They need a new trophy for true defensive defensemen. They are the overlooked category yet each team wants one or more.
What would be a good name for it? We could start a new poll with names for the trophy. Would need a design team with vision to make a unique looking trophy. How do you get another award created? Do you need signatures and who does it get submitted to?
Anyone know the process?
The process to identify the best defensive defenseman is the NHL Center Ice package, an eye for talent and a lot of free time.
A new trophy wouldn't make anything so. The writers (as a whole) don't know the game well enough to accurately make that call. They'll just bastardize it like the Frank J. Selke...which generally just goes to the best two-way forward that scores 60+ points, is good at faceoffs and has a high plus/minus. I doubt we'll see any Rick Meagher's winning it again because the writers don't know what they're looking for and they can't really see enough hockey to make a really informed call like they could in the O6 days.
We'll just have to resort to HF polls...no one is going to come along and "settle" it. Have an idea of who's good and who's bad and you have half the battle already.
I didn't vote on these at all but aside from McD not having as many games under his belt as other guys I don't see why his being mentioned as among the best defensive d-men is laughable. In the games he's played, he's shown himself to be extremely talented in that facet of the game. He took over for an injured Staal in his first full NHL season and played top pairing minutes on a team that made it to the ECF.
They need a new trophy for true defensive defensemen. They are the overlooked category yet each team wants one or more.
What would be a good name for it? We could start a new poll with names for the trophy. Would need a design team with vision to make a unique looking trophy. How do you get another award created? Do you need signatures and who does it get submitted to?
Anyone know the process?
Who is the Defense-man that played for the '67 Leafs with a broken leg, and scored the winning goal? Was it Bobby Bonn? That would be a good starter for a trophy name.
In two months time there will be another poll based on exact same thing and by that time the order will change all around again. Really only take these HF votes with a grain of salt.
The trophy has his name on it from last year. Whether we agree with the decision or not, he's the current holder, and deserves the accolades. Simple fact.
I didn't vote on these at all but aside from McD not having as many games under his belt as other guys I don't see why his being mentioned as among the best defensive d-men is laughable. In the games he's played, he's shown himself to be extremely talented in that facet of the game. He took over for an injured Staal in his first full NHL season and played top pairing minutes on a team that made it to the ECF.
Agreed. I think Staal when 100% is the best defensively. But McDonagh is right there, at least based on last season. Girardi is great in the zone but can get exposed at times on the rush.
Either way the fact that the Rangers have 3 legitimate candidates in the top-15/20 makes me a happy guy.
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The trophy has his name on it from last year. Whether we agree with the decision or not, he's the current holder, and deserves the accolades. Simple fact.
The guy has a career +/- of -19
I know thats not the best stat to base defense off of, but its really all we have.
Karlsson is one of the best defensemen in the league without a doubt, but lets just say he's not regarded as a top defensive defenseman
The trophy has his name on it from last year. Whether we agree with the decision or not, he's the current holder, and deserves the accolades. Simple fact.
Primarily due to his offensive ability. Karlsson isn't a slouch defensively, but he really doesn't belong with the top defensive defensemen. Perhaps in the future.
Rangers Defensemen are horribly overrated. 3 of the top 20? I don't think so. The system they play and Lundqvist make a big difference there. You would think this was the greatest defensive team to ever play in the NHL.
Rangers Defensemen are horribly overrated. 3 of the top 20? I don't think so. The system they play and Lundqvist make a big difference there. You would think this was the greatest defensive team to ever play in the NHL.
What System? The one that had just 3 good defensive forwards last year (2 next year)?
The one that was 11th in goals scored?
As a Senators fan I'm not going to argue against any of the three Rangers listed. All three outplayed karlsson in the first round of the playoffs. Those guys are rock solid in their own end.
What? 
if weber had the puck as much a ek has ,he would be pretty high in the turnover dept
