Good news: Atlantic Division is making a difference choices of choosing top players for next tomorrow march and they are very see….

Good news: Atlantic Division is making a difference choices of choosing top players for next tomorrow march and they are very see….

Amalie Benjamin
@AmalieBenjamin NHL.com Staff Writer
August 31, 2018

 

 

NHL Network will air the premiere episode of “Top 50 NHL Players Right Now,” a five-part series, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. ET. New episodes will air each Sunday through Sept. 30.

Before the network unveils 10 players on its list in each episode, an NHL.com writer will reveal his or her top players in one of the four divisions the previous Friday

 

Today, NHL.com staff writer Amalie Benjamin ranks her top 10 players in the Atlantic Division.
RELATED: [#NHLTopPlayers]

1. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
Though Karlsson, 28, could be traded by the Senators, for now he reigns supreme in the Atlantic Division

The two-time Norris Trophy winner carried the Senators to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2017, despite an injured foot and ankle, with his dynamic skill, sheer determination and improved work in the defensive end

During the past five seasons, no NHL defenseman had more points than Karlsson’s 355 (83 goals, 272 assists), and he certainly should be regarded as the best offensive defenseman in the League

 

2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov finished third in the NHL in points with 100 (39 goals, 61 assists) last season and formed a strong partnership with center Steven Stamkos for the Lightning, who won the division and reached the conference final. The 25-year-old forward had 85 points (40 goals, 45 assists) in 2016-2017 and signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension (average annual value $9.5 million) on July 10 that begins next season

 

Kucherov had the second-most points in the NHL the past two seasons with 185 (79 goals, 106 assists), behind Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (208; 71 goals, 137 assists)

 

3. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs
Tavares will make his Atlantic debut this season after signing a seven-year, $77 million contract (AAV $11 million) with the Maple Leafs as a free agent July 1

Selected No. 1 in the 2009 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, Tavares, 27, figures to make an already dangerous Toronto attack even

 

scarier, bringing 621 NHL points (272 goals, 349 assists) in 669 games to his hometown team. Tavares could end up as center on a line with Mitchell Marner and Zach Hyman this season, perhaps raising his point totals even higher than the 84 (37 goals, 47 assists) he scored in 82 games last season

 

4. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
It has not been an easy road for Stamkos during the past five seasons, which included four surgeries and two seasons when he played 37 games or fewer

But the 28-year-old center remains one of the best players in the NHL; he had 86 points (27 goals, NHL career-high 59 assists) last season, his highest point total since he had 97 (60 goals, 37 assists) in 2011-12. He also has become more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer, finding chemistry with Kucherov

 

5. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Arguably the best two-way center in the game, Bergeron, 33, has performed impressively the past two seasons, which included two groin injuries, each requiring offseason surgery

The four-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defensive forward has been a finalist for the award the past seven seasons. He scored 30 goals in 64 games last season, his fourth 30-goal season in the NHL, on a line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Hard to say he’s underrated anymore

 

6. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hedman won the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman, last season when the 27-year-old had 63 points (17 goals, 46 assists). He can control the game with his size (6-foot-6, 223 pounds) and ability to shoot the puck.

7. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
There is plenty of time for Matthews to climb this list, though it would not be hard to argue the No

1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft should be higher. The 20-year-old center has scored 132 points (74 goals, 58 assists) in his 144 NHL games the past two seasons

 

8. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Barkov, 22, has quietly built an impressive resume in Florida and is coming off a breakout season

The underrated center had the highest point total of his five-season NHL career with 78 (27 goals, 51 assists) and appears poised to continue his ascent. He also led the NHL with five shorthanded goals and finished fourth in Selke Trophy voting last season

 

9. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Marchand, 30, is one of the most skilled forwards in the division, having scored more than 30 goals each of the past three seasons (37 in 2015-16, 39 in 2016-17, 34 in 2017-18)

He has increased his value even further by finally getting regular time on the power play, along with his play on the penalty kill

 

10. Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
Though Eichel, 21, has acknowledged there have been ups and downs in his three NHL seasons, he also said recently he knows how dominant he can be

 

Eichel, who has had each of the past two seasons affected by ankle injuries, has the talent, even if his NHL career has been overshadowed by that of McDavid, who went one pick ahead of him at No

1 in the 2015 NHL Draft. The Sabres center had about a point per game last season with 64 (25 goals, 39 assists) in 67 games.

Stan Fischler best body checkers in NHL history

Moe, Ezinicki lead 7 best body checkers in NHL history
6:00 AM
Can Nathan MacKinnon set home point streak record?

State Your Case: MacKinnon setting home point streak record
6:00 AM

Stadium Series revisited in ‘NHL Mic Drop’ premiering March 6
Stadium Series revisited in ‘NHL Mic Drop’ premiering Wednesday
6:00 AM

St. Louis Blues New York Islanders game recap March 5
Islanders storm past Blues, win 4th in row
5:30 AM
Columbus Blue Jackets Pittsburgh Penguins game recap March 5
Smith has 3 points, Penguins recover to defeat Blue Jackets
5:29 AM
Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators game recap March 5
Canadiens rally, end Predators’ 8-game winning streak in OT

Linus Ullmark sends video message to Swedish Special Olympics goalie
Swedish Special Olympics goalie cries tears of joy after receiving signed Ullmark jersey
5:02 AM
Seattle Kraken Winnipeg Jets game recap March 5
Burakovsky breaks tie late in 3rd, Kraken edge Jets
4:53 AM

Edmonton Oilers Boston Bruins game recap March 5
Draisaitl ties it late, scores in OT to lift Oilers past Bruins
4:31 AM
NHL executive David Lehanski wins Sports Business Journal award
NHL’s Lehanski named Technology Executive of Year by Sports Business Journal
4:06 AM
Florida Panthers New Jersey Devils game recap March 5
Panthers defeat Devils, spoil Green debut as coach
4:02 AM
James van Riemsdyk 1000 games kids sign Boston Bruins
James van Riemsdyk’s kids help celebrate dad’s 1,000th NHL game
2:51 AM
NHL Trade Buzz News and Notes March 5
NHL Trade Buzz: Coyotes hold Zucker out of

NHL Buzz news and notes March 5
NHL Buzz: Soucy to return for Canucks against Kings

 

Anthony Mantha traded to Vegas Golden Knights by Washington Capitals
Mantha traded to Golden Knights by Capitals for 2 draft picks

 

New Jersey has ‘got to really be desperate’ with new coach Travis Green
Devils have ‘got to really be desperate’ with

Kris Letang says Pittsburgh in ‘strange’ spot ahead of Trade Deadline
Letang, Penguins in unfamiliar position days ahead of NHL Trade Deadline

 

CareerNHL.com is the official website of the National Hockey League

All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2024. All Rights Reserved

All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players’ names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA

The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine

are registered trademarks of Frank J Zamboni & Co

Inc.© Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2024. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owner

 

This website uses online tracking technologies such as cookies to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, save your preferences, and to enable personalized advertising on and off NHL

com, as described further in the Cookie Policy

To learn more and to manage your preferences, visit Cookie Settings

By continuing to access and use our sites and services, you accept and agree to ourTerms of Service.
Cookie Settings Accept All Cookies

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *