Ranking the Best First Overall Picks of the 21st Century
- Thread starter ChiefWiggum
- Start date
Bending and Tending
Registered User
Crosby
Kane
Ovechkin
McDavid
Stamkos
Kovalchuk
Tavares
Ekblad
Fleury
Matthews
Mackinnon
Hall
Nash
Nugent-Hopkins
Johnson
Yakupov
DiPietro
The separation does not mean I think the players are a tier ahead of the next group, I just wasn't entirely sure about the order of names.
Individual success, team success, and the eye test (primarily for McDavid/Matthews and, to an extent, Kovalchuk) were accounted for.
Kane
Ovechkin
McDavid
Stamkos
Kovalchuk
Tavares
Ekblad
Fleury
Matthews
Mackinnon
Hall
Nash
Nugent-Hopkins
Johnson
Yakupov
DiPietro
The separation does not mean I think the players are a tier ahead of the next group, I just wasn't entirely sure about the order of names.
Individual success, team success, and the eye test (primarily for McDavid/Matthews and, to an extent, Kovalchuk) were accounted for.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 55,820
- 46,990
Crosby
Ovechkin
Kane
McDavid*
Kovalchuk
Stamkos
Tavares
Ekblad
Matthews**
Nash
Hall
Fleury
MacKinnon
Johnson
DiPietro***
Nugent-Hopkins
Yakupov
*This is as of now based on combination of career accomplishments and individual talent. In a decade, McDavid likely moves ahead of Kane (and maybe Ovechkin) when his career accomplishments matches his talent level.
**Similar to above, Matthews' ranking will improve with more of a "resume".
***DiPietro was a good goalie before getting hurt. He's at least on Erik Johnson level.
Ovechkin
Kane
McDavid*
Kovalchuk
Stamkos
Tavares
Ekblad
Matthews**
Nash
Hall
Fleury
MacKinnon
Johnson
DiPietro***
Nugent-Hopkins
Yakupov
*This is as of now based on combination of career accomplishments and individual talent. In a decade, McDavid likely moves ahead of Kane (and maybe Ovechkin) when his career accomplishments matches his talent level.
**Similar to above, Matthews' ranking will improve with more of a "resume".
***DiPietro was a good goalie before getting hurt. He's at least on Erik Johnson level.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 79,268
- 54,653
Why would you put yak lower than dipietro. When you factor in contracts dipietro is last by far.
Toene
Y'en aura pas de facile
- Nov 17, 2014
- 4,969
- 4,950
m302291
Registered User
- Jun 2, 2015
- 1,433
- 33
I don't understand why you would bother factoring in contracts?
What has that got to do with how good they were?
By that standard Kovulchuk should be in the bottom third because of his massive contract and leaving for the K while still in his prime.
Toene
Y'en aura pas de facile
- Nov 17, 2014
- 4,969
- 4,950
You react to that but not to Matthews whos ranked 4th over Kane, Stamkos, Tavares, Kovalchuk, etc?
Tavares to Marner
Registered User
Kovalchuk at 5 & Stamkos at 11.. they have scored points in pretty much similar rate + Stamkos goals per game is higher.. I don't even understand how players like Hall, MacK, Nash, Matthews are ahead of Stammer.. lol
Just tells you how underrated he is, people tend to forget his 60 goal season which is the only one any player in NHL has done along with Ovechkin in this century.
Well he also had a career save percentage of .902. 2 winning seasons 1 with a save percentage of .900 and then was injured for life.
Yak could still turn into something and also didn't sign a 15 year contract.
Kovalchuk signed a cap circumventing contract and didn't hurt his team at all when he left. Didn't they even get that pick back they got punished for the circumvention when he left?
And I think him leaving probably does lower his ranking but he had a better career and his contract ended up being more of a non factor.
Last edited:
Tavares to Marner
Registered User
Terry Yake
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2013
- 26,951
- 15,458
1. Crosby
2. Ovechkin
3. McDavid
4. Kane
5. Kovalchuk
6. Stamkos
7. Tavares
8. Hall
9. Matthews
10. Nash
11. Ekblad
12. McKinnon
13. Fleury
14. Nugent-Hopkins
15. Johnson
16. Dipietro
27. Yakupov
2. Ovechkin
3. McDavid
4. Kane
5. Kovalchuk
6. Stamkos
7. Tavares
8. Hall
9. Matthews
10. Nash
11. Ekblad
12. McKinnon
13. Fleury
14. Nugent-Hopkins
15. Johnson
16. Dipietro
27. Yakupov
I'd put Fleury ahead of RNH. MAF might be a playoff choker but at least he's actually played a playoff game.
