Best player in the world: 2007

[FrankSidebottom]

It was a very close race between Thornton and Jagr but Jumbo Joe won it. 2007 (06/07 season) is next.

Previous polls:
1998 (62% 1 Hasek, 2 Jagr, 3 Forsberg)
1999 (48% 1 Jagr, 2 Hasek, 3 Forsberg)
2000 (72% 1 Jagr, 2 Pronger, 3 Bure)
2001 (33% 1 Lemieux, 2 Sakic, 3 Jagr)
2002 (36% 1 Iginla, 2 Lidstrom, 3 Lemieux)
2003 (52% 1 Forsberg, 2 Naslund, 3 Lemieux)
2004 (23% 1 Forsberg, 2 St. Louis, 3 Luongo)
2006 (31% 1 Thornton, 2 Jagr, 3 Crosby)

Click to read more...

 

[Mr Kot]

It is time

it is time for crosby

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

The kid

 

[jigglysquishy]

The first like 4 months of this season was magical. Truly felt like I was watching the next Gretzky.

He didn't finish as strong, but it's still an incredible achievement for a 19 year old.

 

[JaegerDice]

Crosby.

I think Datsyuk was closer than people give him credit, but it’s still Sid at the end of the day.

 

[FrankSidebottom]

Surprisingly so little love for Lecavalier, he was a beast that season.

 

[Video Nasty]

It’s Crosby.

Interesting to note however that after having 95 points in his first 56 games (59 team games), a 15 point lead over #2 Lecavalier, 16 points over St. Louis, 19 points over Savard, and 20 points over Thornton. Crosby ultimately won the scoring race by 6 points after Thornton picked up 14 points on him in just the final quarter of the season.

Consider that anytime before talking about paces, projections, and guarantees based on partial seasons.

That being said, a slowdown at the end and a decisive loss in the first round doesn’t erase the fact that Crosby had become the best player in the league that year. It bode well for the idea that he would become the next consistently dominant player.

Which made the next 3 seasons where he wasn’t the best player quite puzzling.

 

[banks]

Surprisingly so little love for Lecavalier, he was a beast that season.

LeCavalier is the only other guy I considered. I voted Crosby, but Vinny was unbelievable that year. 50 goals and he looked like a jet powered fridge, just so strong and fast.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

It’s Crosby.

Interesting to note however that after having 95 points in his first 56 games (59 team games), a 15 point lead over #2 Lecavalier, 16 points over St. Louis, 19 points over Savard, and 20 points over Thornton. Crosby ultimately won the scoring race by 6 points after Thornton picked up 14 points on him in just the final quarter of the season.

Consider that anytime before talking about paces, projections, and guarantees based on partial seasons.

That being said, a slowdown at the end and a decisive loss in the first round doesn’t erase the fact that Crosby had become the best player in the league that year. It bode well for the idea that he would become the next consistently dominant player.

Which made the next 3 seasons where he wasn’t the best player quite puzzling.

He was playing on a broken foot at the end of the season, I don't remember when it happened exactly.

 

[blundluntman]

Crosby for sure. He was unreal this season and I still consider this version of him to be my favorite aesthetically. He was far more explosive and nimble before that high ankle sprain. Still a great player afterwards, but not as dynamic IMO

 

[Video Nasty]

He was playing on a broken foot at the end of the season, I don't remember when it happened exactly.

He believes it happened during the 3/16/07 game:

“Crosby, 19, revealed Saturday he fractured a bone in his left foot blocking a shot in a 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on March 16.”

"The first two weeks were pretty sore, the native of Cole Harbour, N.S., said. "After a couple of weeks, it started to heal, and it got a little better after that. It just needs time.”

From your hero’s mouth, it wasn’t a big deal. He didn’t miss time and funny enough, his PPG with it broken, 14 points in 11 games (1.27) was better than his previous 11 games with 9 total points (0.82). Not sure when in the game it happened, but he played 18 minutes and scored the empty net goal at the end of the game, so there’s that.

It wasn’t an issue then and it’s certainly not now commenting on it with 16 years of hindsight.

The broken foot was not the reason that Crosby proved for the first time that he could never run it back from beginning to end during an entire contained season. His pace always faltered once he played enough games.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Crosby and Ovi about to go on a nice little run. Curious if HF thinks Malkin was actually the best player in the World in 08-09 though.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Definitely Crosby this season.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

It’s Crosby.

Interesting to note however that after having 95 points in his first 56 games (59 team games), a 15 point lead over #2 Lecavalier, 16 points over St. Louis, 19 points over Savard, and 20 points over Thornton. Crosby ultimately won the scoring race by 6 points after Thornton picked up 14 points on him in just the final quarter of the season.

Consider that anytime before talking about paces, projections, and guarantees based on partial seasons.

That being said, a slowdown at the end and a decisive loss in the first round doesn’t erase the fact that Crosby had become the best player in the league that year. It bode well for the idea that he would become the next consistently dominant player.

Which made the next 3 seasons where he wasn’t the best player quite puzzling.

Fractured toe in March is the culprit. It is well documented

It’s Crosby.

Interesting to note however that after having 95 points in his first 56 games (59 team games), a 15 point lead over #2 Lecavalier, 16 points over St. Louis, 19 points over Savard, and 20 points over Thornton. Crosby ultimately won the scoring race by 6 points after Thornton picked up 14 points on him in just the final quarter of the season.

