4. Nino Niederreiter - Elite defense and scores at a 5v5 clip worthy of any first line. Signed to arguably the best team-friendly contract in the NHL

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Benn is an art ross winner and cant crack the top 5 wingers because Tessier liked Ehlers sophomore season.

Idk, man. Tarasenko is a better scorer right now, but Draisaitl has a higher ceiling, and in the end may be the better player. He is also a natural center.
- DARKSEID

That is why I would say he doesn't belong on this list. Isn't it the Oilers hope that he slots into the 2C spot?
He's amazing, no doubt. But, doesn't fir the criteria.

#firetanner
- rbaurle51

You don't fire those that generate the most click bait

Why does everyone seem to think Blake Wheeler is so amazing? MAYBE a top 10 but he’s over 30 isn’t he?


2017 2018 by Pete Jensen @NHLJensen / NHL.com Senior Fantasy Editor

1. Connor McDavid, C, EDM
2. Sidney Crosby, C, PIT
3. Auston Matthews, C, TOR
4. Nikita Kucherov, RW, TBL
5. Jamie Benn, LW, DAL
6. Patrick Kane, RW, CHI
7. Alex Ovechkin, LW, WSH
8. Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT
9. Brad Marchand, LW, BOS
10. Patrik Laine, LW/RW, WPG
11. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, STL
12. Jack Eichel, C, BUF
13. Nicklas Backstrom, C, WSH
14. Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL (INJ.)
15. Mark Scheifele, C, WPG
16. Leon Draisaitl, C/RW, EDM - RFA
17. John Tavares, C, NYI
18. Steven Stamkos, C, TBL (INJ.)
19. Artemi Panarin, LW, CBJ
20. Phil Kessel, RW, PIT
21. Ryan Getzlaf, C, ANA
22. Joe Pavelski, C/RW, SJS
23. Blake Wheeler, RW, WPG

...

87. Nino Niederreiter, LW/RW, MIN
88. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, CGY
89. Ondrej Palat, LW, TBL
90. Nick Foligno, LW/RW, CBJ
91. Patrick Marleau, C/LW, TOR
92. Alexander Wennberg, C, CBJ - RFA
93. Kyle Palmieri, RW, NJD
94. Evgeny Dadonov, LW/RW, FLA
95. Vadim Shipachyov, C, VGK
96. Chris Kreider, LW, NYR
97. Tyler Johnson, C, TBL
98. Nick Schmaltz, C/LW, CHI
99. Nico Hischier, C, NJD
100. Nolan Patrick, C, PHI (INJ.)
- al3535

So, I see 7 Western conference wingers ahead of Wheeler on here. I'd say that puts him in the conversation. Maybe not top 5, but in the conversation.
However, this list is obviously garbage, since it slots Nino in at #87. Or, maybe they are just comparing him to Crosby? Whaddya think, James?

That is why I would say he doesn't belong on this list. Isn't it the Oilers hope that he slots into the 2C spot?
He's amazing, no doubt. But, doesn't fir the criteria.
- Tonybere

He's been a winger for the most recent half of his short career.

Zetterberg hasn't been a winger for 9 years and was on yesterday's list...

Needs more Tkachuk!

He's been a winger for the most recent half of his short career.

Zetterberg hasn't been a winger for 9 years and was on yesterday's list...
- DARKSEID

Yes, he was. But, who was the person who put him there and are they an idiot?

Kadri

So, I see 7 Western conference wingers ahead of Wheeler on here. I'd say that puts him in the conversation. Maybe not top 5, but in the conversation.
However, this list is obviously garbage, since it slots Nino in at #87. Or, maybe they are just comparing him to Crosby? Whaddya think, James?
- Tonybere

My thoughts exactly.

Yes, he was. But, who was the person who put him there and are they an idiot?
- Tonybere

Tessier, so obviously, yes.

personally I think if Blake Wheeler went to a different team, one that actually thinks about both ends of the ice he may not produce much better than Andrew Ladd did for the Isles last year
- jimbro83

He has a +39 goal differential at 5v5 over the last 3 years...

question,

does it EVER matter if you "drive possession" if your team doesn't make the playoffs?
- jimbro83

Of course it does. Someone has to drive em to the golf course

[waits for BINGO to answer]
- YuenglingJagr

(frank) that guy

So, I see 7 Western conference wingers ahead of Wheeler on here. I'd say that puts him in the conversation. Maybe not top 5, but in the conversation.
However, this list is obviously garbage, since it slots Nino in at #87. Or, maybe they are just comparing him to Crosby? Whaddya think, James?
- Tonybere

Wheeler isnt a one dimensional player though, he puts up major offensive numbers while being a puck possession monster

He is one of my favorite players to watch in the NHL, when he gets going hes hard to stop.

Ignoring the Nino take, there is no way I'm letting this slide. Tanner has constantly argued that Kane is overrated because he doesn't score 5 on 5 and has less the ideal advanced metrics. Just the biggest flip flop I've seen on this site.

2. Patrick Kane - Art Ross winner, consistent scoring, one of the best players in the league
- tomburton99

Never have I said that I don't think Kane is a good player. I just think he's a bad person and I don't like him. I would agree with myself that he's a bit overrated, but the question was only about wingers in the western conference.

If someone wants to call him a top 100 player of all time, then sure, he's overrated. But overrated does not mean sucks.

Nino Niederreiter is an absolute joke on this list! He's never scored more than 25 goals and 57 points. Filip Forsberg averages more than that. Ridiculous! Tarasenko is the best with Kane a close second. Laine??? Gaudreau??? Not yet!
- DougPaz

proving once again that people massively underrated defense.

I didn't make up the fact that he scored 1st line points at 5v5. If he scores at a first line rate while being one of if not the best defensive forward in hockey, how is he not on everyone else's list, should be the question.

proving once again that people massively underrated defense.

I didn't make up the fact that he scored 1st line points at 5v5. If he scores at a first line rate while being one of if not the best defensive forward in hockey, how is he not on everyone else's list, should be the question.
- James_Tanner

We both feel the same about Wheeler my BFF

He has a +39 goal differential at 5v5 over the last 3 years...
- j.boyd919

I'd argue Wheeler might be a top ten player in the NHL right now. Or that he was that last year.

(frank) that guy
- Gramps28

I (frank)ing hate him

I've come to the conclusion that James Tanner:

A) Is a moron regarding the game of hockey..

B) Just likes to say stupid things to get a reaction which results in more comments and views..

Nino has 137 pts compared to Taras 222 the past 3 seasons. Please just f off with this nonsense.

I've come to the conclusion that James Tanner:

A) Is a moron regarding the game of hockey..

B) Just likes to say stupid things to get a reaction which results in more comments and views..

Nino has 137 pts compared to Taras 222 the past 3 seasons. Please just f off with this nonsense.
- karlssens65

I've come to the conclusion that James Tanner:

A) Is a moron regarding the game of hockey..

B) Just likes to say stupid things to get a reaction which results in more comments and views..

Nino has 137 pts compared to Taras 222 the past 3 seasons. Please just f off with this nonsense.
- karlssens65

I know people like to assume that anyone who thinks differently than they do is not informed and just saying it to get a reaction, but that's a really dangerous way to look at the world.

If you consider that preventing goals is just the same as scoring them, and if you understand that every team scores on pretty much one of every five power-plays (thus proving that PP production is very much about opportunity, and very replaceable) then its not crazy to rank Nino so high.

He is an elite defensive player.
He scored seven less 5v5 points than Tarasenko while playing much better defense.

Forsberg > Wheeler and getting better.

Forsberg > Wheeler and getting better.
- predsfan97

Of course he is no Martin Erat