The Hockey News - Top 50 Players of All-Time By Franchise

[Habsfan18]

Barrasso and Letang stick out for the Pens. Seems like Francis is always the guy who gets put 5th there. And I had a discussion about Letang as potentially the top blueliner for the Pens on the main boards recently, but it seems odd to see him there and Coffey and Murphy out of the top 10. Though I suppose they could be just outside.

Coffey is 13, Murphy 16. Thought it was interesting they have Ron Stackhouse the Pens 2nd best defenseman at 12.

where does Chara rank in Boston?

Chara is 10, the club’s 5th best d-man behind Orr, Shore, Bourque and Clapper.

 

[VanIslander]

Chara is 10, the club’s 5th best d-man behind Orr, Shore, Bourque and Clapper.

Where's Hart trophy runner-up Lionel Hitchman, who captained them to their first four ever regular season top seeds and first Stanley Cup? His #3 was the first jersey to be retired by Boston and only the second ever in the NHL behind the sympathetic retirement of severely injured Ace Bailey's in Toronto.

Where's HHOF-inducted Fern Flaman, the three-time Norris trophy finalist and best Bruin blueliner of the Original-Six era?

And Chara is 10th among all Bruins at every position???

Is he ahead of Johnny Bucyk? Milt Schmidt? Tiny Thompson? I hope not.

 

[seventieslord]

Awesome!

I almost forgot it's a top-50 listing for each franchise, not just a top 10. If I wasn't working overseas I'd pick myself a copy of that issue!

For those with a copy, where is Curt Giles and Bill Goldsworthy? And is Jon Casey on it?

PM me your address and I'll send you one on the house.

 

[Habsfan18]

Where's Hart trophy runner-up Lionel Hitchman, who captained them to their first four ever regular season top seeds and first Stanley Cup? His #3 was the first jersey to be retired by Boston and only the second ever in the NHL behind the sympathetic retirement of severely injured Ace Bailey's in Toronto.

Where's HHOF-inducted Fern Flaman, the three-time Norris trophy finalist and best Bruin blueliner of the Original-Six era?

And Chara is 10th among all Bruins at every position???

Is he ahead of Johnny Bucyk? Milt Schmidt? Tiny Thompson? I hope not.

Hitchman is 36th overall. Flaman is 19th.

Chara indeed placed 10th of all Bruins. Schmidt is 5th while Bucyk is 7th. Thompson 13th.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Toews over Kane? lol

If Kane keeps up his play for a bit longer I think you can argue he should be number #1 for Chicago when he retires.

 

[VanIslander]

If Kane keeps up his play for a bit longer I think you can argue he should be number #1 for Chicago when he retires.

A bit longer? Bobby Hull is #1. And no Blackhawk today is on pace to be in the same ballpark.

In his 10 seasons, Kane had one all-time great season which was his one Hart trophy finalist season (the year he won) and two more great seasons for a total of three 1st team all-star seasons.

Hull was an eight-time Hart trophy finalist, two Hart, three Art Ross, eight-time NHL leader in goals....

1959-60 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1961-62 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1962-63 NHL All-Star Team (2nd)

1963-64 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1964-65 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1965-66 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1966-67 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1967-68 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1968-69 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1969-70 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1970-71 NHL All-Star Team (2nd)

1971-72 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[dr robbie]

Interesting list. Really not crazy bad at first glance. For the Pens, I think Barrasso should be up there, but maybe a spot too high. Having Letang and not Coffey or Murphy in the top 10 seems criminal.

I find it odd that they did 50 for each team. The talent would have to get pretty thin there near the end

Also, did they do the Vegas Golden Knights? If they did 50, I guess they had to go into their farm system or something...

 

[GlitchMarner]

No offense to Keon (he was a winner and obviously a good player), but please tell me he's not number one for Toronto.

Apps or Conacher would be my choice.

 

[Habsfan18]

No offense to Keon (he was a winner and obviously a good player), but please tell me he's not number one for Toronto.

Apps or Conacher would be my choice.

1. Syl Apps
2. Charlie Conacher
3. Tim Horton
4. Ted Kennedy
5. Dave Keon
6. Borje Salming
7. King Clancy
8. Turk Broda
9. Busher Jackson
10. Mats Sundin

 

[reckoning]

That Toronto list is much better than the "official" one on nhl.com last year. That one didn't even have Conacher in the top 10.

 

[bobholly39]

how did they rank the top 10 habs?

 

[Habsfan18]

how did they rank the top 10 habs?

Refer to the first page of the thread, it was posted there.

