Top 10 players in the world today

[Pavel Bure 0]

I don't really know if I can make a list of the top ten best players in the world, but I think you should know that the bolded comment is false, as Datsyuk and Zetterberg are almost always out against the other team's top line, and not only shut it down, but continue to produce themselves. They're also our top penalty killers. Keep an eye on that in the next round.

I've only really watched them during the playoffs but I was seeing the Draper line out against most team's top players most times. So hey I could be wrong.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I've only really watched them during the playoffs but I was seeing the Draper line out against most team's top players most times. So hey I could be wrong.

Draper definitely gets his share of ice time against top lines as well, but he's getting old, so its more of a liability to have him playing 20-30 minutes a game compared to a decade ago.

[Pavel Bure 0]

Draper definitely gets his share of ice time against top lines as well, but he's getting old, so its more of a liability to have him playing 20-30 minutes a game compared to a decade ago.

I gotcha, should be interesting to watch who the Wing's coach tries to match-up against Crosby and Malkin's lines.

[Dano33 41]

I intentionally didn't make a list because it is all opinion. The point is to show rampant homerism in blowing players up to be bigger than they are. Oh and before you say I'm just a nay-saying Pens fan. I don't consider Malkin top 10. If he shows consitency next year then I'll include him.

Ok, i just don't get how anyone could leave an exceptional 1-on-1/Defensive/Playmaking/physical (leads team in hits) player with a great shot who is amoung the league leaders in points out of a top ten list. I get that it is your opinion, but i must say, a large number of people, and not only wings fans, will strongly disagree with you. Find me ten players in the world who can surpass him in all of these categories, then i will agree with you.

Edited May 22, 2008 by Dano33

[Pavel Bure 0]

Ok, i just don't get how anyone could leave an exceptional 1-on-1/Defensive/Playmaking/physical (leads team in hits) player with a great shot who is amoung the league leaders in points out of a top ten list. I get that it is your opinion, but i must say, a large number of people, and not only wings fans, will strongly disagree with you.

Which one are you talking about?

[Dano33 41]

Which one are you talking about?

Hmm... Datsyuk

[Reds4Life 51]

Wow lots of homerism here (to be expected though and at other team's boards since no board is called "non-biased hockey thoughts"). Not that I don't think Datsyuk or Zetterberg are great players but top 10 in the world? Niether has ever cracked 100 points. Niether has won any award greater than the Lady Byng and somehow they're being put ahead of Hart/Ross/Richard winners? Give me a break. They are stars but top 10 in the world no. As some of you mentioned the gaudy +/- numbers. Really? That puts them over the top? The Wings D and great transition game along with puck possession would sky rocket nearly any top line players +/- It's not like H/D/Z line is out trying to shut down other team's top lines on a constant basis. Sorry +/- doesn't matter as much as some would like it to. Like I said great talents and star players but not top 10.

Datsyuk was 4th in scoring.

Zetterberg was 6th with 7 less games.

They are the best defensive forwards in the NHL.

How can you NOT include them in top10 is beyond me. Give me a break.

They are better than Lecavalier. But because he won some hardware in past, he is often considered one of the best. Joe Thornton? He is supposed to be a star, right. He chokes in playoffs on regular basis. He won Hart in past. But he is not better than Z and D now.

Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby are in top10? For sure. Why not Z and D?

This is not homerism, these two players definitely are in top10 ATM. Just watch Tippett post game press conference after game6 and you will find out what he thinks.

Edited May 22, 2008 by Reds4Life

[SaCkaveli20 275]

1. Niklas Lidstrom

2. Alex Ovechkin

3. Sidney Crosby

4. Pavel Datsyuk

5. Ilya Kovalchuk

6. Evgeni Malkin

7. Henrik Zetterberg

8. Jerome Iginla

9. Roberto Luongo

10. Dion Phaneuf

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

No; Z gets credit for how well he has played in his time healthy. I simply stated that two of the past three seasons Z has beaten Dats in points per game, and in the other one he went down with an injury in the middle of a RIDICULOUS scoring streak. Had Z been luckier in terms of health, he'd be the one who had led the team in scoring three seasons in a row. It's very close in the regard of actual point totals, and the minor difference in games played is what, more than anything, determined who end up on top at season's end.

Ultimately, I feel Zetterberg is, and has been, the better defensive player. But here's what I don't get; Datsyuk having better scoring numbers over the past couple seasons is what has been argued as why he's better offensively. Zetterberg has been an elite defensive forward for three years; Datsyuk has not. So the argument that Dats and Z are close defensively is based entirely on this season, when Z clearly outperformed Dats offensively.

Which is it? Three-year span or a single season performace that matters?

