NHL ON TSN: TOP 50 NHL PLAYERS

TSN has unveiled the NHL's Top 50 players heading into the 2010-11 hockey season based on selections by a panel of experts, and this year's top player is Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

* Numbers in brackets represent final voting points a player received by the panel polled to obtain the rankings. The order was determined by a cumulative point system based on the individual rankings.
(Photos: Getty Images/Canadian Press)

1 - 10 | 11 - 20 | 21 - 30 | 31 - 40 | 41 - 50

1. F - Sidney Crosby (1,705)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
81	51	58	109	.63	.72	1.35
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
371	183	323	506	.49	.87	1.36
Noteworthy
The legend grows with each passing year in the NHL; in Year 1 he became the youngest player to score 100 points; in Year 2 he won the Art Ross and Hart Trophies; in Year 3, he led the Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring; in Year 4, he became the youngest captain to win the Stanley Cup; and in Year 5 he scored 50 goals … but none of them was as important as the one that gave Canada an Olympic gold medal on home ice and sent a country into delirium.

2. F - Alexander Ovechkin (1,666)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
72	50	59	109	.69	.82	1.51
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
396	269	260	529	.68	.66	1.34
Noteworthy
He is a four-time 50-goal scorer; he is the first player in NHL history to earn first all-star team honours the first five seasons of his career; he is second only to Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy in career goals per game; he is a physical force the likes of which has seldom been seen for a player of his talent; and he hungers to fill in the one piece of silverware missing from his trophy case - the Stanley Cup.

3. F - Jonathan Toews (1,398)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
76	25	43	68	.33	.57	.89
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
222	83	108	191	.37	.49	.86
Noteworthy
Chicago’s undisputed leader pulled off an unprecedented double – top forward honours and gold at the 2010 Olympics; MVP honours and the Stanley Cup in the 2010 NHL playoffs.

4. F Evgeni Malkin (1,378)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
67	28	49	77	.42	.73	1.15
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
309	143	238	381	.46	.77	1.23
Noteworthy
Pittsburgh’s Conn Smythe winner has never failed to average more than a point per game in four superlative NHL seasons.

5. D - Duncan Keith (1,368)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
82	14	55	69	.17	.67	.84
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
404	45	152	197	.11	.38	.49
Noteworthy
No player was relied upon more than the Chicago defender last year; he was first in NHL regular season icetime, first in Olympic icetime and second in NHL playoff icetime.

6. F - Henrik Sedin (1,346)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
82	29	83	112	.35	1.01	1.37
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
410	94	332	426	.23	.81	1.04
Noteworthy
The reigning scoring champ never misses a game – playing five straight full seasons – and never misses a scoring opportunity for Vancouver.

7. F - Pavel Datsyuk (1,303)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
80	27	43	70	.34	.54	.88
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
397	145	293	438	.37	.74	1.10
Noteworthy
Detroit’s superstar was named the NHL's best defensive forward for a third straight season, he may be the league's best technical player.

8. D - Drew Doughty (1,264)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
82	16	43	59	.20	.52	.72
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
163	22	64	86	.13	.39	.53
Noteworthy
The youngest member of Canada's gold medal Olympic team is blossoming into the game's best two-way defenseman for L.A.

9. F - Nicklas Backstrom (1,227)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
82	33	68	101	.40	.83	1.23
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
246	69	189	258	.28	.77	1.05
Noteworthy
Sublimely skilled & beyond durable – Washington’s 100-point centre has never missed an NHL game – playing 246 straight.

10. F - Steven Stamkos (1,201)

2009-10
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
82	51	44	95	.62	.54	1.16
Since the lockout
GP	G	A	PTS	GPG	APG	PPG
161	74	67	141	.46	.42	.88
Noteworthy
Tampa Bay’s super shooter rocketed to 51 goals and a share of the Rocket Richard Trophy in just his second season.

1 - 10 | 11 - 20 | 21 - 30 | 31 - 40 | 41 - 50

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