The Most Influential Position in Hockey

[User9992]

Which position in Hockey is the Most Important and Influential in your opinion?


1. Goalie

2. Centre

3. Defenseman

4. Wing

I think it's between Goalie and Centre, leaning towards Goalie. Cause they play whole game most of the time.

But usually the most talented players are Centres.

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[Filthy Dangles]

In the short term, a hot goalie can steal a game, a terrible goalie can singlehandedly lose you one. but if you're talking about building a team and more long term, you obviously take the stud center over the stud goalie.

 

[Mickey Marner]

In the short term, a hot goalie can steal a game, a terrible goalie can singlehandedly lose you one. but if you're talking about building a team and more long term, you obviously take the stud center over the stud goalie.

Agreed. Much greater repeatability of performance for an elite center.

 

[Nicomo Cosca]

I think a strong case can be made for defenseman. A true top pairing guy will play more minutes than any forward, and I can’t think of a single Cup winning team over the last decade or so that didn’t have a stud #1 Dman.

 

[Voight]

Arguably goalie.

Look at the 2003 Ducks. They were carried to the finals by an insanely hot goalie and almost won the damn thing,

 

[Canovin]

I went with the two centres

 

[OKR]

It’s goalie, all you need to do to figure it out, is to look at what position has fewest players playing it and there you have it.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

I think a strong case can be made for defenseman. A true top pairing guy will play more minutes than any forward, and I can’t think of a single Cup winning team over the last decade or so that didn’t have a stud #1 Dman.

Think harder.

 

[Ben White]

I think it’s right wing

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Goalie likely has the bigger effect in any particular game, but at the same time it's the deepest position. Nearly every team has a good goalie and there are plenty of capable backups waiting in the wings. Centers are prized more because there's not enough elite #1 centers to go around.

I would definitely pick the center because it's much easier to pick up a good goalie.

 

[Trap Jesus]

You could argue goalie back in the day, but the skill level is just too similar across the board now. The best goalies aren't that far above average goalies. Center play can make or break teams, there's a huge disparity in skill level between an average center and the best centers, and they make huge contributions both offensively and defensively.

 

[Nicomo Cosca]

Think harder.

Which team didn’t have one?

Blues-Pietrangelo
Caps-Carlson
Pens-Letang
Hawks-Keith
Kings-Doughty
Bruins-Chara

The last decade or so of Cup winners all had at least one stud Dman. They all had elite centers as well, but there’s no way goalie is more important in this day and age. Unless you think guys like Murray, Crawford, Niemi, Holtby, were more important than the guys above. It’s defenseman or center.

 

[Nicomo Cosca]

Arguably goalie.

Look at the 2003 Ducks. They were carried to the finals by an insanely hot goalie and almost won the damn thing,

And they didn’t win because the other team had Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer...

 

[Killer Orcas]

You build from the net out they say but honestly easier to find capable goalies then Dman or Centre's.
1D
1C
1G
1W

 

[LeafsNation75]

In the short term, a hot goalie can steal a game, a terrible goalie can singlehandedly lose you one. but if you're talking about building a team and more long term, you obviously take the stud center over the stud goalie.

There is a reason why Goalies very rarely get selected 1st overall with the last one being Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003 and in that example Pittsburgh traded up to 1st overall to select him.

It's also why a lot of people say if a legit #1 Center is available and you have the 1st overall pick it's why you should select him. For example there was Auston Matthews getting selected 1st overall in 2016 over Patrik Laine who is just a Winger.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Which team didn’t have one?

Blues-Pietrangelo
Caps-Carlson
Pens-Letang
Hawks-Keith
Kings-Doughty
Bruins-Chara

The last decade or so of Cup winners all had at least one stud Dman. They all had elite centers as well, but there’s no way goalie is more important in this day and age. Unless you think guys like Murray, Crawford, Niemi, Holtby, were more important than the guys above. It’s defenseman or center.

Letang didn't play in the 17 playoffs. The 09 Penguins also didn't have one for most of the playoffs as Gonchar was crippled and minutes-limited by OV's cheapshot, and Carolina 06 didn't have one.

 

[Nicomo Cosca]

Letang didn't play in the 17 playoffs. The 09 Penguins also didn't have one for most of the playoffs as Gonchar was crippled and minutes-limited by OV's cheapshot, and Carolina 06 didn't have one.

Pens are probably the closet to an exception. So basically you better have at least one or two studs on the blue line or the best player in the world.

 

[Nicomo Cosca]

And having to go all the way back to the weird post-lockout year the Canes won for another example kind of helps my point...

 

[bambamcam4ever]

And having to go all the way back to the weird post-lockout year the Canes won for another example kind of helps my point...

You need a good team in general.

The Blues last year might be the first team ever to win a cup without a HOF forward still in their prime or one of the very best goalies ever.

 

[koyvoo]

It’s 100% a goaltender. The issue is that the vast majority of the time, goalies don’t maintain the consistency of long periods of time.

 

[garbageteam]

Goalie. 1 top Goalie on a team > 1 top Centre on a team.

 

[Nicomo Cosca]

You need a good team in general.

The Blues last year might be the first team ever to win a cup without a HOF forward still in their prime or one of the very best goalies ever.

Fair point.

 

[BannedFromCDC]

Commissioner of the National Hockey League.

 

[SotasicA]

Goalie and it's not even close. A bad performance means you just lost the game. Any other player can afford a bad day and teammates could still pick up the slack.

Also the most obvious position when it comes to stealing a game. Don't allow any = can't lose.

 

[Merrrlin]

Goalie on a game by game basis.

Centre over a season.