Over the past 25 years, the NHL has solely continued to get extra expert and extra entertaining. At the moment, we’ll have fun the celebs who’ve led that cost with CBS Sports activities’ NHL Quarter-Century workforce.
Chopping this workforce down to simply 20 gamers complete was a problem. So many gamers have made a big impact on the sport of hockey on this younger millennium, however the gamers on this workforce have grow to be icons. For starters, the 2 gamers who most outline the final 25 years of the NHL are Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
Crosby and Ovechkin entered the NHL on the similar time, and so they’ve served because the faces of the NHL ever since. That duo, as soon as on the heart of a heated rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, have climbed the file books and stuffed trophy circumstances a pair occasions over.
A participant who has extra just lately joined the ranks of superstardom is Connor McDavid, who has gained nearly every thing there may be to win, aside from a Stanley Cup. McDavid has solely been within the league for a decade, however he is already topped 1,000 factors and will not cease anytime quickly.
There are additionally some gamers who actually excelled within the early portion of this period. The good Nicklas Lidstrom, arguably the very best defenseman in hockey historical past, rattled off one Norris Trophy after one other whereas main the Detroit Purple Wings to a number of Stanley Cups. Likewise, Martin Brodeur was the standard-bearer at his place, and no goaltender in NHL historical past has anyplace close to his 691 wins.
On the entire, this quarter-century workforce is suffering from Stanley Cups, awards, objectives, assists and wins. Listed here are the 20 gamers who’ve made the most important impression on the NHL during the last 25 years.
Forwards
Sidney Crosby
Awards: Hart Trophy (2007, 2010); Maurice Richard Trophy (2010, 2017); Conn Smythe Trophy (2016, 2017); Artwork Ross Trophy (2007, 2014)
Stanley Cups: 2009, 2016, 2017
Alex Ovechkin
Awards: Hart Trophy (2008, 2009, 2013); Conn Smythe Trophy (2018); Maurice Richard Trophy (2008-10, 2013-16, 2018-20); Calder Trophy (2006); Artwork Ross Trophy (2008)
Stanley Cups: 2018
Steven Stamkos
Awards: Maurice Richard Trophy (2010, 2012)
Stanley Cups: 2020, 2021
Connor McDavid
Awards: Hart Trophy (2017, 2021, 2023); Maurice Richard Trophy (2023), Conn Smythe Trophy (2024), Artwork Ross Trophy (2017-18, 2021-23)
Stanley Cups: None
Joe Thornton
Awards: Hart Trophy (2006); Artwork Ross Trophy (2006)
Stanley Cups: None
Patrick Kane
Awards: Hart Trophy (2016); Conn Smythe Trophy (2013); Calder Trophy (2008); Artwork Ross Trophy (2016)
Stanley Cups: 2010, 2013, 2015
Anze Kopitar
Awards: Selke Trophy (2016, 2018)
Stanley Cups: 2012, 2014
Evgeni Malkin
Awards: Hart Trophy (2012); Conn Smythe Trophy (2009); Calder Trophy (2007); Artwork Ross Trophy (2009, 2012)
Stanley Cups: 2009, 2016, 2017
Joe Pavelski
Awards: None
Stanley Cups: None
Jarome Iginla
Awards: Maurice Richard Trophy (2002, 2004); Artwork Ross Trophy (2002)
Stanley Cups: None
Pavel Datsyuk
Awards: Selke Trophy (2008, 2009, 2010)
Stanley Cups: 2002, 2008
Henrik Sedin
Awards: Hart Trophy (2010), Artwork Ross Trophy (2010)
Stanley Cups: None
Chopping this checklist all the way down to 12 was a troublesome process, however these are the dozen forwards we consider have outlined the final 25 years of NHL hockey. In fact, that begins with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, who got here into the league across the similar time and have been two of the video games greatest stars ever since. These two have mixed for 1,488 objectives and 1,756 assists, and Ovechkin is inside attain of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time objectives file.
