Pick The Better NHL Player And We'll Guess Your Favorite Goalie
- by Clayton Leir
- – on
- in Sports
What hockey fan could have more fun than getting to choose which player they think is the best? Everyone does it. Someone names Sidney Crosby and five hockey fans around will give ten reasons why he's not as good as other people think and they will list off three other players they think are better. We're pretty sure that is because they are jealous of the skill that Sidney Crosby has, but that is besides the point.
This quiz is not even truly about the best players in the National Hockey League. It is far more about each and every quiz-taker's favorite goalie in the league. Sure, we're going to have each and every person here choose between players, but it is their player selection that will grant them a favorite goalie. If someone likes Sidney Crosby one too many times...well, everyone will have to take the quiz to find out just which goalie they will end up with.
And don't worry here, it's not like we would give anyone here a bad goalie based on the players chosen. Every player in this quiz is among the top 100 NHL players right now, so there really isn't a truly bad choice between them. There are just better choices and better goalies, that's all. Time to take a shot on goal!
William Karlsson or Sidney Crosby?
Well, here's the thing. William Karlsson was a great player for the Ottawa Senators for a while before he decided that money was way more important. It didn't help that there was drama off the ice as well with him. He is a great player though. But, is he greater than the already great Sidney Crosby? Crosby is still a baby in NHL terms and he is already looked upon as one of the greatest players in NHL history. That is a pretty incredible bit of status to have at such a young age.
Vladimir Tarasenko or Braden Holtby?
We do have to give Tarasenko props here. For a couple of reasons. He's an alternate captain for a team that has never won the Stanley Cup, so that has got to burden him to some extent. Also, he was chosen in the first round of the NHL draft, so there is something good there. He just doesn't have the team to really show it off. BRaden Holtby, on the other hand, just won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals last year.
Victor Hedman or Evgeni Malkin?
Defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, it should be pointed out that Victor Hedman has obviously got some good work under his belt. He is currently playing at the top of the league with the Lightning, and that is a pretty big deal at this point in time. Malkin, on the other hand, is like Robin to Sidney Crosby's Batman...if Robin was way more skilled and did far more to help Batman more often. Malkin certainly makes a dynamic duo with Crosby and there is no denying that.
Tyler Seguin or Jamie Benn?
Why not pit two players from the same team together? We are reasonably sure that both Seguin and Benn are pretty much on par when it comes to their showing in the NHL. At this point in the season, that showing is not amazing either. The Dallas Stars are not doing the best they have ever done, that is for sure. That being said, two of their very best players are found in the jerseys of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.
Taylor Hall or Erik Karlsson?
Taylor Hall was once the first draft pick for the Edmonton Oilers when he first started out in the National Hockey League. That was not meant to last though as he ended up playing for the New Jersey Devils, where he has been for a time now. Erik Karlsson, on the other hand, had long been a player for the Ottawa Senators until this season. He has now joined Brent Burns and the rest of the San Jose Sharks, jumping out of the senate for better money.
Steven Stamkos or Patrice Bergeron?
Steven Stamkos has long been one of the greats in the National Hockey League. Sure, he might not get put up on the pedestal with the likes of Ovechkin or Crosby, but that is simply because Stamkos has been around and doesn't flaunt his feathers all that much. He is currently sitting at the top of the league with Tampa. And while the Bruins might not be having the best season right now, Patrice Bergeron is surely one of the best players on their team!
Sidney Crosby or Patrik Laine?
Sidney Crosby does not really need any introduction or description, we find, but all the same, Crosby is one of the best players in the NHL right now and some might say he is one of the best players in NHL history as well. Patrik Laine, on the other hand, may not have the same status but he is still one of the key players for the Winnipeg Jets right now and they are not doing badly in the league standing right now by any stretch of the imagination.
Seth Jones or John Carlson?
Seth Jones originally started out with the Nashville Predators but ended up playing as an alternate captain with the Columbus Blue Jackets who really did come out of nowhere in the past few seasons. They're not doing as well this season, but they have certainly become an imposing team. John Carlson, on the other hand is a defenceman for the Washington Capitals, and while he might not have superstar status, he did help take home the Stanley Cup last year.
Sergei Bobrovsky or Frederik Andersen
Sergei Bobrovsky is probably one of the better goalies in the National Hockey League right now. Sure, the Blue Jackets are not exactly at the top of the league anymore but the past couple of seasons, Bobrovsky really did help to push his team to the playoffs. On the other hand, Frederik Andersen is also one of the top goalies right now and is also sitting right near to the top of the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs. They have been having great seasons the past few years.
