Saw his whole career, best comparison was the guy who said the Dan Girardi of his day...steady, smart
NYR Top Defensemen of All-Time (Rules & Preliminary Discussion)
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Saw his whole career, best comparison was the guy who said the Dan Girardi of his day...steady, smart
eco's bones
Registered User
Granted that I was fairly new to hockey back in the Park, Rolfe, Seiling, Neilson days but I never cared much for Rod Seiling. I really don't think a Girardi comparison is that apt. If I were to compare Girardi to any of that group it would be Neilson. To me Seiling was a bit of a cream puff. Neilson had a more physical, grind it out style. Just a solid defense first guy. Always take the body--and not take too many penalties doing it.
And I actually think the Rangers would have liked very much if Seiling could have brought more offense--helped the pwp. As it was when I began following the team--the two primary pointmen were Park and Bobby Rousseau who was a forward--mostly a center. Rousseau was a good player, very smart but he'd been around a long time mostly with the Canadiens and getting close to done.
And I actually think the Rangers would have liked very much if Seiling could have brought more offense--helped the pwp. As it was when I began following the team--the two primary pointmen were Park and Bobby Rousseau who was a forward--mostly a center. Rousseau was a good player, very smart but he'd been around a long time mostly with the Canadiens and getting close to done.
Seiling was one of those guys you never worried about: you just wound him up on opening day and let him play. The perfect 2nd pair D who did the job for a long time: dependable, smart, used positioning perfectly, contributed some offense when called upon.
Member of Team Canada in 72, respected by his peers. Not in the least a cream puff but a guy who was just all around good.
Not saying he is in the top 10 or even top 15, but definitely somewhere 16-20. The guy was top-notch.
And speaking of Girardi, hasn't he been around long enough to get a sniff? I love Staal but he has missed so much time due to injury that Girardi should be above him. Love McD and no doubt one day he will be in the top 10. But not yet, he hasn't been around long enough.
Jim Nielson was a fine Dman for a long time on this team and should be somewhere 16-20 but Seiling was simply a better defenseman.
Member of Team Canada in 72, respected by his peers. Not in the least a cream puff but a guy who was just all around good.
Not saying he is in the top 10 or even top 15, but definitely somewhere 16-20. The guy was top-notch.
And speaking of Girardi, hasn't he been around long enough to get a sniff? I love Staal but he has missed so much time due to injury that Girardi should be above him. Love McD and no doubt one day he will be in the top 10. But not yet, he hasn't been around long enough.
Jim Nielson was a fine Dman for a long time on this team and should be somewhere 16-20 but Seiling was simply a better defenseman.
Paired together for many years, a very effective 2nd pairing, my only problem with Neilson was not bringing the physical game every night, Seiling was much more steady
After giving it some thought, I might place Beukeboom above Patrick, Maloney and Ruotsalainen.
Beukeboom was such a unique specimen and back when size and strength could be used to a defenseman's advantage more than they can today, Beuk had those qualities in spades. He was intimidating. He wasn't great defensively but he was good enough and intimidating enough to get the job done more often than not...and he was a great compliment to Leetch.
Patrick was in NY for 11 seasons but I see him as a second pairing Dman. I always thought of him as a poor man's Leetch (like people used to call M. Schneider a poor man's Chelios). I did feel bad when he wasn't around to win the Cup though (him and Gartner). I don't know that Patrick makes the Top 20.
Dave Maloney - 8 seasons in NY where he played 56 games or more. Wasn't he Captain for a while? My memories of him are that he was a two-way player and a guy who never gave up. Looking at his stats, he had a LOT of PIM's. I think he makes the bottom of the list.
I'll post some more later. Have to get back to work
Beukeboom was such a unique specimen and back when size and strength could be used to a defenseman's advantage more than they can today, Beuk had those qualities in spades. He was intimidating. He wasn't great defensively but he was good enough and intimidating enough to get the job done more often than not...and he was a great compliment to Leetch.
Patrick was in NY for 11 seasons but I see him as a second pairing Dman. I always thought of him as a poor man's Leetch (like people used to call M. Schneider a poor man's Chelios). I did feel bad when he wasn't around to win the Cup though (him and Gartner). I don't know that Patrick makes the Top 20.
Dave Maloney - 8 seasons in NY where he played 56 games or more. Wasn't he Captain for a while? My memories of him are that he was a two-way player and a guy who never gave up. Looking at his stats, he had a LOT of PIM's. I think he makes the bottom of the list.
