I apologize if this has been posted before, but if it has can it be locked and can I get a link to a similar thread? Anyway, who is the best defenseman at defense in NHL history? Not the best best defenseman period. Not the best defensive defenseman. The best defenseman of any kind at defense? Could be Bobby Orr or could be Dale Purinton (lol). Basically obviously Orr was the best defenseman of all time. However was also the best at defense or just as a total package?
I was actually wondering the same thing a couple of days ago and was planning to ask the question here. Orr is definitely the best offensive defenseman ever and the best overall defenseman in terms of having the total package. But is he also the best defensive defenseman?
Never actually watching the games of old, it's hard to tell by statistics. By stats it'd be Robinson, but that isn't really something that you can judge by stats. Karlsson, is very impressive, though, both offensively and defensively, when I watch him play.
Anyone a little more recent than Harvey though? Either way, what made him so great? Also how can you compare his game to more recent D-men?
Harvey had the uncanny ability to COMPLETELY take over the tempo of the game by himself when he was on the ice. He'd often do it against even top talent from the other original 6 teams.
With his great strength, size, skating, pokecheck, puck skills, tremendous patience with the puck and incredible hockey sense, he'd not only completely shut down the other team in the defensive zone, but he also played an absolutely dominating puck possession style, which litterally changed the way defensemen played the game, influencing Orr and all others that were to come.
Here's an excerpt from his HHOF bio illustrating that very point:
" After debuting in a 2-1 loss to the Rangers on October 16, 1947, coach Dick Irvin very quickly discovered Harvey's greatest skill – the ability to control the temp of a game. Methodically, Doug carried the puck, at his own speed, surveying the ice landscape before he committed to any play. At first, it drove his coach and teammates to distraction, until they learned that there was method to Harvey's madness – the other team couldn't score if Doug controlled the puck. ".
During the 1950s (IE the dynasty years for the Canadiens), when Harvey was protecting a lead for the Habs (often alongside Butch Bouchard), he'd slow down on the puck possession style and play a more stay-at-home type of game, utterly taking away shooting and passing lanes, muscling forwards off the puck or pokechecking them almost flawlessly.
His understanding of angles and of the way to shut down the offensive rush (or cycle) is viewed to this day as perhaps the greatest (significantly better than Lidstrom as a comparable) that's ever been in hockey by some (me included).
I feel like this has been posted before somewhere in the last half year or so, but I'm not sure.
I think the consensus though is Doug Harvey.
harvey seems to be the consensus here, but when i read old newspapers, he is most often mentioned for his ability with the puck, and i don't see a similar consensus that harvey was the best defensive d-man in history.
i have seen some old video of him, and he looked very strong defensively, but his passing, puck possession game and ability to control the flow of play stood out most, and were easily the best i have seen from that era. harvey looked almost like a modern d-man who went back in time.
ekof232's description is consistent with the video i have seen.
harvey seems to be the consensus here, but when i read old newspapers, he is most often mentioned for his ability with the puck, and i don't see a similar consensus that harvey was the best defensive d-man in history.
i have seen some old video of him, and he looked very strong defensively, but his passing, puck possession game and ability to control the flow of play stood out most, and were easily the best i have seen from that era. harvey looked almost like a modern d-man who went back in time.
ekof232's description is consistent with the video i have seen.
I didn't mean the best defensive d-man. I meant the best D-man at defense, whether he scored 100 points every year or 0.
Wish I could have seen Doug Harvey play. Don't know about "best" but I'd certainly want either Rod Langway or Craig Ludwig on my backline for defensive duties.
Pre-consolidation: Eddie Gerard, Moose Johnson
Pre-World War 2: Ching Johnson, Art Coulter
O6 era: Doug Harvey, Bill Quackenbush, Tim Horton, Jacques Laperriere, maybe Tom Johnson and Carl Brewer
70s/80s: Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Rod Langway
Recent: Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, Scott Stevens, Nicklas Lidstrom
Any more info on Langway? I remember reading that he won the Norris without any kind of offensive numbers. Though I don't know if offensive numbers were as important for the Norris back then.
Any more info on Langway? I remember reading that he won the Norris without any kind of offensive numbers. Though I don't know if offensive numbers were as important for the Norris back then.
Langway's Norrises were largely backlash at the growing importance that points played in Norris voting after Bobby Orr. Langway was a throwback to the stay-at-home defensemen of old, and a lot of people think he get his Norrises largely because he was the "anti-Coffey" and that Mark Howe, aging Denis Potvin, and young Ray Bourque were better all-rounders.
On the other hand, Langway is credited with turning around the Washington Capitals (in both the standings and goals against column) after he was traded to the team.
I wonder how good Orr's defensive game was in 1968 and 1969, he won norrises and was a hart finalist both years despite not having the 'godly' offensive numbers yet.
