Who has the best "core 4" ?

[Puckstuff]

Kucherov, Stamkos, Hedman, Point.
Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, Letang.
Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Rielly
Backstrom, Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Carlson
Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrňák, McAvoy.
Scheifele, Wheeler, Laine, Trouba.
Seguin, Benn, Radulov, Klingberg.
Kopitar, Doughty, Carter, Kovalchuk.
Toews, Kane, Saad, Keith.
McDavid, Drai, RNH, Klefbom
Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Provorov
Mackinnon, Rantanen, Landeskog, Barrie
Karlsson, Burns, Pavelski, Couture

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[Luigi Lemieux]

Which core has been the best to date? Pittsburgh and Chicago

Which core would i take for the future? Toronto

 

[WetcoastOrca]

This season? Pitts for me.

 

[Silky mitts]

If you disregard contracts maybe Toronto by a nose over Tampa, Caps, Pens, if you include contracts Tampa comfortably.

 

[Nizdizzle]

Wouldn't Boston's be McAvoy rather than Krug?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Which core has been the best to date? Pittsburgh and Chicago

Which core would i take for the future? Toronto

I might agree. How far we looking into the future here?

Do we consider cap hits?

 

[nowhereman]

Penguins and that is a VERY easy answer. Toronto, lol?

Crosby>Matthews
Malkin>Tavares
Kessel>Marner
Letang>Reilly

 

[MBTendy]

Penguins and that is a VERY easy answer. Toronto, lol?

Crosby>Matthews
Malkin>Tavares
Kessel>Marner
Letang>Reilly

Very easy?

I'm taking Matthews, Reilly over their counterparts at this point. The other two matchups are close as well.

 

[34]

Toronto for me.

 

[Advanced stats]

If you disregard contracts maybe Toronto by a nose over Tampa, Caps, Pens, if you include contracts Tampa comfortably.

Toronto has 2 guys on elcs and one signed for 5 million...

Though due for huge raises

 

[canadiantirefire]

Toronto has 2 guys on elcs and one signed for 5 million...

And those two guys are about to get huge paydays. So is Kucherov. Going by contracts on this type of poll is stupid.

 

[nowhereman]

Very easy?

I'm taking Matthews, Reilly over their counterparts at this point. The other two matchups are close as well.

Matthews is better than Crosby? The same Matthews who had 2 points in 7 playoff games last year, while Sid had 21 points in 12 games and won the two previous Conn Smythes?

I've never seen a guy praised so much for doing so little.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Sub DeBrincat for Saad

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

Wouldn't Boston's be McAvoy rather than Krug?

Yes it would be.

 

[Silky mitts]

Toronto has 2 guys on elcs and one signed for 5 million...

Next year I’d guess Toronto’s 4 will be at about $37M, Tampa’s at around $33M

 

[TheGoldenGod]

O'Reilly, Tarasenko, Petro, Schwartz

or sub /Schenn/Parayko

 

[Puckstuff]

O'Reilly, Tarasenko, Petro, Schwartz

or sub /Schenn/Parayko

I like Tarasenko and Petro. I'm not sure O'Reilly or Schwartz will hold there own in this conversation.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

To date: pens
This season: caps/pens
Future: leafs

 

[Sting]

Tampa. 3 elite players, 1 up and coming star.

Would say that is followed by Pittsburgh then Toronto.

 

[Thenameless]

Still Pittsburgh until Crosby/Malkin really start slowing down due to age.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

Homer vote aside, Ovi, Kuzy, Backstrom and Carlson gets my vote.

 

[hockeeyyy]

This is an interesting poll. By default, I'd pick the Leafs core four, but Winnipeg, Washington, and Tampa Bay has some excellent core pieces. I'd probably even sub out Point for Vasilevskiy; if I could do that, I'd probably go with Tampa Bay simply because of all the core four teams on this list, Tampa Bay is the only one with a prime franchise defenseman and prime aged forwards.

Ranking out the top-five with the list we have now:

1. Washington
2. Tampa Bay
3. Toronto
4. Winnipeg
5. Penguins

 

[Ainec]

Tampa or Toronto

 

[Puckstuff]

I remember the Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith core was so elite from 2009-2015.

Pittsburgh is the team from that era that is still top 3. They are the choice I am tempted to select.

Washington's core 4 is also elite; they just won the cup.

Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Rielly is very elite right now (they are all top 4 in scoring) but it's early and they will need to win cups.

TB's Kucherov, Stamkos, Hedman, Point might be the answer; but they will need to win as well.

The next two would be Boston and Winnipeg with Dallas right there as well.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Pitts past, Tampa current, Edmonton future