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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