Sean Couturier or John Tavares?
Sean Couturier is an alternate captain for the Philadelphia Flyers right now and was picked 8th overall when he was drafted to the National Hockey League. He's been playing in the league for the past eight years, coming up from the minors in 2011. John Tavares has been hitting the ice hard for quite some time now and is currently one of the best players not only for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but also in the entire league. That's saying something.
Ryan Getzlaf or Auston Matthews?
Ryan Getzlaf has been one of the better players in the league for the past few years. He is certainly one of the better known players out there. He currently is the captain for the Anaheim Ducks and while they are not having their best season, Getzlaf is still a great player. Auston Matthews is still pretty new to the NHL but he is one of the top players of the league. His very first game he broke a league record for most goals scored in a debut game. Four goals!
Roman Josi or Brent Burns?
Roman Josi is perhaps not one of the biggest names that anyone here will have heard throughout the National Hockey League, but that does not diminish his skill at all. Josi currently plays as the captain for the Nashville Predators. Sure, he's not P.K. Subban, but he's a good player. Brent Burns is a player whose face msot will have seen on a bag of Lays chips at one point or another. He does tons of commercials and surely makes a ton of money from his promos.
Phil Kessel or Connor McDavid?
Well, we are pretty sure that everyone here has most certainly heard both the names Phil Kessel and Connor McDavid. They are both pretty incredible players in their own right. A lot of people have said that the Toronto Maple Leafs made a truly big mistake when they traded Kessel (but they seem to be doing alright...even though Kessel won the Cup in his first season with the Penguins). And Connor McDavid? He is center, captain and perhaps best player for the Edmonton Oilers.
Patrik Laine or Zdeno Chara?
Patrik Laine is a big name with the Winnipeg Jets right now who are actually having one of the best seasons they have ever had since they most recently came to the league. Zdeno Chara is currently the captain of the Boston Bruins and is the tallest player in the entire National Hockey League, standing at six foot nine before he even laces up his skates. He is a very imposing man, for sure. He even has a custom stick that was a controversial issue for a time because of the extra length required.
Patrick Kane or Drew Doughty?
Right winger for the Chicago Blackhawks, Patrick Kane has been in the league for 12 years now and has played each and every one of those years with the Blackhawks. That is dedication. At least we think so. As for Drew Doughty, he has been playing for 11 years with the NHL and has played for the Los Angeles Kings just as long. Two players who have stood the test of time in their respective teams. Both well known players for the NHL as well.
Patrice Bergeron or Brent Burns?
Patrice Bergeron is an alternate captain for the Boston Bruins and is perhaps one of their most popular players as well. Certainly more popular than the smarmy Brad Marchand. Patrice Bergeron is far kinder and more respectful of the game. As for Brent Burns, he is not only a great player for the San Jose Sharks but he is also a big name when it comes to promotional gains. Burns has a pretty big contract with Lays and he is not shy about making that money and pushing his brand.
P.K. Subban or Dustin Byfuglien?
P.K. Subban was once one of the best players for the Montreal Canadiens but he was fairly recently traded and went over to the Nashville Predators instead where he is still playing a pretty good game. Sure, the Predators are not doing as well this season as they previously had been, but Subban is still a star player. Dustin Byfuglien has done ice time as both a forward and a defenceman and is currently an alternate captain with the Winnipeg Jets.
Nikita Kucherov or Mark Stone?
Right winger for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nikita Kucherov is definitely having a pretty great season. It really does not hurt him and his standing this season that Tampa Bay is currently sitting at the top of the league. Mark Stone, on the other hand, may well be one of the best players for the Ottawa Senators but it does not help his case that the team is currently at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference. But we do have to say, yet again, Stone actually is a very good player.
Nicklas Backstrom or Brad Marchand?
Alternate captain for the Washington Capitals, Nicklas Backstrom has had a pretty good showing for the past couple of seasons. Especially last season when he and the Washington Capitals took the Stanley Cup home. As for Brad Marchand, he is perhaps one of the smarmiest players in the entire National Hockey League. That being said, in spite of the fact that he has a pretty ridiculous attitude, he is also a very good player for the Boston Bruins. Bitter with the sweet.
Nathan MacKinnon or Evgeni Malkin?
