Top defenceman in international play?

Top 3?

They must be playing in this tourny this season.

Top 3?

They must be playing in this tourny this season.

Aki Berg - Finland
Thomas Kaberle - Czechs
Fredrick Meyer - U.S.A.

And I'm not kidding about Berg either. Not too many top notch defensemen in this tourney.

1. Atyushov :yo:

Aki Berg - Finland
Thomas Kaberle - Czechs
Fredrick Meyer - U.S.A.

And I'm not kidding about Berg either. Not too many top notch defensemen in this tourney.


:dunno:

The bigger ice surface compliments Aki's game perfectly and allows Aki to dominate in international play.

Finland is lucky they have Aki, who lays it all on the line for Aki's homeland, instead of a player like Golden Boy McCabe, who says he's too tired to represent his country even though they went to bat for him to get him on the Olympic team.

I would rank the Russian defenders

1. Atyushov
2. Bykov
3. Koltsov

*Nikulin is challanging for a spot, he has looked stellar and got 4 points against Kazahstan.
*Kulyash would normally be in my top3 but has looked unstable lately.






I am not sure how they stack up against the other team's defenders... we will have to see as the tournament progresses. This defence was enough for Russia to win the Eurotour, I hope it fairs well in this tournament.

1. Kaberle
2. Nummelin
3. Kronvall
4. Streit

Nummelin

nummelin
Streit !!!

No NHLers? Nummelin.

1.Nummelin
2.Kaberle
3.Streit

Kronwall has played very good on big ice before...Wasn't he named the best defenseman of the last years Worlds? :)

Kronwall has played very good on big ice before...Wasn't he named the best defenseman of the last years Worlds? :)

At least he was selected to the all stars I believe. Nummelin has several all stars selections in world championships as well.

Kenny Jönsson?

Kronwall has played very good on big ice before...Wasn't he named the best defenseman of the last years Worlds? :)
Yes, he was named the best defenceman of the tournament last year.

Nummelin? :biglaugh: Maybe on top 10.

Top 3:

1. Tomas Kaberle
2. Kenny Jonsson
3. Niklas Kronwall

Nummelin is pretty good for Finland. For a player like Teppo it ain't the same game in these tournaments as the NHL. He can play a perfect game without exposing his weakness that often. He is defenitly as valuble for Finland as Kronwall is for Sweden and Kaberle for the Czech Rep. A wonderful hockeyplayer, on the international stage.

Hold on, Ola... It's Nummelin, not Numminen. Petteri Nummelin, the slick skater and wizard of long passes, plays for Lugano. Not Teppo Numminen, the solid all-round vet who is still playing for Buffalo in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Tricky those finnish names, eh? :)

1: Niklas Kronwall
2: Petteri Nummelin
3: Kenny Jönsson
4: Aki Berg/Kaberle

1. Tomas Kaberle
2. Kenny Jonsson
3. Niklas Kronwall
Agreed with this list.

And Nummelin has no place in top 3. He's a good defenceman but is nothing compared to these three.

Hold on, Ola... It's Nummelin, not Numminen. Petteri Nummelin, the slick skater and wizard of long passes, plays for Lugano. Not Teppo Numminen, the solid all-round vet who is still playing for Buffalo in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Tricky those finnish names, eh? :)

Of course. Thanks. Nr 3 small and blond. Not tall, dark, old NHL veteran. Should have known better.

Agreed with this list.

And Nummelin has no place in top 3. He's a good defenceman but is nothing compared to these three.

I understand your point on Kaberle and Jönsson, but what has Kronwall done that Nummelin has not? Kronwall will eventually be better, but maybe not yet. I'd place Berg ahead of Kronwall right now. The kid needs to prove something first

I understand your point on Kaberle and Jönsson, but what has Kronwall done that Nummelin has not? Kronwall will eventually be better, but maybe not yet. I'd place Berg ahead of Kronwall right now. The kid needs to prove something first
The kid needs to prove something?? Wasn't he selected the best defenceman in WHC last year (lockout year remember)? He played great in the Olympics (two games but anyway), and wasn't he named the best defenceman or something in the AHL last season?

I'd take Kronwall right now over Nummelin without a hesitation, and putting Berg ahead of him is just nuts.

The kid needs to prove something?? Wasn't he selected the best defenceman in WHC last year (lockout year remember)? He played great in the Olympics (two games but anyway), and wasn't he named the best defenceman or something in the AHL last season?

I'd take Kronwall right now over Nummelin without a hesitation, and putting Berg ahead of him is just nuts.

Nummelin would be great if he played even a little physical, but that guy never takles.

