Top 20 skaters 20 years and younger

[st_roland]

Hey guys, I haven't seen a comprehensive list like this done here. It doesn't matter if they're drafted, undrafted, propsect, or an allstar already. I gave a bit more creedence to accomplishments than potential, but def. factor in potential. I said 20 and under, but if they're 21 by a few months(meaning from draft '01), no big deal. That being said, heres mine. I cobbled it together pretty quick, so keep the flaming to a minimum please.

1.Kovalchuk
2.Ovechkin
3.Nash
4.Crosby
5.Bouwmeester
6.Staal
7.Horton
8.Zherdev
9.Pitkanen
10.Phaneuf
11.Spezza
12.Michalek
13.Suter
14.Carter
15.Coburn
16.Kostitsyn
17.Vanek
18.Malkin
19.Parise(Yeah, I know, he's small, but I love his attitude)
20.Hemsky

Click to read more...

 

[topshelf331]

Hey guys, I haven't seen a comprehensive list like this done here. It doesn't matter if they're drafted, undrafted, propsect, or an allstar already. I gave a bit more creedence to accomplishments than potential, but def. factor in potential. I said 20 and under, but if they're 21 by a few months(meaning from draft '01), no big deal. That being said, heres mine. I cobbled it together pretty quick, so keep the flaming to a minimum please.

1.Kovalchuk
2.Ovechkin
3.Nash
4.Crosby
5.Bouwmeester
6.Staal
7.Horton
8.Zherdev
9.Pitkanen
10.Phaneuf
11.Spezza
12.Michalek
13.Suter
14.Carter
15.Coburn
16.Kostitsyn
17.Vanek
18.Malkin
19.Parise(Yeah, I know, he's small, but I love his attitude)
20.Hemsky

Thats quite a list. Hopefully we can look back at these guys like the early 90's draftees.

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Hey guys, I haven't seen a comprehensive list like this done here. It doesn't matter if they're drafted, undrafted, propsect, or an allstar already. I gave a bit more creedence to accomplishments than potential, but def. factor in potential. I said 20 and under, but if they're 21 by a few months(meaning from draft '01), no big deal. That being said, heres mine. I cobbled it together pretty quick, so keep the flaming to a minimum please.

1.Kovalchuk
2.Ovechkin
3.Nash
4.Crosby
5.Bouwmeester
6.Staal
7.Horton
8.Zherdev
9.Pitkanen
10.Phaneuf
11.Spezza
12.Michalek
13.Suter
14.Carter
15.Coburn
16.Kostitsyn
17.Vanek
18.Malkin
19.Parise(Yeah, I know, he's small, but I love his attitude)
20.Hemsky

It's not a bad list, lots of talent there. But I wouldn't have guys like Michalek on the list where there are still guys like Weiss, Chistov, Stewart, Svitov (even if struggling), Koivu, Ruutu and Lupul out there. Possibly also guys like Whitney, Bouchard and many others.

I haven't seen Kostitsyn yet but I suspect much of it is just hype and hot air.

 

[moosefan]

It's not a bad list, lots of talent there. But I wouldn't have guys like Michalek on the list where there are still guys like Weiss, Chistov, Stewart, Svitov (even if struggling), Koivu, Ruutu and Lupul out there. Possibly also guys like Whitney, Bouchard and many others.

I haven't seen Kostitsyn yet but I suspect much of it is just hype and hot air.

I have seen Kastsitsyn play a few games live and it is not hype and hot air, I think he is a Marian Gaborik type player, really needs to work on his defense but his offensive game is very exciting and can bring people out of their seats at times.

I kind of like Michalek there myself as I think he is one of the best all around young players.

A list like this is all personal prefrence anyway, some people like Nash more so than Spezza and some like Spezza more so than someone else, a list like this will always be torn apart because no one will ever have the same opinon on such a wide scale as this.

 

[Biscuit Bullet]

Spezza doesn't belong on that list....try Eminger, or even Semin. Sorry homer-haters.

 

[THE NEXT ONE #87]

Hey guys, I haven't seen a comprehensive list like this done here. It doesn't matter if they're drafted, undrafted, propsect, or an allstar already. I gave a bit more creedence to accomplishments than potential, but def. factor in potential. I said 20 and under, but if they're 21 by a few months(meaning from draft '01), no big deal. That being said, heres mine. I cobbled it together pretty quick, so keep the flaming to a minimum please.

1.Kovalchuk
2.Ovechkin
3.Nash
4.Crosby
5.Bouwmeester
6.Staal
7.Horton
8.Zherdev
9.Pitkanen
10.Phaneuf
11.Spezza
12.Michalek
13.Suter
14.Carter
15.Coburn
16.Kostitsyn
17.Vanek
18.Malkin
19.Parise(Yeah, I know, he's small, but I love his attitude)
20.Hemsky

If Crosby plays in the NHL like it's expected from him.... He would be the number one or two.

Pitkanen and Spezza, Malkin are underrated and Michalek overrated (Olesz is already better than Michalek), in this list!

 

[Porn*]

what about o'sullivan? wolski?

 

[THE NEXT ONE #87]

what about o'sullivan? wolski?

Wolski will go betw. 5-12 in the entry draft. So I don't think he should mentioned.

O'Sullivan is the best sniper in the OHL this season.... played a great final game at the WJC! But for the top 20? who knows....

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Spezza doesn't belong on that list....try Eminger, or even Semin. Sorry homer-haters.

Doesn't belong on it?? He should be Top 10.

 

[TRask]

Wheres Patrice Bergeron?!?!?!?!?1

 

[Gumby]

Spezza doesn't belong on that list....try Eminger, or even Semin. Sorry homer-haters.

