In case some of you wonder who the best is...

[Elite Sim News (ESN)]

So I got to talking puck with my brother again, and we once again fell into a discussion about who we thought is the best player in the NHL right now. After coming up with several names in my head, I had to stop and think. What context are we talking about? If you are looking for the best all around talent in the league, that's a pretty difficult choice. Enter the usual Crosby, Ovechkin, Lecavalier, Iginla, Alfredsson, Lidstrom, etc. I wonder why goalies never come to mind.

So what exactly makes a player worthy of the title "best player in the NHL"? Do you mean best statistical player? Best offensive player? Best defensive player? I think for the sake of the argument, you have to eliminate goalies all together. Comparing goalies to skaters is hard enough, let alone figuring who is the best in the league. So taking just the skaters, how to you make the distinction?

For me, my personal favorite player in the league right now is Lecavalier. He's actually been my favorite since he broke into the league. That said, if you were to ask me who the best player in the NHL is, and I didn't say Nicklas Lidstrom, I'd be lying to you. It's just my opinion, but I can't come up with a player who has more of an impact on a game than Lidstrom.

Maybe you would think it easier to ask this question: If you were starting an NHL franchise from scratch and could pick any player in the league, who's the first player taken? Well, if you follow the "build from the net out" approach that never seems to be a bad idea, you might say Roberto Luongo. Does that make Luongo the best player in the league? Again, just my opinion, but I do believe Luongo to be the best goalie in the league. Now we're back to trying to decide how to identify "the best" player.

No, I'm not asking who will potentially be the best player in five years. I'm asking right now. Who do you think the best player in the league is, and how did you come to that conclusion? Just something I had in my head and wanted to see what you guys thought.

BTW...bonus points if you name the movie that the subject line came from. It isn't very hard at all.

[Detroit Cherni]

Top Gun........The Moive. Talk to me Goose. Talk to me!

If I were starting an NHL franchise, looking for a player to build around, I'd go with Jarome Iginla. This is a player who leads by example. He can score, set up plays, play responsible defense, and is willing to fight for his team. Not a lot of Captains out there will do what Iginla does. He, to me, is the all round package and complete hockey player there is. Calgary has a lot of them if you include Robyn Regher and Dion Phaneuf as well. Iginla, though, understands all facets of what makes hockey special. He's great in the community. He's loyal to his fans and will sit and sign autographs because he doesn't take playing in the NHL for granted. He's a poster child for playing the game the way it's supposed to be played.

Now this isn't taking anything away from the other guys. Vincent Lecavalier is great as well. The first time I saw Lecavalier (and Brad Richards) play, was when they were both 14 years old attending Notre Dame. Which, for you Americans who don't know, is a private highschool in Wilcox, Saskatchewan which has a reputation for being a hockey player factory. Names like Cujo and Rod Brind'Amour have come out of there as well. I remember at that age, Lecavalier's coach Terry O'Malley telling me that Lecavalier would go first overall in the NHL draft. By the way, that Bantam AAA team that year, lost three games all season including tournaments. They were so strong, they were bumped up to play regular season Jr. B, and won that league as well.

Back to my point though. If you're starting any team though, it's from the goaltender out. I would pick Roberto Luongo over Iginla, but since Gorbs eliminated goalies from this list, Iginla's my man!

[Elite Sim News (ESN)]

Dave...good call on Iginla. You can definitely make a case for him.

As for the goalies, I just don't think it's fair to compare them to skaters. You can include if you want, but I find myself having to separate them.

Nice note on the dynamic duo. It's pretty scary when you label a 14 year old as the top talent in a draft four years down the road. Very interesting!

[ex-BluesGM]

I have to agree 100% with Dave here. My very first thought was Iginla and for the same reasons. To me he is the closest thing to Messier in his prime in today's game. I would even start my team with him I think, and hope to get a good netminder second round. I've always felt that a teams GAA was equally effected by their defense as their goaltending.

[formerDevilsGM]

Very good point with Iginla Guys..
As an Avs fan in Denver I get to see this guy play a lot and he is just so much fun to watch in every aspect of the game.
That is one of the main reasons I traded for him.

But it would be a tough descicion to decide to start a team with him or with a great all around defender like Lindstrom, Niedermayer, etc. a player who can shut down the oponents best player and bring some scoring when you are on offense....

Watching the Avs play Detroit over the years I have seen the type of impact the a guy like Lindstrom has against your top line.

very good post guys.. I think I would lean towards taking Iginla.
He just has a great all around game. and will throw down when needed.

[floridagm]

OVECHKIN .. sniper who can win games by himself. He's young, exciting and has the look of someone who loves playing the game.

[ex-BluesGM]

AO is a good choice too because of he willingness to get dirty in the corners. But I'll stick with Iginla.