Jason MacIsaac said:
The top 10 for 2003 absolutly kills the top 10 for 2005, it isn't even close. Here is how I would compare it at the moment.
Crosby > Staal
Johnson < Phaneuf
Pouliot < Zherdev
Ryan < Horton
Kopitar < Vanek
Price < Fleury
Staal < Suter
Brule < Carter
O'Marra < Getzlaf
Skille < Michalek (Even with the knee problems)
Bourdon < Colburn
9 to 1 in terms of 2003. The farther I go down, the uglier this list gets.
It was not a question of the top ten - and if you did count the top ten, or top 20, I would no doubt favour the 2003 class. As I stated earlier, that was not the question.
However, to be fairer (I hate when I do that):
Crosby>>Staal (sorry but he's at least >> better)
Johnson = Zherdev (I'd rather have JJ on my team, Euro lovers will differ)
Ryan = Horton (Ryan will be the bigger NHL sniper IMO, but not as gritty)
Kopitar = Vanek (talent vs. talent)
Brule < Fleury (close tho)
Pouliot > Michalek
Still 3-1. Could be 2-1. I'll take Sid and co.
I don't see how you could prefer the top six of 2003, unless you just can't help but include Phaneuf, Carter, etc, even tho that was not the comparison asked for.