Best Player In the World

[Hawkey Town 18]

Being the best player in the world is not always shown through award voting or statistics. For example: Sidney Crosby hasn't won a single individual award the past two seasons, but he's been considered the best player in the world over that time.


I would like to try to reconstruct a timeline of the players that were considered "The Best In The World" for as far back as we can go. There will be transition years where there might be 2 players to list and there might even be a period where there is no consensus best. Also, to keep it simpler, please exclude goalies.

Here is a VERY RAW attempt at starting things off...

2017: Crosby
2016: Crosby
2015: Crosby
2014: Crosby
2013: Crosby
2012: Crosby
2011: Ovechkin/Crosby
2010: Ovechkin/Crosby
2009: Ovechkin/Crosby
2008: Ovechkin/Crosby
2007: Lidstrom/Crosby
2006: Nicklas Lidstrom
2004: Peter Forsberg
2003: Peter Forsberg
2002: Jagr/Lemieux/Lidstrom/Forsberg???
2001: Jaromir Jagr
2000: Jaromir Jagr
1999: Jaromir Jagr
1998: Jaromir Jagr
1997: Lemieux/Jagr
1996: Mario Lemieux
1995: Mario Lemieux
1994: Mario Lemieux
1993: Mario Lemieux
1992: Mario Lemieux
1991: Mario Lemieux
1990: Lemieux/Gretzky
1989: Lemieux/Gretzky
1988: Wayne Gretzky
1987: Wayne Gretzky
1986: Wayne Gretzky
1985: Wayne Gretzky
1984: Wayne Gretzky
1983: Wayne Gretzky
1982: Wayne Gretzky
1981: Wayne Gretzky
1980: Trottier/Gretzky?
1979: Guy Lafleur
1978: Guy Lafleur
1977: Guy Lafleur
1976: Orr/Lafleur
1975: Bobby Orr
1974: Bobby Orr
1973: Bobby Orr
1972: Bobby Orr
1971: Bobby Orr
1970: Bobby Orr
1969: Hull/Orr
1968: Bobby Hull
1967: Bobby Hull
1966: Bobby Hull
1965: Bobby Hull
1964: Bobby Hull
1963: Howe/Hull
1962: Howe/Hull
1961: Gordie Howe
1960: Gordie Howe
1959: Gordie Howe
1958: Gordie Howe
1957: Gordie Howe
1956: Gordie Howe
1955: Gordie Howe
1954: Gordie Howe
1953: Gordie Howe
1952: Gordie Howe
1951: Richard/Howe
1950: Maurice Richard
1949: Maurice Richard
1948: Maurice Richard
1947: Maurice Richard


I figured the end of WWII was a good place to stop. I pretty much did this off the top of my head, so I'm sure there will be a lot of things that need to be changed, especially for the earlier years. Looking forward to everyone's contributions...

Click to read more...

 

[ricky0034]

Being the best player in the world is not always shown through award voting or statistics. For example: Sidney Crosby hasn't won a single individual award the past two seasons, but he's been considered the best player in the world over that time.

actually i'd say it was Thomas for 2011 and Ovechkin for 2010

edit: oops didn't see the goalie part

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

actually i'd say it was Thomas for 2011 and Ovechkin for 2010

In the OP I said goalies are excluded, but you bring up an interesting point that I may not have explained well. This is not meant as who had the best performance that particular year, it's who was the reigning "Best Player In The World." The last 2 years the general consensus has been that Crosby has overtaken Ovechkin for that title, and no other player was even really in the discussion besides those 2.

 

[ricky0034]

In the OP I said goalies are excluded, but you bring up an interesting point that I may not have explained well. This is not meant as who had the best performance that particular year, it's who was the reigning "Best Player In The World." The last 2 years the general consensus has been that Crosby has overtaken Ovechkin for that title, and that no other player was even really in the discussion besides those 2.

yeah I just saw that oops

and ah that would explain the big blocks of single players too when normally it would probably be more broken up

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

2002: Lidstrom? I'd at least have him as one of the choices. One of the weakest seasons for forwards ever.

