Seriously...who?

None of the above

The only one I can think of an argument for is Jack. At least it seems like he comes out and puts some effort into it. Add to that the fact that he's young and has some leadership potential, and at least you've got something positive to say.

The others are another story...

Visnovsky b/c he leads the Kings D with 40 pts. Although Preissing is "only" -7 (compared to -16 for Vis) he also has 17 less points. Sadly enough, if Modry was still here I might just nominate him.

Blake or JJ, bbut Blake he is the heart and soul of this squad.

Blake has been the most consistent this year. He has actually been playing like a team captain the last 3 months.

Jack is the obvious "sexy" pick, but he will win enough of these in future years. Preissing and Visnovsky have been wildly inconsistent. Harrold is making strides. Dallman has been serviceable.

If Klemm had been a defenseman all year and would have played as well as he has over the last month my vote would go to him.

Blake is the clear leader though.

Stuart and Modry would be very strong cases if they still would have been around.

Jmfj, hands down.

He had 5 games of nhl experience coming into the season. And played nearly every game of the season on the top pairing playing with Rob Blake being told to concentrate on the D end. So his offensive numbers don't look so great but he was avering over 20 minutes of ice time a game over the entire season and was getting closer to 30 when blake was out. His passes out of the zone have been amazing, his skating his far and away the best on the team. Do you guys not remember him beating Mike MF Modano in a foot race when Modano essentially had a head start. And there was also that shorthanded breakaway I think against edmonton or Colorado where he poke checked the puck away and before the forward he stripped it from had even started to get his feet moving in the direction of the puck, jack was already making a move at the blueline with the puck around the other team's defenseman. Next season that kid is gonna be even more fun to watch when he gets the green light to make plays like that whenever he wants. Oh yeah and he'll turn 22 half way into the season

Modry! Steady all season. While he was here.

Vote for Blake, Rich. He was paying his heart out before he got injured, and its still somewhat visible since he's come back. His point totals and plus minus in a fewer number of games suggest he's had a better year than last.

Besides, it'll give everyone something to bitch about for an afternoon :)

Anybody who thinks its Blake, should have their head's examined.
His body is too sacred to sacrifice. Especcially for his team.
Maybe donate that body to science.

Rob Blake. He has taken back the role of leader on the squad. He didnt play well early in the season, but he was still recovering from hip surgery. He has been consistent since getting healthy and been a mentor to the younger players. He gets top minutes on the PK, the PP, and even strength. The coaches have always said that his leadership extends to practice as well where he is usually the first one to take the ice at practice and often among the last to leave.

Outstanding??? Are you kidding??? Come on Rich, April 1st is still a few days away....

Jack MF Johnson! As a rookie he has been outstanding as a D man.

Jack Johnson:

1.) He could've tried to impress the fans with open ice checks and jumping into the play more which we know he is capable of, but stuck with developing his defensive game without showing off or upstaging his teammates.

2.) For a rookie I thought he showed tremendous poise considering how much losing the team went through.

3.) He averaged more than 20 minutes a night as a rookie.

4.) Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe he led the team in blocked shots at the time of his injury.

5.) He wins my vote hands down for the best defensive play by a King's player for that tremendous play against Jonathan Toews with the goalie pulled that led to Anze Kopitar tying the game against the Blackhawks.

JMFJ for sure

Rob Blake will win, it's pretty clear. but not much of a horse race. I would have said Stuart if he didn't go

I know this sounds crazy BUT, Jon Klemm has knocked down more guys in front of the net the last 3 games than I think any Kings defenseman has the rest of the year. He is playing like a guy trying to make the team at what 35. I vote Klemm.
Also, I know he's just a rookie but Harold avoided contact last night in the corners like crazy... he gave the puck up at least 3 times I remember. There is no role model on the Kings for our young defenseman.

Rich, you may have an easier time if you separate the word OUTSTANDING... as in OUT... STANDING...

Dallman's been out a bunch... Blake is often found standing around...

Nah, that doesn't help much...

I'd give it to JMFJ. No one really stood out on D for the Kings, but considering he was as good, or better, than anyone else (as far as defense goes) in his rookie season speaks volumes about him.