The kid needs to prove something?? Wasn't he selected the best defenceman in WHC last year (lockout year remember)? He played great in the Olympics (two games but anyway), and wasn't he named the best defenceman or something in the AHL last season?

I'd take Kronwall right now over Nummelin without a hesitation, and putting Berg ahead of him is just nuts.

Berg is an NHL veteran. Nummelin has several all star selections in world championships, has won the swiss league scoring title once, as a defenseman, and has played more NHL games.

Yes, Kronwall has to actually succeed in the NHL level and in more than one world championships before you can rate him over guys like Berg or even Nummelin. Especially Berg who has already represented his country in a few super tournaments, and has played like 600 NHL games. Kronwall is a very promising young guy, but he has something to prove before you can just rank him above people who have actually achieved more.

Nummelin, just look at his passes!

Berg is an NHL veteran. Nummelin has several all star selections in world championships, has won the swiss league scoring title once, as a defenseman.
I don't care if Berg is a former NHL veteran. Kronwall is still better. And I never said Konwall is a better offensive defenceman than Nummelin, but Kronwall is more of a complete package and way more physical than Nummelin.
Yes, Kronwall has to actually succeed in the NHL level and in more than one world championships before you can rate him over guys like Berg or even Nummelin. Especially Berg who has already represented his country in a few super tournaments, and has played like 600 NHL games. Kronwall is a very promising young guy, but he has something to prove before you can just rank him above people who have actually achieved more.
Kronwall has already proved me with his play in the AHL, WHC, and Olympics. In the NHL, he came back from the injury this season so that certainly affected his play there. Next season he's going to be huge and will be right there with Phaneuf and Pitkänen.

Nummelin, just look at his passes!

I have to agree with this post,

Some of his passes are so amazing.

I don't care if Berg is a former NHL veteran. Kronwall is still better. And I never said Konwall is a better offensive defenceman than Nummelin, but Kronwall is more of a complete package and way more physical than Nummelin.

Kronwall has already proved me with his play in the AHL, WHC, and Olympics. In the NHL, he came back from the injury this season so that certainly affected his play there. Next season he's going to be huge and will be right there with Phaneuf and Pitkänen.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, Kronwall might be better than Berg or Nummelin but he has to show it first before you can go and rank him better in speculation. Nothing so far in these games suggest that he is head and shoulders above Berg or Nummelin, and they have way more succesfull careers. But Kronwall will be better than they are, he just has to show it first. He probably would have done that already if he would have stayed healthy this season.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, Kronwall might be better than Berg or Nummelin but he has to show it first before you can go and rank him better in speculation. Nothing so far in these games suggest that he is head and shoulders above Berg or Nummelin, and they have way more succesfull careers. But Kronwall will be better than they are, he just has to show it first. He probably would have done that already if he would have stayed healthy this season.
Fair enough.

I'm just saying he has proved to me that he's an awesome player (mostly in european rinks since I've never seen him play in the AHL), but he was indeed a sort of dissapointment in the NHL this season, I'll give you that (tough he was injured half of the season).

If it wasn't for poor sports we would the best d man would be Regher or Phaneuf.

You know this tournament is a joke when you have players like Aki Berg and Petteri Nummelin being named the top defensemen.

You know this tournament is a joke when you have players like Aki Berg and Petteri Nummelin being named the top defensemen.

Wrong.

Where do you get this stuff?

Wrong.

Where do you get this stuff?
You're right, he's wrong. Aki will never be and never has been named the best defenceman.

Tomas Kaberle.

You're right, he's wrong. Aki will never be and never has been named the best defenceman.

Never say never.

Right now Finland is being carried by Aki on the back end.

If Finland wins gold, which has been predicted by every expert in the field, then it's realistic that Aki will win the tournament's best defender award.

Never say never.

Right now Finland is being carried by Aki on the back end.

If Finland wins gold, which has been predicted by every expert in the field, then it's realistic that Aki will win the tournament's best defender award.

You tell them Aki!:yo:

You tell them Aki!:yo:

:hockey: :hockey:

Never say never.

Right now Finland is being carried by Aki on the back end.

If Finland wins gold, which has been predicted by every expert in the field, then it's realistic that Aki will win the tournament's best defender award.
I hope so, both Aki winning the award and Finland winning gold.

But Aki needs to score more goals to win it. He must prove that the goal he scored last game wasn't a fluke. :teach:

I hope so, both Aki winning the award and Finland winning gold.

But Aki needs to score more goals to win it. He must prove that the goal he scored last game wasn't a fluke. :teach:

Aki scored? :amazed: Did it reflect from his butt into the goal?

