By the Numbers: NHL Edition (70-79)
3 more articles to go including this one in my “By the Numbers: NHL Edition” series. The 90s will be filled with upper level talent, but the 60-70s are pretty much prospects and guys that don’t get a ton of ice time. There were some good players in the 60s, but lower level guys outweighed the dominant ones. I think the 70s will be the same, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Like always, enjoy the article and if you have missed any of the rest of the series, I will link those articles at the very end.
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Number 70: C, Oskar Sundqvist, Detroit Red Wings
70 is a weak number, but Sundqvist is the top to the ladder here. If Patric Hornqvist were like 5-7 years younger, he would be at the top, but back then, he wasn’t the same number. Tanner Pearson is also an option, but he has been limited on his ice time and I would say that Sundqvist passed him.
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Number 71: C, Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
71 is a common number as surprising as that sounds. There are some good players that wear the number and it is tough to choose. The top 2 choices come down to Evgeni Malkin and Dylan Larkin. Malkin has the slight points edge, but I’ll give Larkin the edge mainly due to upside. William Karlsson, Taylor Hall and Jonas Siegenthaler also join the discussion
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Number 72: C, Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
Filip Chytil, Justin Faulk and Thomas Chabot all wear the 72, but Tage Thompson is far and away the best player to wear the number. Thompson appears like he will be a terror on the frontline for many, many years. Buffalo is going to be a real threat in the next year or so and they could even make some noise this season. Thompson has quickly become one of the league’s best players. Arber Xhekaj may enter the discussion in the near future.
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Number 73: RW, Tyler Toffoli, Calgary Flames
Toffoli is having a career year in his first full season as a Flame. The Flames are underperforming, but Toffoli has been pretty strong all season long. Conor Sheary and Charlie McAvoy wear the number as well, but I think Toffoli is a little better right now. I’ll give the slight edge to Toffoli over McAvoy. It could honestly go either way.
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Number 74: G, Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Oddly enough, this may have been my toughest choice of the whole series. 74 has a lot of great players. Stuart Skinner, Owen Tippett, Jaccob Slavin, Jake DeBrusk, John Carlson and Ethan Bear all wear the 74. Saros has consistently been a Top 5/10 goalie and this year is no different. It looks like he’ll be a Predator for at least a couple more years too.
Number 75: D, Connor Clifton, Boston Bruins
This one was down to Clifton and rookie, Tim Berni. The others that wear 75 aren't really in the discussion, so Connor Clifton walks away with this one, for now.
Number 76: D, Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes
No doubt about this one. Skjei, pronounced, “shay”, has played a big role in the Canes’ success this season. He is scoring goals at a higher rate and he rarely misses time on the ice, so he’s not only a great defenseman, he is the best 76 in the league and it looks like he will be for a little while.
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Number 77: D, Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
There are some solid 77’s in the league. TJ Oshie, Frank Vatrano, Jeff Carter, Kirby Dach, Tony DeAngelo, but I think Hedman stands above the rest. Hedman is a big reason for the Lightning’s dominance over the last few seasons and while he isn't likely going to finish with the numbers he did last season, he should end the season as one of the best defensemen in the league.
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Number 78: D, T.J. Brodie, Toronto Maple Leafs
Only 4 players to choose from here and it was really only a 2-man choice between Brodie and Nico Sturm. I’ll give the edge to Brodie slightly. Naturally as a defenseman, he should be on the ice more, but the difference is just enough to give him the edge.
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Number 79: D, K’Andre Miller, New York Rangers
Miller is having the best season of his career and is only going to get better. Carter Hart and Charlie Lindgren are also in the discussion. Lindgren has had a really good season but isn't the main starting goalie for the Caps. Hart is the main starter for the Flyers but hasn’t really been awesome. Not bad, but not awesome. You could also throw Ross Colton into the discussion, but I don’t think he gets enough ice time to warrant it. He does produce in his limited time though. I’ll give the edge to Miller.
Yacs
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