Top NHL player in the 21st Century so far? #2(Inspired by ESPN ranking)

[wetcoast]

This is the second poll in a series, first poll results are here.

Top NHL player in the 21st Century so far? #1(Inspired by ESPN ranking)

ESPN recently had their top NHL player in the 21st century so far so I thought I would do a series of polls on it here. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40568433/ranking-top-25-nhl-players-21st-century When Selecting players please use only their play in the NHL in the 21st century, nothing...

forums.hfboards.com

This series of polls is inspired by the recent ESPN rankings here

Ranking the top 25 NHL players of the 21st century

From Crosby to Thornton, Ovechkin to Chara, here are hockey's best from the past 25 years.

www.espn.com

Who has been the second best player in the NHL so far during the 21st Century?

When Selecting players please use only their play in the NHL in the 21st century, nothing pre 2000-2001 or international.

Player to add from 11-25 as per ESPN poll or name another

11. Zdeno Chara
12. Steven Stamkos
13. Leon Draisaitl
14. Joe Thornton
15. Auston Matthews
16. Erik Karlsson
18. Marc-Andre Fleury
19. Andrei Vasilevskiy
20. Jarome Iginla
21. Anze Kopitar
22. Pavel Datsyuk
23. Duncan Keith
24. Victor Hedman
25. Jonathan Quick

Click to read more...

 

[Three On Zero]

Have to go with the guys who’s potentially going to break the goal scoring record, Ovechkin.

 

[wetcoast]

While I think McDavid eventually passes him and it might be as soon as 1 or 2 years, you gotta take Ovi here I think.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Ovechkin, easy. His body of work is so much bigger than McDavid right now (who will eventually pass him).

 

[Gurglesons]

Ovi.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Ovechkin, though I expect McDavid to pass him this season or next.

 

[Evergreen]

Ovy

 

[Video Nasty]

So people are voting off perceived better career, rather than actual best player?

 

[wetcoast]

So people are voting off perceived better career, rather than actual best player?

That's kind of how rankings work though right?

The original article and my question is asking who has been the best 25 players for that time period.

So it's an everything type of ranking.

 

[wetcoast]

I'm pretty surprised about the voting in 2 ways.

1) I thought it would be closer and I think some people are being conservative in that until McDavid absolutely passes Ovechkin then they will have Ovi ahead of him for now but that could change this time next year.

2) Lidstrom only has his last 12 seasons here so I think it's a bit too early.

Also on the same note Malkin for second?

And I love Malkin's NHL career.

 

[Albatros]

Lidström, although he excelled already in the 90s he has two more cups and 7 Norris trophies since 2001.

 

[Andrei79]

I find this is easily McDavid. Ovechkin had a decline after his fifth season, never putting up 100 points afterward.

McDavid, on the other hand, started to put up almost Lemieux-esque numbers around that time, including in the playoffs.

I'm not sure Ovechkin is even number 3. That would probably be Lidstrom.

 

[Three On Zero]

So people are voting off perceived better career, rather than actual best player?

If that were the case, McDavid would be winning the #2 spot

 

[TruePowerSlave]

McDavid

Hasn't played as long as others, but his accomplishments are so far ahead of anyone else on the list.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I look forward to seeing how many "Entire career" voters who took Crosby and Ovechkin over McDavid turn around and take McDavid over Lidstrom...

 

[um]

Lidström, although he excelled already in the 90s he has two more cups and 7 Norris trophies since 2001.

Norris is a big step below MVPs.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Norris is a big step below MVPs.

Short of an Ungodly offensive season, defensemen are generally not looked at for Hart voting...

 

[wetcoast]

I look forward to seeing how many "Entire career" voters who took Crosby and Ovechkin over McDavid turn around and take McDavid over Lidstrom...

My guess is that most people are going to take 9 years of McDavid over 12 years of Lidstrom.

 

[Bouboumaster]

The best player is McDavid, however, Ovechkin prove himself as the best goal scorer ever, and his trophy case is humongous

Voted for him

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Short of an Ungodly offensive season, defensemen are generally not looked at for Hart voting...

Because they don't make as big an impact as elite forwards. The most talented players generally play center, it's not a conspiracy.

 

[Regal]

My guess is that most people are going to take 9 years of McDavid over 12 years of Lidstrom.

Exactly. A shorter career than Crosby/Ovechkin over the years in question and lower peak means the comparison the poster is trying to make doesn’t make sense.

 

[um]

Short of an Ungodly offensive season, defensemen are generally not looked at for Hart voting...

Because defensemen are rarely the best player in a season.

Lidstrom is definitely one of the greatest dman of all time, but he was never the best player in the world.

 

[wetcoast]

Any suggestions on who to add otherwise I will just add next player that's on ESPN's list.

 

[wetcoast]

I'm going to add Chara in the next poll unless there is someone more worthy to add?

New poll will be up later today.

 

[Felidae]

I find this is easily McDavid. Ovechkin had a decline after his fifth season, never putting up 100 points afterward.

McDavid, on the other hand, started to put up almost Lemieux-esque numbers around that time, including in the playoffs.

I'm not sure Ovechkin is even number 3. That would probably be Lidstrom.

After his 5th season there was a noticeable decline in scoring leaguewide. His last top 10 scoring season he finished 4th with 81 points.

For reference, the 4th best scorer point totals the last 3 years have had 120, 113, 110.

I agree he wasn't the same player but the change in scoring environment makes the decline worse than it actually is, at least from a statistical perspective.