 | The Hockey News' Top 50 Players |
 TheCoach writes "As you probably know, each year the Hockey News releases a list of the top 50 players in hockey. This can spark some fantastic debate, so let's see who made the list this year.
1.) Peter Forsberg
2.) Jarome Iginla
3.) Markus Naslund
4.) Chris Pronger
5.) Dany Heatley
6.) Joe Thornton
7.) Martin Brodeur
8.) Ilya Kovalchuk
9.) Martin St.Louis
10.) Joe Sakic
11.) Mario Lemieux
12.) Nicklas Lidstrom
13.) Scott Niedermayer
14.) Marian Hossa
15.) Mats Sundin
16.) Daniel Alfredsson
17.) Rob Blake
18.) Sergei Fedorov
19.) Nikolai Khabibulin
20.) Jaromir Jagr
21.) Zdeno Chara
22.) Todd Bertuzzi
23.) Mike Modano
24.) Milan Hejduk
25.) Brad Richards
26.) Patrik Elias
27.) Vincent Lecavailer
28.) Martin Havlat
29.) Bill Guerin
30.) Sergei Gonchar
31.) Miikka Kiprusoff
32.) Keith Primeau
33.) Keith Tkachuk
34.) Glen Murray
35.) Ziggy Palffy
36.) Pavol Demitra
37.) Pavel Datsyuk
38.) Roberto Luongo
39.) Marty Turco
40.) Kris Draper
41.) Brenden Morrow
42.) Marian Gaborik
43.) Robert Lang
44.) Alex Tanguay
45.) Adam Foote
46.) Patrick Marleau
47.) Brian Leetch
48.) Jeremy Roenick
49.) Ryan Smyth
50.) Rick Nash
Personally, I don't have too many issues with the selections. I would have put Scott Niedermayer over Niklas Lidstrom, but that is a close call. I would have also placed Ziggy Palffy in the top 30 at least, over the likes Bill Guerin, and had Pavel Datsyuk higher than Glen Murray and Keith Tkachuk, but it is all opinion.
What do you think:
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| "The Hockey News' Top 50 Players" | Login/Create an Account | 103 comments |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by habswinthecup-again on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Thorton should not be in the top 10, Alfredsson has to be ahead of Sundin, I am not sure if Guerin or Tkachuk should even be in the top 50, and where is Theodore and Belfour? |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Wills on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Lidstrom should be in the top 5, he has been the best defensemen in the NHL the last 7 years. I also would of put Chara and Niedermayer higher then they were, it seems like whoever made this list forgot how important defensemen are. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by islander3788 on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | RICK NASH NUMBER 50!?
Should be alot higher than that. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by PayUpSucka on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | The 50 they named look good, but you could make arguments for all of them for a higher ranking. I mean there isn't that big a difference between Alex Tanguay at 44 than say Martin St. Louis at 9.
If it's based on last year than yeah I would agree that Rick Nash should be higher. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by wizard36 on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | pronger, thornton, lemieux, and jagr are to high. kovalchuk is better than heatly. luongo should be much higher. morrow and palffy shouldnt be on it. kiprusoff hasnt been good for long enough to be here. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by LeafyMcLeaf (Billiken_skywalker@hotmail.com) on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | I get the hockey news and have been looking forward to commenting on this all this week.
Iginla is better then Forseberg
Belfour should be there
Morrow Draper Palffy and Tkachuck should all be off the list
Chara should be a little lower. think he's over rated like McCabe.
Sakic St.Louis and Kovalchuck should all be higher then Heatley.
Nash and Tanguay higher.
Havlat lower
Sundin is not the best leaf. Nieuwy, Leetch and Belfour all top him.
Blake and Primeau and Lecavalier higher.
Turco Demitra lower
I am not even gonna touch on Luongo cuz that place is absolutely retarted.
Jagr lower Lidstrom higher.
There is a bit more but I wanna catch the Simpsons.
May the force be with you. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Minky on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I would not have numbered them, they should just be the top 50 players in no particular order. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by the_expert_44 on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | ill list the problems in the order they appear.
- brodeur should be top 5
- st louis shouldnt even be in the top 20
- lemieux is top 10 anytime hes healthy
- jagr should be higher than 20, with his talent
- chara is not that good yet
- kiprusoff shouldnt crack the top 100 until at least next year (or else giguere would be top 30 wouldnt he)
- palffy should be slightly higher
- luongo should be top 20
- draper, morrow, and smyth? what a joke
looking back fedorov is overrated.
its obviously impossible to make a list like this, so this did pretty well actually |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by SUMMITS (http://s7.invisionfree.com/hockey_talk) on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | I think Luongo should be higher and Draper and Morrrow should probably be lower.
http://s7.invisionfree.com/hockey_talk |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by LeafBasher_BEATER on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Lang had a terrific season, should be top 25 at least. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Radio on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | Havlat, Guerin, and Demitra are too high.
Pronger #4? Eww...
Draper the Raper even on the list?! Someone thinks highly of his Team Canada status.
