Who is the greatest NHL player?

Question

In today's hockey, who is the best player? In most conversations, people lean towards Forsberg, Lidstrom, and Brodeur. Who do you say is the best and why?

Answer 1

Forsberg is the best all around passer, leader, and one of the best pure scorers. Brodeur is a freaking god, not only is he having one of his best seasons, he is the only active goaltending legend. Linstrom is the best offensive defense man, but either Chara or Pronger is the best defensive defense man. Also you can't over look Ovechkin. He's fast, physical, and a great scorer, this means when people learn to play with these new (stupid) rules and still be physical he will still be great and Crosby will become a "remember him" kind of player, like Jim Carey. Exactly.

Answer 2

all time: Wayne Gretsky

playing currently (based on the last 6 years)

Forward: Joe Sakic - still performing at the top level even on a much weaker team than the past
with an honorable mention to Marion Hossa - a great 2 way player who score, passes, and defends
Crosby will get there but he does not have the credentials yet - give it 2 more years
Goalie: Martin Brodeur (and if he keeps going with 30+ win seasons another 3 years he will be the best ever)
Defenseman: Nicklas Lidstrom -some of the greats have retired - so Lidstrom stands out.

Based on this year only

Martin Brodeur - NJ are 2nd in the East yet their top scorer has only 50 points. Brodeur keeps them in the hunt every year.
Crosby 2nd - he has sparked his team and should lead them into the playoffs.

*****
did a quick check of the stats in the 6 seasons since 2000/01
Jaromir Jagr has 543 pts and is plus 70
Joe Thornton has 508 pts and is plus 69
Joe Sakic has 489 pts and is plus 87
Marion Hossa has 467 pts and is plus 69
Hossa and Sakic had all positive +/- during that period whereas Jagr and Thornton dipped negative a couple of times
Forsberg only had 363 points as he missed a season although he was a huge +113. His production has slipped the last 2 years
Martin Brodeur has 236 wins including 3 seasons over 40 wins

so maybe Jagr tied with Sakic for forward - and Brodeur overall

Answer 3

I cant just choose one player because there are several, the best goalie would have to Marty Brodeur if you just look at his stats it will tell you why i think this. The best defensemen would have to Scott Niedermayer. He is a great skating defensemen that could play in both the new and old NHL, and still put up very good numbers. The best foward would have to be Sidney Crosby he is only 19 and he is leading with points. He can do it all he can pass and he can score. He doesnt have the same career stats as some of the other players but in time he will probably have better stats.

Answer 4

Either Lidstrom or Scott Niedermayer. They are both tremendous skaters, have great vision and are the best at transitioning the play out of their zone.

They rarely make poor decisions in the defensive zone and are both offensive threats on the fly or from the point. They each log crazy minutes and play both sides of the special teams, an important point to note in the 'new' NHL.

Most importantly, however, is the manner in which both Lidstrom and Niedermayer can control the pace and flow of a game while always playing against their opponents' best forwards.

Unfortunately, most tend to downplay their contributions because they make the game look so easy. I'm certain if you asked their coaches, teammates and opposing forwards, you'd get a different picture.

Answer 5

Ok first I will disagree with the forward you mentioned. The first forwards that come to mind that have been labeled the best would be Lemieux, Gretzky, if you want to go even further Richard. As for defensemen lidstrom is top notch defenseman but arguments for Al McGinnis from the blues, Rob Blake kings/avalanche, Paul Coffey just to name a few. Goalies I would say Patrick Roy and Terry Sawchuck would be ahead for now. Soon I think Crosby might the be the future answer to the question with forwards with alexander from washington a close second in the future forward category because when they have the puck something special usually happens. As for now I would say Lemieux but I guess I am a little bias but he still has the best points per game ratio. If I have to pick one now I would pick Thorton from the Sharks and he has played well for san jose besides receiving the hart trophy. Defenseman in the past orr as well. Playoff experience for both orr and coffey. MacInnis for his laser shot that was recorded as over 100. Defenseman now I would say lidstrom based on his playoff years as well as what he has done in the regular season. Goalie presently playing I agree with Brodeur based on his body of work and retired goalies I would say terry sawchuck and patrick roy based on wins and playoff success.

Answer 6

I'd pick Nicklas Lidstrom, cause he's an offensive and defensive weapon, and helps the wings kill like 95% of there penalties, and always gets like 10 100MPH shots on net all game setting up rebounds for guys like mr screen the goalie tomas holmstrom and others, and he's always 1 of the top 3 in +/- every year and plays more than 1/2 the game night after night and never gets tired, and he always plays with the wings worst defenseman as his sidekick cause every coach knows he'll make his partner like lilja way better, and does every job he needs to do and very rarely do u see him ever make a mistake

Answer 7

Nowadays, the best, according to me, is Peter Forsberg!
For All-Time:
Wayne Gretzky was voted number 1 by the Hockey News.
For the best goalie, I'd say Patrick Roy.
Best defence- Bobby Orr.

***I meant Forsberg when he's healthy!

Answer 8

If we're talking strictly at the moment then it's sid the kid crosby. He makes everybody around him better and can single handedly take over a game. All that and he's not anywhere near his prime. Forsberg has had too many injuries and has past his prime a bit to be in this conversation anymore. I classify the best player as the single player you would start a team with if you could. Since you said in todays hockey, Sid would be my first pick if I could take anyone to start my team.

Answer 9

The best all around hockey player has to be Sergei Fedorov allthough he never put up numbers like wayne, mario and steve he never played the minutes in a game that they did and unfortunately the defensive trap came into play in his prime but all around i never seen a player rush down the ice with the puck score or not be the first one back to break up a play when you needed it...115 goals in the last 5 min. of play is a top performer in my book if yzerman was the heart of the wings then sergei was defenitely the blood that pumps the heart..he changed the game of hockey becoming the 1st born european player to win the hart trophy and won the hardest shot, the fastest skater and probably would have won every event they could throw at him if they would let him, taking an offensive dive he chose to improve the detroit redwings to win the stanley cup 3 times is better then any offensive award that could be giving..best all around hockey player ever

Answer 10

In today's hockey, Alexander Ovechkin is the best player in the NHL, Miikka Kiprusoff is the best goalie in the NHL, and Dion Phaneuf is the best defensemen in the NHL. As for the past, Wayne Gretzky was the best forward, Bobby Orr was the best defensemen, and Patrick Roy was the best goalie.