He doesn't have a lot of points, but it should be about defense more than points. I think he was the most consistently solid D man for us.

JAROSLAV MODRY.

Brian Boyle is my pick for the outstanding defenseman.

And oh yeah, I give Cloutier the "outstanding defensive jab" of the season. By the way Cloutier, how's the hips, groin, and maybe the noggin doing as of late? I know that your eyes still work, the way you see yourself carring the team on your back. I hope the Kings are doing their part with you nursing that soar groin.

upon further review...

I am more than mildly amused that the team would put Jon Klemm in the mix at all. They took a guy who had been a defenseman his entire (lengthy) NHL career, and turned him into a forward almost exclusively when he dressed for the Kings, but they took a guy who had been an NHL player his entire (lengthy) career, and buried him in the minor leagues and only used him as an afterthought.

Now, with Johnson injured, they put him back on defense and lo and behold, he's playing like a veteran NHL defenseman should play... something the 30th place Kings were sorely in need of for much of the season...

Joke... (The Kings, not this post!)

Modry should get the "award" so to speak. On a horrid team, he still finished with a positive +/- ratio.

But if we HAD to give it to someone, I would choose Kevin Dallman. He has had little time to play and the games he have played in, he has been awesome.

Dan Cloutier gets my vote

Rich, have you spoken with Hextall about Ersberg and if he still thinks that Ersberg still has no place in the Kings plans as he stated awhile back in an interview either by you or Matt. I think he's going to make it hell for those who are making the decisions about the goaltenders, do I hear the second coming of Tommy Salo or Tommy Soderstrom both were outstanding goaltenders and both were from Sweden. They also played in the Swedish Elite League.

JMFJ, but only because Stuart is gone.

Nobody on D has been outstanding. Nobody on D has even been AVERAGE. If I had to choose between all of those guys, I cast my vote for Johnson. He has been a team player, stuck up for his teammates, made the least amount of mistakes in the defensive zone (as a rookie!), and shows quality leadership according to reports.

Having said that, Blake will most likely win it to be politically correct.

Have to say Jacky boy. He has been the most consistent defensive for us. Every game I see him make a big mistake in, he has played even stronger afterwards and nearly every time come up with a big play later the same game. His game is quiet but solid, and no one on the team is better at keeping guys behind the net from make a play to the front.

He has never been 'outstanding' but on a team where he is virtually one of four consistent players, and the only defensemen in that group, he is closest thing to outstanding we have on D.

That said, if Modry or Stuart were still here I would vote for them over JJ.

To my knowledge, Hextall never said Ersberg isn't in the Kings' plans. That's one of those quotes that gets twisted and turned into a game of ``Telephone.'' The gist of what Hextall said is that Ersberg won't be guaranteed a spot on the roster going into training camp.

Jeff Guiliano!

I definitely think Dallman gets my vote for 'most improved D'... I hated him last season and earlier this season couldn't stand him either. suddenly this guy looks a bit like Visnovsky of 2 years ago. surprising

regarding Ersberg, since he's on a 1 year deal, there's no guarantee the Kings will have the financial wherewithall to offer him the contract he'd want to even come back to North America next season. With Cloutier still on the books, LaBarbera, Bernier, Quick, possibly Zatkoff, and who knows what else on the books, it's going to be curious to see if Ersberg is offered a "one way" deal. You can really only tie so much money up in "1B" goaltenders...

The protective netting behind the goal...

JMFJ... remember the against Chicago when he dove to save the game...

Thanks Rich, so who will be guaranteed a spot?? LaBarbra, Cloutier? Certainly they wouldn't want to give a spot to a guy who has shown the rest how to do it now would they. Nawwwww, they'll make him a free agent so he can become part of a triva question or answer like Bourque, Gelina and a few others the Kings let get away. Boy do "They" have an eye for goaltending talent.

Rob Blake - Sluggish in the beginning has come on though
Kevin Dallman - no,
Peter Harrold - improving still needs work
Jack Johnson improved earned to be on PK and PP has been most consistent. I would vote for him.
Jon Klemm - no,
Tom Preissing - huge dissapointment
Lubomir Visnovsky - poor season.

Dallman, Harrold, and a host of others aren't worthy of consideration for obvious reasons.