Alex Ovechkin objectives tracker: Capitals star 16 away from passing Wayne Gretzky for all-time NHL file
Chris Bengel
Steven Stamkos, Anze Kopitar and Patrick Kane are additionally nonetheless going robust, though a few them have moved on to totally different groups after glorious runs with their unique franchises. That trio has a mixed seven Stanley Cup rings, however they’ve made a reputation for themselves in several methods. Stamkos and Kane have made a behavior of lighting the lamp with regularity, and Kopitar has gained the Selke Trophy twice as an elite two-way heart.
Malkin is one other energetic participant, and he is likely to be barely underrated on account of taking part in his total profession on the identical workforce as Crosby. It is easy to neglect that Malkin has had a prolific profession in his personal proper with a Hart Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Calder Trophy to associate with 1,330 profession factors.
Like Kopitar, Pavel Datsyuk made his residing as a high-caliber participant in all three zones. Not solely was Datsyuk an unimaginable defensive ahead, however he was additionally one of the crucial expert and artistic gamers of his period.
Lengthy-time San Jose Sharks teammates Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton make the minimize, and each displayed unimaginable longevity, combining for 42 seasons and three,046 profession video games. Few gamers have ever been capable of distribute the puck in addition to Thornton, and he knew the best way to use his size across the web. Pavelski, extra of an undersized participant, began out as a seventh-round draft decide and went on to grow to be an amazing all-around participant with a knack for ending close to the crease.
Jarome Iginla and Henrik Sedin could get ignored due to their resumes, by way of awards and Stanley Cups, aren’t so long as some others. That stated, each have been superstars over lengthy durations of time. Iginla was a dynamic playmaker, simply as able to scoring as he was discovering a teammate with an ideal setup go. Sedin, alternatively, was one of many biggest passers of the period. His 830 assists are fourth all-time since Jan. 1, 2000.
McDavid is definitely the youngest participant on this checklist at 28, however he has greater than earned his spot. McDavid is the very best participant on the earth, and he has been for just a few years now. He already has a full trophy case, and now all he wants is a Stanley Cup. Which may be on the way in which sooner quite than later.
Defensemen
Nicklas Lidstrom
Awards: Norris Trophy (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011), Conn Smythe Trophy (2002)
Stanley Cups: 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008
Awards: Norris Trophy (2018), Conn Smythe Trophy (2020)
Stanley Cups: 2020, 2021
Duncan Keith
Awards: Norris Trophy (2010, 2014)
Stanley Cups: 2010, 2013, 2015
Zdeno Chára
Awards: Norris Trophy (2009)
Stanley Cups: 2011
Awards: Norris Trophy (2012, 2015, 2023)
Stanley Cups: None
Awards: Norris Trophy (2016)
Stanley Cups: 2012, 2014
Very like the forwards, developing with six defensemen for this Quarter-Century workforce wasn’t precisely an enviable project. In spite of everything, a number of the most legendary blue-liners the game has ever seen have graced the NHL over the previous 25 years.
When speaking concerning the prime defensemen of the final quarter century, the dialog has to start with legendary Detroit Purple Wings blue-liner Nicklas Lidström. Lidström goes down as one of the crucial elite defenseman to ever lace up a pair of skates as he tallied 1,142 profession factors (264 objectives, 878 assists). He gained the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s prime defenseman on seven events, which was the second-most in NHL historical past behind solely Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr. Whereas Lidström was a rugged shutdown defender that was hardly ever caught out of place, the Purple Wings blue-liner offered sensational offensive help.
Reverse of Lidström is among the prime defensemen nonetheless taking part in within the league within the type of Tampa Bay Lightning blue-liner Victor Hedman. Hedman has been the definition of consistency all through his 16-year profession, and helped lead the Lightning to a pair of Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. The veteran defenseman will not be the deadly scoring risk that he as soon as was, however remains to be able to recording 50-60-point seasons at this level in his profession.
The subsequent pairing affords two totally different defensemen by way of their taking part in model. Former Chicago Blackhawks star Duncan Keith was the true definition of a two-way participant all through his time with the franchise. Keith captured the Norris Trophy twice throughout that point, and was an integral a part of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup groups of the 2010s.
