All-Decade Team: Joe Pelletier's picks

(Cycle like the Sedins asked some of the hockey blogosphere's best and brightest to help choose the All-Decade team. During the next few days, we'll post each response until it's time to decide the final roster.

First up: the venerable Joe Pelletier. Pelletier runs the fantastic hockey history blog Greatest Hockey Legends and also is the go-to source for hockey book reviews. Of all the great sources of information in the blogosphere, Pelletier's blog might teach you the most about our favorite sport.)
Goaltender -

Martin Brodeur. I do believe that a couple of goalies reached higher zeniths during the past 10 years - Roberto Luongo most notably, maybe Jose Theodore and Miikka Kiprusoff too. But Brodeur was great all decade. The others were great for one or two years.

Brodeur does benefit from a generational change that saw the old timers leave him be, and the new comers come along a little to late for true consideration for this decade.

Defense -

#1. Nicklas Lidstrom. D'uh.

#2. Scott Niedermayer. Chris Pronger may have won a Hart, but Niedermayer won a Conn Smythe, evening out that debate. He also was a key player for Canada at the Olympics, whereas Pronger was quiet in 2002 and horrible in 2006.

Center -

Joe Sakic. I have to go with Sakic. Joe Thornton may be the highest scoring center by far, but he has failed in the playoffs and at the Olympics. Sakic thrived in both situations time and again.

Wings -

#1. Jarome Iginla - The ultimate power forward of the decade, his offensive numbers are right up there. He was a key member of the 2002 Olympic gold medal team, and remains a key member years later. And he willed Calgary to game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Hockey's ultimate warrior also is known as hockey's ultimate nice guy.

#2 - Jaromir Jagr - His offensive numbers are undeniable.


Fighter -

Derek Boogaard - I'm scared of him when I'm on my couch watching him on tv.

Coach -

Mike Babcock - His success rate sets him apart. And he encourages a beautiful form of hockey.

Loudmouth -

Don Cherry - Gotta go with Grapes on that one. Loudmouth of the past three decades.

(Good stuff, Joe! Stop by any time you'd like. We'll keep the seat warm for you.)