Langway trophy for defensive defenseman 2024

[Mike C]

The Josh Georges Award.

For Dmen that have zero offensive skill, dedicate themselves to shot blocking, firing puck around the boards, rap it off the glass.
50 candidates a season.

That might be the Dave Langevin plaque

 

[CallMeShaft]

But he's -9!

In all seriousness that's cool to hear. Seems like a random player to make his way into the NHL this way.

What is his quality? Hits? Stick work?

Long reach and good skater for his size. Makes it easy to shutdown plays before they happen.

And I know you're being sarcastic about plus/minus, but I do have to say that he's more or less the Hawks' #1 defender (especially the last several weeks due to an injury to Seth Jones), so he gets a lot of minutes and tough assignments on a team that up until recently couldn't score.

And I actually found the Athletic article I previously mentioned (it's actually from April, not March like I thought). Has Gudas ahead of him, Doughty, Sanderson, and Forsling below him. That list certainly isn't the definitive list of best shutdown D, but it is at least evidence from a non Hawks fan suggesting he's been damn good at it.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I was actually thinking about something similar lately.

Basically I looked at everyone who got a vote for the Norris and looked at (a) who won, (b) who had the best defensive point share's total, and (c) who had the best point share's total overall - each with defensive point share's total in brackets.

2009 - based on point shares, Keith or Chara would each be very deserving Langway winners. Keith had better defensive totals, Chara more well-rounded. I would go with Chara, making the award kind of moot in this instance.
Actual Winner: Chara (5.7)
DPS Winner: Keith (6.3)
PS Winner: M Green (4.9)

2010 - see previous year, except in this case Chara had better defensive totals and Keith was more well-rounded. I would go with Keith, making the award kind of moot in this instance.
Actual Winner: Keith (6.2)
DPS Winner: Chara (7.2)
PS Winner: M Green (4.8)

2011 - Lydman's defensive #s were a hair better than Doughty, Chara, and Visnovsky, and Weber's... all of whom could stake a claim to the Langway. I would go with Visnovsky or Lydman, with Lydman being the true defender and Visnovsky being as worthy a Norris winner as anyone else that year.
Actual Winner: Lidstrom (3.3)
DPS Winner: Lydman (6.4)
PS Winner: Visnovsky (5.9)

2012- McDonagh, Mitchell, Pietrangelo, Hamhuis, Weber, Shattenkirk (!?), Chara, Suter, Del Zotto (!?) and Boyle all received votes while putting up solid defensive point share totals and overall point share totals. Based on this metric, Pietrangelo, Weber, and Chara would be the three clear contenders, with very little to differentiate Pietrangelo and Weber.
Actual Winner: Karlsson (4.5)
DPS Winner: McDonagh (6.7)
PS Winner: Karlsson (4.5)

2013 - Beauchemin, Seidenberg, Chara, Suter and Keith are all worthy but Suter and Beauchemin stood out for the Langway - at least by these metrics.
Actual Winner: Subban (2.9)
DPS Winner: Beauchemin/Seidenberg (3.8)
PS Winner: Subban (2.9)

2014 - Weber put together one of the most Langway-worthy seasons in recent memory, but Niskanen is still the clear winner.
Actual Winner: Keith (4.9)
DPS Winner: Niskanen (7.1)
PS Winner: Niskanen (7.1)

2015 - Subban is the runaway Langway favourite based on the number, with Andrei Markov the clear-cut 2nd best in class. That said, the numbers only tell half of the story, and Markov wins it.
Actual Winner: Karlsson (4.7)
DPS Winner: Subban (6.6)
PS Winner: Subban (6.6)

2016 - Doughty wins the Norris and the Langway. Suter and Hedman put together runner-up seasons.
Actual Winner: Doughty (7.1)
DPS Winner: Doughty (7.1)
PS Winner: Burns (4.1)

2017 - Doughty has gotten his due, and Slavin wasn't quite good enough, so Suter wins his first Langway.
Actual Winner: Burns (6.4)
DPS Winner: Doughty (7.2)
PS Winner: Burns (6.4)

