r/hockey • u/ComfortableGuide3232 DAL - NHL • 3d ago

What current NHL player will you defend no matter what?

Your emotional support player, if you will. It doesn't even have to be a current player on your favorite team. Just someone you will always support and defend so long as their in the league.

Also, not talking about supporting decisions or the players opinions outside of hockey. Strictly hockey related support!

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u/Neb-Nose PIT - NHL 3d ago

I think Kris Letang has been criminally underrated for a long time. Honestly, he’s one of the most underrated players in NHL history in my opinion.

He was the best defenseman on a team that was one of the best teams in the NHL for 12 years. That doesn’t just happen. He also led the team in ice time every year for all those years. Again, you don’t do that with someone who’s not an excellent player.

Letang definitely made his share of mental mistakes and when he did, they were often glaring. However, he was also an outstanding two-way defenseman who created a lot of breakouts for his team.

There’s no way the Penguins have all that success without that guy. Not even close.

The Penguins almost always beat those Capitals teams in the playoffs and I always thought it was because Washington didn’t have an answer for Letang. He just does a lot of things for your team that leads to wins. He’s a hell of a skater. He moves the puck beautifully. He’s feisty as hell in his own end and plays way above his weight class. That’s why he was always on their first team, power-play and penalty kill, and on their top defense pairing.

Just a very reliable player in all three zones.

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u/iLUVhockey36 PIT - NHL 3d ago

Underrated as fuck during his prime, overrated as hell (by pens fans) during his downfall. Such a wild ride watching him through the years. Was my first “favorite player” when I started playing hockey even though I was a forward. I’ll always wonder how much his health issues affected him on the ice, I can imagine it has been tough for him lately.