Both Visnovsky and Preissing have been bad defensively and unspectacular on offense.

Which leaves us with JMFJ and Rob Blake.

JMFJ has turned in an exceptional season for a 21 year old rookie. He is always poised, probably the best pure skater on the team, distributes the puck well, and takes care of business in his own end. That being said, he is a rookie and has made his fair share of rookie mistakes this season.

Blake has been more then reliable, and outstanding at times. Those who think otherwise are consumed with an irrational hatred of the man.

Johnson is going to be one of the premier defenseman in the entire league for years to come, but Blake wins the award for the Kings this season.

Jack wins that award, hands down.

Johnson is the clear winner. You can't say don't give it to him because he will get enough awards in the future. This award will boost his on ice confidence even more. He has gotten better and more confident every game. He is hitting more people and hitting them harder. His hit on Smyth is reason enough to win this category hands down. I won't even mention the other candidates or tell you why Johnson should win over them. Johnson is the man.

For games played, Dallman might be the best D left on the team. And that's just sad.

I'd vote Blake. There's been plenty said to argue otherwise but whether you like him or not, he's been the Kings most steady and dependable defenseman this season. That might not be saying much, the truth is no one has been "outstanding".

For most improved / unsung player, I might vote O'Sullivan. He's made great strides at both ends of the ice this year and hopefully will get better w/ every season the way Brown consistently has.

definitly rob blake.
he showed the size of his heart when he played in almost every game through december even though he was suffering from last year's hip surgery.

it is a tribute to his character that he withstood the jeers and slander abuse sent his way by fair weather fans while he was called on to support the young talent on the team.

rob's leadership was never more apparent than when he pulled the young team together after the labarbara injury. in my mind his handling of that insident was the major development of the year in terms of team pride and character.

Jack Johnson-He was the only defense that I enjoyed watching all season. He gives us fans hope.

Tim Watters or Peter Ahola are really the only 2 clear choices here.

The consensus is, no one. The defense was a very poor at best, probably the worst the Kings have ever had. Some names for consideration:

Blake: Played injured most of the season and has come on of late. Probably a good signing to a one year contract next season, he's played well but obviously was playing hurt early on.

Modry: I'd probably give him my vote as he was by far the most consistant defenseman this year, a very good stay at home type who made few mistakes. Too bad to see him go but what a nice 2nd rounder we got in a deep draft year.

JMFJ: Damn he's going to be good. Consistantly inconsistant but chalk that one up to youth. The kid can skate, stick handle and now we finally we have someone who can actually break the puck out of the the Kings end. If you can't give it to Modry, you've got to give the nod to JMFJ by a tad over Blake.

Stuart: Too bad he was traded but this will work out to the Kings advantage as well. He was just hitting his stride when he went to Detroit and overall played well enough with LA to be given consideration.

My pick: Blake has picked it up as he's obviously feeling better but you can't help yourself enjoying watching JMFJ. He's the real deal, this year and for years to come.

Rob Blake.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the whole defensive team is shit. That is why we will finish last... We have good goalies great forwards.

But no one on this defensive team was good all the way through the season.

Rich,
You should just put this into a poll.

Jack

Rich...when I was handed my ballot last nigh at the Phoenix game, my first thought was, "can they just not give out the Best Defenseman Award this season?"

Best Defensive Player was easier...O'Sullivan has stood out this season. Going into last night's game, he was -9 on the season. That's incredible on THIS team.

This has been one of the more enjoyable posts. "The protective netting behind the goal..." Brilliant. "Tim Watters or Peter Ahola..." Funny stuff! And hard core too.

I bet it would be Klemm, hands down, if he played D all season, and maybe Doug Smolek if he were around, but alas and by default, Blakey should get it. Just replace the word "outstanding" with "The Best, Relatively Speaking, Defensemen Award."

I can tell you who definately does NOT deserve it and that's Lubo (no matter how many points he has) and Blake for his pathetic first half performance and priessing - do I really need a reason? With that being said how do you really pick someone who has only played a few games? Blake has really turned his game around but does that deserve the award?

If I had to pick though I'd pick Dallman. Even though he's sat out most of the season I've really seen his game finally come around in the last few weeks. He's been pretty solid in the games he's played. But then again...how do you award him when he's only played a few games?

