Lidstrom/By S. Bradley
As far as historic NHL awards, Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is just going to have to be satisfied with the Stanley Cup.
And I’m sure the Boston captain is quite content.
Voters from the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association voted Detroit blueliner Nicklas Lidstrom as winner of the Norris Trophy as best defenseman, it was announced during tonight’s NHL Awards show in Las Vegas.
Lidstrom has now won the Norris seven times.
Chara, who finished third behind Lidstrom and Nashville’s Shea Weber, won the Norris in 2009 and has now been nominated three times.
Later in the night, Chara, who finished 13th in the Hart (MVP) voting, won the Mark Messier Leadership Award (which is picked by Messier) and then he was named as Second Team All-Star.
Gord,
Taking a look at the stats you put up, Brian Campbell is second overall in relative plus minus, offense is WAAY more heavily weighted than defense and even then there appears to be some sort of breakdown because McQuaid (who I really, really like) is pretty high up in many categories despite playing limited minutes and mostly in relatively easy situations. Something doesn’t quite fit for me. I also strongly disagree with a heavier weighting of offensive statistics over defensive play, which is what these statistics base ranking off of. You also have to recognize that Weber and Chara are playing on less offensively talented teams, so points are harder to come by for either of them, and I would think that since Weber has to defend against the very talented Detroit offense 6 times a year, he would have to face the toughest offense if we were to assume that the top guns in the west are in fact better than those in the east, which I’m not convinced of, but that is a looong and convoluted argument best left for another time. But for this, I just don’t think Lidstrom was the shutdown defender he has been in the past this season.
Gord, I understand that the Norris isn’t given to the defenseman with the best +/-, but the guy should at least have a superior defensive element to his game (during said season) to challenge. You point out his offensive proficiency (granted), but I think his defensive game this season was VERY suspect. Here is a guy that QB’d the league’s 5th ranked PP, while the ‘Wings also finished second in total goals. He better have the offensive numbers, but to still be a -2 is really telling. On the Islanders maybe, but Detroit?!
This is not to take away from the defensive season’s he’s had, but in considering the ’10/’11 Norris results, I feel they got it wrong. The voters placed too much emphasis on offensive stats. There needs to be a Selke for defenseman. The award given to the league’s “Best Offensive Defenseman”.
Surprisingly Lidstrom is not the first to win the Norris while being a minus. Rob Blake was a -3 in 97/98 when he took home the hardware.
To contribute the the all-time argument, I don’t even have Lidstrom in my top-5. I’d have Orr, Harvey, Shore and Bourque certainly ahead of him and I believe Potvin and Robinson would have something to say as well.
@David – If Visnovski had been nominated I’d agree with you but based on the 3 nominees available, I still think the NHL got it right.
You mentioned him facing the same scorers as Weber but that’s not entirely true, based on these stats Lidstrom faced the toughest opposition of all the defenceman in the NHL.
Chara isn’t in the top 20 and Weber not even in the top 30, and Visnovsky was around 40.
http://www.behindthenet.ca/index.php
David, Gord and Georges should be on next years’ committee. Keep it up guys, Marvelous Insightful Three.
If John Ferguson had a trophee to his name, Chara would have it renamed to his.
Whatever. Bigger travesty was Bergy not being a Selke finalist.
Dr. Peter,
Really, really poor statement. I’d personally rank him as #2 alltime because he is that good. This year, in the twilight of his career, he still put up 60 points and was still facing down the same scorers as Shea Weber. He didn’t do as good a job defensively as one would have liked, but for who he was facing, he is still far better than an above average defender. You also have to remember he plays in a free-flowing system that isn’t particularly kind to defenseman and their ability to shut players down.
That said, Visnovsky also played in a similar system and managed a respectable plus-minus while leading all defenseman in scoring. He really should have been on there this year as opposed to Lidstrom, because while Lidstrom is still a top 5 defender in this league, I would say he was not the best this year. I guess I’m bummed it was turned into a lifetime achievement award, or at the very least, and award for a HOF, top 3 All-time defender who is still really good over 40.
Sorry Gord,
the NHL didn’t get it right. In a number of ways.
Georges, you’re right about Visnovsky. How the hell did that guy slipped through the cracks. Thanks for the reminder cuz I had forgotten about him as well. Shame on me. Shame on the selection committee. He should have won it.
The Bruins won The Cup. Everything else is like winning Miss Congeniality…
Chara was the best defensman in the NHL this year, the facts speak for themselves. He shut down the top scorer on the other team night in and night out. Ask the Sedin’s, I would bet they pick Chara. It was great watching him all year and I am sure the Stanley Cup will keep a smile on his face all Summer.
I think Weber and Chara were deserving. I think Lidstrom, while a solid defenseman didn’t based on his 2010-2011 season. This year the Norris was turned into lifetime achievement rather than who was actually the best defenseman.
The Norris trophy isn’t handed out the the defenseman with the best +/-, nor is it for the best “Defensive” defenceman. It is for the defenceman who exhibits the best all around skill at the position. Lidstrom led the nominee’s in scoring by almost 20 pts and didn’t have a vezina nominated goalie backing him up.
The NHL got it right.
Also to Dr. Peter, you have the right to your opinion but in most peoples minds, mine included, Niklas Lidstrom is the 2nd best defenceman to ever play the game. To say he’s only slightly above average defensively is one of the more ridiculous statements I’ve ever read. Defensively he’s the best that’s ever played the position (with the possible exception of Doug Harvey)
I figured Weber would have been the better pick…
Dr. Peter, Lidstrom is a great defenseman and belongs up there with the all time greats (somewhere behind Orr, miles ahead of Coffey).
It might be sacriledge here but I’d put him on level with Bourque.
I agree Joe!… Plus, Lidstrom has no physical aspect to his game, is a minus player, and is only slightly above average defensively. Can anyone tell me why this somewhat over-rated and massively popular player has won more Norrises than Bourque, Robinson, or the dynamic Coffey?
Does Lidstrom really need a lifetime achievement award? Its not like this guy has been stuck in a bad hockey market or on a terrible team all his career; he’s a well known, very much appreciated future-HOF talent. I just didn’t think it was one of his better seasons, and his competition was more than worthy.
Maybe the NHL doesn’t want Weber to get his due so he’ll take a slightly (and I do mean slightly) smaller payday from NSH and save that franchise from falling like the rest of the Southern Expansions. Though I don’t think we have to worry about a stud organization like the Preds crumbling like a Florida, Phoenix, or Atlanta (RIP…again.)
I posted months ago Lidstrom would win it even if someone else was more deserving. I think Visnovsky should have nominated over Lidstrom but that’s only an opinion from someone who primarily watches the eastern conference. Lifetime achievement award no doubt. Just from watching the playoffs this year I think Weber has a really bright future, especially if Nashville can get him some help.
I like Lidstrom, but I don’t see how you can give the Norris to a defenseman who had a negative plus-minus for the season on a good team like the Red Wings.
AARP must have been lobbying hard!
lmao
It seemed to have been a lifetime achievement award this year. I thought Weber deserved to win it.