Nathan MacKinnon has been in the National Hockey League since 2013. Having played in the big league for only six years now he has certainly made a name for himself. Even if he is an alternate captain with the Colorado Avalanche, which is not one of the best teams this year by a long shot. Evgeni Malkin, on the other hand, has played some pretty amazing seasons the past couple of years and took home the Cup with the Penguins two years in a row before the Caps won last year.
Mathew Barzal or Patrice Bergeron?
Mathew Barzal has only been playing for four years now, having been picked up by the New York Islanders in 2015. While the Islanders are not one of the best teams in the league right now, they have actually had a pretty decent run in the past month or so. As for Patrice Bergeron, he hails from the great white north and plays for the Boston Bruins. He is currently serving as an alternate captain for the team and while they are not having one of their best seasons ever, Bergeron is still a solid player.
Mark Scheifele or Alexander Ovechkin?
Playing as an alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets right now, Mark Scheifele is a pretty solid player who just happens to be having a pretty solid season right now. Especially when compared to pretty well every season since the Jets started their franchise back up after the Atlanta Thrashers were bought out. As for Alexander Ovechkin, he is certainly the star player of the Washington Capitals and while a lot of people don't like his attitude, they can't deny he's a great player.
Jonathan Toews or Auston Matthews?
Jonathan Toews has been a part of the National Hockey League for 15 years now and he currently is serving as the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. While they have not been doing the best this past season, they are still one of the original six and Toews is still one of the top players in the NHL. Auston Matthews, while he has only been in the league for a few years now, is certainly one of the best players in the league and started breaking league records in his very first game with the NHL.
John Tavares or Jamie Benn?
John Tavares is probably one of the very best players in the National Hockey League right now and has been doing nothing but good for the Toronto Maple LEafs this seasons, for sure. He and Auston Matthews together have made an incredible duo. Now, as for Jamie Benn, he has been a star player for the Dallas Stars for quite some time. He is also their captain. While the team is not doing so well this season, that does not change the fact that he is a solid player in the league.
Johnny Gaudreau or Erik Karlsson?
Left winger for the Calgary Flames, Johnny Gaudreau has not been in the league for all that long so far but that does not mean that he has not made a name for himself. He is certainly in the top 100 NHL players right now and that might sound like a big range but it's still a pretty solid status to have. Erik Karlsson is certainly more senior to Gaudreau and therefore has more accomplished so far in his ice time. He left the Ottawa Senators this past season to play for the San Jose Sharks.
John Carlson or David Pastrnak?
John Carlson is currently a defenceman for the Washington Capitals which means that while he is not having the best season this year, we're pretty sure that he is content with the season he had last year when he and the Caps took home the Stanley Cup. That really does not hurt one's reputation as a player. David Pastrnak has played five years in the NHL and each of those years with the Boston Bruins. Fans of the team have taken to calling him "Pasta".
Jamie Benn or Claude Giroux?
Jamie Benn is the current captain of the Dallas Stars and while they may not be playing their best season this year (or for the past few years), Benn is still one of the top players in the league, for sure. Maybe he's not sitting in the top ten but he's definitely in the top 50, make no mistake. Claude Giroux is the current captain of the Philadelphia Flyers and has been playing for the team since 2006. That's a pretty good run with one team. 13 years of stability sounds pretty nice.
Jakub Voracek or Sidney Crosby?
Jakub Voracek is currently playing as a right winger with the Philadelphia Flyers but he did not start his time in the National Hockey League with them. He was originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets back in 2007, which means he's been playing for 12 years in the league now. And while Sidney Crosby has not been playing 12 years with the NHL yet, he is certainly one of the greatest players in the league right now and perhaps of all time as well.
Jack Eichel or John Tavares?
Jack Eichel has only been in the National Hockey League for the past four years and he has played each of those years with the Buffalo Sabres. And even though he has only played for a such a short amount of time, he is still playing as the captain of the Sabres. That's a pretty sweet deal. Now, John Tavares mya not be the captain of the team but he is definitely one of the three best players with the Toronto Maple Leafs right now and he has helped them to get pretty close to the top of the league.
Filip Forsberg or Alexander Ovechkin?
While Filip Forsberg is an alternate captain right now with the Nashville Predators, he did not start out his NHL days with this team. He was originally drafted into the Washington Capitals. We bet he wishes he stayed on with the Caps at least until they won the Cup last year, but he is a force for good in Nashville. As for Alexander Ovechkin, he is a star player for the Washington Capitals and is one of the best in the NHL now and perhaps of all time.
