Best Defenceman In The Playoffs

[Bushay]

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh


I'm not sure where this blogger originates from but after reading this I believe he nailed this one to a tee. Still to this day, even as a daily Wings fan, I still don't show enough appreciation for Nick Lidstrom on a daily basis. He just, so quietly, goes about doing his job without truly realizing just how good he is. I am first to admit he didn't have a Norris caliber season seemingly showing his age thru out the year. But again, this guy really summed him up recognizing what's he's again quietly done so far in these playoffs. Nice write up.


Best Defenceman In The Playoffs.

We are well into the second round of the playoffs and I thought I would take a look at the best defenceman thus far through. Several defenceman have been playing very well including Chris Pronger, Sergei Gonchar, Scott Niedermayer and Brent Seabrook, but one guy stands out in front of the pack. That man is Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings. It isn’t unusual to see him in front of the pack; he has six Norris Trophies that show he is often in front of the pack of defencemen. So far in the playoffs, Lidstrom is scoring at better than point per game rate (9 points in 8 games). This points him in the offensive lead among defenceman, even though several have more games played. His +5 +/- rating is among the best in the playoffs as well.

It was a regular season where Nicklas Lidstrom looked like he might be showing his first signs of decline. He is unlikely to win the Norris Trophy this year (despite a nomination) and is no longer his team MVP in the regular season. He suffered through elbow tendonitis for much of the season. He recently turned 39 years old and it is easy to believe that his best days are gone, but what we have seen so far in the playoffs shows otherwise. Nicklas Lidstrom has had a very good playoff so far and has been the top defenceman in the playoffs.

 

[In2Win]

Scuds has played great while shadowing ovey....yeah he has scored his goals but he probably would have a ton more if it weren't for the great plays made by scuds. Def one of the most underated defencemen in the league

 

[Bushay]

I thought I remember reading about you taking about this guy in another thread, and they shot you down over there like a fish out of water. Your really serious about this shit aren't you?

 

[In2Win]

wasn't me but apparently someone else knows what they are talking about. Underated and doing a hell of a job shadowing one of the best players in hockey.

 

[PassTheBuck]

wasn't me but apparently someone else knows what they are talking about. Underated and doing a hell of a job shadowing one of the best players in hockey.

You'd get more sympathy if you said Brett Lebda.

In all honesty, Lidstrom has been good, but he is by no means the clear cut best dman in these playoffs. Guys like Seabrook and Pitkanen should be right up there with Lidstrom for playoff performance. I have not given any credit to Carolina, but I think if they win the cup Pitkanen should share the Conn Smythe with Ward (he won't).

Don't know if I'd consider Scuderi a top dman for shadowing Ovie, considering Ovechkin has 7 goals in the 5 games of this series (5 goals being even strength). I didn't even know he was shadowing Ovie. I'd give more credit to Orpik, who is giving more cheap shots than Pronger these days. I don't like it, but it's effective when the refs don't call anything. He has completely eliminated Semin as a factor in the series.

 

[Bushay]

You'd get more sympathy if you said Brett Lebda.

In all honesty, Lidstrom has been good, but he is by no means the clear cut best dman in these playoffs. Guys like Seabrook and Pitkanen should be right up there with Lidstrom for playoff performance. I have not given any credit to Carolina, but I think if they win the cup Pitkanen should share the Conn Smythe with Ward (he won't).

Put Seabrook on the Red Wings going up against Getzlaf and Perry and the Wings are no way tied 2-2 and now in control of this series. In fact the Wings may be lucky to still be alive right now. Seabrooks having a great series, but these are two completely different players. I know Pitkanen is doing well against the Bruins but havn't watched enough of that series. What I've been reading and from watching the highlights it's the Bruins D that's been buckling. I think your reaching here.

 

[PassTheBuck]

Put Seabrook on the Red Wings going up against Getzlaf and Perry and the Wings are no way tied 2-2 and now in control of this series. In fact the Wings may be lucky to still be alive right now. Seabrooks having a great series, but these are two completely different players. I know Pitkanen is doing well against the Bruins but havn't watched enough of that series. What I've been reading and from watching the highlights it's the Bruins D that's been buckling. I think your reaching here.

