this is quite the load of crap
- jimbro83

Then I don't know what to tell you.

The funny thing to me is Tanner's description of Hedman. Do you remember your whole rant against Duchene?
- Blackstrom2

Sort of. That he's over rated ?

this is quite the load of crap
- jimbro83

well Lindholm is better overall, its not that hard to see that

Sort of. That he's over rated ?
- sbroads24

How dare you

go on....
- DDM-Coga

Kadri is better than Duchene, and deserved the Hart last year.

RE: The guy who says no one had PK on their list last year:


I had him #4 (EK, OEL, Doughty, PK, Hedman was my previous order).

RE: J Machette

I agree, it is an opinion - as I clearly said. The only thing that isn't debatable is who is number one.

As for trading PK, I guess I should have specified deferencemen only. It was in reference to the Weber trade and I guess I figured that was sort of implied.
- James_Tanner

When Karlsson learns how to defend he can start to be in the conversation for being a top dman.

Until then, your opinion is not only wrong, it's horrible.

What's a sabres fan doing here? Sorry Franson didn't make the cut. Run along now back to garfs corner.
- maxbart5

I donn't read Garths blog. Franson is terrible.. I'm sorry did I even mention anything about the Sabres?

First of all, I deeply hate you more every day my friend.

Secondly, I stand by my opinion but completely understand people disagreeing...
- Scabeh

How dare you
- DDM-Coga

Well he's certainly no Jack Eichel a.k.a NHL MVP 2024-25

Kadri is better than Duchene, and deserved the Hart last year.
- Blackstrom2

Oh tamsy, gotta love him. I remember saying he stinks bc he never scored 30 goals before.

RE: J Machette

I agree, it is an opinion - as I clearly said. The only thing that isn't debatable is who is number one.

As for trading PK, I guess I should have specified deferencemen only. It was in reference to the Weber trade and I guess I figured that was sort of implied.
- James_Tanner

"1. Erik Karlsson.

This isn't an opinion"

According to Jaeckel, it is debatable, and he's not even a top 2.

I do agree that he is #1, but I can understand people having reasons (personal bias, different ways of quantifying who is the best, preference of a certain style of play, etc.) for having a different take. He's clearly a great player though.

Sort of. That he's over rated ?
- sbroads24

it's more so the fact that others aren't allowed to bring up things like Roy (frank)ing sucks and has no idea what he is doing, but OEL gets a pass for playing on a team that (frank)ing sucks. All COL players shot suppression sucks because Roy.

It's not that he sucks so much as him being the only one of four to list him, and saying that he's either the best or second best in the league. He's still a great defenseman, but I personally wouldn't say he's a top-2.
- jmatchett383

Duncan keith is still good, but if he's still cracking the top ten it's near the bottom because in addition to the five guys I listed, there is Muzzin, Doughty, Letang, Vlasic and Burns who are all superior.


He just isn't as effective as he was several years ago, which should surprise no one as he is 33.

Well he's certainly no Jack Eichel a.k.a NHL MVP 2024-25
- bulet13

He doesnt have the biceps of Eichel according to Garth. No one has ever been as ripped in the history of the world as Eichel is if you read garths blog

well Lindholm is better overall, its not that hard to see that
- DDM-Coga

this is one of those "he was drafted 6th overall so that automatically makes him great" things

Well he's certainly no Jack Eichel a.k.a NHL MVP 2024-25
- bulet13

Hey now, that is certainly possible.

1. Adam Larsson
2. Adam Larsson
3. Adam Larsson
4. Adam Larsson
5. Adam Larsson

did I do it right?

this is one of those "he was drafted 6th overall so that automatically makes him great" things
- jimbro83

no this is I watch the Avs destroy the Stars and Klingberg almost every season and watch Lindholm shut down the Avs offense sort of thing.

When Karlsson learns how to defend he can start to be in the conversation for being a top dman.

Until then, your opinion is not only wrong, it's horrible.
- prock

Karlsson's "lack of defense" hasn't carried any weight since about 2011. At worst he's average defensively. He's not some shutdown defender who runs around throwing booming checks, but his defensive positioning, decision-making, and sticks skills are average or above average. Combined with his offensive abilities, he's much closer to Brian Leetch than Paul Coffey.

These things become so predictable

Tanner leaves off Doughty, Jason Lewis has him at 2.

How could this possibly be, from 2 stat guys. Do you not get the same iron clad info? Or is there clearly, bias/eye test that you two would blast others for?
- sbroads24

This shouldn't be surprising. I'd put Doughty at #7. Do you know how much difference there is between the second best and the seventh best NHL defenseman? Barely any.

The NHL is made up of the best of the best of the best. And the difference between non-elite players and players who are career AHLers is infinitesimally small.

The difference between Doughty's stats and say OEL's are basically nothing. It comes down to the fact that OEL is my favorite player and Doughty is probably Jay's.

Here is my ranking:
1- Karlsson
2- Subban
3- Hedman
4- Doughty
5- Ekblad
6- Ekman-Larsson
7- Keith
8- Letang
9- Josi
10- Muzzin

no this is I watch the Avs destroy the Stars and Klingberg almost every season and watch Lindholm shut down the Avs offense sort of thing.
- DDM-Coga

yes, both Lindholm and Klingberg have been in the league for years and years, it's crazy

Duncan keith is still good, but if he's still cracking the top ten it's near the bottom because in addition to the five guys I listed, there is Muzzin, Doughty, Letang, Vlasic and Burns who are all superior.


He just isn't as effective as he was several years ago, which should surprise no one as he is 33.
- James_Tanner

I would agree. I'd put him in the 8-12 range. Although I'd take him over Vlasic and Burns, but that's just personal take.

But at the same time, it is funny that JJ, while he is clearly critical of the Hawks on his main blog, always manages to include a questionable/debatable Hawk in every one of these that he takes part in. So I can understand someone calling it "a shocker" that he included Keith, although it carries some merit.
- jmatchett383

2 Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe in the last 6 years...there's nothing questionable or shocking about putting him on a top 5 Dman list. It's absurd not to have him on the list!