http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/top-50-players-in-the-nhl-1-10/
In
THN’s 2014-15 Yearbook, we asked our panel of executives, broadcasters and observers to rank the best hockey players in the world right now, heading into this season. If you were starting a franchise from scratch today, which players would you take?
We ended up with a ranking of the top 50 NHLers and we’ve been releasing that list in chunks of 10. Today, we finish with the top 10 players in the NHL and where they ranked on last year’s Top 50 (LY). Here is the rest of the list:
1. SIDNEY CROSBY | PITTSBURGH | C | LY: 1
It’s pretty difficult to go against the guy who won the MVP award in voting by the players and media last season and won the scoring championship by 17 points. Crosby only had two goals in 19 Olympic and playoff games, but an injured wrist undoubtedly contributed to that.
2. DREW DOUGHTY | LOS ANGELES | D | LY: 10
The best player for the best team in the Olympics and the best player for the best team in the playoffs rockets up our list. The Kings have had internal meetings about Doughty and have determined there isn’t a player in the NHL for whom they would trade him.
3. JONATHAN TOEWS | CHICAGO | C | LY: 6
The only thing keeping Toews from best player in the world status is the offensive numbers to go with his all-around level of excellence at both ends of the ice. He’s the best leader in the game today, and if there’s one player you don’t worry about when it comes to giving him a long-term deal, it’s Toews.
4. STEVEN STAMKOS | TAMPA BAY | C | LY: 3
Had Stamkos not broken his leg, there’s a good chance he would have won his third Rocket Richard Trophy. He was on pace for 68 goals prior to his injury in November. Even with missing half of 2013-14, Stamkos has 210 goals in his past five seasons, seven more than anyone else.
5. ANZE KOPITAR | LOS ANGELES | C | LY: 22
None other than Wayne Gretzky himself said during the playoffs that Kopitar is the third-best player in the world. We don’t completely agree, but he’s certainly not far off. Kopitar epitomizes the big center ice man who has become synonymous with success in the Western Conference.
6. RYAN GETZLAF | ANAHEIM | C | LY: 33
After putting up the equivalent of a 91-point season in 2012-13, Getzlaf faced the challenge of proving he could remain among the league’s offensive elite. He succeeded with flying colors. Unlike a lot of other stars, he doesn’t feast on the power play. No player scored more points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play than Getzlaf.
7. JOHN TAVARES | NY ISLANDERS | C | LY: 5
If Tavares hadn’t been injured during the Olympics, he likely would have finished second in NHL scoring with 90-plus points. That probably would have made him a Hart Trophy finalist for a second straight season. Any success the New York Islanders have in the next decade will be dependent upon how far Tavares can lead them.
8. PATRICE BERGERON | BOSTON | C | LY: 9
The winner of two of the past three Selke Trophies put up a 30-goal season to go with his defensive excellence in 2013-14. And he’s the undisputed best player in the league in two very key areas: puck possession and faceoffs. The analytics crowd loves this guy for very good reason.
9. CLAUDE GIROUX | PHILADELPHIA | C | LY: 16
Two summers ago he suffered a mysterious injury while golfing, and he had an off-ice setback (to say the least) this past summer. But we’re concerned with what players do on the ice, and Giroux is arguably the most creative and deceiving set-up man in the NHL today. He might have been the best player in the league in the last 60 games of 2013-14.
10. DUNCAN KEITH | CHICAGO | D | LY: 14
You look at Keith and wonder how this undersized, skinny guy gets it done. But he wins Norris trophies because he plays both ends of the ice with equal aplomb and logs big minutes, particularly in the playoffs. There might not be a better pure skater from the back end in the NHL today.
11. SHEA WEBER | NASHVILLE | D | LY: 27
One of two things missing from Weber’s resume is a Norris Trophy. The wait for that won’t be much longer, though a Cup could take a while. Nobody in the Western Conference has a harder shot.
12. EVGENI MALKIN | PITTSBURGH | C | LY: 7
Over the past five seasons, Malkin has missed exactly 100 games, which accounts for almost a quarter of each of those seasons. Injuries hit him again in 2013-14, but when he plays, he remains an elite talent.
13. P.K. SUBBAN | MONTREAL | D | LY: 23
His ability to make a difference in games has been well documented. Nobody soaks up the limelight better than Subban, and few players excel in it as spectacularly as he does.
14. JAMIE BENN | DALLAS | LW | LY: 40
There was no more pleasant surprise at the Olympics than Benn, who’s the highest-ranked winger on our list this season. Benn plays the heavy game required in the Western Conference and is an elite power forward.
15. PATRICK KANE | CHICAGO | RW | LY: 8
There’s no player in the league more dynamic with the puck on his stick than Kane. There might not be a player who combines his level of skill and speed, either.
16. ALEX OVECHKIN | WASHINGTON | RW | LY: 2
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Ovechkin has had dips in his career, but not this dramatic. That’s funny, since he led the league in goals with 51. His defensive deficiencies push him down the list.
17. RYAN SUTER | MINNESOTA | D | LY: 17
The only player in the league to play 29-plus minutes per game in the regular season and the playoffs. Suter is also good for 40 to 50 points.
18. TYLER SEGUIN | DALLAS | C | LY: N/R
A trade to Dallas allowed the offensive side of Seguin to bust out. Consider this: he scored 84 points in 2013-14, which is 29 more than he would have had in the 82-game equivalent of the lockout season.
