My Top 14 Players In NHL By Position: Right Wingers
NHL.com has been running a top 14 by position feature for the past few days, and has been butchering it for the most part. Clinging to aging players like such as Rick Nash and the Sedin twins like it is 2010 has been their biggest problem, but also picking Ryan O’Reilly and Nash to be one of the best at a position they don’t even play was quite hilarious.
Then, two of the four experts ranked Patrice Bergeron ahead of Steven Stamkos on their ballot, so I decided I would just go ahead and do my own ranking of the top 14 players at each position for the upcoming season, and not three years ago.
Oh, and I decided it worked best if I ranked players at their actual positions.
Anyway, here are the top 14 right wingers in the NHL heading into this season in my opinion.
1. Patrick Kane
69 games played 29 goals 40 assists 69 points
Jun 1, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) controls the puck against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell (33) during the first period in game seven of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
There might not be a more skilled hockey player in the world than Patrick Kane. The first overall pick in the 2007 draft has helped transform the Chicago Blackhawks from laughingstock to league powerhouse.
In the past five seasons, Kane has scored at a point per game rate or better four times, and will have more help this year than he ever has. Often relegated to second line duty for the Hawks to spread out the scoring, Kane had to deal with his center being Marcus Kruger, Michael Handzus or trying the middle himself in the past.
This year, if he is not kept on a line with Jonathan Toews, then Kane will play on the second line with Brad Richards, who scored 52 points last season on a low scoring New York Rangers team in the middle. Richards may not have been worth the contract he was bought out of, but he is still a solid number two option, and will ensure Kane has a competent line the whole season for the first time in his career.
2. Corey Perry
81 games played 43 goals 39 assists 82 points
Perry is as dominant a winger as you will find in the NHL. He is big, plays physical, finished second in the NHL in goals last season, and can be relied upon to play a sound defensive game.
Playing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf helps, but Perry doesn’t need anyone to carry him on the ice, and another 40 goal, 80 point season is about to begin for the 29 year old.
May 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) carries the puck past Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell (33) during the second period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
3. Marian Hossa
72 games played 30 goals 30 assists 60 points
Hossa does not dominate offensively as well as other wingers, but he won’t be far from a point per game pace next season. Add that to the fact he is as good a defensive winger as you will find in the NHL, and you have yourself one of the most complete players the league has seen in years. Hossa won’t be able to stay dominant forever, and at 35 his best years are behind him, but he will more than carry his weight on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp, the toughest line in the league to play against.
78 games played 51 goals 28 assists 79 points
Ovechkin’s one way role is starting to wear thin. Plus minus is not the greatest stat in the world, but when you are the second worst in the NHL at minus 35 is says a lot. Without going on an on about his weaknesses, I will just say there are plenty of stats that show Ovechkin may be the worst defensive forward in the league.
But only Steven Stamkos can score goals the way Ovechkin does. He led the league once again last season with 51 goals, and that is something that can’t be replaced. However, with new coach Barry Trotz, a man who holds his team accountable defensively, I wonder if Ovechkin will be able to roam the way he has in the past that led to so many goals.
Maybe he only scores 40 next season, and if he scored 40 his inability to play defense will be highlighted even further.
5. Phil Kessel
Mar 25, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) shoots against the St. Louis Blues at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
82 games played 37 goals 43 assists 80 points
Kessel is another winger who is labeled as a one way player, though not to the same extent as Ovechkin. Kessel has proven to be a great goal scorer, his 37 last season being fifth most in the NHL. Kessel is one of the most consistent offensive players in the league, averaging between 0.39 and 0.45 goals per game each season since arriving in Toronto in 2009. The past three seasons he has proven to be a capable point per game player and should score 35 goals and 80 points this coming season.
6. James Neal
59 games played 27 goals 34 assists 61 points
James Neal’s offensive numbers are sure to suffer from playing with the Nashville Predators next season instead of the high scoring Pittsburgh Penguins. Evgeni Malkin will not be his center anymore, and Derek Roy or Mike Ribeiro will be.
However, don’t forget that Neal was a great player before he landed in Pittsburgh, as he had seasons of 24, 27 and 21 goals to start his career with the Dallas Stars, with the 21 goals coming in just 59 games. His center back then was Mike Ribeiro, so expect Neal to drop from his point per game pace, but 30 goals and 60-65 points is still within his reach.
82 games played 23 goals 39 assists 62 points
Voracek showed his near point per game pace in 2013 was no fluke, as he set a career high with 62 points last season. He is a phenomenal skater and great passer who is a big part of a great power play in Philadelphia. At 25, expect an even better season from the former Halifax Moosehead this year.
