NHL.com Poll
By tjhtommyj
@tjhtommyj (261)
Canada
April 2, 2009 2:08pm CST
I saw this poll on NHL.com and thought it would make for some good hockey discussions. In light of Mike Green becoming just the 8th defenseman in NHL history to record 30 goals in a season last night, what accomplishment is most difficult to achieve in a season? 10 shutouts by a goalie, 30 goals by a defenseman, 40 wins by a goalie, 50 goals by a forward or 50 assists for a defenseman?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@jaredlp (418)
• United States
13 Apr 09
I know this first part is a little off topic but.... a friend and I where comparing Green and Zetterberg the other day. Came to the conculsion they are same type player just one was told be a defenseman other told be a center. I bet Green could learn to be a good center....
That said... i debated this question for several days.
Im really not sure which I pick.
Kippers doesnt impress me much just because of his winning percentage.. he just played all but a handfull of games and won less then 60% of them...
Ovies 50 goals is cool but agian a player of his caliber... gimme 60 please
10 Shutouts.. well if it wasnt for being a hitchcock coached team we would be saying Mason and meaning the one in STL.. I think Leclaire will be exposed next year in ott and if mason ever goes elsewhere he will be too.. to me all the credit for Columbus deserves to go to Hitchcock, my pick for Adams... though doubt it...
50 assist by a d man... and 30 goals is whats left then.. I could see Green next season belonging to both groups.. 30 goals is my pick, though hardest over all ever i think is 50 in 50. To me that will always be the standard for true greatness..
@jaredlp (418)
• United States
14 Apr 09
I agree.. there is not many pure scores left.. But look at OVIE he is called selfish for shooting so much, I say if he thinks he has a shot take it.
side note, do you think Gabby will stay in minny now that coach left, or do you think that was too little too late and he is already asking for a deal in say Denver...
@tjhtommyj (261)
• Canada
14 Apr 09
Gaborik is a free man. He'll have all 30 teams (Minnesota included) interested in his services. I don't see Colorado as a nice fit for him but I do think he will be leaving Minnesota, unless they can bring in a coach that is willing to open up the offense a little bit before July 1. Right now he's rolling the dice as to which coach he receives if he resigns in Minnesota. He knows he can get the money, so now he gets to choose where is the best fit for him and his abilities as well as the best chance to win. I look at Boston or Pittsburgh as real posibilities (cap room permitted) for someone like Gaborik. I know neither of those teams really have the space (though Boston should be clearing some in the goaltender department) so I would look a little deeper and start to consider Montreal or Washington. If Detroit can't resign Hossa (and they are desperately trying to) than they may look towards Gaborik as well. It's a total crapshoot at this point though I think the picture will become much clearer on July 1 when free agency opens
@tjhtommyj (261)
• Canada
14 Apr 09
I can't argue with that. Though I think Claude Julien will receive the Jack Adams honours this year, I would be beyond amazed at the sight of anther 50 in 50. The only person in today's NHL I can see even coming close to doing that is Marion Gaborik on an offensive team. I mean already the guy scored 12 goals in just 17 games this season and he played hurt through most of them. And he did it on a Minnesota team that is regarded as one of the most boring and defensive teams in the league. Imagine if he had free reign on a team like Boston. Him or Ovechkin would be the only shot I think we have at seeing it in today's NHL and I don't see them coming close any time soon.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
2 Apr 09
The 10 shutouts. with all the restrictions on defensemen allows the scorers free range. Don't get me wrong, I love that ovie has 54 goals to date but a strong D is good to see.A goalie acan only do so much.These days a shutout is rare. Goals are niot too hard to get these days. A goalie gets help to win and it all depends on the team not just him so 40 can happen.But 10 shutouts/ I don't think so , not anymore.
@tjhtommyj (261)
• Canada
4 Apr 09
See the thing is, every one of those milestones have been reached this season. Ovechkin has 50 plus goals, Kipper has 40 plus wins, Markov has 50 plus assists as a defenceman (and Rafalski could join him by season's end) and rookie, Steve Mason has 10 shutouts. So for me I would think you would have to go with the one that's only been accomplished by 7 other people in the NHL. Scoring is up, and there is more emphasis on the defenceman's ability to score goals but even so, Mike Green is a rare breed. He has 30 and only two others have over 20 (they have 21 each). And Green had missed time this season but based on his league average, had he played the entire season he may have hit 40...making it that much more remarkable. All of which are spectacular milestones, but when looking at them individually, I would lean more towards scoring 30 goals as a defenceman.
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@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Apr 09
See how much I know about teams other than The Red Wings and The Caps this season! Congrads to the rookie. That's fantastic. I guess my only reason is that I focus on the last line of defense , the goalie and not the defenseman.It is sad . You are correc, when will another defenseman break this record?
@tjhtommyj (261)
• Canada
14 Apr 09
Don't worry about it, it's not a matter of not following. The goaltending position is the most pressure filled position in the game today. There's no doubt about it. Aside from maybe the coach, they are blamed for the loss and considered to be doing their job when they win. It's never good enough, it's never specacular and with the exception of a few there seems to be a revolving door of goaltenders nowadays with the offense on the rise. It is remarkable to see 10 shutouts in a season by goaltender. It's an accomplishment that I hope Mason cherishes and never forgets, especially considering the pressure he is under on a game by game basis. You have a very valid argument.
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