Evgeny Kuznetsov or Carey Price?
Evgeny Kuznetsov started his time in the National Hockey League in 2014 with the Washington Capitals and has stayed with them since. We're pretty sure he's happy that he stayed because that allowed him to add a Stanley Cup win to his stats last year. He's probably best known for his bird dance during that playoff season more so than his playing. Carey Price, on the other hand, hails from the great white north and is probably the best goalie the Montreal Canadiens have seen since Patrick Roy.
Evgeni Malkin or Braden Holtby?
Evgeni Malkin is one of two superstar players on the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is a center as well as an alternate captain with the team and is one half of the dynamic duo made up of both he and Sidney Crosby. He was a major part of the last two Stanley Cup wins for the Penguins before the Caps took over last year. And speaking of the Caps' Stanley Cup win, Braden Holtby is the primary goalie who is responsible for keeping the Caps through the playoff season last year.
Dustin Byfuglien or Patrice Bergeron?
Alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets right now, Dustin Byfuglien is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Not only are the Jets doing surprisingly well this year, but it just so happens that Byfuglien is a fairly adept player who can go between both defence and forward. Patrice Bergeron, on the other hand, is very accustomed to playing center alone, but he is also alternate captain for his team, the Boston Bruins; one of the original six teams of the NHL.
Erik Karlsson or Patrick Kane?
Erik Karlsson was once a very important player with the Ottawa Senators; he was a star player for a while but the money and some off-the-ice drama prompted him to take a contract with the San Jose Sharks, so he now plays with the likes of Brent Burns. On the other hand, Patrick Kane is a right winger for the Chicago Blackhawks and has been playing for that very same team since he first started out in the league back in 2007.
Drew Doughty or Anze Kopitar?
Why not let's put two players from the same team against each other? Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are both pretty much star players for their Los Angeles Kings. That is not to say that the Kings have been doing all that well in the past few seasons, but that is certainly to say that this team has some pretty formidable players. It's just about building the right team around them to make for a good playoff run. That's the hard part.
David Pastrnak or Aleksander Barkov?
Nicknamed "Pasta" by big fans of the Boston Bruins, David Pastrnak is a right winger with the team and has been playing with the Bruins since 2014 when he was very first drafted into the National Hockey League. As for Aleksander Barkov, he is currently serving as the captain for the Florida Panthers and while they may not be the best team in the league right now, there is no doubt that Barkov, nicknamed "Sasha" for whatever reason, is a solid player and one of the main reasons for any Panthers victory.
Connor McDavid or Daniel Sedin
Connor McDavid is currently serving as the captain of the Edmonton Oilers and is probably one of the biggest and best reasons as to why the Oilers have at all had a chance to get to the playoffs in the past few seasons. He is certainly one of the star players of the NHL. As for Daniel Sedin, he is one of a brother duo that is sold as a package that seemingly no other team will ever get. Daniel and his brother have been playing for the Vancouver Canucks for years and years and are star players there, for sure.
Claude Giroux or Brad Marchand?
Since 2006, Claude Giroux has been playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. Now serving as captain of the team, he has never played for another NHL team and hasn't seemed to want to either. He is certainly a positive force on the team. As for Brad Marchand, we would hardly call him a force for good. He is a great player but he also has perhaps one of the most ridiculous attitudes of any player and does everything he can to get under people's skin. He is a top player with the Bruins though.
Carey Price or Blake Wheeler?
Carey Price is perhaps one of the best goalies in the NHL right now. It is true that he has had a few seasons with plenty of time off because of being hurt in one way or another but when he is on fire, he is not letting anything by him. Probably the best goalie the Habs have had since Patrick Roy. Right winger and current captain of the Winnipeg Jets, Blake Wheeler has been playing in the NHL since 2004, when he was drafted to the league by the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes.
Brent Burns or Sidney Crosby?
Brent Burns is a pretty strong player in the NHL and is definitely a star player for the San Jose Sharks. It will be interesting to see how he and Erik Karlsson work together once they find their stride. People may know Burns best from Lays Chips commercials, rather than his ice time. As for Sidney Crosby, people will know him best from Tim Hortons commercials as well as his two Stanley Cups in a row in the past few seasons, up till the Caps won the Cup last year.
Brad Marchand or Henrik Sedin?