Aki scored? :amazed: Did it reflect from his butt into the goal?
Close. It deflected off his skate. :biglaugh:

Tomas Kaberle and Kenny Jönsson for me. Kenny actually became a better national team performer after he returned to Europe. Maybe it's because he's not as fatigued and accustomed to the rink size.. he's been great anyway.

You know this tournament is a joke when you have players like Aki Berg and Petteri Nummelin being named the top defensemen.

.........................................Petteri Nummelin vs. Joe Thornton

Swiss Elite League 2004-05.....36.13+36=49............44.10+44=54
Best World Championships........9.1+12=13................9.6+ 10=16
First NHL Season....................61.4+12=16.............5 5.3+4=7

There. Numbers don't lie! :D ;)

How is Komisarek doing?

How is Komisarek doing?
not well enough to be mentioned in this thread.

Nummelin is leading the defensemen in scoring with 1+4 in 3 games. You guys still think he is not worth a mention in this thread?

He also sent Jussi Jokinen (yet again) to a breakaway but the linesman was shaky and called it offside which it wasn't according to replays.

Nummelin messed up in the Czechs 3rd goal, but his offensive game makes up for his shortcomings in D.

Nummelin is one of the best offenceman in any tournament, as good as anyone else. Defencively he is one of the worst if not entirely hopeless. What that amounts to depends on what your team needs, for this Team Finland he is the key player offencively.

I've yet to see a single Sweden game, but based on previous tournaments I'd say Kronvall is the best dman in this tournament. The kid is right there along with Pitkänen and Phaneuf as the young dman I'd love to have on my team. And I'm a Finn.

Aki was terrible against the Czechs last night, was the one to blame for atleast one if not two of the goals. Nummelin played a good game like always. Kaberle had a though game since the Finns went in hard on him making it hard for him to set up the play like he use to do. A very good game all in all. Since the Olympic Jagr hit this games really becomes hot.

Nummelin is leading the defensemen in scoring with 1+4 in 3 games. You guys still think he is not worth a mention in this thread? This is a thread about "top d-men", not "who scores most". Nummelin is absolutely crap in own zone, alongside with Berg. They shouldn't be mentioned here.

He also sent Jussi Jokinen (yet again) to a breakaway but the linesman was shaky and called it offside which it wasn't according to replays. How can you claim you've seen that replay, if you didn't see who gave that pass? It was Lehtonen, not Nummelin.

Nummelin messed up in the Czechs 3rd goal, but his offensive game makes up for his shortcomings in D. Nummelin and Berg, the brainfart-duo messed up the second goal. Nummelin messed up with Luoma, on the 3rd goal.

Nummelin is not worth a mention, as we all know how bad he is in the own zone. Just ask Kopitar.

This is a thread about "top d-men", not "who scores most". Nummelin is absolutely crap in own zone, alongside with Berg. They shouldn't be mentioned here.

How can you claim you've seen that replay, if you didn't see who gave that pass? It was Lehtonen, not Nummelin.

Nummelin and Berg, the brainfart-duo messed up the second goal. Nummelin messed up with Luoma, on the 3rd goal.

Nummelin is not worth a mention, as we all know how bad he is in the own zone. Just ask Kopitar.

Well I can claim I saw that replay, could be that I made a mistake with #3 and #33. Yeah, Nummelin was crap in our end in this game, but he is important because he creates offense better than the rest of our defensemen. Berg was the one to blame for the second goal, Nummelin just did not have time to react there really. Of course someone really good could have prevented it

Since the Olympic Jagr hit this games really becomes hot.

Doesn't seem to get that hot, Czech have nobody to do the "dirty work". Jarkko Ruutu was once again getting under their skin, and they did nothing about it. In an interview between periods they asked Ruutu if he was expecting some sort of revenge, so he said that Czechs have had all the chances in the world to revenge but nothing ever happens, just trash talk.

Berg was the one to blame for the second goal, Nummelin just did not have time to react there really. Of course someone really good could have prevented it
Berg gets most of the blame, but Nummelin should have taken the player that scored the goal.

Berg gets most of the blame, but Nummelin should have taken the player that scored the goal.


Of course he should have if he had seen the guy, but he had his back turned to that guy and was watching where the rebound might land. Berg was the one who passed the puck straight to the Czech's tape and created the scoring chance so mainly it was his fault.

