I voted "no", but I got to thinking. By #1, do you mean top defenseman on a team, #1 pairing, or just tier 1 ( Lidstrom, Foote, Zubov, etc )? Although I can't see Morris in the #1 pairing on any decent team and I wouldn't consider him to be in the "top tier" of defensemen, I could see him in the #1 pairing on a poor team.
Morris has the ability to be one of the elite d-men in the league and I think he is pretty close right now. He can play both ends of the ice extremely well and he can match up against the other team's top forwards without much problem. What more do you want from a #1 guy? He's a rock out there...
Morris has the potential to become a solid #1, but IMO, he's still to inconsistent in his overall game to be a legitamate #1 guy. Unfortunately for him, he may not get the chance to become a #1 in Colorado.
Let's face it, Derek is a supremely gifted offensive defenseman. But he'll never be that guy you send out there to shut down the opposition's #1 forwards, regardless of whether he's in Colorado or not.
Right now he's way too prone to defensive zone giveaways and just doesn't have a sound technique to get the puck away from the opponent and out of the zone.
Don't get me wrong, I like Morris--they brought him in for his long passing ability, and that's something he does better than any of the other Avs defenders. But fundamentally he'll never be a #1 blueliner on any team...
He's really close. Morris is what I consider to be a "1/2" guy, like Kaberle, Brewer, Jovanovski, and some others. He's not a clear #1 like Lidstrom, Pronger, Foote, Zubov, Gonchar, etc., but he would be a top pairing guy for 90% of the NHL's teams.
No, but give him a year or two, and he probably will be.
Right now, I would classify him as a solid top pairing defencemen. He just happens to be the #3 on the Avalance because he's behind two definite #1 d-man in Blake and Foote.
I love D'Mo but I just don't think he's a number 1. He's a great number 2, but he will never be the dominant defenseman that fits the criteria for a #1 IMO.
But just because he's not a #1 doesn't mean he's not a great D-man.
he has great potential and is a top 3 right now but I don't know if he would ever be a #1. IMO, there is a big separation between a legit #1 and a top 3 or even a #2, so he has to improve his overall game quite a bit more to move into the #1 status. only time will tell.
He's really close. Morris is what I consider to be a "1/2" guy, like Kaberle, Brewer, Jovanovski, and some others. He's not a clear #1 like Lidstrom, Pronger, Foote, Zubov, Gonchar, etc., but he would be a top pairing guy for 90% of the NHL's teams.
Exactly. My answer would be 'Not yet' if the choice had been available. He is not a #1 yet in the class of Lidstrom etc., but he could become one in the future.
He is not a #1 yet in the class of Lidstrom etc., but he could become one in the future.
That statement just goes to prove what people seem to be thinking that this poll is asking, IMO. People think "No, Lidstrom is not in the same class as Lidstrom." NO DUH! What I am asking is whether this kid is a legitimate number one defenseman who can lead your team in minutes, play in all game situations and contribute defensively and offensively. Not whether or not he's an elite defenseman who fits into the class of Niklas Lidstrom and Rob Blake.
Go ahead and tell me that I'm wrong, but it sure seems that you guys are thinking that way.