Hey I'm a Caps fan too and definitely think Semin belongs on the list, but saying Spezza doesn't is a bit drastic. Granted the kid isn't flying around like Kovalchuk but I think he's highly underrated on this board for some reason The kids 20 years old and has 30+ points already on a team that's got alotta talent ahead of him talking a lot of ice time away from him and he's treated llike a scrub on here. Personally I think he's one of the top 3-5 young players out there.

BTW, I love Eminger but you were joking right?

 

[fulk hogan]

I gave a bit more creedence to accomplishments than potential, but def. factor in potential. I said 20 and under, but if they're 21 by a few months(meaning from draft '01), no big deal.

You say you gave more creedence to accomplishments over potential, but it seems the reverse; Hemsky and Spezza should be higher if that were the case, as they have accomplished more than most on that list (besides Nash, Bouwmeester and Kovalchuk). As well, like bruins8152 mentioned, Patrice Bergeron is quite an omission if you have the likes of Kostitsyn and Parise on the list. Overall, I like the listings, but some of the more over-hyped undrafted players are too high.

 

[kacz]

Wheres Patrice Bergeron?!?!?!?!?1

Patrice is a great young player, but do you really think he's better then anyone on the Top 20 list?

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Patrice is a great young player, but do you really think he's better then anyone on the Top 20 list?

He's not too sexy but when all is said and done, he might well be and surprise a few people.

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Hey I'm a Caps fan too and definitely think Semin belongs on the list, but saying Spezza doesn't is a bit drastic.

Not drastic. Lunatic. :p

 

[st_roland]

You say you gave more creedence to accomplishments over potential, but it seems the reverse; Hemsky and Spezza should be higher if that were the case, as they have accomplished more than most on that list (besides Nash, Bouwmeester and Kovalchuk). As well, like bruins8152 mentioned, Patrice Bergeron is quite an omission if you have the likes of Kostitsyn and Parise on the list. Overall, I like the listings, but some of the more over-hyped undrafted players are too high.

Thanks for the comments, guys, but I really was looking for YOUR top 20. I don't have much faith in my own. If you could include descriptions of your favorite players on your own lists, I'd really appreciate that too.

I said I gave more creedence to accomplishments than potential, I didn't throw potential out the window though. I'm surprised nobody yelled at me for putting hemsky on the list actually. Bergeron is quite an omission, you're right, but I havent seen him play much. I'd put him near parise on a gut feeling, and little behind Kostitsyn

 

[st_roland]

If Crosby plays in the NHL like it's expected from him.... He would be the number one or two.

Pitkanen and Spezza, Malkin are underrated and Michalek overrated (Olesz is already better than Michalek), in this list!

Maybe you didn't hear about the huge check that Phaneuf laid out Olesz with? I heard he had a severe concussion, and that really lowered my hopes for him, which weren't as sky high as other peoples in the first place.

 

[Fedz]

Kovalchuk
Ovechkin
Nash
Crosby
Bouwmeester
Staal
Horton
Zherdev
Pitkanen
Phaneuf
Spezza
Michalek
Suter
Carter
Parise
Bergeron
Vanek
Malkin
Olesz
Hemsky

 

[FlyersGuy69]

I am only asking but, is Horton really a better skater than Pitkanen?

I have only seen him in one game and although he moved well for a big kid, he didn't seen to be a great skater. Pitkanen on the other hand is a fantastic skater.

 

[Biscuit Bullet]

Hey I'm a Caps fan too and definitely think Semin belongs on the list, but saying Spezza doesn't is a bit drastic. Granted the kid isn't flying around like Kovalchuk but I think he's highly underrated on this board for some reason The kids 20 years old and has 30+ points already on a team that's got alotta talent ahead of him talking a lot of ice time away from him and he's treated llike a scrub on here. Personally I think he's one of the top 3-5 young players out there.

BTW, I love Eminger but you were joking right?

The name of the thread is top 20 SKATERS 20 years and younger, not players. Unless I misinterpreted the meaning of the thread, Spezza is not one of the best skaters 20 or under. He's a fabulous player, but not the best skater out there. I put Semin and Eminger because they both skate like the wind.

 

[kruezer]

The name of the thread is top 20 SKATERS 20 years and younger, not players. Unless I misinterpreted the meaning of the thread, Spezza is not one of the best skaters 20 or under. He's a fabulous player, but not the best skater out there. I put Semin and Eminger because they both skate like the wind.

I'm thinking he meant skaters as in not goalies, but I could be wrong. Anyway I think Michalek may be a bit high on the original list, but overall I think he is underrated, I think he'll be very good, but that could just be me. At this point I would almost definetaly take Barker over Coburn as well, but I'm incredibly biased as I think he'll be even better than Bouwmeester eventually.

 

[FlyersGuy69]

At this point I would almost definetaly take Barker over Coburn as well, but I'm incredibly biased as I think he'll be even better than Bouwmeester eventually.

Baker>>>>Bouwmeester? now that's a bold statement my friend.

 

[Starsdude]

Daley if you talking skating ability

 

[Gumby]

The name of the thread is top 20 SKATERS 20 years and younger, not players. Unless I misinterpreted the meaning of the thread, Spezza is not one of the best skaters 20 or under. He's a fabulous player, but not the best skater out there. I put Semin and Eminger because they both skate like the wind.

With the way the thread is going it looks more like just non-goalies instead of skating ability.

Anyway, how 'bout Semin puttin up a G+A in his first game back and actually gettin a chance on the PP with Lang and Jagr now that the idiot is gone? Now I just hope he ups his end on playing some D and taking care of his off-ice issues so Hanlon will keep him around 'cause I think he'll finally get some real quality ice time now.

 

[Sanderson]

Just look at number 19 and you'll see that it's not about skating.
As far as I know, size and attitude have nothing to do with skating ability
At least not directly.