Who is the 9th best player so far in the 21st Century?

[wetcoast]

Who has been and is the best player for the 21st century so far?

So we are ranking players as though they only existed in the NHL from the 2000-2001 season until today and everything is included peak, prime, playoffs, 2 way play ect....

Kane won round 8 so here is round 8 and this is the ranking so far.

1.Crosby
3. Ovechkin
3. McDavid
4. Lidstrom
5. Malkin
6. Brodeur
7. Kucherov
8. Kane

Also pick a player to add to the next poll please either from this ESPN list or nominate one.


15. Auston Matthews
18. Marc-Andre Fleury
19. Andrei Vasilevskiy
20. Jarome Iginla
24. Victor Hedman
25. Jonathan Quick

Click to read more...

 

[wetcoast]

Mack, add Doughty.

 

[KevinRedkey]

People are forgetting how good Thornton was, just because he played till he was a senior citizen on a team everyone loves to hate.

 

[DitchMarner]

People are forgetting how good Thornton was, just because he played till he was a senior citizen on a team everyone loves to hate.

Thornton would definitely be ahead of Kane, Kucherov and MacKinnon if it wasn't for the fact that they're all good in the playoffs and he wasn't. But he should definitely be in consideration here and going forward.

 

[ESH]

It seems strange to start at the 2000-01 season. Pronger won his Hart and Norris in the 21st century but they don’t count here?

 

[bobholly39]

People are forgetting how good Thornton was, just because he played till he was a senior citizen on a team everyone loves to hate.

MacKinnon has the better peak season between the 2 (2024). He's also a 4x hart finalist to once for Joe. And he destroys him for anything to do with playoffs

Thornton had a great long career and if longevity if very important you can probably rationalize him over MacK, but imo MacKinnon has already done enough to surpass him

 

[Regal]

Thornton would definitely be ahead of Kane, Kucherov and MacKinnon if it wasn't for the fact that they're all good in the playoffs and he wasn't. But he should definitely be in consideration here and going forward.

Yea I do think he’s getting lost here a bit. The playoffs aren’t great but his regular season is better than Kane’s

It seems strange to start at the 2000-01 season. Pronger won his Hart and Norris in the 21st century but they don’t count here?

Despite the celebrations, the century didn’t actually start until Jan 1, 2001.

https://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/millennium

 

[the_fan]

Add Makar

 

[wetcoast]

It seems strange to start at the 2000-01 season. Pronger won his Hart and Norris in the 21st century but they don’t count here?

The thing is that the 99-00 seasons started last century so it's not strange it's just logical.

Someone with a math background could explain it better than I can but that's the way the poll is set up.

Add Makar

It's a little early in his career but it's noted and I've suggested Doughty so it's up to others now.

 

[the_fan]

It's a little early in his career but it's noted and I've suggested Doughty so it's up to others now.

I mean MacKinnon is on the list, so I think Makar should be too. Their accomplishments are pretty much equal

 

[wetcoast]

I mean MacKinnon is on the list, so I think Makar should be too. Their accomplishments are pretty much equal

Mack has 7 elite years in the regular season and 8 great postseasons, Makar has 5 and 6.

That's quite a difference this early in the century in 5 years time maybe not so much.

I think you have to compare Makar to other Dmen and Hedman and Doughty aren't even up yet so too early for Makar IMO.

 

[norrisnick]

It seems strange to start at the 2000-01 season. Pronger won his Hart and Norris in the 21st century but they don’t count here?

He didn't though. The 21st century started 1/1/2001.

As pointed out above

 

[innitfam]

Mack has 7 elite years in the regular season and 8 great postseasons, Makar has 5 and 6.

That's quite a difference this early in the century in 5 years time maybe not so much.

I think you have to compare Makar to other Dmen and Hedman and doughty aren't even up yet so too early for Makar IMO.

Makar had only played 5 seasons. Mack has played 11.

