NHL's "BEST" superlatives

[hellaavangard 33]

Kane's got a pretty wicked backhand

[mack 44]

Other than that fool's Brodeur statement, I like his assumption people picked Weber for the Olympics goal and not actually watched the guy play for the last few years.

[Law Goalie 147]

Chara might win on sheer velocity, but Weber and Foster are up in that same 100mph range, and their shots are *heavy*. That angular momentum is what makes a six-ounce puck feel like wrecking ball.

I'm really not sure why people keep picking Ovechkin for quickest release. He has a beautiful release, but one of its chief strengths is how much he shifts the puck to open up shooting angles and load the stick. Gaborik, on the other hand, has snapped more than a few shots off past goalies so quickly that they had zero read on it.

[Nightcast 0]

Passing - OVI to imo one of the best passers.

2nd play

I don't know to me it seemed like a great pass.

[Chadd 916]

I'm really not sure why people keep picking Ovechkin for quickest release. He has a beautiful release, but one of its chief strengths is how much he shifts the puck to open up shooting angles and load the stick. Gaborik, on the other hand, has snapped more than a few shots off past goalies so quickly that they had zero read on it.

I was waiting for someone to mention Gaborik for the best release. I can't believe it actually took this long. Same for Sid on shootouts, now he can beat you with the forehand or backhand.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

I was waiting for someone to mention Gaborik for the best release. I can't believe it actually took this long. Same for Sid on shootouts, now he can beat you with the forehand or backhand.

For anyone that gets the MSG feed this point is drilled so far into your brain you forget it. Everytime he shoots they mention his 'quick release' or 'lightning quick release' so many times you start to call it propaganda. That said, he ACTUALLY does have probably the quickest release but these guys run it to the ground.

[furlanitalia 1]

Hardest Slapshot- Chara

Most accurate shot - Heatley

Hardest wrister - Semin. Watch the goalie carefully after he shoots, more often then not they fall backwards or stumble.

Quickest release - This is a tough one. Gaborik and Ovechkin are definitely quick and can catch you off guard, but Stamkos can as well.

Best backhand - Crosby (although after Sedin lofted that one in over Hiller he may be in contention.)

One Timer - Stamkos

Shootout magic - Crosby because he scores. In terms of entertainment value then probably Datsyuk.

Best Skater - Niedermeyer. I've never seen anyone move up the ice as painlessly as him. It's like he's barely even trying.

Best Hitter - Lucic

Best Stickhandler - Crosby. I can never figure out how he gets between the defence and still has the puck.

Best Passer - Henrik and Daniel Sedin, but I still think they have an unfair advantage.

Best Leader - Crosby. Lifts his team when he needs to and performs under the most ridiculous pressure.

Best Fighter - Honestly don't agree with guys being on teams just to fight but if I had to pick I'd go with Thornton.

Best Grinder - Kesler.

Goalies - Miller.

[jkud 0]

Hardest Slapshot- Weber, Foster's is as hard but not as quick to get off, Green's is not as hard,but more accurate

Most accurate shot - Pominville, used to play with him, guy went 4/4 on corners all the time, no problem for him lol

Hardest wrister - Ovi, Fisher (really heavy wrister!), Semin, Cammaleri

Quickest release - Gaborik, Hossa

Best backhand - Kane, Crosby second

One Timer - Stamkos, Kovalchuk, Heatley, has to be Stamkos this year

Shootout magic - Datsyuk

Best Skater - Helm, Gaborik, Crosby, Keith

Best Hitter - Orpik, Morrow

Best Stickhandler - Datsyuk, Kane

Best Passer - Crosby, Backstrom, Thornton, H. Sedin

Best Leader - Can only know if you've played for him lol

Best Fighter - Boogaard

Best Grinder - Mike Richards if he played that role

Goalies - Miller

[furlanitalia 1]

Best Skater - Helm

Totally forgot about Helm. He definitely has to take the cake for fastest skater.

