Crosby tops TSN Hockey's Top 50 NHL players Sidney Crosby is top of the TSN polls for a fifth straight year - reaffirming his status as the best hockey player in the world. Crosby was the overwhelming choice as the NHL’s No.1 player in balloting by a selection of league general managers and coaches and TSN experts. The Penguins’ captain received 85 per cent of first place votes. Crosby, chosen first overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has been chosen first overall all five years of the TSN Top 50 Players poll. He was the 2013-14 Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner, marking the second time in his nine-year NHL career he swept the three highest regular season honours.

Steve Dryden - Senior Managing Editor, Hockey Sidney Crosby is top of the TSN polls for a fifth straight year - reaffirming his status as the best hockey player in the world. Crosby was the overwhelming choice as the NHL’s No.1 player in balloting by a selection of league general managers and coaches and TSN experts. The Penguins’ captain received 85 per cent of first place votes. Crosby, chosen first overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has been chosen first overall all five years of the TSN Top 50 Players poll. He was the 2013-14 Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner, marking the second time in his nine-year NHL career he swept the three highest regular season honours.

The Top 50 1. Sidney Crosby C | PIT | Rankings - 2010: 1 | 2011: 1 | 2012: 1 | 2013: 1 | 2014: 1 2013-14 Statistics GP 80

G 36

A 68

PTS 104

PPG 1.30

TOI 21:58 Notes: The 2013-14 Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner is No. 1 on TSN Hockey’s Top 50 list for a fifth consecutive year and enters his milestone 10th NHL season having never scored at less than a 100-point pace.

2. Jonathan Toews C | CHI | Rankings - 2010: 3 | 2011: 8 | 2012: 6 | 2013: 3 | 2014: 2 2013-14 Statistics GP 76

G 28

A 40

PTS 68

PPG 0.89

TOI 20:28 Notes: The victory in Sochi means Jonathan Toews, Team Canada’s most used forward (ahead even of Sidney Crosby in icetime), now has two Olympic golds, two Stanley Cups and two World Junior Championships to his everlasting credit.

3. Steven Stamkos C | TBL | Rankings - 2010: 10 | 2011: 6 | 2012: 4 | 2013: 4 | 2014: 3 2013-14 Statistics GP 37

G 25

A 15

PTS 40

PPG 1.08

TOI 20:14 Notes: Tampa Bay’s charismatic leader has established himself as the world’s uncontested best goal-scorer during a five-year run interrupted only by a broken leg in 2013-14.

4. Ryan Getzlaf C | ANA | Rankings - 2010: 17 | 2011: 13 | 2012: 34 | 2013: 15 | 2014: 4 2013-14 Statistics GP 77

G 31

A 56

PTS 87

PPG 1.13

TOI 20:03 Notes: Last season was a milestone season for the Art Ross runner-up as he scored at a career-high pace and earned a berth on the Second All-Star Team.

5. Anze Kopitar C | LAK | Rankings - 2010: 29 | 2011: 21 | 2012: 10 | 2013: 18 | 2014: 5 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 29

A 41

PTS 70

PPG 0.85

TOI 20:53 Notes: The Kings centre is a man possessed on one of the NHL’s premier possession teams, driving play at a team-high rate and ranking in the TSN Hockey's Top 5 for the first time.

6. Evgeni Malkin C | PIT | Rankings - 2010: 4 | 2011: 22 | 2012: 2 | 2013: 2 | 2014: 6 2013-14 Statistics GP 60

G 23

A 49

PTS 72

PPG 1.20

TOI 20:03 Notes: He was second only to Sidney Crosby in points-per-game last season and is second only to Crosby in career points per game among active NHLers.

7. Drew Doughty D | LAK | Rankings - 2010: 8 | 2011: 23 | 2012: 17 | 2013: 19 | 2014: 7 2013-14 Statistics GP 78

G 10

A 27

PTS 37

PPG 0.47

TOI 25:42 Notes: Olympic years bring out something special in the Team Canada standout who followed up a brilliant 2014 Olympics with an outstanding playoffs for the Cup champs.

8. John Tavares C | NYI | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 20 | 2013: 13 | 2014: 8 2013-14 Statistics GP 59

G 24

A 42

PTS 66

PPG 1.12

TOI 21:14 Notes: The Islanders’ centre of attention moved into elite points-per-game scoring territory before an Olympic injury sidelined him for the 2013-14 season.