I'd put Stamkos and Tavares over Kovalchuk. The Thrashers never won a playoff game. Meanwhile Stamkos played in the Cup Final and Tavares won his team their first series in two decades.
Dipietro is sad, because he was actually starting to put it together and was playing at a high level and then the injuries started.
I'd put Stamkos and Tavares over Kovalchuk. The Thrashers never won a playoff game. Meanwhile Stamkos played in the Cup Final and Tavares won his team their first series in two decades.
Dipietro is sad, because he was actually starting to put it together and was playing at a high level and then the injuries started.
Good list overall. I'd switch Ovi and McDavid but remove the gap between them. I'd also remove the gap betweens Mathews and Kane and Tavares, Kovalchuk, and Stamkos
Semantics
PUBLIC ENEMY #1
1. Crosby
2. McDavid
3. Ovechkin
4. Matthews
5. Kane
6. Kovalchuk
7. Stamkos
8. Tavares
9. Hall
10. Ekblad
11. McKinnon
12. Nash
13. Fleury
14. Nugent-Hopkins
15. Johnson
16. Yakupov
17. Dipietro
2. McDavid
3. Ovechkin
4. Matthews
5. Kane
6. Kovalchuk
7. Stamkos
8. Tavares
9. Hall
10. Ekblad
11. McKinnon
12. Nash
13. Fleury
14. Nugent-Hopkins
15. Johnson
16. Yakupov
17. Dipietro
ViewsFromThe6ix
Zachary on the Attackary
He deserves to be there. He is on pace for 40 goals while being excellent defensively as a rookie center. In his prime he could score 50+
As of right now?
Crosby
Ovechkin
McDavid
Kane
Stamkos
Tavares
Kovalchuk
Matthews
Ekblad
Hall
MacKinnon
Nash
Fleury
Johnson
RNH
DiPietro
Yakupov
Crosby
Ovechkin
McDavid
Kane
Stamkos
Tavares
Kovalchuk
Matthews
Ekblad
Hall
MacKinnon
Nash
Fleury
Johnson
RNH
DiPietro
Yakupov
Matthews isn't a prospect on the level of Crosby, Mcdavid. So he doesn't get a free pass till he accomplishes stuff to move up to the top of this list.
Tavares is having an AMAZING career. So is Kane. So has Stamkos (60+ goals). Just to name a few.
his pedigree as a prospect doesn't qualify him to go up to 4th (as you could argue McDavids pedigree does) nor have his accomplishments thus far. Putting him at 4th is wrong. Maybe one day - but not today.
At the very most he is maybe 7th - and i'd actually have him 9th, behind also Kovalchuk and Hall
sharkhawk
Registered User
1. Crosby
2. Kane
3. Ovechkin
4. Stamkos
5. Fleury
6. Kovalchuk
7. Tavares
8. Nash
9. Hall
10. MacKinnon
11. Nugent Hopkins
12. Johnson
13. Dipietro
14. Yakupov
Too early to tell. McDavid (probably will be top 3), Matthews and Ekblad.
The purpose of the number 1 pick is to lead your team to the playoffs, and win the cup. All these players at one point were the shiny new piece, and they all went to lousy teams. I think it's way too early to decide where players will end up after 10 years. Matthews over Kane is ridiculous.
2. Kane
3. Ovechkin
4. Stamkos
5. Fleury
6. Kovalchuk
7. Tavares
8. Nash
9. Hall
10. MacKinnon
11. Nugent Hopkins
12. Johnson
13. Dipietro
14. Yakupov
Too early to tell. McDavid (probably will be top 3), Matthews and Ekblad.
The purpose of the number 1 pick is to lead your team to the playoffs, and win the cup. All these players at one point were the shiny new piece, and they all went to lousy teams. I think it's way too early to decide where players will end up after 10 years. Matthews over Kane is ridiculous.
I like this list the best so far, at least the first half of it. i'm a bit less sure about the bottom half, but for the most part I like it.