80 games played 28 goals 37 assists 65 points
Mar 11, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Edmonton Oilers right wing Jordan Eberle (14) scores in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Edmonton Oilers win in a shoot out 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Expectations were enormous for Eberle after playing the hero at the World Junior Tournament for Canada and dominating offensively. He really broke out in 2011-12 with the Edmonton Oilers, scoring just under a point per game, but failed to match that in the past two seasons. He was still solid last season with 28 goals and 65 points, and will only be 24 this season, so he should reach the 70 point mark for the second time in his NHL career.
9. Kyle Okposo
71 games played 27 goals 42 assists 69 points
Okposo exploded offensively last season, scoring just under a point per game and though being on a line with John Tavares helped, Okposo scored ten points in 12 games after Tavares was injured at the Olympics. I don’t know that Okposo will be able to match his point per game totals, but he is a good sized winger who plays physical and will easily score 25 goals this season.
10. Martin St Louis
81 games played 30 goals 39 assists 69 points
St. Louis led the league in scoring in 2013, notching 60 points in a lockout shortened 48 game schedule. After requesting a trade to the New York Rangers, St. Louis scored just one goal and nine points in 18 regular season games before bouncing back in the playoffs.
He won’t be winning any more scoring titles, but St. Louis is still a very talented player at the age of 39.
Mar 31, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period against the Florida Panthers at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
11. Jaromir Jagr
82 games played 24 goals 43 assists 67 points
What can I say about Jagr that hasn’t already ben said? The 42 year old continues to defy the odds, and scored 67 points last season, his first with the New Jersey Devils. He needs 45 points to reach 1800 for his career, and if he could still do it at 41, there is no reason to assume Jagr won’t be able to score 60 points at 42.
12. Jarome Iginla
78 games played 30 goals 31 assists 61 points
One of these years a full NHL season will go by and Jarome Iginla will not score 30 goals. It hasn’t happened in 14 years, and Iginla should be able to repeat his 30-30 season next year with the highly skilled Colorado Avalanche.
13. Blake Wheeler
82 games played 28 goals 41 assists 69 points
Most top five draft picks who are 6’5 and over 200 pounds stand out, and when they become solid NHL players you usually can’t turn on your computer without seeing a story about them. Picked 5th overall in 2004 and being one of the biggest scoring wingers in the NHL hasn’t led to much attention for Wheeler.
Since he arrived in Atlanta in 2011, Wheeler has scored 191 points in 233 games, which averages out to 67 points over a full season. Wheeler is going to score 25 goals and 65 points next season, you just won’t hear anything about it.
14. Jason Pominville
82 games played 30 goals 30 assists 60 points
Pominville has been extremely consistent for several years, always staying near 0.75 PPG which averages out to 60 points in a full season. With former linemate from his Buffalo Sabre days, Thomas Vanek signing with the Minnesota Wild this season, Pominville will be in the same range again next season. Expect 30 goals and 65-70 points.
Notable Omissions: Wayne Simmonds is a power forward with the potential to score 30 goals and 65 points next season, but narrowly missed out to Pominville.
Apr 1, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing T.J. Oshie (74) scores a goal against Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery (29) during a shootout at the Scottrade Center. The Blues defeated the Flyers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
If Olympic shootout goals were a criteria, T.J. Oshie would have been ranked number one. He is a solid winger for the St. Louis Blues who is in the mix with Pominville, Wheeler and Simmonds, but also just missed out on the top 14.
Bobby Ryan is a solid winger for the Ottawa Senators, but playing on their most productive line all season only resulted in 48 points. Not quite enough to crack the top 14 right wingers in the league.
Loui Eriksson is my dark horse pick to have a much better season next year, but I couldn’t give him a spot after scoring just 37 points in his first season as a Boston Bruin. With Iginla gone, Eriksson will get a bump in ice time and could find himself in the top 14 again next year.
Rick Nash scored 26 goals last season in 65 games, but then had just 3 in 25 postseason games. He also only had 13 assists in the regular season, giving him 39 points in 65 games. He used to be elite, but has quickly become a good two way winger with the potential to hit 30 goals and 50 points. Not bad, but not one of the NHL’s best anymore.
If this were a top 14 right wingers in the postseason, Justin Williams would be in the top five. If it were a ranking of guys you want in a Game 7, Williams would be number one. But it is not, it is a ranking of the 14 best right wingers in the NHL right now, and Williams had 19 goals and 43 points last season.