Who are the 3 or 4 players in the mix for the Norris right now?

Dash wrote:Volchenkov! All time NHL leader in blocked shots. He is the epitome of defenceman.

He just doesn't bring the offence to be considered. There should be a defensive D-man award.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:Volchenkov! All time NHL leader in blocked shots. He is the epitome of defenceman.

He just doesn't bring the offence to be considered. There should be a defensive D-man award.

He's not even the best defensive defenseman on this team to be honest.

PKC wrote:
He's not even the best defensive defenseman on this team to be honest.

Oh...that's so highly debatable. He is in my mind - by a fair margin.

marakh wrote:Numbers are important. I'm not a big fan of Mike Green, but his stats and +/- are crazy. Same for Duncan Keith.

Keith, Boyle, and Green.

Green's on basically the same statistical points pace as he was last year, but he's "only" on pace to score 18 goals instead of his mark of 31 last season.

I don't know how much his goal totals played into his selection last season, but this would appear to be a "worse" season.

SpezDispenser wrote:

PKC wrote:
He's not even the best defensive defenseman on this team to be honest.

Oh...that's so highly debatable. He is in my mind - by a fair margin.

Phillips is far superior defensively. I'm sorry to say it, but Volchenkov rides off the coattails of Phillips. He's far superior positionally, is better offensively, is faster, stronger and reads the play better than Volchenkov.

While Volchenkov has mastered the technique of blocking shots, it should be noted that Phillips uses superior defensive positioning to angle off shooters and deflect pucks into safe zones.

Yeah Philips is a better player than VOlchie, not even close IMO.

PKC wrote:
Phillips is far superior defensively. I'm sorry to say it, but Volchenkov rides off the coattails of Phillips. He's far superior positionally, is better offensively, is faster, stronger and reads the play better than Volchenkov.

While Volchenkov has mastered the technique of blocking shots, it should be noted that Phillips uses superior defensive positioning to angle off shooters and deflect pucks into safe zones.

Again, IMO, this is highly debatable. Believe me, I know what you mean, this is the Phillips I thought we'd have last year, he's come back a long way - and so has the team. I'm certainly not ready to say that Phillips is a better D-man, but he's definitely quicker, has a better pass and sees way more rubber because teams are staying away from Volchenkov's side of the ice, so perhaps it's closer than I originally admitted to.

But in all honesty and fairness, they SHOULD have two awards for defenceman - one for the most offensive and one for the most defensive.

And they really should rename the old awards.

Dash wrote:But in all honesty and fairness, they SHOULD have two awards for defenceman - one for the most offensive and one for the most defensive.

And they really should rename the old awards.

Absolutely, I wasn't kidding, there should be a defensive D-man award. Call it the Scott Stevens Trophy. Whatever..

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:But in all honesty and fairness, they SHOULD have two awards for defenceman - one for the most offensive and one for the most defensive.

And they really should rename the old awards.

Absolutely, I wasn't kidding, there should be a defensive D-man award. Call it the Scott Stevens Trophy. Whatever..

That would be almost as offensive as the Lay's Mark Messier Trophy for Outstanding Leadership, powered by Pepsi.

Scott Stevens, my Donkey.

SeawaySensFan wrote:That would be almost as offensive as the Lay's Mark Messier Trophy for Outstanding Leadership, powered by Pepsi.

Scott Stevens, my Donkey.

Okay, whatever, call it something else.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:That would be almost as offensive as the Lay's Mark Messier Trophy for Outstanding Leadership, powered by Pepsi.

Scott Stevens, my Donkey.

Okay, whatever, call it something else.

Not up to me. Probably that fool, Bettman, would call it exactly that.

Lidstrom is picking up a lot of steam as well recently, he shouldn't be discounted from at least being a nominee.

SpezDispenser wrote:Lidstrom is picking up a lot of steam as well recently, he shouldn't be discounted from at least being a nominee.

If Lidstrom is nominated, he wins. That's how these awards work.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Lidstrom is picking up a lot of steam as well recently, he shouldn't be discounted from at least being a nominee.

If Lidstrom is nominated, he wins. That's how these awards work.

Why do you say that? He lost vs Chara, there's a lot more here than just handing the award over now that there are such a lot of good broadcasters/sports writers voting. I think Lidstrom could be a PPG man until the end and still be beaten by Keith. Keith is the cog that makes the Chicago game run. He's on pace for 70 points, is really good in his own end and can dictate the tempo of a game.

I think Keith has basically got his in the bag, however, I do think Lidstrom's name should be back in the running for at least a nomination.