By the Numbers: NHL Edition (90-99)
We’re finally at the end of our By the Numbers series. The 90s are our last installment and we have some really good players left. Some of the league’s best are still available. I will say, this has been a fun, learning experience for me. I’m always trying to learn more about hockey as a new fan of the sport and this has been a great thing for me to grow my knowledge. I learned to put names to faces and numbers and that is definitely a step in the right direction. Like the rest of the series, I will put all of the previous articles at the bottom and you can go through all of them. I’ll not waste any more time though, let’s finish this series up.
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Number 90: C, Ryan O’Reilly, Toronto Maple Leafs
My pick for the best 90 in the league was on a different team when I started this series, but still has the same number. O’Reilly is having a down season, but is still my pick for the best number 90 jersey wearer in the league. Tomas Tatar and Robin Lehner are also strong considerations, but Lehner hasn’t played this season and will miss the rest of the season. Tatar was definitely tough to pass on, but I’ll give O’Reilly the edge with his new team.
nhl.com
Number 91: C/RW, Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
91 is a pretty common number in the NHL. There were a lot of great choice here, but I am giving the edge to Stamkos. He is a cornerstone of the Lightning. John Tavares, Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Seguin, Evander Kane, and Nazem Kadri all wear this same number, so it is definitely a tough competition to be the best. Look out for Kent Johnson and Dawson Mercer in the future, if they continue to wear the 91.
nhl.com
Number 92: C, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
There’s really not debate with this one. Kuznetsov is the best here. Gabriel Landeskog would likely be in close consideration, but he has yet to step on the ice this season to prove it. Ryan Johansen also wears the 92, but Kuznetsov gets the win here.
Number 93: C, Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
This is a close debate. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is having an outstanding year for the Oilers and I think this may be a split decision for a lot of fans. Nugent-Hopkins is benefitting from sharing the ice with Draisaitl and McDavid and has already pass his career highs in scoring. Zibanejad is also having a solid year, so this makes the decision a tough one. I’ll give the edge to the Ranger.
AP
Number 94: RW/LW, Alexander Barabanov, San Jose Sharks
Barabanov was really the only player that was close to consideration. It appears that he will have a career season in San Jose, if he finishes the season out.
USA Today Sports
Number 95: C, Matt Duchene, Nashville Predators
Duchene and Andre Burakovsky are the two options at 95. Burakovsky is having a decent year in his first season with the Kraken, but Duchene has the edge. He is coming off of his best offensive season in his career and while the Preds aren't doing so hot this year, he has been pretty good.
NHL.com
Number 96: RW/C, Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
Rantanen leads the pack with a lot of really good hockey players at 96. He has already surpassed his personal best goal-scoring year this season and it doesn’t appear that he’s slowing down any time soon. Timo Meier is going to wear the 96 for the New Jersey Devils, who just acquired him this week, so I didn’t include him. However, Andrei Kuzmenko is a worthy candidate in the near future. Kuzmenko is a rookie, but can't be considered for the Calder Trophy, which is the best rookie award. He has been the best rookie this season slightly above Matthew Beniers but is too old to be in the running. Maybe he will be the best 96 in the league in the near future.
NHL.com
Number 97: C, Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
The best hockey player in the world deserves the best jersey wearer for his own number, right? Of course, he does. I didn’t even have to think about this one, however, Kiril Kaprizov is no slouch. Not in the slightest. McDavid is on another planet though. It appears that he will surpass his career best points season in just a handful of games and he’s only getting better from here. McDavid is a once-in-a-generation type of player and it is crazy to see what he can do on the ice.
AP
Number 98: D, Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning
The last number on the list is 98 and they made things easy for me. There are only 2 players that wear the 98 and Sergachev is clearly the best. The 2-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman is having his best season and is only 24 years old. It appears that he will be the best 98 for a while, unless he decides to change his number.
Number 99: None, Reserved for The Great One
Yacs
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