Mark Howe was not so much of an open-ice body checker. On the late 1980s teams during his peak, that work was left to Marsh and MacCrimmon, and his usual defense pairing of Kjell Samuelsson. But at his best, Howe was probably the quickest transition defenseman in the sport for his era, and an unmatched neutral-zone virtuoso at head-manning a breaking rush around a trap and down the lanes. Quicker (not faster) than Paul Coffey, but not quite as talented in the offensive zone. Out of the defensive zone, Howe was a play-maker; Coffey a more formidable offensive force in his own right.
I picked Howe because Stevens was conversely none of those things in the neutral zone; he was a head-hunting intimidator at center ice, but a very good fit in the trap system played by the Devils during their 90s runs. Very tough, durable and sturdy. Very valuable traits for a defenseman playing a trap scheme. But not in the very top echelon of defensemen, comparatively speaking. I say that knowing he has his boosters. But Mark Howe would have blown right past him on the breakout. So would have Coffey.
The closest banger from a NY-area team that matched Stevens aggressive physicality was Potvin. Potvin could rock some heads in the neutral zone. But Potvin was about three levels superior than Stevens in just about every other facet of the game, and was only bettered by Ohr (for a year or so on bad knees) and Larry Robinson his only rough equal during Potvin's peak years.
... so I guess I didn't leave it at that.
