Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I think people are underestimating how difficult it is to find true stud d-men. Guys who play 28 minutes a night in the playoffs and shut down the top forwards in the league while contributing on the powerplay. They don't grow on trees. There are maybe eight of them in the NHL. You usually need one to win the Cup. Keith. Doughty. Chara. Pronger. Lidstrom..
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Keith-54th overall
Toews-3rd overall, Conn Smythe
Doughty-2nd overall
Kopitar-11th overall
Chara-UFA
Krejci-63rd overall
Bergeron-45th overall
Pronger-Trade
Niedermayer-UFA, Conn Smythe
Beauchemin-Trade
Getzlaf-19th overall
Lidstrom-53rd overall
Datsyuk-171st overall
Zetterberg-210th overall, Conn Smythe
Gonchar-UFA
Crosby-1st overall
Malkin-2nd overall, Conn Smythe
Hedican-Trade
A. Ward-Trade
Staal-2nd overall
I think there's room to argue which is the more important position. Malkin and Crosby were far more important than Gonchar, as was Staal more important than Ward and Hedican (although all of them less than Cam Ward). Pronger, Niedermayer and even Beauchemin (played over 30 minutes a night, more than both the other defenseman) were more important than the young Getzlaf. I think the others you can start making legitimate cases for both sides even if they lean one way or another (Chara for the Bruins, Toews for the Hawks etc.).
But, at least based on the Stanley Cup winners since the lockout, it's far more likely to acquire that game-breaking defenseman through trade or UFA than it is grabbing that top line center. And outside of Doughty, the other elite defenseman drafted by the original teams were later picks. Whereas Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Toews and Kopitar were taken in the first half of the first round.
I think you got to look at it on an individual basis but recent history would seem to suggest the center might be the way to go all us equal.