I was accused of picking and choosing my arguments because of stats...when that's actually what GST just did.

YES, THIS IS ALL IN CAPS SO THAT EVA REALIZES HE'S SPREADING BAD INFORMATION. DOING THAT INTENTIONALLY EVA TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT?????

Zetterberg has only beaten Datsyuk in PPG in 2008. He HAS NOT done it 2 of the past 3 years. I already spelled that out for you but apparently you didn't notice it.

2007

Datsyuk 1.10

Zetterberg 1.08

2006

Datsyuk 1.16 (by the way Dats played 2 fewer games and had 2 more points)

Zetterberg 1.10

So your argument is completely false as you don't even have the basic facts/statistics straight.

Eva, just give up already and stick to picking Zetterberg over Datsyuk as mere personal opinion as the stats simply don't back you up. Quit lying about the stats already.

By the way Eva I didn't know Datsyuk has only been a great defensively player this year. I hadn't heard that. Last time I checked Datsyuk had as many Selke nominations as Zetterberg.

Edited May 22, 2008 by GordieSid&Ted

[eva unit zero 271]

Zetterberg has only beaten Datsyuk in PPG in 2008. He HAS NOT done it 2 of the past 3 years. I already spelled that out for you but apparently you didn't notice it.

You are correct. it was late at night so I didn't realize that you had posted the stats in reverse order, and noticed that the first year listed Z had a higher number. I will admit that when I posted that, it didn't seem right but I was too tired to actually double check the numbers.

That said...Z would have been a Selke finalist last year had he not missed 20 games. He was top five in Selke voting despite games missed; he'd have definitely been top three if he plays the full season.

Regardless...Z has held a greater advantage defensively over Dats than Dats has held offensively. Combine that with the fact Z outperformed Dats offensively this season.

I think Z is better. You think Dats is better. The difference is, I don't think it's as clear cut as you seem to believe it is; you are acting like it's Crosby vs Hudler. This is two similar players, one of whom is slightly better than the other. You are acting like anyone who would pick Z over Dats is a complete moron. That alone makes you wrong.

[toby91_ca 620]

That said...Z would have been a Selke finalist last year had he not missed 20 games. He was top five in Selke voting despite games missed; he'd have definitely been top three if he plays the full season.

That comment is simply not supportable.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

You are correct. it was late at night so I didn't realize that you had posted the stats in reverse order, and noticed that the first year listed Z had a higher number. I will admit that when I posted that, it didn't seem right but I was too tired to actually double check the numbers.

That said...Z would have been a Selke finalist last year had he not missed 20 games. He was top five in Selke voting despite games missed; he'd have definitely been top three if he plays the full season.

Regardless...Z has held a greater advantage defensively over Dats than Dats has held offensively. Combine that with the fact Z outperformed Dats offensively this season.

I think Z is better. You think Dats is better. The difference is, I don't think it's as clear cut as you seem to believe it is; you are acting like it's Crosby vs Hudler. This is two similar players, one of whom is slightly better than the other. You are acting like anyone who would pick Z over Dats is a complete moron. That alone makes you wrong.

The only thing I think is clear cut, and I'm basing this on watching them play and statistical data is that only 2 arguments seem reasonable, statistics not being thrown out of the water to suit your needs, and taking into account durability, thereby not allowing you to dream up numbers and do "what ifs" everytime Zetterberg comes up short.

Bottom line is Z doesn't attain the numbers you'd like to see because he gets hurt too much. So i'm not basing their rankings on whether or not he could've been a Selke nominee last year or blah, blah...

Statistically, you could make an argument that Datsyuk is better.

Statistically, you could make an argument that it is too close to call.

Statistically, you CANNOT make an argument that Zetterberg is better.

Just my opinion or course, but the stats are in my favor. Game, Set, Match

Edited May 22, 2008 by GordieSid&Ted

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I'm shocked at how few of you actually have Vinny Lecavalier on your list.

Did some of you just forget about him, or is it something else?

[Opie 308]

I'm shocked at how few of you actually have Vinny Lecavalier on your list.

Did some of you just forget about him, or is it something else?

To be 100% completely honest, yes I forgot about him, must be the fact he plays on such a crappy team, but I remembered Kovie.

He is top 10 but I still put him further down than D, Z, Lids, Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Thornton, I would say he is 8-9 or 10, but yeah I forgot him!!!

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Even though I despise him, I'd probably have Pronger in my top 10, because he's still the 2nd best defenseman in the league, and can do anything out there in all areas of the game.

But I wasn't surprised that most people didn't have him on their lists.

[Opie 308]

Even though I despise him, I'd probably have Pronger in my top 10, because he's still the 2nd best defenseman in the league, and can do anything out there in all areas of the game.

