The Next Big Thing: Gary Payton II

How have you and your family been?


We're good, everybody is fine. I'm just getting situated trying figure my college stuff out .

Can you tell us about your hometown and how it changed you as a player?

Seattle, Seattle, what can I say about Seattle.

How was growing up as the "Son of Glove"?

It was fun but yet challenging because I always knew I would have to live up to his name and reputation.

Did it ever get overwhelming and/or challenging?

 I wouldn't say overwhelming I would say it was more challenging than anything because people test how down to earth I am but my mother raised me to be humble and respectful and not to look down on people.

Where are you balling right now? And it's not known where you are going to play ball, care to share?

 I just got done with prep school at Westwind Prep in Phoenix, Arizona and now I'm looking at a lot of low and mid d1 schools just not for certain which one I will be attending for fall 2012.

When did you first have the ball in your hands?

Ever since I could remember I would say when I was like 2.

What brings you back to basketball each and every day?

Knowing that I have to take of my family, most important take care of my mother so I can give back to her for everything that she has given me over the years, she makes me strive to do better and be the best I can be.

Being from Seattle and the son of Gary Payton I'm almost 100% sure you're a Sonic fan, but care to share who your favorite players are and how they influenced you?

Yes til this day I'm still a sonics fan I wish they would of never relocated him, but one of my favorite players is Lebron James because of all his different abilities that his has from his strength his drive and love for the game he's an all around great player. My other favorite player is Carmelo Anthony because I like his game, how he can get his shot off any way he wants he's another all around great player but of course my favorite player is my dad because his defense is incredible he had the ability to lock people up and he had great vision.

Did they affect who you are today? Why or why not?

 Yes they did if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be the basketball player I am today and my ability to play defense very well. 

What do you feel are your best talents and skills?

One of my best skills is defense because my arms are really long and I'm able to deflect a lot of passes. another one of my best skills is jumping, also able to hit a 15 ft jump shot.

How did those become part of your game?

They become part of my game because I count on my defense to get my offense rolling.

Scouting reports say you are mostly an athletic, defensive player, do you agree with those as your main skills and do you feel like they're missing out on something?

Yes I agree with them because I count on my defense to take my game to the next level.

Is there anything you hope to bring to the college basketball game?

I'm hoping to bring athleticism and great defense and a high IQ for the game

How quickly do you think you can adjust to the college game?

I think I can adjust to it pretty quick because I have a high IQ of the game so it shouldn't be that difficult to adjust.

Your half brother said that if he could be any athlete ever he would still be himself, do you feel the same way? If not who would you want to be?

Yes I feel the same way, I would like to build a name for myself and start my own legacy.

Is there anything you want to show people?

Yes I would like show people my game and how I play it but at the same time no because if they like the way I play then good but if they don't then they don't.

Basketball has personally taught me a lot, have you learnt from the game?

I've learned to work with others on and off the court and also learned how to give it your all and make a difference on the court.

Coming from an area like Seattle did you ever doubt yourself?

No, never a lot of people are from a not known place/area and I'm pretty sure that doesn't make them have doubt, it doesn't matter where you're from.

If there was only one player you could watch and learn from who would it be?

I would watch and learn from Kobe Bryant because how smart he his when it comes to the game of basketball.

I know Jr. wants to play college ball, and you too, are you guys wanting to go to the NBA?

Yes that's where I'm striving to get.

Is basketball a centerpiece in your family because of your dad, or do you think you guys would have done it
either way?

Yes it was a centerpiece because of him but we had a choice to play other sports if we wanted to but we chose to play basketball. 

Is there any type of play you love to run?

No I just like to get up and down the floor.

What part of basketball is your favorite if you can choose one?

My favorite part of the game is the atmosphere of it.

You are so athletic and use it with your above the rim moves, where'd it come from and how come you go above the rim unlike The Mitten (Gary Payton Jr) and The Glove (Gary Payton)?

Because I worked on my legs a lot and I'm very long so if I added the ability to jump high and get above the rim it would help my game.

Where did you learn to be such a good defender in the passing lanes, and rebounding?

Part of it is from my father and the other part is watching other guys in the league.

We've seen clips of you drive to the hoop, and even cram, posterize and assasinate people, where does that
come from?

It just comes from working on my legs and me wanting to put people on posters. 

Who is the best player in your family?

My dad just for the simple fact that he made it and all his hard work paid off .  

I'm guessing you get compared to your dad, if and when it happens how do you feel?

