Niklas Kronwall

[Stiffy 0]

Kronner has more than occasional flashes of brilliance in his game, no doubt about it. His mistakes seem more pronounced and more painful than most though. I'd like to see him be smarter about penalties and step up with on ice leadership when we are in close scoring situations.

As to all these ranking arguments, what is the point? How about this.

Godzilla was the #1 monster. No doubt about it. Think otherwise? Try me, just try me.

[Red Crazy 201]

Because Kronwall is better, younger, and cheaper than Souray?

I will give you younger and cheaper but better......no not a chance. I have been a fan of Sourays for awhile and would love to see him in Detroit. His shot and his toughness would be welcomed.

[eva unit zero 271]

Ypu picked a weak defensive division to poach.

He's not even third on our team, and I'd vote him at fourth behind Stuart. But anyway. Top 20... that means on average he's a number one defensman. I don;t think he's a first line d-man, let alone number one... and I love the guy.

But really. Top 20? You think we have three of the top 20 d-men in Detroit, or did Rafs get ignored?

Let's break this down by division, looking at each Western conference division's top ten defensemen (in no order) with at least one rep from each team included in that ten. Then, that will be followed up with a breakdown into who the top-20 defensemen in the conference are based on those lists, in no order.

Central: Keith, Campbell, Barker, Hejda, Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Weber, Suter, Jackman

Northwest: Phaneuf, Aucoin, Regher, Liles, Visnovsky, Souray, Burns, Zidlicky, Ohlund, Bieksa

Pacific: Niedermayer, Pronger, Whitney, Beauchemin, Zubov, Robidas, Quincey, Doughty, Jovanovski, Boyle, Blake, Vlasic, Ehrhoff

WEST: Keith, Phaneuf, Niedermayer, Pronger, Campbell, Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Weber, Visnovsky, Ohlund, Zubov, Boyle, Zidlicky, Burns, Whitney, Robidas, Blake, Aucoin, Souray

Now that we have established Kronwall as top-20 in the West, we need to look at the East.

Northeast: Chara, Wideman, Hunwick, Spacek, Lydman, Markov, Kuba, Kaberle, Kubina, White

Atlantic: Martin, Oduya, Streit, Rosival, Redden, Timonen, Coburn, Carle, Gonchar, Letang

Southeast: Enstrom, Hainsey, Pitkanen, Corvo, Seidenberg, Bouwmeester, McCabe, Ballard, Ranger, Green

EAST: Chara, Wideman, Martin, Enstrom, Green, Markov, Spacek, Kaberle, Streit, Timonen, Gonchar, Bouwmeester, Oduya, Redden, Rosival, Lydman, Kuba, Hunwick, Pitkanen, Coburn

So now, let's whittle down between the West and East. First of all, who from these two lists is better (or on par with) RIGHT NOW than Kronwall?

WEST: Keith, Phaneuf, Niedermayer, Pronger, Campbell, Lidstrom, Rafalski, Weber, Zubov, Boyle, Blake

EAST: Chara, Wideman, Green, Markov, Kaberle, Streit, Gonchar, Bouwmeester

Kronwall is about even overall with two or three of these guys. So the worst he ranks is 20th. Surprised?

Come on. Give me some names of other defensemen who are clearly better than Kronwall, and why.

[Finnish Wing 110]

trade dats

[Finnish Wing 110]

Come on. Give me some names of other defensemen who are clearly better than Kronwall, and why.

Pitkanen and Timonen

[eva unit zero 271]

Pitkanen and Timonen

You left out the "why" factor. I like both of those guys (have been pushing Pitkanen as a future star since he was drafted, with much opposition), I just don't think they are better than Kronwall RIGHT NOW.

[Paolino99 5]

I like Kronner, but this is a ridiculous statement.

Yes u have reason!

Kronner is a good tough d-man,at this moment his statement is poor but remain a good player that many NHL teams would have in his roster

[Scotty 0]

Yes, I agree that he has made some awful turnovers in this series but since coming up to Detroit from Grand Rapids four years ago or so I think he has greatly improved.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Kronwall hasn't been great this series, but I think he has put together a pretty solid playoff run overall.

Rafalski is our worst defenseman easily.

[Finnish Wing 110]

You left out the "why" factor. I like both of those guys (have been pushing Pitkanen as a future star since he was drafted, with much opposition), I just don't think they are better than Kronwall RIGHT NOW.

Well I think Pitkanen and Timonen are both better offensive D's. Pitkanen is equal to Kronwall in the own end. Timonen may not be as good as Kronnie in the own end but he's playmaking and blueline skills are much better. Of course we can argue about this forewer. It's hard to compare players playing for different teams. I mean, if you have better players around you like Kronwall does, it's easier to play. Pitkanen may not have so good players around him, but he's the ice-time king in every game and Hurricanes best D-man. Timonen is just Timonen.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Is it?