9. Shea Weber D | NAS | Rankings - 2010: 19 | 2011: 11 | 2012: 7 | 2013: 8 | 2014: 9 2013-14 Statistics GP 79

G 23

A 33

PTS 56

PPG 0.71

TOI 26:54 Notes: The big-shooting Predators’ captain and leading scorer has become a fixture in the TSN Hockey's Top 10, making the cut for the third straight season.

10. Patrick Kane RW | CHI | Rankings - 2010: 15 | 2011: 24 | 2012: 38 | 2013: 9 | 2014: 10 2013-14 Statistics GP 69

G 29

A 40

PTS 69

PPG 1.00

TOI 19:36 Notes: The firmly established big-game player and 2013 Conn Smythe winner leads all NHLers with 39 playoff points over the past two seasons.

11. Claude Giroux C | PHI | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: 25 | 2012: 3 | 2013: 10 | 2014: 11 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 28

A 58

PTS 86

PPG 1.05

TOI 20:26 Notes: The slow-starting Flyers’ captain recovered from the disappointment of not making Canada’s Olympic team to finish third in scoring and third in Hart Trophy voting.

12. Alex Ovechkin RW | WAS | Rankings - 2010: 2 | 2011: 2 | 2012: 14 | 2013: 7 | 2014: 12 2013-14 Statistics GP 78

G 51

A 28

PTS 79

PPG 1.01

TOI 20:32 Notes: The NHL’s only 50-goal scorer hit the magic mark for the fifth time in his career to earn Second All-Star Team honours.

13. Patrice Bergeron C | BOS | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 35 | 2013: 16 | 2014: 13 2013-14 Statistics GP 80

G 30

A 32

PTS 62

PPG 0.78

TOI 17:59 Notes: It doesn’t take analytics to figure out the Bruin is a superior centre but they produce a paint-by-numbers picture of the Selke winner’s superior value.

14. Corey Perry RW | ANA | Rankings - 2010: 33 | 2011: 7 | 2012: 19 | 2013: 24 | 2014: 14 2013-14 Statistics GP 81

G 43

A 39

PTS 82

PPG 1.01

TOI 19:28 Notes: Forty-three goals and 82 points propelled the Ducks’ sniper to the First All-Star Team for the second time.

15. Jamie Benn LW | DAL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 39 | 2013: 37 | 2014: 15 2013-14 Statistics GP 81

G 34

A 45

PTS 79

PPG 0.98

TOI 19:09 Notes: Welcome to the NHL elite. The left winger served as Stars’ captain with distinction, represented Canada at the Olympics and made the First All-Star Team.

16. Henrik Lundqvist G | NYR | Rankings - 2010: 30 | 2011: 34 | 2012: 15 | 2013: 14 | 2014: 16 2013-14 Statistics GP 63

W 33

L 24

OT 5

GAA 2.36

SV% .920 Notes: The perennial sharp-dressed man and 30-game winner was all that stood in the way of a Los Angeles sweep in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

17. Pavel Datsyuk C | DET | Rankings - 2010: 7 | 2011: 3 | 2012: 5 | 2013: 5 | 2014: 17 2013-14 Statistics GP 45

G 17

A 20

PTS 37

PPG 0.82

TOI 20:16 Notes: He’s 36 now and out of the TSN Hockey's Top 10 for the first time, but Detroit’s sublimely skilled centre still plays the game at a level few others can match.

18. Duncan Keith D | CHI | Rankings - 2010: 5 | 2011: 27 | 2012: 49 | 2013: 20 | 2014: 18 2013-14 Statistics GP 79

G 6

A 55

PTS 61

PPG 0.77

TOI 24:38 Notes: Voters named the Blackhawk hockey’s best defenceman in 2013-14, as he was the Norris Trophy winner for the second time in his career.

19. P.K. Subban D | MTL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: 27 | 2014: 19 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 10

A 43

PTS 53

PPG 0.65

TOI 24:36 Notes: After all but willing Montreal to two playoff round victories, the defender was named an alternate captain. The question remains: Is the captaincy in his future?

20. Jonathan Quick G | LAK | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 16 | 2013: 22 | 2014: 20 2013-14 Statistics GP 49

W 27

L 17

OT 4

GAA 2.07

SV% .911 Notes: Regular season be darned, the only measure that matters to the Kings goalie is 41 playoff wins and two Stanley Cups over the past three seasons.

21. Ryan Suter D | MIN | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: 43 | 2012: 26 | 2013: 17 | 2014: 21 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 8

A 35

PTS 43

PPG 0.52

TOI 29:24 Notes: At 29:24, the Minnesota blueliner averaged more than two minutes more per-game than any other player in the NHL. That’s wild.