I don't really worry about it when I get compared to him because we're two different players.

and last but not least, here at TheSportsBoys we love that you took time out to talk to us thank you for doing the interview and good luck with your career!

Gary Payton II is a long, athletic, confident combo-guard ready to take you out the game by shutting you down or dunking on you. A great player and even better person ready to come at you for four quarters. Playing more like a John Wall type player than anyone in his family, and he's got that going for him. 

Gary Payton II Video

You know after seeing that GPII flew, crossed and hustled into your heart, and we wish him good luck in his basketball career.

NBA: Mock Draft

30. Golden State (from San Antonio): Jae Crowder

29. Chicago: Jeff Taylor

28. Oklahoma City: Evan Fournier

27. Miami: Festus Ezeli

26. Indiana: Arnett Moultrie

25. Memphis: Moe Harkless

24. Cleveland (from LA Lakers): Fab Melo

23. Atlanta: Tyler Zeller

22. Boston (from LA Clippers): Austin Rivers

21. Boston: Jared Sullinger

20. Denver: Royce White

19. Orlando: Tony Wroten

18. Minnesota (from Utah): Marquis Teague

17. Dallas: Meyers Leonard

16. Houston (from New York): Quincy Miller

15. Philadelphia: Perry Jones

14. Houston: Draymond Green

13. Phoenix: Jeremy Lamb

12. Milwaukee: Terrence Jones

11. Portland: Terrence Ross

10. New Orleans (from Minnesota): Kendall Marshall

9. Detroit: John Henson

8. Toronto: Dion Waiters

7. Golden State: Andre Drummond

6. Portland (from Brooklyn): Damian Lillard

5. Sacramento: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

4. Cleveland: Harrison Barnes

3. Washington: Bradley Beal

2. Charlotte: Thomas Robinson

1. New Orleans: Anthony Davis

Top 10: Dirtiest Danglers in the 'L'

Most of our lists only have 11 players, but this list needed an extra spot to fit in a dirty dangler who could not be left off the list:

11. B) Anze Kopitar
Anze Kopitar does not have the speed of most the players on this list but he sure has the moves to put him on it, playing similar to a Malkin-Lite with his shoulders and dekes (I was gonna say Mini-Malkin before realizing he has over 20 pounds on Malkin) he makes highlight reals everywhere and almost every night, even when Anze has a goalless night you have been entertained, here's to Slovenia's best and only.

11. A) Alexander Semin
Alexander Semin is "The Other Alex" in DC and "Alexander The Great" wherever he goes in free agency this summer, and hopefully he goes back to his dangling ways for whoever drops a ridiculous amount of money on him this year, Semin is a great talent but doesn't seem to care (kinda like Alexei Kovalev not to long ago, and Alexander Mogilny before that, hmmmm I'm definitely not naming my kid Alex...) If he can get it together he will stay one of the dirtiest danglers and funnest players to watch.

10. John Tavares
Tavares is one of the best danglers in the league after only 3 years, and with his lack of speed (as opposed to super speedy dangler from the same draft class as Tavares) he needs to have some slick moves to score his goals this year, and it helped him make the leap from good player to great player this year, with him deking players left and right the Isles have something to have fun with.

9. Rick Nash
Tell me Rick Nash does not deserve to be on this list, I DARE you... Rick Nash is on this list and for good reason, he would be way higher if not for his obvious slowing down lately and others speeding up in terms of deking, but he still has some great moves and once he is rejuvenated he will be up there once again.

8. Tyler Seguin
Tyler Seguin made a living in the WHL by deking then passing to an open man for a wrister, but now that he's in the NHL he is making a living off of his burst of speed, then undressing the last defender and goalie (or his beauty wrister which makes goalies look just as bad, or his one timers). Seguin has deked many in just two years on his way to a cup, and become the Bruins best offensive contributor, not to mention he has a great shootout percentage after taking many shots in his career so far.

7. Patrick Kane
Patty Kane has been spinning defenders and showing off his sick hands since the day he came to the show, and had recently surfaced as everyone's choice for best hands (as they were tired of saying Datsyuk) and still is the choice for many (Well until number two on this list emerged).

6. Claude Giroux
Giroux emerged this year as a franchise player and picked up where he left off last year turning defenders inside out, with his very very quick dekes from side to side, and many other moves.

5. Alexander Ovechkin
Ovechkin has done everything from a simple quick deke to an off the boards pass to him self in the middle of a spin move to scoring while rolling over on the ice after deking a defender, what more is there for him to do.