 

[Wings4Life]

A few good names could go here. I'll go with Joe Thornton for #9.

 

[norrisnick]

Kopitar is already overdue

 

[NotCommitted]

I voted Jagr but to be honest that's because I'm biased by his 90s. He had some really great seasons in the 21st century but probably not enough to warrant being ahead of some of the other guys on the list. Oh well, done is done.

 

[the_fan]

Mack has 7 elite years in the regular season and 8 great postseasons, Makar has 5 and 6.

That's quite a difference this early in the century in 5 years time maybe not so much.

I think you have to compare Makar to other Dmen and Hedman and doughty aren't even up yet so too early for Makar IMO.

Ok, but I was just going by accomplishments, not necessarily years played.

MacK - 1 cup, 1 Hart, 1 Lindsay, Calder
Makar - 1 cup, 1 Norris, 1 Conn Smythe, Calder

 

[Regal]

Ok, but I was just going by accomplishments, not necessarily years played.

MacK - 1 cup, 1 Hart, 1 Lindsay, Calder
Makar - 1 cup, 1 Norris, 1 Conn Smythe, Calder

The problem with just using accomplishments is it gives zero value to anything else and all of those but the cup are subjective. It’s tough to give Makar a nod just yet when he’s only played 300+ games

 

[amnesiac]

Giving the edge to Pronger.... On top of his Hart and Norris, he wouldve won 3 Conn Smythes had EDM and PHI won and not been suspended in 07 with ANA

add Hedman and wheres MSL?? (Hart, 2 Art Ross, Cup)

 

[dalewood12]

Voted Thornton, but I think Iginla should be on this list.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Pronger easily here.

 

[Xspyrit]

So we are ranking players as though they only existed in the NHL from the 2000-2001 season until today and everything is included peak, prime, playoffs, 2 way play ect....

Why are people voting Pronger this high?

659 games, 93 goals, 357 assists, 450 pts

No trophy (finished 3rd in Norris twice)

Erik Karlsson in comparison :

1 002 games, 189 goals, 628 assists, 817 pts

3 Norris and 2nd in Norris voting twice

Many forwards should be voted before Pronger (like MacKinnon) but others D-men to be considered :

Erik Karlsson
Victor Hedman
Zdeno Chara
Drew Doughty
Roman Josi
Brent Burns
Duncan Keith
Kris Letang
Cale Makar (soon)

 

[jigglysquishy]

Why are people voting Pronger this high?

659 games, 93 goals, 357 assists, 450 pts

No trophy (finished 3rd in Norris twice)

Erik Karlsson in comparison :

1 002 games, 189 goals, 628 assists, 817 pts

3 Norris and 2nd in Norris voting twice

Pronger was the best player on a Cup finalist team three times (06,07,10). All times separate teams, all times an absolute monster that shut opposing teams down.

Arguably the best playoff performer amongst d men in the last 20 years.

 

[Xspyrit]

Pronger was the best player on a Cup finalist team three times (06,07,10). All times separate teams, all times an absolute monster that shut opposing teams down.

Arguably the best playoff performer amongst d men in the last 20 years.

Hedman, Chara and Keith were beasts too but yeah, Pronger had great runs. That 2007 less IMO because the Ducks had an incredible timing as all stars aligned for them. Scott N was as important and many forwards were impactful, as well as Giggy

That said, I think people are voting him now because they count 1999-00 (but if you read OP it doesn't count)

 

[wetcoast]

Pronger was the best player on a Cup finalist team three times (06,07,10). All times separate teams, all times an absolute monster that shut opposing teams down.

Arguably the best playoff performer amongst d men in the last 20 years.

That's his best argument but Norris voting of 3,3,5,5,7,8,10,10 in 8 of his 11 years was still excellent and injuries kept him off most likely from 2 more such top 10 finishes...but like you state the guy was a monster in the playoffs and it wasn't all team driven either.