I'll post some more later. Have to get back to work
eco's bones
Registered User
Neilson may not have always been consistent physically but Seiling wasn't physical at all--though my calling him a cream puff is probably going a little far. Of the two I'd take Neilson before Seiling--and I'd probably take Neilson over Park's defense partner Rolfe as well.
Commenting on Ruotsolainen--very dangerous offensive player--kind of a smaller version of Erik Karlsson. Karlsson's not that big. If Reijo had been 6'0 or so--a more normal sized d he might be an HoF worthy player. Teams were always looking to match up their power forwards against him because he was to small he couldn't handle guys like Tim Kerr physically and so his offense was somewhat negated by his defense but when Reijo was on he could light it up. His skating and stick skills were outstanding.
Dave Maloney was a two way guy. He did everything pretty well but was not outstanding at anything. He played with some edge but wasn't the strongest guy and though he was combative and willing to drop the gloves now and again he wasn't a good fighter. He was captain for a while--I believe he was the youngest captain in Rangers history. His captaincy if I remember correctly gets remarked on a lot in Larry Sloman's A season in hell book--by a lot of Rangers players most of whom (Duguay, Murdoch, Greschner, Hickey) commented negatively. I believe the C was taken from him and given to the next in line Barry Beck.
Commenting on Ruotsolainen--very dangerous offensive player--kind of a smaller version of Erik Karlsson. Karlsson's not that big. If Reijo had been 6'0 or so--a more normal sized d he might be an HoF worthy player. Teams were always looking to match up their power forwards against him because he was to small he couldn't handle guys like Tim Kerr physically and so his offense was somewhat negated by his defense but when Reijo was on he could light it up. His skating and stick skills were outstanding.
Dave Maloney was a two way guy. He did everything pretty well but was not outstanding at anything. He played with some edge but wasn't the strongest guy and though he was combative and willing to drop the gloves now and again he wasn't a good fighter. He was captain for a while--I believe he was the youngest captain in Rangers history. His captaincy if I remember correctly gets remarked on a lot in Larry Sloman's A season in hell book--by a lot of Rangers players most of whom (Duguay, Murdoch, Greschner, Hickey) commented negatively. I believe the C was taken from him and given to the next in line Barry Beck.
Crease
Chief Justice of the HFNYR Court
- Jul 12, 2004
- 24,765
- 27,707
**ADMIN NOTE**
Friendly reminder that preliminary lists are due TODAY. If you would like to participate in the voting rounds, please PM me your ranked list of top 20 defensemen in franchise history. If for whatever reason you need an extension, please let me know.
Friendly reminder that preliminary lists are due TODAY. If you would like to participate in the voting rounds, please PM me your ranked list of top 20 defensemen in franchise history. If for whatever reason you need an extension, please let me know.
Crease
Chief Justice of the HFNYR Court
- Jul 12, 2004
- 24,765
- 27,707
We're extending the deadline another 24 hours because at least one hopeful participant was out of town for the holiday weekend. I imagine this might have been the case for some other posters as well. So if you would like to participate in the voting round, please PM me your top 20 list within the next 24 hours.
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Seiling, solid in his own end, not very good at moving the puck into
the offensive end.
Neilson was defensively solid, a better skater, and could chip in some
points.
I said it before, when Neilson went down with injuries, Seiling's effectiveness
dropped. They were a great, dependable pairing, but I give Neilson an edge.
Hurts me to say that a bit. Knew him well and really don't like him
Greschner is an interesting one. Our family had a business that involved many
Rangers back in the day. Gresh, Esposito, Beck and the boys enjoyed the
city, just a little too much
Gresch was talented, did a lot, but when he was pissed or inspired, he had another gear that he didn't use enough. Just seemed to be and "almost" guy.
the offensive end.
Neilson was defensively solid, a better skater, and could chip in some
points.
I said it before, when Neilson went down with injuries, Seiling's effectiveness
dropped. They were a great, dependable pairing, but I give Neilson an edge.
Hurts me to say that a bit. Knew him well and really don't like him
Greschner is an interesting one. Our family had a business that involved many
Rangers back in the day. Gresh, Esposito, Beck and the boys enjoyed the
city, just a little too much
Gresch was talented, did a lot, but when he was pissed or inspired, he had another gear that he didn't use enough. Just seemed to be and "almost" guy.