 

[feffan]

Lidstrom is 2, Datsyuk 10 and Zetterberg 13.

Refreshing good lists, even if there of course will be some minor (and probably a few large...) things to argue about. One in here for me. I really think Zetterberg has been a greater player for the Red Wings than Datsyuk. Even with Datsuyks more shining peak, where I think Z was underrated as a defensive player as well - Z was more often asigned with the heaviest duty of the two. Most remerable Crosby in the Cup finals of course.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Fleury surpassed Barrasso as the best goalie in franchise history.

 

[MXD]

Serious congrats for putting Charlie Gardiner ahead of Tony Esposito.

 

[MXD]

Thought I’d add 2 more.

Montreal Canadiens:

1. Maurice Richard
2. Jean Beliveau
3. Doug Harvey
4. Guy Lafleur
5. Howie Morenz
6. Jacques Plante
7. Larry Robinson
8. Patrick Roy
9. Henri Richard
10. Newsy Lalonde

1. Syl Apps
2. Charlie Conacher
3. Tim Horton
4. Ted Kennedy
5. Dave Keon
6. Borje Salming
7. King Clancy
8. Turk Broda
9. Busher Jackson
10. Mats Sundin

Not quite what I'd have (I'd probably swap Lalonde with Dryden; I'd probably swap Sundin with F. Mahovlich, and put Matthews ahead of Syl Apps), but VERY, VERY good.

 

[tony d]

Will def check this out. The quality of "The Hockey News" has gone downhill over the past few years but these special magazines they put out are always high quality.

 

[Habsfan18]

Edmonton Oilers:

1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Mark Messier
3. Jari Kurri
4. Paul Coffey
5. Grant Fuhr
6. Glenn Anderson
7. Kevin Lowe
8. Ryan Smyth
9. Esa Tikkanen
10. Doug Weight

Connor McDavid sits at 19. Have to assume he will be making his way up that list fairly quickly.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i wonder how many guys made a franchise’s top 50 for a one-season stint.

obvious recent example would be pronger in edmonton.

struggling to think if other examples. stillman in tampa? any deadeline rentals make a top 50 list?

 

[CokenoPepsi]

A bit longer? Bobby Hull is #1. And no Blackhawk today is on pace to be in the same ballpark.

In his 10 seasons, Kane had one all-time great season which was his one Hart trophy finalist season (the year he won) and two more great seasons for a total of three 1st team all-star seasons.

Hull was an eight-time Hart trophy finalist, two Hart, three Art Ross, eight-time NHL leader in goals....

1959-60 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1961-62 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1962-63 NHL All-Star Team (2nd)

1963-64 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1964-65 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1965-66 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1966-67 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1967-68 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1968-69 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1969-70 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

1970-71 NHL All-Star Team (2nd)

1971-72 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Of course Hull was a better player just on raw talent, but as for who meant more to the Hawks? As long as Kane doesn't fall off a cliff I think you could very easily say him.

He should end up 1st in goals, assists and points for both regular season and playoffs, should play his entire career in Chicago.

For as great as Hull was he still only brought Chicago 1 cup in a 6 team league.. Kane already has done it three times while being the main force behind it (Or I guess 1a/1b with Keith)

Kane could also very well win another Hart and Art Ross again as well, if he keeps up his game it will be alot closer then many would like to admit.

 

[VanIslander]

He should end up 1st in goals, assists and points for both regular season and playoffs, should play his entire career in Chicago.

650+ more games, 300+ more goals, 450+ assists, 700+ points will make him a career leader for the franchise in those categories. That means 8+ more seasons of averaging 35+ goals, 50+ assists, 85+ points. Do the math. And good luck with that.

Hull and Mikita have nothing to worry about.

 

[MXD]

i wonder how many guys made a franchise’s top 50 for a one-season stint.

obvious recent example would be pronger in edmonton.

struggling to think if other examples. stillman in tampa? any deadeline rentals make a top 50 list?

PK Subban in Nashville comes to mind. One-year stint might not be the best description, since he's still there, but...

 

[VanIslander]

Is Bourque on the Avs list? He played only one season there and they retired his friggin' jersey!

 

[Killion]

PK Subban in Nashville comes to mind. One-year stint might not be the best description, since he's still there, but...

I'm likin Cliff Ronning, Dave Legwand, Pekka Rinne & others. Subban's only been there a year so ya, as good as he is I'd like to see more.

 

[GMR]

How high was Messier ranked on the Rangers list?

Did he make the top 50 for Vancouver?