22. Erik Karlsson D | OTT | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 11 | 2013: 11 | 2014: 22 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 20

A 54

PTS 74

PPG 0.90

TOI 27:04 Notes: The most explosive defenceman in the game has an astounding 166 points in his last 180 regular season games.

23. Zdeno Chara D | BOS | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: 27 | 2014: 19 2013-14 Statistics GP 77

G 17

A 23

PTS 40

PPG 0.52

TOI 24:39 Notes: The Big Z earned a berth on the season ending all-star team for a seventh time on his path to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

24. Carey Price G | MTL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: 30 | 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 24 2013-14 Statistics GP 59

W 34

L 20

OT 5

GAA 2.32

SV% .927 Notes: On the world’s biggest stage, Montreal’s franchise player delivered a .972 save percentage and .59 goals against average for Olympic gold-medal winning Canada.

25. Tyler Seguin C | DAL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 31 | 2013: - | 2014: 25 2013-14 Statistics GP 80

G 37

A 47

PTS 84

PPG 1.05

TOI 19:20 Notes: Answering his critics in Boston, the first-year Dallas Star finished fourth overall in scoring with a career-high 37 goals and 84 points.

26. Matt Duchene C | COL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: 45 | 2012: - | 2013: 36 | 2014: 26 2013-14 Statistics GP 71

G 23

A 47

PTS 70

PPG 0.99

TOI 18:29 Notes: It’s all but official, the speeding bullet centre came inches from being a point-per-game player after scoring 70 points in 71 games last season.

27. Henrik Zetterberg C | DET | Rankings - 2010: 11 | 2011: 15 | 2012: 22 | 2013: 12 | 2014: 27 2013-14 Statistics GP 45

G 16

A 32

PTS 48

PPG 1.07

TOI 20:33 Notes: With his production and overall performance at its customary high levels, the only thing the newly minted Detroit captain couldn’t do in 2013-14 was stay healthy.

28. Zach Parise LW | MIN | Rankings - 2010: 16 | 2011: 26 | 2012: 13 | 2013: 23 | 2014: 28 2013-14 Statistics GP 67

G 29

A 27

PTS 56

PPG 0.84

TOI 20:25 Notes: Few players drive play like the Wild winger, who always scores at a 30-goal pace and has one of the best Corsi Relative marks in the game. You can look it up.

29. Alex Pietrangelo D | STL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 28 | 2013: 30 | 2014: 29 2013-14 Statistics GP 81

G 5

A 43

PTS 51

PPG 0.63

TOI 25:21 Notes: The Blues’ top defender has found a comfortable home in the TSN Hockey's Top 50, finishing at No. 28, No. 30 and now No. 29 in the annual poll.

30. Tuukka Rask G | BOS | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 30 2013-14 Statistics GP 58

W 36

L 15

OT 6

GAA 2.04

SV% .930 Notes: By most measures, the fab Finn was as good as it got for goalies during the regular season: he was No. 1 in save percentage, goals against average and all-star team voting.

31. Ryan McDonagh D | NYR | Rankings: 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013 - | 2014: 31 2013-14 Statistics GP 77

G 14

A 29

PTS 43

PPG 0.56

TOI 24:49 Notes: The secret’s out; the playoffs saw to that. The Blueshirts’ blueliner has earned a place among the NHL’s best two-way defenceman.

32. Taylor Hall LW | EDM | Rankings - 2011: - | 2012: 50 | 2013: 39 | 2014: 32 2013-14 Statistics GP 75

G 27

A 53

PTS 80

PPG 1.07

TOI 20:00 Notes: With a career-high 80 points and never going longer than two games between points in 2013-14, the speedster separated himself from the rest of the slick Oilers.

33. David Krejci C | BOS | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: 46 | 2014: 33 2013-14 Statistics GP 80

G 19

A 50

PTS 69

PPG 0.86

TOI 19:07 Notes: The significance of plus-minus has diminished over the years, but there’s no diminishing what the NHL’s plus-minus leader means to the Bruins.

34. Nathan MacKinnon C | COL | Rankings - 2014: 34 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 24

A 39

PTS 63

PPG 0.77

TOI 17:20 Notes: The sky’s the limit for the 2014 Calder Trophy winner who blasted off in the playoffs and may well boast the fastest acceleration in the game.

35. Marian Hossa RW | CHI | Rankings - 2010: 35 | 2011: 46 | 2012: 32 | 2013: 32 | 2014: 35 2013-14 Statistics GP 72

G 30

A 30

PTS 60

PPG 0.83

TOI 18:16 Notes: No. 81 is five points away from becoming the 80th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

36. Joe Pavelski C | SJ | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 36 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 41

A 38

PTS 79

PPG 0.96

TOI 19:51 Notes: "Little Joe" rode an 18.2% shooting percentage to a career-high 41 goals and berth on the Second All-Star Team.

