Quote:
Originally Posted by eva unit zero
Stevens having a better playoff resume as an individual is arguable. Pronger has had some amazing playoff runs.
Also, Pronger was comparable defensively to Stevens or at worst only a shade behind during Stevens' defensive peak. And while this was happening, Pronger was also performing offensively at a level that compares well to Stevens' offensive peak. The fact that Pronger did this simultaneously, and for an extended period, shows that he was the better player.
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And yet only one of them has a Conn Smythe.
I love how people act like Stevens wasn't capable of being good offensively and good defensively at the same time. You have to remember - the Devils aren't like other teams. They didn't want Stevens running up and down the ice like a maniac. He had his role, and he was expected to perform that role and only that role.
I'm too lazy to look it up now, but I made a previous post about how Stevens's PP time went down dramatically after the '95 cup run. He didn't fall of the face of the Earth or forget how to score points, Jacques Lemaire specifically told him to do other things. Like Yzerman in Detroit.
And it worked out pretty well I'd say, as far as winning cups goes. 3/4 on trips to the SCF. How'd the whole simultaneously thing work out for Pronger? 1/3. Yikes. Maybe he should have played with more structure and discipline like Stevens did.