Who is the best peak player since 2000?

Who is the best?


  • Total voters
    295

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
25,409
10,435
For the purpose of this poll let's consider peak no more than 3 regular seasons and playoff runs, it doesn't have to be consecutive but if it is you can factor that into your rankings accordingly. Pick the best poll option but also try to list your top 5 in order if you can.
 

bobholly39

Registered User
Mar 10, 2013
22,078
14,589
Its either Crosby (if you consider peak ability and not necessarily full seasons or even 3 full seasons as OP suggests) or OV. I think 2011-2013 Crosby is better than Ovs best so i pick him.

Honestly i almost wonder if 2001 Lemieux should get consideration though. Hard to say since yet again he wasnt healthy much.

McDavid will make a run for it but isnt there yet. If this was 1996 instead of 2000 Jagr would have a strong case. Forsberg and Malkin have very very strong peaks but id have them after the other 2 imo
 
  • Like
Reactions: SillyRabbit

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
25,409
10,435
Its either Crosby (if you consider peak ability and not necessarily full seasons or even 3 full seasons as OP suggests) or OV. I think 2011-2013 Crosby is better than Ovs best so i pick him.

Honestly i almost wonder if 2001 Lemieux should get consideration though. Hard to say since yet again he wasnt healthy much.

McDavid will make a run for it but isnt there yet. If this was 1996 instead of 2000 Jagr would have a strong case. Forsberg and Malkin have very very strong peaks but id have them after the other 2 imo

Basically how I feel about it, but peak Forsberg and Malkin are right there with them IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SillyRabbit

TheMule93

On a mule rides the swindler
May 26, 2015
12,466
6,512
Ontario
I voted Ovi but I wanna give a shout out to Zetterberg'a 07-08 season/playoffs. Underrated peak imo which gets overshadowed by Datsyuk, Crosby, ovechkin's play at the time

Regular season 75 games played, 43g 92p 1.23ppg (47g 101pt pace)

Playoffs 22 games played 13g 27p 1.23ppg

All of this plus Selke level defense. Was our match up center. Absolute stud season.
 

Regal

Registered User
Mar 12, 2010
24,545
13,840
Vancouver
Its either Crosby (if you consider peak ability and not necessarily full seasons or even 3 full seasons as OP suggests) or OV. I think 2011-2013 Crosby is better than Ovs best so i pick him.

Honestly i almost wonder if 2001 Lemieux should get consideration though. Hard to say since yet again he wasnt healthy much.

McDavid will make a run for it but isnt there yet. If this was 1996 instead of 2000 Jagr would have a strong case. Forsberg and Malkin have very very strong peaks but id have them after the other 2 imo

As good as Lemieux was for that half season, Jagr was better in their time together, so I don't see much of an argument for him, especially if Jagr isn't ahead of Sid and OV. Lemieux sparked Jagr to play his best, but his best was better than Lemieux's at that point
 
  • Like
Reactions: authentic

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
25,409
10,435
I voted Ovi but I wanna give a shout out to Zetterberg'a 07-08 season/playoffs. Underrated peak imo which gets overshadowed by Datsyuk, Crosby, ovechkin's play at the time

Regular season 75 games played, 43g 92p 1.23ppg (47g 101pt pace)

Playoffs 22 games played 13g 27p 1.23ppg

All of this plus Selke level defense. Was our match up center. Absolute stud season.

I think the main reason Detroit was the best team of the past decade in 2008 was because they had not only the two best two-way players of this era at their peak, but also the best two-way defenseman. They controlled the play better than any group of players I've seen when they were on the ice together.
 

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
25,409
10,435
As good as Lemieux was for that half season, Jagr was better in their time together, so I don't see much of an argument for him, especially if Jagr isn't ahead of Sid and OV. Lemieux sparked Jagr to play his best, but his best was better than Lemieux's at that point

True. I always remind people of this, but it is worth noting that Lemieux outscored him in the playoffs and in points per game each of the following two seasons.
 

GlitchMarner

Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
Jul 21, 2017
9,712
6,432
Brampton, ON
I'm partial to peaks that are comprised of full/almost full seasons and playoffs (if they are to be included).

