Redder Winger
Registered User
- May 4, 2017
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THE RED SHARK NASTY VLADIMIR KONSTANTINOV PUTS BITE IN THE RED WINGS AS THEY BATTLE THE FLYERS FOR THE STANLEY CUP
Rather than continually pollute the prospect thread, with tales about two long-gone players, I've started a new thread.
Jkuts disagreed with my contention that in 1996, Konstantinov was the best defenseman in the game. Jkuts went on to say that Vladdie wasn't the best defender on his team, let alone the best in the NHL.
I'm not sure how old Jkuts is. But any Red Wings fan who was old enough to appreciate the importance of toughness in 1990s hockey understands what Vladdie meant to this team.
He was a tiger. He was the heart and soul of the Red Wings defense.
Lidstrom, great as he was, was never really highly thought of as a defensive player until Bowman shocked the NHL and lined up Lidstrom-Murphy against the Legion of Doom line in 1997.
Konstantinov was considered one of the best defensive defenseman in the NHL.
At the same time, his offense was underrated because Fedorov and Lidstrom and Coffey and even Fetisov played the PP points. Konstantinov played the PK.
Here are the even-strength stats for Lidstrom and Konstantinov over the course of Vladdie's career. Keep in mind that Vladdie and Lidstrom were rookies the same year. And before you say that Lidstrom was a young rookie, not an old rookie, keep in mind that some of Lidstrom's best even strength production of his career came in those first 3 years.
You tell me who's who:
48 goals 107 assists - 155 points
34 goals 113 assists - 147 points
Hint: The top one is Vladdie.
While Coffey and Lidstrom racked up powerplay points on one of the greatest PPs ever assembled, Konstantinov played the PK.
Konstantinov was a beast.
In 1996, when he went +60, no other defenseman in the league was in the same universe (Fetisov was +37. Leschysyn +31).
This isn't to say that Vladdie would have been the better NHL defense than Lidstrom. But in 1996 - Vladdie was the best defenseman on the Red Wings and, IMO, in the NHL.
We saw Lidstrom's rise to dominance. His peak was probably 00-03 -- aged 29-32... a good age for defesemen.
Konstantinov was cut down at age 29-30, sadly.
Guy was 5'11 and played like he was 6'4. He could turn a game on it's ear with a hit and read the play, offensively and defensively, as a good as any defenseman I ever saw.
Rather than continually pollute the prospect thread, with tales about two long-gone players, I've started a new thread.
Jkuts disagreed with my contention that in 1996, Konstantinov was the best defenseman in the game. Jkuts went on to say that Vladdie wasn't the best defender on his team, let alone the best in the NHL.
I'm not sure how old Jkuts is. But any Red Wings fan who was old enough to appreciate the importance of toughness in 1990s hockey understands what Vladdie meant to this team.
He was a tiger. He was the heart and soul of the Red Wings defense.
Lidstrom, great as he was, was never really highly thought of as a defensive player until Bowman shocked the NHL and lined up Lidstrom-Murphy against the Legion of Doom line in 1997.
Konstantinov was considered one of the best defensive defenseman in the NHL.
At the same time, his offense was underrated because Fedorov and Lidstrom and Coffey and even Fetisov played the PP points. Konstantinov played the PK.
Here are the even-strength stats for Lidstrom and Konstantinov over the course of Vladdie's career. Keep in mind that Vladdie and Lidstrom were rookies the same year. And before you say that Lidstrom was a young rookie, not an old rookie, keep in mind that some of Lidstrom's best even strength production of his career came in those first 3 years.
You tell me who's who:
48 goals 107 assists - 155 points
34 goals 113 assists - 147 points
Hint: The top one is Vladdie.
While Coffey and Lidstrom racked up powerplay points on one of the greatest PPs ever assembled, Konstantinov played the PK.
Konstantinov was a beast.
In 1996, when he went +60, no other defenseman in the league was in the same universe (Fetisov was +37. Leschysyn +31).
This isn't to say that Vladdie would have been the better NHL defense than Lidstrom. But in 1996 - Vladdie was the best defenseman on the Red Wings and, IMO, in the NHL.
We saw Lidstrom's rise to dominance. His peak was probably 00-03 -- aged 29-32... a good age for defesemen.
Konstantinov was cut down at age 29-30, sadly.
Guy was 5'11 and played like he was 6'4. He could turn a game on it's ear with a hit and read the play, offensively and defensively, as a good as any defenseman I ever saw.
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