceiling for another year or two.

Brewer

Mara. I've never been impressed by Brewer.

Mara. One of my favorite young players in the NHL, I see him as a future Norris contender.

I'm usually in agreement with Epsilon but not this time. Norris contender is pushing it, IMO.

However, he is not always getting the credit he is due. Things have started to change. I think Epsilon himself was one of the first to raise awareness this year on Mara's great performances. (or was it someone else? Anyways...)

I must say that sometimes he impressed me but he was not sustaining that level of play. He was very, very flat in some games I saw, which puzzled me. Does this worry me? Not really. The guy is breaking out. Expecting him to be consistently great for the first time is unfair.

Lots of potential and actually a good matchup (VS Brewer) IMO. I would select Mara. Never been a big fan of Brewer, probably because of all the overblown talk at one time. He's still good but really, Mara shows more promise, IMO. The raw tools are impressive. On a good game, he was awesome. BUT I think it is a close call.

Mara is a good reminder that some guys should not be ruled out or labelled busts too quickly. I am very curious to see what he will do a full year under a new coach.

I'm usually in agreement with Epsilon but not this time. Norris contender is pushing it, IMO.

However, he is not always getting the credit he is due. Things have started to change. I think Epsilon himself was one of the first to raise awareness this year on Mara's great performances. (or was it someone else? Anyways...)

I must say that sometimes he impressed me but he was not sustaining that level of play. He was very, very flat in some games I saw, which puzzled me. Does this worry me? Not really. The guy is breaking out. Expecting him to be consistently great for the first time is unfair.

Lots of potential and actually a good matchup (VS Brewer) IMO. I would select Mara. Never been a big fan of Brewer, probably because of all the overblown talk at one time. He's still good but really, Mara shows more promise, IMO. The raw tools are impressive. On a good game, he was awesome. BUT I think it is a close call.

Mara is a good reminder that some guys should not be ruled out or labelled busts too quickly. I am very curious to see what he will do a full year under a new coach.

Maybe I've just been lucky (or unlucky, as it may be) because every time I've watched Mara he's been great. This isn't a guy I've been pimping for years and waiting to break out either, watching him play opened my eyes to what a solid player he has become.

Maybe I've just been lucky (or unlucky, as it may be) because every time I've watched Mara he's been great. This isn't a guy I've been pimping for years and waiting to break out either, watching him play opened my eyes to what a solid player he has become.



I think that's the key, he's become very solid in his own end while putting up very good offensive numbers. Brewer is a nice overall package, but the end results aren't always there. I think Mara is a more complete player now, and will be for the balance of their careers. A fixture on U.S. national teams for the next decade.

I still have faith in Brewer. He looked great during the last half of this year and down the stretch was scoring too. I think he'll have a great year next year... If there is one...

brewer hands down, he plays for the better team

brewer hands down, he plays for the better team


Hey I am an Oilers fan but what does the team they play for matter? I think Brewer is better based on his individual play compared to Mara's. The teams they play for should be irrelevant.

Besides we don't want this to spin out into a "this team is better then that team" thread; we get enough of those ;). The poster asked a legit question and is asking for other's input on that topic.

brewer hands down, he plays for the better team

He also has a lot more experience around him on the oilers blueline this allowing him to watch well rounded vets gam in and game out. Smith, Ulanov, Cross . . . all of those D men have been there and back again and have been able to lend a helping hand into brewers maturation process as a pro-hockey player.

Mara. The guy already has had a 40 point year while Brewer is still putting up 20 and a bit. For a fantasy pick, Mara seems the obvious choice.

To ask a Phoenix or Edmonton fan is kind of pointless within reason, their opinions are skewed, but their perspectives can be valuable. I'd take Mara, but I'm a homer.

Mara has left the Coyotes fans wanting more, although he has been solid on the blueline. This past season was a major one for him because he had an expanded role on the team with the departure of Teppo Numminen, as well as other veteran rearguards like Todd Simpson and Danny Markov. There was a major leadership void left on defense for the Coyotes, and Mara would benefit from a little stability and leadership if the Coyotes are able to add some key vets.

Mara is a big guy, 6'4" and 219 lbs., but lacks a physical presence most of the time in his game. He's strong enough that he could use his size more. This past season was hopefully the start of his offensive breakout. After being a 20+ point guy a year for a few years, he doubled that to 40+ points, padding his stats mostly on assists. Not bad considering the Coyotes offensive production was weaker overall this season than the prior seasons, 188 goals this year, 204 goals last season, 228 goals in 2001-2002.

Adding Morris at the end of last season will help take some of the load off Mara, as well as Tanabe being back for a full season. If the Coyotes can add even one solid top 4 defensive defenseman to that compliment instead of Cale Hulse loggin the minutes he is, they will be better.

i'd take mara, and without needing to think about it much.

For the Fantasy draft, Mara by a long shot.

In real life? Mara too, but not by a large margin at all. Mara had a fine season offensivly this past year, and as Vlad said, he is breaking out. Mara has much greater puck skills than Brewer, which usually lead to having a better defenseman (though not always). It's a good comparison though, both are fine young defenseman at any rate.

(my pool takes every stats into account: shots on goal, points, PIM, etc...), who would you take ?

Brewer had 1 more goal, way less assists, way more PIM, a bit more shots, a better +/-. If your pool takes those things into account, Brewer will get you more points (someone said Mara plays soft and Brewer will drop the gloves - he had a great tilt vs Atlanta this year during a line brawl).

I havent seen too much of Mara so I cant really comment, but Brewer had a horrible start with a great 2nd half of the season. He started the season thrust into the #1 dman slot, so that could help explain the slow start (thats a lot of pressure for a young dman). Plus he's playing in the World Cup this summer, which should help his development.

So it looks like Mara holds a huge edge in assists and Brewer holds a slight edge in every other stat. I guess it depends on how much weight is put on each stat in your pool.

I expect Brewer to breakout this next season (whenever that may be) similar to what Mara did this past season. All too similar situations between the two players, and this debate has flowed through these boards for over a year as well. I know I'll always keep an eye on both players just to see how they end up doing. If you put Mara & Brewer together they could be a pretty gruesome duo. Maybe the Coyotes and Oilers could swing a trade :eek:

Maybe the Coyotes and Oilers could swing a trade :eek:

What would it take to get that Comrie kid outta the desert? Hmmm, on second thought...

For fantasy, I'd take Mara.

For a fantasy league that takes all stats into consideration, I'd probably just barely take Mara over Brewer b/c PHX should improve and thus Mara's +/- will as well, and he also will likely put up more points.

But, without a doubt, Brewer is the better NHL dman.

Mara

Mara

Why?

i'd take mara, and without needing to think about it much.

Why?

For fantasy, I'd take Mara.

Why?

I dont undestand why people bother typing an answer if they dont explain themselves. These are 2 very comparable players.

One other thought.. if your fantasy league has a salary cap like mine do then Mara is definitely more valuable since he has a $1M salary compared to Brewer's $2.5M.

I do think Brewer is going to raise his game to another level, much like Mara did this year. Its a great comparision though which is why it keeps coming back. Brewer has been the better choice until Mara overtook him this year IMO.