NHL.com Ranks Top 20 Wingers Right Now Gaudreau #12

[Charsiu]

The title says it all, total Summer topic. One of their staff writers put together a list of the top 20 wingers in the league today. Can't really argue with the top 2. Hall's season certainly warrants a bump but to the #3 OA? Not too sure about that. There are certain dimensions to Marchand's, Laine's, Benn and Wheeler's games in particular which precludes the possibility of Gaudreau being ahead of them but I'd almost certainly see Panarain and Gaudreau being interchangeable.

Would you place him higher? Will we see a drop in play from some of the older players ahead of him? Will he benefit from the addition of Neal/Lindholm?

1. Kucherov
2. Ovechkin
3. Hall
4. Kane
5. Marchand
6. Laine
7. Giroux
8. Benn
9. Wheeler
10. Panarin
11. Tarasenko
12. Gaudreau
et al.

See the link for the rest of the list and accompanying write up.

https://www.nhl.com/news/top-20-wing...?tid=290583266

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

If anyone has a beef here it's Tarasenko.

[Charsiu]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

If anyone has a beef here it's Tarasenko.

Sure, he's one of the most prolific goal scorers over the last 4-5 years. Article has him as 2nd OA in goals scored in the last 4 behind Ovechkin. All in all it's a fairly uncontroversial list.

[calumniate]

I wonder how Larsson ranks in the top 20 D men?

[Stud_McCool]

Not a bad list. Hall and Laine a little too high IMO.

[Huntingwhale]

I always think of JG as one of the top LW in the league. 12 seems to low for him. But then you look at the names on the list, and you really have to think hard for a reason for him to displace any of them.

Wheeler I'm not sold on. Yes he is a great player, but he's also 31 years old coming off a 91 point season. If he was more around his career norm is he that high up on the list? Then again, he's been aging like fine wine. However he's also a UFA after this season and will likely cash in BIG at age 32 into a contract that might be an albatross to whatever team signs him in the future.

Giroux hadn't had a PPG season in 4 years, then suddenly explodes for a 100 point season. Unreal season, but is he that good going forward?

Homerism wants me to move Gaudreau up that list. After all, he was 2nd in league scoring for a large chunk of the season. But again it's hard to argue when you see the names in front. Either way, I have no doubt he'll move up that list in the next season or 2. Like Monahan, he showed he has an extra tier to reach. He's my dark horse pick for Art Ross winner.

[Enoch Root]

There's no one undeserving on the list. It is obviously last-season centric (big years from Wheeler and Giroux for instance), but why wouldn't it be?

I think the entire list is pretty interchangeable, personally.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Wheeler, Hall, Giroux too high for me. Gaudreau is around where is should be.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

If anyone has a beef here it's Tarasenko.

IMO, Pasternak at #14 seems a bit low too...

[troutman]

Isn't Giroux a center?

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=89489

https://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage

[Oling_Roachinen]

Couturier was his center this year, he played wing.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Couturier was his center this year, he played wing.

But he took 1000 faceoffs?

https://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

IMO, Pasternak at #14 seems a bit low too...

Bergeron's already a top 10 center. If Marchand is a top 5 winger, then Pastrnak a top 15 winger makes sense. It's just such a good line but he's the third most important player on it by far.

Again, pretty interchangeable, but I think he's ranked fairly.

[The Cobra]

If I was starting a team today, I think I'd take Hall over anyone else on that list when you factor in age and ignore contract status.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by troutman

But he took 1000 faceoffs?

https://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage

Yep.

https://www.tsn.ca/flyers-may-move-g...ntre-1.1137281

Philadelphia Flyers captain crossed the 100-point mark for the first time in his career last season after making the move from centre to left wing.

Head coach Dave Hakstol's decision to move Giroux benefited not only the 30-year-old, but also centre posted a career-high point total.

Couturier and Giroux were inseparable this year. Despite playing nearly all their time together, they were still one and two on the faceoff dot for the Flyers. Both taking them on their strong side. He's just so strong in the faceoff circle that they kept him doing it.

Giroux has also been impressive this season in the faceoff circle with a winning percentage of 58.5%. He has always been a reliable faceoff man but this year has been helpful because he is splitting faceoff duties with Couturier. They each take their strong side faceoffs which is a significant advantage, especially in the defensive zone. It also allows both Giroux and Couturier to be more aggressive to try to “cheat” the draws because if they’re kicked out, the other can come in and take the faceoff. This season, he has accepted the challenge and is showing that he is a complete player – both on and off the scoresheet.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Giroux got Second All-Star team honours on the left wing this year.

https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-first-s...18/c-299153926
(Although he also placed 6th in center voting with 9 votes and 6th in right wing voting with 2 votes...)

[N-E-B]

I think he’s better than Blake Wheeler but other than that it’s tough to argue. I think MAYBE Jamie Benn and Panarin he’s better than too but even then that would be a tough argument. He’s about where he should be.

[topfiverecords]

No Ty Rattie?

[djsFlames]

Panarin is not a better winger than Gaudreau. I'd take Gaudreau over Wheeler too but the rest are undoubtedly top guys.

[Enoch Root]

Laine is too high too, IMO. Ovechkin-esque shot, but still learning the rest of the game.