Hockey's Top 50 Franchise Players (#1/2 UP!!)

[Eagles27]

Great job so far. I think your rankings are pretty similar to what mine would be except I would have the Sedins in the top 25 and Ryan Kelser between 45-50.

Looking forward to the top 20
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^Kempes

[this providence]

Good spot and write-up for Burns. I don't think he is quite a Dion's level yet but he closed the gap a little this past season. I'd still take Dion over just about any other defenseman not named Lindstrom, though. Us Wild fans are quite excited about his future.

Here is a few videos of his 'zoo' and other things. And yes our annoucers are gawd aweful, just ignore them. That's what we have grown to do over the years putting up with these hacks.

NHL profile's over-view of most of his animals:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_vE22GVAg0

SnakeBites TV on his snakes:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UgZtJQ4Y0dQ&feature=related

Getzlaf immitation:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MsnrZPma4dM

Only highlight video I could find of him: Mute button in play because of Fall Out Boy.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oPHp3eYhYow

Kunitz fight:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cN1HQ_eXL8s

Starting the chainsaw: Not very clean but considering how that game played out, oh well....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=w2qrvuuWGHs&feature=related

Burns and Dion: Dion demolished SV. Burns stepped in, Dion took it early and probably got the win. Burns' shoulder fight strap ripped off and that is how he was able to get free. Without that happening I think Dion controlled him. Perhaps we will see a rematch this season?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BXNIos134dA&feature=related
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Thanks LOTO

[TCP]

^^

At least show the best part of the video!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3E6EbVNwWAM

Phaneuf leveled him. Hot damn I love Phaneuf.
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[this providence]

[TCP]

^^^

I searched for Dion Phaneuf vs Burns and it was the first vid. Search his name first next time

I can't blame you for liking him, then again I like Brent Burns. Except for when he scores on us with a non call(Radovojovic) jk
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[this providence]

I was just using everything I found under Brent Burns so that might be why.
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Thanks LOTO

[BirdsFan06050]

#20- Thomas Vanek, W, Buffalo Sabres



Vanek, as many of you know, is one of my favorite young players. If I were the Sabres I would've matched that offer as well. With Roy, Pominville, and Miller along with Vanek the Sabres have a very good young nucleus, the problem with them right now is they need to add better depth and they need to get some top tier defenders. After losing Briere, Zubrus, Drury, Numminen, Campbell, and others they lack a #1 d man and good depth among their forwards. However, leading the charge on line for them is Thomas Vanek. The 43 goal scorer out of Austria two years ago was awarded a 7 year/$49 Million contract which was matched by his team the Sabres after Edmonton tryed to pry him from Edmonton. Ever since then Thomas has been under tremendous pressure and has been called overrated by many. Vanek is a relativley big forward who likes to get in front of the net and in the slot. He has a good wrist shot and plays smart hockey. He's much like Flyers prospect James vanRiemsdyk or a Brendan Shannahan type player. Vanek still has to mature much more and find ways to score even better then the ways he already knows. Vanek was selected 5th overall by the Sabres in the infamous 2003 NHL Entry Draft and went off to play college Hockey with the Minnesota Gophers. He was the MVP of the Gophers in 2003 when they won the National Championship. Vanek signed a three-year deal with Buffalo on September 3, 2004 and began playing for the main Sabres roster in the 2005–06 NHL season. He had a quite promising rookie season with 25 goals and 48 points and started in 81 games for the Sabres. In the playoffs he did not play as often as he wanted, due to inconsistent performances. He played 10 games and scored 2 goals. Vanek concluded the next year scoring his 43rd goal of the season as the first Sabre to score 40 goals since Miroslav Satan in 1998–99. He led the NHL with a +47 plus/minus rating and winning the 2007 NHL Plus/Minus Award. In addition, Vanek led the league in goals scored at home with 30 and was chosen for the NHL Second All-Star Team.


#19- Jay Bouwmeester, D, Florida Panthers



The first Panther to appear on the list. Bouwmeester was drafted third overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Panthers later that year. Jay is a big guy, who like Shea and Brent uses his size to play great defense as a physical machine along the boards. He's tough, but quiet and he'll pound you. Jay also has great offensive upside to go along with his great defense. I personally think he's close to Dion, Jay is the real deal and many people will tell you he is a future Norris Trophy Winner. Jay spent his days in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers before umping right to the NHL. Bouwmeester played for Team Canada in the 2003 Men's World Hockey Championship in Finland and helped the team go on to win the gold medal. He was also named to the 2004 World Championship team that won the gold medal again. In September of 2004 Bouwmeester played for Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey. Canada won the tournament. On February 8, 2006, Hockey Canada announced Bouwmeester would be added to the 2006 Olympic lineup in place of injured defenceman Scott Niedermayer. Bouwmeester participated in his first NHL All-Star game during the 2006–2007 hockey season. He also had his best season that year scoring 12 goals and 30 assists for a total of 42 points. Last season he tallied 37 points, but increased his goal tally, scoring 15 goals in the 2007-2008 season. Jay was a mediocre -5 last season though after being a +25 in his all-star season in 2006-2007. Jay needs to rebound next year and get back on track.

[playmaker8267]

Both are players that kill the Bruins every time, and thus earn my respect.

