Hockey is a sport that is followed by fans all over the world. Though the sport has its origins in North America, there are players from all corners of the globe that have made a name for themselves in the NHL. In this blog post, we will be counting down the top 10 hockey players in the world. This list includes some of the most talented and skilled players in the game today and is sure to get any hockey fan excited. So without further ado, let’s get started.
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby, born August 7, 1987, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played junior hockey with the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2003 to 2005. Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the QMJHL in 2005 and has since appeared in 11 NHL seasons, winning nine Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh. A two-time Olympian, he won gold medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2014 Winter Olympics. He is also a two-time winner of both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
In his NHL career, Crosby has amassed 1,266 points in 984 regular season games played and 200 points in 208 playoff games played. His point production rates him as one of the most prolific players of his generation and among all-time greats. Crosby’s accomplishments include leading the league in scoring twice, winning three Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies as league’s leading goal scorer and being named to more All-Star Teams than any other player in his draft class.
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Ovechkin is widely considered to be one of the best hockey players in the world. He has been nicknamed “The Great Eight” and “Ovi”, and has been described as a “once-in-a-generation talent”.
Ovechkin was born in Moscow, Russia, and began playing hockey at a young age. He joined the Russian Super League team Dynamo Moscow when he was just 16 years old, and made his debut in the 2003–04 season. He quickly became one of the league’s top scorers, and helped Dynamo win the Russian Championship in 2006.
In 2005, Ovechkin was drafted first overall by the Washington Capitals in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2005–06 season, and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. He has since gone on to win numerous other individual awards, including six Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies as the league’s top goal-scorer.
Ovechkin is also a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Washington Capitals in 2018 and 2020. He was named captain of the Capitals in 2010, and has served in that role for over ten years.
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is considered one of the best players in the world and has won numerous awards, including the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player (MVP) and the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point-scorer in 2012\u201313.
Malkin began his career with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, making his professional debut with the team at age 16. He was selected second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and joined the team for the 2006\u201307 season, scoring 106 points to become only the second teenager to record a 100-point season in an NHL campaign. He played his first Stanley Cup playoff game that year as Pittsburgh advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Malkin continued to develop his play over subsequent seasons, improving his offensive production while also becoming more defensively responsible. In 2009\u201310, he helped lead Pittsburgh to their third Stanley Cup championship; he scored 36 points during their playoff run that year and was awarded both the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship.
The following year, Malkin captured his first Art Ross Trophy after finishing tied for first in league scoring with 104 points; he also became only the seventh player since 1967\u201368 to record consecutive 100-point seasons. During that campaign, Malk
Carey Price
Carey Price is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is one of the best goaltenders in the world and has won numerous awards, including the Vezina Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy.
Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane is an American professional ice hockey right winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Blackhawks with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Kane is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Blackhawks, winning in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He has also won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, Art Ross Trophy as leading scorer, Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player, and Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player, all in 2016.
Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews is one of the top hockey players in the world. A center for the Chicago Blackhawks, Toews has won three Stanley Cups and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He’s also a two-time Selke Trophy winner, given to the league’s best defensive forward.
Toews is known for his leadership on and off the ice. He was named captain of the Blackhawks at just 20 years old, and has been praised for his work ethic and dedication to his team. On the ice, he’s a smart player who makes good decisions with the puck. He’s also an excellent faceoff man, winning over 60% of his draws.
Off the ice, Toews is known for his charity work. He founded the Jonathan Toews Foundation, which provides financial assistance to sick children and their families. He’s also involved with kids hockey programs in Chicago, helping to grow the sport at the grassroots level.
Duncan Keith
Duncan Keith is one of the best hockey players in the world. He is a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks and has won three Stanley Cups with them. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and has been named to the NHL All-Star team six times. Keith is known for his great defense and his ability to make plays all over the ice. He is an important part of the Blackhawks’ success and is one of the best players in the NHL.
Brent Burns
Brent Burns is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has played in the NHL for 12 seasons, and is currently in his 13th.
Burns was born on March 9, 1985, in Barrie, Ontario. He began playing hockey at a young age, and played in the Junior A ranks for the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) before being drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Wild during the 2003-04 season, and played with the team for seven seasons.
In 2010-11, he had career highs in goals (17), assists (29), and points (46), and was named to the NHL All-Star Game. He was traded to the Sharks prior to the start of the 2011-12 season. In his first season with San Jose, he helped lead them to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Burns has been selected to play in four NHL All-Star Games (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016), and has won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada (2010, 2014).
Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson is one of the top hockey players in the world. He is a defenseman for the Ottawa Senators and is one of the best in his position. In 2012, he was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. He has also been named to the NHL First All-Star Team three times.
A native of Sweden, Karlsson was drafted by the Senators in 2008 and made his NHL debut in 2009. He has spent his entire career with Ottawa, becoming one of the team’s top players. In addition to his individual awards, Karlsson has helped the Senators reach the Stanley Cup playoffs four times, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Final in 2016-17.
Karlsson is known for his offensive capabilities and is often compared to other great offensive defensemen like Denis Potvin and Nick Lidstrom. He is an excellent skater and has great vision on the ice, which allows him to create scoring chances for his teammates. Karlsson is also a good puck-handler and is not afraid to take risks in order to make a play happen.
While Karlsson is an offensive force, he is also responsible defensively. He has good positioning and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His quickness allows him to close gaps quickly and take away space from opposing players. Karlsson is also not afraid to use his body to block shots or defend against forwards trying to enter the zone.
Conclusion
The game of hockey is one that is enjoyed by people all over the world. Though there are many great players, only a few can be considered the best in the world. This list includes some of those top players, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional skill on the ice. If you’re a fan of hockey, or are simply looking to learn more about the sport, be sure to check out these ten great players.
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