Horton vs Pronger

[Canadiens1958]

Dustin Byfuglien

I'm not arguing for or against Horton, as he was before my time ..... but waiting for a Pronger match-up against Byfuglien seems a bit odd.

He's shut down Parise already and on his way to shutting down Camelleri, both better players than Byfuglien. In past years he's played against Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Staal, Thornton, Marleau, Sakic, etc. all far better players than Byfuglien.

When they play Chicago I'm sure he'll be matched against the Hawks top line, but Toews/Kane will be his prmary focus.

Dustin Byfuglien crashes the crease and is 6'4", 255 lbs. He creates space for the Chicago offense. Neither Vancouver or San Jose found a solution. Parise(5'11"/190) and Cammelleri(5'9"/185) are smallish, under 6'., under 200lbs.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Dustin Byfuglien crashes the crease and is 6'4", 255 lbs. He creates space for the Chicago offense. Neither Vancouver or San Jose found a solution. Parise(5'11"/190) and Cammelleri(5'9"/185) are smallish, under 6'., under 200lbs.

So by your logic, shutting down Milan Lucic is more impressive than stopping, say Martin St. Louis or Steven Stamkos.

Stopping Tim Kerr/Dave Andreychuk is tougher than Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic ???

 

[Canadiens1958]

Not the Point

So by your logic, shutting down Milan Lucic is more impressive than stopping, say Martin St. Louis or Steven Stamkos.

Stopping Tim Kerr/Dave Andreychuk is tougher than Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic ???

Not the point at all. If you let a Dustin Byfuglien type dictate the outcome of a series then your team does not deserve to win nor is your defense nearly as physical as you would like to pretend that it is.

There are many defensemen who can match-up with the skilled - players but the issue in the Pronger / Horton discussion is being able to step up physically against all opponents. The measure of this ability is doing so against a bigger opponent not a smaller opponent.

Tim Horton was 5' 10" 180 lbs but he could step-up and handle physically bigger players like Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, Bobby Hull in the slot or at the crease.

Chris Pronger is 6'6", 220 lbs. The expectation is that he should be able to handle the 5'9" and 5'11" forwards or the perimeter forwards like Thornton. Let's see what he can do against a player bigger than him who is willing to battle for position.

 

[nevermore]

So by your logic, shutting down Milan Lucic is more impressive than stopping, say Martin St. Louis or Steven Stamkos.

Stopping Tim Kerr/Dave Andreychuk is tougher than Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic ???

It's more a matter of getting Byfuglien the hell out of the crease. Anyway, Pronger against the whole Toews line would be an extremely interesting match-up.