Ranking the Top 30 Players in the NHL Today
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10. David Pastrnak
We wouldn’t hold it against you if you wanted to flip Marchand and David Pastrnak here. There are worse problems than trying to figure out which wing is better if you’re a Bruins fan, though.
This is a legitimate franchise-cornerstone forward; the kind of player that teams hope to land with a top-five pick in the draft. That the Bruins snagged him with the 25th pick is astounding.
We aren’t sure exactly what Pastrnak would look like without two other elite players on his line, but it doesn’t really matter. He’s a bonafide top-10 player in our eyes. Over the past three years, only seven forwards have produced points at a higher clip per 60 than Pastrnak.
9. Sidney Crosby
A few years ago, Sidney Crosby would rightfully have been the first player mentioned in any “best player in the world” conversation. Age has slowly brought the 34-year-old down a peg or two. The thing is, No. 87 was always so good that even a slowed-down version of him is one of the best players in the NHL.
He’s incredibly involved in the play at all times for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby is still an elite passer, and while this might be the last season we see him as a top-10 talent, it’s generally been unwise to bet against The Kid.
8. Andrei Vasilevskiy
And now we arrive at the best netminder in the league. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy, and the crown of best goalie is his to lose this season. There are some challengers to be certain, but the 27-year-old is capable of taking on all comers.
The Athletic recently conducted an anonymous survey of NHL general managers and coaches, asking them to rank the best goalies in the league. Vasilevskiy was No. 1, despite some responders believing that he’s actually underrated. He saved 21 goals above average during the regular season and was even better in the playoffs.
To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. Until another goalie outlasts “Vas” in a seven-game series, he’s the man.
7. Victor Hedman
Victor Hedman took a good deal of heat last season. He entered the year generally viewed as one of the game’s most dominant defensemen, only to appear to take a step back for the Lightning. It turns out that he was quietly playing through an injury, one that limited his explosiveness.
Bouncing back at the age of 30 might be a big ask for Hedman, but he’s just too good to tank because of one injury. It’ll be interesting to see if Hedman can re-enter the Norris Trophy conversation. If he can’t, a player like Makar could be here by this time next season.
6. Leon Draisaitl
If Leon Draisaitl could be even an average defender, then he’d crack the top-five without question. The gap between him and No. 5 isn’t all that wide; it simply comes down to how versatile the 25-year-old is. Or, rather, is not.
Despite struggling a bit defensively, he’s still one of the best play drivers in the league, and his presence on the second line in Edmonton opens some things up for that McDavid fella’.
Draisaitl is capable of being the best player in the world on any given night, and we’ve got to respect that here.
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