4. Sidney Crosby
"Sid the Kid" isn't really a kid anymore, in fact should be entering his career peak, but injuries have held him back a little bit, despite the injuries he has remained a flawless skater and amazing dangler, putting top d-men to shame regularly and then doing it all over again.

3. Evgeni Malkin
Malkin is a great deker and as close as anyone to number 2, too bad it's still not very close but whatever... Back to Malkin, Malkin goes to the net with an aggressive mix of shoulders and dekes (in a similar way to how Peter Forsberg did back in the day), and it seems to work amazingly, if I had to have a shootout with players in the league right now Malkin would be in my top three picks for sure.

2. Matt Duchene
The day Datsyuk retires Matt Duchene is the "Dangling King" and it doesn't seem like it will be close, Matt Duchene has faked more defenders in his 2 and some change years than most players do in a lifetime, having more than 3 goals up for goal of the year talk and some of the dirtiest dekes I have seen in a while.

1. Pavel Datsyuk
Datsyuk is widely considered the greatest dangler of all-time, and to even be considered that you have to be close, and even if he wasn't he is untouchable in the game today.

NHL Free Agents

Predictions on where free agents of relevance (in our opinions of course) will go.

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Saku Koivu C Anaheim
Best Fit: Retirement
Where he will likely go: Retirement
Reason: Koivu isn't putting points up like he once did and isn't a very effective player anymore, so he should probably go out with some dignity.


Teemu Selanne RW Anaheim
Best Fit: Anaheim
Where he will likely go: Retirement
Reason: Selanne is still going well, he can keep it going for at least one more season but he is not really up to his usual standards so it seems like he will retire at the end of the year.


Joe Corvo D Boston
Best Fit: Los Angeles
Where he will likely go: Boston
Reason: Even though Corvo was effective in Boston as a stay at home defense men, he is familiar with LA's system and they may want to beef their D up after losing Jack Johnson.


Olli Jokinen C Calgary
Best Fit: Phoenix
Where he will likely go: Phoenix
Reason: Jokinen is not the player he once was but he can still put up the points as he proved this year throwing up 61 points and 23 goals, any team needing veteran leadership, Phoenix is needing a first and second line center as they have third line centers running the show and Jokinen would get to play great minutes and go trigger happy.


David Jones RW Colorado
Best Fit: Ottawa or Boston
Where he will likely go: St.Louis
Reason: His playing time will be bumped up in St.Louis or Ottawa, while it would be cut in Boston but he fits Boston's playing style more with his big bodied way of going to the net, not as physical as he could be but Boston could help that very much, while St.Louis will help him be a possible top line player and keep him a 20+ goal scorer, and Ottawa would put him either on the wing next to Spezza or Turris who could possibly make him a 30 goal scorer.


Jiri Hudler LW/C Detroit
Best Fit: Detroit
Where he will likely go: Ottawa
Reason: After having his best goal scoring year and second best overall it seems like he's going to want more than the three million dollars he made this year, in which case I feel Detroit should forget him and move on from the Hudler era (if you can call it that), so anywhere in need of a good offensive winger and solid defender should look at Jiri Hudler and his talents. Playing next to Spezza with that nasty wrist shot would give him a chance to hit anywhere between 25-35 goals and I feel it would be fun to watch too.


Nick Lidstrom D Detroit
Best Fit: Detroit
Where he will likely go: Detroit
Reason: Even though he is old and his PPQB skills have worn down, his defense is still up there with the best in the league, hopefully Nicklas sticks around another year.


Ryan Smyth LW Edmonton
Best Fit: Edmonton
Where he will likely go: Edmonton
Reason: Smyth is one of the all-time greatest Oilers and should have been there his whole career, now that he's back I don't see him leaving for at least a year.


Dustin Penner LW Los Angeles
Best Fit: Toronto
Where he will likely go: Ottawa
Reason: The Leafs offense started to become potent this year with Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel, and if Nazem Kadri gets the chance he deserves they will need a winger for him, if they can add Penner they could put either him or Lupul on Kadri's line and create a very solid second line.


Ryan Suter D Nashville
Best Fit: Detroit
Where he will likely go: New York Rangers
Reason: The Rangers need a better first line defense-men, and Suter is just the player that can change that for them, wanting to move somewhere where his family will be able to stay permanently I'm thinking him and NY will match perfectly, not to mention the fact he automatically become their star defender and a fan favorite.


