What is the most important position in the NHL? Why? Favorite Player in that Position?

Question

I know that's 3 questions, but maybe this'll be a fun one for you hockey fans to answer (and to read the answers to)...

If I was to say, I'd pick Center (though Goaltender is a very close 2nd) - A center is the anchor of the team, responsible for good forechecking, backchecking, and taking faceoffs.

And although I'm a Bruins fan, I'd easily pick Jarome Iginla as my favorite - he's a smart, tough, gutsy, and a highly talented player (not to mention a real gentleman) who also represents the game exceptionally well.

Answer 1

all 3 positions are important in hockey - unlike baseball (pitcher is most important), football (quarterback), etc....

In hockey you have the forwards, the goal scorers - you can't win without scoring goals. Then you've got the defense - who are necessary to prevent the opposition from scoring, setting a physical tone, and for moving the puck up to the forwards. Lastly you've got the goalie - without a good goalie, a team won't do very well in the NHL.

Favorite Current Players:
Forward - has to be Alexander Ovechkin..amazing year

Defense - Dion Phaneuf (i know, he's young, but he's got a great style)

Goalie - Miikka Kiprusoff (gotta love the Kipper)

Answer 2

All positions are important. Its a team game, the team is like a chain link. Goaltending, lots of ok goalies are good because they have a great team in front of them. Mediocre defenseman may look good because of a great goaltender or great backchecking forwards. Forwards may look great because of denfensemen who know how to start a play up the ice and have a great point shot and become a 4th forward. Again, its a team game, all the players need to see the whole ice and read the plays. Its tough to say who plays these team positions perfectly.

Answer 3

i'd say the goal tender..
because if u didnt have a goal tender than u wouldnt have a team. the goal tender is really important becuz they stop goals from coming in.. if u didnt have a g.tender then ur out of luck and you will lose big time!
Miikka Kiprusoff is the best goalie.!!
i say this because he is a reallly hard working team mate. if the flames didnt have him theyd be toast. they would be extra toast if they didnt have iggy!( jarome iginla)
miikka won the best goalie award in the nhl awards this year( 2006) so thats another reason he is the best. i dont think that any other goalie is better then kipper!hey, did u no that a litle boy got to go to the NHL awards just becu he liked to immpersinate kipper! in the saddle dome he would be in the crown dreessed uplike kipper and doing moves,.. now he is a really good fan!( and he was like only 7 yrs old). well yah! GO KIPPER GO!
!

Answer 4

I'd have to go with the classic answer - the goaltender. He (since we are talking about NHL) is the heart of every team and when he puts on a strong showing, the rest of the team tries to keep up. It's that mentality of not wanting to let someone close to you down.

I am a Leafs girl, but my favourite current goaltender is Roberto Luongo. Everytime I watch him play I end up with my mouth agape. He plays beyond his years at age 27 and anyone who saw him play at the Olympics this year knows he can perform on the World Stage (regardless of the poor effort of his teammates). As well, he is a good ol' Canadian boy and who can argue with that? ;)

Answer 5

waterboy....
hey no waterboy, no performance in players...goalies drink so much water or thos sports drink...think of all the problems of dehydration players would fall in...
no seriously, it depends on what you want...see defense wins the game, but offense brings the crowd...you need both to survive as a profesional team
so defensively, the goalie is the most important: see how every great teams has one...Cam Ward anyone?
offensively, you need 3 things, leadership, grits, and talent. Someone to bring leadership to show the younger player or bring all the players together as a team, grits to show intimidation to the other team and inspire your own team to win, and talent to score goals.
Ever heard of Maurice Rocket Richard...man that guy went through a lot, against racism in the league against the french players, scored like a maniac, he's the type of player who would cry or get angry at himself because he scored 3 goals in a 4-3 lost and would say..had i scored 2 extra goals we would have won...so there you go

Answer 6

The most important is the center because you cant play without them. Goalies can be replaced with a 6th player Centers are a must to have a game. The Best one is Joe Sakic

Answer 7

I would have to say goalie...
It really doesn't matter how many goals your team scores...if your goalie doesn't stop the puck,your toast!!!
There is also those close games,where that all important save is the difference between a win and a loss!
Also as I am a rightwinger,just knowing that your goalie is going to make those saves,means you can maybe cheat a little.......

Answer 8

Goaltender; because dominant goaltending can overcome other shortcomings, and insufficient goaltending will eventually cost a team dearly. It's very rare that you see a team without strong goaltending win it all. Honestly, I can't recall one.

Favorite goalie? Current would be Brodeur.

Answer 9

Of course it's the goalie. Try a whole game without a goalie and another without one of the skaters and you'll see why.
And I can't think of any team that ever won the cup with a shaky goaltender.
My favourite goalies would be CuJo and Lundqvist.

Answer 10

Defintely the goaltender. He is the last line of defense. You can have a team that can score at will but it does no good if your goalie can't keep the other team from scoring at will also.