Friday night was the NHL All-Star draft. It was a very interesting idea and really showed what NHL players thought of each other. Well this event made me consider who are the ten best players in the NHL today:
10. Evgeni Malkin - C - Pittsburgh Penguins
Most Penguin fans would probably argue that Geno belongs higher on this list, but I maintain he doesn't always show up. There are many games throughout the season in which the only reason Geno is mentioned is because he took a bad penalty or made a turnover that led to a goal against. However, he does belong on the list because when he wants to play he is unstoppable. Not too many players have won the Calder trophy, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe in their career. Malkin has done all of that before age 25.
9. The Sedin twins - Daniel and Henrik - Vancouver Canucks
You cannot tell them apart on the ice they make each other better, they have almost the same number of career points. There is nothing that clearly makes one better than the other so they had to stay together on this list. The Sedins are fun to watch. They are strong in all facets of the game. They help make the Canucks a Stanley Cup contender every season. With Henrik winning the Art Ross and MVP last season I could not keep them off this list.
8. Duncan Keith - D - Chicago Blackhawks
An outstanding two-way defenseman Duncan Keith may have been the most important piece of last seasons Stanley Cup Champions. He is equally great in both ends and is an all around smart player. He certainly earned is James Norris trophy. He locked up a spot on this list after his teeth were literally shot out last season and he came back to play in the same game.
7. Jonathan Toews - C - Chicago Blackhawks
Its a tough call between Keith and Toews for who the best Blackhawk is, but I tend to go with Jonathan Toews. He was one of the best, if not the best, player in the game last year. He does nothing but shine in big pressure games. Look at what he accomplished in 2010 alone. Olympic Gold Medal, Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, and voted best forward in the 2010 Olympics. Simply put the kid is a stud.
6. Zdeno Chara - D - Boston Bruins
At 6'9" tall and 255 lbs Chara would be intimidating even if he was not a great player. The scary thing is Chara might be the best defenseman in the NHL. Everything about him screams the perfect defenseman. He has the reach of a giraffe, a 105 MPH slapshot (the hardest ever), and he hits wingers like a truck. In 2009 Chara won the James Norris trophy and helps make whoever is in goal for the Bruins look great every year.
5. Roberto Luongo - G - Vancouver Canucks
He is easily the best goaltender in the league today. Luongo literally stole that title from Martin Brodeur in last years Olympics when he took Canada's starting job from him. Luongo led the team to gold. This season he has led the Canucks to the best record in the Western Conference, so far.
4. Alex Ovechkin - LW - Washington Capitals
It is widely argued if he is the best player in the world, he isn't. Ovechkin might be the best goal scorer in the league and maybe the most exciting player to watch. However, he can only play in one end of the ice. He is in no way a two way player. The biggest criticism is he does not come up big in big games. His teams have never won anything. The Capitals have never made it past the second round and Russia did not even medal in last year's Olympics. Ovechkin is an unbelievable scorer and will certainly be a member of the 600 goal club.
3. Pavel Datsyuk - C - Detroit Red Wings
Its hard to argue against a player that has won 2 Stanley Cups, 4 Lady Bings, and 3 Selke Trophies. Pavel Datsyuk is incredible in both ends of the ice. He also may have the best hands in the league. It is hard to follow a legend, in Detroit that is how it has to be though. Datsyuk has had to live up to the expectations set by players like Yzerman and Howe and he has done it beautifully.
2. Steven Stamkos - C - Tampa Bay Lightning
In the short lived history of our "Rank" series Steven Stamkos has already finished second twice. That goes to show you just how much I think of him. At 20 years old Stamkos has already won a Maurice Richard award, no one else ever has done that. This season Stamkos has shown even more growth in his game as he is racking up more assists and currently leads the league in scoring. It is almost scary to think how good he will be in 5 years. Nicklas Lidstrom picked him ahead of every other position player available in the All Star draft. That just goes to show you what he thinks of Stamkos.
1. Sidney Crosby - C - Pittsburgh Penguins
Was there ever any doubt about who would be #1 on this list? Well there should not have been. There are a few players in the game today that are strong in all aspects, there is only that is great in all of them. Sidney Crosby can do everything his team asks. If you need him to be a playmaker he will get 84 assists like he did in 2007, if you need goals he'll score 51 like he did last year, if you need a faceoff specialist he'll win nearly 60% of his draws. What puts Sid so far ahead of the others on this list is his knack for the spotlight. He scored the game winner in the shootout of the first Winter Classic, he has won a Stanley Cup, he scored the overtime winner in the 2010 Olympic gold medal game, virtually everytime the whole world is watching he shines. No other player has ever been booed in every arena in the league and the only reason they boo is jealousy. Every fan in the world wishes Crosby was on their team and with good reason. He is the best player in the world.
