Best player in the world: 2011

[GreatGonzo]

Crosby was seen as the best player in the world after the golden goal stop trying so hard I clearly remember

Except he wasn’t recognized as such come awards time. Maybe your just trying to hard

 

[um]

Crosby was seen as the best player in the world after the golden goal stop trying so hard I clearly remember

The voting records say otherwise. I remember his name certainly rung out after the goal, but so did Henderson's.

The hockey community saw he was just okay during the Olympics. Ovie was still seen as better and the voting record confirms this.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Tim Thomas was the best on the planet for a short time in 2011.

 

[Hippasus]

Corey Perry scored 50 this year. He won the Hart this year too with his stretch run goal surge. Daniel Sedin scored comparably while also having better +/-. Not sure who to pick this year. Maybe Thomas.

 

[bobbyking]

I'd have to go back but in the conversation for maybe being 3rd for a very short window maybe but never being the top dog...it's a really small group historically.

exaggerated a little when i think about it.....top 5 is more realistic. his goal scoring was just peaking at a pretty crazy pace for over a year

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Honest, a toss-up between Crosby and Thomas.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Crosby was the best player in the World at this point but I voted for Thomas since he dominated that year

 

[norrisnick]

You kind of need to be able to play to qualify as the best player.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

The voting records say otherwise. I remember his name certainly rung out after the goal, but so did Henderson's.

The hockey community saw he was just okay during the Olympics. Ovie was still seen as better and the voting record confirms this.

No ovechkin may have had the better reg season and that's a different thing all together.

Except he wasn’t recognized as such come awards time. Maybe your just trying to hard

The best player in the world doesn't always have the best season. See McDavid 19-20 and 21-22

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

No ovechkin may have had the better reg season and that's a different thing all together.


The best player in the world doesn't always have the best season. See McDavid 19-20 and 21-22

Well isn't this just rich.

During the 21-22 season you were very adamant about how Matthews was the best player in the world.

 

[TheGuiminator]

You kind of need to be able to play to qualify as the best player.

Not necessarily,

For example, Mario Lemieux was still the best player in the world in 1993-94 and 1994-95 despite playing a grand total of 22 games

 

[norrisnick]

Not necessarily,

For example, Mario Lemieux was still the best player in the world in 1993-94 and 1994-95 despite playing a grand total of 22 games

That proves my point, as Mario wasn't the best player in the world during that time.

If you can't play, you're not a player. Otherwise Gretzky is still the best as he's never been surpassed. Sure he's ancient and can't play anymore... but apparently the inability to actually get on the ice and perform isn't a disqualifying factor.

 

[TheGuiminator]

That proves my point, as Mario wasn't the best player in the world during that time.

If you can't play, you're not a player. Otherwise Gretzky is still the best as he's never been surpassed. Sure he's ancient and can't play anymore... but apparently the inability to actually get on the ice and perform isn't a disqualifying factor.

Yes he still was,

Assuming everyone was healthy by the start of the 1993-94 and 1994-95 season, i’m picking Lemieux over Gretzky

 

[M88K]

This is Thomas imo. only player that maintained that level over a whole season.

Everyone is making a big deal out of 41 games, but doubtful that level of play would have carried over 82 games. hell In 41games in 10-11
Stamkos had 1 less goal and 9 less assists than Crosby and was sporting a 1.37ppg but by the end of the year he had dropped all the way down to 1.11.
In fact there were 5 players over 1.20 ppg at the half season mark by the end only 3 of those players stayed over 1.2 ppg, (1 of them didn't play another game), and all but that same 1 had dropped some from their 41game pace.

 

[norrisnick]

Yes he still was,

Assuming everyone was healthy by the start of the 1993-94 and 1994-95 season, i’m picking Lemieux over Gretzky

Why make assumptions when the play on the ice, or lack thereof, will give us all the information we need?

 

[Hippasus]

Not necessarily,

For example, Mario Lemieux was still the best player in the world in 1993-94 and 1994-95 despite playing a grand total of 22 games

He would at least have to be challenging for the goals / points lead in the regular season and-or playoffs as an offensive forward without defense as a major strength. Else he's just *potentially* the best player.

 

[Mrb1p]

Just do 11 to 15 and save everyone time. Its Crosby every year.

