If we are making a list, it's probably best to define how the list is categorizing talent.
Each of us have our own bias' to either our favourite players, a position preference or recency bias.
An example of recency bias would be favouring Kopitar and his 90 point season (which was stellar) forgetting the year prior he had 52 points. I'm basically left to guess how good he is.
Bergeron was PPG and won the selke; Giroux scored 100 points, and Mackinnon put up nearly a 100 points. Are we using 1 year as the standard?
For me; I think 2 full seasons is fair.
I also think we need to use our judgement to try estimate future indications of success. Maybe it's likely Matthews (20) will improve while Bergeron (33) may possibly worsen or go back to career norms (60 points?)
Two seasons is enough for me to say it's not a 1 off.
The real question we have to ask; where does Ovechkin and Crosby fit? I think Sidney is deserving; however he hasn't scored at least 90 points since 2013... There is no questioning he is still a dominant elite # 1 C; but Malkin has passed him imo.
Here is my list; using 2 years as the frame work
1. McDavid - 100 + point center.
2. Malkin - 100 point center.
3. Crosby - 95 point center?
4. Doughty -Best d-man in the league imo.
5. Kucherov - 90-100 point winger.
6. Kopitar - 75-80 point C? Elite D.
7. Hedman - Better overall then EK imo.
8. Mackinnon - 90-100 point C?
9. Giroux - 90-100 point winger?
10. Matthews - 80-85 point C? Elite D.
Bergeron - 65 point C.
Barkov - 80 point C.
Kane - 80-90 point winger.
Ovechkin - 80 point winger.
Karlsson - 70 point D.
I'm pretty content with my choices my 1-5. 6-10 can be quite interchangeable. I have bias against Karlsson because I don't think he's as good defensively as some people think. I'm also using my judgement that the data and performances I've seen from Matthews suggests he's better then Kane, Ovie (wingers.)