Datsyuk for me, takeaway leader pretty much every season. I'd even put Mark Stone over Bergeron if he continues like this.

How quickly we've forgotten about John Scott.

Bergeron is fantastic but get a grip. I don't really remember Gainey playing but at least in my adult life it's Pavel Datsyuk and it's not even close.

Fedorov..... pretty sure Scotty Bowman knows a bit about hockey and he had no doubt he could put one of the leagues best forwards on an injury riddled defense and he would not only fill in but perform with excellence, Wayne and Mario and Stevie have gone on about this as well... complete all around hockey player..no offense to Bergeron or any others mentioned, all great... Datsyuk may be the most entertaining player I've seen and his theft of the puck on ice was incredible, still have to say Fedorov

Didn’t deserve any of it.
- TurdFergeson

Dummy

Crosby is better defensively.
- Grinder47

That’s cute

How quickly we've forgotten about John Scott.

Bergeron is fantastic but get a grip. I don't really remember Gainey playing but at least in my adult life it's Pavel Datsyuk and it's not even close.
- glove_was_stuck

As much as I loved Datsyuk, I'd take Fedorov over him. He was just better. I'm very happy both players were Red Wings. 🙂

These "rankings" are always difficult, there are so many factors to consider...but I'll play.

I think I'd rather have Datsyuk on my team, and then probably Federov. Bergeron is right there with those two however.

Carbonneau, Gainey, Clarke, etc...there were some great defensive fwds, but the additional offense provided by Datsyuk and Federov puts them over the top in my book.

Also, Carbonneau played TERRIBLE defense trying to keep Morrow's puck out of his daughter's net. His biggest -1. lol

Everytime i see a comment from Feds91Stammer my head hurts. Seriously do you not have anything better to do than troll comments on here. Or are you seriously that stupid? We come here for decent, informed, reasonable debates, and you feel the need to add your crap. Yes there's those with the sarcastic post, but know how to carry themselves in doing that. I absolutely love every comment Kooleus ever makes. You though are either a troll, or seriously are in need of professional help. Your spare parts bud.
- mplackitt

Dude look at his name...Feds91Stammer. He's not trolling here, he means it.

And I agree with him 100% on Fedorov. Probably the most underrated player ever.

I watched nearly every game of Fedorov's career. One little detail that most people never think of was something he did on the PK. If the puck ever touched his stick it would be out of the zone. It was never intercepted, held at the line by the d-man, tied up for a faceoff. It was never flubbed. If Sergei got to a puck, it was 200 feet down the ice a moment later. It's just a little thing. But I've never seen anyone so consistently good at that. If it's game 7 with a minute left and I'm trying to hold a 1-goal lead, I'm picking Fedorov over Bergeron, Datsyuk, Stone, Kopitar...

Everytime i see a comment from Feds91Stammer my head hurts. Seriously do you not have anything better to do than troll comments on here. Or are you seriously that stupid? We come here for decent, informed, reasonable debates, and you feel the need to add your crap. Yes there's those with the sarcastic post, but know how to carry themselves in doing that. I absolutely love every comment Kooleus ever makes. You though are either a troll, or seriously are in need of professional help. Your spare parts bud.
- mplackitt

Wut

one of the best? As in top 25? top 50 maybe. But this award is given out based on reputation so the nomination part is a popularity context.

Datsyuk says hi.

Wut
- Feds91Stammer

Ow my head

Everytime i see a comment from Feds91Stammer my head hurts. Seriously do you not have anything better to do than troll comments on here. Or are you seriously that stupid? We come here for decent, informed, reasonable debates, and you feel the need to add your crap. Yes there's those with the sarcastic post, but know how to carry themselves in doing that. I absolutely love every comment Kooleus ever makes. You though are either a troll, or seriously are in need of professional help. Your spare parts bud.
- mplackitt

...all he said was "Fedorov and it isn’t close." To which I agree and disagree. I do think its Fedorov...but some are close...

He's no Bobby Carpenter....

A couple of other things. For those fans who just started watching hockey 10-15 years ago and are slow to understand the sport, then they missed most of Fedorov's career. And obviously wouldn't even know who someone like Bob Gainey was. Then, if they don't watch the West then they've missed Datsyuk's greatness. So naturally it comes down to Bergeron versus, probably Couterier. Hi kids.

...all he said was "Fedorov and it isn’t close." To which I agree and disagree. I do think its Fedorov...but some are close...
- MattStrat

Welly you can make an argument for several players. Guys like Fedorov, Datsyuk, Clarke, and Bergeron give you the complete package of elite defensive play with still being huge offensive contributors. Then you have guys like Gainey and Carbonneau who, while they weren't absent of offensive talent, were more widely know strictly for their defensive play.

I'd say you can make and argument for any of them, but I'd go with Fedorov if I have to win one game because I could play him in any situation (even as a defenseman) and he'll handle it flawlessly.

What's a Selkie? That is all.
- Kooleus

A Selkie is a typo of a Selke - you can't fill in the blanks?

Dude look at his name...Feds91Stammer. He's not trolling here, he means it.

And I agree with him 100% on Fedorov. Probably the most underrated player ever.
- jmatchett383

How do you figure Fedorov was (most) underated?

He has a decent number of NHL awards, so it's not like he wasn't recognized.

How do you figure Fedorov was (most) underated?

He has a decent number of NHL awards, so it's not like he wasn't recognized.
- Nasty_Duck

Well, Fedorov never won a Selkie...

I think if you are talking defensive forwards then there have been better.
Guys that come to mind are Carbonneau, Gainey, Otto, Draper, Provost, Keon, Clarke and so much more. However, the above mentioned were just that, defensive forwards who would chip in offensively.

Bergeron however is a truly gifted offensive forward who is equal good defensively. He may very well be the best ever however there are names like Fedorov, Yzerman, Forsberg, Datsyuk, Brind'amour, Messier, Modano who excelled at both ends of the rink as well.

Datsyuk for me, takeaway leader pretty much every season. I'd even put Mark Stone over Bergeron if he continues like this.
- porkchops1977

Datsyuk was great defensively but it was Zetterberg who got the defensive assignments.

Ow my head
- eichiefs9

Well, Fedorov never won a Selkie...
- Kooleus

Selke was unbelievable defensively. He was so good that the best coach in the NHL literally converted him to a defenseman for a period of 1 season. problem is that he was overshadowed because of Stevie Y, Draper, who were also excellent in their own zone.

I agree that people may forget how good Fedorov really was however as much as i liked him, the defensive assignment was split between 3. Bergeron gets the nod for me over those 2.

Well, Fedorov never won a Selkie...
- Kooleus

I thought he won a Selkie and a Heart in the same season?