There have been a lot of great hockey players in the post lockout era. We’ve seen superstars tear up the league and illuminate the NHL, and we’ve had players ranging from the good (Jason Pominville) to the extraordinary (Sidney Crosby). But who are the best current active players in the NHL right now?
In this list, we’ll look at the top 3 forwards in the NHL. It’s essentially an All-Star line, but I’m not looking at the positions of the players themselves, so it doesn’t matter if they play left wing, right wing, or center. (I’m including injured players, so you will see Sidney Crosby on this list). And here…we…go.
1. Sidney Crosby.
The guy’s phenomenal. Phenomenal. When healthy, there is no other player who even compares to the 2005 #1 draft pick. Crosby has never played below a Point-Per-Game pace in his career, and already has over 500 points at the tender age of 24. He has had 100 points or higher in 4 seasons already, and would have certainly had 6 or 7 by now if he had managed to stay a bit healthier. He has a world class skillset with incredible vision and great hands. He’s a scorer and a passer, he’s a playmaker and a sniper. He has a Hart trophy, an Art Ross, a Ted Lindsay/Pearson award, a Rocket Richard trophy, a Stanley Cup, and an Olympic Gold Medal already. The rate at which Crosby was playing at just before he got injured was unfathomable, and incomparable. It was unbelievable on a host of levels, because nobody had seen this level of production since Wayne Gretzky left the league. Last season, he had scored 66 points in 41 games, with 32 goals and 34 assists. He didn’t play again after his injury midseason last year, but he still finished amongst the top 25 scorers in the league and led the Penguins in points. All while playing half a season. He returned for 8 games and scored 12 points, before getting injured again. The diagnosis, however, was not nearly as severe as feared, and it was reported he has a soft tissue neck injury, which, while horrible, is far better than a concussion. Crosby should be back soon, and when he is, the NHL will be far better off.
2. Jonathan Toews
There are things that don’t show up on the scoresheet. Toews doesn’t have the flash of fellow Blackhawk Patrick Kane. He doesn’t have the explosive skillset of Phil Kessel or Claude Giroux. And he most definitely does not have the controversy that Alex Ovechkin brings to the table,. However, he has already done things none of these players have ever done before, and at an age where most people are still in college. Toews has a Stanley Cup ring, an Olympic Gold Medal, and a Conn Smythe trophy. He has led the ‘Hawks to a championship at the age of 22, and is, by far, their best player. Toews is on track for 44 goals and 84 points this year, and is one of the best two way players in the game right now, and could challenge for the Selke Trophy. A true leader, Toews has a fearsome shot, incredible talent, and a clean, intelligent style of play that has earned him many accolades. He’s only been in the league for four years, and should only get better, both as a leader and a player. The scary part? He’s only 23.
3. Steven Stamkos
There are far too many good forwards in the league, and many of them could have challenged for the 3rd spot, and there are an innumerable amount of forwards that could fit in very nicely here. However, there is only one spot, and it is occupied by Steven Stamkos. I was considering Claude Giroux, but I had to go with Stamkos. The former 2008 #1 Draft Pick has more than lived up to expectations, producing two 50 goal seasons in only 3 full years in the league, and is poised to score a career high 54 this year on a last place team in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stamkos has improved each year since his ‘average’ rookie year, and has shown himself to be a player worthy of the hype that surrounds him. He has won a Rocket Richard trophy at the age of 20, and is on pace to win another goal scoring trophy. Stamkos has an unbelievable knack for finding the back of the net, and a laser shot with amazing accuracy. He is surrounded by aging stars in Tampa Bay, but has shown himself a worthy successor to Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. He is, in a word, the epitome of the term ‘sniper’ in hockey.
Honorable mentions: John Tavares, Claude Giroux, Evgeni Malkin
All of these were very skilled players, and you could take any of them to start a franchise. In fact, these players are cornerstones of their respective franchises. But I felt Stamkos, Toews, and Crosby warranted a place before them based on their achievements so far.