THREE IN FIFTY IS GOOD
Jason Gregor
January 16 2013 10:38AM
TSN released their Top-50 NHL player rankings on Monday and Oiler fans should be pretty excited, if you believe these rankings are accurate.
For the 3rd straight season Sidney Crosby topped the rankings, despite playing 22 games last year, mainly due to his ridiculous 1.68 points-per-game ratio during those 22 games. His teammate, Evgeni Malkin came in 2nd, but the expectations of Oilers' fans for the coming season might be even higher after seeing three Oilers crack the top-50.
Jordan Eberle came in at 25; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is 48th and Taylor Hall sits 50th.
The rankings are here, but here is a recap from most to least.
FIVE:
LA Kings: Kopitar (10th), Quick (16th), Doughty (17th), Brown (43rd) and M.Richards (44th).
FOUR:
Pittsburgh: Crosby (1st), Malkin (2nd), Letang (29th), Neal (36th).
Chicago: Toews (6th), Hossa (32nd), Kane (38th) and Keith (49th).
NYR: Lundqvist (15th), Nash (24th), B. Richards (42nd) and Gaborik (45th).
THREE:
Boston: Chara (12th), Seguin (31st), Bergeron (35th).
Edmonton: Eberle (25th), RNH (48th) and Hall (50th)
TWO:
Tampa Bay: Stamkos (4th), St. Louis (30th)
Detroit: Datsyuk (5th), Zetterberg (22nd)
Nashville: Weber (7th), Rinne (27th)
Vancouver: D. Sedin (8th), H. Sedin (9th)
Ottawa: Karlsson (11th), Spezza (23rd)
Minnesota: Parise (13th) Suter (26th)
Washington: Ovechkin (14th), Backstrom (33rd)
Anaheim: Perry (19th), Getzlaf (34th)
Carolina: E. Staal (21st) and J. Staal (46th)
San Jose: Thornton (40th), Couture (41st)
ONE:
Philadelphia: Giroux (3rd)
New Jersey: Kovalchuk (18th)
NYI: Tavares (20th)
St. Louis: Pietrangelo (28th)
Calgary: Iginla (37th)
Dallas: Jamie Benn (39th)
Toronto: Kessel (47th)
NONE:
Buffalo
Colorado
Columbus
Florida
Montreal
Phoenix
Winnipeg
WHO GOT OVERLOOKED
When a ranking comes out, there is always a great debate over who got overlooked. Here are some guys I felt were right on the cusp or could have been included in the list.
Bobby Ryan: Only seven players have scored at least 30 goals in the last four seasons, and Ryan is one of them. Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Nash, Iginla and Kessel did it and they are on the list. Ryan has scored 30 or more goals in his first four seasons; he's one of the most consistent goals scorers in the game.
Patrick Marleau: He is the 7th guy with four consecutive 30+ goal seasons. I know many rip him about his playoff performances, but he has 80 points in his last 107 playoff games. He's far from awful.
Teemu Selanne: He has averaged 0.91 points per game over the past four seasons while he was 38-41 years of age. He is an incredible player, and one of the best people in hockey. Until he retires he is in my top-50.
Patrick Sharp: Good hands, excellent two-way player and I'd take his overall game ahead of Marian Hossa. However, he doesn't have the explosiveness of Hossa.
Chris Pronger: If he is healthy he is on that list. He's still one of the best D-men in the game, whether you like him or not.
Niklas Kronwall: He moves the puck very well, isn't afraid to step up and deliver a big hit and he's averaged 40 points over his last four full seasons.
WHO WILL CRACK LIST SOON
The league is full of many young great players and I'd expect a few of these guys to crack the list next year.
Gabriel Landeskog: He's a rugged winger who is Incredibly mature, has good hands and has a solid overall game. Could score 20 in short season.
Evander Kane: Many question his maturity off the ice, but he's dynamic on it and if he continues to progress like he has the past two seasons he could be ranked in the 40-50 range next year.
Kevin Shattenkirk: Young, skilled D-man who likely ends being the centre piece of the Erik Johnson trade. He's put up 43 points in each of his first two seasons, and he and Pietrangelo could be the next Suter/Weber combo in St. Louis.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson: He is one of the most underrated players in the game. He doesn't get a lot of coverage playing in Phoenix, but after playing 25:46 a night during the Coyotes run to the conference finals last year, he proved he can excel when it matters most. He'll be in the top-50 next year.
Who would be on your "up-and-comer" or "overlooked" list?
WRAP UP
Having three players in the top-50 won't guarantee the Oilers a playoff berth, but it illustrates that the Oilers are heading in the right direction.
Phoenix was the only team to make the playoffs without having at least one player on the list, but last year Ray Whitney had 77 points for them, Mike Smith had a break out season and Ekman-Larsson emerged on the blueline. They were some of the best players in the league despite not being ranked.
