2nd best player in the world?

[Midnight Judges]

There is no definitive second best player.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I came into this thread half expecting a comment like this from you.

Cool story. I wouldn't put him in this group just yet.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

As previously mentioned, 1 of Kucherov, Matthews, Drai, MacK or Makar. Voted Matthews as he is the reigning hart, Lindsay and rocket winner.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Draisaitl
Kucherov
Makar
Would be my next 3 in order.
Then McKinnon, Fox and Matthews in some order.
Lol at those voting Jack Hughes already.

 

[SwedishFire]

Its Drai, has been for years.

This season is not his strongest though. Crazy that hes on the same team as McDavid. But he do has a playoff recird already. Most points in a serie, right?

I voted MacKinnon. But a hot Draisaitl is just as good sniper as Matthews.

 

[severian]

I'll gladly take a healthy Kuch as a consolation prize if I can't have McDavid.

 

[amnesiac]

MacKinnon for me

 

[snipes]

Draisaitl/Makar for 2 and 3 in some order.

Gets interesting after that. Probably MacKinnon/Kucherov for 4 and 5.

A bit of a slow start this year but Matthews is still in the top 5 conversation as well.

 

[TheRarestDangles]

Makar in my opinion

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Cale Makar is winning this??? LOL

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Cale Makar is winning this??? LOL

Now I'm going to vote for Cale Makar even harder.

 

[zar]

I think it’s a tier of Makar, Draisaitl, Matthews, MacKinnon and Kucherov.

Twist my arm to choose and I’d pick Makar.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Devils fans suddenly have a bone to pick with Drai, weird what half a good season does.

Drai has been producing at nearly a 120 point pace for 5 years. Its him, Kucherov is close as well.

It’s just objectively true that he is getting extremely poor results defensively, which is a large percentage of a player’s impact. You are not just what your point total says you are. Not a very difficult concept to grasp, nor is the fact that he’s playing with Wayne Gretzky.

 

[avsfan9]

Why don’t you vote for Karlsson yourself instead of calling for me to help out?
Seriously though, I understand if you want more consistency over the last couple of years you could vote MacKinnon, Matthews, Kucherov.
This season only however it’s easily Karlsson. However Karl should get the benefit of the doubt that this is his actual level when healthy cause of his previous prime. Why it doesn’t make sense to pick Makar over Karlsson either since he doesn’t have long enough track record to surpass Karlsson and the question isn’t “going forward” as far as I know.

Ah, this poll only shows no one is watching any SJ games anyway.

You choose Makar over Karlsson because he’s had the best start to his career in the Nhl in the history of the league( including Karlsson) and just starting his prime. He’s not going to fall off anytime soon. This is Makars fourth year in the league and since he’s been in the league the only d man that comes close is Adam Fox.

 

[Machinehead]

The few, the proud, the Adam Fox maximalist fan club

Often imitated, never duplicated.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Voted Makar.

No issue though with anyone picking Drai, Kuch, MacKinnon, Matthews etc.

Many great options for #2

 

[LordZapp]

Its kucherov.

 

[authentic]

The obvious answer is Cale MacKinnon

But dude where's Nathan Makar?

 

[authentic]

Players better than Jason Robertson. Tage Thompson, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Sidney Crosby.

 

[BlueBaron]

This is one where you pick your boy and don't take the results too seriously. Totally subjective.

 

[Slats432]

As an Oiler fan I picked Makar and think there are days where he is number 1. (Most days it's 97 ) Makar is exceptional.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Why don’t you vote for Karlsson yourself instead of calling for me to help out?
Seriously though, I understand if you want more consistency over the last couple of years you could vote MacKinnon, Matthews, Kucherov.
This season only however it’s easily Karlsson. However Karl should get the benefit of the doubt that this is his actual level when healthy cause of his previous prime. Why it doesn’t make sense to pick Makar over Karlsson either since he doesn’t have long enough track record to surpass Karlsson and the question isn’t “going forward” as far as I know.

Ah, this poll only shows no one is watching any SJ games anyway.

Are you a Sharks fan? Otherwise I’m sure you rarely if ever watched Sharks games before Karlsson was traded there

 

[hamzarocks]

Connor Bedard?

 

[Slats432]

Connor Bedard?

Not yet anyways.

 

[snipes]

Voted Makar.

No issue though with anyone picking Drai, Kuch, MacKinnon, Matthews etc.

Many great options for #2

Anyone there is good at 2. I agree.

McDavid is clear cut in his own tier, he’s a transcendent talent and in the conversation as being the most talented player to ever play the sport.

I have Makar, Drai, Kucherov, MacKinnon, and Matthews in that next tier of players. Wouldn’t be overly fussed in what order. All have a case.

Guys like Fox, Thompson, Kaprizov, Pasta, Hughes, etc. in the following tiers of players.

Lots of excellent talent in the Speed & Skill Era. We really are kind of in a golden age right now in terms of the talent in the league and especially with Bedard coming up too.