Martin Brodeur G New Jersey
Best Fit: New Jersey
Where he will likely go: New Jersey
Reason: Honestly I am hoping that Brodeur has the guts to call it quits this season I also realized he has had that guts to stay in the league nowadays, with the media hounding him after every loss and his extended playoff run this year it seems like he won't, on top of that, he is still posting solid numbers and having good seasons.


Zach Parise LW New Jersey
Best Fit: Detroit
Where he will likely go: New Jersey, Colorado or New York Rangers
Reason: The star of New Jersey will most likely come back after the extended playoff run unless Suter convinces him to come with him, but right now in my opinion he will be heading either back, to Colorado or NY and I can't narrow down my decision


Petr Sykora RW New Jersey
Best Fit: New Jersey
Where he will likely go: New Jersey
Reason: I think the wrist shot hitting elder statesman comes back to New Jersey after their extended playoff run, either that or he retires and I don't see why he would after scoring 21 goals and 23 assists.


Matt Carle D Philadelphia
Best Fit: Colorado
Where he will likely go: Colorado
Reason: Colorado would like to add a good two way defender next to EJ and Matt Carle seems to be just what the doctor ordered, he can be a number 2 defender on a good team and a number 1 on an average team, Colorado with him could be sent over the hump and into a low seed in the playoffs (which they would have done if not for the injury to Matt Duchene that lasted the whole year) and if the team is healthy they can be all the way up to a 5th seed, and they have the money to throw at him.


Jaromir Jagr RW Philadelphia
Best Fit: Philadelphia
Where he will likely go: Philadelphia
Reason: Jagr has been a great contributor in Philly's system and will continue to produce next year even if it's a little less in the point production area he will contribute.


Shane Doan RW Phoenix
Best Fit: Phoenix
Where he will likely go: Phoenix
Reason: Doan has had his whole career with the Phoenix Coyotes franchise (only one year in Winnipeg and I'm sure he wants to forget it), and I'm almost 100% percent certain he wants to finish it there, it's either that or he retires this year.


Ray Whitney LW Phoenix
Best Fit: Phoenix
Where he will likely go: Phoenix
Reason: Ray Whitney likes playing in Phoenix and got the playing time, money and role he wanted, nothing is going to stop him from doing the same this summer.


Alexander Semin RW Washington
Best Fit: Colorado or Detroit
Where he will likely go: Colorado or Detroit
Reason: Semin wants playing time, which he will get on both teams, but he is also looking to be a star, which Detroit will not give him, Datsyuk is their star and coming to Colorado would make him the best player on the team, and having people like Sakic on the staff might make him want to try and live up to his potential, similar to playing with Datsyuk.


Tomas Vokoun G Washington
Best Fit: Tampa Bay
Where he will likely go: KHL or Tampa
Reason: Tampa is in desperate need of a goalie, Vokoun could still easily be the number 1 goaltender on many teams and they should and most likely will make an attempt to sign him, but his "best friend" is in the KHL on a rebuilding team, on which he can have fun with his friend,without much pressure.


Restricted Free Agents

Tuuka Rask G Boston
Best Fit: Boston
Reason: Tuuka Rask along with Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton are the future stars of the Boston Bruins and Rask and Seguin are already good players on the team, Rask knows the system and has good friends on the team and the keys are about to be given to him and Seguin, Rask is going to stay in Boston and for good reason.


Matt Duchene C/W Colorado
Best Fit: Colorado
Reason: Duchene has been a star in Colorado's system since his first year, but was injured this year making his last 20+ games unbelievably painful, Duchene had seemed to have made some improvements to his game, including defensive and dirty area improvements, John Tavares took a huge step in his game this year and it looked like Duchene was due for one too, Colorado will definitely sign him in the off-season and he will become the focal point of the offense unless they sign Alexander Semin and even then he will be the star one day. Hopefully he has a bright future.


Erik Johnson D Colorado
Best Fit: Los Angeles
Reason: EJ could benefit from playing next to Doughty, but he will still be the stud on Colorado's first defensive line, so this is really irrelevant but I guarantee that next year he will make leaps in his game, and hopefully he will be paired with Duncan Siemens (whom which I will add has been compared to Scott Stevens), and with Elliot and Barrie coming up they will become a better defensive team, with EJ leading the way.


Jamie McGinn LW Colorado
Best Fit: Colorado
Reason: A great prospect with a great wrist shot, I believe McGinn can be a 20+ goal scorer very soon, especially next to Duchene, Stastny or even O'Reilly.


