Didn't have a lot of time to post since earlier in the week, but this was a good read.
-My thoughts on Nighbor and Messier haven't changed since the last round. They are my top two. I think Nighbor's overall defensive game gives him the edge. Strong evidence has been presented that Messier was the best non-Gretzky/Lemieux forward in the NHL for a significant length of time. He was not a "great" defensive player though. More like adequate, with an offensive game that gets underrated by stats/leaderboards, and a physical imposing presence that did have a cost (penalties), but the ends justified the means most of the time.
-I believe it's time for Mikita. Good debate between him, Esposito, Lafleur, but he was clearly a more well-rounded player. Playoffs aren't a great look for him, but no evidence has been presented to show he was outright bad besides a couple isolated incidences. And he balances those with a couple exceptional performances as well.
-I'm sold that this was the right time for Fetisov's appearance, and I expect he'll be inside my top 5. I think his longevity argument is similar to Mikita's. Played for a long time past his prime, but those are still positive contributions. In other words, longevity is not a knock for this player; it's just not a positive to the same extent as it is for a Bourque or a Beliveau.
-Good debates between Hall and Brodeur. My opinion of them both has risen this week. I believe I will have them back-to-back on my ballot. Sawchuk's sporadic hot and cold play hurts him in comparison to them. Though I do believe his peak at least gets him in the conversation against a Lafleur or Ovechkin, who similarly have question marks about their off-peak effectiveness.
-Speaking of...Lafleur, for all his faults, was enough of a driving force on a dynasty that I will consider him for my top 5 in this ballot. Phil Esposito is in a similar position. I think what hurts Phil for me is the fact that he just wasn't a great playoff performer outside of 1970 and 1972 (and the Summit series as well).
-Ovechkin belongs in this discussion, but he still suffers in how one-dimensional his play was for much of his career. Citing goal scoring finishes just doesn't do it for me against players like Mikita or Messier, who could certainly score themselves while contributing so much more in other areas. The book isn't finished yet; Ovechkin could yet rise in my eyes with more great playoff runs like last year.
-Good discussion of Clarke. Some give and take. Right time for his name to enter the debate, but I think it's a little early for him to be voted onto the list. The modest scoring stats in the playoffs have been sufficiently explained. How much credit he deserves for 74 and 75 in relation to Parent is still an open question.