We are in in the top 20, gentlemen. Let the debating commence.
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Let's go Toronto.. bring him to Boston!
Check out my mock

[BirdsFan06050]

#18- Eric Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes



The already Stanley Cup Winner Eric Staal has dominated the NHL thus far in his young career. Staal, like his brother Jordan, is a big bodied center. Difference between the two is offensive ability. Staal has a better scoring touch, skating ability, and playmaking abilities while Jordan is a better two-way player. Selected 2nd Overall in the infamous 2003 NHL Entry Draft, where almost over half this list is from and frankly I'm getting tired of saying this draft class in almost every post, but Eric has lived up to expectations in Carolina and rather quickly. He had played for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL the year before, scoring 98 points in 66 games. He played his first season in the National Hockey League right after being drafted. In 2004, Staal played in the YoungStars game as part of the 2004 NHL All-Star festivities. Staal made his first All-Star game appearance in 2007 NHL All-Star game in Dallas, where he scored the Eastern Conference's third goal. He was named to the All-Star game last season as well where he won MVP of the All-Star game. Staal broke into the NHL in his rookie season with 100 points in 82 games including 45 goals, he's gone down ever since though. After his big rookie year he dropped 30 points in the same amount of games with 70 points and then last season he bounced back a tad with 38 goals and 44 assists for 82 points in 82 games. Staal has always had two-way trouble which is why he isn't higher on this list. A -8 in that 100 point season, a -6 the year after, and a -2 last season. He's getting better, but he's certainly not a great player in his own zone. He's a below average center in his own zone which keeps him from being higher on the list.


#17- Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens



Price has torn up every league he's been in. He tore up the WHL as a goaltender which led him to the WJC where he won two gold medals with Team Canada. Price was named Tournament MVP at the 2007 IIHF World Junior (U20) Ice Hockey Championship in Sweden in Canada's third straight (thirteenth overall) gold medal win. He was also named the tournament's top goaltender and was named to the tournament's All-Star Team along with teammates Jonathan Toews and Kris Letang. He is the only goaltender in hockey history to be named CHL Goaltender of the year, World Junior Championship's tournament MVP and win the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, all in the same year. He is also the only goaltender in hockey history to win the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy the same year as playing junior. Then heading to the AHL two years ago with the Hamilton Bulldogs Carey led his team to the Calder Cup Championship. Then given the opportunity to start last season Carey tore up the NHL in the second half of last season before hitting some bumps in the playoffs. Before the playoffs many thought Carey should be the Calder winner for rookie of the year and many were calling him the next Patrick Roy over in Montreal, however pressure got to him I believe, but I think he will bounce back. Rated as the #1 prospect in the world by the Hockey News lasted rankings during mid-season Carey has been surrounded by a lot of hype and many Montreal fans are hoping he lives up to it. He showed plenty of games last season where we saw his talent for sure. Gainey even felt it was necessary to trade former starter Huet at the deadline he was so confident in the rookie Carey. Carey posted a 2.56 ERA with 24 wins last season as a rookie. TSN had him rated as the best rookie of the year last year, however he was not one of the 3 finalists for the award that Patrick Kane won.

[TCP]

Price would have won the award if he started like a true number 1. If he started more games then he gets the award.

And Bouwmeester is a better building block than Staal or Price IMO.

If he played in a better market, or at least one where hockey is relevant then you'd hear of him above a lot of defenesemen and not just a good young defense-men.
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[fsubrowns9510]

Liking the Sabres love... Pominville is definitely underrated. Good move to put Roy, Vanek and Miller on there as well. All 4 of those guys can be franchise players.
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Hahahahahaha!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH-Zd3d3qFw

[BirdsFan06050]

[fsubrowns9510]

[BirdsFan06050]

#16- Patrick Kane, W, Chicago Blackhawks



The former #1 overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and last seasons Calder Winner for Rookie of the year Patrick Kane makes the list at number sixteen. The London Knights drafted Kane in the 5th round of the 2004 Ontario Hockey League Bantam Draft, but Kane did not choose to play for the Knights until the 2006-07 season. Instead, Kane played for the United States U-18 National Team Development Program where he led the team in scoring with 102 points during the 2005-2006 season. Kane's junior career started off with a bang. Playing on a line with Sergei Kostitsyn and Sam Gagner, he amassed 145 points for the OHL scoring title and combined with Gagner and Kostitsyn for 394 points. Kane participated in his first international tournament for the United States in the U-18 in 2006, where he helped the team win a gold medal. He was then named to the U.S. squad for the 2007 World Jr. Hockey Championships where he was selected as one of the tournament's All-Stars. He was one of only 3 players on the team to be playing major junior hockey. He was tied for 2nd in scoring in the tournament. Patrick Kane and his London Knights finished the post-season losing in the OHL's Western Conference final to the Plymouth Whalers in a 4-1 best of 7 series loss. He finished his postseason with 10 goals and 21 assists for a total of 31 points in 16 games. On April 27, 2007, Kane was announced as the winner of the Emms Family Award for the OHL rookie of the year. He was also named runner-up to John Tavares for the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP. Then after being drafted Kane jumped right into the fire with the Hawks and it worked out perfectly. He scored 21 goals and added 51 assists in his first NHL season with the Blackhawks and was a -5 in the that department. Kane is average in his own zone and lacks size to match up good defensivley, but his playmaking ability and offensive upside make him that great young player that led him to being drafted #1 overall. Kane is primarily a playmaker and loves to pass as you can tell from his 51 assists in his first career NHL season. Kane recently played for the US in the 2008 World Championships and recorded 10 points in 7 games including 7 goals.

[this providence]

I assume the Chicago captain will be coming in the low teens area?

I like Kane but I think it is a little too high for him. The kid does have some elite offensive firepower but even saying he is average in his own end is a bit of stretch in my opinion. I think some of the guys below him offer a little more than he does with their size and luxury of a fairly complete game at this point. Again, not an aweful spot. I would have had him around 20.
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Thanks LOTO