2018 - Another one for Drew.
Actual Winner: Hedman (5.2)
DPS Winner: Doughty (7.3)
PS Winner: Doughty (7.3)

2019 - Lindell wins it in a point for the purists. Giordano supporters, who are accused of "trying to Norrisify the Langway", are up in arms.
Actual Winner: Giordano (5.9)
DPS Winner: Lindell (6.7)
PS Winner: Giordano (5.9)

2020 - Slavin wins it over Heiskanen and McAvoy.
Actual Winner: Giordano (5.9)
DPS Winner: Josi (4.8)
PS Winner: Josi (4.8)

2021 - hello Nurse! Before he became known for his no-brainers, a no-brainer of a Langway for Nurse.
Actual Winner: Fox (4.1)
DPS Winner: Nurse (5.3)
PS Winner: Nurse (5.3)

2022 - With the Norris a dead heat between Makar and Josi, the Langway is no clearer, as the debates of 2012 are reignited with barrels of fuel. McAvoy ultimately wins it in a victory for the Moderates, which pissed off everyone outside of Boston.
Actual Winner: Makar (6.8)
DPS Winner: Makar/McAvoy/Slavin (6.8)
PS Winner: Makar (6.8)

2023 - Karlsson wins the Norris in a season that makes us glad the Langway was invented. Lindholm wins it this year but purists argue that Spurgeon has just posted one of the most Langway-worthy seasons in the Langway era.
Actual Winner: Karlsson (3.0)
DPS Winner: Lindholm (7.2)
PS Winner: Karlsson (3.0)

2024 - to put this in perspective, Hughes was second on the list in DPS. Forsling posts a Langway season that makes even the staunchest Spurgeonites ask, "Jared who?".
Actual Winner: Hughes (6.5)
DPS Winner: Forsling (8.0)
PS Winner: Hughes (6.5)

I don't know what this accomplished, really, or what you should take away from it, but hey... it was a fun half hour.

 

[johnnybbadd]

Why wouldn’t this be called the Bettman Award?

Has to be more descriptive to really show what the league was like under his reign.

The Dead Puck Award.

 

[gsharpe]

I was actually thinking about something similar lately.

Basically I looked at everyone who got a vote for the Norris and looked at (a) who won, (b) who had the best defensive point share's total, and (c) who had the best point share's total overall - each with defensive point share's total in brackets.

2009 - based on point shares, Keith or Chara would each be very deserving Langway winners. Keith had better defensive totals, Chara more well-rounded. I would go with Chara, making the award kind of moot in this instance.
Actual Winner: Chara (5.7)
DPS Winner: Keith (6.3)
PS Winner: M Green (4.9)

2010 - see previous year, except in this case Chara had better defensive totals and Keith was more well-rounded. I would go with Keith, making the award kind of moot in this instance.
Actual Winner: Keith (6.2)
DPS Winner: Chara (7.2)
PS Winner: M Green (4.8)

2011 - Lydman's defensive #s were a hair better than Doughty, Chara, and Visnovsky, and Weber's... all of whom could stake a claim to the Langway. I would go with Visnovsky or Lydman, with Lydman being the true defender and Visnovsky being as worthy a Norris winner as anyone else that year.
Actual Winner: Lidstrom (3.3)
DPS Winner: Lydman (6.4)
PS Winner: Visnovsky (5.9)

2012- McDonagh, Mitchell, Pietrangelo, Hamhuis, Weber, Shattenkirk (!?), Chara, Suter, Del Zotto (!?) and Boyle all received votes while putting up solid defensive point share totals and overall point share totals. Based on this metric, Pietrangelo, Weber, and Chara would be the three clear contenders, with very little to differentiate Pietrangelo and Weber.
Actual Winner: Karlsson (4.5)
DPS Winner: McDonagh (6.7)
PS Winner: Karlsson (4.5)

2013 - Beauchemin, Seidenberg, Chara, Suter and Keith are all worthy but Suter and Beauchemin stood out for the Langway - at least by these metrics.
Actual Winner: Subban (2.9)
DPS Winner: Beauchemin/Seidenberg (3.8)
PS Winner: Subban (2.9)

