Tag Archives: best defenseman ever

H2H 133: Chris Chelios vs. Larry Robinson – Who was Better?

Posted on July 30, 2021 | Leave a comment

To play for two decades or more in the NHL is an incredible accomplishment; to do so at an extremely high level is the stuff of legends.  Throughout the league’s history, two legendary defensemen who exemplify this rare combination of longevity and excellence are Chris Chelios and Larry Robinson – the former was a hard-nosed defender who set both regular season and playoff records for games played, while the latter was blessed with prototypical size and has the highest career +/- rating ever as part of the defensive anchor of the legendary Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the 1970s.  Both eventually skated their way into the Hockey Hall of Fame and are among the greatest blueliners in league history, thus evoking the comparison:

Who was better – Chris Chelios or Larry Robinson?

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H2H 108: Paul Coffey vs. Denis Potvin – Who was Better?

Posted on February 5, 2021 | Leave a comment
Horge, Paul Coffey, CC BY 3.0
Charny, Denis Potvin, CC BY-SA 3.0

In the late 1970s and during the 1980s, the NHL saw the rise of two new dynasties in the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers – both teams were blessed with a plethora of Hall of Fame forwards (e.g. Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy for the Islanders, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri for the Oilers, just to name a few), star goalies (Billy Smith in New York, Grant Fuhr/Andy Moog in Edmonton), and on the blue line, offensively gifted defensemen in Denis Potvin (Islanders) and Paul Coffey (Oilers).  With multiple Norris Trophies and over 1,000 career points apiece, these two Hall of Fame blueliners are among the greatest defensemen in league history – from their jaw-dropping statistics to individual accolades to team successes, it is only natural to compare the pair and ask:

Who was better – Paul Coffey or Denis Potvin?

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

Posted on May 29, 2020 | Leave a comment
Elliot, Scott Hannan and Scott Niedermayer, CC BY 2.0
http://www.VancityAllie.com, Chris Pronger, CC BY 2.0

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?

Posted on January 31, 2020 | 2 comments
Håkan Dahlström from Helsingborg, Sweden, Brian Leetch New York Rangers 1997 Vancouver, CC BY 2.0
Resolute, Al MacInnis, CC BY-SA 3.0

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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H2H 17: Ray Bourque vs. Nicklas Lidstrom – Who was Better?

Posted on May 11, 2019 | 1 comment

As the name implies, the primary responsibility of a hockey defenseman is to defend and prevent the other team from scoring goals.  However, to be truly great, a defenseman must not only be highly proficient in his own end, but must also be a skilled quarterback for the offense, particularly on the power play.  Throughout the NHL’s long and storied history, there have been many great defensemen, with most experts considering Bobby Orr to be the greatest blueliner of all time, though one thing he did not have was longevity.  In terms of sustained brilliance, two of the greatest defensemen in NHL history are Ray Bourque and Nicklas Lidstrom, each of whom spent 20 years with one franchise and racked up numerous Norris Trophies and 1,000+ points in their Hall of Fame careers.  In comparing their long and illustrious careers, the question arises:

Who was better – Ray Bourque or Nicklas Lidstrom?

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