Was Scott Stevens a No.1 defenseman?

[TheBigTicket]

was scott stevens a true number 1 defenseman? or was he a no.2 that got overrated cause he played with scott neidermeyer?

trying to settle a bar bet.

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[TheDevilMadeMe]

oh my god, is Scott Niedermayer's tenure with the Devils overrated or what?

 

[Trottier]

Surely you jest.

One thing is certain: whoever it was at the bar even mildly suggested that Scott Stevens was anything other than an elite #1 dman on a multi-Cup winning team clearly had too much to drink.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

Definitely.

Awards and achievements

1983- NHL All-Rookie Team
1988- NHL First All-Star Team
1992- NHL Second All-Star Team
1994- NHL First All-Star Team
1994- Alka-Seltzer Plus/Minus Award
1995- Stanley Cup Champions (New Jersey)
1997- NHL Second All-Star Team
2000- Stanley Cup Champions (New Jersey)
2000- Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)
2001- NHL Second All-Star Team
2003- Stanley Cup Champions (New Jersey)
Played in thirteen NHL All-Star Games in 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003

 

[TasteofFlames]

Hell, I thought Stevens played mostly with Daneyko, not Niedermayer. I seem to remember Nieds playing on the 2nd pair while Stevens was still around. Could be completely mistaken though.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Hell, I thought Stevens played mostly with Daneyko, not Niedermayer. I seem to remember Nieds playing on the 2nd pair while Stevens was still around. Could be completely mistaken though.

In the 1995 playoffs, Stevens played mostly with Shawn Chambers, though he did play with Daneyko against Eric Lindros. Afterward Chambers left the team, he sometimes played with Tommy Albelein, and sometimes played with whatever rookie they wanted to integrate into the lineup. The latest rookie to be integrated into the lineup was Brian Rafalski in 2000, and the pair stuck and were regular partners until Stevens retired.

Scott Niedermayer usually played with Ken Daneyko on the second pairing. They covered up each other's weaknesses perfectly - Daneyko was tough and slow, Niedermayer was fast and soft. When Daneyko went into serious decline sometime around 2002, Niedermayer played with Colin White.

 

[norrisnick]

The inverse would make a more plausible argument... is Niedermayer a true #1 or just a solid #2 that had Stevens and Pronger with him.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Scott Stevens was an impact player who could change the tempo of the game. He required opposing players to always be aware of where he was and what he was doing.

That is a #1.

 

[mco543]

Scott Niedermayer might end up the most overrated player in the history of the league at this rate.

 

[TasteofFlames]

In the 1995 playoffs, Stevens played mostly with Shawn Chambers, though he did play with Daneyko against Eric Lindros. Afterward Chambers left the team, he sometimes played with Tommy Albelein, and sometimes played with whatever rookie they wanted to integrate into the lineup. The latest rookie to be integrated into the lineup was Brian Rafalski in 2000, and the pair stuck and were regular partners until Stevens retired.

Scott Niedermayer usually played with Ken Daneyko on the second pairing. They covered up each other's weaknesses perfectly - Daneyko was tough and slow, Niedermayer was fast and soft. When Daneyko went into serious decline sometime around 2002, Niedermayer played with Colin White.

Ah, ok. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Epsilon]

Scott Niedermayer might end up the most overrated player in the history of the league at this rate.

He's already close among casual fans and/or people have little respect/appreciation for history (like Pierre McGuire). Other contenders include Lindros, Forsberg, Bure, and Francis.

 

[Ilya Zubrus*]

Stevens > Nidermayer.

End of story.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Asked and answered.