2014 - Weber put together one of the most Langway-worthy seasons in recent memory, but Niskanen is still the clear winner.
Actual Winner: Keith (4.9)
DPS Winner: Niskanen (7.1)
PS Winner: Niskanen (7.1)

2015 - Subban is the runaway Langway favourite based on the number, with Andrei Markov the clear-cut 2nd best in class. That said, the numbers only tell half of the story, and Markov wins it.
Actual Winner: Karlsson (4.7)
DPS Winner: Subban (6.6)
PS Winner: Subban (6.6)

2016 - Doughty wins the Norris and the Langway. Suter and Hedman put together runner-up seasons.
Actual Winner: Doughty (7.1)
DPS Winner: Doughty (7.1)
PS Winner: Burns (4.1)

2017 - Doughty has gotten his due, and Slavin wasn't quite good enough, so Suter wins his first Langway.
Actual Winner: Burns (6.4)
DPS Winner: Doughty (7.2)
PS Winner: Burns (6.4)

2018 - Another one for Drew.
Actual Winner: Hedman (5.2)
DPS Winner: Doughty (7.3)
PS Winner: Doughty (7.3)

2019 - Lindell wins it in a point for the purists. Giordano supporters, who are accused of "trying to Norrisify the Langway", are up in arms.
Actual Winner: Giordano (5.9)
DPS Winner: Lindell (6.7)
PS Winner: Giordano (5.9)

2020 - Slavin wins it over Heiskanen and McAvoy.
Actual Winner: Giordano (5.9)
DPS Winner: Josi (4.8)
PS Winner: Josi (4.8)

2021 - hello Nurse! Before he became known for his no-brainers, a no-brainer of a Langway for Nurse.
Actual Winner: Fox (4.1)
DPS Winner: Nurse (5.3)
PS Winner: Nurse (5.3)

2022 - With the Norris a dead heat between Makar and Josi, the Langway is no clearer, as the debates of 2012 are reignited with barrels of fuel. McAvoy ultimately wins it in a victory for the Moderates, which pissed off everyone outside of Boston.
Actual Winner: Makar (6.8)
DPS Winner: Makar/McAvoy/Slavin (6.8)
PS Winner: Makar (6.8)

2023 - Karlsson wins the Norris in a season that makes us glad the Langway was invented. Lindholm wins it this year but purists argue that Spurgeon has just posted one of the most Langway-worthy seasons in the Langway era.
Actual Winner: Karlsson (3.0)
DPS Winner: Lindholm (7.2)
PS Winner: Karlsson (3.0)

2024 - to put this in perspective, Hughes was second on the list in DPS. Forsling posts a Langway season that makes even the staunchest Spurgeonites ask, "Jared who?".
Actual Winner: Hughes (6.5)
DPS Winner: Forsling (8.0)
PS Winner: Hughes (6.5)

I don't know what this accomplished, really, or what you should take away from it, but hey... it was a fun half hour.

Sorry. What is the difference between DPS and ps? I thought this was a most informative and incredible post

 

[JackSlater]

Would be Slavin's award.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Seider is up there. Workhorse defensively in the NHLs toughest matchups.

 

[ps241]

The trophy should be a poll of the top 20 scorers asking them who they hate playing against the most. Journalists voting on defensive D would be only be acceptable if they had to have a televised debate about it with the Benny Hill music playing at the same volume their mic’s are at.

This goes for all the player awards. Having only hockey writers vote on awards kills the concept. They should be one of the voting blocks and it their appointment should be on selection process bases on their ability and geographic region. I would always have players as one of the voting blocks, then perhaps the pro scouts or GM’s who have an eye for hockey and are watching other players outside their team bubble more.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Sorry. What is the difference between DPS and ps? I thought this was a most informative and incredible post

I believe they are Defensive Point Shares and Point Shares.

The first ranks number of points contributed due to a player's defense. The second, by extension, just overall points contributed due to a player overall.

I'm not sure how they are actually determined, but someone here can probably explain it .

 

[KevinRedkey]

Being poor offensively shouldn't be a pre-requisite to qualify for an award. Even the Selke takes offense into account (whether you like it or not).

