NHL: The Best Player at Every Number #61-70
When we watch an NHL hockey game, how do we watch it?
Do we watch as a casual fan and root for our team? Do we watch just to keep track of our fantasy roster? Or do we watch intensely and watch every movement?
Hockey is a fast game that is played by some of the biggest players on earth. These players are skating at top speed, doing only the imaginable with the puck. They have the grace and dedication to showcase their skills at a high level.
Some players have general skills, like shooting the puck, playing defense, or excelling in goal. However, there are players, two of them in this piece, who you watch in amazement because of the special skills they have to take over a game.
Here are the best NHL players to wear numbers 61-70.
These two specific players played on the same team and dominated enough to be 2 of the top 5 players from 1990 to 2000. These players had skill, but they had a way of bringing you out of your seat whenever they touched the puck.
Then there are players who you absolutely hate but are one of the best players in the league at what he does. A player who has been suspended before but fans would want on their team at the first opportunity.
There are also quality players who are not first-line players but contribute in one way or another. Believe it or not, these types of players do deserve to have a spot on the roster and do play important roles on every team.
Hockey is such a beautiful game. The speed at which it’s played, the players who make unreal moves at top speeds, and the sportsmanship that is a game within a game all make it special.
What these athletes put their bodies through is truly amazing. And that you will not find in any other sport.
With that said, here are the best players to wear jersey numbers 61-70 in the NHL.
#61: Rick Nash, Forward
Rick Nash played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Boston Bruins. He played 1,060 games in the NHL, posting 437 goals and 368 assists for 805 points.
Nash has quite an impressive resume. He led the NHL in power-play goals (19) in 2003/04, registered 7 hat tricks, 2 penalty shot goals, played in 6 all-star games, won the Rocket Richard trophy in 2003/04, was named to the 2002/03 NHL all-rookie team and had 46 points (18-28) in 89 career playoff games.
With Nash being the overall #1 pick in 2002 people had high expectations, and he delivered. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he could move very well for a big guy. He was the heart and soul of the Blue Jackets and gave everything he had for them to be successful.
As a power forward he used his size and strength to move into scoring areas, often resulting in a goal. Nash retired on January 11, 2019.
#62: Carl Hagelin, Forward
Carl Hagelin has played for the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Anaheim Ducks.
So far in his NHL career, he has played in 713 games, scoring 110 goals and 186 assists for 296 points, and is currently a +119. Hagelin won 2 Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh (2016, 2017).
Hagelin is a great skater with high energy. He uses that speed to create turnovers in the defensive and neutral zones, and equally uses that same speed on the penalty kill to waste precious time and break up chances.
A great two-way player, he has great patience with the puck and uses his experience to get into open areas. He is a good middle-six forward who always competes hard.
#63: Brad Marchand, Forward
Brad Marchand has played for the Boston Bruins, contributing 351 goals and 444 assists for 795 points and racking up 899 penalty minutes in 874 games. He is also a +263 while playing in the NHL.
Marchand’s career includes 3 playoff overtime goals, 5 hat tricks, 5-8 on penalty shots, 2 all-star games, and a Stanley Cup in 2011 with Boston. He is a good, skilled player who is relentless on the puck and never quits on the play.
Love him or hate him, he is one of the best players in the NHL. Marchand is an agitator, and he often gets power plays for the Bruins due to his effective actions. He is not only gifted offensively but he is just as good defensively.
Marchand does not take a shift off and wears his heart on his sleeve. He is one of the best players currently in the NHL that does not get talked about enough, in a positive way.
#64: Tyler Motte, Forward
Tyler Motte has played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Rangers. His career totals include 269 games, 35 goals, and 27 assists for 62 points.
Motte is pure energy, bottom-6 player who has a non-stop motor. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time for a scoring chance.
Although Motte is a smaller player he does not let that affect his game at all as he has 655 hits in his career. With 3 game-winning goals, he does have some offensive punch but his game is purely defensive.
#65: Ron Hainsey, Defense
Ron Hainsey has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators. He played in 1,132 NHL games, scoring 59 goals and 252 assists for 311 points.