2005: nobody. I would not give Forsberg credit for the lockout year. I know why you did - who else would it be? I wouldn't give any player credit for 2005, to be honest. It makes Forsberg look like he was considered best in the world for longer than he actually was.

I wrote out a long year by year post for the post-lockout years, but you know what? I think we both need to take a step back.

From 2008-2011, it should be Sidney Crosby / Alexander Ovechkin every season.

The goal is not to look at seasons by themselves but to look at the bigger picture when possible right? Otherwise, Lafleur wouldn't have it for so many years in a row.

This is how I would change it:

2011: Crosby/Ovechkin
2010: Crosby/Ovechkin
2009: Crosby/Ovechkin
2008: Crosby/Ovechkin
2007: Lidstrom/Crosby
2006: Nicklas Lidstrom
2005: nobody
2004: Peter Forsberg
2003: Peter Forsberg
2002: Nicklas Lidstrom
2001: Jaromir Jagr
2000: Jaromir Jagr

I basically agree with everything you put from 81-99. 1980 was a transition year kind of like 2007. 1976 should probably be Orr alone.

Not sure of the details of when the transitions from Howe to Hull and Hull to Orr went.

 

[Axxellien]

Mikita. Esposito..

You need to add Stan Mikita to Bob Hull in the mid 60s..And perhaps Esposito next to Orr a few times...Beliveau over Richard & next to Howe in the mid 1950s.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

You need to add Stan Mikita to Bob Hull in the mid 60s..And perhaps Esposito next to Orr a few times...Beliveau over Richard & next to Howe in the mid 1950s.

In the second half of the 50s, I definitely think it should be Howe/Beliveau, now that I think about it.

Not sure how to treat Mikita/Hull. Were they really considered the co-best player in the world for an extended time?

I disagree that anyone should be listed other than Orr from 70-76

 

[tombombadil]

i like it. Agree pretty much right down your list. If goalies were added I would think they would only jump into 3 spots, at most. Hasek 98-99, because, well - that's obvious. Thomas this year. Thomas might not have the legend status of Roy/Brodeur, but he picked the right yer to have his best year, in regards to you rlist. With Sid out, and Ovie slumping...

 

[Czech Your Math]

Considered by who? Fans? Media? Other players? Coaches/GMs?

At the beginning of the season? During the season? At season's end?

The seasons that probably should be changed:

Lemieux only played 22 games in '94 and missed entire '95 season. He might be the pre-season choice in '94, but given Gretzky's '93 playoffs and '94 season Gretzky had to be close. By '95, it was clear that Jagr and Lindros were the best.

1994- Gretzky/Lemieux
1995- Jagr/Lindros

Forsberg missed the entire 2002 regular season and wasn't even a 2nd Team All-Star the previous two seasons. This might be better:

2001and 2002- Sakic/Jagr/Lemieux

The lockout season is tough, but don't see Lidstrom as clearly the best player of 2005 and 2006. He only scored 38 points in 2004 and wasn't even an All-Star, and he didn't play in Europe in 2005. There's a number of players who could be considered for 2005, but 2006 thinned the herd a bit:

2005- ??? (Sakic, Forsberg, Jagr, Thornton, Lidstrom)
2006- Jagr/Thornton (Lidstrom?)

As for the earlier seasons, was Howe always considered clearly better than Beliveau and Hull always above Mikita?

 

[steve141]

Jagr obviously had the better season, playing twice as many games, but what is the case for Jagr as a better player than Lemieux in 2001? Lemieux had the best GPG, APG and PPG in that year.

 

[Walkingthroughforest]

2002 and 2008 are both Iginla.

