FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 45 is Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski.Even at the age of 35, Brian Rafalski is still getting better, statistically speaking anyway, as his points-per-game and points-per-minute have improved in each of the past five seasons. Playing alongside Nicklas Lidstrom the past two seasons certainly hasn't hurt, as the two have teamed up to form one of the most prolific defensive pairings in the NHL.
The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List
During the 2008-09 season, the two players combined for 118 points, making them the highest-scoring defensive pairing in the league.
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Draft Year: Not Drafted
Prior to signing with the New Jersey Devils in May 1999, Rafalski spent four years in Sweden and Finland. His best season came in 1998-99 when he scored 19 goals to go with 34 assists for HIFK Helsinki, a performance that earned him the Kultainen Kypara, which is Finland's answer to the Lester B. Pearson Award. A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Rafalski signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Wings prior to the 2007-08 season after spending the first seven years of his career with the New Jersey Devils.
Why He's On My List
An excellent puck-moving defenseman, Rafalski has been a key contributor on three Stanley Cup winning teams, and based on his bottom line numbers, is a model of consistency in terms of production. Over the past four seasons his assist totals have been 43, 47, 42, 49 while his point totals have been 49, 55, 55, 59. I have him ahead of Dan Boyle (who is a superior player offensively) because, to me, Rafalski is slightly better in his own end and a more complete player.
Obligatory YouTube Video
Brian Rafalski, in his pre-NHL days, playing in Europe.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-22-2009 @ 6:20PM
rwing said...
Just love Raf's baby-blue eyes, and he IS a consistently good player. Glad he approached the Wings(or the Wings approached him...forget which) in regards to playing for Detroit. A great addition to the DRW.
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7-22-2009 @ 8:35PM
rwing said...
Don't like my comments because I'm a Red Wing fan Adam??? I thought we had "freedom of speech" in this country. I'll tell you one thing if you have the "guts" not to take my comment out.
As Red Wing fans, we watched BUTTman's refs. rip us ALL YEAR, so what transpired in the Stanley Cup playoffs didn't surprise us.
Let's start with the Columbus series...2 Columbus sticks=1. In the Anaheim series a GOOD GOAL was disallowed. In the Chicago series, Kronwall gets tossed from the game for a CLEAN AND LEGAL hit. And oh yes, then we have the Pittsburgh series where 4 sets of eyes misses 6 Pittsburgh players on the ice for almost 25 seconds....instead a Detroit player is whistled for a penalty. So rather than a possible 3-1 score, Pittsburgh scores to tie the game. And that is just ONE example. The NHL didn't even enforce IT'S OWN RULES on the instigator incident. The refs. "selective sight" was quite prevalent thruout the series, not calling numerous penalties against your Pittsburgh bunch. But they sure didn't miss anything when it came to Detroit, even calling penalties WHEN THERE WASN'T ONE. PATHETIC!!!
In the final analysis, Gary BUTTman got his wish thru his robbing and ripping refs. to get Crysby, whom he slobbers all over himself in fawning as the poster-boy of the NHL, to hoist the Cup. Absolutely pathetic to what lengths the NHL went to in order for the Penguins to win the Cup. "The better team didn't win".....not my words, but those of a neutral blogger, I believe from Columbus. COULDN'T AGREE WITH HIM MORE....MUST BE NICE TO HAVE THE REFS. LITERALLY HAND THE CUP TO THE INFERIOR TEAM. Stanley Cup Champs, my A**!!!!
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7-22-2009 @ 9:15PM
adamfanhouse said...
I didn't delete your comment, but I saw the comment you're referring to. We've had a big problem with spammers lately and anything that resembles spam gets dumped. Has nothing to do with you being a Red Wings fan.
7-22-2009 @ 9:26PM
rwing said...
Just one more thing....let me guess who'll be Number 1. Hmmm???.....Malkin the Basher, Crosby the Slasher or A.O.--The Arrogant One...Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin showboating around after he scores a goal, acting like his stick is too hot to pick up....pitiful...more of a disgrace to the game than a credit to it. Then at the NHL Awards show, takes a shot at Datszuk who didn't know what to make of it.
Doesn't matter who you pick, all of them LEAVE MUCH TO BE DESIRED....in the way of class and sportsmanship.
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7-24-2009 @ 11:32AM
Josh said...
Not gonna lie, dude. You're giving us Red Wing fans a bed reputation. I don't care what team you are a fan of, the top 3 players in the NHL are clear cut. Malkin, Crosby, and Ovechkin in no order at all. They may not be classy but they are the absolute best in the league. Datsyuk is top 5 and Zetterberg should be top 10 but the top 3 are as easy as saying the top 5 forwards of the 90's (Messier, Lemiuex, Yzerman, Sakic, and Gretzky)
7-22-2009 @ 9:32PM
rwing said...
Maybe I'm not supposed to mention the event due to event "rights" or whatever.....just want people to have a good time. Meant no harm by it.
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