#5 Nicklas Lidstrom

Nick Lidstrom is perhaps the best blueliner of the Red Wings. He is still among the top 3 or 4 in the league in scoring, despite the loss of partner Paul Coffey. He played much of the season with liability Mathieu Dandenault, and still put up some respectable numbers, despite a poor start. Nick is a great checker, smooth skater and has a powerful, accurate slapshot. Excellent all-around defenseman. Played around 30 minutes per game in the playoffs and led the league in shots.

#16 Vladimir Konstantinov

Vlad the Impaler. The Vladiator. Whatever you want to call him, Konstantinov is a solid, play the man, not the puck, body pounding machine. For the second year in a row, he led the league in +/-, (under Leclair) while the next two players on the team, Feds and Fetisov, were not even in the top five in that category. Vladdy is excellent defensively and is a major physical presence. His contribution to the Russian Four and American One (Brownov) cannot be underestimated.

#55 Larry Murphy

Here's another example of how dumb Toronto fans and Cliff Fletcher are. The third highest scoring defenseman in history is booed in Maple Leaf Gardens every time he touches the puck. Cliff Fletcher who 'get's what he wants' trades Murphy to Detroit for the price of his salary in the games he played for the Leafs. Murphy comes to Detroit and plays great. Without this trade deadline acquisition, Detroit doesn't win the Cup, plain and simple. He's no Paul Coffey, but helped fill Coffey's shoes excellently, while at the same time, we also got Brendan Shanahan. The Shanahan and Murphy trades were another example of Bowman's genius. (check out those wild animal features. I LOVE this guy! He's hilarious)

#4 Jamie Pushor

Of Detroit's giant host of rookie and inexperienced defensemen, Pushor was easily been the most dependable and best during the regular season. However, he sort of fell apart in the playoffs, giving way to Aaron Ward. But Jamie is a virtual truck, who is good defensively and has some offensive talent. He could easily develop into the next Chris Chelios, only he can fight, and perhaps not score quite as often. Jamie is an exciting young player who will be a regular wherever he plays for the rest of his career.

#3 Bob Rouse

Bob has been great ever since the pathetic Maple Leafs decided not to sign him a couple of years ago. It's beneficial to the Red Wings and their fans, because Rouse has been a good defensive player for the Wings. Rouse, along with guys like Errey, Brown, Ramsey and Bergevin were the key to Detroit's record setting season in '96. He has taken rookies Jamie Pushor and Aaron Ward under his wing and taught them the ins and outs of the NHL.