But I wasn't surprised that most people didn't have him on their lists.

IMO:

The only d-man in the top 15-20 of the league is Lids.

Pronger is probably the 3rd best right now(Lids, Chara*), but soon that will be Phanuef.

I hate Pronger as a hockey player but you still can't argue he is top 3 in the game!

*I dislike Chara almost as much as Pronger, but he played a damn fine d for a subpar Bruins team this year!

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

IMO:

The only d-man in the top 15-20 of the league is Lids.

Pronger is probably the 3rd best right now(Lids, Chara*), but soon that will be Phanuef.

I hate Pronger as a hockey player but you still can't argue he is top 3 in the game!

*I dislike Chara almost as much as Pronger, but he played a damn fine d for a subpar Bruins team this year!

Do I feel some Boston homerism in the air?

Pronger is a better passer and puck mover than Chara, and also Pronger doesn't turn the puck over as much. The only thing that Chara does better is fight, but that's still not enough to put him above in my book.

Also, consistency is important, and this was Chara's best year in the league, while Pronger has been solid for a long time.

[Opie 308]

Do I feel some Boston homerism in the air?

Pronger is a better passer and puck mover than Chara, and also Pronger doesn't turn the puck over as much. The only thing that Chara does better is fight, but that's still not enough to put him above in my book.

Also, consistency is important, and this was Chara's best year in the league, while Pronger has been solid for a long time.

NO boston homerism, not a B's fan in the least!!!!!

My opinions are usually based on this year and this year only, unless we are talking top 10 of all time, but then you would have to change that with top 10 careers of active players, or talking about a specific player over their career.

I think Chara did more with Less, and had a better offensive year by a long shot. And even though this was Chara's best year he has had comparable years in the past.

Again I don't like the guy, he is the biggest guy on the ice and always seems to pick on the smallest guy on the ice!

[Frozen-Man 144]

THE THREAD IS STILL GOING, DUDE.

a forward slash isn't going to stop NOTHIN'.

boo yah.

LETS GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!

Cracked me up

[eva unit zero 271]

Do I feel some Boston homerism in the air?

Pronger is a better passer and puck mover than Chara, and also Pronger doesn't turn the puck over as much. The only thing that Chara does better is fight, but that's still not enough to put him above in my book.

Also, consistency is important, and this was Chara's best year in the league, while Pronger has been solid for a long time.

Chara is a Norris finalist and will likely be a First-team All-Star. Pronger might not even get Norris votes. Seriously...this year was probably Pronger's worst season since his first couple years in the league. I would say that this year, Pronger might not have been good enough to crack Detroit's top three.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Chara is a Norris finalist and will likely be a First-team All-Star. Pronger might not even get Norris votes. Seriously...this year was probably Pronger's worst season since his first couple years in the league. I would say that this year, Pronger might not have been good enough to crack Detroit's top three.

Hence why Pronger wasn't included in my own list this year. Again, the topic reads "In the world today" .. not "in the world 2 seasons ago" not "in the world 3 years from now when Crosby has had a 130 point season and is hoisting the cup."

Today, my list stands as "1: Lidstrom, for a plethora of reasons; 2/3: Datsyuk and Zetterberg, because both have managed to seamlessly integrate top 6 in scoring with top 3 in forward defensive ability, along with a good amount of flair and attractiveness to their style of play, and let's not forget another important attribute: sportsmanship, which both and moth especially Datsyuk do not lack in. Ovechkin is an insanely close 4th, so insanely close that he's arguably better and rightfully so, being a few years younger, top in the league in goals and points, and also a good physical presence to boot. All the goal scoring talent of Malkin, all the point-gathering talent of Crosby, but at the time being more of a complete hockey player, and, in my own opinion, more class. (Also, a better beard)

[Stevie Y 0]

Datsyuk was 4th in scoring.

Zetterberg was 6th with 7 less games.

They are the best defensive forwards in the NHL.

How can you NOT include them in top10 is beyond me. Give me a break.

They are better than Lecavalier. But because he won some hardware in past, he is often considered one of the best. Joe Thornton? He is supposed to be a star, right. He chokes in playoffs on regular basis. He won Hart in past. But he is not better than Z and D now.

Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby are in top10? For sure. Why not Z and D?

This is not homerism, these two players definitely are in top10 ATM. Just watch Tippett post game press conference after game6 and you will find out what he thinks.

First of all I agree with you. BUT it is possible to not include Z and Dats in the top 10. If you think that all the positions are equally important and therefore include 4 forwards 3 defensemen and 3 goalies it would prolly be tough for Dats and Z to crack the top 10.