Each NHL team’s most important player entering the 2019-20 season
Who are the most important NHL players? Here’s a look at which players are the most crucial to their teams as the 2019-20 season draws near.
Today’s NHL is all about star power. You need stars to win. The more stars you have, the greater chance you give yourself of winning a Stanley Cup. Even last season’s St. Louis Blues had Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko, and rookie sensation Jordan Binnington.
A franchise player is the most valuable player in the league. Especially if they can carry a team for an extended period of time. Not every team has a star, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have players crucial to their season.
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As the 2019-20 season draws near, let’s take a look at the most important player on each team.
Anaheim Ducks – John Gibson
Goaltenders are arguably the most valuable position in hockey. There’s no other position that can erase mistakes. As great as Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid is, there’s only so much they can control. However, a goaltender can erase a blown coverage. Or an odd-man rush.
The Ducks have arguably the best goalie in the league in John Gibson. He’s quite capable of stealing games for Anaheim. Gibson has never won a Vezina Trophy, but it sure isn’t his fault. If anything, that’s a good sign voters need to take a step back and ponder if their methods of evaluating goalies are working.
No player on the Ducks is more important than Gibson. If he has one of his typical terrific seasons, they might be able to sneak into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Frankly, if the Ducks do make the postseason, it will be because of Gibson. And forget the Vezina Trophy. If the Ducks make the playoffs, Gibson needs to be in the Hart Trophy conversation.