In the meantime, the opposite piece of this pairing is a rugged, bodily defenseman in Zdeno Chara. Chara could not have been what you’ll name an offensive savant, however he greater than held his personal with 680 factors (209 objectives, 471 assists) in a whopping 24 NHL campaigns. If his workforce wanted to close down the opposition on the person benefit or late within the recreation, Chara was greater than able to offering that bodily presence.
Relating to the ultimate defensive pairing, that is the place issues obtained very dicey. There’s gamers, similar to Shea Weber, Scott Niedermeyer and even Cale Makar within the current day which have a declare to make this explicit squad. Nevertheless, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings have been performed at an elite stage for such an extended time period.
When it comes to offensive-minded defensemen, it would not get significantly better than what Karlsson brings to the desk. The veteran blue-liner has turned in 9 double-digit objectives seasons, together with scoring not less than 20 objectives in three of these campaigns. Whereas he generally is a legal responsibility at occasions on the defensive finish today, Karlsson’s offensive acumen alone cements his spot on this group.
Lastly, Doughty remains to be getting the job achieved at 35 years previous within the current day. The Kings defenseman had a serious hand in each of the franchise’s Stanley Cups within the 2010s. Doughty has racked up 670 factors (156 objectives, 514 assists), whereas remaining an excellent puck mover on the blue line through the years. Doughty, who is probably going a future Corridor of Famer, remains to be taking part in at a excessive stage, and might be suiting up for Canada within the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.
Goaltenders
Martin Brodeur
Awards: Calder Trophy (1994), Vezina Trophy (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), Jennings Trophy (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010)
Stanley Cups: 1995, 2000, 2003
Awards: Vezina Trophy (2021), Jennings Trophy (2021)
Stanley Cups: 2009, 2016, 2017
Over the previous quarter century, the NHL has seen a number of high-profile goaltenders dominate the panorama. Whereas this wasn’t essentially a straightforward resolution to select the highest two netminders, legendary New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur needed to be a shoe-in for the highest spot.
Throughout his Corridor of Fame profession, Brodeur file probably the most wins (691) by an NHL goaltender, whereas additionally registering a profession 2.24 goals-against-average. As well as, Brodeur’s goals-against-average is the Tenth-lowest amongst eligible goaltenders (not less than 100 profession video games) over the course of his profession.
When it comes to NHL goaltenders, Brodeur was one of many higher puck-handlers on the place through the years. Brodeur racked up 45 assists throughout his 22-year profession, which is the third-most in league historical past behind solely Tom Barrasso (48) and Grant Fuhr (47).
Brodeur was arguably the face of the league when it got here to NHL goalies within the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s.
In the meantime, the second goaltender spot was somewhat bit more durable to determine. There have been loads of contenders vying for the opposite goaltender spot behind Brodeur. Henrik Lundqvist, Roberto Luongo and even Connor Hellebuyck had a declare to the spot contemplating the spectacular careers they put collectively.
Finally, the longevity of Marc-Andre Fleury gained out in relation to this Quarter-Century squad.
Very like Brodeur, Fleury performed over 20 years at a excessive stage, and remains to be doing so within the current day. Whereas he could not be an elite netminder, Fleury remains to be a productive possibility for the Minnesota Wild.
Fleury is second on the NHL’s all-time wins checklist (572) behind Brodeur, and even turned in some terrific phases within the later phases of his skilled profession. Throughout the 2020-21 season, Fleury gained the Vezina Trophy because the league’s prime goaltender, however ended up being traded by the Vegas Golden Knights regardless of that accomplishment. He grew to become the primary goaltender since Dominik Hasek to be traded because the reigning Vezina Trophy winner.
Fleury additionally had an excessive amount of success with the Pittsburgh Penguins early in his profession. The truth is, the veteran goaltender gained three Stanley Cups with the franchise. Other than Brodeur, it is onerous to discover a extra reliable goalie than Fleury during the last 25 years.
