Must See TV: 2020 NHL Players (Non-Bruins) Edition

LogansDad

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There's no hockey on and I'm bored. I don't know if this will get any traction but wanted to give it a shot. Obviously we all enjoy watching hockey, and most of our time is focused on the Bruins. I think hockey is the most beautiful sport on the planet, and I love how every team has to work so well together at the speed of instant in order to be a successful franchise, but I also think that watching individual players just take over is incredible to watch. I wish i got to watch every game, but I started this thread to kind of give an idea of what we are missing out there while we watch the Bruins.

So I ask, who are your favorite non-Bruin players to watch and why? I'm not dropping any rules here, we all know the superstar names and whatnot, but if you want to spend a few paragraphs talking about how much you love Connor McDavid, go for it. My picks won't be earth shattering, because life is really busy and I don't get to watch as many non-Bruin games as I would like, but here goes:

1) My list starts with Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado is probably my favorite team to watch outside of Boston, and MacKinnon is a huge part of that. I enjoy his skating ability, but I love watching him just take over the offensive zone at times, but I think he's pretty responsible defensively, as well. Him and Landeskog remind me a lot of Bergy and Marchand in that they have such great synergy together, and they play a fast paced brand of hockey that is just really fun for me to watch. Also, I'll be honest.... I had no idea he was only 24 years old.

2) My favorite player in the league to watch skate is Mitch Marner. His footwork is so good that I find myself getting distracted watching the Leafs play when he is on the ice, because I just can't stop watching him, even when he's away from the puck. I was terribly disappointed when he signed his extension with the Leafs, as I was crazily holding out hope that the Bruins would Offer Sheet him.

3) And for one that might be a little under the radar, I'm going to drop a guy to watch out for in the future: Andrew Mangiapane, of the Flames. I don't know if he will ever be a star, but I watched him for a couple years in the minor leagues when he was playing for Stockton, and he reminds me a bit of a younger Brad Marchand. He has really good skating ability, and likes to get under the other team's skin quite a bit. He's a little old to be a prospect, and might never amount to much, but I think he's a fun player to watch anyway.

Sorry if this thread sucks.
 

cshea

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McDavid- Hands down the most skilled player I’ve ever watched. The speed he plays at is breathtaking.

Matthew Tkachuk- Elite shit stirrer. Probably the closest thing to an old school power forward in the game today.

Ilya Kovalchuk- More of an overall career thing that the current Kovalchuk. Size, speed, hands, shot. What a terrific player, no opponent used to terrify me more with the puck than him.

Guess he doesn’t count because he was a Bruin but my all time favorite non-Bruin before he played here was Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adkunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla. I’ve always been drawn to the power forward types. Cam Neely is the reason I fell in love with the game and the Bruins. Iginla was always the closest thing to Neely in my book. It was a joy wayting him play here for a season, even if it was when he was on his last legs.
 

tmracht

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Ovechkin - I've only seen him live once but man his shot is just electric. Me and my sister were both in awe of just how insane that shot is even in warmups.

Brayden Point - reminds me of a young Bergeron love me a 2 way center. He may not be the flashiest or the best player but he's fun to watch.

Brandon Pirri - One of Us One of Us! Not too many RPI players make the NHL anymore :(
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Connor McDavid is #1 hands down,
but don't see too much with the timezones. He's seems faster with the puck than without

Patrick Kane
Still has great speed at his age, but love his patience when he just holds it and then scores
/ducks

Nikita Kucherov
especially when paired with Stamkos on PP

Ovechkin
Not many skilled power forwards left in today's game. He's been the best post-Neely. Smiles often, seems to enjoy playing more than most. Love the broken teeth look.
especially when paired with:

Nicklas Backstrom
Fantastic passer

Johnny Gaudreau
size (lack of) + BC

Kovalchuk
Lifetime achievement award

HM:
Artemi Panarin
Malkin
Vladimir Tarasenko
Erik Karlsson
Mikhail Sergachev
Ivan Provorov
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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Connor McDavid is #1 hands down,
but don't see too much with the timezones. He's seems faster with the puck than without

Patrick Kane
Still has great speed at his age, but love his patience when he just holds it and then scores
/ducks

Nikita Kucherov
especially when paired with Stamkos on PP

Ovechkin
Not many skilled power forwards left in today's game. He's been the best post-Neely. Smiles often, seems to enjoy playing more than most. Love the broken teeth look.
especially when paired with:

Nicklas Backstrom
Fantastic passer

Johnny Gaudreau
size (lack of) + BC

Kovalchuk
Lifetime achievement award

HM:
Artemi Panarin
Malkin
Vladimir Tarasenko
Erik Karlsson
Mikhail Sergachev
Ivan Provorov
1. Love them Russians, huh?
2. BC is a knock against Johnny Hockey, not a positive.

I've been struggling with this...I love so many different players. Obviously your uber-elite guys are amazing to watch, just because they do inhuman things. I don't really love them though- it's a too bit easy. I guess my favorite type of player these days is the waterbug guy who skates like he's dancing. Gaudreu, Barzal, Marner :)puke:), The Hughes, Petterson, etc. Marchy is a bit like that too, you know.

But honestly, I love them all. The game is so fast (too fast?) and the players are soooo skilled. It's a blast to watch.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
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Dec 2, 2006
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YOU’RE A KNOCK AGAINST JOHNNY HOCKEY!

More so in college but my favorite to watch was Nathan Gerbe. Small, fast, powerful, and an epic shit stirrer. At 5’4” he’s too small to do anything of note but nice to see him still kicking around the league.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Agreed!

Gionta too was fun to watch, way back in the ice ages. Still angry Devils and Habs had him.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
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BC sucks, but yeah- Gerbe was a ton of fun to watch. Gionta was another level though. He's probably a top 5 college player I've watched.
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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Man - I don't watch nearly as much hockey as I used, and rarely do I just watch a non-Bruins game for fun. This is a great question though. McDavid and Mackinnon are what first jump to mind for me, just due to their pure speed. The NHL in general is impossibly fast, and they make everyone else look like they're standing still. And they can think and process at that speed too, which is even more impressive.

Crosby and Ovechkin are still a blast too watch, especially as they age and continue to get smarter. Just watch Crosby on his own for a couple shifts - he never stops working and thinking out there. He is in complete control of his skating at all times, it's remarkable.

For defensemen, I enjoyed watching Cale Makar in the playoffs last year, as someone going directly from the Frozen Four into the NHL playoffs, he was incredibly poised and a smooth smooth skater.
 
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cshea

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Cale Makar is a good one. I haven’t wantched a ton of the Avs this year but he is freaking awesome. Quinn Hughes too.
 

Jordu

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Apr 30, 2003
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Anze Kopitar. Plays a 200-foot game, great on faceoffs, great at reading the flow while playing defense, and at the other end he’s a sniper. Rarely takes penalties.