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In this edition of the hotstove, we rank the top-5 wingers in the Eastern Conference.
Todd Cordell
1. Nikita Kucherov (TBL)
Kucherov is coming off a spectacular season in which he scored 40 goals, tallied 85 points, and posted a Corsi For of almost 56% despite a revolving door of teammates, and linemates, due to all the injuries the Lightning dealt with. He is as dynamic as pretty much anyone in the sport and has really thrown himself into the top tier of players over the last couple years.
2. Brad Marchand (BOS)
Marchand, along with Patrice Bergeron, was part of one of the league's best duos in 2016-17. His shooting percentage inflated his numbers a little bit but if you tally 85 points, provide elite defense, and post a Corsi For of 60%, you're among the best of the best.
3. Alex Ovechkin (WSH)
It's clear he is slowing down but over the last couple years he leads all wingers in goals and he piles up shots at a ridiculous rate.
4. Artemi Panarin (CBJ)
Panarin certainly benefited from sheltered zone starts and playing with Patrick Kane, but only three wingers have recorded 60+ goals and 150+ points over the last two seasons: Kucherov, Kane, and Panarin.
5. Taylor Hall (NJD)
Hall had a down season in terms of counting totals but he still managed to lead the Devils in 5v5 points, points per game, shots per game, scoring chances per 60, Scoring Chance For%, and the Devils controlled 7.6% more of the shot attempts with him on the ice than without. The Devils have added some nice offensive pieces this summer -- headlined be Marcus Johansson and Nico Hischier -- so his production should see a bump in 2017-18.
Honorable mentions: David Pastrnak, William Nylander, and Max Pacioretty. Pastrnak was fantastic last season and, when Boston loaded up, was 1/3 of arguably the league's best line alongside Bergeron and Marchand. Nylander is one of the most pure talents in the NHL and the underrated Pacioretty is a possession driver who scores 30+ goals on an annual basis.
Peter Tessier
It's one thing to discuss centres, but cross pollinating right wings with left wings makes this a tough task and some one important is getting left out. Let's do this the fun way and make people furious with me.
#5 Not Pacioretty, so it has to be Zetterberg. The old faithful left winger notched 51 assists last season on a declining Wings team. Who cares if they are first assists- BAH! Pacioretty drove Subban out so he's off any list I have.
#4 Not Kessel, so it must be Atkinson. I don't care how many hot dogs Phil eats between Stanley Cups, Atkinson simply does not get the press he deserves for a guy who had the second highest amount of goals by a right wing last season.
#3 Not Skinner, therefore it's Ovechkin. Look I just have a soft spot for Ovie and while all else crumbles around him in his quest for a championship the guy is still potting goals like kids pop tic tacs.
#2 No Pastrnak, thus it's gotta be Vora... a screw it. As much as it pains me to say it Pastrnak is number two. He's good and he's not a total Bruin-ish player...yet.
#1 NOT MARCHAND EVEEEERR! So congrats to Kucherov who had more goals and the same amount of point in less games. Marchand could have won every award last season and he'd still not be my top guy. It doesn't mean that I'm right but really how do you choose between these two fairly? You go with the guy you hate less so Kucherov wins by a mile.
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