This is the first installment of a five part series breaking down the top 50 people in the hockey world during 2016. They were picked based on skill, accomplishments, notoriety, or compelling narratives.
Last Word on Hockey’s Top 50 Personalities of 2016: 50-41
50. Sebastian Aho
Drafted 35th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Sebastian Aho has sustained quiet success in Raleigh. The 19-year-old Finnish forward, tallied 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 33 games heading into the NHL’s winter break. He sits tied with Jimmy Vesey for 7th in rookie scoring, but has played an integral role for the Carolina Hurricanes.
He’s third in team scoring and his line of Aho-Teuvo Teravainen–Lee Stempniak has been a revelation. They’ve played to the tune of a 56.70 Corsi-for percentage and 62.74 expected goals-for percentage, the latter good for the fifth best line in the NHL that has played minimum 100 minutes together.
Though Aho shouldn’t be a surprise, especially after his magnificent performance at the 2015 World Junior Championships, his play is certainly worth mention.
49. Bryan Rust
The Pittsburgh Penguins right-winger didn’t do much to make a name for himself during the regular season. Bryan Rust amassed just 11 points (four goals) in the 41 games he played, but stars are made in the post-season and that’s where Rust carved out a named for himself. The 24-year-old netted six goals and added three helpers in the Pens 23-game Stanley Cup run. Rust played up and down the line-up getting significant time with Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz.
It was game seven of the Eastern Conference Final where he really made his mark. He tallied twice, opening the scoring and breaking a 1-1 deadlock in the second period to send the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final. Three of his postseason goals came in two games but his performance against the Lightning was enough to make sure will live on in Penguins lore for a long time to come.
48. David Legwand
After 16 seasons in the NHL long-time Nashville Predator David Legwand hung up the skates. He played nearly 1000 games for the club that drafted him second overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, the first pick in the franchise’s history. In nearly 14 seasons with Preds, he earned 566 points (210 goals) in 956 games. He spent time with the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators. Legwand officially announced his retirement from the league on December 22, 2016. The success he had in Nashville, and to a lesser degree Detroit did not translate after the 2013-14 season. He managed just 27 points in a full season with the Senators, and a mere 17 the following year with the Sabres. Legwand scored his last NHL goal in February against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He did not play in the 2016-17 season.
47. Conor Sheary
Much like his teammate Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary played a critical role in making sure the Pens engraved their names on Lord Stanley’s Cup. He tallied 10 points (four goals, six assists) in Pittsburgh post-season run, equalling his 44-game regular season total. None of the points he scored were bigger than his over-time goal in game two of the Stanley Cup Final. Off an offensive zone draw won by Sidney Crosby, the puck came back to Kris Letang, and everyone – including Sheary – was thinking shot. Instead Letang sent the puck to Sheary, just a few feet in front of him, and with a laser-like wrister, Sheary put the Penguins up two games to none on the San Jose Sharks and would eventually win the series in the sixth game there.
His performance on Crosby’s wing in the post-season was enough to assure him a spot alongside the generational center, and in 28 games, the 24-year-old has earned 19 points. The lines of Sheary-Crosby–Rust/Carl Hagelin are fifth and sixth respectively in terms of expected goals for percentage among line combos with at least 50 min of ice time together.
46. Devan Dubnyk
The play of Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk should no longer be surprising people, but the 30-year-old net-minder continues to turn heads. In the calendar year of 2016 Dubnyk played 70 games, one of just four goaltenders to do so. His 25.35 goals saved above average mark in 2015-16 through to 2016-17 ranks fifth in the NHL. Even with regards to box score stats Dubnyk excels, posting .948 save percentage in the 2016-17 season (best in the league), and averaging a .918 save percentage the year before. His 1.57 goals against average this season is the lowest of his career. The Wild backstopper has been heavily relied upon and has performed admirably in the many, many minutes he’s played.
45. Antti Raanta
Antti Raanta isn’t a name many would have picked to be one of the stories of 2016. A back-up to Henrik Lundqvist he was not expected to make many starts, let alone many headlines, but the 27-year-old Fin has done both. He’s started 14 games, just 11 less than his partner, and perennial Vezina trophy candidate in “King Henrik.” In his starts he’s averaged a .926 save percentage, and 1.32 adjusted Fenwick save percentage, a total that ranks him ninth in the league among goalies with minimum 500 minutes played. At one point New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault was turning to Raanta ahead of his partner. That alone is deserving of making the list.
44. Matt Pfeffer
The former analyst for the Montreal Canadiens, Matt Pfeffer’s departure from the organization highlighted a ever-present divide between hockey’s newest way of thinking, and the style currently employed in many NHL front offices. The Canadiens parted ways with the respected analyst immediately after dealing defender P.K. Subban for Shea Weber. Pfeffer, in a move he has said he regrets, spoke out publicly against the move, saying it was against what he had advised. His departure from the organization, combined with the dismal of Edmonton Oilers analyst Tyler Dellow, refueled discussions about the place of analytics in the NHL.
43. Jacob Trouba
The young Winnipeg Jets defender dominated headlines throughout the summer and into the early goings of the 2016-17 season after a lengthy contract holdout. Though the team and player weren’t far off on money, Jacob Trouba’s camp insisted the holdout was about playing the defender on his preferred side. Trade rumors swirled around the 22-year-old. A valuable right-handed shot, capable of playing big top four minutes, the asking price from Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was too high and as result no deal was made. Eventually Trouba and his camp acquiesced signing a two-year, six million dollar contract on November 8th.
42. Craig Anderson
One of the best stories of the 2016-17 season Craig Anderson has been one of the NHL’s best, while dealing with an unimaginable burden. His wife Nichole has been dealing with brain cancer. It’s required Anderson to take numerous leaves of absence from the team, but in the 19 games he’s played this season his .924 save percentage is tied for 11th in the league with his teammate Mike Condon. Twice this season Anderson has been named the NHL’s First Star of the Week. He closed out November a perfect 4-0-0, averaging a .960 save percentage and allowing just 1.25 goals against on average. His numbers are nothing to shake a stick at, and even under normal circumstances they would garner discussion, but to do it while dealing with such a massive weight on his shoulders is one of the most impressive feats of the year.
41. Jonathan Drouin
The Jonathan Drouin saga was a strange one. A bitter dispute between Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and the young forward wound up with sending the former third overall pick to the Syracuse crunch, but once there he decided he wasn’t going to play for the AHL club. After a lengthy holdout, and a one-on-one chat with Cooper, he rejoined the Crunch and was soon called up to join the Lightning. Once there Drouin played at a torrid pace. He managed 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his first 21 games, but was nearly a point-per-game player in the post-season. His 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 17 games was tied for 16th in post-season scoring and cemented his status with the Lightning.
This season Drouin has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 27 games with the big club and has been a staple of the Lightning`s top six, and their powerplay.
Part two of Last Word on Hockey’s top personalities is coming soon.
All stats from Corsica.Hockey unless otherwise stated. Stats are score, zone, and venue adjusted.
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