NHL's Top 50: Mike Green (No. 26)

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 26 is Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green.

The inclusion of Sergei Gonchar in the top-30 ignited quite a debate and plenty of disagreement, and I'm expecting an equal amount at the placement of Washington's Mike Green. A couple of weeks ago, I asked if we would ever see another NHL defenseman hit the century mark in a single season, and came to the conclusion that Green is the only player with a legitimate chance. He not only led all defensemen in scoring this past season, he obliterated the competition, leading Andrei Markov, the No. 2 defenseman, by nine points, despite playing in 10 fewer games.

That all has to be worth something. Right?

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

If we simply take his 1.07 points-per-game average from 2008-09 and multiply it out over 82 games, that comes to, roughly, 87 points -- which is an unheard of number for a defenseman in the post-1994 NHL. You can't question his value offensively. Defensively? That's another story. As we discussed with Gabriel Desjardins on Thursday, measuring defense is still very subjective. James Mirtle pointed out back in mid-March that Green's defense may not be as bad as its perceived to be at times.

Among his accomplishments in 2008-09: He broke an NHL record for most consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman, became the first rearguard to score 30 goals in a season since 1993, and was also a finalist for the Norris Trophy.

The Numbers: Mike Green
Mike Green	Goals	Assists	Points	Pim
Career Totals	52	92	144	184
Average Per 82 Games	17.2	31.1	49.2	62.3

Draft Year: 2004

Not a bad year for the Capitals, as their three first-round picks brought them Green, Jeff Schultz and Alex Ovechkin.

Why He's On My List

I don't think it can be debated that Green is the best offensive-defenseman in the NHL, and by a rather large margin. What it comes down is how do you rate him defensively. Regardless, he's so dominant offensively that he has to be in here, and I think there's plenty of value for a guy that can take over a game like Green can from the blue line.

Obligatory YouTube Video

Mike Green's record-breaking goal-scoring streak.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-31-2009 @ 9:37AM

claytor said...

I can only be fair after the lambasting of Gonchar being placed so highly in the top 50 players in the NHL right now, and evenly place Green in the same category. Simply put, these two are defensemen, which when you consider defense in other sports, it might be ok for Manny to drop a ball in left on occasion, we even giggle about it during the highlights, but in the NHL? It literally can cost you games. Precious games.

Saying Green doesnt play "as bad defensively as made out to be" is akin to saying Jeter is an adequate shortstop, and his blunders arent that bad. We all know how that debates turned out, and ive argued on behalf of Jeter, because honestly speaking, if he boots one occasionally, it doesnt lead to as direct a score or scoring chance as if Greens caught with his pants down at the other teams blue trying to get back.

We can debate this forever, but in the context of things, neither the Caps NOR the Pens won with these guys playing major roles so much as the players that had to be added to make up for their lack of grit. The Caps forced Green to focus more on d during the playoffs, and less on being slap happy, and Gonchar? Well the Pens deadline deals for tough gritty players signified how soft they were defensively, and that includes him.

It wouldve been more fair to put the actual two way defenders up higher than point scorers, esp when it comes to NHL brand defense.

7-31-2009 @ 9:46AM

adamfanhouse said...

Claytor, I'm going to disagree with this part of your comment:

" but in the context of things, neither the Caps NOR the Pens won with these guys playing major roles so much as the players that had to be added to make up for their lack of grit."

I think you're underrating just how important Sergei Gonchar is to the Penguins, and how important he has been to the Penguins. Part of the reason they were so awful until the middle of February was because they lacked grit, yes, but it was also because Gonchar was out of the lineup. They were a mess without him. It just so happened that his return, the coaching change, and the trades all happened in a three-week span.

I admit, I don't see the Capitals as much as you, or as much as I see the Penguins, but I just think there's a lot of value in a guy like Green, even with his shortcomings defensively.

7-31-2009 @ 10:04AM

Im not saying they are terrible, again, i think theyre both pretty righteous for what they do, Adam.

But youre talking 50 most important players, and im sorry but when it comes to defensemen? You just dropped the names of like six guys, three of whom play a far better two way game than either of these two do, and yes, i have seen a bunch of Caps games, but its really for the sake of saying hey, two cred from the D position in hockey is a HUGE deal. The Devils won with it. The Ducks won with it. The Canes. List goes on and on. Sure both of these guys can play solid, but for being called the 26th and 29th best available players in the league, thats simply not good enough for me. Id totally take a more two way based D-man over these two, or at least before one of them, just to shore up my -wait for it- Defense.

Gonchar only hurt the Pens on the power play with those 60 plus games missed, as evidenced by their sudden increased potency when he returned. He was always a bit lackluster in D.C., and in the end? Its why they let him go. If Green doesnt sharpen up two way, 100 point dreams or not, hell get tossed as well.

Top 50 yes, most definitely. This is the scorer to your defender on the blue line. I find it ironic that Nabakov made the list and its because of his incredible defense, and he has less value than some who dont play it as well in the very position that defines them.

7-31-2009 @ 11:05AM

Bruce Ciskie said...

Mike Green is the best offensive defenseman in the game.

Unless you decide that he is a total butcher on the other end of the rink, he has to be seriously considered for a high spot.

I don't think he's anywhere near Zdeno Chara or Nicklas Lidstrom, or Chris Pronger when he's behaving, but I think he's atop the next tier of really good defensemen.

Just because there isn't a ton of balance in his game doesn't mean he's not more than adequate as a defender.

7-31-2009 @ 12:25PM

Again, i see the point, but i would readily believe youd want someone a bit more two wayish first, and then someone like this second. This is why i believe Green and Gonchar are rated a little too highly, i guess.

Id want a big hitter who will give me 12-20 goals, and 45-55 points a year who can handle the most crucial position on defense than a guy who just shoots like crazy. Green is like having another wing, really. So yeah, give me Jay, give me Phaneuf, give up 15-20 points to save 50 others.

7-31-2009 @ 9:08PM

Kneehightoaduck said...

Green's +/- was stellar this season and before you toss it out as a flawed stat, his next closest competition on the Caps (Jeff Schultz) was 11 or 12 rating behind him.

To cadge a line from JP, last I checked, hockey was about scoring more goals than the other guys. Green's numbers all point to that outcome, plus he's a ferocious open-ice hitter when he wants to be.

But I would contest the idea that a great defenseman has to hit or hit big. Nick Lidstrom may be the best D since Bobby Orr and he's Captain Pokecheck.

7-31-2009 @ 10:15PM

Cory said...

Green didn't exactly have it too rough though. I mean just the other there was an article on stats in hockey and how they're becoming more evolved such as on sites like behindthenet.ca. When you look at the quality of compeition these guys faced its ridiculous. If you figure at least a minimum of 10 games played Lidstrom ranks #1 in the NHL for toughest competition played against for defenseman. Chara ranks a respectable 21st. Green? All the way down at 123.