Was prime Duncan Keith better than prime Scott Niedermayer?

[hamzarocks]

Prime Keith carried a 4-person blueline to a Cup

I think it's a pick em otherwise but that 2015 performance puts Keith over the top for me

That 4-person D had 2 elite D-man alongside him.

One was another top 20D in Seabrook - who had 17th and 20th norris finishes in 2014 and 2016, and was a #1D in the league on many teams.

a Chris Tanev clone in Hjalmarsson - so a top 40/50D and a top 5 defensive D in the league. Great #2/3D on any team

He wasn't carrying non elite d-core. Those 3 were the best 1-2-3 in the league.

Crawford also being an elite goaltender and one of the more underrated ones helped the Hawks be able to run a 4-man core and still win a cup

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That 4-person D had 2 elite D-man alongside him.

One was another top 20D in Seabrook - who had 17th and 20th norris finishes in 2014 and 2016, and was a #1D in the league on many teams.

a Chris Tanev clone in Hjalmarsson - so a top 40/50D and a top 5 defensive D in the league. Great #2/3D on any team

He wasn't carrying non elite d-core. Those 3 were the best 1-2-3 in the league.

Crawford also being an elite goaltender and one of the more underrated ones helped the Hawks be able to run a 4-man core and still win a cup

He was still playing over 31 minutes a night in all situations and as awesome as Seabrook and Hjalmarsson were there was no question who the alpha dog was

 

[hamzarocks]

He was still playing over 31 minutes a night in all situations and as awesome as Seabrook and Hjalmarsson were there was no question who the alpha dog was

Yeah no doubt he was the #1 but I'm not sure that run alone makes him get the edge over a comparable player in niedermayer

Seabrook played 26.5 mins and Hjalmarsson played 26 mins. I'm sure Keith got more offensive PP mins which brought his TOI up compared to those two.

Keith in 2015 was still a top 5D in the league. Similar to Niedermayer in 2007.

I think they have a very similar career peak and prime wise, Scott Niedermayer began off better at a younger age and for some reason retired pretty early which hurts him retrospectively.

He had a good 2010 season and retired at 36. Keith played post his decline for a few years

 

[tarheelhockey]

Really good question hence the variety of takes we’re seeing here.

It’s a coin flip to me. Neidermayer brought a little more the skilled, QB-style field general, while Keith was a much nastier factor to deal with. Put them on opposite sides of the ice and I don’t think either team has a distinct advantage.

 

[thebeernerd]

What? No. Jesus Christ no.

 

[ole ole]

No but a lot closer than some think.

 

[norrisnick]

Let me pose thos question another way to people:

Niedermayer was taken 3rd overall in '91, would anyone take Keith with one of thr top 3 picks in '02?

He should probably go #1, ya. Niedermayer probably wouldn't go top 3 in a 1991 redraft...

 

[PistolPete]

He should probably go #1, ya. Niedermayer probably wouldn't go top 3 in a 1991 redraft...

He'd be #1- ahead of even Lindros

 

[BraveCanadian]

At their bests it might be a toss up.. leaning Keith slightly for his godly playoffs.

 

[Elvs]

How in the world did Niedermayer win that Conn Smythe?

Voters were punishing Pronger for his suspensions?

Nieds wasn't even the team's best defenceman on that run, let alone best player.

Niedermayer scored two huge OT goals for the Ducks in the playoffs.

Pronger was suspended twice in the playoffs (once in the confernce finals and once in the finals) and the Ducks won both games without him.

Could've had something to do with it ...

 

[Bank Shot]

Niedermayer scored two huge OT goals for the Ducks in the playoffs.

Pronger was suspended twice in the playoffs (once in the confernce finals and once in the finals) and the Ducks won both games without him.

Could've had something to do with it ...

Yeah but the Ducks rolled over everyone in those playoffs. It's not like there was even a close series. Pronger outscored Nieds handily despite playing 2 less games and playing with a way worse D partner O'Donnell vs Beuchemain.

Seems like you have confirmed it was a narrative choice by the media rather than actually performance based.

 

[Elvs]

Yeah but the Ducks rolled over everyone in those playoffs. It's not like there was even a close series. Pronger outscored Nieds handily despite playing 2 less games and playing with a way worse D partner O'Donnell vs Beuchemain.

Seems like you have confirmed it was a narrative choice by the media rather than actually performance based.

Anaheim rolled over everyone but Detroit. That was a six game series but felt every bit like seven. If not for Niedermayers OT winner against them maybe Anaheim wouldn't have made it to the finals.

You can call Pronger's suspensions whatever you like. I'd count them to his 'performance'. Don't get me wrong, I love Pronger and what he did for the Ducks, but his two suspensions were dumb and didn't help the team in any way. Unless you want to argue taking Holmstrom out should count to his Conn Smythe case.

But definately you are right in that the Ducks rolled over most over it's opponents and there were several options for the Conn Smythe. Niedermayer won it while Pronger, Giguere, Pahlsson, Getzlaf and McDonald all had a case.