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Top 100 Players of Today! S32
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<div align="center">Top 100 SHL Players of Today!
Season 32

Season 20
Season 21
Season 22
Season 23
Season 24
Season 25
Season 26
Season 27
Season 28
Season 29
Season 30
Season 31

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Welcome back everyone, to the seasonal top 100 players of today. So for those who do not know, this is the 13th edition of this article, awarding the top 100 players heading into the 32nd season.

I'd like to give a big thanks to the following users that helped me make this article possible.

Experts: ArGarBarGar, Baelor Swift, ThatDamnMcJesus, MP7, Lunaro, Chris-McZehrl
Experts and Writers: ArGarBarGar, Baelor Swift

Together we made a panel of 6 experts who graded over 120 players, narrowing the list down to 100 and ranking those elite 100 players of the SHL.

I'd like to ask the media grader to wait for my PM before grading this article.

100. (S17) C (Edmonton Blizzard) - Chico Salmon || -12
Average Grade: 73
Past Seasons: S20- 43, S21-20, S22-24, S23-37, S24-71, S25-5, S26-1, S27-23, S28-5, S29-59, S30-58, S31-88

Sneaking onto the list at 100 is Chico Salmon, one of the best players of his generation. There probably is no better player to land here as this marks Salmon’s thirteenth straight season in the SHL Top 100. With only 11 goals and 12 assists last season for the Blizzard, his time as an elite player in the SHL, marked by three appearances in the top 5, appear to be numbered. It is also very possible that Season 32 will be his final season in the Top 100 so it is only fitting to honor this future Hall of Famer to kick of this season’s edition.

99. (S20) D (Calgary Dragons) - Sachimo Zoidberg || -16
Average Grade: 73.17
Past Seasons: S22-86, S23-76, S24-69, S25-55, S26-24, S27-47, S28-69, S29-47, S30-35, S31-83

At 99 we have yet another mainstay in the Top 100 with career Calgary Dragons defenseman Sachimo Zoidberg. Season 32 marks his eleventh and final season on this list and he will long be remembered for a very successful career as a well-rounded yet physical player. Despite his diminishing offensive value over the past couple seasons, marked by just 18 points in Season 31, he has not nearly outlived his usefulness as a more than adept defender, logging more than 20 minutes per game with the Dragons. However, Zoidberg has officially announced his impending retirement and will be looking to cap off a great career in Season 32.

98. (S27) LW (Portland Admirals) - Maximillian Wächter || New Entry
Average Grade: 73.17
Past Seasons: None

Admirals forward Maximillian Wächter, coming off a fine season, makes the Top 100 for the first time at number 98. The young forward got some big minutes for the seemingly ever-rebuilding Portland Admirals and took advantage of that time, netting 17 goals and 12 assists. However, his 39 points are not representative of this rising star’s total impact – the physical presence led his team in hits and has proven he is the type of player that can cause problems for his opponents in a number of ways. While this is the first time we see Wächter on this list, it certainly will not be the last.

97. (S21) C (Calgary Dragons) - Jaime Hill || -40
Average Grade: 73.50
Past Seasons: S25-83, S26-40, S27-65, S28-81, S29-66, S30-45, S31-57

And at 97 we have yet another long-time SHL player – Dragons center Jaime Hill. In Season 31, she saw her minutes decline heavily, be removed from the faceoff circle, and score just seven goals and nine assists. Barring an incredible comeback in Season 32, this will likely be the last appearance for Hill on the Top 100 list, which she has now cracked for eight consecutive seasons. Her impact on Calgary will not be easily forgotten, however.

96. (S24) LW (West Kendall Platoon) - Damien Wert || Returning Entry
Average Grade: 73.83
Past Seasons: S28-99, S30-98

Every other year, Damien Wert seems to pop back into the late Top 100. After taking a year off in Season 31, he is back on the list at number 96 for Season 32, also a career high. He is coming off a solid season with the Platoon, receiving increased minutes and netting fifteen goals along with thirteen assists for a very fine statistical season. As the Platoon continue to transition to a younger core, expect Wert to fill in the gap offensively for at least a few seasons before regression hits. While he will never be remembered as a top player in the SHL, he has been a reliably solid contributor for West Kendall.

95. (S20) D (Seattle Riot) - Mikko Koskinen || -16
Average Grade: 73.83
Past Seasons: S23-86, S24-46, S25-20, S26-71, S27-33, S28-18, S29-24, S30-64, S31-79

Mikko Koskinen, ranking in at 95, has now managed to be part of the SHL Top 100 for ten seasons in a row. While he is no longer the top tier player he once was, often considered among the league’s elite defensemen, Koskinen is still no slouch entering Season 32. In Season 31, he was a large part of the Seattle Riot’s success, picking up 25 points and playing big roles on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Going into this season, Koskinen’s role should not change much and it would not even be surprising to see a statistical improvement in Season 32 for this long-time SHLer.

