Norris Trophy Power Rankings: Rielly on top with gaudy offensive numbers

[ccman68]

Rielly is still playing only 22 minutes a game. No way he gets even close to the Norris if he doesn't play more. He also has some of the most unsustainable numbers I have seen in my life. Doubt he even gets a nomination when all is said and done. Leafs fans are just setting themselves up for failure as usual.

 

[Lshap]

Imagine a world where the best leaf defenseman had 6 goals/37 points and another team had a defenseman with 13 goals/44 points.

Now, imagine if leaf fans tried arguing that their player was the leading contender for the Norris. Do you all have any idea how badly we'd be mocked? We'd be accused of being "typical leaf fans". The thread would have thousands of posts by now. The entire nhl fanbase at large would unite together in laughter. It would be mocked more than the age old Ryder, Halak, and a 2nd meme. It would NEVER be forgotten. If would bring so much traffic to hfboards that it would crash. Not temporarily, but forever. It would cause that much traffic. The entire internet would collapse internationally. Which in turn would cause economic turmoil. Riots and looting would begin. Governments would collapse, leading to migrants crises, food shortages, and war. Let's just say it... it would flat out trigger the apocalypse, and humankind would be no more.

So Rielly should win for the good of Mankind. I admit that's an impressive advanced stat.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Morgan Rielly is the closest thing to Duncan Keith honestly. They have the same exact style of play

Keith was much better defensively. We are also not at the halfway point of the season. The tough and tighter games will show if Rielly has indeed become better. He's good right now, but he seems to get torched by the better teams. Boston in the playoffs and in the regular season often reveal his weaknesses.

 

[Gurglesons]

I don’t see how Letang isn’t top three right now..

 

[joe dirte]

I'll say this. The best defenceman in the NHL is not even on this Josh Wegman btw never heard of the guy list, Victor Hedman. You have to play good defence to be the best defenceman in the NHL. Something forgotten with this award.

Well other than doughty in 2016 you're right. Hes the only one that's elite defensively in quite a few years. Back to lidstrom.

 

[StroShow]

Kris Letang

38GP 9G 26A 35PTS, +13

25:58 TOI, absolutely carrying the Penguins D-Core.

Has been unreal this season.

 

[joe dirte]

Kris Letang

38GP 9G 26A 35PTS, +13

25:58 TOI, absolutely carrying the Penguins D-Core.

Has been unreal this season.

Nice to see him make a comeback. Hes one of these dmen that can score a pile, but also play defensive hockey. At his best he was a top 5 dman in the league maybe even better.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

How can you even suggest hes not?

Accumulating points in a dynamic offense (he is naturally partly a reason for it) does not somehow make him a top 10 defenseman. That is just ridiculous.

This is not a case of Karlsson doing it alone and still putting up incredible numbers.

There are more than a few defensemen who can slot into his spot and do at least as well if not better both production wise and overall hockey play (defensive play, time on ice, physicality, etc).

 

[LeafFever]

The only reason Rielly wasn't a 60+ point DMan prior to this year was his lack of PP time. I had mentioned this last year. He wasn't getting as much as guys getting a few more points than him.
So he's benefitting for the first time ever from a good team on the PP. Who cares?

 

[lordstanley91]

Kris Letang has been the best all around defensemen this year. Yes I may be homering. He’s really has looked unreal this year.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

This year? No question. Hell of a lot better than just top 10. If he keeps going at this pace, it'll be the best season from a dman in at least a decade.

Production is very far from what determines a top ten defensemen list. It looks nice in fantasy hockey, yes.

 

[joe dirte]

Production is very far from what determines a top ten defensemen list. It looks nice in fantasy hockey, yes.

I never said specifically production. Keeps going at this pace. I.e. if he keeps up this level of play is what I mean.

The funny thing is, if he were given all the PP time some of the usual suspects that hit 70+ points got, he would probably be closer to 60 points by now.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Rielly should not win. He's racking up points playing on an amazing offensive team. Pretty obvious hes not the best dman in the NHL

Show me.

 

[lordstanley91]

I love how the OP article chose stats that shows outside of points Reilly has the worst actual numbers related to defense on that list. Then ranks him first. Just sayin.

 

[Pyrophorus]

How the hell does rielly have below 500 advanced stats on that team

Not as bad, as what is being said by HF logic?
That team is better than yours (by GP)

 

[Pyrophorus]

Keith was much better defensively. We are also not at the halfway point of the season. The tough and tighter games will show if Rielly has indeed become better. He's good right now, but he seems to get torched by the better teams. Boston in the playoffs and in the regular season often reveal his weaknesses.

Even in the 4-2 win?

 

[TT1]

Uh weber has petry, whom hab fans are saying would be our second best dman. Suter has dumba who obliterates Jake, doughty has Martinez and muzzin who help him. Did you just randomly pick names without thinking?

What do you mean Weber has Petry..? Weber and Petry are both RDs, they've never played together at ES. Weber has mostly played with Benn and Mete, hes playing with Mete right now.

 

[DJJones]

Not as bad, as what is being said by HF logic?
That team is better than yours (by GP)

What?

 

[wetcoast]

I love how the OP article chose stats that shows outside of points Reilly has the worst actual numbers related to defense on that list. Then ranks him first. Just sayin.

That was kind of ironic.

Burns with 3 more point tonight isn't going to help EK68.

Giordano and Letang alo with good nights.

Heiskanen with 2 goals, including the GWG teasing us with his future as well.

 

[ER89]

What do you mean Weber has Petry..? Weber and Petry are both RDs, they've never played together at ES. Weber has mostly played with Benn and Mete, hes playing with Mete right now.

The discussion was who has the most help defensively. Not who they play with.

 

[lordstanley91]

That was kind of ironic.

Burns with 3 more point tonight isn't going to help EK68.

Giordano and Letang alo with good nights.

Heiskanen with 2 goals, including the GWG teasing us with his future as well.

I was very confused looking at the stats. He could have at least chosen stats that framed his viewpoint better.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Show me.

Oh... my.... you need to be shown he isn't the best defenseman in the NHL?!

 

[CrosbyMalkin]

The Norris is not an award for "highest scoring defenceman".... stop crying. Giordano is flat out better in almost every metric outside of points. He is also scoring at a point per game pace (more or less) without an unstustainable on ice shooting percentage.

People saying Giordano has nothing to do with the Leafs. It is no slight to Rielly. Giordano is just better. Put your inferiority complex back in the drawer.

I would take Letang over either of them. Letang is just flat out better than Rielly defensively and can shut down the elite forwards in the NHL. When the Pens played the Caps during OV’s streak Letang was the one that ended it. Letang has come back with a vengeance from his injury. He needed a full offseason to train normally but he is playing his best hockey of his career this season. I would definitely say Letang and Giordano are playing the best this year. Rielly will win it if he keeps up a big point lead but in no way is he near the best defenseman in the league. Maybe not even top 10 for overall game. 22 minutes a game?!? Really the best defenseman? Please!

 

[CrosbyMalkin]

Rielly has been good offensively but his defensive play seems to be..... lacking. Thus far, i'd give it to Letang or Karlsson (personally i have Letang in the lead).

Looking at the charts and the eye test I would take Letang. No doubt much better overall defenseman than Rielly who at 22 minutes a game would not even be in my top 10 best defenseman. Most likely he will win it on points alone. But for me give me the player that plays the big minutes against the other teams top players while still putting up big points. Letang is having his best season of his career so far this year.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Rielly
Letang
Giordano

Top 3 imo