Are we entering the new golden age for talent?

[talitintti]

Is it just me or does it indeed seem that the league is much more competitive than it's been in a while?

Less than five years ago Jamie Benn won the scoring race and Ovechkin was the best forward in the league. Ovechkin was just as good last year but was arguably outside of the top 10 last year (playoffs not withstanding). Crosby long held the title of the best player in the game with 80-90 point seasons but right now the standard is being set on a whole different level and he might be getting left behind. The new wave of speed and skill in the league has increased scoring rates for a few years in a row.

It just seems there's much more talent in the league than there was five years ago.

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[Acallabeth]

New talent is certainly extremely exciting!
You underestimate the old guard though. Ovechkin has just led the league in goals and won the Conn Smythe, Malkin contended for Art Ross even with missed time, and Crosby, even not being as good as he used to be, is still a top 5 center displaying his trademark consistency.
The league has also made a lot of steps to make scoring easier.

 

[talitintti]

New talent is certainly extremely exciting!
You underestimate the old guard though. Ovechkin has just led the league in goals and won the Conn Smythe, Malkin contended for Art Ross even with missed time, and Crosby, even not being as good as he used to be, is still a top 5 center displaying his trademark consistency.
The league has also made a lot of steps to make scoring easier.

Malkin's game is the best suited for the current NHL. He's easily the best of those three in the rush (young OVechkin would be different lol). That's why I think he's benefitted from this while Crosby's production is much the same.

 

[daver]

Is it just me or does it indeed seem that the league is much more competitive than it's been in a while?

Less than five years ago Jamie Benn won the scoring race and Ovechkin was the best forward in the league. Ovechkin was just as good last year but was arguably outside of the top 10 last year (playoffs not withstanding). Crosby long held the title of the best player in the game with 80-90 point seasons but right now the standard is being set on a whole different level and he might be getting left behind. The new wave of speed and skill in the league has increased scoring rates for a few years in a row.

It just seems there's much more talent in the league than there was five years ago.

You are misinterpreting an increase in scoring last year and so far this year as better competition. Crosby cemented his hold on best player title with an 104 point season, Kane entered the conversation with a 106 point season; only one player has bettered that even though scoring was up last year. OV still winning goal titles, and Crosby (the year before) and Malkin threatening to win Art Rosses is hardly a sign of increased competitiveness.

It seems like there has been a recent influx of era best prospects in a very short time, the best since the OV/Malkin/Crosby/Kane

 

[authentic]

It's both, there is more top end talent than in 2013-2016 but the main reason the numbers are higher is because the league has put more emphasis on puck moving defensemen in this time and reduced goalie equipment and more penalties called the past few seasons helps.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Are we entering a new golden age for “are we entering a new golden age” posts on HFBoards?