Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=510915&...vid=DL|NHL|home Nicklas Lidstrom Teams: Detroit (2000-present) As the Devils built around Brodeur, so have the Detroit Red Wings used Lidstrom as the core of the NHL's most successful team of the decade. Lidstrom owned the Norris Trophy, given to the NHL's top defenseman, during the 2000s. He won it six times in a span of seven seasons from 2000-01 through 2007-08 while making the First All-Star Team six times (and the second team in 2008-09). To watch Lidstrom is to watch a master at work. He's not going to amaze you with his speed, but he gets where he has to go. He's not the most physical defenseman you'll ever see, but he's plenty big enough. There's been no one better over the past several years at running a power play, triggering a breakout and doing anything and everything that needs to be done to win hockey games. "He's the greatest that I've ever played against … and with," Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi said earlier this season. "I was in during an era where there were some pretty darn good defensemen, Scott Niedermayer, Al MacInnis and all that. Just playing against him year after year after year and being fortunate to be on the same side as him you can appreciate the kind of talent that he has. Just his character and his demeanor, and what he brings to the game and to the city of Detroit.†Lidstrom is still going strong at age 39; earlier this season, he became the first European defenseman to reach 1,000 points for his career. That goes along with having the honor of being the first European captain to lift the Stanley Cup, which he did when the Wings beat Pittsburgh in 2008. "Nick Lidstrom is one of the greatest defenseman of all time," said Wings broadcaster Larry Murphy, a Hall of Famer who was Lidstrom's partner in the late 1990s. "He's done it all. The guy that makes the game look so easy, but it's not. Count on him, game in, and game out." Chris Osgood Teams: Detroit (2000-01 and 2005-present); New York Islanders (2001-03; St. Louis Blues (2003-04) All Chris Osgood does is win. A lot. And often. And in big spots. Osgood is one of the few athletes who's been getting better as he gets older. He left Detroit when he wound up as the odd-man out in the fall of 2001, and all he did was lead the Islanders to their best season since 1992-93. He led the Blues to the playoffs the following spring, then returned to the Wings in 2005 and reinvented himself as an even better goaltender than the one who led Detroit to the Stanley Cup in 1998. Osgood was a key to the Wings' Cup win in 2008 and nearly got them another one last spring. He's approaching 400 career wins and is putting together a resume that will make it tough to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. 1 JohnnyB reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) Ovechkin only played half the decade, so he has no business being on this list. Kovalchuk has actually played most of the decade and was likely the left winger they should have chosen. Also, I'd rank Pronger ahead of Niedermayer. He won a Norris, a Hart trophy, and was a more well rounded defenseman. Niedermayer has more Cups, but that's because he's played for better teams. Edited December 23, 2009 by GMRwings1983 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 It should be noted that Osgood was selected for the SECOND team. Brodeur was obviously on the first team. And NHL.com also picked the top 5 teams of the decade: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=510720 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theophany 110 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Ovechkin only played half the decade, so he has no business being on this list. Kovalchuk has actually played most of the decade and was likely the left winger they should have chosen. Also, I'd rank Pronger ahead of Niedermayer. He won a Norris, a Hart trophy, and was a more well rounded defenseman. Niedermayer has more Cups, but that's because he's played for better teams. And you're not gonna ***** about Crosby being up there on the second team? The only reason he wasn't on the first team was because Sakic is pretty much a legend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) I know people here will crucify me, but no way Osgood is the 2nd best goalie of the decade. You have to rank Hasek and Luongo ahead of him. Yeah, Luongo doesn't have much playoff success, but that's the product of him playing on bad teams and Ozzie playing for the team of the decade. Was Osgood even nominated for a Vezina in this decade? Edited December 23, 2009 by GMRwings1983 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 And you're not gonna ***** about Crosby being up there on the second team? The only reason he wasn't on the first team was because Sakic is pretty much a legend. That's because Crosby is better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 And you're not gonna ***** about Crosby being up there on the second team? The only reason he wasn't on the first team was because Sakic is pretty much a legend. You're right. Crosby shouldn't have been there either. Joe Thornton and Peter Forsberg are two names that come to mind instantly. There's likely others, but I'm just going off the top of my head here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltgator333 3 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) How 'our own Hall of Famer Larry Murphy' describes Lidstrom is about spot-on. Admittedly, it wasn't until post lockout that I figured out for myself why Lidstrom is so good, before then it was just a matter of good things seemed to happen when #5 was on the ice. Very subtle, and it definitely plays into his game. Nice that Osgood got some respect. The guy pisses me off sometimes (monday), but he is still one of the good goaltenders of his era who's skill is in the shadow of guys like Brodeur, Roy and Hasek who are the stuff of goaltending legend. Edited December 23, 2009 by ltgator333 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 The Red Wings won one Stanley Cup in this decade with Ozzie as the starter. How many Cups do you guys think we'd have if Luongo was our starter the entire decade? I say more than one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 The Red Wings won one Stanley Cup in this decade with Ozzie as the starter. How many Cups do you guys think we'd have if Luongo was our starter the entire decade? I say more than one. I don't know, having that extra 5 million in cap space may have made a big difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 The Red Wings won one Stanley Cup in this decade with Ozzie as the starter. How many Cups do you guys think we'd have if Luongo was our starter the entire decade? I say more than one. Him and his stacked Vancouver team sure did a hell of a lot last year. 1 JohnnyB reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 The Red Wings won one Stanley Cup in this decade with Ozzie as the starter. How many Cups do you guys think we'd have if Luongo was our starter the entire decade? I say more than one. Considering Luo choked in last year's playoffs and was one of the biggest reasons why a really good Vancouver team wasn't able to beat the young Hawks, I'm not sure we would have won more cups with him in net.