Ryan O'Reilly C Colorado
Best Fit: Colorado
Reason: O'Reilly will be Colorado's captain in a year, and it's for good reason, the youngster led the team in points this year (Duchene would have if not for injury) and was one of the best defensive forwards in the league, had it not been for his teams absolutely horrid defense he would have been a Selke Finalist no doubt, O'Reilly will have a bright future in Colorado and I have a hard time picturing him anywhere else.


Jamie Benn W/C Dallas
Best Fit: Dallas
Reason: He's becoming the Star the Stars have needed since Modano's departure, in fact he's a solid Modano impersonation, it'll be fun watching him grow in the state of Texas.


Devan Dubnyk G Edmonton
Best Fit: Edmonton
Reason: Devan Dubnyk has been very good, especially for Edmonton who is in desperate need of a goalie who can help them stop people from scoring, Dubnyk became a good goalie this year posting a 0.914 save percentage while superstar goalie Marc-Andre Fleury posted a 0.913 save percentage, having a higher or even close to save percentage as Marc-Andre Fleury (a goalie who when someone is not in his head is said to be the best goalie since Patrick Roy) is a great step into the future.


Carey Price G Montreal
Best Fit: Montreal
Reason: Carey Price is truly one of my favorite goalies in the league, able to stay cool in the clutch and withstand all of Montreal's bullsh*t while still playing excellent, he is able to withstand it all due to his perception that he is good and people are jealous, but it also makes him a goalie that many teams don't want to deal with (his mentality is kind of like Patrick Roy's), Montreal is looking to bounce back to greatness and Carey Price will help them do it.

PK Subban D Montreal
Best Fit: Edmonton
Reason: Edmonton is playing for the future and so is PK Subban while, Montreal is blasting him and it seems like can become a great defense-men, and he has the potential to be one of the best puck moving defenders in the league, in fact his skills with his great skating he has more potential than most of the young defense-men in the league.


Shea Weber D Nashville
Best Fit: Vancouver
Reason: Shea Weber was what Vancouver needed in the finals against Boston last year, a bruiser who could stand up to Boston, and he could have probably pushed them to winning the cup, but Weber to Vancouver would be very complex so for now at the very least it looks like he's stuck in Nashville.


Erik Karlsson D Ottawa
Best Fit: Ottawa
Reason: Karlsson is already a star in Ottawa's system and will continue to grow, at 21 he posted a godly (for a defense-men and a great for a forward) 78 points and 19 goals with a great +16 rating, Karlsson is a bright part of Ottawa's future.


T.J. Oshie RW St.Louis
Best Fit: St.Louis
Reason: T.J. Oshie has been improving little by little every year and in this playoff seeded system he has been very consistent, why move somewhere when you can be a contributor to a playoff team with a bright future?


Chris Stewart RW St.Louis
Best Fit: Colorado
Reason: Colorado needs a top 6 forward and Stewart needs Peter Stastny what else can I say?


Ben Scrivens G Toronto
Best Fit: Toronto
Reason: Almost identical in situation to Edmonton, Toronto now has a pretty potent offense and some good defensive prospects (plus Phaneuf) but their goalie situation is as bad as it gets, Reimer and Gustavsson should and will not be sharing the goalie duties on a playoff team, and definitely not a contender, with his in his net style and strange glove positioning (though it works) reminiscent of Toronto Maple Leafs great goalie Felix Potvin (both of them having cat like reflexes and crazy agility) it seems like the Toronto Maple Leafs just caught a break with Ben Scrivens showing he can be a legitimate NHL goalie.


Cory Schneider G Vancouver
Best Fit: Vancouver
Reason: Vancouver had a good goalie (used to be great, except in the clutch) in Roberto Luongo but his inconsistency and inability to stay cool in pressure (or believe in himself, these are the main reason he is inconsistent), but Cory Schneider is completely different, always cool, or at least always looks it, and believes he is going to win before it happens. Schneider is going to be a great goalie and in my opinion the greatest in Vancouver history before it's over (sorry Cap'n Kirk), here's to a fun time watching Schneids in Vancouver.


Mike Green D Washington
Best Fit: Boston
Reason: Mike Green is a good team defender, average one-on-one defender, amazing offensive defense-men and an unbelievable power-play quarterback, which is exactly what Boston needs to be a Stanley Cup champion once again, with a fixed power-play (over the anemic one they have right now) they should be first in the east and possibly the Presidents Trophy winners for atleast the year they get it.