Hainsey had 9 game-winning goals in his career, along with 1,695 blocked shots, and won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017.
Hainsey was your prototypical defensive defenseman. Nothing special to his game, no flash, and no highlight reel moves or goals. He was simple. Hainsey played his game from the blueline on back to the goaltender and not much else.
He took care of his end and let the offensive players do their job. Hainsey took pride in his work as a blue-collar type of player.
#66: Mario Lemieux, Forward
Mario Lemieux played only for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played in 915 games, producing 690 goals, 1,033 assists, and 1,723 points (8th all-time). Lemieux was also a +114 and had 74 game-winning goals. His 690 goals were 11th all-time.
His career resume includes leading the NHL in scoring six times, leading the league in short-handed goals three times, 8th all-time in power-play goals (236), 10-time all-star, won the Calder Trophy, 4-time Ted Lindsay award winner, 6-time Art Ross trophy winner, and won 2 Stanley Cups with the Penguins.
Is there anything Lemieux did not do? He and Wayne Gretzky were the best players in the NHL from 1990 to 2000. He was superb in every way and did everything with confidence. With his size and skill set, nobody could touch him on the ice, often making the opposition look foolish.
He was one of a kind and one of the better players in the last 30 years. He retired on January 24, 2006.
#67: Benoit Pouliot, Forward
Benoit Pouliot played for the Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Buffalo Sabres. His playing career includes 625 games played, 130 goals, and 133 assists for 263 points.
Although Pouliot has 26 game-winning goals to his credit, he was not much of a goal scorer. He was a bottom-six player who excelled at defense. He was often matched against the top two scoring lines and did quite well for himself. He played a simple game, but it was effective.
#68: Jaromir Jagr, Forward
Jaromir Jagr played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Florida Panthers.
In his 24-year career, he has played 1,733 games, scoring 766 goals and 1,155 assists for 1,921 points (2nd all-time). Jagr also has a career rating of +322 and 135 game-winning goals.
We already discussed his teammate, Mario Lemieux, and his impressive stats, but Jagr is right there with, if not above Lemieux.
Jagr’s resume includes leading the league in points 5 times, a career 13.6 shooting percentage, 2 Stanley Cups, 5-time Art Ross trophy winner, 2015-16 Bill Masterton trophy winner, 3-time Pearson Award winner, 16 hat tricks, 3-time Ted Lindsay Award winner, and has 201 points (78-123) in 208 career playoff games.
Jagr was dangerous because of his shot. The goaltender never knew when he was going to shoot, as he never advertised his shot. He was lethal on the power play, almost like what Alex Ovechkin is today.
Jagr was so silky smooth in the offensive zone. He was deadly when shooting the puck but he had an underrated passing game as well. Few were better than Jagr, who is unbelievably still playing today.
#69: Mel Angelstad, Forward
Mel Angelstad played for the Washington Capitals. His career stats include 2 penalty minutes in 2 games.
Angelstad was brought on to maintain the 4th line and add some toughness. However, that only lasted two games and he was sent back down. He did not play much, therefore never living up to what his career was at that time, which was a 4th-line heavyweight.
As one of only two players to wear number 69 in the NHL, Angelstad still manages to work his way into this series.
#70: Braden Holtby, Goalie
Braden Holtby has played for the Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars.
Known for his heavy playoff beard, he has so far played 513 NHL games, compiling a record of 299-143-50, with 35 shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a .915 save %.
Holtby has some hardware to his credit, winning the Stanley Cup with Washington, the 2015-16 Vezina Trophy, the 2016-17 Jennings Trophy, and being a 2-time all-star. He is accomplished enough to call himself a winner and is still playing at a competitive level.
Holtby may not go down as the greatest goaltender of all time, but he fought for every win he has. Gutsy and determined, Holtby played a major role for the Capitals and now is playing just as well for Dallas.
His side-to-side movement is something to see, and he plays the angles well, cutting down the shooting area for the opposing shooters.
More. The Chicago Blackhawks Were Just One Goal Away. light
Holtby is still competitive and does not take losing well. He has been good while between the pipes and does not look like he will be retiring any time soon.