Puck Daddy puts "Pietrangelo" and "Norris" in same sentence

[dmiles2186]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck- ... nNTH17vLYF

The St. Louis Blues are closing in on the Presidents' Trophy and leaving a mark on the NHL record books in the process.

Brian Elliott's ninth shutout of the season on Tuesday night set a franchise record for longest shutout streak (183:33) and number of shutouts, passing Glenn Hall. His combined shutouts with Jaroslav Halak, 15, tied the NHL's post-expansion record held by the 1969-70 Chicago Blackhawks.

For this, Ken Hitchcock will be given the Jack Adams Award — with due respect to the jobs accomplished by Paul MacLean and the Ottawa Senators, Kevin Dineen and the Florida Panthers and Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators.

For this, Halak and Elliott will win the Jennings Trophy as the best goaltending tandem in the NHL — they have a combined 1.78 GAA right now, having allowed 139 goals. The Blues would need a total collapse not to set an NHL record for the best defensive team since expansion.

But neither Halak nor Elliott will win the Vezina. Not enough games played individually, and they'll siphon each other's votes. But if the NHL's postseason awards voters wanted another way to honor this remarkable, historic season by the St. Louis Blues defense, a suggestion:

Alex Pietrangelo for the Norris Trophy.

It helps that he's a damn good player, too.

Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch notes that Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk have combined to give the team one of only three 40-point defensive duos in the NHL this season. Said Shea Weber to Rutherford:

"Coming into the league, you don't know what to expect from them and now that we play against them six times a year, you get to know them a little bit. They see the ice very well, and ... they're able to create a lot of offense if they're getting over 40 points."

Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo each finished with 43 points last season, but 26 of Shattenkirk's points came with Colorado before St. Louis acquired him in February 2011. With each reaching the 40-point plateau this season, they became the first Blues' defensive pair since Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis in 2001-02 to accomplish it. That season, Pronger had 47 points and MacInnis 46.

One of the major differences between the two: Defensive assignments. Pietrangelo plays 3:09 TOI per game shorthanded, which puts him in the Top 20 for NHL defensemen; thing is, only two players above him on that list have more than 30 points as well (Filip Kuba and Kimmo Timonen).

Craig Custance (behind the ESPN paywall) looked at the Blues' awards options, and heard Hitchcock's case for Pietrangelo and the Norris:

"The thing that's relevant for him, if you're describing a defenseman, you're talking about a guy who collects points, plays against the other team's best players and kill penalties. That's what he does. He QBs the No. 1 unit on the power play, plays against the other teams' best players. He kills a minute-plus of every penalty kill. What more can you ask for? He does that. He's not protected. Nobody protects him. That's what he does. If you're looking for a legitimate defenseman, then to me, that's what this guy is. He's the word 'defenseman.' He's not an 'offenseman.' He's a complete player."

Not an "offenseman" … gee, wonder which player Hitchcock is comparing him to this season?

Erik Karlsson, whose 76 points and occasional defensive lapses have made him a contentious favorite for defenseman of the year, was put right into the conversation with Pietrangelo this week by Blues broadcaster Darren Pang on Twitter. Fleshing out his comments to the Ottawa Sun, Pang said:

"When GMs talk about Karlsson vs. Pietrangelo, the No. 1 (question) is: Who is better with the puck? Well, it's Karlsson, no question.

"The No. 2 question is: Who is better 5-on-5, defending going up against the other team's best players and playing on the power play? The answer is Pietrangelo. There is no denying the hand-eye co-ordination and the instincts of Karlsson. They're phenomenal and fun to watch.

"In a playoff series, Pietrangelo is going to play 25 minutes, he's going to play on the (penalty-killing units), the power play and against the other teams best players. So, there's quite a difference in the two players and what they bring to the table. They're both having phenomenal years."

True, but Karlsson's had more hype. So has Shea Weber, seen as the Norris winner in waiting. So has Zdeno Chara, who has inherited Nicklas Lidstrom's role as the annual nominee for the award no matter how he plays in comparison to previous seasons.

In the last USA Today power rankings, Pietrangelo was fifth in the voting behind Karlsson, Weber, Chara and Lidstrom. But now the St. Louis media has the hype machine cranking for him, and the Blues' success will certainly garner him even more attention.

Can Alex Pietrangelo make the Norris Trophy top three; and if so, can he win?

[kodos]

I don't want Petro to win the Norris. I don't want him to even be a finalist.

What good does it do us? None. It will just put more of a spotlight on him and make him ask for more money.

[Mahoney]

Good for Pietro! I can't say he deserves it over Karlsson, he's had a damn good year, but he gets my vote as a loyal Blues fan!

[WaukeeBlues]

I don't think he'll win it. He plays for the St. Louis Blues.

As for the Jennings, that's obviously a lock assuming we don't allow 40 goals in the next couple of games and I believe Hitchcock is a lock for the Jack Adams as well; I'd be shocked if he didn't win it.

Bringing home the hardware already. Just need to win the one that really matters now...

[dmiles2186]

I don't want Petro to win the Norris. I don't want him to even be a finalist.

What good does it do us? None. It will just put more of a spotlight on him and make him ask for more money.

Recognizing that we have the best defenseman in the league will not help us?

The reason I posted this thread is because people have been saying the Blues haven't been getting enough attention (which I've been fine with). But here's someone saying that Petro has been killing it, thought it was worth sharing.

I think the Blues already know that a D man who is only 22, 3rd in points for a D man, and logs lots of minutes is going to cost them.

[STLADOGG]

I don't want Petro to win the Norris. I don't want him to even be a finalist.

