If there’s one game to win, NHL players want Connor McDavid on their team
Ah yes, one of the most magical times of the NHL calendar. We’re in the final week of the regular season and teams are slogging it out for a final few playoff spots.
Meanwhile, the annual players poll from the NHLPA was released Wednesday morning, with 500 players voting on a wide range of questions.
Most significant? If there’s one game to win, a staggering number of players want Connor McDavid on their team. He garnered 42.4 percent of the vote, followed by a distant Sidney Crosby with 17.3 percent of the vote. Victor Hedman (6.7 percent), Aleksander Barkov (3.5 percent) and Nathan MacKinnon (3.3 percent) received the third, fourth and fifth most votes.
“Connor McDavid is an exceptional talent with three Art Ross trophies, two Hart trophies and three Ted Lindsay Awards, among some of his most impressive feats,” penned the NHLPA. “Fellow players voted the forward as the player they would most want on their side if they need to win a single game, followed by Sidney Crosby in second place and Victor Hedman, representing defensemen, in third place.”
When it came to a netminder they’d want on their team to win one game, Andrei Vasilevskiy was the top ‘tender with 37.4 percent of the vote. Carey Price came in second at 13.9 percent, while Marc-Andre Fleury got 6.7 percent and John Gibson 3.5 percent. A three-way tie for fifth included Jacob Markstrom, Jonathan Quick and Juuse Saros, all at 3.1 percent.
Players were polled on who the top women’s hockey player in the world is and it’s not a big surprise to see Canadian Marie-Philip Poulin on top getting 43.2 percent of the vote. Three Americans, Hilary Knight (20.7 percent), Amanda Kessel (6.2 percent), Kendall Coyne Schofield (5 percent) placed second through fourth, before Canadian Sarah Nurse came in fifth with 2.9 percent of the vote.
“With a nickname like ‘Captain Clutch,’ Marie-Philip Poulin’s reputation precedes her, and the players clearly admire her undeniable talent,” the NHLPA said. “No. 29’s resume is stacked with accolades, highlighted by three gold medals won in four Olympic tournaments – with three golden goals to match them.”
A few more notable nods included:
- Leon Draisaitl being named top passer with 17.7 percent of the vote;
- 53.1 percent of players wishing they could shoot like Alex Ovechkin;
- Montreal’s Bell Centre having the best ice;
- 26.4 percent of players saying the player they least enjoy playing against but would like to have on their team is Brad Marchand.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.