10. Evgeni Malkin - C - Pittsburgh Penguins
Most Penguin fans would probably argue that Geno belongs higher on this list, but I maintain he doesn't always show up. There are many games throughout the season in which the only reason Geno is mentioned is because he took a bad penalty or made a turnover that led to a goal against. However, he does belong on the list because when he wants to play he is unstoppable. Not too many players have won the Calder trophy, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe in their career. Malkin has done all of that before age 25.
9. The Sedin twins - Daniel and Henrik - Vancouver Canucks
You cannot tell them apart on the ice they make each other better, they have almost the same number of career points. There is nothing that clearly makes one better than the other so they had to stay together on this list. The Sedins are fun to watch. They are strong in all facets of the game. They help make the Canucks a Stanley Cup contender every season. With Henrik winning the Art Ross and MVP last season I could not keep them off this list.
8. Duncan Keith - D - Chicago Blackhawks
An outstanding two-way defenseman Duncan Keith may have been the most important piece of last seasons Stanley Cup Champions. He is equally great in both ends and is an all around smart player. He certainly earned is James Norris trophy. He locked up a spot on this list after his teeth were literally shot out last season and he came back to play in the same game.
7. Jonathan Toews - C - Chicago Blackhawks
Its a tough call between Keith and Toews for who the best Blackhawk is, but I tend to go with Jonathan Toews. He was one of the best, if not the best, player in the game last year. He does nothing but shine in big pressure games. Look at what he accomplished in 2010 alone. Olympic Gold Medal, Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, and voted best forward in the 2010 Olympics. Simply put the kid is a stud.
6. Zdeno Chara - D - Boston Bruins
At 6'9" tall and 255 lbs Chara would be intimidating even if he was not a great player. The scary thing is Chara might be the best defenseman in the NHL. Everything about him screams the perfect defenseman. He has the reach of a giraffe, a 105 MPH slapshot (the hardest ever), and he hits wingers like a truck. In 2009 Chara won the James Norris trophy and helps make whoever is in goal for the Bruins look great every year.
5. Roberto Luongo - G - Vancouver Canucks
He is easily the best goaltender in the league today. Luongo literally stole that title from Martin Brodeur in last years Olympics when he took Canada's starting job from him. Luongo led the team to gold. This season he has led the Canucks to the best record in the Western Conference, so far.
4. Alex Ovechkin - LW - Washington Capitals
It is widely argued if he is the best player in the world, he isn't. Ovechkin might be the best goal scorer in the league and maybe the most exciting player to watch. However, he can only play in one end of the ice. He is in no way a two way player. The biggest criticism is he does not come up big in big games. His teams have never won anything. The Capitals have never made it past the second round and Russia did not even medal in last year's Olympics. Ovechkin is an unbelievable scorer and will certainly be a member of the 600 goal club.
3. Pavel Datsyuk - C - Detroit Red Wings
Its hard to argue against a player that has won 2 Stanley Cups, 4 Lady Bings, and 3 Selke Trophies. Pavel Datsyuk is incredible in both ends of the ice. He also may have the best hands in the league. It is hard to follow a legend, in Detroit that is how it has to be though. Datsyuk has had to live up to the expectations set by players like Yzerman and Howe and he has done it beautifully.
2. Steven Stamkos - C - Tampa Bay Lightning
In the short lived history of our "Rank" series Steven Stamkos has already finished second twice. That goes to show you just how much I think of him. At 20 years old Stamkos has already won a Maurice Richard award, no one else ever has done that. This season Stamkos has shown even more growth in his game as he is racking up more assists and currently leads the league in scoring. It is almost scary to think how good he will be in 5 years. Nicklas Lidstrom picked him ahead of every other position player available in the All Star draft. That just goes to show you what he thinks of Stamkos.
1. Sidney Crosby - C - Pittsburgh Penguins
Was there ever any doubt about who would be #1 on this list? Well there should not have been. There are a few players in the game today that are strong in all aspects, there is only that is great in all of them. Sidney Crosby can do everything his team asks. If you need him to be a playmaker he will get 84 assists like he did in 2007, if you need goals he'll score 51 like he did last year, if you need a faceoff specialist he'll win nearly 60% of his draws. What puts Sid so far ahead of the others on this list is his knack for the spotlight. He scored the game winner in the shootout of the first Winter Classic, he has won a Stanley Cup, he scored the overtime winner in the 2010 Olympic gold medal game, virtually everytime the whole world is watching he shines. No other player has ever been booed in every arena in the league and the only reason they boo is jealousy. Every fan in the world wishes Crosby was on their team and with good reason. He is the best player in the world.
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