Evander Kane LW Winnipeg
Best Fit: Winnipeg
Reason: Evander Kane is Winnipeg's star and hit thirty goals this year, that number will definitely improve as will his 27 assists, I'm guessing the Jets don't let him go.

How To Clean Stained Jerseys

This guide will help remove stains from any white part of a jersey:

1. Lay fabric on a white dry towel.
2. Wet stain.
3. Add bleach solution with a Q-tip to stain. Add enough to cover stain.
4. Accelerate the chemical action by dipping Q-tip in hot water and then touch stained area.
5. Put Q-tip in ammonia and again touch stained area.
6. Again use Q-tip with hot water to accelerate chemical action.
7. Dab area with cool water.
8. Dab with vinegar to neutralize area.
9. Use different Q-tips for each part of the spotting operation. Do not mix different chemicals on the same Q-tip.

Be safe and this should work.

The Next Big Thing: Tyler Seguin P.II

Tyler Seguin carried his momentum from the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs, that's not the only thing he carried, he brought his comparison to Joe Sakic. A great comparison but this time I want to show you how. Here it is:

- Both were similar in terms of size: 5'11'' 190lbs (when Sakic broke into the league) and 6'1'' 182lbs
- Both are strong on there skates and can put in work around the net (as seen in the playoffs and later this year)
- Both lay more finesse games but still have power qualities and move, and can play the power game
- Both were excellent skaters and has great speed and agility
- Both have/had great 2-way potential (Sakic added a defensive game around '91-'92, Tyler Seguin already started)
- Both were high IQ players and excellent passers (Seguin has been improving since reaching the 'L and showed his great passing all through his time in the OHL)
- Both could find open spaces using quick bursts and good hands
- Both execute the give and go to perfection

- Both are more north-south stickhandlers as opposed to east-west danglers (Both had/have great hands but used simple moves, such as standard stickhandling and passes more than complicated Datsyuk/Fedorov/Bure/Mogilny moves)
- Both had/have straight forward games and a trick that is unstoppable (think Staal, Carter, Spezza, Recchi style players, and the trick for Sakic was his great puck control, a burst of speed with a nasty wrister on the end, Seguin ditto)
- Both have great clappers but deadly wristers and are more wrister oriented
- If you compared Seguin's second year (AKA first year with similar playing time to Joe Sakic's rookie year) the point production is fairly similar:
Sakic: 0.33 Goals Per Game, 0.56 Assists Per Game, 0.89 Points Per Game
Seguin: 0.36 Goals Per Game, 0.47 Assists Per Game, 0.83 Points Per Game
- Last but not least, the clutch gene, Sakic was one of the most clutch players ever (nicknamed "Cap'n Clutch") and Seguin lit the lamp on 7 game winners in the regular season and one overtime game winner against the Washington Capitals

Stylistically he is almost identical to Joe Sakic and in my opinion the closest we will see while Joe Sakic is still relevant (which I hope is a long time), I doubt he'll reach the level Sakic produced at but he may hit the 100 point plateau more than once in his career. In my opinion Seguin will be around 80-90 points in his prime, 30+ goals and hit 40 around 4 or 5 times and 50 goals once, not to shabby in my opinion. Seguin is extremely speedy (something that people seem to forget about Sakic), quicker than lighting and he can take games over (he almost seems to be doing it enough to reach the 80 point mark in his third season). Tyler Seguin could already be the number 1 center on many teams, becoming the highest scorer on the reigning Stanley Cup Champs and making his way into becoming the focal point of their offense, in fact he is such a good player that certain B's fans are hoping for the B's to make a Phillyesque trade by trading B's #1 center David Krejci for someone like Bobby Ryan and moving Tyler Seguin to the first line and putting Bobby Ryan on his wing (and giving Anaheim an established regular season and playoff scorer as well as clearing room up for Seguin in a Giroux like situation as the #1 center).

