Who is the best all-around player in the league?

And who sets the parameters for the best "overall" player?? Somebody on Hobby Insider? It's impossible to answer the question because it not a stat listed by the NHL, therefore one can only have an opinion. 9 times out of 10, people pick who they know and watch because they don't know any better.

I'm still going with who the GM's pick first "overall" :beer:

Simple answer:

The question to the GM's was not who was the best overall player player in the league based on all facets. It was whom would you build your team around. The two are not same - Crosby is the most dynamic player, with Ovie a very close second. They are not however - either one - the most well rounded player at this point in their careers.

Another example - the question was asked of these same GM's around 2003/2005, and I seem to remember that the most popular answer then was Lidstrom to start a team with. Pick the player that would anchor your defense night in and night out, miss no games , and score to boot. Was he the best player in the league??? No he was not. BUT he was one of the players that you could build a team around.


Title of this thread was :

Who is the best all-around player in the league?
 
as a kings fan i would throw two names into the hat.

first, Drew Doughty. yes, he's been injured this year so there's a bit of a dropoff to start this year. but he does everything. he scores, he hits, he plays every situation, and he's 20. it seems as if everyone is picking forwards but i believe Doughty should be in the conversation.

second, Anze Kopitar. Maybe not at the top right now but he should also be in the conversation. he does everything as well. crazy skill, plays all situations, great defensively. i think he can improve a bit on his draws but he is a complete hockey player.
 
And who sets the parameters for the best "overall" player?? Somebody on Hobby Insider? It's impossible to answer the question because it not a stat listed by the NHL, therefore one can only have an opinion. 9 times out of 10, people pick who they know and watch because they don't know any better.

I'm still going with who the GM's pick first "overall" :beer:

And thats the beauty of the debate. No one is arguing that Crosby is not in the upper echelon of the list. I Actually think he is arguably #1, nto clear cut as there is a solid argument for Datsyuk as well.

I just dont want to hear someone say that if your good offensively then you dont need to worry about defense. Now if you said "Player X generates enough offensive zone attack time, that he is keeping the play out of his end and that makes a defensive contribution" I would buy it. But there still needs to be some type of defensive abilities there.
 
I was going to chime in with Crosby kills penalties too but some of the members in this thread obviously don't watch Pens games...So why bother :|

By the way ladies and gents, in late 2008, of the 28 GM's in the league (you know the men that run the teams) 15 of them picked Crosby for who they would take to build a team around. Richards and Dats were not even mentioned. If you guys put them as the best "all around" then why hasn't even ONE GM acknowledged either of them? Heck Zetterburg even got votes ahead of Dats.

Surely the "best overall" player in the league would get a least ONE vote :|. On that note I'll side with the experts, not you guys :rolleyes:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=252046

15 of them picked Crosby for who they would take to build a team around.

"Build a team around" and "best all around" are two totally different things.

I chalk the pens fans comments to mistaking one for the other, no harm, just small confusion.

That being said, yes, crosby, ovechkin, "heck even zetterberg" are better to "build" around. You come across offensive talent like that once a decade (or not, if you are a rangers fan).

We are not discussing this however. Players like Ryan Callahan, Patrice Bergeron, Chris Drury, and Ryan Kesler have 10x more of a right to have their names mentioned in this thread than Crosby, Ovechkin, etc. THAT is why Richards is here as is Datsyuk.

And for those who think that crosby simply playing on the PK warrants his stellar D, I recall Gaborik playing on the PK a few shifts as well. Teams will try anything to alter the look and "attack" of the PK unit. That is why I said TOI for a PK is not the best indicator of defensive skill.

FYI, Datysuk has a Selke on his mantle, and was a runner-up for the Hart trophy 2 years ago.....
 
I guess I should have called this "best well-rounded player" in the league. Crosby does kill penalties sometimes, without a doubt; I think he's averaging about 30 seconds of PK time per game. But being on the ice for penalties and being a penalty killer are different. Just like Corsby has also been in fights, but I wouldn't call him a fighter.
You look at a guy like Datsyuk: he's a constant threat for the Hart, Selke, and Lady Bing every year. Guys like Crosby and Ovechkin are threats for the Hart/Lady Bing (Crosby), but not the Selke. Guys like Richards and Kesler are threats for the Selke, but not the other two. Datsyuk, to me, is the best at excellling in all areas of the game. This is most likely my last post in this, because I think it's run its course.
 
Guys like Crosby and Ovechkin are threats for the Hart/Lady Bing (Crosby), but not the Selke. Guys like Richards and Kesler are threats for the Selke, but not the other two. Datsyuk, to me, is the best at excellling in all areas of the game. This is most likely my last post in this, because I think it's run its course.

Shot down 6 pages of arguing right there.

good times :beer:
 
I'd have to say if this were a poll Datsyuk would win and it wouldn't be close. This coming from someone who hates the Wings.

I'm just surprised that this thread has went almost #90 posts and not one person has mentioned Rick Nash. I think he's definitely a top 10 best all around player. He kills penaltys, plays on the power play, scores goals (leading western conference), and is clutch no matter the situation.
 
I'd have to say if this were a poll Datsyuk would win and it wouldn't be close. This coming from someone who hates the Wings.

I'm just surprised that this thread has went almost #90 posts and not one person has mentioned Rick Nash. I think he's definitely a top 10 best all around player. He kills penaltys, plays on the power play, scores goals (leading western conference), and is clutch no matter the situation.


ID say not enough exposure in the hockey hotbed of Columbus.
 
Dan Cleary...hands down:) Can play on either of the teams 4 lines, scores goals (Makes Dats and Zetty look good) plus he is usually on the ice in the last few seconds of a close game. Crosby, Richards, Ovy, Dats meh!!
 
I'm just surprised that this thread has went almost #90 posts and not one person has mentioned Rick Nash. I think he's definitely a top 10 best all around player. He kills penaltys, plays on the power play, scores goals (leading western conference), and is clutch no matter the situation.

Player of the week, another goal last night. OK I'll bite. I say Rick Nash.

:)
 
Ive always seen Nash as a big softee, more or less in the category of Thornton. Big guys that can really be the face of the game if they only used their god given power.

Otherwise Nash is an exceptional player, locked into a hockey blackhole of a town. Not to mention, it is hard to be a "top" player when your team around you has been so bad for so long.
 
For me it's Datsyuk. He is excellent in all aspects of the game.

Crosby too for sure. And i'll say Tomas Plekanec too ! He's very good all around, no doubt about that, one of the best all around player.
 


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