I am going to go with Blake. Simple – Guys like Johnson look up to him and learn how to play in the NHL. JMFJ already has more natural skill than Blake ever did. What he has learned in the past 12 months is how to be a professional. JMFJ is still learning. Blake played with a certain nastiness no other D-man on the Kings played with this season. Once the GM gets JMFJ a nice stay-at-home D-man - he can be that offensive force he was asked NOT to be this year.

Marc Nathan – I totally agree with you, Klemm should have been playing with the Kings to strengthen their D. BUT – they had him down in Manchester doing something better – SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE for the young guys. You heard it time and time again from the young Monarchs players every time he got called up, “We are missing our captain.” Klemm was a good example for them. MC and DL are no dummies; they knew that Klemm had no other offers from other teams, and they knew the team in Manchester had a TON of first year Pros. So, they asked him to come on board and be the bigger man and do a bit of mentoring (something I hope they convince Armstrong to do next year.)

Rich, thanks for clarifying the Hextall/Ersberg quote. All he said was no one goalie is going to guarantee a starting job by playing 14, or so, games. It’s an open audition. Camp in September will decide who starts. Geez, thought the posters here had a better memory than that.

I can only think of one way to approach answering that question:

Which defenseman did I most look forward to seeing on the ice each night?

Answer: Jack Johnson

doesn't say it has to be from this year... vote for 2006 lubo! you'll get a LuboCookie out of it!

in all seriousness, i think blake is the only option. if nothing else, he's been the captain and helped JMFJ improve, and that's what we're gonna need in the next few years.

having said that, i expect JMFJ to win it the next ten years running, possibly interrupted by drew doughty occasionally.

Someone has to be picked so I guess Blake. None deserve it though.

Lets see:

Stuart stunk until the 2nd half of the season.

Lubo plays a position he's not used to and his has an awful year right before his gigantic deal kicks in.

Modry was (gulp) our most "outstanding" D-man and being -15 in 14 games with Philly proves what an "outstanding" job he did here... but we can't vote for him.

Harrold is fine but he's certainly not "outstanding"

Dallman is fine as well and will never be mentioned in the same sentence as the word "outstanding"

Preissing got burnt more than my english muffins, so no, he doesn't deserve it either.

That leaves Blake and JMFJ.

Blake, as he predicted, would not be at 100% until Christmas... and he wasn't. He stunk. The 2nd half, he's been great. "Outstanding"? Hardly.

The only reason I don't vote for Blake is simple: He should have let the Kings trade him for kids/picks and then come back. He could have really helped the team but instead, he was the same old selfish Rob Blake. I can't vote for him.

JMFJ is good, but get real people, he was no better than if Tim Gleason were here. He has ONE great check all season (knocking out Smyth), and his skating was decent... but "outstanding".

CBGB Votes: JMFJ

And yes, I will "Boo" when Blake is announced as the winner.

lol 2006 Lubocookie...

OK, as much as Stamkos impresses me (and just about everyone else in the hockey world), and would be a great addition to this team for the next decade....should the Kings have the opportunity to select him, it would almost be anticlimactic because they wouldn't be repairing what is missing most. they have an heir apparent to Rob Blake, now they need the next Brad Stuart as I see it.

therefore, how can the Kings NOT acquire another JJ caliber prospect early in the 1st round of this draft?

it's almost as if I could see them playing out of the #1 spot, Tampa wins the lottery, the Kings select D at #2 and all is right with the world. our ragtag blueline aside, Dean has always struck me as a guy who would never pass up the opportunity to select a potential franchise defenseman. if he had to select Stamkos, how soon would he trade him away for the best D-man and a future pick??? OK phew, that felt good.

What about Ersberg, eh? He's our best defender. I think Blake has kicked in more pucks in our own net than Ersberg's allowed in his past 6 games.
But Jack rules and will rule for the next 20 years.

