This is just stupid. But from what I was hearing from people they would always bring up lidstrom for it because of "lifetime achievement" if he got votes in because of his career that is just ridiculous and apauling to the point of yearly awards. I knew lubo wasnt going to win but he damn well should have been nominated.
The years Green was nominated, he was over a PPG. As a defenseman. I don't believe that had happened for quite some time (Lidstrom had exactly PPG in 06, no one else since 97-98, which is as far back as NHL.com stats go). He also had a fairly sizable margin over the 2nd highest scoring defenseman.
Now I do think Visnovsky should probably be in the top 3 over Lidstrom, but it's not any kind of travesty.
I don't know why any of you surprised at this. This team has been bent over and royally ****ed by the league this entire season, from the schedule, through the cheapshots on our players, to the interesting suspensions of our players, to the non-calls during games,....need I go on? This is just the little cherry on top of the **** cake that's been served to us. Enjoy, and remember to lick your plate clean.
I'm not too fussed, the three who were nominated were all miles better defensively than Visnovsky, while the offensive difference wasn't that great at all. I did think he would have an outside shot at being nominated based on the fact he did lead the league in scoring but obviously it wasn't enough for the voters to ignore the difference in defensive ability.
Lidstrom has no business on the list at a -2. Period. Not when he's the worst +/- of the regular defenders on his own team by a good margin.
But, but, but, he plays against the other teams top lines.....Oh, wait I forgot, when the other team attacks our zone, Vis goes to the bench, never mind.
can you imagine 2 of 3 candidates with slovak nationality?
It is not good marketing strategy IMO.
We are just 5mil nation.
For sure it was not the only reason ) but I think it could play its role.
I just wanted to talk about PK TOI and how I disagree with anyone using at against Visnovsky.
Norris is for "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position." This does NOT mean best defensively, although defensive ability should be taken into account.
Even though defensive ability should be taken into account, Lubo is decent defensively. Otherwise he would not be playing the minutes he does and against the other team's top lines (even though that has more to do with Lydman than Visnovsky, Lubo is still not deficient or they would split that pairing up). PK TOI does not reflect that.
But the biggest reason why PK TOI should not count is that I think TOTAL TOI is more important. All-around ability means contributing to the entire game. Visnovsky averages 45 seconds more per game than Lidstrom total. Thus he contributes more to the team than Lidstrom does.
And besides, it's clear from Selke voting that PK TOI is not seen as a reflection of defensive ability, or Datsyuk would not have any Selkes (ZOMG 44 seconds PK time in 2010!)
edit: Oh, and Weber gets all the recognition, but I still think it's Suter that stirs that drink.
Last edited by snarktacular: 04-26-2011 at 12:04 PM.
It was just confirmed that Visnovsky will be playing in the WC tournament.
Glad he's getting to play in his home country. I'll be rooting for Slovakia this year if Sweden can't go all the way. It'd be a nice revenge from their 4th place in the Olympics.
Visnovsky wasn't one of the three best defensmen this year. He just wasn't good enough defensively to be in that tier. How can you say he was one of the three best dmen if the coach doesn't think he's good enough defensively to be on the 1st PK unit?
If he played on the 1st PK unit his TOI would have been close to 30 minutes a game.
I agree with Hockeystatic. The league or whoever determines the nominees got it right. Vis was great offensively, maybe the best offensive defenseman in the league. But defensively he was nothing to sniff at, average at best in my opinion. Green was nominated because he scored 30-some goals, which is unheard of as a d-man. Even with scoring that many goals he still did not win the Norris. Why? Because his game was poor defensively. Vis didn't put up "unheard of" numbers to overshadow his average defensive play.
) but I think it could play its role.
