The NHL Network recently started up a series ranking the top players in the league by position.
Over the next couple weeks they will rank the top-20 forwards, top-20 defensemen and top-10 goaltenders.
Up first were the forwards. Here is a look at how the NHL Network views things.
1. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks 2. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins 3. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals 4. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars 5. Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks 6. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks 7. John Tavares, New York Islanders 8. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings 9. Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars 10. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins 11. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning 12. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues 13. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers 14. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins 15. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames 16. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks 17. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers 18. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning 19. Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks 20. Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
You could argue about where Johnny Gaudreau should be slotted but I think he definitely deserved to be featured on this list.
Over the last two years Gaudreau is 11th among forwards in points and 12th in points per game so offensively he is undisputedly a top-20 talent.
This list is supposed to be based on most recent performance, though, so let's zero in on what Gaudreau was able to accomplish this past season.
45 points at 5 v 5 - tied with Joe Thornton and John Tavares for 7th in the NHL 2.26 points per 60 at 5 v 5 - sitting just below Vladimir Tarasenko for 11th (minimum 1,000 minutes) 30 goals - tied for 19th in the NHL 78 points - tied for 6th in the NHL
Gaudreau was a top-20 forward in almost every major offensive statistic, both standard and advanced. Considering in today's NHL it's a lot harder to score goals than prevent them his ranking is certainly justified.
Where do you guys think he should have been slotted? Higher, lower or just right?
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