Comments on: *NHL Awards: The Top Defensive Forward, Who Can Also Contribute Offensively

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:51:38 +0000

I'd throw in Hossa for contention, especially given who his linemates may be, but ALSO considering that, Datsyuk or Zets would likely get the nod before him.

As for my biases:
I don't like Kesler. Philly would have been a fool to part with Jeff Carter for him.

Crosby is an excellent two-way player. Jordan Staal has the chance of being a good one too if he scores more.

Toews also fits the bill for young guys.

But my top pick is Heatley. He's the man, just watch him!

By: sundin_500

sundin_500 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:05:37 +0000

lol, 3 different from what i said, and if i do say so my self, him and rick nash were pretty kick ass together, and in an injured season last year he put up 34 in 65, so that works out to 43 points in a full season, and i think he can top that without being in and out of the lineup so much, but his best days are definatly behind him,

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:34:39 +0000

No Plekanec they really are that good. They would have won it on LA. Zetterberg neutralizes the other team. Datsyuk is a defensive genious. The fact that they're so skilled obviously comes into play offensively, but it also is a big factor defensively. These guys are so fast, so tough on the puck and so skilled, and they throw the body around, so they absolutely are impossible to play against. The other reason they have an incredible plus minus other than their defensive abilities is the fact that they can control the play in the offensive zone and no one can take the puck off them, they're just way too good.

Lidstrom is a great player, but don't give him all the credit. Nobody is saying Dan Cleary and Mike Samuelson are two of the best defensive players in the game and they play with Lidstrom too.

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:28:37 +0000

Ya but Zetterberg and especially Datsyuk are soooo good they don't even need to block shots. Look at who mr.takeaway is in the NHL its Datsyuk. Dats reads the play so well and gets opponents running around having to move the puck quickly on the PP and then he's right there to intercept, or fight for a loose puck with an opposing player and send it down the ice. His skill level is so much higher than Higgins that its not even funny. He creates so many turnovers with his speed and his skill.

Dats and Zetterberg are just outstanding, don't give Lidstrom and Rafalski (or Kronwall who kills penalties too) all the credit. Zetterberg and Dats make it easy on Lidstrom just as he makes it easy on them.

By: pezzz

pezzz — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:29:57 +0000

Higgins blocks shots because the PK is not good. Think of it. If the opponent shoot a lot, it's because the PK has a problem. That's why he has to block shots.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk don't block shots because they don't need to. Their positionning is so damn good that the opponent can't even control the puck and take some shots. That's a true PK.

So even if we talk only of the PK potential, you must take Zetterberg and Datsyuk and Richards and anybody else over Higgins. Chris is not even close again.

By: hockeyhead

hockeyhead — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:46:24 +0000

so he is dirty as in nasty and sick.

im hip to most of the young slang these days.

i just hope he is not subject to cheap shots because he has a concussion problem.

By: Plekanec

Plekanec — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:56:06 +0000

With Lidstrom and Rafalski on the blue line, don't just look at stats look at the big picture.

By: dcz28

dcz28 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:21:08 +0000

The Selke is given to the best defensive forward not the best defensive forward that can't produce offense or that isn't a star player.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg were the best defensive forwards on the Wings and in the league last season regardless of how many points they got. They were going up against the other teams top offensive forwards all season along with being key penalty killers for the Wings and all the other stuff like faceoffs, takeaways and plus/minus. Datsyuk deserved the Selke and it was no mistake to have Zetterberg as the runner up unless you had him winning it.

By: Plekanec

Plekanec — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:57:52 +0000

I never said that Higgy was as good as these guys overall but on the PK I would take Higgins in a heartbeat, Higgins even blocks shots, I don't see Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Richard jump in front of shots.

As for datsyuk and Zetterberg being PK specialist, put them on the Columbus Blue-Jackets and will see how they do on the PK! Even me and my grandma paired with Lidstrom and Rafalski would look good on the PK. Remember that i'm in no way, shape or forme trying to compare these players overall game with higgins'es.

By: pezzz

pezzz — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:47:39 +0000

even as a penalty killer, he's average. He doesn't even make the 1rst penalty kill pairing of the Habs.