2002 he had one of the greatest seasons ever considering the era, and 2008 he singlehandedly carried the entire team on his back to the playoffs scoring 50 goals being centred by a rotating door. If anyone had developed chemistry with Iginla compared to that of Ovechkin had with Backstrom the second half of the season, it would have been Iginla winning the Hart that year.

 

[Czech Your Math]

Jagr obviously had the better season, playing twice as many games, but what is the case for Jagr as a better player than Lemieux in 2001? Lemieux had the best GPG, APG and PPG in that year.

Jagr was about even with Lemieux in the games they both played. He was also ~ PPG player in the games before Lemieux arrived, so as you said he had the better season. The perception (at least by the media) was that Lemieux was the better player, but this seems false since Lemieux's durability was still an issue.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

2002 and 2008 are both Iginla.

2002 he had one of the greatest seasons ever considering the era, and 2008 he singlehandedly carried the entire team on his back to the playoffs scoring 50 goals being centred by a rotating door. If anyone had developed chemistry with Iginla compared to that of Ovechkin had with Backstrom the second half of the season, it would have been Iginla winning the Hart that year.

Once again, this isn't about who was the best player that specific season, it's who was considered the best player in the world.

For example, some might say Corey Perry has played the best hockey in 2011 or H. Sedin in 2010, but when you're asking who's the best player in the world it's a two horse race between Crosby and Ovechkin and has been for the last 4 years.

Another example is the transition from Gretzky to Lemieux. Lemieux clearly had the better season in 1988-89, but he wasn't instantly considered the best player in the world, it took a couple seasons to prove he was consistently better.

 

[livewell68]

Being the best player in the world is not always shown through award voting or statistics. For example: Sidney Crosby hasn't won a single individual award the past two seasons, but he's been considered the best player in the world over that time.


I would like to try to reconstruct a timeline of the players that were considered "The Best In The World" for as far back as we can go. There will be transition years where there might be 2 players to list and there might even be a period where there is no consensus best. Also, to keep it simpler, please exclude goalies.

Here is a VERY RAW attempt at starting things off...


2011: Sydney Crosby
2010: Sydney Crosby
2009: Ovechkin/Crosby
2008: Alex Ovechkin
2007: Nicklas Lidstrom
2006: Nicklas Lidstrom
2005: Forsberg/Lidstrom
2004: Peter Forsberg
2003: Peter Forsberg
2002: Jagr/Sakic/Forsberg
2001: Jaromir Jagr
2000: Jaromir Jagr
1999: Jaromir Jagr
1998: Jaromir Jagr
1997: Lemieux/Jagr
1996: Mario Lemieux
1995: Mario Lemieux1994: Mario Lemieux
1993: Mario Lemieux
1992: Mario Lemieux
1991: Mario Lemieux
1990: Lemieux/Gretzky
1989: Lemieux/Gretzky
1988: Wayne Gretzky
1987: Wayne Gretzky
1986: Wayne Gretzky
1985: Wayne Gretzky
1984: Wayne Gretzky
1983: Wayne Gretzky
1982: Wayne Gretzky
1981: Wayne Gretzky
1980: Trottier/Gretzky?
1979: Guy Lafleur
1978: Guy Lafleur
1977: Guy Lafleur
1976: Orr/Lafleur
1975: Bobby Orr
1974: Bobby Orr
1973: Bobby Orr
1972: Bobby Orr
1971: Bobby Orr
1970: Bobby Orr
1969: Hull/Orr
1968: Bobby Hull
1967: Bobby Hull
1966: Bobby Hull
1965: Bobby Hull
1964: Bobby Hull
1963: Howe/Hull
1962: Howe/Hull
1961: Gordie Howe
1960: Gordie Howe
1959: Gordie Howe
1958: Gordie Howe
1957: Gordie Howe
1956: Gordie Howe
1955: Gordie Howe
1954: Gordie Howe
1953: Gordie Howe
1952: Gordie Howe
1951: Richard/Howe
1950: Maurice Richard
1949: Maurice Richard
1948: Maurice Richard
1947: Maurice Richard


I figured the end of WWII was a good place to stop. I pretty much did this off the top of my head, so I'm sure there will be a lot of things that need to be changed, especially for the earlier years. Looking forward to everyone's contributions...

