Rod Langway "The Secretary of Defense"

[Trottier]

Originally Posted by Hardyvan123

I'm with Psycho Papa Joe on this one in that the degree of impact is getting vastly overrated here, kinda like the 30-40 minute range overrated.

In which case, I'm of certitide that you are unfamiliar that at that time, EVERY team ROUTINELY played their top two D pairings extensively. Thirty to 40 minutes for Langway is far from exaggeration.

As an NYI fan, I watched the Caps and Langway a ton. It's fun reading what one witnessed first-hand whitewashed decades later.

Years from now, some will undoubtedly contend that the impact of Lidstrom and Pronger was "overrated", and point out that they played with such stellar defensive legends as Chris Draper and Sami Pahlsson, thus detracting from their brilliance.

(And no, no one is comparing Langway to either of them, so don't go there.)

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Originally Posted by Hardyvan123

Can anyone verify the 30-40?

Playing close to 30 minutes is one thing but 40 seems improbable.

Even then there still are 20-30 minutes each game where others have to carry the team as well.

I'm with Psycho Papa Joe on this one in that the degree of impact is getting vastly overrated here, kinda like the 30-40 minute range overrated.

I wouldn't be shocked if Langway and other first pairing d-men played some games in the 30-40 minute range, but I don't think they were averaging that type of ice time in the early 80's. Hell I remember a game where Larry Robinson played 19 minutes of one period. But that was a rare type of occurence. That said, I do recall reading a story where Orr was getting on average 35-40 minutes in the early 70's. I wouldn't be suprised if top d-men in the 50's and 60's were averaging in that 30-35 minute range.

30 minutes averages were probably common.

[Hardyvan123]

Originally Posted by Trottier

In which case, I'm of certitide that you are unfamiliar that at that time, EVERY team ROUTINELY played their top two D pairings extensively. Thirty to 40 minutes for Langway is far from exaggeration.

As an NYI fan, I watched the Caps and Langway a ton. It's fun reading what one witnessed first-hand whitewashed decades later.

Years from now, some will undoubtedly contend that the impact of Lidstrom and Pronger was "overrated", and point out that they played with such stellar defensive legends as Chris Draper and Sami Pahlsson, thus detracting from their brilliance.

(And no, no one is comparing Langway to either of them, so don't go there.)

Originally Posted by Psycho Papa Joe

I wouldn't be shocked if Langway and other first pairing d-men played some games in the 30-40 minute range, but I don't think they were averaging that type of ice time in the early 80's. Hell I remember a game where Larry Robinson played 19 minutes of one period. But that was a rare type of occurence. That said, I do recall reading a story where Orr was getting on average 35-40 minutes in the early 70's. I wouldn't be suprised if top d-men in the 50's and 60's were averaging in that 30-35 minute range.

30 minutes averages were probably common.

I was watching in the 80's quite a bit but non of us were actually tracking time but let's say that he was averaging 30 minutes a game.

No doubt that it seemed like he was out there all the time but it would ahve been way closer to 30 than 40, and I'm not sure it was even 30.

He was on for 114 ESG and PPG for and 170 ESG and SHG against.

When he was on the bench the caps scored 192 goals for and 113 against.

I know that he played the very tough minutes defensively but Washington's PP wasn't that elite to make up those differences.

It's far more likely that those other players had a larger role in the turn around than is being discussed by some here.

No one is disputing that Langway was the main reason, heck he even reminded me of a Larry Robinson type of presence back there, but the reality is that the Caps most likely would ahve been better in Langways 1st year in Washington even if he had been injured all year. Many other players were better than the year before or in their 1st years as well.

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Originally Posted by Trottier

As an NYI fan, I watched the Caps and Langway a ton. It's fun reading what one witnessed first-hand whitewashed decades later. )

Well some fans also watched Langway at the time and also like to use critical thinking skills which is why we have these types of discussions. Nobody is doubting Langway was a great defensive defensemen and nobody is trying to whitewash history here.

[Trottier]

Originally Posted by Hardyvan123

It's far more likely that those other players had a larger role in the turn around than is being discussed by some here.

And it's even "more likely" that you are making (yet more) hollow claims. Philosophize all you want in your boorish tone about "what is far more likely"; it's amusing.

No one is disputing that Langway was the main reason, heck he even reminded me of a Larry Robinson type of presence back there, but the reality is that the Caps most likely would ahve been better in Langways 1st year in Washington even if he had been injured all year. Many other players were better than the year before or in their 1st years as well.

All of which is utterly meaningless to this conversation.