94. (S21) C (Calgary Dragons) - Chris Johnson || Returning Entry
Average Grade: 74
Past Seasons: S26-77, S27-85, S28-39, S29-37, S30-78

Chris Johnson, coming in at number 94, has been a solid contributor for the Dragons throughout his career, making a large impact in Seasons 27 and 28, resulting in two seasons being ranked among the top 40 players in the SHL. After falling out of the Top 100 rankings last season, Johnson is back after a 23 point campaign in which he was given a big role on the team’s powerplay. While certainly not the player he once was, he provides great depth for the Dragons, who have been perennial contenders for years.

93. (S23) D (Texas Renegades) - Pål Vikingstød || Returning entry
Average Grade: 74.17
Past Seasons: S26-69, S27-88, S28-62, S30-89

After falling out of the list, Pål Vikingstød makes a return at number 93. He is a player who showed tremendous promise early in his career but his potential seemed to quickly fade. However, that has not prevented him from being a reliable defenseman as he has consistently put up respectable numbers and been a strong defensive presence. His Season 31 performance with the Renegades saw him being relied on heavily in all aspects of the game, logging more than 26 minutes per game. His 23 points were a solid offensive display for the physical defenseman, who will likely continue to have a large role in Texas.

92. (S25) C (Edmonton Blizzard) - Nikolaus Scholz || -31
Average Grade: 74.17
Past Seasons: S27-91, S28-40, S30-97, S31-61
At 92, we have center Nikolaus Scholz. Scholz entered the league as an unheralded prospect but has largely exceeded expectations, putting together some solid seasons as he finds him on the Top 100 list for the fifth season in a row. However, Scholz has put together rather volatile performances from season to season as he has found himself in the top 50 yet will be making his third appearance in the 90s. Season 31 certainly wasn’t the best for the center as he finished with just 29 points and failed to win 50% of his faceoffs. However, even barring the current trend, it is likely we see a big jump after next season as Scholz is firmly in his prime.

91. (S30) LW (Buffalo Stampede) - Nolan Angello || New Entry
Average Grade: 74.33
Past Seasons: None

The Stampede rookie makes his Top 100 debut early in his career, slotting in at 91. In his first season in the SHL, Angello immediately stepped into a big role and did not disappoint. His 16 goals and 36 points were second best on the Stampede and looks to be a big part of Buffalo’s push to gain relevance. Let’s just hope Angello doesn’t go the way of former Stampede phenom Robb Wind, who entered the league as a true rookie with so much hype that fell oh so flat.

90. (S23) D (Edmonton Blizzard) - Victor Svensson || +3
Average Grade: 74.33
Past Seasons: S28-86, S29-89, S30-54, S31-93

At 90, we have Victor Svensson of the Blizzard. Aside from a Season 30 ranking of 54, Svensson has largely hovered around this area as a solid yet unspectacular defenseman. He is not necessarily great at anything but he is solid in virtually all aspects of the game, consistently putting in good offensive performances while being a reliable defender. With just under 26 minutes per game, he was an important piece for the Blizzard in Season 31 and should not see a significant role change next season.

89. (S20) LW (Winnipeg Jets) - Elyk || -30
Average Grade: 74.33
Past Seasons: S25-60, S26-27, S27-29, S28-49, S29-28, S30-46, S31-59

At 89 is Winnipeg Jets forward Elyk, who fell off the planet after a steady decline from his S29 ranking. Elyk scored only 8 goals and 24 points on the season, something we have not seen from him since his early days, and with regression starting to take its toll it is possible Elyk may no longer be the player he used to be. Not to mention defensively he had a terrible year, -22 overall with only 43 hits and nothing else to brag about.

88. (S24) D (Seattle Riot) - Jack Burton || Returning Entry
Average Grade: 75
Past Seasons: S28-102, S29-79, S30-92

Who says defensive players never get recognition? Burton is back at it after taking a break from the list last season. Burton's numbers are likely not the reason why he is on this list, as he only scored 17 points with half the hits from S30, but he blocked a ton of shots and continued to play a ton of minutes on the penalty kill. Burton is not the kind of guy we are expecting to win any major awards any time soon, but he surely is a man who is dedicated to the defensive side of the game.

87. (S20) D (New England Wolfpack) - Benjamin Reid || -16
Average Grade: 75
Past Seasons:S22-90, S23-66, S24-73, S25-35, S26-33, S27-9, S28-34, S29-49, S30-52, S31-71

At 87 is defenseman Benjamin Reid, who falls further in the rankings despite an increase in production. Reid scored 8 goals and 28 points, more in both categories than S30, but unfortunately that hasn't been enough to really bring him back up to his glory day rankings. Reid has been but a shadow of his former self when it comes to offensive production, and while his defensive game has been incredible and has led his team to back to back championships, he is being ignored due to the wealth of talent that the younger generation is providing.

