By the Numbers: NHL Edition (30-39)
We’re moving right along with this series and we are now into the 30s. I think things will start to get a little easier as the larger sample sizes of the league were in the previous numbers. We will some goalies getting some love in this article and hopefully the decisions will be easier as well. At the bottom of this page, you can find previous “By the Numbers: NHL Edition” articles and see if your favorites were ranked at the best player as their respective numbers. Let’s start now with number 30-39.
AP
Number 30: G, Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders
There isn't much debate here. There are some good goalies with the number 30, but Sorokin is the best. Not only that, Sorokin is one of the best in the league. Matt Murray and Martin Jones are really the only others that could enter the conversation. It is a little early for Spencer Knight to be in the competition, but he definitely should be talked about in the near future. None of them are close to Sorokin at the moment.
AP
Number 31: G, Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers
New York sure has some good goalies. This was a two-man race between Shesterkin and Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes. Shesterkin gets the edge. The reigning Vezina award winner will likely be a top goalie for many years to come.
Number 32: G, Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
32 has options, but not many great ones. Gustavsson is the most notable to me, by far. He is Top 5 currently in save percentage and GAA. Sure, you have Johnathan Quick and Anti Raanta, but one is washed up and the other is a backup. For that matter, all of these goalies that wear 32 are backups or in the minors. I was down to Gustavsson or Kevin Lankinen for the Preds. I’ll give the edge to the Wild backup.
Getty
Number 33: RW/LW, Viktor Arvidsson, Los Angeles Kings
It was down to Arvidsson or Cam Talbot, who is the leading goalie for the Ottawa Senators. If this were last season, it would’ve been Talbot, but the Senators aren't doing so hot and Talbot, while not having a terrible year, isn't exactly doing great. Not that Arvidsson is taking the charge either, but I think I’ll give the edge to him, because he does seem to be having a solid year and the key for him is having a healthy year and he has done that for the most part.
USA Today Sports
Number 34: C, Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
I knew immediately that I was choosing Matthews. He has been one of the best in the NHL over the last 5 years or so and he’s only getting better. He led the league in scoring in the last 2 seasons and while it doesn’t look like he will this year, he’s still having a tremendous year. Nobody wearing the 34 comes close to him.
nhl.com
Number 35: G, Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins
Nobody is close to Ullmark this season. He is virtually unstoppable. There are some good options at the number 35 too. Ilya Samsonov and Tristan Jarry both wear the 35 and I would call both of them elite goalies. Ullmark is just having an outstanding season and it doesn’t appear that he is going to slow down. It’s pretty crazy that the Bruins have 2 goalies on the list.
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Number 36: G, Logan Thompson, Vegas Golden Knights
I normally will give the edge to goalies and that’s what I did here. Logan Thompson and Mats Zuccarello are the top two options at 36. Zuccarello is having a great season in Minnesota and is seeing the most ice time of his career at age 35, but I’ll give the slight edge to a good goalie like Thompson. Jack Campbell was really the only other option, but he’s having a bad year.
nhl.com
Number 37: C, Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
While I was tempted to put a younger player in place of Bergeron, I just couldn’t. Bergeron is one of the all-time greats and you could make an argument for Andrei Svechnikov and Connor Hellebuyck, but you could also argue that they’re not quite there yet. Bergeron does a lot that doesn’t show up in the stat book but is also one of the more consistent players in the league and still is at age 37.
Number 38: LW, Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Boone Jenner and Rasmus Sandin are in the discussion as well, but I’ll give the edge to Hagel. While it could be argued that Jenner gets the edge due to his captain status, I think Hagel’s upside gives him a little more of an advantage. Sandin isn't quite ready, but I think he easily could be considered in a couple of years.
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Number 39: C, Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Couture has been one of the most consistent players in the NHL and there is no other option at number 39. Alex Turcotte could be an option in a couple of years, but he’s a rook for now. Couture has spent the last 14 season with the Sharks and it appears that he may be in it for the long haul.
Yacs
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