Tag Archives: best Blues players

H2H 94: Jeremy Roenick vs. Keith Tkachuk – Who was Better?

One of hockey’s magical milestones is the 500-goal club and as of the end of the 2019-2020 season, there were a total of five American players in that elite company: Brett Hull (dual Canadian/American citizenship), Joe Mullen, Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick, and Keith Tkachuk.  While the first three members of this fraternity are Hall of Famers, Roenick and Tkachuk remain on the outside looking in despite 500+ career goals and 1,000+ career points apiece in the NHL.  During their long and productive NHL careers, both were not only among the best offensive players of the 1990s, but were also known for their tough, hard-nosed (dirty?) play; as teammates on the Phoenix Coyotes as well as on Team USA, in comparing these all-time American greats, let us ask the question:

Who was better – Jeremy Roenick or Keith Tkachuk?

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H2H 72: Scott Niedermayer vs. Chris Pronger – Who was Better?

Between the 1999-2000 and 2007-2008 NHL seasons, the legendary Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings won six Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman; during this stretch, the only other blueliners to take home the honors were Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues in 1999-2000 and Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils in 2003-2004.  Both were outstanding players in their own right, Hall of Fame defensemen who dominated for well over a decade apiece, actually played together in Anaheim, and even won a Stanley Cup together. As among the best defensemen of their generation NOT named Nicklas Lidstrom and one-time teammates, this begs the question:

Who was better – Scott Niedermayer or Chris Pronger?

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H2H 55: Brian Leetch vs. Al MacInnis – Who was Better?

In hockey, defensemen who not only prevent the other team from scoring goals, but can also quarterback their own team’s offense, both on the power play and at even strength, are invaluable to a team’s success.  Throughout the long history of the NHL, a select few players have brilliantly displayed both of these skills – two of these legends are Brian Leetch and Al MacInnis, who are recognized as two of the most offensively-gifted defensemen of all time and are part of a rare group that has reached the 1,000 career point milestone from the blueline.  In comparing the long and accomplished careers of these two players, the question is:

Who was better – Brian Leetch or Al MacInnis?

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