Of course he should have if he had seen the guy, but he had his back turned to that guy and was watching where the rebound might land. Berg was the one who passed the puck straight to the Czech's tape and created the scoring chance so mainly it was his fault.
As I said Berg gets most of the blame for that goal, but Nummelin isn't complitely innocent here. It isn't an excuse that he did't "see" the guy or he had his back "turned" to the guy, he still should have taken the guy.

But the scoring chance was created by Berg making a stupid pass straight to a Czech player so he is indeed first to blame, but Nummelin could have prevented the goal by playing the situation properly.

Doesn't seem to get that hot, Czech have nobody to do the "dirty work". Jarkko Ruutu was once again getting under their skin, and they did nothing about it. In an interview between periods they asked Ruutu if he was expecting some sort of revenge, so he said that Czechs have had all the chances in the world to revenge but nothing ever happens, just trash talk.

True, the Czechs dont have a Ruutu type of player in their squad but the aggressivnes is there. And both teams played a tough, physical game that seem to suit Finland much better but I think the other republic stood up well and fought back.

Berg
Nummelin
Lehtonen
Kukkonen

Kaberle
Kronwall
Streit

Berg
Kaberle
Bezina

Kronwall has been like the rock in the 80´s - sucked ***.

Anybody from Canada

Anybody from Canada

Dan Hamhuis has played pretty solid..still no match for Nummelin and Kaberle.

Ilya Nikulin and Denis Kulyash are two unheralded but solid performers for Russia. Kulyash has 3 goals and Nikulin 6 points already. And they are only 23 (Nikulin) and 22 (Kulyash).

Are there still people who think Nummelin is not one of the top defensemen in this tournament? :p:

1: Niklas Kronwall
2: Petteri Nummelin
3: Kenny Jönsson
4: Aki Berg/Kaberle

Cant say that Aki have impressed me much, thought he would be better. I have not seen enough of Kaberle to say if he have done well or not but I very much like his style of play.

Kenny Jönsson is dominating yet a tournament. He is so cool when he is playing and doesn't make rash decisions and he knows how to hold on to the puck. Watching him play against the USA was watching a man among boys, he just dominated the ice and even got a goal. The fact that he isn't even playing in Swedens top league is just absurd, this guy should be in NHL. Kronwall has been good also but still a bit rusty since his injury. This guy can really move though, wonderful skating.

Is this question regarding only this year? If not, well IMHO, Jay Bouwmeester ranks way up there.

what about Nummelin, i know he sucks in defence, but he has 10 points already in this tourny.

Nummelin is one of the best offenceman in any tournament, as good as anyone else. Defencively he is one of the worst if not entirely hopeless. What that amounts to depends on what your team needs, for this Team Finland he is the key player offencively.

I've yet to see a single Sweden game, but based on previous tournaments I'd say Kronvall is the best dman in this tournament. The kid is right there along with Pitkänen and Phaneuf as the young dman I'd love to have on my team. And I'm a Finn.

Kenny Jönsson has without question been sweden best defensman in this tournament. Kronwall shows he got plenty of skills, but he is far from perfect in swedens zone. He has made some horrible turnovers and sometimes he looses his man in the defensive zone, though not so much in the last two games.

Kronwall have the best set of hockey tools of all the defenders in this tournament but his problem seem to be when to use them, He is still youngish and will get better in a couple of seasons I am sure. Jönsson, well, what the **** is he doing playing in Rögle? he should play every other night on one of the bigger stages in hockey. He is great.

Are there still people who think Nummelin is not one of the top defensemen in this tournament? :p:

Probably. But his 10 points and third place in scoring is hard to deny.

EDIT: I also think that Kukkonen is very underrated here. He's, afterall, the only Finnish defender who hasn't made big mistakes so far. And he can play. Offensively as well as defensively.

10 or more points by a defenseman in the World Championships since 1986:

1) Petteri Nummelin...........FIN....2001....1+12=13
2) Lubomir Visnovsky.........SLO...2003.....4+8=12
3) Petteri Nummelin...........FIN....2006.....3+7=10
4) Dave Manson...............CAN...1993.....3+7=10

Cant say that Aki have impressed me much, thought he would be better. I have not seen enough of Kaberle to say if he have done well or not but I very much like his style of play.

:hit:

If I had to pick any defenseman to rely on in this tournament, it would be Kenny Jönsson. Incredible poise in his own end and still a threat on the offense.

A defensive defenseman who can dish the puck on PP. What more can you ask for?

I don't care how many points Nummelin will produce this tournament if he still makes a mess in his own end, which is the most important aspect for a defenseman to be good at. Scoring is what you have forwards for.

It has been the same problem for Kronwall this tournament. Great skill in the offensive zone, great skating but has messed up too often in his own end.