I'm going to let the video do the talking for this one. Notice I didn't say "prettiest" or "nicest" goals of all time, I said "greatest". Enjoy.
10. Mike Legg- University of Michigan
9. Robbie Schremp- New York Islanders
8. Jonathan Toews- Chicago Blackhawks
7. Bobby Ryan- Anaheim Ducks
6. Bobby Orr- Boston Bruins
5. Jordan Eberle-Team Canada
4. Paul Henderson- Team Canada
3. Alex Ovechkin- Washington Capitals
2. John Tavares- Team Canada
1. Paul Kariya- Team Canada
Okay, so maybe I'm a bit biased.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Top Ten: Current Players in the NHL
Well... here we go. What better way to start off than a subject everyone has an opinion on: the best players in the game today. My top tens will count down starting at ten and moving towards the number one.
10. Nicklas Backstrom- Washington
The slick Swedish centre (say that ten times fast) is underrated because he plays alongside a player who will be featured later in this list: Alex Ovechkin. Yes, it makes Backstrom's job easier, but putting up over a point per game numbers is no easy task. With 54 points in 48 games, the 22 year old will get better as his career progresses. That's the scary part, and yes, Ovechkin makes Backstrom better, but Backstrom makes Ovechkin's job a whole lot easier too.
9. Henrik Zetterberg- Detroit
Another Swede, Zetterberg is one of the best two-way players in the league. He can score or set up goals, but can also play great defensive hockey. Zetterberg effectively shadowed Sidney Crosby in the Stanley Cup Finals last year, giving his team every chance to win. Although he is behind his usual offensive pace with "only" 37 points in 40 games, Zetterberg brings a lot more to the table than what shows up on the score sheet.
8. Shea Weber- Nashville
The sad thing is, there are a ton of hockey fans who don't know how good Shea Weber is, or even who he is. When I was discussing the Olympic hockey team selections with a buddy of mine, he said, "Shea Weber, really?" Yes really. This guy is one of the best defensemen in the league, the real deal. He has a booming slap shot, hits like a truck, and can make a great first pass out of the defensive zone. After 23 goals last year, he has 9 so far this year. He may be the most underrated defenseman in the league. This was proven by how few highlight videos there are out there.
7. Jarome Iginla- Calgary
My personal favourite, Jarome Iginla is the best power forward in the league. He has a spectacular wrist shot and doesn't shy away from the dirty areas of the ice. For his entire career, Iginla has been plagued by mediocre linemates. Calgary likes to play a defensive, tight checking game and Iginla has been forced to shoulder all the offensive pressure. On many nights, if he didn't score, noone would. When he finally got Mike Cammalleri on his other wing, Cammalleri left for the big money the Montreal Canadiens offered him in free agency. Despite all this, Iginla has scored 50 goals in a season twice and is an assistant captain for Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics. This year, he has 43 points in 50 games. Not only is he a great player, but also one of the most respected ambassadors for the game, and it seems he always has a smile on.
6. Ilya Kovalchuk- Atlanta
Another guy who has done a lot with little help, Kovalchuk has been the face of the Atlanta Thrashers since he was drafted in 2001. Kovalchuk's defensive zone play certainly leaves something to be desired, but his dynamic offensive work makes up for it. With 28 goals in only 43 games, Kovalchuk is well on his way to his 6th consecutive season with over 40 goals, and he has had two 50 goal seasons already at the age of 26. It appears he'll be moving to another team as he hits free agency this summer, so when he gets some legitimate help around him, watch out!
5. Joe Thornton- San Jose
Yes, I know, I know. Joe Thornton doesn't show up in the playoffs, but holy cow, can he put up points. The best playmaker in the league can make a pass through traffic like noone else to find snipers such as Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau. He has a whopping 64 points in 50 games and has hit 100 points in a season 3 times, on pace to make it a fourth this year. Thornton had the most points in the entire NHL in the past decade, a testament to his offensive prowess.
4. Pavel Datsyuk- Detroit
Along with Henrik Zetterberg, Datsyuk is a major piece that the Detroit Red Wings have built their team around. Another elite two way player, Datsyuk has some absolutely dirty dekes that he puts on display, especially in the shootout. His stats have been somewhat low this year as Detroit was decimated by injuries, but you know a player is good when 36 points in 46 games is a disappointment, but coming off back-to-back 97 point seasons, this season has been just that for Datsyuk.
3. Evgeni Malkin- Pittsburgh
After helping lead his team to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, Malkin was on the winning end this time against the Red Wings, also taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy with a massive 36 points in 24 playoff games. He is only in his fourth NHL season and has already had two years with over 100 points, a feat very few can lay claim to. With 44 points in 43 games, look for "Geno" to have an explosive second half.
2. Alexander Ovechkin- Washington
Easily the best goal scorer in the league and the most exciting player to watch, Ovechkin scores a ton of goals. He has a superb shot and also doesn't shy away from the physical play, seeking out hits and even dropping the gloves earlier in the season. Ovechkin also has a good sense of humor, joking with the media and being involved in some shenanigans with Mike Green in the rink. The only knock on "Ovie" is that he floats too much and doesn't pay enough attention to defense.
