theScore's top 100 NHL players: 80-71
Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
80. Corey Crawford, Blackhawks| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | 74 | 73 | 93 |
The Blackhawks had seven different goalies take the net last season and Crawford was the only one to have a winning record. In missing all but 28 games, he proved his worth to the team. Prior to last season, Crawford had recorded 131 wins since the 2013-14 season, the third-most in the NHL during that span. -- Hagerman
79. Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 85 | 76 | 69 |
Aho collected as many points at even-strength (49) last season as he did in all situations in his rookie campaign of 2016-17, improving his overall goal (29) and point (65) totals in the process. He drove possession at 54.83 percent, according to Corsica, and he's one of the most talented and unheralded young players in the NHL. -- Gold-Smith
Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty78. Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 80 | 81 | 92 |
Marner bounced back from a painfully slow start to collect 53 points in his final 53 games and continued that strong play into the postseason, where he was arguably Toronto's best player. He's characterized as an offense-first player, but finished fourth in the league with 85 takeaways. Slated to play alongside John Tavares this season, he could be in for a career year. -- Wegman
77. William Karlsson, Golden Knights| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 89 | 80 | 61 |
Only Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine scored more goals than Karlsson last season. In his first campaign playing top-six minutes, the former Blue Jacket obliterated his previous career high of nine goals. He followed that up with 15 playoff points in 20 games. Karlsson also features prominently on the club's penalty kill. -- Hagerman
76. Ryan Suter, Wild
Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | NR | 79 | 86 |
Suter has been one of the league's best scoring-chance suppressors throughout his career, and last season was no different. Offensively, he may not be as flashy as some of today's younger defensemen, but he still quietly registered 51 points. A perennial workhorse, only Drew Doughty averaged more ice time last season. -- Wegman
75. Mark Giordano, Flames| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | 43 | 78 | NR |
Giordano is a rock on the Flames' back end, finishing 12th in the NHL in average ice time at 24:47 a season ago, and he's missed only one game over the last three campaigns combined. While he likely won't return to the offensive numbers he produced in his prime, the soon-to-be 35-year-old is still a steadying force on Calgary's blue line. -- Gold-Smith
74. Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 87 | 68 | 57 |
After a respectable rookie campaign, Rantanen took his game to another level last season. He potted 84 points and was instrumental in Nathan MacKinnon's MVP caliber season factoring in on 51 of his 97 points. He has an elite release, vision, and patience, making him a tremendous offensive threat. -- Hagerman
73. Colton Parayko, Blues| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 64 | 74 | 78 |
Parayko has it all. Standing in at 6-foot-6, he possesses the tools to dominate physically, but also excels at moving the puck and owns a booming point shot. At only 25, it's scary that he still has room to grow. -- O'Leary
72. Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights
Isaac Brekken / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 62 | 64 | 96 |
After 13 years of adoration in Pittsburgh, no one really knew what to expect from Fleury as he donned Vegas colors, but having the best season of his career was a good way to acclimate himself to his new fanbase. The 33-year-old authored a .927 save percentage in both the regular season and playoffs, quickly establishing himself as the heart and soul of the Golden Knights. -- O'Leary
71. Mattias Ekholm, Predators| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 76 | 72 | 74 |
Ekholm doesn't get as much love as the three other members of the Predators' top-four on defense, but he's a solid all-around blue-liner who's just as - if not more - effective in his own end as he is in the offensive zone. Ekholm will occasionally wow you, but even when he doesn't, he contributes to Nashville's success in myriad ways. -- Gold-Smith
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