who as been the best defenseman overall in the WJC

[Kaizer]

Staal or Parent, IMO

 

[Seiza]

How about Oscar Hedman with +9 and -0?

That's pretty impressive, not being on the ice for one single goal against. He and Strålman seems to have good chemistry, a solid defensive pairing.

 

[An Ape called Yoko]

How about Oscar Hedman with +9 and -0?

Its 10+ and -0 now. 1 goal and 3 assists... Its very impressive.

 

[turbine]

Jack Johnson. Brain cramp elbow aside, this guy will be an a perennial all-star and US Olympian for the next 2 decades. Better than Suter and on the same tier as Phaneuf IMO.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Jack Johnson. Brain cramp elbow aside, this guy will be an a perennial all-star and US Olympian for the next 2 decades. Better than Suter and on the same tier as Phaneuf IMO.

I agree. You know he's good when all the haters are giving him props. All the skills, fundamentally sound, and a complete tool to play against. What more could you ask for in a defenseman?

 

[CoolDude*]

Luc Bourdon

Has not been close to the best Dman in the tournament. To me he hasn't really even been all that impressive. You can tell he has offensive talent but his defense is just plain horrible. He just looks like another future NHL bonehead defenseman like Jovanovski.

There's noway Bourdon is the best Dman on his team... let alone the tournament. At best he is the 3rd best dman on team Canada behind Staal and Parent.

 

[Den]

I agree. You know he's good when all the haters are giving him props. All the skills, fundamentally sound, and a complete tool to play against. What more could you ask for in a defenseman?

I would also pick JJ also he choked on a couple of Russian late goals

 

[MentalPowerHouse]

I haven't seen much of the tourny but I would love to see what people think about Staal....like what he's good at, what he needs to improve on, etc. What they expect Staal to turn out to be down the road. I've seen his stats from Sudbury this season, read articles, opinons, some clips but never had the chance to really seen him play but from everything, I'm very high on him and was impressed in the one pre-season game with the Rangers.

He has been very good, like his brother Eric his hockey smarts is what makes him good and combined with his size and skill he should be a good one. He hasn't put up alot of points but he also hasn't seen much if any PP time. He is being used with Parent in a defensive role to shut down the opponents top lines, and to kill penalties.

He has great poise in his own end, and makes excellent break out passes. I wouldn't worry about his offense, as seen in the OHL it is developing. I don't think he is natural offensive defensemen, but he is a defensive stud with good skills.

 

[Jumbo*]

Easily Staal...very VERY easily. This kid has been rock solid on defense and you cannot ask for anything more from a defensman.

As for Luc Bourdon being the best? LOL are your Kidding? He has not played great in his own zone and his offensive skills do not make up for it. Staal has been about 10x better then Luc.

1. Staal
2. JJ
3. E. Johnson
4. Parent

 

[august]

I didn't see any game of group B, so I don't know how Emelin, Smid, Hedman played, but for group A, Jack Johnson realy impressed me. For Canada, Bourdon, Staal and Parent play very well.

 

[CoolDude*]

Easily Staal...very VERY easily. This kid has been rock solid on defense and you cannot ask for anything more from a defensman.

As for Luc Bourdon being the best? LOL are your Kidding? He has not played great in his own zone and his offensive skills do not make up for it. Staal has been about 10x better then Luc.

1. Staal
2. JJ
3. E. Johnson
4. Parent

I think it's pretty clear too

 

[supermoon]

As for Luc Bourdon being the best? LOL are your Kidding? He has not played great in his own zone and his offensive skills do not make up for it. Staal has been about 10x better then Luc.

That's about the dumbest thing I've read today. I'm not going to be a cheerleader for who has been better, though IMO Bourdon has been the better overall d-man in terms of bringing a more well-rounded game. But to say Staal has been about 10x better is in the very least a gross and massive exaggeration.

 

[CoolDude*]

That's about the dumbest thing I've read today. I'm not going to be a cheerleader for who has been better, though IMO Bourdon has been the better overall d-man in terms of bringing a more well-rounded game. But to say Staal has been about 10x better is in the very least a gross and massive exaggeration.

atleast 5x better... 10x better defensively. 5-on-5 Staal is WAY better than Bourdon.

 

[Steveorama]

As for Luc Bourdon being the best? LOL are your Kidding? He has not played great in his own zone and his offensive skills do not make up for it. Staal has been about 10x better then Luc.

Yet, strangely, Bourdon has only been on for 1 goal against in 5 games, in spite of playing with his "Q" partner Letang, arguably the worst of the 6 Canadian defensemen.
As a bonus, Luc leads Canada in scoring and in shots, and is second on the D for plus-minus. Not to mention he has thrown some monster hits, too.
Are you sure your opinion isn't motivated by the fact that a certain team picking ahead of the Canucks took Brian Lee instead?

