I've said earlier that I love rankings. However, you can't compare people easily when they play different games. If they're completely different sports, just look at where they've gotten their team and where they can go. But if it's one sport (hockey, for instance), it's not that easy. Which is why my blood boils when people say Pavel Datsyuk is better than Alex Ovechkin.
So starts a series where I'll rank the top 10 active players in each position, starting with the goaltenders.
Honorable Mentions:
Corey Crawford- He had a good year this year, but he has been very inconsistent in the past.
Cory Schneider- Until he can prove he can hold his own as a starter, this talented young guy will just miss.
Pekka Rinne- He has been good before, but one wonders if he can do better. He was pretty bad last
year.
Brian Elliot- He was good last year, but has not been very great before.
Marc-Andre Fleury- He has struggled with inconsistency, but he is still a good player.
10. Braden Holtby- There may be a little bit of bias here, but he is still one of the best young goalies in the league.
9. Evgeni Nabokov- He was good with the Sharks, took a few years off, then was good with the Islanders last year. If he plays to his potential, he could be moving up.
8. Jimmy Howard- He had tough shoes to fill when he had to take over for Chris Osgood, and did a fine job. He reminded everybody how dangerous he could be in the playoffs.
7.Anti Niemi- 'Nemo' had a great year in 2013 and was good for the Blackhawks before then. He has always been overshadowed, unfortunately, but was a finalist for the Vezina this year.
6. Jonathan Quick- The Kings goaltender has probably turned into the USA's best (sorry Ryan Miller). He was a bit underwhelming to start the year, but from the magic puck to the Cinderella run, he is still one of the best in the business.
5. Tuuka Rask- He has been amazing this year, and if the Bruins win the Cup he will almost definitely win the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. He had tough shoes to fill after Tim Thomas, but he has been fantastic.
4. Sergei Bobrovsky- The Vezina champion is a great example of why Paul Holmgren, the Flyers GM, should be canned. Send to the Blackhawks to allow Ilya Bryzgalov to be the starter, Bob did sensational last year to almost get Columbus to the playoffs. The Caps will have their work cut out for them when they have him in their division next year.
3. Craig Anderson- He probably would have been a Vezina candidate, if not winner, had he not been injured. He was not at his best in the destruction by Pittsburgh, but was fantastic in the regular season and against Montreal.
2. Martin Brodeur- The greatest goaltender of all time, by far, is still one of the best in the league. He only misses out on the top spot because of age, and because he may not be able to go on for much longer.
1. Henrik Lundqvist- All Caps fans have to agree with this. Lundqvist has single-handedly beaten the Caps the last two years, and has been a Vezina candidate both of those years, including winning in 2011-2012.
So what do you think? Put your rankings in the comments, and come back tomorrow for the best defensemen.
So starts a series where I'll rank the top 10 active players in each position, starting with the goaltenders.
Honorable Mentions:
Corey Crawford- He had a good year this year, but he has been very inconsistent in the past.
Cory Schneider- Until he can prove he can hold his own as a starter, this talented young guy will just miss.
Pekka Rinne- He has been good before, but one wonders if he can do better. He was pretty bad last
year.
Brian Elliot- He was good last year, but has not been very great before.
Marc-Andre Fleury- He has struggled with inconsistency, but he is still a good player.
10. Braden Holtby- There may be a little bit of bias here, but he is still one of the best young goalies in the league.
9. Evgeni Nabokov- He was good with the Sharks, took a few years off, then was good with the Islanders last year. If he plays to his potential, he could be moving up.
8. Jimmy Howard- He had tough shoes to fill when he had to take over for Chris Osgood, and did a fine job. He reminded everybody how dangerous he could be in the playoffs.
7.Anti Niemi- 'Nemo' had a great year in 2013 and was good for the Blackhawks before then. He has always been overshadowed, unfortunately, but was a finalist for the Vezina this year.
6. Jonathan Quick- The Kings goaltender has probably turned into the USA's best (sorry Ryan Miller). He was a bit underwhelming to start the year, but from the magic puck to the Cinderella run, he is still one of the best in the business.
5. Tuuka Rask- He has been amazing this year, and if the Bruins win the Cup he will almost definitely win the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. He had tough shoes to fill after Tim Thomas, but he has been fantastic.
4. Sergei Bobrovsky- The Vezina champion is a great example of why Paul Holmgren, the Flyers GM, should be canned. Send to the Blackhawks to allow Ilya Bryzgalov to be the starter, Bob did sensational last year to almost get Columbus to the playoffs. The Caps will have their work cut out for them when they have him in their division next year.
3. Craig Anderson- He probably would have been a Vezina candidate, if not winner, had he not been injured. He was not at his best in the destruction by Pittsburgh, but was fantastic in the regular season and against Montreal.
2. Martin Brodeur- The greatest goaltender of all time, by far, is still one of the best in the league. He only misses out on the top spot because of age, and because he may not be able to go on for much longer.
1. Henrik Lundqvist- All Caps fans have to agree with this. Lundqvist has single-handedly beaten the Caps the last two years, and has been a Vezina candidate both of those years, including winning in 2011-2012.
So what do you think? Put your rankings in the comments, and come back tomorrow for the best defensemen.
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