Ranking The Top 5 Current NHL Players

[ComixZone]

1. Mackinnon
2. Crosby
3. McDavid
4. Hedman
5. Kane

Hedman is a bit banged up, but his playoff performance last year was as dominant a performance I've seen from a defenceman in a long time.

[Inglewood Jack]

entering the offensive zone at full speed, McJordan is the biggest threat in the league, though in my opinion MacKinnon isn't far off and should be featured in highlights more.

on the cycle, MacKinnon is way scarier. I don't think he can be shut down as easily in that situation because of his puck protection and shot versatility (wrist, one-timer etc).

[TheIronMaiden]

Mackinnon
McDavid
Vasilevskiy
Crosby
Kane

hm
Bergeron
Hedman

[Enoch Root]

OP said 'right now', so I am interpreting that as: if I were building a team to win a game TODAY, my top 5 would be:

1) MacKinnon
2) McDavid
3) Crosby
4) Matthews
5) Hedman

[Fighting Banana Slug]

It might be somewhat sacrilegious, but watching Boston, I think Marchand is the stick that stirs that drink. Bergeron as a centre might put him ahead, but I think Marchand deserves some consideration as well.

[zamler]

Sid and Alex shouldn't be in the top 10 anymore.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by zamler

Sid and Alex shouldn't be in the top 10 anymore.

Sid is, Alex isn't.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

It might be somewhat sacrilegious, but watching Boston, I think Marchand is the stick that stirs that drink. Bergeron as a centre might put him ahead, but I think Marchand deserves some consideration as well.

Its tricky to choose from the two because they are successful together. Success being the key word, these guys have gotten it done.

One reason I don't like seeing Mathews so high, a big reason McDavid isn't number 1. If Mackinnon and the Aves are able to win the cup this year it should make this debate much easier.

It is like the Rodgers vs Brady debate. Everyone loves Rodgers offensive numbers but at the end of the day Brady has won over and over and that's the point.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

For me it's because their presence isn't as impactful as a forward. You strategize more on how to contain forwards from scoring because it's harder to do than to strategize on how to score against a specific dman when he's on the ice.

A defenceman can have a bigger an impact as a forward but it doesn’t show up on the scoreboard. Think shut-down guy where the opponent’s rushes end with the defenceman (Pronger with the Oilers is a great example) who transitions the other way.

I think a top-five list needs to include a defenceman.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

It might be somewhat sacrilegious, but watching Boston, I think Marchand is the stick that stirs that drink. Bergeron as a centre might put him ahead, but I think Marchand deserves some consideration as well.

Marchand is ahead of players like Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Matthews and Marner in points per 60 minutes. He's only behind McDavid and Panarin.

So he is elite at producing offensively. Boston just doesn't need to overly exert him.

Add in the other intangibles and you can make a strong argument that he should be top 5.

If we're going to rank the defensemen on their own, I would go:

1. Makar
2. Josi
3. Hedman
4. Carlson
5. Slavin or Theodore

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

I hate the Oilers more than anything but my list:

McDavid
Mackinnon
Kucherov
Marchand
Crosby

I look at if you take out Mackinnon, Kucherov, Marchand and replace them with McDavid on the team, or vice versa you put the latter on the Oilers, how good are the teams with McDavid vs how good are the Oilers with the other guys.

Weird. Because this is precisely why I take MacKinnon every god-damned time.

MacKinnon can not only make ridiculous plays at full speed, he can also run you over and will muck around in front of the net—"in the guts of the game," as the saying goes. He is just such a complete player, and would make the Oilers monumentally better than they are with McDavid.

[albertGQ]

1. Andew Mangiapane
2. Matthew Tkachuk
3. Johnny Gaudreau
4. Sean Monahan
5. Jakob Pelletier

[ForeverFlameFan]

McDavid
MacKinnon
Kucherov
Crosby
Draisaitl

[dino7c]

Drai is not in the convo IMO...McDavid is on the ice for 70% of his points

[savardandjokinen]

I’m surprised Panarin isn’t in anyone else’s top 5s

He was 3rd in ppg this year even if he could’ve been mentally worse after the allegations

He was also 3rd in ppg in 2019-20.

The two guys always ahead of him were mcdavid and draisaitl (so basically only McDavid)

He turned Cam Atkinson and Mika Zibanejad into 40 goal scorers. Everyone who plays with him has career years pretty much

[Mass_nerder]

I think I'll preface this by saying that I'm ranking primarily on offense, but still want to take into account more than just point totals. I know none of these guys are Bergeron level two way players, but I think "Top 5 NHL players" means more than just points.

MacKinnon
Crosby
McDavid
Ovechkin
Kane

I think, if/when McDavid matures a little more, he should be able to develop a much better defensive game with his speed. He could pass Crosby and MacKinnon before he's done, as I think he's the best pure offensive player.

[Scroopy Noopers]

If Matthews was on any other team I imagine I’d see him on more lists than Scorpions. Y’all are crazy.

Crosby
MacKinnon
Matthews
Barkov
Stone

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

If Matthews was on any other team I imagine I’d see him on more lists than Scorpions. Y’all are crazy.

I flip flopped between Matthews and Kane.
Ultimately, because Kane has continued to play at such a high level despite the decline of the Hawks overall team, I went with him. Matthews is a very close 6th imo, but he has a much better supporting cast.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Drai is not in the convo IMO...McDavid is on the ice for 70% of his points

He's top 10 but not top 5. In four years we will find out how he fares away from McDavid.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I flip flopped between Matthews and Kane.
Ultimately, because Kane has continued to play at such a high level despite the decline of the Hawks overall team, I went with him. Matthews is a very close 6th imo, but he has a much better supporting cast.

Yeah 5 is too tight for me, I can easily name the top two (Cole Harbour), but once we’re adding to those two it gets fuzzy. I had typed Panarin out too… a lot of studs in the league.