1. Sidney Crosby- Pittsburgh
Obviously, in my opinion, the best player in the world, Sid the Kid is a force to be reckoned with. On pace for 49 goals this season, Sid would have 100 points in each of his NHL seasons so far if not for a high ankle srain that knocked him out of a good chunk of the season two years ago. He proved his worth in the playoffs, getting 31 points in 24 games. In his career, Sid has 454 points in 339 games, and this coming from playing with mediocre at best linemates such as Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Bill Guerin, and Ruslan Fedotenko. Simply put, Crosby makes the players around him better.
10. Nicklas Backstrom- Washington
The slick Swedish centre (say that ten times fast) is underrated because he plays alongside a player who will be featured later in this list: Alex Ovechkin. Yes, it makes Backstrom's job easier, but putting up over a point per game numbers is no easy task. With 54 points in 48 games, the 22 year old will get better as his career progresses. That's the scary part, and yes, Ovechkin makes Backstrom better, but Backstrom makes Ovechkin's job a whole lot easier too.
9. Henrik Zetterberg- Detroit
Another Swede, Zetterberg is one of the best two-way players in the league. He can score or set up goals, but can also play great defensive hockey. Zetterberg effectively shadowed Sidney Crosby in the Stanley Cup Finals last year, giving his team every chance to win. Although he is behind his usual offensive pace with "only" 37 points in 40 games, Zetterberg brings a lot more to the table than what shows up on the score sheet.
8. Shea Weber- Nashville
The sad thing is, there are a ton of hockey fans who don't know how good Shea Weber is, or even who he is. When I was discussing the Olympic hockey team selections with a buddy of mine, he said, "Shea Weber, really?" Yes really. This guy is one of the best defensemen in the league, the real deal. He has a booming slap shot, hits like a truck, and can make a great first pass out of the defensive zone. After 23 goals last year, he has 9 so far this year. He may be the most underrated defenseman in the league. This was proven by how few highlight videos there are out there.
7. Jarome Iginla- Calgary
My personal favourite, Jarome Iginla is the best power forward in the league. He has a spectacular wrist shot and doesn't shy away from the dirty areas of the ice. For his entire career, Iginla has been plagued by mediocre linemates. Calgary likes to play a defensive, tight checking game and Iginla has been forced to shoulder all the offensive pressure. On many nights, if he didn't score, noone would. When he finally got Mike Cammalleri on his other wing, Cammalleri left for the big money the Montreal Canadiens offered him in free agency. Despite all this, Iginla has scored 50 goals in a season twice and is an assistant captain for Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics. This year, he has 43 points in 50 games. Not only is he a great player, but also one of the most respected ambassadors for the game, and it seems he always has a smile on.
6. Ilya Kovalchuk- Atlanta
Another guy who has done a lot with little help, Kovalchuk has been the face of the Atlanta Thrashers since he was drafted in 2001. Kovalchuk's defensive zone play certainly leaves something to be desired, but his dynamic offensive work makes up for it. With 28 goals in only 43 games, Kovalchuk is well on his way to his 6th consecutive season with over 40 goals, and he has had two 50 goal seasons already at the age of 26. It appears he'll be moving to another team as he hits free agency this summer, so when he gets some legitimate help around him, watch out!
5. Joe Thornton- San Jose
Yes, I know, I know. Joe Thornton doesn't show up in the playoffs, but holy cow, can he put up points. The best playmaker in the league can make a pass through traffic like noone else to find snipers such as Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau. He has a whopping 64 points in 50 games and has hit 100 points in a season 3 times, on pace to make it a fourth this year. Thornton had the most points in the entire NHL in the past decade, a testament to his offensive prowess.
4. Pavel Datsyuk- Detroit
Along with Henrik Zetterberg, Datsyuk is a major piece that the Detroit Red Wings have built their team around. Another elite two way player, Datsyuk has some absolutely dirty dekes that he puts on display, especially in the shootout. His stats have been somewhat low this year as Detroit was decimated by injuries, but you know a player is good when 36 points in 46 games is a disappointment, but coming off back-to-back 97 point seasons, this season has been just that for Datsyuk.
3. Evgeni Malkin- Pittsburgh
After helping lead his team to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, Malkin was on the winning end this time against the Red Wings, also taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy with a massive 36 points in 24 playoff games. He is only in his fourth NHL season and has already had two years with over 100 points, a feat very few can lay claim to. With 44 points in 43 games, look for "Geno" to have an explosive second half.
2. Alexander Ovechkin- Washington
Easily the best goal scorer in the league and the most exciting player to watch, Ovechkin scores a ton of goals. He has a superb shot and also doesn't shy away from the physical play, seeking out hits and even dropping the gloves earlier in the season. Ovechkin also has a good sense of humor, joking with the media and being involved in some shenanigans with Mike Green in the rink. The only knock on "Ovie" is that he floats too much and doesn't pay enough attention to defense.
1. Sidney Crosby- Pittsburgh
Obviously, in my opinion, the best player in the world, Sid the Kid is a force to be reckoned with. On pace for 49 goals this season, Sid would have 100 points in each of his NHL seasons so far if not for a high ankle srain that knocked him out of a good chunk of the season two years ago. He proved his worth in the playoffs, getting 31 points in 24 games. In his career, Sid has 454 points in 339 games, and this coming from playing with mediocre at best linemates such as Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Bill Guerin, and Ruslan Fedotenko. Simply put, Crosby makes the players around him better.
Introduction
This blog is something I look forward to doing. It will feature my top ten list in many categories directly related to hockey. Do you have to agree? No, and if you don't, I'd love to hear from you. Comments are welcomed for hockeylovers everywhere.
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