The Big D: Potvin Or Leetch?
August 23, 2010
The great hockey blog Hockey Hermit recently posted a “Best 10 Defenseman of All Time” list, and had former Islander team captain Denis Potvin at No. 7, and ex-Ranger legend Bryan Leetch at No. 8.
Now I am a huge fan of both, but when I asked some hockey fans of late who they thought had a better career; predictably the Rangers fans said Leetch and Isles fans said Potvin.
Now I expected this response, but now thought I have the proper forum, I can ask a bigger audience.
So? Who had the better career, Potvin or Leetch?
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im a huge rangers fan. so i have seen brian play since day one. i think his stats dont tell his complete story since he played hurt quite often. but when he was on he was one of the best offensive forwards of all time on a team that didnt always support him with quality players. when he did have quality players behind him he scored 104 pts and won the cup. potvin was a true all around player, good at every aspect, but had some of the greatest players of all time around him. so in true ranger fan fashion, im going with leetch.
Potvin, easily (and I’m not a fan of either team). Leetch was a great player and his defense was better than people gave him credit for (much like Sergei Gonchar’s defense is overlooked); however, Potvin had tremendous offensive ability as well and was a far superior defensive player and a punishing hitter.
When I think of the greatest d-men in the history of hockey, I think of players such as Orr, Potvin, Kasatonov, Fetisov, Coffey, and Mark Howe. No disrespect to Leetch, but he doesn’t measure up to these players.
This entire conversation is a ridiculous joke. If you are a HOCKEY fan at all, this is not even a serious discussion. Potvin is one of the greatest defensemen, ever, in any era. Brian Leetch was indeed a gifted player with underrated defensive skills, but is no where even close to Potvin. Sorry.
Although I believe Mr. Weinrich post clouds the issue by putting Mark Howe in with guys like Bobby Orr, when real hockey fans think of greatest ever d-men, they think of guys like Doug Harvey, Red Kelly, Bobby Orr, Larry Robinson, Brad Park, and Denis Potvin. I would put modern guys like Chris Pronger and Lidstrom in with those aforementioned guys way before Leetch.