BTW, Team Canada took over my gym last week, I went there for my usual work out and security was everywhere...bastards...You're all rich, pitch in and build a training rink!!!
...
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Bishop7979 (my house) on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | Jarome Iginla is highly overrated.
Chris Pronger needs moved down a few pegs
Tanguay Nash Lang need moved up
Morrow, Smyth need removed
Kovalev should be on there (if this is a list that is not based on last year alone)
Chara should be higher than Blake.
Kiprusof had one good HALF season (started 38 games) keep him off the list till he can sustain sucess for a few years.
If Kiprusof (31) is on the list where is Belfour, Turco (at 39?), Raycroft, Theodore, Voloun ect.
I live in pittsburgh and I'll even say, Mario outta be left off the list till he plays more than 20 games in a season again. Just because he is an "active" player doesnt mean he should automatically get on this list.
Heatleys gotta be moved down till he gets his game back in order.
Gamborik had 18 goals last year, has only been in the league 4 seasons, and is ahead of Lang, Tanguay, JR? come on.
Morrison should be on here before Marleau is.
Chris Drury? Anyone? Scott Gomez? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Mark Recchi?
I think I'm done now.
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by BADBANNER on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I think alot of people will agree that this list is *****ING RETARDED! I thinktha who ever made this list did it by personal preferance. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Homunculous on Sunday, August 22
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Any list that has Glen Murray, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Havlat and Milan Hejduk above Ziggy Palffy is a sham. Palffy was #2 last year in points per game only behind Forsberg. If you knock him down for injuries Forsberg shouldnt be in the top 10. Palffy scores with crappy linemates (i.e. Straka and Stumple). No matter what you think of Palffy you have to admit that he can score more than Jagr who is often hailed as the 3rd best pure scorer in the league behind Lemeuix and Forsberg, and not only did Palffy score better than Jagr this year he also made his linemates better. The Hockey News always seems to have realy messed up lists, just writer favorites, which isnt good if they want some credibility. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by MAniac29 on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | This list is just littered with terrible choices!
Iginla ahead of Forsberg no doubt about it, I can't imagine any way that you could switch that around!
Pronger shouldn't be close to 4 if Neidermeyer, Lidstrom, and Chara are that low!
Heatley ahead of Kovalchuk, ahead of half the guys below him!! Come On!
knock Thornton down without a doubt....he really lost points in last years playoffs!
Anyone on here who knows me or me as Kraftster knows how much I love Lemieux, but, along the same line as Heatley, you can't put him that high at this time because it is yet to be seen where he'll be (though I think if there is a season, and if he stays healthy he will challenge for the scoring title)
Knock Federov down
Knock Modano down
Chara up...ahead of Blake for sure!
Geurin down for sure.
Kiprusoff ahead of Luongo almost immediatley makes this list a poor effort and total joke!
Primeau, Tkachuk, Murray all below Palffy
Luongo should be top 15
Draper out of top 50
Marleau higher
Leetch off
Smyth off
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by greengiant on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | Should be lower:
Martin St. Louis - Great offensive talent, but definatly NOT a top 10 player.
Dany Heatley - Kovalchuk is the better player at this point, and Kovalchuk is fringe top 10 right now. Heatley at 5 is a joke.
Nikolai Khabibulin - He's good, but is FAR from the second best goalie in the league. Not even a top 5 goalie.
Vincent Lecavalier - Overrated, overrated, and overrated. He's a good player, but is still feeding off the hype that comes with being a 1st overall. Michael Jordan of hockey my ass.
Martin Havlat - I love the guy, but he is not the 28th best player in the league right now.
Should be higher:
Scott Niedermayer - This man is top 10 for sure.
Zdeno Chara - This guy has quietly become one of the best all-around defenseman in the game. He should be a few notches higher, higher than Blake at least.
Roberto Luongo - 38 is a *****ing joke. He's probably the best goaltender in the league, skill-wise. The only thing Brodeur has on him is the better team.
Ziggy Palffy - At least top 25, ffs.
Should be OFF the list:
Miikka Kiprusoff - As if this guy being on the list while Belfour and Theodore are not isn't enough, they have to go ahead and put him in front of Luongo and Turco.
Kris Draper - Good player, far from top 50 though. Peca is better.
Keith Primeau - What the ***** is this bum doing on here? I love him, but Jesus... Simon Gagne, Alex Zhamnov, Jeremy Roenick, and Mark Recchi are better players than him.
Pavel Datsyuk - If he weren't playing on a veteran team like Detroit, he would be so far from the top 50 that he'd be *****ing drowning. Horrible defensive player. I would put Yzerman on this list before I even thought about putting Datsuck on.
Should be ON the list:
Shane Doan - This guy is *****ing awesome. Why he is not on this list while the likes of Marleau and Daysuk are is beyond me.
Ed Belfour - A top 5 goalie right now. Better than Kiprusoff, Khabibulin, and Turco for sure.
Jose Theodore - See above.