 

[TheDynasty]

For me, it is really going to come down to these last medal games. I want to see how guys like Bourdon and Emelin play in the Gold medal game, and I want to see how the Johnsons react to competing for Bronze.

I really don't see Staal or Parent getting much consideration. They've been on the ice for most of Canada's goals against this tourney. In fact, I think Cam Barker gets considered over them. The best d-man (be it in the tourney or NHL) is usual a two-way d-man, meaning points do count. Plus Barker has been quietly efficient, and catches way too much criticism around here for not 'dominating'.

Bourdon has been pretty awesome. The guy is by far Canada's most physical defenseman, has the most points on the Team (1-5-6), and the second highest +/- at +4. I think the fact he is always on dishing out big hits will help his case for best defensemen since it also makes him quite noticable out there. I know I always look at #6 to see if he's gonna pound someone. That being said, he'll be in some tough competition against Emelin and E.Johnson. This is why I think it will come down to the medal games. If any of these three d-men have really big games, they take it hands down.

atleast 5x better... 10x better defensively. 5-on-5 Staal is WAY better than Bourdon.

I'm sorry, but this statement just reaks of BIAS. I dunno why you're hating on Luc Bourdon, but I'll chalk it up to you being a Rangers fan, and trying to push your own prospects.

 

[CoolDude*]

Yet, strangely, Bourdon has only been on for 1 goal against in 5 games, in spite of playing with his "Q" partner Letang, arguably the worst of the 6 Canadian defensemen.
As a bonus, Luc leads Canada in scoring and in shots, and is second on the D for plus-minus. Not to mention he has thrown some monster hits, too.

These are the stats that have been so misleading.

 

[CoolDude*]

I really don't see Staal or Parent getting much consideration. They've been on the ice for most of Canada's goals against this tourney. In fact, I think Cam Barker gets considered over them. The best d-man (be it in the tourney or NHL) is usual a two-way d-man, meaning points do count. Plus Barker has been quietly efficient, and catches way too much criticism around here for not 'dominating'.

Staal and Parent do the penalty killing and play against other teams best players which would cause them to be on for the most goals against. They are the best pairing that plays against the best players...

 

[CoolDude*]

I'm sorry, but this statement just reaks of BIAS. I dunno why you're hating on Luc Bourdon, but I'll chalk it up to you being a Rangers fan, and trying to push your own prospects.

There has to be a reason why Staal is played against the other teams best players right? Maybe he's the best defensively?

 

[Steveorama]

These are the stats that have been so misleading.

True, statistical facts tend to be far more misleading than opinions...

 

[Thirty One]

Are you sure your opinion isn't motivated by the fact that a certain team picking ahead of the Canucks took Brian Lee instead?

then why would he like Staal?

 

[Thirty One]

True, statistical facts tend to be far more misleading than opinions...

but saying the defensemen who have played against the other teams' best players, and the most time on the PK has been on for the most GA is misleading

 

[TheDynasty]

Staal and Parent do the penalty killing and play against other teams best players which would cause them to be on for the most goals against. They are the best pairing that plays against the best players...

Best PAIRING. Now is this an award for the best d-man or the best defensive pairing?

You have to understand Barker and Bourdon are playing with Letang and Russel. These guys are not that good, in fact some posters speculate they only made the team based on the fact they were Barker and Bourdon's regular season d-partners and Sutter likes chemistry. This is also why Sutter never mixes d-pairings, even when someone like Staal is in the box you don't see a Bourdon/Parent tandem or something out PK'ing. I'm sure if Barker/Bourdon were paired together they would get a fair share of the PK duties, but they aren't. I think it is more a case of Sutter not wanting Russel or Letang out there during penalty kills, though Bourdon/Letang are most definitely the second PK unit anyways.

I'm not that big of a Bourdon fan to be honest, I've always stuck by the Canadiens scouting staff picking Price first, but you quite obviously have a hate on for the kid or something.

There has to be a reason why Staal is played against the other teams best players right? Maybe he's the best defensively?

You would prefer Letang or Russel be out there?

These are the stats that have been so misleading.

Are stats always misleading when they don't support YOUR side of an argument?

 

[Steveorama]

but saying the defensemen who have played against the other teams' best players, and the most time on the PK has been on for the most GA is misleading

When did I say this?

 

[Thirty One]

When did I say this?

my bad, I thought that was the stat in question

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

There has to be a reason why Staal is played against the other teams best players right? Maybe he's the best defensively?

No, becuase Bourdon plays with Letang (more chemistry than with anyone else) and Letange is horrible. Bourdon has been brilliant in the WJC's this year. Staal has been good, but I would say Borudon and Parent have played better in the tournament.