Chris Chelios v. Scott Niedermayer

[The Macho King]

Just curious - who do you all think was the better player during the career?

 

[nowhereman]

Chelios quite easily.

 

[Bileur]

Chelios, not close

 

[Weztex]

Shouldn’t be close really. Niedermayer is much closer to Duncan Keith than he is to Chelios.

 

[The Macho King]

Well I feel dumb. I expected the results to be fairly close based on how I see them discussed, but I was clearly wrong.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Chelios AINEC

Hell, the man won 3 Norris trophies in the primes of Bourque, Coffey and Leetch

 

[JackSlater]

I think I'll just go with Chelios.

 

[snipes]

Chelios by a lot.

 

[SUX2BU]

Chelios

 

[Weztex]

Well I feel dumb. I expected the results to be fairly close based on how I see them discussed, but I was clearly wrong.

Don’t. The media have been hyping the hell out of Niedermayer for years. He’s been given that “legendary stoic Canadian winner” status, like Nieuwendyk before him and Toews since. It’s easy to think he’s a top-10 defenseman of all time the way he’s talked about.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I don't think this is close.

Chelios was one of the most well-rounded defensemen in the history of hockey and (while it's obviously not relevant here) arguably the greatest American player ever. He was the total package, and while he couldn't skate at Niedermayer's level, almost no one ever could so that's no insult.

 

[Regal]

Chelios was elite for a lot longer. Niedermayer was really good but not really Norris level until late in his Devils tenure. At their best? Probably still Chelios, but it’s much closer. Though I wonder if Niedermayer might have blossomed earlier if he started in recent years. His game was tailored to this era, while Chelios couldn’t be as nasty today

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Niedermayer had better skating and a better scorer but Chelios is the better defenseman by a fairly wide margin.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Niedermayer

 

[biturbo19]

Huh. I'm surprised it's that one-sided.

I always hated Chelios for some reason. So i guess that probably colours my perception of him.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I like Chelios but I think I would take Scott Niedermayer over him in a heartbeat
just felt like he was the better overall Dman
Chelios has better Playoffs numberrs but means very little to me. I know he was a beast and played till he was like almost 50 but can't go wrong with with either choice.
Ill still take Scott Niedermayer

 

[Puck Dogg]

Both have silverware, Chelios Norris trophies but Niedermayer is also part of the Triple Gold Club.

Voted Niedermayer as I think he is somewhat underrated in this poll.

 

[Soundgarden]

I think a lot of people only remember Chelios as the 40+ year old hanging around the league which coincided with Niedermayer's late prime.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Chelios and it not close...at all.

Niedermayer was last generations Jonathan Toews... massively overrated because he was lucky to play with much better players and got to win.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Definitely Christopher

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Chelios

Niedermayer often gets massively overrated

 

[HabsCode]

Nevermind, wrong thread

 

[BraveCanadian]

Chelios and I don’t think it’s very close