[jkud 0]

Hardest Slapshot- Chara

Most accurate shot - Heatley

Hardest wrister - Semin. Watch the goalie carefully after he shoots, more often then not they fall backwards or stumble.

Quickest release - This is a tough one. Gaborik and Ovechkin are definitely quick and can catch you off guard, but Stamkos can as well.

Best backhand - Crosby (although after Sedin lofted that one in over Hiller he may be in contention.)

One Timer - Stamkos

Shootout magic - Crosby because he scores. In terms of entertainment value then probably Datsyuk.

Best Skater - Niedermeyer. I've never seen anyone move up the ice as painlessly as him. It's like he's barely even trying.

Best Hitter - Lucic

Best Stickhandler - Crosby. I can never figure out how he gets between the defence and still has the puck.

Best Passer - Henrik and Daniel Sedin, but I still think they have an unfair advantage.

Best Leader - Crosby. Lifts his team when he needs to and performs under the most ridiculous pressure.

Best Fighter - Honestly don't agree with guys being on teams just to fight but if I had to pick I'd go with Thornton.

Best Grinder - Kesler.

Goalies - Miller.

I forgot a couple things in mine that you had. Hardest clapper Chara, yes. Best Hitter, Lucic, yes lol.

[Big Jim 1]

Hardest Slapshot- Weber, Foster's is as hard but not as quick to get off, Green's is not as hard,but more accurate

Most accurate shot - Pominville, used to play with him, guy went 4/4 on corners all the time, no problem for him lol

Hardest wrister - Ovi, Fisher (really heavy wrister!), Semin, Cammaleri

Quickest release - Gaborik, Hossa

Best backhand - Kane, Crosby second

One Timer - Stamkos, Kovalchuk, Heatley, has to be Stamkos this year

Shootout magic - Datsyuk

Best Skater - Helm, Gaborik, Crosby, Keith

Best Hitter - Orpik, Morrow

Best Stickhandler - Datsyuk, Kane

Best Passer - Crosby, Backstrom, Thornton, H. Sedin

Best Leader - Can only know if you've played for him lol

Best Fighter - Boogaard

Best Grinder - Mike Richards if he played that role

Goalies - Miller

Holy shit. Now I am a DIEHARD Sabres fan. Always have been, always will but there is no way Pominville should even be mentioned in any setence that contains the word accuracy. I frequently refer to him as Pominwide. He's missed so many one timers and open nets it's unreal man. Sorry!

[jkud 0]

Holy shit. Now I am a DIEHARD Sabres fan. Always have been, always will but there is no way Pominville should even be mentioned in any setence that contains the word accuracy. I frequently refer to him as Pominwide. He's missed so many one timers and open nets it's unreal man. Sorry!

Just going by what I saw when I played with him man, it was ridiculous, nobody wanted to play posts against him at the end of practice! And I was thinking more of wrist/snap shot from the slot, not bad angle one timers lol. And a guy who doesn't skate that well and isn't physically imposing doesn't score ~30 goals every year without knowing where to put the puck. But hey I don't watch that many Buf games, maybe he should have more this year.

[hamstercaster 2]

Hardest Slapshot- Zdeno Chara

Most accurate shot - Alexander Semin

Hardest wrister - Semin/Kovalchuk

Quickest release -

Best backhand - Crosby

One Timer - Stamkos/Kovalchuk/Ovechkin

Shootout magic - Datsyuk

Best Skater - Zach Parise (speed), Alex Kovalev (agility)

Best Hitter -

Best Stickhandler - Kovalev (when he feels like playing that is which is not often)

Best Passer - Henrik Sedin/Thornton/Backstrom

[adam14 182]

I think Sedin should be credited with best vision, not necessarily best passer. its not the passing that impresses me, its his ability to find the open man from anywhere on the ice that is ridiculous.

