I didn't say it's "weak." I said it's not as strong as it was a few years ago. World of difference.
Chelios, Leetch, MacInnis and Stevens were in their prime in 1990 and 1995. The fact that they would even be mentioned among the elite now is not only a testament to how great they are (Chelios is in my top 10, Stevens and MacInnis are in the top 20 and Leetch would be just behind Lidstrom) but that this generation of blueliners isn't as strong as the last.
Out of all the defencemen drafted in the last 20 years, Lidstrom is the only one who has been seriously for an all-time top 10 list. (Outside of a gonzo nomination for AKi Berg. Even Leetch [1986] hasn't been mentioned on lists beyond "these are guys who I've seen"). From 1979 to 1983 alone, we had Coffey, Bourque, Stevens, MacInnis and Chelios. Robinson (1971) and Potvin (1973) have been in many top 10s. Langway (1977) received, I believe, an honourable mention or two. Even on your own list, you have six guys picked from 1971 to 1983. Since then, I see only Lidstrom. The fact is, the number of elite defencemen (and their overall calibre) was higher in the 1980s and early 1990s.
As I stated before, Lidstrom is a surefire future first ballot HHOFer who should rank in the top 20 to 25 defencemen of all time. But ahead of say, Stevens? No.