But that won’t stop me! I’d group ’em.

Top Level: Alex Ovechkin, three-time MVP, leads the NHL in scoring again now. Bryce Harper, reigning MVP, discussed as perhaps first $500-million player in U.S. sports. Braden Holtby, perhaps NHL MVP this season, could break season wins record. Max Scherzer, not “home-grown” but has won the Cy Young Award and also pitched two no-hitters last season, both of which “should” have been perfect games — both listed among seven greatest games ever pitched (statistically). No Redskins or Wizards.

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So, that’s (1) Ovechkin, (2) Harper, (3) Holtby and (4) Scherzer, with an asterisk.

Next level: Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom (slightly better season plus very bright future vs. much better whole career — no reason to pick between them). John Wall, All-Star but not MVP-caliber. At the moment, I’d put Kuznetsov above Wall because he’s the leading scorer, leading plus-minus player in NHL, on the runaway best team in the league. He’s the one who’s trending now. The Wizards are .500, which might not be “fair” to Wall, but … Then Kirk Cousins. He’s had just 10 great games within one 16-game season, but he ended up one of the top dozen quarterbacks in the NFL in 2015 and won a division. Trent Williams: Four Pro Bowls in six seasons. Stephen Strasburg: Past N.L. strikeouts champ and his .594 win-loss percentage and 3.09 career ERA are very good for anyone in 132 starts — and through age 26. Last four years average: 12-8, 29 starts, 171 innings, 3.17 ERA.

Just to annoy everybody with “distinctions without a difference,” make it: (5) Kuznetsov, (6) Wall, (7) Cousins, (8) Backstrom, (9) Trent Williams, and (10) Strasburg.

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Very good: Ryan Kerrigan, Anthony Rendon (fifth in N.L. MVP in 2014 in only full season), Bradley Beal. Rendon & Beal have high ceilings, but also more injury issues.

Finish it with: (11) Kerrigan (consistent), (12) Beal and (13) Rendon (jury out).