37. Logan Couture C | SJ | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 41 | 2013: 31 | 2014: 37 2013-14 Statistics GP 65

G 23

A 31

PTS 54

PPG 0.83

TOI 18:56 Notes: There are three things you can count on from the 25-year-old Shark; he will score 20 goals, he will be a plus player and he will be in the playoffs.

38. Phil Kessel RW | TOR | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: 47 | 2013: 43 | 2014: 38 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 37

A 43

PTS 80

PPG 0.98

TOI 20:39 Notes: Toronto’s media-shy supernova talent had has fifth straight 30-goal full season and inched his way up the Top 50 list from No. 43 in 2013.

39. Nicklas Backstrom C | WAS | Rankings - 2010: 9 | 2011: 48 | 2012: 33 | 2013: 40 | 2014: 39 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 18

A 61

PTS 79

PPG 0.96

TOI 19:48 Notes: Washington’s superb playmaker collected 44 power play points – five more than running mate Alexander Ovechkin and most in the NHL.

40. Ryan Johansen C | CBJ | Rankings - 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 40 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 33

A 30

PTS 63

PPG 0.77

TOI 17:38 Notes: The breakout Jacket tripled his previous best goal and point totals in becoming only the third Columbus player to score 30 goals.

41. Joe Thornton C | SJ | Rankings - 2010: 25 | 2011: 29 | 2012: 40 | 2013: 35 | 2014: 41 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 11

A 65

PTS 76

PPG 0.93

TOI 18:55 Notes: These are turbulent times for "Jumbo Joe" who had the captaincy taken away, but is still one of the game’s premier playmakers.

42. Gabriel Landeskog LW | COL | Rankings - 2013: - | 2014: 42 2013-14 Statistics GP 81

G 26

A 39

PTS 65

PPG 0.80

TOI 18:40 Notes: The 21-year-old captain has arrived – he makes his debut on the TSN Top 50 list. Expectations are that he will be a longtime member of this exclusive group.

43. Jeff Carter C | LA | Rankings - 2010: 40 | 2011: 44 | 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 43 2013-14 Statistics GP 72

G 27

A 23

PTS 50

PPG 0.69

TOI 18:57 Notes: Money. Pure Money. The Kings’ forward had 25 points in 26 games on the way to LA winning its second Cup in three years.

44. Patrick Sharp LW | CHI | Rankings - 2010: 50 | 2011: 35 | 2012: - | 2013: 47 | 2014: 44 2013-14 Statistics GP 82

G 34

A 44

PTS 78

PPG 0.95

TOI 18:53 Notes: The NHL’s second most prolific shooter just missed out on the NHL’s Second All-Star Team after a career-high 78 points for the Hawks.

45. Eric Staal C | CAR | Rankings - 2010: 24 | 2011: 17 | 2012: 21 | 2013: 28 | 2014: 45 2013-14 Statistics GP 79

G 21

A 40

PTS 61

PPG 0.77

TOI 20:17 Notes: The career ‘Cane led Carolina in points for a seventh time, but scored just 21 goals, his lowest full season total since his rookie year.

46. Alex Steen LW | STL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 46 2013-14 Statistics GP 68

G 33

A 29

PTS 62

PPG 0.91

TOI 20:16 Notes: The Blue rocketed out of the gate in 2013-14, scoring 20 goals in his first 24 games. Only Brett Hull has done it faster in a St. Louis uniform.

47. Oliver Ekman-Larsson D | ARI | Rankings - 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: 44 | 2014: 47 2013-14 Statistics GP 80

G 15

A 29

PTS 44

PPG 0.55

TOI 25:53 Notes: One of the NHL’s emerging stars is a power play force and has played the fifth toughest minutes in the league over the past three seasons.

48. Milan Lucic LW | BOS | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: 24 | 2014: 48 2013-14 Statistics GP 80

G 24

A 35

PTS 59

PPG 0.74

TOI 17:22 Notes: The Bruins’ behemoth has averaged 25 goals and 121 penalty minutes per 82 games the past four seasons. ‘Nuff said.

49. Semyon Varlamov G | COL | Rankings - 2010: - | 2011: - | 2012: - | 2013: - | 2014: 49 2013-14 Statistics GP 63

W 41

L 14

OT 6

GAA 2.41

SV% .927 Notes: Colorado’s stopper led the NHL in wins, finished second in save percentage and earned a place on the Second All-Star Team.