19. HENRIK LUNDQVIST | NY RANGERS | G | LY: 24
He couldn’t win the Stanley Cup he so craves, but that was hardly Lundqvist’s fault. He’s the heartbeat of a Rangers team that relies heavily on him.
20. COREY PERRY | ANAHEIM | RW | LY: 30
Only Stamkos and Ovechkin have more than the 172 goals Perry has over the past five seasons. He and Getzlaf tied for the league lead in 5-on-5 points last season.
21. JONATHAN QUICK | LOS ANGELES | G | LY: 13
His numbers last season were suspect and he is prone to injury, but if you needed one goalie to win you one game for everything, who would you choose over Quick?
22. RYAN McDONAGH | NY RANGERS | D | LY: N/R
The playoffs were McDonagh’s coming-out party, but those who have watched him closely over the years already knew how valuable he is to his team.
23. TUUKKA RASK | BOSTON | G | LY: 31
He hasn’t won a Cup as a starter in the NHL, and he plays behind an outstanding team, but Rask won the Vezina Trophy for a reason. He’s technically sound and has learned to rein in his temper.
24. ALEX PIETRANGELO | ST. LOUIS | D | LY: 42
He’s another guy who hasn’t yet won a Norris, but Pietrangelo logs big minutes in all situations. And he got the nod over P.K. Subban in the Olympics, which counts for something.
25. CAREY PRICE | MONTREAL | G | LY: 48
It’s something when you can see in your mind’s eye all three of the goals Price gave up during the Olympics, but his regular season with the Canadiens was eye-popping, too.
26. TAYLOR HALL | EDMONTON | LW | LY: 20
We don’t know when we’ll ever see him in the playoffs, but his regular season play dazzles.
27. ERIK KARLSSON | OTTAWA | D | LY: 4
Two years removed from the Norris Trophy, Karlsson remains the NHL’s most dynamic offensive blueliner.
28. JOE PAVELSKI | SAN JOSE | LW | LY: N/R
The other ‘Joe’ in San Jose earned his first all-star berth and finished third in goals last season.
29. SEMYON VARLAMOV | COLORADO | G | LY: N/R
He led the league in wins with 41 and was the only goalie who faced more than 2,000 shots last season.
30. ZACH PARISE | MINNESOTA | LW | LY: 29
His scoring totals haven’t been spectacular in Minnesota, but few players work harder for their goals.
31. NICKLAS BACKSTROM | WASHINGTON | C | LY: N/R
Being Alex Ovechkin’s defensive conscience is the toughest job in the NHL, but Backstrom does it willingly.
32. MARIAN HOSSA | CHICAGO | RW | LY: 32
Injuries are taking their toll, but Hossa remains an elite three-zone player and clutch performer in the playoffs.
33. MATT DUCHENE | COLORADO | C | LY: N/R
We’d like to see him score more, but Duchene is emerging as a prototypical Western Conference pivot.
34. RYAN JOHANSEN | COLUMBUS | C | LY: N/R
He broke out in a major way in 2013-14 and has the potential to be a long-term 80-point guy.
35. OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON | ARIZONA | D | LY: N/R
The smooth-skating defenseman has established himself as a 40-point man and contributor at both ends.
36. RYAN O’REILLY | COLORADO | C | LY: N/R
He’s one of the few guys in the league who’s nastier in contract negotiations than he is on the ice.
37. HENRIK ZETTERBERG | DETROIT | C | LY: 26
He will never be the player he once was because of injuries, but we still like what he is.
38. MARTIN ST-LOUIS | NY RANGERS | RW | LY: 12
He’s going to slow down at some point, right? The process has begun but not enough to deter him.
39. DAVID KREJCI | BOSTON | C | LY: 43
His reputation as a big playoff performer took a serious hit in the spring, but Krejci remains an elite setup man.
40. PAVEL DATSYUK | DETROIT | C | LY: 11
He still plays great defense and makes eye-popping plays but not with enough consistency. The Hall of Fame awaits.
41. ALEXANDER STEEN | ST. LOUIS | LW | LY: N/R
According to the number crunchers, only Jonathan Toews faces tougher competition than Steen does. And he scored 33 goals.
42. ZDENO CHARA | BOSTON | D | LY: 15
He has slowed considerably and is vulnerable defensively, but remains a force for the powerhouse Bruins.
43. JOE THORNTON | SAN JOSE | C | LY: N/R
His ice time is way down, but Thornton still manages to finish near the top of the league in assists.
44. PHIL KESSEL | TORONTO | RW | LY: 41
He has it all – speed, skill, a blazing shot – but Kessel remains unable to elevate those around him, though he’s an underrated playmaker.
45. VICTOR HEDMAN | TAMPA BAY | D | LY: N/R
After emerging from that awkward development stage with a struggling team, Hedman is poised for very good things.
46. LOGAN COUTURE | SAN JOSE | C | LY: 28
When healthy, Couture is good for 30 goals a season, but that trajectory could be pointed upward.
47. BRENT SEABROOK | CHICAGO | D | LY: N/R
He proved he’s much more than Duncan Keith’s wingman a long time ago and is an underrated gem.
48. JAROMIR JAGR | NEW JERSEY | RW | LY: N/R
The only player who would have been on this list 20 years ago, he remains a top possession player in the league.
49. NATHAN MacKINNON | COLORADO | C | LY: N/R
Being stuck behind Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly didn’t stop him from being an offensive force in his rookie season.
50. PATRICK SHARP | CHICAGO | LW | LY: N/R
The playoffs and Olympics weren’t kind to him, but Sharp still has the tools to be a major offensive contributor.