The annual NHL players poll is out
Who do NHL players think is the league’s best playmaker, goalie, and fashion icon? The NHLPA asked 663 of them—and the results are in. Crosby, McDavid, and Vasilevskiy lead the way, but the rule change suggestions might surprise you.
The tribe has spoken: The results of the annual NHL Players Association poll, where 663 NHL players are asked a series of hockey-related questions, were published this week.
- Most complete player: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) topped the list for the sixth-straight year, capturing ~34% of the vote.
- Best playmaker: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning (~48%).
- Best overall goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy, also of the Lightning (~31%).
- Best overall forward: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (~74%).
- Best overall defenseman: Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (~72%).
- PWHL rulebook changes you’d like to see in the NHL: The jailbreak goal (where a minor penalty ends if shorthanded team scores; ~30%), 3-2-1-0 point system (~24%), and first-place finishers choosing their playoff opponent (~17%) were the top three.
One fun thing: David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins) and Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) were tied for best fashion sense in the league, with both snagging ~16% of the vote.
Looking ahead…NHL playoff hockey kicks off this weekend. All 16 teams are set, after the Montreal Canadiens clinched the final spot with a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes last night (a game that forced a rescheduling of a political debate between five leaders of Canadian political parties). See the full playoff picture here.
