Somehow, Matt Walker not a Norris Finalist
by Matthew Dirt on Apr 23, 2009 7:24 PM CDT
11 comments
Also absent, Duncan Keith
The NHL announced the next set of finalists for end of the season awards - up today were the finalists for the Norris Trophy and it's not a huge shock but Duncan Keith was not named to the final three. Keith definitely made a name for himself this year as he stepped up his game so much that anytime you heard a list of "the best players you don't know about" Keith's name always seemed to come up. So that cat is out of the bag and was last seen being lifted by its tail at Wrigley.
The Finalists this year are:
and just for kicks, lets throw in Keith's stats and see how he compares
Keith did lead all defensemen in +/- but there's a whole list of reasons you shouldn't really trust that stat that we won't get into now. Not to say it's a worthless stat but there are stats that provide a better reflection of players.
A lot of people are focusing on Green's goals and points as a leading reasoning for his candidacy. Green did have an amazing year offensively with 31 goals and 71 points but is that a good reason to qualify for the Norris? Probably not. After all, the award is supposed to go to the "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position" not just the one who scores the most.
Luckily for Green though, he had a good year as a defender as well. He's got the 4th highest behind the net rating, tied for the highest corsi rating, Goals against/60 was only 2.18 which is the same as Keith (Lidstrom - 2.14, Chara - 2.23). Green's not a shutdown guy but he's hardly Brian Campbell.
In my mind the race is between Green and Chara with Lidstrom's time being done. I'd give Green the edge..
Keith is close to many of the finalists in many stats and if he keeps improving should be considered for the award in the next year or two, especially as the Hawks around him continue to improve. Some people, like godfather Mirtle, already have him damn close at 4th overall. Others like Puck Daddy don't even mention him in the "uninvited" list. Luckily Mirtle's got a vote and Wysh doesn't (I don't think). There's plenty of other lists coming out that have Keith ranked pretty high as well but it's too much to find/list 'em all - so if you see any interesting ones put up a link in the comments.
UPDATE: Ask and you shall recieve... here's Seabrook's numbers
Biscuit is still a ways away from getting serious consideration for this award. He's getting really solid defensively but doesn't bring much offense to the game. His PPTOI probably hurts him a lot, as it does for Keith. All the other three candidates lead their teams for PPTOI for D-Men.
What Biscuit does have for him is he has the highest QUALCOMP rating of and D-Men in the league. Keith is also just behind him, tied for second overall
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No Seabrook?
Just for kicks throw Seabrooks numbers up there, including Mirtle’s ranking of him for the fictitous (but desperately needed) Rod Langway Award.
Puck Daddy is a moron!!!
This is the same guy who suggested that the NHL market Sidney Crosby like the WWE marketed ‘The Rock’ and currently John Cena!
I actually really liked that idea. Plus Wysh is awesome.. so you take that back
by Matthew Dirt on Apr 23, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions
There must be a mistake
I don’t know how Matt Walker has been overlooked as a candidate…
Keith should be there!
Why is Lidstrom there? Based on reputation perhaps? Ask any Wings fan and they will tell you that Rafalski was the better defenceman this season so why is Lidstrom even on the ballot? Duncan Keith has proven to be one if not the best shutdown defenceman in the entire NHL. His numbers speak for itself and with a little more PP time he’d have a little more points to back it up. These NHL writers have got to remember that this is the best overall defenceman award and not the top offensive defenceman award. Sure Green put up amazing offensive numbers but was atrocoius in his own end all season and is showing up glaringly in the post-season series vs. the Rangers!
i agree with you about greene. i have seen him play four or five times and he reminds me of brian cambpell.
the thing about duncan keith is he has been very underated…..untill the all-star break this year. when he came back from the concussion he was still out of it. i do not think he is the shutdown defenceman he was in the first half. seabook stepped up his game big time and has really improved. cameron barker has also improved in the second half of the season.
mainly because awards like this are akin to the Gold Glove Awards in baseball. They don’t really look for the best all around players at that position, they look for those with outstanding numbers first and foremost whichever side they’re on. Green was dominant offensively (not saying he wasn’t at least solid defensively) and Chara is considered by some as the best stay at home defender and he kicks in a little offense mainly because he’s always on the PP for the Bruins because they have no one else to play the point better. Keith is hurt by Campbell’s arrival because he loses PP time to help boost his offensive numbers. I’m not saying Keith deserves it, Green definitely should win this year because his pure numbers say so, I just don’t like the process because it’ usually goes to whomever has the most gaudiest offensive stats and if that player shows at least marginal D he’ll be a contender. It’s the same as what happens in baseball. David Wright wins the Gold Glove for 3rd base and he isn’t even the best defensive player in his own division(Ryan Zimmerman) because his offensive numbers are so superior.
by Crease Monkey on Apr 24, 2009 12:26 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
The torch is about to be passed...
They might give it to Lidstrom this year, only because it’s the last year he’ll be a finalist.
There is a shitload of really good young defenseman…you start with Keith, but you’ve got Weber, Schenn, Bogosian, Doughty, Pietrangelo, and Hedman will be on that list the second he skates onto an NHL rink.
I think Keith will have a Norris on his mantel eventually, but the trophy will change hands on an annual basis from here on out.
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Wysh With A Vote!!??
If he’s a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Accoc. he has a vote. Not sure what the criteria for admission to that club is (pay off, BJs?), so who knows.
Not too surprising Kieth isn’t a finalist but i’m interested to see where he he finished, as he was in the top 10 last season.
We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.
I’m not sure he is a member though, I know Mirtle is for sure.
by Matthew Dirt on Apr 24, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions
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