Getzlaf has 8 points in five games. Perry has 6 points in five games. They are not the problem for Anaheim, by any means. They have been good, and dangerous throughout this series, and the entire playoffs.

Meanwhile, the twins have a combined 8 points, and over the past three games have been almost invisible. Duncan Keith has also played a big part, but Seabrook deserves a ton of credit. I don't think I'm reaching, but I am talking about players who don't play in Detroit.

Don't get me wrong, Lidstrom is a world class dman, and over the past decade it's hard to argue that anyone has been better in the entire world. However, we are talking a 3 week span in the playoffs. This is the time when players rise up, and both Seabrook and Pitkanen have been fantastic.

 

[Bushay]

Getzlaf has 8 points in five games. Perry has 6 points in five games. They are not the problem for Anaheim, by any means. They have been good, and dangerous throughout this series, and the entire playoffs.

Meanwhile, the twins have a combined 8 points, and over the past three games have been almost invisible. Duncan Keith has also played a big part, but Seabrook deserves a ton of credit. I don't think I'm reaching, but I am talking about players who don't play in Detroit.

Don't get me wrong, Lidstrom is a world class dman, and over the past decade it's hard to argue that anyone has been better in the entire world. However, we are talking a 3 week span in the playoffs. This is the time when players rise up, and both Seabrook and Pitkanen have been fantastic.

The Twins arn't either in the same class as Getz and Perry nor have they performed in the playoffs in any way shape or form in the past. And i figured the Detroit reference was on it way. And that is correct, were talking about a 3 week period. Evidently Lidstrom has taken a back seat to these two non all stars. Possibly i'm getting his and Chelios' number mixed up out there.

 

[Bushay]

BTW...I didn't write the story. Just commenting on it.

 

[PassTheBuck]

The Twins arn't either in the same class as Getz and Perry nor have they performed in the playoffs in any way shape or form in the past. And i figured the Detroit reference was on it way. And that is correct, were talking about a 3 week period. Evidently Lidstrom has taken a back seat to these two non all stars. Possibly i'm getting his and Chelios' number mixed up out there.

Perhaps you should get out the ol' reading glasses, and actually read what I said. Never said anything about a back seat.

Also, you admit we are talking about a 3 week period, then immediately reference all-star history. Yikes!hno:

 

[Bushay]

Perhaps you should get out the ol' reading glasses, and actually read what I said. Never said anything about a back seat.

Also, you admit we are talking about a 3 week period, then immediately reference all-star history. Yikes!hno:

LOL!

Well, If the 3 of them were in a car, and only the 2 best could fit in the front seat ..where would Lidstrom be sitting if he were driving in your car?


The author of the story brought up Pronger, Gonchar, Neidermayer and Seabrook. No one said he was the clear cut defenceman. Those were your words.

It's tough being a Red Wing fan some days.

Everyone seems to want to discredit your teams accomplishments.

 

[dg84]

personally, i don't like scuderi much & i really can't stand letang but i love orpik. i think he hits hard & clean the majority of the time. there are a lot of defensemen that take many more cheap shots than him such as pronger. best defenseman overall is definitely lidstrom though. there's a reason orpik got signed long term instead of guys like malone & ruutu.

 

[In2Win]

I think we were talking best D man in playoffs and personally I don't think you can compare lindstrom and orpik, they are 2 completely different players. Lindstrom moves the puck well and is an offensive threat whereas Orpik was top 5 in the NHL in hits and blocked shots. Two different games.

I said scuds b/c he is not even considered a top 4 D man and he has been shadowing one of the best players in the NHL and has done a very good job. Watch the matchups and when they are paired together scuds for the most part has come out on top.

 

[In2Win]

btw who the fu*k is lindstrom i meant lidstrom

 

[dg84]

definitely two totally different types of d-men but i was just making a general comparison overall. obviously if you gave any GM a choice they are going to take lidstrom over orpik.