I dont care if you think Kronwall is overrated, he's usually very good on the National Team (was pretty underwhelming in the most recent WC tournament though). Anyways, I have a difficult time ranking our defensemen, but Karlsson/Kronwall/Edler/Enstrom/Ekman-Larsson should all be given. And the way Hedman tends to play for Team Sweden, I think I'd rather have Hjalmarsson, although that could obviously change before 2014.
We'll see how Hedman develops, he seem to do well in the KHL currently?
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
Almost every single Shark fan reading this is shaking their heads. Including this one. I doubt he plays for team Sweden.
Murray was barely a #4 defenseman. He looked slow all year and speedy forwards skated laps around him. Hedman is a decent #1, good #2 defenseman right now. It's not even close.
Surprised how little love for Hedman there is. Seems like he should be one of Sweden's top shutdown guys (and a good compliment to one of the more offensive d-men).
Edler, it's not close. This guy is a top 10 defender in the league.
With this being said, by 2014, It's gonna be Larsson followed by Edler.
Sweden will have the best top 4 in Karlsson, OEL, Larsson and Edler, imho.
I think that's overrating him a little bit, Edler can play like a top10 defender in the league, but that is not the norm for him. Top 15, ya probably but top 10 is pushing it. I put Hedman and Kronwall ahead of him
I think that's overrating him a little bit, Edler can play like a top10 defender in the league, but that is not the norm for him. Top 15, ya probably but top 10 is pushing it. I put Hedman and Kronwall ahead of him
Karlsson
Weber
Letang
Chara
Suter
Keith
Pietr
Doughty
Edler
If anything he's the high end of top 15 basically squeezing him in the argument of top 10 defender.
Voted Kronwall but don't be shocked if two years down the road Larsson is one of their top 3 if not top 2.
Nobody outside of New York cared about Ryan McDonagh before this year. Now he's considered one of the best young defensemen in the game. Karlsson went from prospect to #1 in the league in one season. It happens quick.
Kronwall is "Overrated" and not better than Edler or Enstrom...
And yet the only thing Edler holds over him is PP stats, which, considering Kronwall had one less shift (45 seconds) a night on average, isn't that surprising.
Enstrom, on the other hand, holds nothing over him.
