Best prime/peak: Leetch vs Karlsson vs MacInnis

[amnesiac]

Who had the best prime and peak?

First poll had the HOF defensive Dmen, now time for the offensive Dmen

Click to read more...

 

[Coffee]

I Mac

 

[amnesiac]

Leetch 1990-01 (prime years):
Norris voting: 1,1,3,4,5,5,5
AS Team: 1,1,2,2,2
Conn Smythe

Karlsson 2011-23:
Norris voting: 1,1,1,2,2,7
AS Team: 1,1,1,1,1

MacInnis 1988-03:
Norris voting: 1,2,2,2,3,3,6,7
AS Team: 1,1,1,1,2,2
Conn Smythe

(couldnt cut off MacInnis' prime before his runner-up Norris season at age 39, his only Norris came at age 35 too)

 

[DitchMarner]

I think I prefer peak Leetch to peak MacInnis and Karlsson (though it's pretty close between him and Karlsson).

Mac has the best prime and career of the three. I think it's close for peak and prime between Leetch and Karlsson but would put Leetch ahead.

 

[Albatros]

Karlsson was another level. Never won the cup, but carried some very weak teams gallantly.

 

[NyQuil]

Leetch’s peak is likely his Conn Smythe performance which exceeds even Karlsson’s 2017 run.

 

[The Nuge]

MacInnis/Leetch
Karlsson

All of them have an argument, and hit a similar level offensively, but Karlsson’s defensive game is definitely the worst imo, so I’ve got to go MacInnis or Leetch. Leaning MacInnis

 

[Fataldogg]

Leetch being the lowest voted here is laughable. Show me when Karlsson had a 30+ point playoff conn smythe run. Leetch prime and peak was insane.

 

[Albatros]

MacInnis/Leetch
Karlsson

All of them have an argument, and hit a similar level offensively, but Karlsson’s defensive game is definitely the worst imo, so I’ve got to go MacInnis or Leetch. Leaning MacInnis

Young MacInnis was really iffy defensively as well.

 

[The Nuge]

Young MacInnis was really iffy defensively as well.

For sure, but he rounded out more than Karlsson did imo

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Karlsson never played the defense to win these types of votes unless it is strictly best offensive Leech.

Leetch.

 

[tabness]

Leetch first for sure, Karlsson next if peak, MacInnis if prime

MacInnis longevity is the best obviously and his adaptability despite not having the same physical talents especially skating as the others is also insane

 

[bambamcam4ever]

The career +/- difference for these players is massive

 

[amnesiac]

The career +/- difference for these players is massive

To be fair, Leetch was just as bad in the second half of his career (-57 from age 29-36)…. EK never played for a team as good as the early-mid 90s Rangers.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

To be fair, Leetch was just as bad in the second half of his career (-57 from age 29-36)…. EK never played for a team as good as the early-mid 90s Rangers.

I was referring to MacInnis compared to the other two.

MacInnis: +374
Leetch: +25
Karlsson: -106

 

[amnesiac]

I was referring to MacInnis compared to the other two.

MacInnis: +374
Leetch: +25
Karlsson: -106

MacInnis for sure, but Leetch wasn’t that good defensively either, and is probably on par with Karlsson in that aspect. I think EK’s very low +\- is more a consequence of playing the most minutes on poor OTT and SJ teams as well.

 

[biturbo19]

I would lean toward saying Karlsson might've have the best absolute "peak" but the sliced tendon makes for Leetch having an overall brighter "prime" potentially. I also just liked his game better. Though it's hard to argue against those magic few years Karlsson had at the absolute pinnacle. He was the Sens offense pretty much singlehandedly for a moment and dragged them to some pretty remarkable heights doing so.

 

[BraveCanadian]

If it is best prime AND peak then it is Mac for me. His peak offensively was as a 100 pt Conn Smythe guy and he improved defensively to the point he won a Norris later based on it.

Leetch is very similar but never got as good defensively (imo).

Karlsson clearly last of the three.

 

[wetcoast]

I think I prefer peak Leetch to peak MacInnis and Karlsson (though it's pretty close between him and Karlsson).

Mac has the best prime and career of the three. I think it's close for peak and prime between Leetch and Karlsson but would put Leetch ahead.

This was my first gut reaction feeling to this poll and I think that I'll stick with it although i usually take peak at best 3 consecutive years and prime as best 7.

 

[wetcoast]

Leetch 1990-01 (prime years):
Norris voting: 1,1,3,4,5,5,5
AS Team: 1,1,2,2,2
Conn Smythe

Karlsson 2011-23:
Norris voting: 1,1,1,2,2,7
AS Team: 1,1,1,1,1

MacInnis 1988-03:
Norris voting: 1,2,2,2,3,3,6,7
AS Team: 1,1,1,1,2,2
Conn Smythe

(couldnt cut off MacInnis' prime before his runner-up Norris season at age 39, his only Norris came at age 35 too)

Why are we starting Leetch in 90-91 and not 89-90?

 

[amnesiac]

Why are we starting Leetch in 90-91 and not 89-90?

he was 10th in Norris voting in 89-90

 

[wetcoast]

he was 10th in Norris voting in 89-90

That's pretty elite given that he was 20 and only played in 68 games.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Leetch and MacInnis were great, but they were never as far ahead of the field as peak Karlsson.

 

[Cubs2024wildcard]

Leetch being the lowest voted here is laughable. Show me when Karlsson had a 30+ point playoff conn smythe run. Leetch prime and peak was insane.

This 100%.

But.... Karlsson carried a team completely on his back one year in the playoffs that had no business being in the playoffs.

Leetch is one of the most under rated talents ever.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Leetch and MacInnis were great, but they were never as far ahead of the field as peak Karlsson.

To be fair, they played against a much tougher field. And played in their own zone as well.