File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
The best defenseman in hockey or the best defenseman in hockey?

am i rite?
>> Anonymous
bestest
>> Anonymous
Enjoy your injury.

Though yes. Definitely one of the best. I wouldn't call him the best ever though.
>> Anonymous
brian leech
ftw
>> Anonymous
>>6345
Its a toss-up between him and Orr. Depending on how many Norris trophies he wins he could take it. Sucks with his injury. Just a sprained knee though. Hopefully it won't last that long and we can get him back. We are seriously lacking some depth on our blue line. Though, Quincey has played some strong games and Meech has been solid.

Though, one stat I think they should add is being able to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Lidstrom does it so well. He's on of the best at it. He's always there to break up a zone clear or a break-out play and when he does keep it in, it gives the Wings another scoring opportunity.
>> Anonymous
>>6351
I lol'd
>> Anonymous
>>6352

Well at least you're not me. I'm a Canucks fan and if any team knows about a depleted blue line I think it would be them. It's annoying and aggravating to see D-men come in and out each week thanks to injuries. Their blueline hasn't been fully healthy since the first game of the season.

Things are starting to come together though with Mitchell back in the lineup and Bieksa set to start a training stint in the AHL. If there's a plus it's that it gave the rookie Edler a chance to shine.
>> Anonymous
>>6363
One of my favourite D's is Ohlund. I really like Edler and Mitchell too.
>> Anonymous
>>6369

I actually had a chance to talk to Edler a couple months back.

His English is still fairly broken but it was pretty cool regardless. He'll probably shape into an Ohlund/Lidstrom type player over the years.
>> Anonymous
>>6352
Are you kidding? How can you even compare him to Orr? Orr redefined the way that defensemen play the game. Even with his shortened career, he was a force offensively and defendively. He still is the only defenseman to win the scoring title, ever. He has ridiculous plus/minus over 100 in his seasons. He's the only player to win four major trophies in a single season (Hart, Art Ross, Conn Smythe, Norris) and won MVP in international tournaments before he retired because of his knee problems. As much as I love Lidstrom, he's still the best within a class of his peers. Orr rose above his peers, blew away all preconceptions of what a defenseman can and cannot do in the game. No, no one even comes close to Orr as a defenseman.
>> Anonymous
>>6625
Thats like saying you can't compare anyone to Gretzky because of the numbers. The way the game was played back then is different than now. You can't judge the best player by their numbers but in the generation of hockey they played in. I take back my previous statement of saying that Lidstrom is better. They are both great defenders but you can't say he is the best all time. Hockey is played differently now. Lidstrom is dominating the blue line in this generation.
>> Anonymous
>>6647
As I said, Lidstrom is the best of his peers in this generation. Orr had no peers in his. Even Gretzky had people who might have gotten to his level. Orr hasn't had a single challenger to his status as the best dman of all time.
>> TheSod
Hate sports, hate you.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
My favorite defenseman of all time
>> Anonymous
Lidstrom is without doubt one of the best D's in the history of ice hockey. The only thing he's lacking is the physical play. It would complete him as a D even though he makes up for it with excellent skating, conditioning during the summer and a hard to match eye for the game.

He's always at the right spot at the right time delivering a pass to free up the player.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
This will be the best defencemen in hockey in a few years.
>> Anonymous
Player Notes
Note Worthy
-Leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 57 points.
-Leads the NHL in plus/minus with +39 and is 2nd in time on ice with 27:15.
-Has played more games (1,237) in the first 15+ years of his career than any other player in the history of the NHL, missing just 22 games in that span.
-Since entering the League in 1991-92, he has the highest plus/minus rating in the NHL with a +377.
-Is the highest scoring defenseman in Red Wings history and currently ranks 2nd all-time among Swedish-born players in scoring with 925 points.
-Winner of the Norris Trophy 5 of the last 6 seasons played (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007)--only Bobby Orr (8) and Doug Harvey (7) have won more Norris Trophies.
-Joins Orr, Harvey and Pierre Pilote as the only player in NHL history to win 3 consecutive Norris Trophies.
-Named the Best European ever in the NHL and 9th best overall player since 1967 by The Hockey News.

Nicklas is teh best?
>> Anonymous
>>6987
He might win his 6th this year but he's sidelined for 3 weeks which is going to be horrible.