Mike Green vs Duncan Keith
I realize that we have gone over the Norris debate numerous times already, but I can’t help but think that Mike is poised for a break-through and is due the honor of being recognized for what he is, the NHL’s best defenseman.
Arguments over defense aside, even as Green has improved leaps and bounds in his own end over seasons past, I feel a key to Mike’s success and one of the most under-rated attributes of his game is his ability to keep play out of his own end.
He does it better than any other defender in the league.
Mike’s offensive zone control is a major advantage over many other D-men because he holds the other team in their end longer and more often than anyone else. The numbers don’t lie.
Yes, his shortcomings lie in the fact that he does not excel in his own end as some of the other shutdown defensemen do, yet Green clearly keeps the play out of his end on a more regular basis.
The bottom line is that, the discrepancy between the amount of time Green has to spend in his own end versus the time he spends in his own end, has a lot to do with his play with the puck.
Many other defensemen are known as shutdown D thanks to their work without the puck. In Green’s case, as much as he does work well positionally without the puck, it is what he does when the puck is in his possession which is truly remarkable.
When it comes to addressing whether Mike is justifiably the best defenseman in the NHL this season or not, there is only one other true Norris candidate that I feel can be used as a Litmus test. That player is Duncan Keith.
With all due respect to sophomore sensation Drew Doughty, Keith is clearly the co-front-runner for the Norris Trophy this season and the only other player in the NHL who I feel has a legitimate right to say that he is the best defenseman.
Now, it’s a difficult decision, but from the point of view of Caps writer, how can I not choose Green?
Obviously, I could go the other route and tout how highly exceptional Duncan Keith has been this season, but as I am not a Hawks writer, I can only truly flaunt the numbers than Mike Green has given us.
And what numbers indeed!
I absolutely respect Keith as a premiere and elite defenseman in the NHL and believe that if Green does not receive it, no one else but Duncan should. Yet, that said, I feel that Green’s aggressive offensive argument may have a lot more merit this time around (going against Keith) as compared to last season where he had to contend with veteran finalists, and defensive dynamos, Zdeno Chara and Nicklas Lidstrom.
As I cannot take much away from the fantastic season that Keith has had, the only thing I truly can do is go through a full comparison to see if Keith if really does deserve it more than Green.
You be the judge:
If Mike Green is not as good as Duncan Keith defensively, then why does Green have:
- a better +/- overall(+37) than Keith(+22)
- a better +/- at home(+23) than Keith(+13)
- a better +/- on the road(+14) than Keith(+9)
- a better +/- against his own division(+4) than Keith(+3)
- a better +/- against other divisions(+33) than Keith(+19)
In terms of offensive and defensive effectiveness, here are some more numbers:
- Mike Green has been on the ice for the most goals for in the NHL(159) than anyone else, 32 more goals for than Keith(127).
- Green has been on the ice for more power play goals for in the NHL(60) than anyone else, 34 more than Keith(26).
- Green has been on the ice for 81 goals against, 19 less than Keith(100).
- Green has allowed less power play goals against when on the ice(19) than Keith(21).
- Green is the only defenseman in the NHL to average over 1 point per game(1.01). Duncan Keith ranks 2nd(.81pts/game).
- Green has 132 hits, 86 more hits than Keith(48).
- Green has 35 power play points, 19 more than Keith(19).
- Green has 41 points at home, 3 more than Keith(38).
- Green has 34 road points, 4 more than Keith(30).
- Green has 21 points against his own division, 3 more than Keith(18).
- Green has 54 out-of-division points, 4 more than Keith(50).
- Green has a shooting % of 9.5, 5% better than Keith(4.5%).
Before people get out of hand, here are the ice-time figures for both players:
Ice-Time | Green | Keith
Avg TOI/G | 25:26 | 26:38
ES TOI/G | 18:11 | 20:49
SH TOI/G | 2 :09 | 3 :00
PP TOI/G | 5 :05 | 2 :48
A couple caveats to go along with the ice-time numbers;
- Green has played in 7 less games than Keith.
- Green gets twice as much PP ice-time than Keith.
- Green gets 1/3rd less SH ice-time than Keith.
- Green skates 1:12 less per game than Keith.
- Green is relied upon as the Caps power play quarterback, Keith is not.
- Keith is relied upon as the Hawks shorthanded specialist, Green is not.
- Green’s injury caused him to miss out on more points(had he played in all 81 games thus far, he would have 82 points).
- Keith has not missed a Blackhawks game yet this season.
- Keith has also played through the Olympics, Green has not.
Finally, just to show that I am not fully bias, here are some statistical areas where Duncan Keith dominates Mike Green:
- Keith has 47 even-strength points to Green’s 39.
- Keith has 5 short-handed points to Green’s 1.
- Keith has 211 shots to Green’s 201.
- Keith has 58 GiveAways to Green’s 73.
Ironically, the only category where Green and Keith are tied is Takeaways, as they both have 44.
In the end, it comes down to a comparison of the NHL’s two best defensemen in 2009-10.
The case can be made for both of these individuals, yet the arguments are not the same.
Duncan Keith leads with his defensive game first. Relied upon as the Blackhawks shutdown, ice-time eater who can contribute equally effectively at both ends of the ice, nearly better than anyone else on the blue-line, Keith is as close to a young Scott Niedermayer as you can get.
Mike Green leads with his palate of offensive tools. Mike makes it easy to play defense as he is often the one pressuring the other team due to his offense. Green is head and shoulders ahead of the rest when it comes to contributing from the blue line, yet is not necessarily recognized for his defensive play.
Green’s quality defense has quietly flown under the radar as of late, much like how Keith’s offensive production tends to go unnoticed despite its regularity.
In the end, one will be recognized as the Norris for one particular quality that he holds over the other, the question is, which one will it be?
Will it be Green getting the edge for leading offensively like no other since Paul Coffey while still playing solid and reputable defense?
Or
Will it be Keith getting the edge for being the best overall defender since Scott Niedermayer lay claim to the Norris Trophy?
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