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

In My Opinion: Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday, AKA "Baby Glove" is possibly the best perimeter defender in the game, grabbing 1.7 steals a game and bringing an intensity unmatched by most of the league, and his on ball defence is on par with the reigning top defensive point guard Rajon Rondo... Wait... On par with Rajon Rondo? Jrue Holiday hasn't even made an All-Defensive team and on par with Rajon Rondo? Well it's true and he should grab an All-Defensive team anyway.

Jrue Holiday has the lateral quickness to stay in front of anyone, can shoot all the way out to the 3 consistently, and can facilitate well too, he just doesn't get the chance much with Andre Iguodala, Evan Turner, and Lou Williams taking time running the point too, but still Jrue manages to dish the ball 4.4 times a game (less than last years 6.5, but he didn't have Evan Turner's emergence to deal with last year), "Baby Glove" is one of the most fundamentally sound players in the league, who doesn't gain much attention with flash, perhaps that is why he is so underrated. 

Holiday has a tight & low dribble and cross that is reminiscent of 90's point guards Mark Jackson and the player Jrue is compared to most Gary Payton, It may not be the most popular cross in the league but it has had it's fair share of victims. Jrue is quiet on the floor but he is a leader in the locker room, and a defensive general which the league needs nowadays. Jrue has been getting better this year, and I think he will continue to improve until he is an elite point guard, and I believe he won't stop there. Jrue has been improving his game, throwing a little bit of his post game in with his great shooting, great dribbling and passing, he could be a 20 point scorer in the right system.

Point is, Jrue Holiday is a stud and a star in the making, with a great offensive game and an amazing defensive skillset, which is the formula for a star and maybe even a HOFer.

In My Opinion: John Wall

Maybe we should change this series to "What does the future hold" as lately we have been talking about what is going to happen or what we would like to happen in the future. Well here it is.

John Wall, the most physically talented point guard I have seen in my life, the thing is, he's not just athletic, he has unbelievable vision. Wait... Did I just say most physically talented and on top of that unbelievable vision? Well for any of you who don't believe me it's true, watch this:

John Brenkus summed it up right there with "The court vision of Steve Nash and the dunking of Derrick Rose" plus not to mention he's faster than both, John Wall is too talented to fail, not to mention he is a solid leader (If he gets a good coach I guarantee he can be one of the best leader's) with a good head on his shoulder's. John Wall is an unbelievable athlete, with the best highlight reel I have ever seen, and the product of John Calipari's dribble-drive system may very well one day become one of the ten best point guards the NBA has ever seen.

In the Washington Wizards time of need they were blessed with the number 1 overall pick and they grabbed the physical specimen of a point guard John Wall, the thing is, though he is trying to turn the team around, but certain players aren't helping (Nick Young especially) You can call it growing pains or a sophomore slump the thing is the Wizards need to treat it right and let John Wall be John Wall so he doesn't go Stephon Marbury on us and only try to get his, and it's most likely to happen now then when The Wizards become a solid team (I know it seems ridiculous but it will happen, trust me).

John Wall, while possibly going through a sophomore slump has already improved his shot selection by cutting his jump shot attempts and going to the hoop instead (Which you could argue there is no better point guard in the league at), he is also shooting a higher percentage, rebounding better, blocking better, and playing faster. For some reason that's not turning into wins for the Wizards, it doesn't help that they have talented offensive players with mental problems; Nick Young is a gunner with no defense, Rashard Lewis is fading, Jan Vesely is not ready, Andray Blatche is a solid offensive player but he cannot spell defense, Jordan Crawford is a very talented scorer but his shot selection is very questionable, and JaVale McGee is talented and can be great, but he's totally out of it.

With a team like that almost any franchise star can be convinced chucking up shots is better than passing to a supporting cast that isn't going to get it unless they have a meeting sort this out and trade pieces (*cough* Nick Young & Andray Blatche exit left *cough*), because having a less than stellar... Okay, less than average supporting cast can breed selfishness and create a cancer that will set the team back more than a couple years. That's why it's a good thing Wizards fans have John Wall and not Stephon Marbury, John Wall is willing to work out the kinks and stay around (at least for now).