 

[mjhfb]

Just call this one the Norris and the other one the Paul Coffey Award..,or the Bobby Orr Award

You would disrespect Orr by insinuating he didn't play defense. Which he did very well. He was tough as nails, he hit, he blocked shots face first without even a helmet, and he fought. A defenseman who finished a season at +124 has proven he can play defense.

 

[BLNY]

Weird idea. But, why would it be called Langway instead of Lidström?

Because Langway is the last truly defensive defenseman to win the award and it's essentially become an award for the D that scores the most points. The concept of the "Langway award" has been floated before.

Why in the world would it be called the Lidstrom? Why wouldn't it be called The Doug Harvey Award?

Before there was Orr, there was Harvey. Doug wasn't a 'stay-at-home' defensive defenseman.

 

[snipes]

Slavin, Ekholm, and Tanev were the first 3 names that came to mind in no particular order.

I do think the premise of having an award for best defensive defenceman makes sense. The Norris has become a purely offensive production award for D men which nothing necessarily wrong with that but the first job for D men is to defend.

We have the Selke, I see no reason why we shouldn’t have an award for a defenceman to recognize defensive contributions.

 

[Hallonbroder]

Langway was all defense and little offense.



Was it Langway, Ludwig, or both that had those massive shin pads and would block everything ?

Because Langway is the last truly defensive defenseman to win the award and it's essentially become an award for the D that scores the most points. The concept of the "Langway award" has been floated before.

Before there was Orr, there was Harvey. Doug wasn't a 'stay-at-home' defensive defenseman.

Sure, but no one can sell me on the idea that Langway was better at defending than Lidström

 

[BLNY]

Being poor offensively shouldn't be a pre-requisite to qualify for an award. Even the Selke takes offense into account (whether you like it or not).

That's what the award morphed into. The Selke was specifically created to recognize players who focused on the defensive side of the game. Winners in the 70s and 80s were "poor" offensively. They did contribute offensively while focusing on the other teams' best. They just excelled at an equally important aspect of the game and had been previously unrecognized for it.

There was a time when the league considered defenders who excelled at shutting down opposition for the Norris. Pilotte and Laperierre would be prime examples.

 

[Gerulaitis]

The Konstantinov trophy

 

[BLNY]

Sure, but no one can sell me on the idea that Langway was better at defending than Lidström

No one is saying Langway was a better player. It's merely an attempt to recognize players in the same fashion that the Selke used to recognize defensive forwards.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Jake McCabe is criminally under rated by non Leaf fans

 

[Craig Ludwig]

Rick Green Award

 

[nbwingsfan]

Weird idea. But, why would it be called Langway instead of Lidström?

Because Lidstrom was one of the top offensive D in the world for a large part of his career?

 

[Hallonbroder]

Because Lidstrom was one of the top offensive D in the world for a large part of his career?

Cool down, I’m saying that your guy was both the best defensive dman and offensive, so chill

 

[Anglesmith]

Cool down, I’m saying that your guy was both the best defensive dman and offensive, so chill

And did that make him less proficient at the defensive part of the position?

The issue I always have with this award concept is that people often aren't necessarily focusing on the player who is best defensively: they are often fixated on guys with the greatest disparity between offensive and defensive skills. And being worse at offense doesn't help anyone.

 

[ESH]

I am a Canucks fan so extremely biased and think that Tanev should always be in the running.

Demelo seems to be in the running after making every partner he has become a top ten defenseman.

Anybody else that needs a shout out?

Morrissey is a great defender all on his own, I don’t think DeMelo is the difference maker on that pair. What other partners are you referring to?

 

[Hallonbroder]

And did that make him less proficient at the defensive part of the position?

The issue I always have with this award concept is that people often aren't necessarily focusing on the player who is best defensively: they are often fixated on guys with the greatest disparity between offensive and defensive skills. And being worse at offense doesn't help anyone.

I’m not gonna get into this, I just didn’t think it should be called “Langway” if it even would exists, since I think there’s tons of other dman better at defense than him, please leave me out of it

 

[NyQuil]

The other team can't score on you if you have the puck.

Lane Hutson is the answer

Those two assists he had for those two Detroit goals last night means he’s pretty good at setting up both teams.