You need one great player, and usually two or three, to win the Cup, and the Oilers have some of the best young talent in the game. If they can get some solid performances from Devan Dubnyk, Ales Hemsky, Ryan Whitney, Ladislav Smid, Nail Yakupov, Sam Gagner and Shawn Horcoff the Oilers should be right in the middle of a run to the playoffs in early April.
PARTING SHOTS
- Today is the final open practice for the Oilers. It starts at 11 a.m. and they will have an extended scrimmage today according to Ralph Krueger.
- Take a moment and send me an email to gregor@theteam1260.com and nominate a coach for our Elite Sportswear Coach of the week. It doesn't matter what sport they coach, team or individual, I just want to hear what makes them a great volunteer coach.They will be interviewed on the show and get lots of great swag from Elite and you will feel great for recognizing their efforts.
hahaha... so you are Jefff... otherwise, how could you speak for him?
at any rate... was Fleury a top 10 G? was Osgood?
considering RNH was 28th in scoring last year for Centres in only 62 games of his rookie season... yea... I'd say he'll get there.
You are complaining because of an article Thom Drance wrote on a site that isn't related to the Nations?
You are fine to do it, but that makes little sense. If you expect fans of other teams to love the Oilers, you should never read a site that isn't Oiler related. They don't have to love your team and you don't have to love theirs.
Taking it personal allows them to win...
I am a Gagner supporter, too. I think this is an important season for him to really establish himself as an effective two way 2C. If he doesn't do it this year, it is likely curtains for him.
Or Sam Wellwood.
Eerie.
Tough subject.. all is good, i should keep personal feelings off a hockey site.
Peace.
Now lets drop the puck.
Quick DSF - pull a stat out of you ass so things get back to normal around here !
is there a "normal" around here?
The list does have some quirks - like Toews as the 6th best in the NHL? Really? And Kane 38th? Ummmm... No.
The best player is probably Pavel Datsyuk - most complete superstar in the league and he's 5th?
Iggy 13 places ahead of Jordan Staal (who JUST beats out Phil Freaking Kessel)? I know who I would rather have...
But - that's why they make lists. So we can blog about them.
No.
You have to remember that both Pittsburgh and Detroit have TWO top 10 centres.
Osgood had a .930 SV% in their last cup winning playoff run. That's elite.
Fleury was .908 in the Penguins last cup win but having two of the top scorers in the league made up for that.
Emotions are running high, feathers have been ruffled, panties have been knotted without even being able to enjoy the wedgie.
It's a sure sign hockey season upon us again BIOTCHES!.
Rule no. 1 here on Oilersnation.....never enter here without your can (nards supporter) on, peoples. Page 14 in your Hockey for Dummies handbook.
Darn rookies!
If this the instigator of one of our good friend's disdain:
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/the-edmonton-oilers-are-a-useless-franchise
then... he should take Gregor's advice and relax.
This is just a drunken rant... he could have been much more biting in terms of substance.
His only real insights are that RNH shouldn't have burned a year of his ELC (a judgment call with sound arguments on both sides) and that Eberle's going to slip from his wonder year (he doesn't even mention shooting %)...
both of these things Oiler fans alreay debate ad nauseum... there's no revelation here or even a novel take on a well-worn topic.
all this is... is some fun venting by a nuck fan desperate to sip from the cup.
Sure it's strident... but it's hardly a substantial case against the Oil... and anyone thinking oiler fans aren't the first to rip their own mgt. and team is out to lunch anyway.
Can you link to the article please. I have an ON habit and if all I need to do to break it is read this article, that would be great! It's like a miricle cure!
Toronto trades Matt Lombardi to Phoenix for a 4th round pick.
Clearing cap space for a trade?
exactly... any goalie can get hot in a short streak. Osgood proved that. So did Roloson for that matter...
or... you can win with just better than or worse than average goaltending.
point being that since so many different kinds of teams have won in so many different ways that these kinds of lists (you need a top 50 C, D and G) are only so helpful
no team is going to be air-tight perfect.
Is the rest of training camp (Thurs,Fri and Saturday) open for media and friends?
Name one cup winner in the last 10 years that didn't have those elements, other than the Carolina Cinderellas.
Agree with Gregor, TGNC. If you are worried about the sophmoric drivel of a guy from Vancouver, undoubtedly living in an old refrigerator box in an alley off East Hastings - consider the source. He comes from a city of people that burn down their own town after the loss of a hockey game (you would think after 42 years they would be used to it).
Drance passing himself off as a journalist is like Cam Barker telling people he is actually Shea Weber or Mantei T'eo claiming he has - okay, sorry, HAD - a girlfriend. Sayin' it don't make it so.
Come back TGNC. Come back!!
