Last season, Ron Hainsey skated 17:06 minutes per game 5v5, tied for third on the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was paired with Morgan Rielly almost exclusively on what was, by ice time, the Leafs second pairing.
On the penalty-kill, Hainsey played more than double the Leafs next most used defenseman.
Neither of these things can be allowed to occur anymore because Ron Hainsey is in a steep decline. Hainsey will turn 38 this year, the final year of a two-year deal he signed last year that comes with a $3 million dollar cap hit.
While Hainsey is good on the PK, teams score at roughly 20% on the PP and who you put out there to maintain the league average is not nearly as important as who you play for the other 17 minutes 5v5.