Teppo Numminen or Kimmo Timonen, who was better?

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Another poll thread led me to wonder who people see as the better defenseman. Neither player ever won a major award, but both were pretty consistent throughout their careers. Timonen has a cup, but that was in his final season with Chicago where he played less than 9 minutes a game.

Career stats:

Teppo - 20 seasons - Winnipeg/Phoenix, Dallas and Buffalo.
1,372 Games played
117 Goals
520 Assists
637 Points
Norris finishes - 7, 9, 11, 11
Playoffs - 82 games - 9 goals, 14 assist, 23 points

Kimmo - 16 seasons - Nashville, Philly and Chicago.
1108 Games played
117 Goal
454 Assists
571 points
Norris finishes - 5, 15, 17, 20
Playoffs - 105 games - 4 goals, 31 assist, 35 points

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[Fight4yourRight]

Teppo was the better offensive d man. Kimmo was the better dman overall and more successful in the playoffs. I’ll give it to Kimmo.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Kimmo, easy choice there.

 

[Bounces R Way]

I don't remember

 

[banks]

Timonen.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Timonen. He and Pronger in 2010 were a force.

 

[Vimppe]

Teppo Winnipeg

 

[Albatros]

Numminen, very underrated in part due to the teams he played for. Was one of the best defensemen in the league for years. Timonen was very dependable as well, but neither peak nor longevity are on his side (or rather, as an undersized guy it took him a while to get there).

 

[Buck Naked]

Only one of them played for Brynäs. Easy choice.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I always thought of Teppo as the better player, though not by much.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Teppo Numinen was possibly the most underrated player of his era. Few fans recognized hew as as good as he really was. I'm glad HF'ers do.

Both these guys were great, but I'll pick Teppo by a hair. Good debate either way, neither is clearly better.

 

[Huffer]

Teppo

 

[Frolov 6'3]

When playing NHL ‘99 I always got destroyed by Teppo Numminen & Jeremy Roenick vs. Phoenix.

Therefore Teppo.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

Teppo Numminen

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

i'm partial to Tippo Kimonen myself, very underrated player.