Carey Price outplayed Tim Thomas in a 7 game series in 2011. I have a hard time not laughing in the face of these Thomas posts.

 

[Mrb1p]

You kind of need to be able to play to qualify as the best player.

No you dont. If Mcdavid took a year off to go on a pilgrimage to tibet, wed all know hes still the best in the world. Ability doesnt just disappear because you dont play.

You can argue that availability is a skill, sure. But thats more in line with value than absolute ability.

 

[wetcoast]

That proves my point, as Mario wasn't the best player in the world during that time.

If you can't play, you're not a player. Otherwise Gretzky is still the best as he's never been surpassed. Sure he's ancient and can't play anymore... but apparently the inability to actually get on the ice and perform isn't a disqualifying factor.

You are being too cute by half here as Gretzky is retired and most knowledgable fans have an idea about how he would do in 2011 and the thing is that I bet that you saw Crosby play during that season or at least have access to highlights right?

That's why he is winning this poll, no one after the season going into the next one would have said man Thomas is the best player I would take him over Crosby going into 10-11.

It's really not a hard question.

 

[Hippasus]

@Mrb1p: If McDavid is on a pilgrimage then maybe he would be psychologically unable to play and thus not the best player. Players in their prime usually don't stop playing unless they have a good reason not to be.

 

[wetcoast]

This is Thomas imo. only player that maintained that level over a whole season.

Everyone is making a big deal out of 41 games, but doubtful that level of play would have carried over 82 games. hell In 41games in 10-11
Stamkos had 1 less goal and 9 less assists than Crosby and was sporting a 1.37ppg but by the end of the year he had dropped all the way down to 1.11.
In fact there were 5 players over 1.20 ppg at the half season mark by the end only 3 of those players stayed over 1.2 ppg, (1 of them didn't play another game), and all but that same 1 had dropped some from their 41game pace.

Sure in this imaginary world Crosby could have come off the rails but he didn't in the seasons before or after so why even bring up the argument?

 

[Regal]

This is Thomas imo. only player that maintained that level over a whole season.

Everyone is making a big deal out of 41 games, but doubtful that level of play would have carried over 82 games. hell In 41games in 10-11
Stamkos had 1 less goal and 9 less assists than Crosby and was sporting a 1.37ppg but by the end of the year he had dropped all the way down to 1.11.
In fact there were 5 players over 1.20 ppg at the half season mark by the end only 3 of those players stayed over 1.2 ppg, (1 of them didn't play another game), and all but that same 1 had dropped some from their 41game pace.

I think focusing on Crosby maintaining his pace is the wrong approach, because he doesn’t need to to still be the best. As you said, others went down, and no one played at a level that was challenging what he was likely to end up with even with regression. He could have finished with a PPG pace and still won the Art Ross. And a 10 point lead at the halfway mark is pretty significant, I’m not sure why some are downplaying it.

For me it’s more about a continuation of elite play than projecting his peak onto the season. He was one of the best players in the league coming into this year and played like the best when healthy in this one. If it’s just “best season”, then he doesn’t cut it, and it should probably go to Thomas, but I think the OP is asking for more of a general approach to who is the best.

 

[wetcoast]

@Mrb1p: If McDavid is on a pilgrimage then maybe he would be psychologically unable to play and thus not the best player. Players in their prime usually don't stop playing unless they have a good reason not to be.

Either way this road isn't worth travelling down Crosby did play and we have enough data before and after this season to understand that he was still the best player in the world.

 

[norrisnick]

You are being too cute by half here as Gretzky is retired and most knowledgable fans have an idea about how he would do in 2011 and the thing is that I bet that you saw Crosby play during that season or at least have access to highlights right?

That's why he is winning this poll, no one after the season going into the next one would have said man Thomas is the best player I would take him over Crosby going into 10-11.

It's really not a hard question.

Too cute?

You are able to play or you are unable to play. It's that simple.

You might rely on a "trust me, bro" to pick the best player. I'll go by what happened on the ice.

 

[wetcoast]

Too cute?

You are able to play or you are unable to play. It's that simple.

You might rely on a "trust me, bro" to pick the best player. I'll go by what happened on the ice.

Songo by what happened on the ice and answer the question that the OP is asking or read post 72 by Regal, it's really not a hard question.