I am boycotting the use of punctuation at OilersNation because an unammed blogger named wanye wrote an article criticizing wok box chili at the Oodle Noodle Nation page I am also boycotting all noodles - everywhere And china baca use they make noodles and Italy too and Marco Polo.
Just noticed Logan Couture, who was drafted after Gagner, is on the list but Sam isn't.
Must be a mistake.
other than Carolina...
1) Wings 08. Osgood, an average to better than average .914 goalie, gets hot goes .930
2) Penguins 09. Fleury puts them predictably in jeopardy .908
3) Blackhawks 10. Niemi predictably limps to the finish line .910
there... 3
@Romulus' Apotheosis
These are not just top 50 centers, these are all potential Selke winners.
RNH could become a#1 center but you will still need a two center.
O"Reillly may be that center.
What does that have to do with Wellwood?
1) 2 top 10 centres and the best defenseman in the world. Osgood hot.
2) The two best centres in the world. Malkin 36P in 24GP. Crosby 31P in 24GP.
3) Top 10 centre, TWO top 10 defensemen
I guess i can agree with you that you might win a cup if you have either two top ten centres and/or two top ten defensemen and have just above average goaltending but I don't think you can win a cup with none of the above.
which list... tsns?
too many lists... gets confusing.
at any rate, I'd rather take Couture, since you brought him up.. but not by much (right now... maybe by more later). I'd rather have either him or gags over O'Reilly.
I'll agree that Thom Drance's article was complete horse****, over the top and written to not insult but 'hurt' Oiler's fans. I definitely draw a line there, it reminded me of Dan Tencer's pathetic audio blog's that he did a few years back about the Vancouver Canucks after they lost to Boston. I dislike the Canucks as much as anyone but he went too far the same way that terrible article by Thom did. Just my opinion.
That being said, I love Oilersnation!
Jefff is not me...although he seems to have very firm grasp on what it actually takes to build a winning hockey team.
Man, its exhausting reading through the comments -more plot lines than a Mexican soap opera. And I'm just trying to figure out how Travis Zajac's contract is somehow Donald Fehr's fault.
good players?
which magic troll did he have to give a handie to to figure that out?
Are you sure it isn't Burke's fault?
I'm not.
A very digusting article from a very petty and unprofessional writer. You should be ashamed ppl who run this site!!
Oilersnation was started for us and to allow someone like that to write on this site is a disgrace. Wow just wow.
What a petty petty immature individual.
I do like DSF he is clearly the best poster here.
Either Burke's or Horcoff's. Or Eberle's shooting percentage.
No.
The right players in the right position.
Accumulating a bunch of scoring wingers while you're weak at centre, on D and in goal won't work.
Never has.
Ok,the jig is up. You're DSF or DSF's mom. And I doubt if your mom likes you that much.
My mom has been dead for years.
And I don't know anyone named Jefff.
Ok, now I get it, Jeff is a mocking imitation of DSF.
As per the Dance article (found it), it is childish (though correct regarding saples's Paulina Gtetzky coverage) but nothing to get too concerned over. Really , it's just a failed attempt at humor.
When does hockey start?
When I lived in London back in the day Millwall Football Club supporters were famous for singing "No one likes us, No one likes us, We don't care" to the tune of Rod Stewart's"Sailing". I don't care that no one like us. I don't want them to like us. It'll feel that much better when we win.
I liked the Drance article. Its the kind of trash talk I've been missing during the lockout. It reminds me of some of the early GDBs here at ON.
The Canucks are apparently the most hated team in the country.
Everyone seems to think the Oilers are cute.
I wonder why DSF could it be because they are a bunch of clowns.
@Romulus' Apotheosis
Yeah, and would rather have Toews. It comes down to who is potentially available.
I would like OEL, Pietrangelo or Hedman. But a guy like Adam Larsson may be available. O'Reilly may be available .
Or maybe they are very good.
And Canucks fans are notoriously thin-skinned about it. I don't know why they don't revel in it. But as for you, DSF, "You don't like us, You don't like us, You don't like us, We don't care!"
And by the way, sorry about that wisecrack about your Mom. Unnecessary on my part.
I think they're just fine.
No problem.
but that was your point. Couture WAS available and we took Gagner remember...
at any rate, everyone is available it's just a matter of price and ease of access.
as far as O'Reilly is concerned.. I already said, I'd rather keep Gagner.
If I'm looking for another C, I'm not looking at O'Reilly even if he is relatively speaking more available.
I liked it.... so-so...
I love some smack talk...
but he wanders back and forth between trying to just talk smack (which he could have done better if he simply committed himself to it) and trying to actually make an argument (which he never really got off the ground)
at any rate, no one should take it to heart or fret about it... it's all pretty banal.
Where does one find this Drance article?
Maybe Gagner's size confused Lou and in that weakened bemused state he made a horrible mistake?
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/the-edmonton-oilers-are-a-useless-franchise