It's going to all be okay for John Wall though, he has playing time, the best speed I have ever seen in the NBA (maybe Allen Iverson was faster but from what I remember they seemed on par), makes great decisions while at that top speed (you may think he is out of control but if you watch you can see his great decision making), John Wall has an element to his game that almost no players have, he reacts and sees a play happen before it does (only Steve Nash, young TJ Ford, John Stockton and Isiah Thomas had it), that paired with his unbelievable athletisicm kill defenses, and will be able to work on his game and his chemistry with his teammates (while they learn how to play basketball). John Wall is already a more than solid playmaker (his vision like I've said before is amazing), a solid scorer, and an above average defender, and he's only going to get better. With his big wingspan and hands, not to mention his quickness, speed, athleticism and weight John Wall has the tools to become an absolutely amazing defender in the mold of a Gary Payton and at the very least a Mookie Blaylock, but it's okay that he is only 21 years old and growing. the Great Wall is young and a humble, good person with a good head on his shoulders, which it seemed Starbury, Stevie Franchise and a truckload of players who didn't fulfill there talent due to there mentalities didn't have. John Wall also seems to be a leader and has been that way since High School ball at least, with that and the substantial amount of talent John Wall possesses there is a great chance he will be a great player one day. As the great PG's in the league have gone through this stage of there career John Wall is doing so, and just like it showed us the difference between greats and goods (who actually wants to improve instead of who just stays away from rough spots in there games). Can... Wait WILL John Wall overcome his issues and become an NBA great or another super talented flash of brilliance that fades away.

(Here are some video's to show his greatness)

In My Opinion: Sacramento to Seattle

Bring the Sacramento Kings to Seattle
Bringing the Kings to Seattle would be great, but we would have to turn them into Sonics (By that I mean make a roster that suits Seattle). Seattle needs a team, but not just any team, we need a team of Seattle Sonics! A smash-mouth, reckless defending, three point shooting, play-making Sonics, and here is our opinion on how to get that team.

The Kings roster so far looks like this:

Roster

Glossary  · SHARE  · Embed  · CSV  · PRE  · LINK  · ?

No.	Player	Pos	Ht	Wt	Birth Date	Exp	College
15	DeMarcus Cousins	F	6-11	270	August 13, 1990	1	University of Kentucky
13	Tyreke Evans	G	6-6	220	September 19, 1989	2	University of Memphis
7	Jimmer Fredette	G	6-2	195	February 25, 1989	R	Brigham Young University
32	Francisco Garcia	F-G	6-7	195	December 31, 1981	6	University of Louisville
20	Donte Greene	F	6-11	226	February 21, 1988	3	Syracuse University
42	Chuck Hayes	F	6-6	240	June 11, 1983	6	University of Kentucky
31	J.J. Hickson	F	6-9	242	September 4, 1988	3	North Carolina State University
3	Tyler Honeycutt	F	6-8	188	July 15, 1990	R	University of California, Los Angeles
25	Travis Outlaw	F	6-9	210	September 18, 1984	8
5	John Salmons	G	6-7	210	December 12, 1979	9	University of Miami
22	Isaiah Thomas	G	5-9	185	February 7, 1989	R	University of Washington
34	Jason Thompson	F	6-11	250	July 21, 1986	3	Rider University
23	Marcus Thornton	G	6-4	205	June 5, 1987	2	Louisiana State University
33	Hassan Whiteside	C	7-0	235	June 13, 1989	1	Marshall University

At PG they have Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas, none of which I feel are going to be successful point guards at this point. At the 2 they have Marcus Thornton, they need more depth but he may be a good starting point. The Kings have many small forwards but are not necessarily deep there, Honeycutt, Salmons and Outlaw are the only 3's I feel they should keep, which means getting rid of Francisco Garcia and Donte Greene. The Kings also have solid PF's in J.J. Hickson, Chuck Hayes and Jason Thompson, which can be very helpful in building a winner. The 5 features the super talented but needs-to-screw-his-head-on DeMarcus Cousins as well as the liability Hassan Whiteside, so they definitely need some work but hey, we built and gift-wrapped the Oklahoma Thunder did we not?

