2 #1 Franchise 80 point centers vs 2 #1 Norris D

[AngelDuck]

tell me the season when Niedermayer was the best player on the planet

2004-2007 he was in that mix.

Pronger was slightly better but it was very slight during that time frame. And believe me I watched every game of the Pronger/Niedermayer era.

I honestly believe that 3 defensemen (Lidstrom, Pronger, Niedermayer) were the best 3 players in all of hockey during the period right before Ovechkin/Crosby came into the league

 

[Oilers Propagandist]

2007 season I bet on the ducks winning only because of the pronger trade. Their defence was too op and their start of the season was spectacular.

 

[Master P]

actually, delete this post. I don't care anymore.

 

[Binister]

Funny how this poll hid Matthews + Tavares vs Karlsson + Burns

 

[loyaltotheend]

The poll is clearly meant to be Tavares + Matthews versus Karlsson + Burns.

Yeah not sure what the point in trying to pretend OP meant anybody else

Why is it best D in the league, but not Centres? If you're just comparing positions or whatever it is this is

 

[teravaineSAROS]

This post screams Matthews + Tavares versus Karlsson + Burns

It says 80 point centers though

 

[X66]

If this thread is Tavares/Matthews vs Burns/Karlsson you take the center because Matthews is only 21 and Burns is 33.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I recall the days The Canadiens had Lapointe, Savard, and Robinson. Virtually unbeatable team when one or both of these guys were always on the ice to control a game. Also recall Neidermayer and Pronger on the Ducks and how hard it was to beat the Ducks that year. I think it's easier to throw out 2, franchise D men on the ice than 2, #1C's. Taking the D men.

 

[The Mentalist]

The Defencemen!

 

[Uncle Bill]

This post screams Matthews + Tavares versus Karlsson + Burns

You’re absolutely right. Problem is, one of those two centres has never scored 80 points and the other one only 3 times in nine seasons.

 

[Critical13]

I would take Matthews-Barkov over Burns-Karlsson or Subban-Josi.

 

[Maplebeasts]

The centers. We've seen teams without Norris caliber dmen win the cup lately. We haven't seen the same for teams without a franchise center.

 

[Sensinitis]

2004-2007 he was in that mix.

Pronger was slightly better but it was very slight during that time frame. And believe me I watched every game of the Pronger/Niedermayer era.

I honestly believe that 3 defensemen (Lidstrom, Pronger, Niedermayer) were the best 3 players in all of hockey during the period right before Ovechkin/Crosby came into the league

Pretty sure most of the history board would disagree with you

 

[Silky mitts]

I would take 2 of Karlsson/Hedman/Doughty over Kuznetsov and Backstrom but not Josi and Subban.

 

[Slyfox]

Having two elite centers seems to be more important for success esp considering the past cup winners.

 

[tsujimoto74]

So like Kuznetsov and Seguin, or Doughty and Karlsson? It’s the dmen in a landslide. Drop the 80 point part and it’s a lot more interesting

Drop the 80-point part, and this is a landslide for the centers. I mean, how many cups to the Pens have with Crosby and Malkin, and how many has Nashville gotten with any of Weber/Suter/Subban/Josi/Jones?

 

[BAM]

Drop the 80-point part, and this is a landslide for the centers. I mean, how many cups to the Pens have with Crosby and Malkin, and how many has Nashville gotten with any of Weber/Suter/Subban/Josi/Jones?

This place overvalues defensemen like crazy. Team defense matters far more than what an defensemen can do. The Sharks lost to the Pens 2 years ago and they had 2 D-men who were far above anything the Pens had. Ditto for the Preds. The D-corps for Vegas was strong enough to get to the SCF before guys like Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Subban, Josi, Weber, Suter ever have. You need a 1D to win the cup, you don't need a top 5 D to win the cup.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Having two elite centers seems to be more important for success esp considering the past cup winners.

Washington has an elite #1 dman in Carlsson and arguably the greatest goal scorer to ever play the game on the wings.
Pittsburgh has 2 of the 3 best Centermen in the world (had the 2 best Before McDavid entered the game).

Since this thread is clearly referring to Toronto, those scenarios are quite different than having Tavares, Matthews at C and Rielly as your #1 dman.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Having two elite centers seems to be more important for success esp considering the past cup winners.

Chicago and Anaheim 07 though.

 

[Keduzin]

I would go with the 2 D’s and trade one of them asap to strengthen some weaker spots on the team and make the team more balanced

 

[Sting]

Different depending on who you are comparing.

I would take Malkin/Crosby over Burns/Karlsson.

I wouldn't take Matthews/Tavares over Burns/Karlsson.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Defenseman ainec. Unless you have a generational talent as a forward you take the defenseman.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I'll take the d-men but probably only due to their bigger ability to influence the game. By that I mean there are generally only 6 d-men and they can play close to half the game. So if you can have 33% of your complement being Norris winders and almost always have one on the ice, that's a pretty big advantage.

Like how in basketball one superstar has a much bigger influence than they do in hockey.

 

[Charlie Conway]

I'll take the d-men but probably only due to their bigger ability to influence the game. By that I mean there are generally only 6 d-men and they can play close to half the game. So if you can have 33% of your complement being Norris winders and almost always have one on the ice, that's a pretty big advantage.

Like how in basketball one superstar has a much bigger influence than they do in hockey.

I think this is difficut to say without actually having names. You could have an elite, 80-point two-way C or you could have an 80-point one-dimensional C.

Matthews/Tavares v. Burns/Karlsson is a lot different from Crosby/Malkin v. Burns/Karlsson.

 

[StoneHands]

80 point Center is too vague so I went with defenseman. Centers could be Kopitar and Barkov, Barzal and Draisaitl, or McDavid and Crosby.