Criteria: Numbers, Awards, Championships, Completeness of Game, and Intangibles (Leadership etc)
1. Jonathan Toews/ Center/ Chicago Blackhawks
A Stanley Cup Championship, a Gold Medal, and MVP of both tournaments is quite a resume. Toews is one of the best overall players in hockey, a sublime playmaker with a nose for the net who is responsible defensively (as his career +/- of 70 shows) and annually leads the league in face-offs won. He is not quite a point a game player yet, but the notorious slow starter already has 50 points this season, to go with 267 entering this season. He also possess two of the most important intangibles in sports- leadership and clutch performances. He is one of the youngest captains in the league, is a point per game player in the post season and rose from 13th forward to Best Forward award winner at the 2010 Olympics in his home nation of Canada.
2. Henrik Lundqvist/ Goaltender/ New York Rangers
Some may be more spectacular, but few are more consistent than Hank. In all but his rookie season, Lunduvist has started no less than 83% of the games for the Blueshirts and once played all but 9 games in a season. Couple his durability and workhorse status with a sparkling career GAA of 2.32 and S% of .918 and it is easy to see that while Miller, Luongo, and Thomas get all the press, Hank is number one in my book. And while an inconsistent offense has kept him from a Cup run in New York, he did win the Gold Medal with Sweden in 2006.
3. Sidney Crosby/ Center/ Pittsburgh Penguins
Without the health concerns, the Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins is an uncontested number one. In 412 career games he 572 points and before he was concussed at the Winter Classic in 2010 he was on pace for 132 points and 64 goals. He possess excellent vision, an incredible ability to possess the puck, and was developing his NHL goal scoring touch before the injury. Now the question remains whether he really can make a run at the record books or whether he is new Marc Savard or Eric Lindros.
4. Henrik and Daniel Sedin/ Center and Wing/ Vancouver Canucks
Not sure anyone really knew what a heist Brian Burke pulled off when he drafted the two talent Sedin twins with the 2nd and 3rd pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Henrik is the set up guy and Daniel is the goal scorer and you rarely see one score without the other getting a point. They have emerged as two of the best players in hockey over the last three seasons, but one should question whether they would be as great without each other. Separately, I think they move down into the 15-30 range.
5. Steven Stamkos/ Center/ Tampa Bay Lightening
Barry Melrose wakes up everyday with the realization that he played Steven Stamkos on the 4th line in his 2nd chance as an NHL head coach. Stamkos has become what Alex Ovechkin use to be, the most feared shooter in hockey. In the 3 years since his rookie year he has including this year 128 goals and is set to reach a new career high this year. He is lethal on the power play and has great chemistry with the underrated St Louie. He is the new top sniper of the NHL.
6. Shea Weber/ Defenseman/ Nashville Predators
Steady defender, rocket launcher for a shot, and is massive. Weber will be the next great NHL defender if he is not already. Weber and Ryan Suter make up one of the best shutdown pairings in hockey, and with Nashville unlikely to keep both at the end of the year, some team is getting much better this offseason.
7. Zdeno Chara/ Defenseman/ Boston Bruins
Monster of a man who now has a Stanley Cup Championship ring. Like Weber, Chara is the perfect dual threat shutdown defender and offensive threat. He can both neutralize the other teams best offensive talent and contribute on the scoresheet, particularly on the Powerplay. Weber got the nod over Chara purely based on age.
8. Evgeni Malkin/ Center/ Pittsburgh Penguins
When he is on, he might be the most talented player in hockey. In 352 career games entering this season he has a better than point per game total of 418 points. He is impossible to knock off the puck and has one of the best shots in hockey. When he 1st entered the league he was a top 3 talent, but injuries have slowed him in recent years and he has a tendency to play at his most elite level when Crosby is out. It is good to be able to step up, but consistency is important as well.
9. Pavel Datsyuk/ Center/ Detroit Red Wings
The most underrated player in hockey. Datsyuk is without a doubt the best defensive forward in the game, yet also is one of the most creative and talented playmakers in the business. His shootout moves are YouTube gold and his ability to create turnovers makes him a big reason why Hockeytown experiences so much success year in and year out.
10. Claude Giroux/ Center/ Philadelphia Flyers
Maybe Paul Holmgren was not as crazy as everyone thought when he death Jeff Carter and Mike Richarda. Claude Giroux has in a very sort time period gone from a promising prospect tononeof the more talented center men in hockey. He is currently second in the league in points and has made a very old Jagr look very goodin his return to the NHL. Ranking Him this high now might be premature, but the ultra talented Giroux is well on his way to a career year in the city of Brotherly Love and will only get better.
11. Rick Nash/ Wing/ Columbus Blue Jackets
Rick Nash is often the forgotten superstar. Columbus is not a hockey market and does not succeed with any regularity. But few experts would deny that Nash is the prototypical power forward. He has been a 30-40 goal scorer for much of his career and for being such a big guy is known for his incredible handles. Like a better Todd Bertuzzi from his Vancouver days. There is a reason when the Olympics came around last he was paired with Crosby on the top line for Canada.