Accordingly, the only real candidates for me are Ovechkin from 2007-2010 (2008 being his best season if I had to choose one and 2009 being his best RS + playoffs combo if I had to choose one), Malkin in 2008-2009, Malkin in 2011-2012, Sakic in 2000-2001 and maybe Crosby in 2013-2014 and/or Kane in 2015-2016.

HMs would be Crosby in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010, Thornton in 2005-2006, Stamkos in 2011-2012, McDavid from 2016-2018, St. Louis in 2003-2004, Henrik Sedin in 2009-2010, Karlsson in 2011-2012, possibly Jagr in 2000-2001 and/or 2005/2006 and maybe Forsberg and/or Naslund in 2002-2003.
 

KoozNetsOff 92

Hala Madrid
Apr 6, 2016
8,567
8,229
OV, pretty easily. His 07/08 is the best season, though Malkin's 11/12 is close. But no one comes close to his 3 year peak. Peak OV was league leader in pts, PPG, goals, GPG, top 10 in assists and threw 200+ hits. No one on this list comes close to that. Definitely not random 20 game samples of Crosby.
 

bambamcam4ever

107 and counting
Feb 16, 2012
14,303
6,344
I'm partial to peaks that are comprised of full/almost full seasons and playoffs (if they are to be included).

Accordingly, the only real candidates for me are Ovechkin from 2007-2010 (2008 being his best season if I had to choose one and 2009 being his best RS + playoffs combo if I had to choose one), Malkin in 2008-2009, Malkin in 2011-2012, Sakic in 2000-2001 and maybe Crosby in 2013-2014 and/or Kane in 2015-2016.

HMs would be Crosby in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010, Thornton in 2005-2006, Stamkos in 2011-2012, McDavid from 2016-2018, St. Louis in 2003-2004, Henrik Sedin in 2009-2010, Karlsson in 2011-2012, possibly Jagr in 2000-2001 and/or 2005/2006 and maybe Forsberg and/or Naslund in 2002-2003.
Comprise means contain, comprised of doesn't make sense.
 

filinski77

Registered User
Feb 12, 2017
2,581
4,196
Ovechkin, fairly easily too. 3 years in a row leading the league in points/gp and goals/gp. Over the 3 years combined, his 82 game average would have been 60 goals, 116 points and 227 hits per season.
 

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
25,409
10,435
Best full season. Malkin 08-09
Best per game peak. Crosby 11-13

Including playoffs yes. But Ovechkin's 65 goal season is the best full season, though Malkin was at his best in 2012 when he had 50 goals and 109 points in 75 games and Crosby only played 22 games.
 

Regal

Registered User
Mar 12, 2010
24,545
13,840
Vancouver

GlitchMarner

Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
Jul 21, 2017
9,712
6,432
Brampton, ON
People don't realize how good Sakic's best season is. The guy scored 50+ goals and almost 120 points in one of the lowest-scoring eras in hockey history and was +45. He finished second in Selke voting. Then he led the playoffs in both goals and points and his team won the Cup. It's hard to top a season like that, especially for a forward.
 

Nadal On Clay

Djokovic > Nadal > Federer
Oct 11, 2017
3,062
2,669
Best Peak level of play: Crosby 2010-2013
Best consecutive peak years: Ovechkin 07-10
Best full season (RS + Playoffs): Malkin 2009
Best RS: Ovi 2008
Best playoff run: Malkin 2009
 

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
25,409
10,435
People don't realize how good Sakic's best season is. The guy scored 50+ goals and almost 120 points in one of the lowest-scoring eras in hockey history and was +45. He finished second in Selke voting. Then he led the playoffs in both goals and points and his team won the Cup. It's hard to top a season like that, especially for a forward.

Just because someone feels Forsberg was a bit better at their best or just in general doesn't mean Sakic doesn't have the best full season, or best playoffs and regular season in the same year. They are close enough that I think there are good arguments for both at their best.
 

Regal

Registered User
Mar 12, 2010
24,545
13,840
Vancouver
Best Peak level of play: Crosby 2010-2013
Best consecutive peak years: Ovechkin 07-10
Best full season (RS + Playoffs): Malkin 2009
Best RS: Ovi 2008
Best playoff run: Malkin 2009

I would swap RS+Playoffs to Sakic in '01 (close though), but agree with the others.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->