Lemieux wasn't even playing in 1995. Jagr won the Art Ross, Lindros won the Hart. The 3 best players in 1995 were Lindros, Jagr and Hasek.

In 1996 eventhough Lemieux's season was outstanding and he was the best player, Jagr was actually not that far behind him. He was more consistent and didn't have 3-4 game stretches without a point like Lemieux did.

I would think 149 Pts (29 more than the 3rd leading scorer) means Jagr should be considered as the best player along with Lemieux in 1996.

In 1994 Fedorov was considered the best player in the world.

In 1997, Jagr was actually considered Lemieux's equal, if not for injuries that limited him to 63 games, Jagr might have beaten Lemieux for the Art Ross. He was outscoring him at the halfway mark of the season that year.

 

[livewell68]

2002 and 2008 are both Iginla.

2002 he had one of the greatest seasons ever considering the era, and 2008 he singlehandedly carried the entire team on his back to the playoffs scoring 50 goals being centred by a rotating door. If anyone had developed chemistry with Iginla compared to that of Ovechkin had with Backstrom the second half of the season, it would have been Iginla winning the Hart that year.

Ovechkin and Malkin had much better performances than Iginla did that year. Iginla has only been mentioned as the best player in the world a few times, during the 2004 Stanley Cup and during his lone Art Ross winning season.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

2002: Lidstrom? I'd at least have him as one of the choices. One of the weakest seasons for forwards ever.

2005: nobody. I would not give Forsberg credit for the lockout year. I know why you did - who else would it be? I wouldn't give any player credit for 2005, to be honest. It makes Forsberg look like he was considered best in the world for longer than he actually was.

I wrote out a long year by year post for the post-lockout years, but you know what? I think we both need to take a step back.

From 2008-2011, it should be Sidney Crosby / Alexander Ovechkin every season.

The goal is not to look at seasons by themselves but to look at the bigger picture when possible right? Otherwise, Lafleur wouldn't have it for so many years in a row.

This is how I would change it:

2011: Crosby/Ovechkin
2010: Crosby/Ovechkin
2009: Crosby/Ovechkin
2008: Crosby/Ovechkin
2007: Lidstrom/Crosby
2006: Nicklas Lidstrom
2005: nobody
2004: Peter Forsberg
2003: Peter Forsberg
2002: Nicklas Lidstrom
2001: Jaromir Jagr
2000: Jaromir Jagr

I basically agree with everything you put from 81-99. 1980 was a transition year kind of like 2007. 1976 should probably be Orr alone.

Not sure of the details of when the transitions from Howe to Hull and Hull to Orr went.

I like most of these changes...

Having both Crosby and Ovechkin for the last 4 years is probably the best way to do it, they've really gone back and forth during that time.

I am also good with just eliminating the lockout year.

2002 is still a tough one. First, I'm not sure what to do about Mario Lemieux during that time period, he tore it up from the beginning of the 01-02 season up until the olympics, missed the rest of the season, but then came back very strong for the beginning of the 02-03 season. Lidstrom probably deserves to be at least mentioned. I still can't get away from Forsberg. The way I remember it, in the late 90's and early 2000's he was right behind Jagr, and with Jagr's dropoff as well as Forsberg's incredible playoff performance in 02 and 02-03 season he became the reigning best player. I would like to hear more input on this year from others.


I would also like to hear from some of the older posters regarding Beliveau, transitions to Hull and Orr, and if Mikita belongs on here at all.

 

[KingGallagherXI]

2002: Lidstrom

Would the NHL "experts" have voted for Lidstrom in 2002 if you asked them who was the best player in the world? I doubt it.