What good does it do us? None. It will just put more of a spotlight on him and make him ask for more money.

Recognizing that we have the best defenseman in the league will not help us?

The reason I posted this thread is because people have been saying the Blues haven't been getting enough attention (which I've been fine with). But here's someone saying that Petro has been killing it, thought it was worth sharing.

I think the Blues already know that a D man who is only 22, 3rd in points for a D man, and logs lots of minutes is going to cost them.

Anytime I watch NHL Live on the NHL Network, they always talk about the Blues. Not to mention E.J. Hradek's hard on for the Blues.

[kodos]

I don't want Petro to win the Norris. I don't want him to even be a finalist.

What good does it do us? None. It will just put more of a spotlight on him and make him ask for more money.

Recognizing that we have the best defenseman in the league will not help us?

The reason I posted this thread is because people have been saying the Blues haven't been getting enough attention (which I've been fine with). But here's someone saying that Petro has been killing it, thought it was worth sharing.

I think the Blues already know that a D man who is only 22, 3rd in points for a D man, and logs lots of minutes is going to cost them.

It won't help us win hockey games. I'm all for seeing him win a few Norris trophies... but later. After we sign him long term.

He's not going to win anyway. There is no chance.

[dmiles2186]

I don't want Petro to win the Norris. I don't want him to even be a finalist.

What good does it do us? None. It will just put more of a spotlight on him and make him ask for more money.

Recognizing that we have the best defenseman in the league will not help us?

The reason I posted this thread is because people have been saying the Blues haven't been getting enough attention (which I've been fine with). But here's someone saying that Petro has been killing it, thought it was worth sharing.

I think the Blues already know that a D man who is only 22, 3rd in points for a D man, and logs lots of minutes is going to cost them.

It won't help us win hockey games. I'm all for seeing him win a few Norris trophies... but later. After we sign him long term.

He's not going to win anyway. There is no chance.

I do agree with you there. I just think it's proof positive that the organization handled him in the right way and he's made a huge leap.

The Norris trophy itself won't help win hockey games, but Norris-level play will and it has.

[kodos]

Doughty got a nomination for Norris as the tender age of 21... then he held out and got an 8 year 56 million dollar deal.

I think (right now) most people consider Petro better than Doughty.

[glen a richter]

Pie will get the money from the new ownership. You have to believe there will be new ownership in place relatively soon... right? How long can this shit drag out? I think by the draft, someone is in place and league approved. Then they can begin the arduous task of signing all the kids to ridiculous cap circumventing contracts only to have the league go on yet another lockout and the whole cap structure changed, then the team with the most cap circumventing contracts (which, at that point, will be the Blues) are forced to hand over 10 years worth of first rounders to New Jersey and are stripped of the Stanley Cup they'll win in June, which will be promptly handed over to Pittsburgh.

[thedoc]

[quote="glen a richter"]You have to believe there will be new ownership in place relatively soon... right? How long can this shit drag out? quote]
A while. I did not win Mega Millions last night.

[Winning Unlimited]

Players and words that belong in the same sentence:

Elliott: Starter
Backes: Selke
Stewart: Pressbox
Perron: NHL '13 cover
Hitchcock: Jack Adams
Blues: Sold

Edit: Would have also accepted
Perron: Masterton

[goon attack]

If Pie added a physical element to his game, he could be one of the all-time greats.

[philco_3]

You have to believe there will be new ownership in place relatively soon... right? How long can this shit drag out?

A while. I did not win Mega Millions last night.

I was going to buy the Blues, put 2 other assholes had to get the same numbers too

[cprice12]

Good for Pietro! I can't say he deserves it over Karlsson, he's had a damn good year, but he gets my vote as a loyal Blues fan!

If actually playing defense was a requirement for the Norris, Karlsson shouldn't get it. Dude doesn't even kill penalties. How the F can you be the best defenseman in the league, if you don't kill penalties?

[STLADOGG]

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-o ... lder-tight
This article was written on March 22 by CBS. They have Petro, Backes, Elliott, and Hitchcock all in contention for their awards.

[theohall]

I don't have access to the whole article, but an ESPN Insider piece by Neil Greenberg makes the case for Pietrangelo to win the Norris. Been hearing the same thing being said on NHL Radio from the afternoon guys.

Karlsson will probably get it, anyway, because they almost always seem to give it to the highest scoring defenseman. The case being made by many is that Pietrangelo does everything (even strength, PK, PP) and does all of them very well when compared to the other Finalists (Karlsson, Weber, Chara, and Lidstrom). And he is rarely on the ice for even strength goals against.

Pietrangelo may not get the Norris this season, but he will likely earn one or more during his career, if he keeps playing the way he did this season and the 2nd half of last season.

[STLADOGG]

Don't they have an obligation to give it to Lidstrom?

[gaijin]

Don't they have an obligation to give it to Lidstrom?

Yes. If Lidstrom doesn't win, New Jersey gets our first round pick each of the next 5 years.

[cprice12]

I don't have access to the whole article, but an ESPN Insider piece by Neil Greenberg makes the case for Pietrangelo to win the Norris. Been hearing the same thing being said on NHL Radio from the afternoon guys.

Karlsson will probably get it, anyway, because they almost always seem to give it to the highest scoring defenseman. The case being made by many is that Pietrangelo does everything (even strength, PK, PP) and does all of them very well when compared to the other Finalists (Karlsson, Weber, Chara, and Lidstrom). And he is rarely on the ice for even strength goals against.

Pietrangelo may not get the Norris this season, but he will likely earn one or more during his career, if he keeps playing the way he did this season and the 2nd half of last season.

I'll say it again...if Karlsson gets it, it will be a joke.