12. Nick Lidstrom/ Defenseman/ Detroit Red Wings
Still going strong at 41 years young, Lidstom will likely retire as the greatest defenseman of all time. He has over 1000 career points and a staggering career +/- of 429 entering this season. He is a 4 time Stanley Cup Champion, 7 time Norris Trophy winner, and Olympic Gold Medalist. He has been the backbone of the model NHL franchise for two decades and this year has made Ian White second in the league in +/-.
13. Jonathan Quick/ Goaltender/ Los Angeles Kings
While Quick is still young, his numbers and consistency might soon read like Lundquvist's. He is a bonefided workhorse and sports a career 2.34 GAA and many nights is the reason the Kings win. This year the Goal starved Kings are only afloat because of the sub 2 GAA Quick puts on the ice every night.
14. Nicklas Backstrom/ Center/ Washington Capitals
Buccigross ranked Backstrom in the 90s. That is insane. From a playmaking perspective alone Nick Backstrom is the top of the class. He is an excellent skater and has really developed a goal scoring touch to go with his passing abilities. Because of who his line mate is, Backsom often is overshadowed in DC. That will not last much longer, especially since there is a good chance he long term will be the better of the two.
15. Alexander Ovechkin/ Wing/ Washington Capitals
There was a time when Ovechkin would top this list. And then there was a time when he was undisputed top 10. And then there is now. Alex Ovechkin is still one of the most dangerous players in the world when he has the puck and you cannot take the torrid start to his career (45+ goals and 2 MVPs in his first five seasons) away from him. He also is balanced offensively as he often is close in even goals to assist (and he has averaged 1.3 points per game over his career). But there is no question he is not what he once was, but a season and a half of decreased numbers is not worth writing him off either. He still plays an incredibly physical game that few stars can match and is surely still a major point of any coaches game plan to beat the Capitals since he is far from not being a goal scorer anymore. His playoff numbers are also much better than many would expect given the teams performance (37 games, 25 goals, 25 assists). In essence, when you were as high as he was, the fall becomes exaggerated.
16. Corey Perry/ Wing/ Anaheim Ducks
Everyone hates him, unless he is on your team. Corey Perry might be the toughest player in hockey to match up against because he is the rare goal scorer that thrives in the hard to score areas. The reigning MVP had a career year last year in terms of goals and got a slow start to this year. But anyone who is willing to go onto the trenches to score with his ability is a valuable commodity that will bounce back. Caps fans, think of it like Alex Semin skill but playing like Knuble.
17. Ryan Kesler/ Center/ Vancouver Canucks
First American forward on the list and again, its for his balance of offense and defense. Last year was a breakout goal scoring year, but has played in at least 80 games and collected at least 60 points in each of the last 3 seasons. His role as a checking goal scorer is invaluable to the Canucks behind the Sedin twins.
18. Duncan Keith/ Defenseman/ Chicago Blackhawks
There are a lot of defenseman that could fill this spot. Solid defensively but moves the puck well and plays a good offensive game. Is capable of being a one man breakout and runs the powerplay. Brian Campbell, Drew Doughty, and a healthy Mike Green could also fit here.
19. Marc-Andre Fluery/ Goaltender/ Pittsburgh Penguins
More of an acrobatic keeper who has put up good numbers during his career in Pittsburgh (2.50 and .910). Was spectacular in the 2009 Cup run for the Penguins.
20. Patrice Bergeron/ Center/ Boston Bruins
Solid two way player who contributes offensively and in the faceoff dot. Think of him like a poor mans Datsyuk.
The Next Wave- So who might make the Top 20 in the future? Watch for these seven rising stars.
John Taveres/Center/Islanders- Really putting together a solid campaign on Long Island and should be fun to watch as the Isle’s continue to improve.
Jamie Benn/Center/Stars- Very underrated center for the Dallas Stars that does everything pretty well. Look for him to continue what has already been a breakout year.
Jeff Skinner/Wing/Hurricanes- Last years ROY winner burst onto the scene with a 30 goal rookie campaign. He has a nose for the net that will keep him productive despite his size.
Tyler Seguin/Center/Bruins- Quickly seems to have gone from extra piece to central piece in Boston. Leads the team in points and +/- entering the All Star break.
Jordan Eberle/ Ryan Nugent Hopkins/ Taylor Hall/Top Line/Oilers- The Oiler trio will continue to grow and produce together, making the Oiler’s a scary team in the future.
Sleeper
Matt Moulson/Wing/Islanders- 30 goals in each of his 1st two full seasons on Long Island and is off to eclipse that this year. Look for him and Taveres to put the Islanders back on the map real soon.
Super Sleeper
Karl Alzner/Defenseman/Capitals- Will soon be considered an elite shutdown defender. Look for him to develop some offensive skills over the next few seasons. Solid positionally and makes the smart move most of the time. Defenders develop slowly, so watch out. You read it here 1st.
Agree or no? Let me know!
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