Dr Pepper
Registered User
He has been hyped by some as a "generational" player and that's garnered some backlash by people who have claimed he is being overhyped and overrated because of the market he plays in.
I don't think anyone credible would argue he will be another Orr/Lidstrom, but what can he realistically be expected to be?
Will he be in the next best tier of defencemen, consisting of players like Bourque (five Norris trophies), Coffey (three Norrises), Potvin (three Norrises), Harvey, Stevens (one of the best ever) and likely Karlsson (already two Norrises)?
Will he fall into that Pronger/MacInnis/Shore/Park/Salming/Niedermayer tier?
Will he be more of a Subban/Doughty/Hedman/Burns/Keith/Chara/Weber type? A superstar defenceman.
Will he have some big seasons but be an inconsistent star or a star with a shorter prime? For example: Zubov, Hatcher, Phaneuf, Dan Boyle, Alex Edler, Dustin Byfuglien.
Obviously he's not an Ohlund/Kaberle (a top D who would be a good 2D) or a Ozolinsh or Lowe (bottom of the barrel first pairing D).
I think he'll fall into the Pronger tier if he fulfills his potential or the Burns tier at worst. Looking for opinions and hopefully a constructive and mature discussion.
I don't think anyone credible would argue he will be another Orr/Lidstrom, but what can he realistically be expected to be?
Will he be in the next best tier of defencemen, consisting of players like Bourque (five Norris trophies), Coffey (three Norrises), Potvin (three Norrises), Harvey, Stevens (one of the best ever) and likely Karlsson (already two Norrises)?
Will he fall into that Pronger/MacInnis/Shore/Park/Salming/Niedermayer tier?
Will he be more of a Subban/Doughty/Hedman/Burns/Keith/Chara/Weber type? A superstar defenceman.
Will he have some big seasons but be an inconsistent star or a star with a shorter prime? For example: Zubov, Hatcher, Phaneuf, Dan Boyle, Alex Edler, Dustin Byfuglien.
Obviously he's not an Ohlund/Kaberle (a top D who would be a good 2D) or a Ozolinsh or Lowe (bottom of the barrel first pairing D).
I think he'll fall into the Pronger tier if he fulfills his potential or the Burns tier at worst. Looking for opinions and hopefully a constructive and mature discussion.
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