In hindsight, he probably was, but I thought this thread was about who was "considered" best in the world.

 

[livewell68]

I like most of these changes...

Having both Crosby and Ovechkin for the last 4 years is probably the best way to do it, they've really gone back and forth during that time.
I am also good with just eliminating the lockout year.

2002 is still a tough one. First, I'm not sure what to do about Mario Lemieux during that time period, he tore it up from the beginning of the 01-02 season up until the olympics, missed the rest of the season, but then came back very strong for the beginning of the 02-03 season. Lidstrom probably deserves to be at least mentioned. I still can't get away from Forsberg. The way I remember it, in the late 90's and early 2000's he was right behind Jagr, and with Jagr's dropoff as well as Forsberg's incredible playoff performance in 02 and 02-03 season he became the reigning best player. I would like to hear more input on this year from others.


I would also like to hear from some of the older posters regarding Beliveau, transitions to Hull and Orr, and if Mikita belongs on here at all.

I think this is a bit of a disrespect towards Malkin. Before his injuries, many considered Malkin to be among the 3 Best along with Ovechkin and Crosby.

He won an Art Ross, was runner up to Ovechkin twice for the Hart, was runner for the Art Ross once as well to Ovechkin and won a Calder and Conn Smythe, this was all in his first 3 seasons before injuries stalled his rise to the top.

Heck people are still predicting his comeback to the top and some are picking him to win the Art Ross this coming season.

 

[Epsilon]

Would the NHL "experts" have voted for Lidstrom in 2002 if you asked them who was the best player in the world? I doubt it.

In hindsight, he probably was, but I thought this thread was about who was "considered" best in the world.

The Hockey News rated him as the #1 player in the world in their yearbook after the 2001-02 season (not sure about after 2002-03 but I'd imagine he ranked highly). By the 2002-03 season, either the start or the end, Lidstrom was likely to be legitimately in the discussion for "best player in the world" (in as much as that designation matters) due to having 5-6 high-end seasons in a row (along with a Conn Smythe win), whereas a lot of the forwards at that time period (although certainly not all) were going through stretches where they'd have a great season for one year, then a down year or significant injuries in another.

 

[livewell68]

The Hockey News rated him as the #1 player in the world in their yearbook after the 2001-02 season (not sure about after 2002-03 but I'd imagine he ranked highly). By the 2002-03 season, either the start or the end, Lidstrom was likely to be legitimately in the discussion for "best player in the world" (in as much as that designation matters) due to having 5-6 high-end seasons in a row (along with a Conn Smythe win), whereas a lot of the forwards at that time period (although certainly not all) were going through stretches where they'd have a great season for one year, then a down year or significant injuries in another.

This is true.

The 2002 to lockout period was a weak one for forwards. It featured mostly one year, Art Ross wonders although Forsberg and Jagr were still considered by many to be among the best in the world.

I would say between 2002 and 2005, the best forwards were Iginla, Naslund, Bertuzzi, Sakic, Kovalchuk, Forsberg, Thornton, Elias, Hossa, St. Louis and Jagr.

Lidstrom though was consistently being thrown in the mix for best player in the world and I think in the end it's him.

I think we should add goalies to the list though, players like Roy, Hasek and Brodeur were at points considered among the best players in the league.

 

[Epsilon]

I think this is a bit of a disrespect towards Malkin. Before his injuries, many considered Malkin to be among the 3 Best along with Ovechkin and Crosby.

He won an Art Ross, was runner up to Ovechkin twice for the Hart, was runner for the Art Ross once as well to Ovechkin and won a Calder and Conn Smythe, this was all in his first 3 seasons before injuries stalled his rise to the top.

Heck people are still predicting his comeback to the top and some are picking him to win the Art Ross this coming season.

