Norris Trophy Tournament (1992-Present) Final Round: 2000 Pronger vs 1994 Bourque

[blundluntman]

FINAL MATCHUP: Chris Pronger (2000) vs Ray Bourque (1994)

Chris Pronger (1999-00):

Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	Minutes Per Game	Other Stats	Awards/Honors
79	14	48	62	26:35	+52	Norris Trophy, 1st AST, Hart Trophy

Ray Bourque (1993-94):

Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	Minutes Per Game	Other Stats	Awards/Honors
72	20	71	91	N/A	+26	Norris Trophy, 1st AST, 6th in Hart

Round 1 Results
Round 2 Results
Round 3 Results
Round 4 Results

Click to read more...

 

[tabness]

don't really think Bourque deserved to be in the finals over a few other years but yeah would like to hear from someone who watched a lot of Bourque that year for maybe why he has a case against Pronger?

 

[Albatros]

Pronger easily, nearly as good offense and much better defense. Bourque doesn't belong or have a case here.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Pronger easily, nearly as good offense and much better defense. Bourque doesn't belong or have a case here.

What's your basis for saying that Pronger provided "much better defense"? You're either overrating Pronger defensively, underrating Bourque, or both.

There was a poll in January 1994 - ie in the second half of the season in question. 20 of the NHL's 26 coaches took part. Bourque was named the best defensive defenseman in the league - ahead of big names including Scott Stevens and Chris Chelios. Link. Granted, Pronger probably was the best defensive defenseman in the NHL in 2000, but there's no basis for saying that Pronger was much better defensively. And to show that wasn't a fluke, Bourque was runner-up in the February 1993 coaches' poll. Link.

 

[Felidae]

Pronger easily, nearly as good offense and much better defense. Bourque doesn't belong or have a case here.

I think the offensive gap is pretty clearly in favour of Bourque even accounting for scoring environment.

Pronger was 2nd in scoring amongst defenseman but 49th in scoring overall.

Bourque was the highest scoring defenseman while missing 10 games, and finished 21st in scoring overall

 

[Albatros]

What's your basis for saying that Pronger provided "much better defense"? You're either overrating Pronger defensively, underrating Bourque, or both.

There was a poll in January 1994 - ie in the second half of the season in question. 20 of the NHL's 26 coaches took part. Bourque was named the best defensive defenseman in the league - ahead of big names including Scott Stevens and Chris Chelios. Link. Granted, Pronger probably was the best defensive defenseman in the NHL in 2000, but there's no basis for saying that Pronger was much better defensively. And to show that wasn't a fluke, Bourque was runner-up in the February 1993 coaches' poll. Link.

Good for him, but having watched both extensively, Bourque was never in his career anywhere close to Pronger at his best. Certainly not defensively. Over a 10-year prime or so I'd take him too for he was much more consistent, but that's not what this is about.