Gretzky said he thinks the three best players in the world are Toews, Crosby and Kopitar. I would put Toews ahead of Kopitar, but not by much.
- LeftCoaster

it's like picking between supermodels. not really a wrong choice and it's more a matter of taste. myself, i would pick kopitar over toews and a healthy crosby over both.

the blackhawks are the best team though. their core is unreal. kings are not far behind (especially now with lucic).

Kopitar is the #2 two way center in the game behind Toews. He doesn't get a lot of love, but he should be getting between 9-10 mil pretty quick. Seabrook is re-signing in Chicago. I wish, you wish... but I don't see it. Kopitar could move on, if the kings aren't careful.

Pat Quinn and Brian Burke are the only two General Managers, IMO, that have ever blazed their own trail, thru building a team (drafting & trades), in the Canucks history. I'm thinking Jim Benning will go down with these two guys in Canucks history....time will tell.

No more Messier deals!!!

it's like picking between supermodels. not really a wrong choice and it's more a matter of taste. myself, i would pick kopitar over toews and a healthy crosby over both.

the blackhawks are the best team though. their core is unreal. kings are not far behind (especially now with lucic).
- RealityChecker

Can you imagine if Nonuts (idiot) would have drafted Kopitar in 2005 instead of Bourdon. We'd have probably won a Cup by now

Henrik - Kopitar - Kesler down the middle

Can you imagine if Nonuts (idiot) would have drafted Kopitar in 2005 instead of Bourdon. We'd have probably won a Cup by now

Henrik - Kopitar - Kesler down the middle
- LeftCoaster

That's how you build Championship teams, you draft them!! You don't need five top three overall picks, you just need to pick well no matter where you pick.

A couple top three picks certainly helps though!!

Can you imagine if Nonuts (idiot) would have drafted Kopitar in 2005 instead of Bourdon. We'd have probably won a Cup by now

Henrik - Kopitar - Kesler down the middle
- LeftCoaster

First you bring up Messier and now Nonis passing on Kopitar...

First you bring up Messier and now Nonis passing on Kopitar...

- RealityChecker

ok I'm done!!

It would be nice to go after seabrook, lucic and resign hamhuis especially at home town discounts with average term. The problem is we have way to many poop contracts see sbisa, sutter, miller, dorsett.

If we dealt players with the idea of having a poor season this year but had cap flexibility for next it might have worked. Problem is we did the exact opposite have no cap space and an average roster. So we are also more than likely going to miss out on the top 5 of this draft which should be really good too.

First you bring up Messier and now Nonis passing on Kopitar...

- RealityChecker

If I'm picking Top 10 players in the NHL, my list goes:

1) Toews
2) Stamkos
3) Crosby
4) Kane
5) Ovechkin
6) Tavares
7) Kopitar
8) Malkin
9) Karlsson
10) Benn

ok I'm done!!
- LeftCoaster

You better be.
We have a Mod, now.

He will fit right in with that organization, it's a perfect fit.

If I'm picking Top 10 players in the NHL, my list goes:

1) Toews
2) Stamkos
3) Crosby
4) Kane
5) Ovechkin
6) Tavares
7) Kopitar
8) Malkin
9) Karlsson
10) Benn
- DariusKnight

Mine is as follows (please note, the order of the list and the list itself is not necessarily representative of any sort of fantasy hockey value - even though most of these players would nonetheless be worthy pick-ups:

1) Crosby
2) Ovechkin
3) Datsyuk
4) Toews
5) Karlson
6) Kopitar
7) Giroux
8) Malkin
9) Kane
10) Tavares
11) Stamkos
12) Getzlaf
13) Zetterberg
14) Weber
15) Benn
16) Subban
17) H Sedin
18) Perry
19) Seguin
20) Doughty

Honourable Mentions:

Voracek, Duchene, Couture, Tarasenko, Hall, Keith, Hedman, Letang,

(extremely difficult to compile only a top 10 list so I made it top twenty instead - although even then, many many other candidates could be added or interchanged). Please note I didn't include any goaltenders (who would certainly make the list - Price for instance)

P.S. no hate mail in case I missed anyone you felt was worthy - again, very hard to compile any sort of top 50 list, let alone a top 20 one

Mine is as follows (please note, the order of the list and the list itself is not necessarily representative of any sort of fantasy hockey value - even though most of these players would nonetheless be worthy pick-ups:

