I don't think M. Tkachuk deserves to be a tier ahead of Kucherov. They should both be at the the top.

Keller and B. Tkachuk are the first two that I would promote from the third tier. Marchand would be at the bottom of tier 2.

If Kuzmenko shows that last year was not a one off then he get's on the list. He'd be one of the most creative players in tier 3.

[quote=Canucks33;4381345

Keller and B. Tkachuk are the first two that I would promote from the third tier. Marchand would be at the bottom of tier 2.

[/quote]


Heh. There are a gaggle of players who should move up ahead of Keller. Loads of 'em.

I wouldn’t put Kuch in the same tier as Tkachuk. I think Tkucher is in a tier of his own when it comes to wingers right now and the 6th best skater in the league. He’s a great two-way guy and easily capable of 40+ and 110+ and his impact goes further than than just numbers or defence. He didn’t even need to get on the scoresheet to be the biggest reason why Florida clutched up in games 6&7. No one else is doing that right now. As for Kuch, I think this years Kuch is what we can expect in a full season from here on out. Very elite player, obviously, but 30-110+ with not too much of a two-way impact isn’t enough to put him in tier one imo. And that’s a big reason why he’s placed 6th here. The guys above him just bring that extra juice when it comes to goals and/or two way game. Marner’s about the same level goalscorer, a bit behind as a playmaker but miles ahead in the two-way game. The rest of the guys in front of him are better goalscorers most definitely capable of 100+ point seasons and outside of Pasta, better two way guys as well. Robo is also a better goalscorer capable of 100+ points.

And as for Brady, Keller and Kuz moving up a tier, I would like to hold off until I see more of what they did this past season. Neither Brady or Keller are bonafide 90+ scorers or anything to write home about in the two way game and Kuzmenko while basically dropping 40 and being a decent two-way impact, scored a lot of those goals on tips. I want to see if he can repeat that and prove that it is just part of his game. High tip numbers are historically very hard to replicate year-year

Marchand is in the Stamkos and Panarin tier imo. Genuinely can’t see him above them.

If these are in order, I believe Huberdeau should be higher for sure.

I'd agree. I think through Stamkos probably belong in 2 tiers together
I'd go Tkachuk, Rantanen, Pasta, Kaprisov, Marner, Kuch in a bigger Tier 1 and then Marchand, Panarin, Stamkos in a small tier 2 before the big tier 3.

Kuzmenko is not on this list. Who would he replace? Getting points because Petterson doesn't make you a star.

Tkachuk too high... Switch Tkachuk with Kaprisov, Pasta and Rant

Love tkachuk but he isn't alone in his tier. Put him with Robertson and Pasta level where he belongs.

I'm sorry but did you just call Tkachuk the 6th best skater in the league? Tkachuk is probably my favourite player in the league but he is closer to the 6th worst skater in the league than he is 6th best. His "great 2-way play" comes from his work along the boards between the hash marks and the blue line. I am not calling him bad defensively but he is not skating around the defensive zone stealing pucks from the opponent (unless you count for when he goes and body checks someone down low removing both him and the victim from the play). He is an expert at making breakout passes when his center and defensemen retrieve the puck down low, along with very good spatial awareness and gap control in the neutral zone. If we are talking about overall 2-way game Stone is by far the best, followed by Marchand and Marner. due to their abilities interrupt shooting lanes and intercept passes. I would even put Matt Boldy above Tkachuk in that manner. Matthew Tkachuk's very defensively aware but he is extremely hindered by his well below average foot speed so he can never be a bonafide PKer.

As for Tkachuk's production a lot of it comes from having top notch hand-eye coordination. He's probably the best net front deflector in the league next to Pavelski and Stone. He's a good playmaker with great vision too but he is not the guy who can quarterback a powerplay like Kaprizov, Kucherov, Marner, Panarin, Gaudreau, Pastrnak, Marchand, etc. He's ok at that job on the half wall but he is by far best in the net front/bumper spot.

IMO he should absolutely be in a top tier but certainly not in a tier of his own. Obviously Tkachuk has intangibles but it's not that different from what we saw in prime Perry.

I would have thought at least one of Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman or Kane would have made the list.

Meier is far too low

Skater as in Forward/Defenceman, not actual skating ability. I also didn’t claim he was an elite two-way player nor better than Stone in that regard. And while we’re talking about Stone, he would be a few spots higher if health wasn’t an issue. He has one of the best defensive sticks in hockey. I would agree with all the names you put above Matty Tkachuk in that regard.

I would put him in his own tier for the reasons I listed as well as the fact that he’s really the only winger that is pretty much a consensus top 10 player right now. Everyone in the second tier will be put just outside of the top 10 or lower in most lists.

I’m waiting to see him gel in New Jersey and prove he can produce there like he did San Jose

Hyman was one of the last names taken off the list, I counted Nuge as more of a center, they all have issues defensively and Kane needs to play and produce more than he did last year. They also suffer from the McDavid/Drai tax as almost anyone can produce on their wings and PP. they all would be at least in the conversation for top 40 if not top 35 so it’s not like they weren’t thought of

In his last season in San Jose, Evander Kane led the Sharks in scoring. Somehow he's only good because of McDavid but Meier makes your list? That's nonsense.

https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20202021&seasonTo=20202021&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.29&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50

I mean, congrats on finding the only season Kane had more points than Meier over the last 5 years 👍

And like I said, he’s probably top 40 off the top of my head

I agree that the unique playstyle and effect that M. Tkachuk has on a game is what elevates him into the top tier. Having a superstar that plays with as much grit and sandpaper as him underneath real skill and talent is extremely rare. That's why I love B. Tkachuk as well, they are pretty much in their own category in terms of playstyle classification.

I guess I would say that I feel you are underrating Kucherov then. Maybe I value past/recent Playoff performances more but Kucherov was the deadliest player in the Playoffs during their Cup wins and absolutely lethal at all times. I think what he showed was comparable if not better than what Kane did during his best 3 year stretch in the Playoffs. He is one of the most creative players in the league and he has the vision and confidence to find every single weapon available to him, including ones that nobody else can see. He relies on nothing but his raw talent and it made him the undisputed best winger in the league recently and I guess I don't think he deserves to have that taken away from him yet. I don't think anyone else on the entire list has accomplished anything close to what Kucherov has in terms of sustaining elite play and in both peak and duration.

I agree on that one for sure.