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

[Agent Zuuuub]

and just like that brent burns has tied Reilly in points.

 

[Alwalys]

and just like that brent burns has tied Reilly in points.

nobody expects the wookieequisition

 

[Martin Skoula]

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).

Why isn't Hedman over PPG? Is Toronto's offense so much better or is Hedman that much worse than Rielly?

 

[habs03]

I think one thing a lot of ppl have been overlooking recently is: is the guy going out vs other teams top line? For me this is a must for the Norris. You have to be putting out insane offensive numbers if your not. A years back when Burns had the crazy year, Vlasic and Braun were facing other teams top line game in game out. Same goes for the Nashville boys, rightlful so, their coach gives them spot matches that fit their strength, ex Josi-Ellis vs McDavid, Crosby lines due to speed and Ekholm-Subban vs bigger lines like Ovi. For me you gotta be up vs teams top lines game in game out to be up for the Norris.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

nobody expects the wookieequisition

It’s funny how hardly anybody mentions him in these threads. He’s the leading scorer on a team that is 6th in goals per game, and he’s tied with Connor McDavid for 5th in assists. Combine that with some ridiculous underlying metrics and it’s a joke that his name isn’t being mentioned more in these threads.

The OP has everybody ranked well, but Rielly and Giordano will probably fizzle out a bit and Burns will probably take things over.

 

[SabresSharks]

I can't help but chuckle when I see this thread title. The Dallas color guy is the only hockey person I can recall ever using the term "gaudy".

 

[Master P]

and just like that brent burns has tied Reilly in points.

 

[MrThomas]

What about Rasmus Norristolainen?

 

[Sniperberg]

 

[Honour Over Glory]

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

5. Kris Letang, Penguins

4. Erik Karlsson, Sharks

3. Brent Burns, Sharks

2. Mark Giordano, Flames

1. Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs

I love the irony in that list.

He's not as good defensively as the rest on that list, but he's at the top for the Norris because.....points.

Lol.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Burns or Karlsson would put up approximately one thousand points if they played on the Leafs. They (along with Pavelski’s hand-eye coordination) are carrying the Sharks, while Rielly is at best the fourth best offensive player on his own team. Never mind that Rielly is not very good defensively.

 

[NoName]

How many points do you think Reilly would have playing on a team like the Habs, for example? Is he really that much better than he was before or is it super easy to get points feeding passes to guys like Matthews, Marner, Tavares etc...?

I don’t know, how many points would Letang have without playing with Crosby, Malkin or Kessel? How many points would Karlsson have right now without the Sharks having deadly players like Burns and Pavelski. How many points would Giordano have without monster seasons by Gaudreau and Monahan (on pace for 100+ points each) or Lindholm (on pace for over 90 points)?

You can’t just pick and choose who gets the penalized for having great teammates to play with when it seems that all of these contenders have multiple superstars to pass the puck to.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I don’t know, how many points would Letang have without playing with Crosby, Malkin or Kessel? How many points would Karlsson have right now without the Sharks having deadly players like Burns and Pavelski. How many points would Giordano have without monster seasons by Gaudreau and Monahan (on pace for 100+ points each) or Lindholm (on pace for over 90 points)?

You can’t just pick and choose who gets the penalized for having great teammates to play with when it seems that all of these contenders have multiple superstars to pass the puck to.

That's why it should not be based solely on offensive production but also context, ice time, defensive ability, etc.

 

[96]

and just like that brent burns has tied Reilly in points.

Sure has nothing to do with the fact that the Leafs haven’t played

 

[TT1]

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

I still don't understand what you mean tho. How does Petry help Weber when they don't play together, Weber still matches up every shift vs top lines and he still plays #1 D minutes? Weber helps Petry out by giving him easier minutes/match-ups, Petry doesn't do anything for Weber.

 

[The S5]

It's not really fair to knock Reilly's point totals as being a product of his team this season, particularly in the context of the Norris discussion. Let's face it, the Norris has nothing to do with who is the best D in the NHL and it hasn't for some time.
FWIW, any discussion with Letang as a Norris contender should be discounted immediately.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Why isn't Hedman over PPG? Is Toronto's offense so much better or is Hedman that much worse than Rielly?

A quick guess would be Tampa has a good defense so there may be some emphasis on defensive play in that system.

 

[The Podium]

I love the irony in that list.

He's not as good defensively as the rest on that list, but he's at the top for the Norris because.....points.

Lol.

Is this a joke? He is a lot better than all but Giordano.

 

[RoloTonyBrownTown]

Is this a joke? He is a lot better than all but Giordano.

Is this a joke? He is not.

 

[LeafFever]

I think one thing a lot of ppl have been overlooking recently is: is the guy going out vs other teams top line? For me this is a must for the Norris. You have to be putting out insane offensive numbers if your not. A years back when Burns had the crazy year, Vlasic and Braun were facing other teams top line game in game out. Same goes for the Nashville boys, rightlful so, their coach gives them spot matches that fit their strength, ex Josi-Ellis vs McDavid, Crosby lines due to speed and Ekholm-Subban vs bigger lines like Ovi. For me you gotta be up vs teams top lines game in game out to be up for the Norris.

Then Rielly wins. He has always faced amongst the toughest competition in the entire nHL. Even prior to this year he was top 5 in QOC in the entire NHL.

 

[Albi34]

Where is this idea coming from that Rielly is bad defensively? He's the most relied upon player on the Leafs. It's like people just assume he is abandoning defense now that his offensive game is fully developed. Not even remotely true. He's doing very well with zero sheltering

 

[LeafFever]

A quick guess would be Tampa has a good defense so there may be some emphasis on defensive play in that system.

They are allowing as more shots and more GA than the Leafs.
Leafs-5th in GA.
Tampa-14th in GA.

Interesting that a team hyped as unstoppable is only 14th in GA.

 

[ToDavid]

I love the irony in that list.

He's not as good defensively as the rest on that list, but he's at the top for the Norris because.....points.

Lol.

I love Burns but even Sharks fans admit he's basically a forward. Rielly is at least as good defensively as Karlsson and Letang and neither of them have to carry around the corpse of Ron Hainsey. The only guy on that list that is clearly a tier above is Gio.

Also, that's not irony.

 

[T REX]

Why isn't Hedman over PPG? Is Toronto's offense so much better or is Hedman that much worse than Rielly?

Great question. I am pretty sure Hedman's ice time has been reduced. We're in this for the long game. The Cup. This version of the Lightning seems different. Hedman is a way better defenseman than Rielly overall and over a longer sustained period. Sorry to burst your bubble. LOL. But, you keep fighting the fight. We'll let you have the Norris...we have bigger fish to fry.

 

[Nashology]

While many experts are mentioning Burns as being better this year defensively due to a lower number of turnovers, he is still horrible on the back end lol. Offensively he is on another level though.