Brad Marchand may just be one of the most arrogant players in the entire National Hockey League and while that does upset a lot of people, we do have to admit that the Boston Bruins really do benefit from this attitude because it throws off players from opposing teams. As for Henrik Sedin, he has long been a top player for the Vancouver Canucks and will likely never see a Stanley Cup win unless he and his brother Daniel Sedin head to another team to make for a Cup run.
Blake Wheeler or Alex Pietrangelo?
Blake Wheeler is the captain of the Winnipeg Jets. He also plays the position of right winger and is a good part of the reason why the Jets seem to be doing so well this season. They have sat up among some of the top teams this season which is actually very surprising considering how they have done previously. Alex Pietrangelo, on the other hand, is a defenceman for the St. Louis Blues, which doesn't bode well for him in the standings. He might be a good player but the Blues have never won a Cup.
Braden Holtby or Tyler Seguin?
Braden Holtby is one of the best goalies in the league right now and I suppose must have been perhaps the best goalie last year considering that it was his team, the Washington Capitals, that took the Stanley Cup win last year. Tyler Seguin, on the other hand, is certainly a star player for the Dallas Stars but it is not quite like the Stars are sitting up at the top of the league right now. It will be pretty lucky if they manage to make the playoffs this year.
Auston Matthews or Taylor Hall?
Auston Matthews is one of the star players for the Toronto Maple Leafs right now and when he first debuted in the NHL with the Leafs not only did he break a franchise record but he also broke a league record for the number of goals scored in a debut game in the NHL. He managed four goals his first game. Taylor Hall is not quite the same superstar level but he is still an alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils and plays a pretty solid left wing.
Anze Kopitar or Ryan Getzlaf?
Here we have two captains of two pretty decent teams in the National Hockey League. We'll be pretty honest when we say that the Los Angeles Kings perhaps don't have quite the same level of play as the Anaheim Ducks but Anze Kopitar is still a pretty big deal as the captain of the Kings. He is one of their star players.Ryan Getzlaf is also a star player in the league and with his Anaheim-based team. He does seem to know how to keep all his Ducks in a row.
Artemi Panarin or Henrik Sedin?
Currently a winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Artemi Panarin started out his time in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks, but clearly wanted to shift to a team that had a better chance of taking the Cup soon, and the Blue Jackets did have a pretty solid showing last season...but not so much this season. As for Henrik Sedin, he's not like to see a Stanley Cup in his future with the Vancouver Canucks but he and his brother Daniel will forever remain star players of the team.
Andrei Vasilevskiy or Frederik Andersen?
Andrei Vasilevskiy is perhaps one of the greatest goalies in the NHL at the moment and that could be a bit of an overestimation of him simply because the Tampa Bay Lightning, for whom he plays, is sitting at the top of the league right now. And while the Toronto Maple Leafs are not at the very top of the league, they are very close and much of that does have to do with Tavares and Matthews, but we cannot forget their star goalie, Frederik Andersen.
Alex Pietrangelo or Johnny Gaudreau?
Alex Pietrangelo is currently serving as the captain of the St. Louis Blues and while he does hail from the great white north and while he is a star player for the team, it cannot be helped that the St. Louis Blues have never yet won a single Stanley Cup. Maybe Pietrangelo can help change that? Johnny Gaudreau, on the other hand is a left winger for the Calgary Flames and while they have not hit the playoff finals since 2006 when they lost to Anaheim, they have a better chance of the Cup for sure.
Alexander Ovechkin or John Tavares?
Alexander Ovechkin is definitely one of the best players in the NHL right now and is certainly a star player for his Washington Capitals. We're pretty sure that he feels even better about himself after taking the Stanley Cup win last year with the Caps. On the other hand, John Tavares has become one of the star players for the Toronto Maple Leafs and has been a huge part of keeping them up near the top of the league this year. They may have their best shot at the Cup this year since 1967.
Aleksander Barkov or Vladimir Tarasenko?
Aleksander Barkov, nicknamed "Sasha" for whatever reason, is currently serving as the captain of the Florida Panthers who have been having a decent enough season. Of course, they're not exactly gearing up for a playoff season but they are also not skimming the very bottom like the Ottawa Senators are. Vladimir Tarasenko, however, is an alternate captain for the St. Louis Blues, who are currently dragging the bottom of the west with the Los Angeles Kings. Tarasenko is a great player, but the Blues have yet to hold a Cup.