1) Crosby
2) Ovechkin
3) Datsyuk
4) Toews
5) Karlson
6) Kopitar
7) Giroux
8) Malkin
9) Kane
10) Tavares
11) Stamkos
12) Getzlaf
13) Zetterberg
14) Weber
15) Benn
16) Subban
17) H Sedin
18) Perry
19) Seguin
20) Doughty

Honourable Mentions:

Voracek, Duchene, Couture, Tarasenko, Hall, Keith, Hedman, Letang,

(extremely difficult to compile only a top 10 list so I made it top twenty instead - although even then, many many other candidates could be added or interchanged). Please note I didn't include any goaltenders (who would certainly make the list - Price for instance)

P.S. no hate mail in case I missed anyone you felt was worthy - again, very hard to compile any sort of top 50 list, let alone a top 20 one
- Zogg

Instead of complaining about your picks I've just flagged you

Instead of complaining about your picks I've just flagged you
- A_SteamingLombardi

they say you only flag the ones you love

P.S. oh, and why don't you let your words do the talking! compile your own list, for feck sakes! so I can at least return the flag favour . In fact, everyone please compile your own lists, it would be interesting to see various perspectives, given we are only a few weeks away from the real deal

they say you only flag the ones you love

P.S. oh, and why don't you let your words do the talking! compile your own list, for feck sakes! so I can at least return the flag favour
- Zogg

You don't need a reason to flag me. I'll give it some thought.



Crosby
Toews
Stamkos
Tavares
Kopitar
Datsyuk

the rest meh

In fact, everyone please compile your own lists, it would be interesting to see various perspectives, given we are only a few weeks away from the real deal
- Zogg

I second this idea.

I'm still bent out of shape about the Sedins not making The Hockey News' Top 50. I can see how they'd be on the cusp of a Top 20, but 50?

I'd love to see more Top 20 lists—or whatever works for you. How do you rank the league's best players, with an eye towards what they'll deliver in 2015-16?

First you bring up Messier and now Nonis passing on Kopitar...

- RealityChecker

This all day long.

I second this idea.

I'm still bent out of shape about the Sedins not making The Hockey News' Top 50. I can see how they'd be on the cusp of a Top 20, but 50?

I'd love to see more Top 20 lists—or whatever works for you. How do you rank the league's best players, with an eye towards what they'll deliver in 2015-16?
- Carol Schram

Better yet, how about a Mount Rushmore of NHL Players?

Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard would be mine.

Gretzky said he thinks the three best players in the world are Toews, Crosby and Kopitar. I would put Toews ahead of Kopitar, but not by much.
- LeftCoaster

Even though he's a winger, Ovechkin would make my top 3. One of the best goal scorers to ever play. Crosby would be the other one in my top 3 and I'd have to think about the 3rd guy.

Even though he's a winger, Ovechkin would make my top 3. One of the best goal scorers to ever play. Crosby would be the other one in my top 3 and I'd have to think about the 3rd guy.
- Nucker101

Ovechkin is deadly on the PP, but he scores half his goals there. When I talk about top players I want a game that also translates to 5vs5

I'd take Lucic for a big hometown discount for sure... so what I really mean is we are not going to see him sign here next year.

Ovechkin is deadly on the PP, but he scores half his goals there. When I talk about top players I want a game that also translates to 5vs5
- golfingsince

That's an unfair criticism, given that all top end players usually get most of their points on the power-play. Ovechkin isn't an exception, he is the rule.

Ovechkin (and Stamkos) are probably two of the most natural and prolific scorers of the recent past. They simply make it look easy and have consistently put up the numbers to back it all up.

I think even because Ovechkin had that one subpar year, it in no way suggests that he still isn't one of the best players (arguably even best period, depending on how you define things) in the game today.

I'd take Lucic for a big hometown discount for sure... so what I really mean is we are not going to see him sign here next year.
- boonerbuck

I am sure JB has some surprises up his sleeve.

That's an unfair criticism, given that all top end players usually get most of their points on the power-play. Ovechkin isn't an exception, he is the rule.

Ovechkin (and Stamkos) are probably two of the most natural and prolific scorers of the recent past. They simply make it look easy and have consistently put up the numbers to back it all up.

I think even because Ovechkin had that one subpar year, it in no way suggests that he still isn't one of the best players (arguably even best period, depending on how you define things) in the game today.
- Zogg

Zogg where you been bro? Havent seen you in a while