Consider that anytime before talking about paces, projections, and guarantees based on partial seasons.

That being said, a slowdown at the end and a decisive loss in the first round doesn’t erase the fact that Crosby had become the best player in the league that year. It bode well for the idea that he would become the next consistently dominant player.

Which made the next 3 seasons where he wasn’t the best player quite puzzling.

Meh it was clear in 07-08 Crosby was still the best player in the world as the majority of the hockey world was thinking going into 08-09

 

[Video Nasty]

Fractured toe in March is the culprit. It is well documented


Meh it was clear in 07-08 Crosby was still the best player in the world as the majority of the hockey world was thinking going into 08-09

Yeah I covered that already. 9 points in 11 games prior to the game it happened, 14 points in 11 games directly after. Straight from the player himself that it wasn’t a major issue.

Interesting how your arguments for who is the best, for what length of time, and when, fluctuate depending on what player is being talked about.

Nothing clear about it in 2007-2008 when Ovechkin potted 65 goals and swept the hardware.

Fun fact: Crosby was in a 4 way tie for scoring when he was sidelined. Hardly the slam dunk we’re all led to believe many years later.

 

[bobholly39]

Is this the first poll that should be just about unanimous? Can't imagine anyone but Crosby for 2006-2007 season.

~98-2000 was a 1-2 punch of Jagr/Hasek.
~2001 is tough with Sakic peak season, Lemieux return, and Jagr still great
~2002-2006 is a very weird time...Forsberg is the best often, but also misses a ton of time.

I think 2007 is quite clear cut. In fact in my opinion - we're about to get into very obvious/clear cut land almost every year until 2023.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Weird that MJ is nowhere to be found, dude was raptured when this poll started.

 

[Phil Kessels Hot Dog]

Weird that MJ is nowhere to be found, dude was raptured when this poll started.

He must have created an alt account so he could vote for Ovechkin twice.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Crazy that Lidstrom hasn’t won any of these seasons. Collectively, he’s probably the best player of the decade.

 

[miscs75]

Heater had 50 in 2007 so Heater is the winner by default.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Yeah I covered that already. 9 points in 11 games prior to the game it happened, 14 points in 11 games directly after. Straight from the player himself that it wasn’t a major issue.

Interesting how your arguments for who is the best, for what length of time, and when, fluctuate depending on what player is being talked about.

Nothing clear about it in 2007-2008 when Ovechkin potted 65 goals and swept the hardware.

Fun fact: Crosby was in a 4 way tie for scoring when he was sidelined. Hardly the slam dunk we’re all led to believe many years later.

So the reigning mvp of the league is tied for the scoring lead through 45 games. Misses 28 games. Comes back and leads the playoffs in scoring. Yeah for sure that guy was not the best in the league

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

So the reigning mvp of the league is tied for the scoring lead through 45 games. Misses 28 games. Comes back and leads the playoffs in scoring. Yeah for sure that guy was not the best in the league

1) Crosby was not the best player in 07/08. 2) If playoffs are being considered then the winner of every previous poll would change.

 

[Connor McConnor]

So the reigning mvp of the league is tied for the scoring lead through 45 games. Misses 28 games. Comes back and leads the playoffs in scoring. Yeah for sure that guy was not the best in the league

He wasn’t. Missing 28 games isn’t some small thing that can be passed up, especially when Ovi scored 65.

That said, you are a Crosby homer who is so obsessed with him you comment on every single McDavid thread to discount him so I’m not surprised you have this wrong opinion.

 

[hamzarocks]

1) Crosby was not the best player in 07/08. 2) If playoffs are being considered then the winner of every previous poll would change.

Crosby wasnt best but he was pretty much top 3 at worst every year from 07 to 10

He had some injuries which hurt him but it was him, OV and Geno with OV probably 1st overall for that period * though the margin wasnt as big as some fans make it to be

Crosby was the best on a game to game basis from 2011 to 2015 but missed a boat load of games unfortunately

My vote for 2007 to 2010 from 1st to 3rd

2007: Crosby, Thornton, Lidstrom
2008: OV, Crosby, Malkin
2009: Malkin, OV, Crosby
2010: OV, Crosby, H. Sedin

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Crosby wasnt best but he was pretty much top 3 at worst every year from 07 to 10

He had some injuries which hurt him but it was him, OV and Geno with OV probably 1st overall for that period * though the margin wasnt as big as some fans make it to be

Crosby was the best on a game to game basis from 2011 to 2015 but missed a boat load of games unfortunately

My vote for 2007 to 2010 from 1st to 3rd

2007: Crosby, Thornton, Lidstrom
2008: OV, Crosby, Malkin
2009: Malkin, OV, Crosby
2010: OV, Crosby, H. Sedin

2007: ok
2008: OV, Malkin, Crosby
2009: OV, Malkin, Datsyuk
2010: ok

Not sure how you rank Malkin ahead of OV in 2009. OV destroyed him in hart voting (115-12 first place votes), won the lindsay, double digit rocket win, 1st in GPG, 1st in PPG, 63.7 CF%. Absolutely no argument for Malkin unless you're combining regular season + playoffs, but it doesn't look like you are because then it makes no sense to put OV first in 08 or 2010 or have Malkin behind Crosby in 08.