Player Discussion: Victor Hedman

[PatrikBerglund]

You're mythologizing him. Which is fair, to an extent. Lidstrom is one of the best defensemen of all time, and he was better than Hedman. That said, Lidstrom never dominated a post-season like Hedman is doing right now. If Hedman were to keep up this level of play for 5-6 years, which I don't think is possible, we'd be talking about a different tier.

Lidstrom was on the ice for half the game during playoffs, Hedman plays 21-22 minutes.

 

[The Macho King]

Lidstrom was on the ice for half the game during playoffs, Hedman plays 21-22 minutes.

....

I mean that's just demonstrably untrue.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

....

I mean that's just demonstrably untrue.

Fair, I slightly exaggerated to make my point.

But Lidstrom did play several minutes more per game during his peak, than Hedman does now.

Perhaps that's Tampa's system.

 

[DFC]

Fair, I slightly exaggerated to make my point.

But Lidstrom did play several minutes more per game during his peak, than Hedman does now.

Perhaps that's Tampa's system.

It is TB's system, but Hedman is playing big minutes right now.

He's also chasing a significant offensive record while being easily the best in his own end as well.

Nick Lidstrom was the best player I've ever watched on a game by game basis. Hands down. But at no point in his career did he dominate 19 games the way Hedman just did. Being dominant wasn't what made him great.

 

[KuchieKooRov]

Hedman was on the ice last night for 21-22min because of our lead and cooper was probably thinking about the back to back. We didnt need him to play 25+ with a 5-1 lead headed into the 3rd.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

It is TB's system, but Hedman is playing big minutes right now.

He's also chasing a significant offensive record while being easily the best in his own end as well.

Nick Lidstrom was the best player I've ever watched on a game by game basis. Hands down. But at no point in his career did he dominate 19 games the way Hedman just did. Being dominant wasn't what made him great.

I see your point and understand where you're coming from.

BUT.

What Nick did wasn't as visible, in terms of dominance.

Like some colorman said so perfectly in a game (not sure when, but probably early 2000s). Other teams often didn't even bother trying to go for a zone entry when he was on the ice, if they weren't at the start of their shift. They just dumped the puck, went for a change, instead of risking losing the puck and him setting teammates up with his insane tape to tape passes.

And I've never seen anyone break up more 2 vs 1s, keep more pucks inside the blue line, play himself out of rough situations, make less mistakes or let someone make him look silly.

It happened a few times at the end of his career when he had lost a bit of his legs. Aside from that, the only time I can remember on the top of my head, is Forsberg going through his legs and then roofing it.

Having said that.

This was against lesser players. The level of play today is simply at a higher overall level - and Hedman is hands down the best defenceman alive today, and has been for a few years.

In my eyes, ge means more to Tampa than both Kucherov or Point.

Heck, you could almost swap "or" with "and".

Almost.

 

[DFC]

I see your point and understand where you're coming from.

BUT.

What Nick did wasn't as visible, in terms of dominance.

Like some colorman said so perfectly in a game (not sure when, but probably early 2000s). Other teams often didn't even bother trying to go for a zone entry when he was on the ice, if they weren't at the start of their shift. They just dumped the puck, went for a change, instead of risking losing the puck and him setting teammates up with his insane tape to tape passes.

And I've never seen anyone break up more 2 vs 1s, keep more pucks inside the blue line, play himself out of rough situations, make less mistakes or let someone make him look silly.

It happened a few times at the end of his career when he had lost a bit of his legs. Aside from that, the only time I can remember on the top of my head, is Forsberg going through his legs and then roofing it.

Having said that.

This was against lesser players. The level of play today is simply at a higher overall level - and Hedman is hands down the best defenceman alive today, and has been for a few years.

In my eyes, ge means more to Tampa than both Kucherov or Point.

Heck, you could almost swap "or" with "and".

Almost.

Lidstrom played a consistently flawless (more/less) game. But he really didn't dominate all that often. Right now Hedman is doing both.