Seguin matured a lot this year, and will only continue to grow as he went from not touching the corners and being pushed around in front of the net to heading to the corners more and trying to get the puck and scoring goals like his hustle goal in which he was pushed down in game 7 of the 2012 Bruins Vs Caps series in the first round, Tyler Seguin is becoming a better all-around player and it's very fun to watch. Seguin has put the puck in the net in a variety of ways, and his play and wrist shot is a little underrated by average fans and I'm thinking by the time he ends his career his wrister will be considered top 5 of all time (next to Markus Naslund and Joe Sakic, a very bold statement but I will stand by it until he proves me wrong). The Bruins compared Seguin to Steven Stamkos as soon as they drafted him, (another solid Sakic comparison, but a better one-timer than either, and they are no one time slouches), and it seems like he may one day be on their levels (I see him more on Modano's level points wise, not goals wise). Seguin can go coast to coast going by defenders with the quickest and slightest of moves, and finishing with his signature wrister from the face-off circle, grabbing points and making goalies rethink their strategies. Tyler Seguin is here to stay and has lit his career on fire in terms of being a shooting star in the NHL, here's to a bright future to someone who will hopefully be an NHL great one day, T-Segs this one's for you.

In My Opinion: Top 5 at Each Position

Center

(The article is just a re-organized version of my last top 5, with new players added, and the players had to play at least half the season)

5. Jonathan Toews:
   When Toews first started I thought the number 19 would not be a smart choice for him, however he has proved me wrong over the past while. Toews does everything needed on the ice, make plays, score, and definitely win faceoffs but he also adds values with his great defensive play, His Stanley Cup, leadership and do-it-all-for-my-team skillset catapulted him over players who looked better on paper.


4. Jason Spezza:
   Jason Spezza is a passing aficionado, he sees things that no one else sees, it may have taken some time in the AHL and some disciplinary actions but it all worked out worked out for the better as Jason Spezza is one of the best players in the league and all-time. Spezza may not be the biggest goal scorer but the guy can still hit somewhere between 20-35 goals and on a down year he'll drop 30+ assists and when he's doing good he can dish somewhere between 50-70 assists, tell me he should be lower than third.

3. Pavel Datsyuk:
   Once again one of the top players in the NHL is Pavel Datsyuk. Datsyuk has amassed nine trophies over the years, four Lady Byngs, three Selkes and two Stanley Cups. Datsyuk is possibly the greatest puck-handler ever (along with Kovalev, Selanne, Sakic, Bure, Fedorov, Crosby, Bossy and Gretzky), to go along with the fact he may be one of the greatest defensive forwards ever.

2. Steven Stamkos:
   Stamkos is young and bursting with potential, however hes already one of the worlds best players. Stamkos' shooting and scoring are uncanny while still passing with great accuracy and playing great defense. Stamkos passion and physicality are with the best of them too, if it were not for a Stanley Cup win Stamkos might have even beat out Toews on our list. Hopefully Stamkos has a great career, the way it's going now he will be up there with Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman one day, Here's to an even brighter future to one of the NHL's elite.


1. Evgeni Malkin:
   Evgeni Malkin's athletics and handling are eerily reminiscent to a young Alexei Kovalev while his scoring and play making seem to be better, Malkin can find the net when he wants to or find teammates whenever while still being a terror in passing lanes, Malkin has 423 points in 357 games when this post was written and if he stays healthy will remain among the L's elite.Left Wing

5. Jamie Benn:
   Jamie Benn is a big bodied sniper who draws comparisons to Mike Modano, both snipers who can make plays as well, Benn is the leader of the stars, a solid defensive player and good with the puck too. This year he showed heart and improvement and that the underdog can become a good player. Jamie has some, including me believing he will be a great player.

4. Milan Lucic
:   A bruising big man who can defend better than around 90% of forwards in the league, he snapped the nylon thirty times last season and seems like in a couple of year no one will be able to defend him. Lucic has great speed and amazing speed for his side and his physicality is a weapon that not many players can defend or match.

3. James Neal:
James Neal went from solid NHL player to great all-around player, notching 40 goals (5 less goals than he had points last year) and 41 assists, not to mention the fact that he is an above average defensive player too, If I had to pick a player to put on my wing as player of the future I would pick Neal. James Neal is on his way to stardom.

2. Daniel Sedin:
   Sedin is a marvelous passer and great goal scorer. Daniel's downfalls however may have caused his team the Stanley Cup last year, he is not physical at all, his defense is horrid and he lack of PK time are terrible. If Daniel can become more physical and defensive he could be top two in this category especially when his offense is good enough to place him at number three.

1. Alexander Ovechkin
:   Ovechkin embodies what the NHL should be, an all around beast that tries no matter how his team is playing. Ovie, the slick moved, physical specimen, and top all around player in the 'L', has amazing talent but somehow has not lead  his team to the Stanley Cup Finals, if however Ovie wins the cup by the time our Top 100 Hockey Players list comes out he may boost more than a couple of spots.
Right Wing
5. Jarome Iginla:
   Iginla is one of the most consistent players in the league and doesn't seem to be slowing at age 34. He is possibly the best power forward in the NHL and is definitely one of the best forwards of the past decade. When Jarome Iginla is coming at you on the offensive end or defensive its like looking down the barrel of a nine millimeter, it sucks.