Now let me tell you what in my opinion will get the Kings (and soon to be Seattle SuperSonics) on track as soon as possible:

The PG:
Don't get me wrong people, Tyreke Evans is a great player and will be good for somebody, but he's a player that needs to dominate the ball and score, while Marcus Thornton and DeMarcus Cousins would benefit from having a more pure point who can pass and see them when they are ready. So getting rid of Tyreke seems to be the best idea to someone like me, especially since they could get great value for him. The Sonics would be better off trading 'Reke and grabbing a pure point in the draft or free agency (Hmmmm Scott Machado or Tony Wroten Jr anyone?).
Trading 'Reke for Ed Davis and a first round pick could help the Sonics grab that PG as well as a good big prospect.
Jimmer too, Jimmer Fredette is another ball dominating PG (who for some reason cannot pass or take anyone off the dribble), either Jimmer needs to gain more than his one dimension he has so far or we should trade him and the great defending Chuck Hayes for someone like George Hill. Yup that's what we'll do.
Isaiah Thomas on the other hand can distribute but I don't see him being the point of the Sonics future so what they should do is keep him as a great weapon off the bench who can pass, shoot, and get to the rim, but not start.

The SG:
Marcus Thornton is a solid 2 who can average over 20 points per if he get's the right system and point so the future Sonics should definitely keep him and maybe even give him the keys to their scoring load one day.

The SF:
Donte Greene and Francisco Garcia need to go, in fact the first thing I would do is offer a package of them two plus a 2013 second round draft pick for Jose Calderon (A solid distributing PG) and James Johnson (An above average defender and distributor for his position who can also dribble pretty well, not to mention his unbelievable potential), Jose could start this year once they get a taker for Tyreke and James Johnson could be a great role player so far.
John Salmons has a nice game, he shoot very well, and defend pretty well so we'd move him over to a 2 and have him back Marcus Thornton up giving good depth at the wing,
Travis Outlaw had a great game in his Portland Blazers days but since  leaving he hasn't found his groove, so I'd let him start during the beginning of the season but if he couldn't get it together the first month he would back up either James Johnson or...
Tyler Honeycutt, He has immense potential due to his body and if he gained weight he could be a dominant defensive presence, not to mention he will drill open three's and he can dunk on people almost at will, plus if he get's that massive wingspan rebounding he will be a force to reckon with.

The PF:
J.J. Hickson would man our first unit using his athleticism and post moves to be a paint presence while grabbing any board he can get his hands on, in other words, we're keeping him.
Jason Thompson would be a solid starting PF for many teams but on the Seattle Sonics he would be our dominant 6th man, boarding and drop-stepping like we have never seen before.
Ed Davis could learn what to do as well as be another great boarding big in the Sonics future.

The C:
In my opinion every team needs one excellent ball-handling guard and big to be a championship, so if the Kings grabbed Scott Machado or Tony Wroten (or both) plus the soon-to-be-great DeMarcus Cousin, they would be on track, especially if DeMarcus was fed the ball in his natural habitat (the post) and boarded the way he is supposed to, DeMarcus can be a beast, and he will with a good PG.
Hassan Whiteside should be cut and replaced with a better free agent backup such as Joel Przybilla who can defend and rebound like few others, plus he knows his place.

Trotting a lineup of:
Jose Calderon - 31 minutes
Marcus Thornton - 35 minutes
James Johnson - 31 minutes
J.J. Hickson - 32 minutes
DeMarcus Cousins - 35 minutes
Jason Thompson - 19 minutes
John Salmons - 13 minutes
Tyler Honeycutt - 10 minutes
Isaiah Thomas - 10 minutes
George Hill - 10 minutes
Ed Davis - 10 minutes
Travis Outlaw - 4 minutes
and Joel Przybilla incase of an injury.
The Sonics would be a solid team that could be a fringe playoff team by the looks of it and in a couple of years reach contender status, and if they picked up Scott Machado this year in the draft even better (as he reminds me of a poor man's Mark Jackson, plus he's gonna be a steal as many have him seen as a late second rounder), he can take you off the dribble, defend better than Calderon and plain pass the ball!

Draft picks:
Trade the 7th pick for the 15th and 18th and grab
15: Kris Joseph (Seems like a poor man's Paul Pierce)
18: Tony Wroten Jr. (Going to be an NBA great)
37: Scott Machado (If his ranking doesn't higher by the end of the season, like I said Mark Jackson lite)

Then I would play Machado and Wroten against each other for the starting job, by fighting for it they would be forced to play better pushing each other to new standards and train Kris Joseph to most likely take over the SF position in a couple years. With that happening they could be a playoff contender in no time.

Players to go after:
Terrence Williams
Josh Smith
Raymond Felton
O.J. Mayo
Nicolas Batum

And that is how TheSportsBoys hope and want the Seattle Sonics first year to happen!