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Over the course of the previous week, our workforce at Sportsnet revealed our NHL prime 50 gamers listing.
I can assure my colleagues and I had been splitting hairs on gamers all through the list-building course of. It’s not a precise science in spite of everything. And it’s more and more tough to not have a bias in the direction of a sure type of gamers in all positions.
The finish consequence will definitely be debated, so I believed I would as nicely add gasoline to the fireplace and current 10 extra names that would have been included within the prime 50 and can most definitely be included in future lists.
As you agree into your Saturday, listed here are 10 extra names for consideration within the NHL prime 50 listing:
Jake Oettinger — Goalie — Dallas Stars
I’m already debating internally about how we didn’t embrace Oettinger on our listing. The Dallas Stars are a Stanley Cup-contending outfit and have a real No. 1 puck stopper in Oettinger. He posted a 2.72 goals-against common and a .905 save proportion in 54 video games. Oettinger is just 25 years younger with loads of profession forward of him.
Wyatt Johnston — Forward — Dallas Stars
I would as nicely hold it in “Big D” by recognizing Johnston as a no-doubt prime 50 NHL participant within the close to future. Johnston is an entire participant. He averaged precisely 17:00 TOI final season, was deployed in all conditions, and completed plus-14 defensively. He’s turning into an elite aim scorer. Johnston scored 32 objectives. Most spectacular was the actual fact 26 of his tucks got here at even energy.
Brock Faber — Defenceman — Minnesota Wild
Faber has been certainly one of my favorite defence prospects for a number of years. His hockey sense is off the charts. He impacts the sport positively in each zone. Faber averaged an unimaginable 24:58 TOI final season with the Wild. He’s solely 21 years outdated however already wanting like a 10-year veteran with the way in which he manages the sport on and off the puck. He will sometime be named captain of the Wild.
Robert Thomas — Forward — St. Louis Blues
The Blues wager on Thomas early in his NHL growth and are reaping the rewards. Thomas is one other full participant who’s utilized in all conditions. Thomas can match up in opposition to prime six forwards with out shedding tempo offensively. In some ways, his recreation is much like a participant like Aleksander Barkov in Florida. Thomas averaged 21:00 TOI and ended final season with a formidable stat line (26 objectives, 60 assists, plus-9). How lucky are the Blues to have Thomas beneath contract for $8.125 million per yr till the tip of 2031!
Clayton Keller — Forward — Utah Hockey Club
Utah is on the verge of taking a big step ahead as a workforce and Keller is a dynamic ahead who has flown beneath the radar a bit as Arizona was working by its distractions prior to now. Keller is an electrical participant offensively. He’s been hovering round some extent per recreation offensively for the previous three seasons and may very well be on the verge of a 90-plus level yr. Keller’s contract will age very nicely as he positive aspects momentum and heads into the prime of his profession. The 26-year-old is signed to a deal that solely counts $7.15 million by 2027-28.
Tage Thompson — Forward — Buffalo Sabres
Thompson took a little bit of a step again final yr after posting spectacular numbers the earlier two seasons (68 and 94 factors respectively). The bulk of his offence comes by the use of goal-scoring. He’s an elite shooter from the weakside flank on the facility play. Thompson might want to bounce again to type, after potting solely 29 objectives and 27 assists final yr, however there’s no doubting his established upside. The Sabres can be counting on him to play to his id and contribute well timed offence are they proceed to chase the playoff spot that has eluded them for an NHL report 13 years.
Quinton Byfield — Forward — Los Angeles Kings
It takes energy forwards, like defencemen, longer to develop on the NHL degree and play to their id. Byfield is on the cusp of taking his recreation to a different degree. He averaged solely 16:29 TOI final season. All of his ice time got here at even energy and the facility play. Byfield contributed 20 objectives and 35 assists offensively. I acknowledge the statistical class of plus/minus may be debated, however it’s nonetheless spectacular that Byfield led the Kings ahead group with a plus-19 score.
Juraj Slafkovsky — Forward — Montreal Canadiens
“Slaf” took an enormous step ahead together with his recreation final season. He contributed 20 objectives and 30 assists and ended the yr with 152 hits and 71 shot blocks. Slafkovsky is adjusting to how the NHL recreation is performed and utilizing his gigantic body (six-foot-four, 229 kilos) to his benefit. He’s solely 20 years younger with an thrilling future forward of him. It’s solely a matter of time earlier than he eclipses the 30-goal threshold. The Habs have a shiny future and massive “Slaf” is part of their core for years to return.
Devon Toews — Defenceman — Colorado A-Z Eventz
Toews is 29 years outdated. I’m throwing a little bit of a changeup together with him on this listing. But I actually consider Toews is a part of the rationale Cale Makar is comfy taking part in the sport the way in which he does. Makar is an all-world expertise, however having a accomplice like Toews you may belief is a large safety blanket for Makar and the Avs as a workforce. Toews averaged 23:25 TOI final yr and was deployed in all conditions. He does all the things very nicely. He contributed 12 objectives and 38 assists and completed with plus-28 defensively. I see him taking part in at a excessive degree for the following a number of years.
Josh Morrissey — Defenceman — Winnipeg Jets
I couldn’t finish my piece with out together with Morrissey. The 28-year-old might have simply landed within the prime 50. If not for Connor Hellebuyck, Morrissey could be essentially the most beneficial participant on the Jets roster. He logged a median of 24:10 TOI final season and contributed 10 objectives and 59 assists offensively. Morrissey matches up in opposition to prime strains each shift, however he nonetheless managed a incredible plus-34 score defensively. He sneaks up on opponents bodily and competes to the very best of his skill each evening.
Closing ideas
I debated including Steven Stamkos to this listing. I suppose an argument might have been made for Alex Ovechkin as nicely. But the duty given to our insiders at Sportsnet was to determine the highest 50 gamers now and heading into the longer term.
Stamkos might go off and rating 40 objectives this yr in Nashville. I assure he’s motivated to point out he has heaps left within the tank. Stamkos did produce 40 objectives and 41 assists in his final yr in a Lightning uniform in spite of everything. But half of his objectives got here on the facility play and he completed minus-21 defensively. Stamkos will land within the Hockey Hall of Fame sometime, however I didn’t see his recreation going to a different degree like the opposite names I introduced on this listing.
As far as “Ovie” goes, he too will land within the Hockey Hall of Fame sometime, however his finest years are behind him. He’s trying to surpass Wayne Gretzky because the all-time main aim scorer in NHL historical past and it might occur. But he’s going to have to maximise what’s left of his profession to trace down Gretzky’s report.
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