from Paul Grant of ESPN,

For our fourth and final installment, how about two of the best defensemen of the modern era in Zdeno Chara and Nicklas Lidstrom? Sure, different styles, different physical builds, but roll with us on this one. There's no questioning each was the No. 1 defenseman on a highly successful team.

The case for Zdeno Chara: One Stanley Cup. One Norris Trophy. But that doesn't accurately represent how dominant a player Chara, 36, has been over the years. The Bruins defenseman shuts down opposing stars with smothering coverage using his height and massive reach. His game has come a long way since he broke into the league as a raw Islanders third-round draft pick in 1996. As he gained confidence and comfort with the NHL style of play, he became a force to reckon with. ...

The case for Nicklas Lidstrom: Lidstrom should be considered the best defenseman of his generation. Four Stanley Cups. Seven Norris Trophies. One Conn Smythe. One Olympic gold. But somehow, perhaps because he was understated personally, perhaps because he didn't fight, perhaps because he quietly and efficiently went about his job, perhaps because he didn't often score on spectacular end-to-end rushes, he sometimes slides under the radar when "all-time greatest" conversations are held about defenseman....

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