4. Tyler Seguin:
   Tyler Seguin, the player that should have been the 1st pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, a solid player who led the reigning Stanley Cup champions in points and goals and led the league in plus minus until the final weeks, Tyler has a devastating wrist shot, a great slap shot, great hands, and that burst of speed that seems to set great players apart from the good ones (in most sports, basketball, football, hockey and more), he is going to be one of the top names in the league soon and this year was great on it's one.

3. Martin St.Louis:
   St.Louis is one of the fastest skaters but his best trait is the fact that he leaves everything he has on the ice every time he leaves. MSL is a gifted scorer and terrific passer, but in someways he's a bizarro KG in the fact that you can't tell how great of a leader or player he would be if there was less talent around him.

2. Phil Kessel:
   Kessel is possibly the best young sniping winger in the league (Stamkos is definitely the best young sniper), his defensive play is getting better every year and it seems like he can hit the 40 goal plateau that he is destined for, in fact he might reach 48 goals in my opinion.

1. Claude Giroux:   Giroux definitely didn't come out of nowhere but we didn't think he'd be the star that he is, Giroux put up 76 points last year and 93, this year hitting 20+ goals and 50+ and 60+ assists in his last two years. Giroux' teams his amazing playmaking with unbelievable puckhandling, a quick shot and solid defensive play, he's only going to get better which is scary considering he just hit 90+ points in his 4th NHL season.
Defense

5. Drew Doughty:
   2011 may have been a down year but Doughty is already an amazing shutdown defender and big hitter, if I need a young defender to build my team around Drew Doughty would be one of, if not my top pick. Doughty also has better than average offensive abilities when on the ice.

4. Nicklas Lidstrom:
   The 42 year old somehow finds a way to be a top D-man in the NHL every year. Lidstrom is second all time in Norris trophies won and has some of the best defensive hands ever. Lidstrom is no slouch when it comes to hitting, and his combo of vision, stick checking and skating make him go down as one of the greats. 

3. Shea Weber:
     The shutdown defense-men is the best all around D-man in the league, a captain and leader that embodies what his team stands for, and not to mention he should win more than a couple Norris trophies in his career. Shea Weber is also one of the most devastating hitters in the 'L'. Weber also owns the title as best man to man shutdown defender with Duncan Keith looming.

2. Zdeno Chara:
   Chara has size, he knows how to use it... That's a nightmare for opposing offenses. Chara not only knows how to poke check, hit and intimidate his opponents, he also has the NHL's hardest slapshot.

1. Duncan Keith:
   Duncan Keith is up there with Shea Weber as best man to man shut down defender in the 'L', He is a passionate leader that has not only won a Norris trophy but also a Stanley Cup in his short career. Keith is no slouch offensively either, his blue line shot is excellent and accurate too. Duncan Keith will stop you period.
Goalies

5. Jimmy Howard
:Jimmy Howard is the bright young spot on an aging Detroit Red Wings team, having his best year of his career posting a save percentage of 92% and a goals against average of 2.12, even if Detroit is going downhill, Jimmy Howard should keep them afloat.


4. Tim Thomas
He may be old but he's Tim Thomas, he plays the goal like no one in the league, almost similar to GianLuigi Buffon in his prime, Thomas is a great goalie and easily top 5 in the league.

3. Henrik Lundqvist:
   One of  the most consistent goalies ever, you always know what your going to get with Lundqvist, he is great all around and led the league in shutouts last year, he's still got some gas in the tank and will continue to be great in the crease.


2. Pekka Rinne:
   The 2nd quickest goalie and also one of the biggest, Rinne's glove comes second to none in the current NHL. His unorthodox style is reminiscent of a modern day Dominic Hasek (Obviously not as good though), he may one day be the NHL's best.


1. Jonathan Quick:
Quick is the most agile and quickest goalie in the league, .929 save percentage and a 1.95 GAA it's no doubt he is one of the best goalies in the league, but the best? You already forgot the fact that he has been keeping the Kings in games they had no business being in and losing games only because his offense would not score, Quick posted ten shutouts and beat
the Presidents Trophy winners in the playoffs