Christian Backman or Paul Martin?

[Ponik]

Which has the best offensive upside in few years?
Range 40-50 points is possible?

Click to read more...

 

[bruins4777*]

Paul Martin is going to be a future no.1 guy with 50 point potential to me. Probably an all-star dman.

I'd take paul martin ANYDAY over backman. A couple games last season martin was logging nearly 30 minutes of icetime as a rookie playing next to niedermayer. Sure niedermayer may have made him look good, but the fact that he could handle all that ice time and not screw up was awful impressive to me.

 

[BlueBleeder]

Backman is going to put up a few 40pts seasons.

Martin might put up more points in the long run, but I think Backman would have outscored him this year, mainly because of Backman getting alot of time on the powerplay with Pronger.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Overall, i think Martin is/will be the better defenseman.

As for points, i dont know. I think they will be pretty much even for their careers.

 

[bleedgreen]

martin was good enough to be an important defenseman in the world cup for the us, he is future replacement for neidermayer. i think he will be an allstar. backman is pretty good, but i dont think they will be on the same level for long. backman may put up decent points, but ithink martin will outscore him as well.

 

[PigPen]

Give me Martin any day of the week over Backman.

 

[DownFromNJ]

I'm Bias

Martin will be a top-pairing defenseman. He's nearly there as is.

 

[Kafka]

martin was good enough to be an important defenseman in the world cup for the us, he is future replacement for neidermayer. i think he will be an allstar. backman is pretty good, but i dont think they will be on the same level for long. backman may put up decent points, but ithink martin will outscore him as well.

Injuries kind of help Martin's presence on USA's roster... I haven't seen both players in game situations a lot yet, but I see Backman as a more complete player than Martin.

 

[bruins4777*]

Injuries kind of help Martin's presence on USA's roster... I haven't seen both players in game situations a lot yet, but I see Backman as a more complete player than Martin.

really? I see it the complete opposite. Honestly i think backman might out score martin, because he is better power play wise. But to me martin's poise defensively will put him ahead of backman...

 

[Missionhockey]

Martin outplayed Rafalski defensively last year. He played on the top pairing over White also.

 

[bruins4777*]

Martin outplayed Rafalski defensively last year. He played on the top pairing over White also.

outplaying white isn't much. :lol

 

[Postman]

outplaying white isn't much. :lol

No, but outplaying Rafalski is.

And even though he was an injury replacement at the World Cup, once he was there, he proved he belonged.

IMO, Martin is right there with Leopold, and Suter as the future core of the US defense.

 

[BlueBleeder]

They are real close right now, would have been interesting to see how they faired this season.

 

[BuppY]

Right now they are very close, but as for future I would take Paul Martin he seems to be a real deal.

 

[Classic Devil]

Martin was easily our #2 defenseman through most of last season. He got PP time over Rafalski and really ate into White's icetime. Then on the US team, he and Rafalski very quickly became Team USA's #1 pairing, to the point that Roenick and Thorne made note of it and their efficiency at getting the puck out of the zone. Martin's poise and ability to make the good outlet pass make him an extremely effective transition defenseman, and if he bulks up just a bit he can add some physicality to his game.

I was so impressed by Paul last season, and surprised by his poise and skill. There aren't many young defensemen I take over him right now.

Edit: plus, he's being mentored by the very best... Robinson, Laperriere, Stevens, and Niedermayer. What else could you possibly want?

 

[bruins4777*]

Martin was easily our #2 defenseman through most of last season. He got PP time over Rafalski and really ate into White's icetime. Then on the US team, he and Rafalski very quickly became Team USA's #1 pairing, to the point that Roenick and Thorne made note of it and their efficiency at getting the puck out of the zone. Martin's poise and ability to make the good outlet pass make him an extremely effective transition defenseman, and if he bulks up just a bit he can add some physicality to his game.

I was so impressed by Paul last season, and surprised by his poise and skill. There aren't many young defensemen I take over him right now.

Saying that he got pp time over rafalski should be enough to show why martin is an easy pick over backman.