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?