There have been some posting regarding next seasons goalie situation. All the goalies who are in the kings system will attend training camp and some will attend the rookie camp also. Cloutier will be bought out , he is not in the kings plans for next season.Labarbera is gonna be 1 of the 2 goalies for the kings next season, Iceberg have a good shoot for being the 2 goalie. Bernier will benefit from a year in Manchester and get called up if any injuries. Then we have Zatkoff and Taylor - are they happy being the 2 goalie in manchester? And do we get a new team instead of Reading? And who will play there?
Fot the vote for the best defensman! I have to say Blake not because of his play on hte ice but who he is off the ice also.

M O D R Y!

I think in terms of raw effectiveness, you have only two choices: Blake and Vis.

They play for what is arguably the worst team in the league, and their high plus/minus reflects the fact that they play almost every game for this horrible team. Do they contribute to the team's dismal performance? Sure, as do they all, so I would dismiss the plus/minus other than as an indicator that of the defensemen the team has to ice, they are the best choices out of a bad lot of candidates.

I would prefer to classify by points: these two are the highest offensive contributors out of the defensemen listed. Lubo is only slightly ahead of Blake, given the total points over the number of games played. People like to rag on Blake for his slapper seemingly always going wide and/or missing by a mile, yet somehow his points count is right up there above all the other defensemen.

Given that Blake is both the captain, JJ's mentor, and a fixture on the Kings roster for so many seasons, I would cast the vote for him.

Jack Johnson.

All I have to say is "Remember Chicago"

Rich, if you remember the quotes from that game Brown had said that he and Kopi basically had given up.

Then Jack saved that breakaway empty netter and the game was back on.

Seriously, that one play alone made the year for me!

Jack Johnson has been the most consistant defenseman all season long. Usually you think of the goalie as the last bastion of defense but on the Kings that resposibility falls on the lap of JMFJ. I can't count how many times he has taken control a few feet from the Kings net and made a brilliant pass or dump the other way to save the Kings.

Meanwhile I can think of several times where Blake stood and watched as guys skated around him to the net and scored.

There's no question that Jack is the Kings best defenseman, but seniority and respect for the older guys will cause him to lose this vote and that's a shame.

Rob Blake!!

Priessing was just horrible ths year. My most vivid memory was the Black Hawk game. After the Kings get it to overtime, he has his back turned on Sharp to the left of the net as Sharp scored the winning goal. He is routinely out of position.

I have no explanation for Lubo.

JMJ for his level of experience has been great. Mistakes yes but I really admire his grit. Two men down against Phoenix with the game on the line he gets stung, obviously badly, by a hard shot and limps aound the ice without missing a beat. Yes the Yotes score and yes, the Kings lost but if was not for lack of his effort.

Having said that, I think it goes to Blake for all the reasons other posters have already stated. But unless we have an amazing acquisition next year, I pedict JMJ will get it in 09, when we are finnaly going to be in the playoffs.

I would have to say JJ. Though he has made his mistakes of course, he has shown tremendous heart and looked like the only defenseman who actually cared about defending our players and goalies. He has been remarkably solid considering he came into this season with 5 games pro experience and playing 20+ minutes a game.

If Klemm had been with the team the whole season and played the whole season the way he has played lately, I would say him.

Also, crazy as it sounds if Modry was still around I would have to say he played the most consistently all year especially considering the situation with his father.

MODRY!!! NUFF SAID.

Rich,

As you say, there isn't a clear choice but I would vote for Klemm for the simple fact that in the short time he's been here, he's demonstrated what kings defense has been lacking all year long. He's blocking shots, he's clearing the front of the net, he's playing the opponent in front of the net instead of looking for the puck etc. I think this may send a message not just to DL but also to the other players to refocus on defense.

JMFJ.

Demonstrated poise and consistency far beyond his years.

Yes; he made mistakes but, what rookie doesn't. He's gonna be a monster next season.

What 21 year old rookie defenseman puts in the ice time he does. 20+ minutes a night...enuf said.

Brown

For all those saying Rob Blake...wake up!!!! Have you watch more than 1 game all year? He's making 6 million and shows up 1 out of every 10 games. 10 years ago he gets my vote but come on.

Call it a tie as they have all sucked for most of the
season. Check out +/-
if you doubt it. Johnson did not come close living up to the hype. He may have
loads of talent but his
numbers are mediocre at best. For the amount of
minutes he played his
offensive numbers are crap.