[Big Jim 1]

Just going by what I saw when I played with him man, it was ridiculous, nobody wanted to play posts against him at the end of practice! And I was thinking more of wrist/snap shot from the slot, not bad angle one timers lol. And a guy who doesn't skate that well and isn't physically imposing doesn't score ~30 goals every year without knowing where to put the puck. But hey I don't watch that many Buf games, maybe he should have more this year.

lol. I'm sure he seemed pretty awesome when you played with him...when did you play with anyways? Just curious, not trying to argue. Anyways, yeah Pomminville isn't too bad, I'm probably his toughest critic(that goes for all Sabres as well!) I like the guy, he's just not that great of a player IMO. Like you said, not the best skater, no physicality, and the guy hasn't won a battle along the boards all season. I still cheer him on though :D

[jkud 0]

lol. I'm sure he seemed pretty awesome when you played with him...when did you play with anyways? Just curious, not trying to argue. Anyways, yeah Pomminville isn't too bad, I'm probably his toughest critic(that goes for all Sabres as well!) I like the guy, he's just not that great of a player IMO. Like you said, not the best skater, no physicality, and the guy hasn't won a battle along the boards all season. I still cheer him on though :D

I'm not trying to argue either man. I have a hard time seeing him as a bad player, but probably because we're buddies right lol? I played Jr with in the q. But hey, he's better than Vanek this year right!? Hasn't stafford been poor as well?

[Big Jim 1]

I'm not trying to argue either man. I have a hard time seeing him as a bad player, but probably because we're buddies right lol? I played Jr with in the q. But hey, he's better than Vanek this year right!? Hasn't stafford been poor as well?

Yeah he's not a "bad" player I just get bothered by all the pansy asses that play for the Sabres. I miss the days of Rob Ray. If I knew Pominville personally and had played with him I would think he was God probably, so no sweat. I'm just giving you the token depressed *we've never won a chamionship in any major sport* never have been Buffalonian opinion.

[TBLfan 25]

You probably have to hold NHLers to a different level with accuracy. I've seen St Louis and Lecavalier take turns shooting pucks through the camera hole in the corner from the top of the circle. Also the first time seeing Stamkos on the ice before his rookie year he hit 5 straight posts... Shooting slap shots from the right circle aaand he didn't miss, he just decided to stop shooting and started setting up one-timers to Mike Smith. BTW, Mike Smith has a horrible one-timer, silly goalie.

[dsjunior1388 81]

You probably have to hold NHLers to a different level with accuracy. I've seen St Louis and Lecavalier take turns shooting pucks through the camera hole in the corner from the top of the circle. Also the first time seeing Stamkos on the ice before his rookie year he hit 5 straight posts... Shooting slap shots from the right circle aaand he didn't miss, he just decided to stop shooting and started setting up one-timers to Mike Smith. BTW, Mike Smith has a horrible one-timer, silly goalie.

I agree, I am always surprised in the skills competition at just how few guys can actually go 4-4 in the accuracy shooting. You'd think most of those guys could hit a one foot circle pretty much every time.

[TBLfan 25]

I agree, I am always surprised in the skills competition at just how few guys can actually go 4-4 in the accuracy shooting. You'd think most of those guys could hit a one foot circle pretty much every time.

I've always thought it's the pressure of the event. I bet many would go 4-4 after practice.

[Drewhunz 3]

Mike Modano- Best walk into the sunset?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Mike Modano- Best walk into the sunset?

Trevor Linden's "goodbye" in Vancouver was pretty good. Maybe not the in game drama of Modano's...but it was a huge ovation.

[TBLfan 25]

E. Kane - best right cross

[Drewhunz 3]

Trevor Linden's "goodbye" in Vancouver was pretty good. Maybe not the in game drama of Modano's...but it was a huge ovation.

That's what I mean. No pun intended, but the stars alligned on Thursday. To go out on top like that is Disney sports movie type stuff.

[RadioGaGa 162]

That's what I mean. No pun intended, but the stars alligned on Thursday. To go out on top like that is Disney sports movie type stuff.

Oh, I think that pun was TOTALLY intended *L*