Jason Allison - If Lemieux gets on, despite his injuries, why isn't Allison? Easily a top 50 player when he's healthy. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by habsoverserver on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | | As someone else pointed out, Scott Gomez belongs on the list. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by DandoEagle on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | nope nope nope so wrong this list. forsberg isnt the best swed it is alfredsson by a mile. the best defenseman is chara by a mile and the best goalie by far is luongo.
so the list shoudl be
1 alfredsson
2 hossa
3 chara
4 luongo
5 turco
6 redden
7 havlat
8 belfour
9 geurin
10 nash
if anyone disagrees then tehy no nothing abut hockey |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by qsilver31 on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | | The fact that you think Guerin and Tkachuk shouldn't be in the top 50 goes to show how much you know about hockey. And Theodore? W/e man. If Nabokov doesn't make top 50, neither does your Jose. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by d0rd on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | Wow. All these comments and only ONE person excluding myself has a problem with Gaborik being on that list.
GABORIK?!? COME ON PEOPLE!
Other than that, I have no major qualms with it, especially since the yearbook (somewhat) justifies each selection. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Furlong19 on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | Khabibulin as the 2nd ranked goalie? I see that as kind of retarded. Sure he won the cup, but he was on the 1st ranked team in the east, and during the regular season he almost lost his starting job. Because of his "decent," not "spectacular" playoff run, he's ranked #2? Give me a break. If Tampa hadn't won the cup he wouldn't even be ranked in the top 50. Also, I want to add that Khabibulin faced pretty easy competition in the playoffs. I mean the 8th place Isles, the 7th place Habs, a beat-up, injured flyers team and of course the Cinderella flames.
I wonder how Khabibulin and the lightning would have done if they played the isles, a team like the sens, a healthy flyers team and a detroit in the cup finals.
To me, Theodore, Kiprusoff, Belfour, Nabokov, Joseph, Turco, Luongo and others should be ranked higher than Khabibulin. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by Pucked (pucked@yahoo.com) on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | | This list is nucking futs! |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by ranger_fan on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | BRIAN LEETCH 47! WHAT THE HELL. He is easily in the top 5 for defenseman
Ilya Kovalchuk is top 5, better than Heatley |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by bruinfan37 on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | Move Pronger out of the top 5, and you no doubt have the best 5 overall players in the league. When listing those guys, I can't put one ahead of the other. But, no doubt, Thornton, Forsberg, Naslund, Iginla, and Heatley are the top 5
Everything is a matter of opinion. To me, to put Luongo at 38 is borderline insane. Kiprusoff is too high. For half a season, and the playoffs, to rank him at 31, isn't too smart. |
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Re: The Hockey News' Top 50 Players (Score: 1)
by big_booty on Monday, August 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | The fact that Marian Hossa is ranked #14 overall, along with Kiprusoff making this list after one hot streak is laughable.
Brendan Morrow in the top 50?
Hedjuk under Modano, after the excrement-quality year that Modano had?
I wouldn't wipe my ass with the Hockey News. |
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The REAL Top 50 players... (Score: 1)
by GretzNYR99 on Wednesday, August 25
(User Info | Send a Message) | Well, I'll just name off my top 5, I can't really think of 50 right now...
5. Dale Purinton - We all know Dale is one of the best defenseman in the league. Shut up with Niklas Lidstrom, who in the hell is Niklas Lidstrom anyways? Dale Purinton PLAYS FOR KEEPS. When the game is on the line, you can expect the man with the quicksand feet to pull out all the stops and stop the opposition from putting the numbers up on the board.
4. Jody Shelley - Easily one of the most pure skaters in the game. You could watch paint dry before Shelley reaches the other side of the rink. Graceful, but yet has that fighter edge. Even though his first name is that of a girl, he plays hockey like a superhuman.
3. Peter Worrell - Is it me, or does he look like a tree with hockey equipment on? Needless to say, his movements can be timed with a sundial. A scorer in the junior leagues, Worrell has translated that scoring into even bigger numbers at the NHL level, scoring a WHOPPING 19 goals and 46 points in 391 career games, which puts him on pace to be a surefire hall of famer.
2. Eric Cairns - How could you leave him off this list? Cairns is so good that the Rangers had to let him go in 98 because they couldn't afford a contract that lucrative to sign him to. Cairns is one hell of a defenseman. Unbreakable defense with a LOT of offense, and you've got a surmounting force not to be wreckoned with. Although his first stride makes you want to cry, Cairns is one of the most reliable defenseman in the league, rarely being beaten one on one.
1. Wade Belak - Otherwise known as "The Next One" or "The Mongoloid" Belak is on pace to smash the record books and Gretzky's 61 records and put them to shame. The most complete player I've ever see. Bobby Orr, eat your heart out, you're nothing compared to Belak. Belak already holds records for "Most 3-Goal Games In A Week" with 4 and "Most Goals In A Period" with 5. The heart and soul of an original 6 team, Belak personifies skill, strength, and hockey sense. |
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