Who is the best NHL player born in 1986?

One birth year, two dozen careers: Hart and Conn Smythe hardware at the top, Cup-winning grinders and journeyman goalies further down. Some peaked in a single spring, others lasted fifteen seasons in one city.

1. 1
   Evgeni Malkin

   Pittsburgh Penguins center born in July 1986 who won the Calder, Hart and Conn Smythe trophies, two Art Ross titles and three Stanley Cups.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Anton Khudobin

   Goaltender born in Kazakhstan who took over the Dallas Stars' net during their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.
   856pts
3. 3
   Blake Wheeler

   Minnesota-born winger who captained the Winnipeg Jets from 2016 to 2022 and tied for the NHL lead with 68 assists in 2017-18.
   750pts
4. 4
   Ben Bishop

   Six-foot-seven goaltender for Tampa Bay and Dallas who was a Vezina Trophy finalist three times.
   719pts
5. 5
   Brandon Dubinsky

   Two-way center who played for the New York Rangers and then the Columbus Blue Jackets.
   592pts
6. 6
   Keith Yandle

   Offensive defenseman for Arizona, the New York Rangers, Florida and Philadelphia who played 989 consecutive games, an NHL record at the time.
   592pts
7. 7
   Matt Niskanen

   Minnesota-born defenseman who played for Dallas, Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadelphia and won the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Capitals.
   592pts
8. 8
   Andrej Sekera

   Slovak defenseman who played more than 800 NHL games for Buffalo, Carolina, Los Angeles, Edmonton and Dallas.
   513pts
9. 9
   Nikolai Kulemin

   Russian winger who scored 30 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010-11 and later played for the New York Islanders.
   513pts
10. 10
    Anton Strålman

    Swedish defenseman who reached the Stanley Cup Final with the New York Rangers in 2014 and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015.
    513pts
11. 11
    Alexander Radulov

    Russian winger who played for Nashville, returned to the NHL with Montreal in 2016-17 and signed with Dallas in 2017.
    420pts
12. 12
    Alexander Edler

    Swedish defenseman who played 15 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks and became the franchise's leader in points by a defenseman.
    420pts
13. 13
    Thomas Greiss

    German goaltender who shared the 2019 Jennings Trophy with Robin Lehner as a member of the New York Islanders.
    420pts
14. 14
    Cory Schneider

    American goaltender who shared the 2011 Jennings Trophy with Roberto Luongo in Vancouver and later became the New Jersey Devils' starter.
    420pts
15. 15
    Jonathan Quick

    American goaltender born in January 1986 who won Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy, and a third Cup with Vegas in 2023.
    420pts
16. 16
    David Krejčí

    Czech center who spent his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, won the 2011 Stanley Cup and led the playoffs in scoring in 2011 and 2013.
    420pts
17. 17
    Tyler Bozak

    Center who spent nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and won the 2019 Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues.
    420pts
18. 18
    Tyler Kennedy

    Forward who won the 2009 Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
    420pts
19. 19
    Devan Dubnyk

    Canadian goaltender who revived his career with the Minnesota Wild, winning the 2015 Bill Masterton Trophy and finishing as a Vezina finalist that season.
    420pts
20. 20
    T.J. Oshie

    American forward who won the 2018 Stanley Cup with Washington and scored four shootout goals against Russia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
    308pts
21. 21
    Dave Bolland

    Chicago Blackhawks center who won Stanley Cups in 2010 and 2013 and scored the Cup-winning goal in Game 6 of the 2013 Final in Boston.
    308pts
22. 22
    Kris Versteeg

    Winger who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and again in 2015.
    308pts
23. 23
    Bryan Bickell

    Power forward whose name is on Chicago's 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cups and who retired in 2017 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
    308pts
24. 24
    Jannik Hansen

    Danish winger who played most of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks, including their run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
    0pts
25. 25
    Adam McQuaid

    Defenseman who played nine seasons for the Boston Bruins and won the 2011 Stanley Cup.
    0pts

Comments