Again, I'm not saying Hedman is the better player. I'm just saying what we're seeing from him right now, as in 19 games, is very rare, and something Lidstrom never did.

 

[KuchieKooRov]

I see your point and understand where you're coming from.

BUT.

What Nick did wasn't as visible, in terms of dominance.

Like some colorman said so perfectly in a game (not sure when, but probably early 2000s). Other teams often didn't even bother trying to go for a zone entry when he was on the ice, if they weren't at the start of their shift. They just dumped the puck, went for a change, instead of risking losing the puck and him setting teammates up with his insane tape to tape passes.

And I've never seen anyone break up more 2 vs 1s, keep more pucks inside the blue line, play himself out of rough situations, make less mistakes or let someone make him look silly.

It happened a few times at the end of his career when he had lost a bit of his legs. Aside from that, the only time I can remember on the top of my head, is Forsberg going through his legs and then roofing it.

Having said that.

This was against lesser players. The level of play today is simply at a higher overall level - and Hedman is hands down the best defenceman alive today, and has been for a few years.

In my eyes, ge means more to Tampa than both Kucherov or Point.

Heck, you could almost swap "or" with "and".

Almost.

100% agree with what he means to this team. He is our MVP in my eyes.

I like that Hedman said we needed more scoring with stamkos absence so he goes out and pots 10 so far. Total boss!

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

 

[Boxscore]

View attachment 368806

Ray Bourque--over 400 goals--my goodness. Hedman is like the Swedish Larry Robinson... stud.

 

[dbieon12]

Did not have his best game tonight. Hopefully that doesn't carry over tomorrow.

 

[LightningStrikes]

If he plays like this tonight and we still win, we might see Point pick up the Smythe in his place.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I think Hedman is a better dman that lids.

 

[Hoek]

If he plays like this tonight and we still win, we might see Point pick up the Smythe in his place.

Hopefully that was just the last bad game out of his system.

 

[KuchieKooRov]

Last night was just an odd game. Lots of weird bounces for both teams.

 

[The Gongshow]

If he plays like this tonight and we still win, we might see Point pick up the Smythe in his place.

It keeps flip flopping! Both have been playing so well. I think Heddy still has the slight edge right now

 

[The Gongshow]

Edit - Wrong thread.

Victor Hedman is a god, nothing to see here

 

[dbieon12]

O Captain! My Captain!

Stamkos no longer has a valid claim to the 'C' on his sweater. Take it by force, blood, sweat, and tears, if necessary.

 

[PJ817]

Stamkos no longer has a valid claim to the 'C' on his sweater. Take it by force, blood, sweat, and tears, if necessary.

If indeed, Stammer is done, Heddy will be given the "C" without any questions asked. And I gotta think, knowing the friendship between them, Stammer would put it on Heddy with a smile... whilst the rest of us grabbed our kleenex and trashed the damn onion

 

[Boxscore]

If indeed, Stammer is done, Heddy will be given the "C" without any questions asked. And I gotta think, knowing the friendship between them, Stammer would put it on Heddy with a smile... whilst the rest of us grabbed our kleenex and trashed the damn onion

Hedman is the anchor of the Lightning, no questions asked.

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

Conn Smythe 2020! Well deserved!

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

You know, two players have worn #77 for this franchise. The first one was a very notable guy, played three different stints here. Chris Gratton.

The second is Victor Hedman. He'll be the last to wear it, too.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

You know, two players have worn #77 for this franchise. The first one was a very notable guy, played three different stints here. Chris Gratton.

The second is Victor Hedman. He'll be the last to wear it, too.

Yep. When all's said and done - Norris, Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, and he'll have all the Lightning dman records. He's far from retiring, but when he does, 77 will go to the rafters.

 

[JoVel]

Remember when Hedman got hurt in the round robins? We really dodged a bullet there. The gap between a Cup win and a first round exit was not that huge this year.

 

[Stormbreaker]

The legend grows.