Chicago has two defensemen arguably better than Kronwall. Nashville has one. St. Louis has none who are on Kronwall's level. Columbus also would rank Kronwall as their top blueliner.

This means that within the league's strongest division, Kronwall would rank anywhere from second (many would put him as Detroit's #2 defenseman, ahead of Rafalski) to sixth. If you assume that Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the world, and that Kronwall would rank top-five in any other division, the average position there would be third. There are six divisions; if he would, on the average, be the third-best defenseman in a division, that would rank him about eighteenth in the league. If you assume his position to be anywhere from 2-6 in his division, then his average position would be fourth and he would rank about 24th in the league if you assume that same position in all divisions. Still does not make "top 15 or 20" a ridiculous statement given the strength of the division he plays in.

LOL your logic is so hysterical, eva.

[pirateasaurus 0]

. In the first period, he mishandle the puck, give it to Malkin and then fall on the ice living Malkin all alone !!

The puck took an unforunate bounce right over his stick and when he tried to stop to retrieve it he skates just failed him. s*** happens. Everybody catches an edge and goes down every once in a while.

One thing that i noticed Kronwall is great at is walking around defenders at the point. I believe he flubbed one up last game but he can sidestep defenders wonderfully.

[chrisdetroit 189]

I will give you younger and cheaper but better......no not a chance. I have been a fan of Sourays for awhile and would love to see him in Detroit. His shot and his toughness would be welcomed.

Sheldon Souray? You have GOT to be kidding. He is the biggest defensive liability in the league. Great shot but defense - forget it. He is a carrer -33. Kronwall has NEVER had a - year.

Defensemen have to actually defend to be effective.

Sheldon Souray? hahahahah

[Aussie_Wing 354]

He knows how to put up the points but he is horribly inconsistent defensively. Capable of doing very good things and then the very next shift he'll do something stupid. Too many turnovers and too many shots that go wide.

Edited June 6, 2009 by Aussie_Wing

[chrisdetroit 189]

I am the only one thinking this is by far our worst defenseman ??

The guy had HUGE turnovers... In the first period, he mishandle the puck, give it to Malkin and then fall on the ice living Malkin all alone !! he's just not gifted, he has terrible hands

+ he sucks also on the blue line on PK, he keeps losing the puck leading to big breakaways

+ his goon reputation (deserved or not) put him in the box a lot... considering how bad our PK is right now, that really hurts

He's playing for us for 4 seasons and not improving despite tons of ice time. What do you think ? Should we trade him ?

Where did you come up with this s***?

terrible hands? not improved in 4 years? lots of penalties? He's had 8 minor penalties in 20 games and 1 major that was a blown call by the officials.

You should really watch more than 1 game before making these kind of statements.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

He knows how to put up the points but he is horribly inconsistent defensively. Capable of doing very good things and then the very next shift he'll do something stupid. Too many turnovers and too many shots that go wide.

Yup. You could use that exact same description for Rafalski too. Except I think Rafalski is far worse defensively than Kronwall.

[RedWings 79]

I'm sorry but i've seen him mishandling the puck lots of times during the regular season... His malkin gift was not the first crappy turnover he did in our defensive zone. I remember about similar stuff in last year playoffs as well.

Rafalski made a terrible game as well, I think he's f***ed up, need rest... But at 100% he's not on the same planet as Kronwall. Rafs is in the top 20 in the league, Kronwall maybe in top 100.

[Theophany 110]

There's a reason that Kronwall has been on the SNT and has won Triple Gold.

He's good. He's not top 20 in the NHL (), but he's definitely good. Everyone has f***ups. I could point out numerous times when other players on the Wings have made mistakes (including Ozzie, Lids, and Zata); it's part of being human.

[Lidstrom for life 20]

True Kronwall makes some costly mistakes, but I think we are spoiled having Lidstrom on this team because the standard we hold defenseman to is superhuman.

[55fan 5,133]

I'm laughing now.

Trade Nik? No way!

[brownie 0]

I'm laughing now.

Trade Nik? No way!

[Paolino99 5]

Great Man,Great Defenseman....Great Goal!!!!!!!

Go Nik... Everybody will be KronWALLED!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I have no idea what he was doing below the goal line, but I'll take it.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

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Swedish satisfaction baby!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I have no idea what he was doing below the goal line, but I'll take it.

What WAS he doing there?

After that goal my first thought was: GET HIM THE f*** OFF THE POINT AND TURN HIM INTO A NIEDERMAYER ROVER.