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Considering Luo choked in last year's playoffs and was one of the biggest reasons why a really good Vancouver team wasn't able to beat the young Hawks, I'm not sure we would have won more cups with him in net.. Luongo's save percentage in the playoffs is .930 with a 2.09 GAA - pretty small sample size, but that is really good. Vancouver's main problem is scoring goals, not goaltending -- much like many of the 2000s Red Wings teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Luongo's save percentage in the playoffs is .930 with a 2.09 GAA - pretty small sample size, but that is really good. Vancouver's main problem is scoring goals, not goaltending -- much like many of the 2000s Red Wings teams. Numbers are nice but it does't matter when you let in 7 goals in a must-win game, 3 of the goals coming with less than 7 minutes left and your team is leading by 1. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Numbers are nice but it does't matter when you let in 7 goals in a must-win game, 3 of the goals coming with less than 7 minutes left and your team is leading by 1. It certainly does not help But I would not question whether Roy was a good playoff goalie based on his Game 7 vs. Detroit in 2002, either. Overall, Luongo has done very well in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 It certainly does not help But I would not question whether Roy was a good playoff goalie based on his Game 7 vs. Detroit in 2002, either. Overall, Luongo has done very well in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Come on, are we now thinking it is impossible for a team to lose with a good goalie? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Come on, are we now thinking it is impossible for a team to lose with a good goalie? Good yes. This is the time to recognize greatness or steady play over a decade, not being "really good for bad and/or overmatched teams." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Come on, are we now thinking it is impossible for a team to lose with a good goalie? It's amazing that people here actually think that Osgood playing for the Wings would do better than if Luongo had played for us all this time. Also, what about Hasek. Why isn't he the 2nd best goalie of the decade? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 It's amazing that people here actually think that Osgood playing for the Wings would do better than if Luongo had played for us all this time. Also, what about Hasek. Why isn't he the 2nd best goalie of the decade? I don't think it matters since Luongo doesn't play for the Wings. Osgood has a cup in this decade and Luongo doesn't have a single Western Conference appearance to his name. Hasek you have an argument for, but not Luongo. 1 JohnnyB reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoe 165 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 nice to see oz getting some recognition! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 The Red Wings won one Stanley Cup in this decade with Ozzie as the starter. How many Cups do you guys think we'd have if Luongo was our starter the entire decade? I say more than one. Here's a shocker: Osgood has had comparable playoff success in terms of both stats and clutch play as Brodeur and Roy. Fewer games, but similar GAA/sv% and win%. Ozzie has been a lights-out playoff goalie and has been the best clutch goalie in the league in the past two seasons. Luongo is a great goalie, but he hasn't been the clutch guy Ozzie has, so saying the Wings would have more Cups with Luongo is questionable. Hasek for much of that time, remember? Hasek>Luongo in the clutch. Maybe Luongo over Legace or Cujo might have done a bit better... but I doubt Luongo does any better than Hasek/Osgood in this decade. And Legace/Cujo the team didn't play that great, so a Cup win probably doesn't happen those years either. In 2006 and since, the Wings would be MUCH weaker because of Bobby Lou's contract, kind of like the Nucks since he's been there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) I don't think it matters since Luongo doesn't play for the Wings. Osgood has a cup in this decade and Luongo doesn't have a single Western Conference appearance to his name. Hasek you have an argument for, but not Luongo. How much playoff success did Ozzie have when he was in St. Louis and New York? I don't think it's fair to blame Luongo for the teams he's played on. All I know is that Luongo has been much better in regular seasons than Osgood and has been nominated for the Vezina many times. He's had to carry some teams during that stretch. Ozzie has never had to carry a team for the entire regular season. Luongo doesn't have much a of a playoff career because he's played on teams that only got there several times and weren't good enough to go much further. I just think Luongo has been a better goalie in this decade than Ozzie. Ozzie is more accomplished, but I don't think that's what this All Decade team was all about. Kovalchuk hasn't had much playoff success and Iginla's team has only had one good playoff run in this decade. Yet they were still on the list. BTW, Luongo has only been in the West a few years, so give him time before he makes the conference finals. Obviously, he wasn't going to make the ECF while in Florida. Edited December 23, 2009 by GMRwings1983 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
interminded 1 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Wow, an actual member of the Red Wings get some recognition and some people go on and on how we may have won more with Roberto Luongo in goal. Wow... just wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
interminded 1 Report post Posted December 23, 2009 How much playoff success did Ozzie have when he was in St. Louis and New York? I don't think it's fair to blame Luongo for the teams he's played on. All I know is that Luongo has been much better in regular seasons than Osgood and has been nominated for the Vezina many times. He's had to carry some teams during that stretch. Ozzie has never had to carry a team for the entire regular season. Luongo doesn't have much a of a playoff career because he's played on teams that only got there several times and weren't good enough to go much further. I just think Luongo has been a better goalie in this decade than Ozzie. Ozzie is more accomplished, but I don't think that's what this All Decade team was all about. Kovalchuk hasn't had much playoff success and Iginla's team has only had one good playoff run in this decade. Yet they were still on the list. BTW, Luongo has only been in the West a few years, so give him time before he makes the conference finals. Obviously, he wasn't going to make the ECF while in Florida. Twice is many times ? (2004 and 2007) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