Agreed, I would say Malkin should be included for both 2007-08 (where Crosby missed significant time due to injury) and 2008-09 (where Crosby was clearly behind Malkin and Ovechkin during the regular season, and behind Malkin during the playoffs). I'd say it's more like:

2011: Crosby/Ovechkin
2010: Ovechkin/Crosby
2009: Ovechkin/Malkin
2008: Ovechkin/Malkin/Crosby
2007: Crosby/Lidstrom

Lots of equivocating there of course, by having multiple names for each year. But for at least 2008-09 Crosby fell behind as evidenced by Ovechkin and Malkin fighting it out for the Art Ross trophy and the Hart trophy, while Crosby wasn't even in the top 5 of Hart voting.

 

[Epsilon]

This is true.

The 2002 to lockout period was a weak one for forwards. It featured mostly one year, Art Ross wonders although Forsberg and Jagr were still considered by many to be among the best in the world.

I would say between 2002 and 2005, the best forwards were Iginla, Naslund, Bertuzzi, Sakic, Kovalchuk, Forsberg, Thornton, Elias, Hossa, St. Louis and Jagr.

Lidstron though was consistently being thrown in the mix for best player in the world and I think in the end it's him.

I think we should add goalies to the list though, players like Roy, Hasek and Brodeur were at points considered among the best players in the league.

I missed that on the initial list. I think Hasek definitely needs to be listed for 1998, and co-listed with Jagr for 1997 and 1999, at the very least.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

1995

I think people are being too quick to de-throne Lemieux here.

Here's what happened: In 1994, Lemieux only played 22 games, but there were no games at all played in the fall/winter of 1994 because of the lockout, so he pretty much played all the games he could. Fedorov having one great year doesn't just knock Lemieux off his throne either. Lemieux still had the highest PPG of anyone that season. He misses the spring of 95, but plays the entire fall/winter of 95 and is clearly the best player in the world.

It takes time to lose the title of best player in the world. Looking at it in present day...If Crosby misses the first couple months of the 11-12 season his name will still be in the conversation for best player in the world.

 

[livewell68]

Agreed, I would say Malkin should be included for both 2007-08 (where Crosby missed significant time due to injury) and 2008-09 (where Crosby was clearly behind Malkin and Ovechkin during the regular season, and behind Malkin during the playoffs). I'd say it's more like:

2011: Crosby/Ovechkin2010: Ovechkin/Crosby
2009: Ovechkin/Malkin
2008: Ovechkin/Malkin/Crosby
2007: Crosby/Lidstrom

Lots of equivocating there of course, by having multiple names for each year. But for at least 2008-09 Crosby fell behind as evidenced by Ovechkin and Malkin fighting it out for the Art Ross trophy and the Hart trophy, while Crosby wasn't even in the top 5 of Hart voting.

It's sad but one off year for Ovechkin and many have been predicting his slip. Many don't consider him to be among the best in the world anymore.

In fact some would put St. Louis, the Sedins ahead of Ovechkin.

I think the Sedins are being vastly overlooked for the past 2 seasons.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Would the NHL "experts" have voted for Lidstrom in 2002 if you asked them who was the best player in the world? I doubt it.

In hindsight, he probably was, but I thought this thread was about who was "considered" best in the world.

Most of them wouldn't. But I do remember that in 2000 or 2001, THN declared Lidstrom the best player in the world and I was one of the few to agree (Jagr and Forsberg were the popular choices). I've been trying really hard to find that article but haven't been able to do it.

Edit: Apparently, this was it!

The Hockey News rated him as the #1 player in the world in their yearbook after the 2001-02 season (not sure about after 2002-03 but I'd imagine he ranked highly). By the 2002-03 season, either the start or the end, Lidstrom was likely to be legitimately in the discussion for "best player in the world" (in as much as that designation matters) due to having 5-6 high-end seasons in a row (along with a Conn Smythe win), whereas a lot of the forwards at that time period (although certainly not all) were going through stretches where they'd have a great season for one year, then a down year or significant injuries in another.