86. (S28) D (Los Angeles Panthers) - Marc-Andre Malkin || New Entry
Average Grade: 75.17
Past Seasons: None

At 86 is newcomer Marc-Andre Malkin who after a couple of so-so years has had a breakout performance in S31. He scored 7 goals, 35 points, and was one of very few bright spots on a rebuilding Steelhawks team. Malkin remains a talent in the league despite now claiming his home in Los Angeles of the Western Conference, but that should in no way prevent him from continuing his solid performances. Shouldn't be long before his two-way game flourishes, as his 109 shot blocks was incredible, even despite being on a weaker team.

85. (S25) C (Los Angeles Panthers) - Ryan King || New Entry
Average Grade: 75.50
Past Seasons: None

Another new entry is Ryan King of the Los Angeles Panthers, who himself also had a breakout season, but this time due to joining a new team and having a major improvement due to chemistry with his new teammates. King posted 18 goals and 34 points, along with 175 shots (a career high), and has started to get to his goal-scoring prime. Now he may not be a goal scoring behemoth like some of those we have seen in the past, but King is turning out to be a great asset for the Panthers in S32.

84. (S22) RW (Seattle Riot) - Pavel Bursyuk || -30
Average Grade: 75.50
Past Seasons: S27-51, S28-53, S29-8, S30-29, S31-54

At 84 is long-time Riot winger Pavel Bursyuk, who falters once again after what looked to be a promising turn in S28. Since then, he has not posted an offensive season better than the last, and this time has had his worst season since S25. Bursyuk scored 10 goals and only 22 assists, improved on hits, but overall didn't really wow in any intangible category, which was disappointing all things considered. Bursyuk appears to be one of those forwards with a short prime, but even though regression has only started to hit, it seems he will be one of the many players who is hit hard and fast with age.

83. (S25) RW (Minnesota Chiefs) - Michael Gerrard || +13
Average Grade: 75.67
Past Seasons: S31-96

At 83 is Chiefs forward Michael Gerrard, who is considered in the hockey state to be an unsung hero of sorts. Gerrard has hit a career high of 32 points, is now being used for more responsible roles, and even was arguably the Chief's MVP in their short playoff stint. Gerrard hasn't done much else other than provide some offense, but many say that his offensive prowess is just getting started. Of course many more say that Gerrard won't be much more than what we have seen, and if he doesn't continue to update he will remain as such. Still, not a bad pickup for the Chiefs considering where he was drafted.

82. (S27) G (Free Agent) - Selena Bauer || -5
Average Grade: 75.83
Past Seasons: S31-77

At 82 is Selena Bauer, shamed goaltender who is one of the famous disappointments in recent SHL history. Bauer had such a high potential, and the Rage used her quite well in S30 where she went 13-9 and looked to be on the up and up. However that quickly changed, as she was moved to the Admirals and had a losing record as their starter. Now, she has no team to actually play for, and it seems that nobody will touch her with a ten foot pole. What happened to this career to where it stopped so suddenly? Quite unfortunate.

81. (S20) LW (New England Wolfpack) - Blake Sherrill || -21
Average Grade: 76
Past Seasons: S23-83, S24-85, S25-68, S26-70, S27-52, S28-44, S29-54, S30-60, S31-60

At 81 is Wolfpack forward Black Sherrill, one of many who has been incredibly comfortable in New England and has no intentions of leaving. Sherrill scored 14 goals and 29 points, which is a major drop from his five straight 40+ point seasons and looks to be a sign of him falling off and no longer being much of a contributor out there. Sherrill is definitely not the player he used to be, but considering his consistency on the ice the Wolfpack made a great deal in drafting him back in S20, and with their recent success they have no regrets about this pick.

80. (S18) LW (Winnipeg Jets) - Vidrik Onoprienko || -24
Average Grade: 76
Past Seasons: S20-67, S21-49, S22-26, S23-7, S24-1, S25-8, S26-2, S27-5, S28-1, S29-7, S30-25, S31-56

At 80 is one of the great careers of our time, which is unfortunately starting to taper off after so many years in dominance. Onoprienko is perhaps the greatest player of this list. Seven straight appearances in the top-10, multiple 50+ point seasons, and even now is still contributing despite his advanced age. His 15 goals and 27 points may be the worst total he has posted since his rookie year, but many players would have been overjoyed to have that kind of production even for a short time. Onoprienko is a first ballot hall of famer, no question, and while this may be his last time in the limelight, he will not be forgotten.

79. (S20) C (Toronto North Stars) - Niklas Wikstrom || -36
Average Grade: 76.17
Past Seasons: S22-91, S24-89, S25-70, S26-97, S27-61, S28-61, S29-6, S30-18, S31-43

At 79 is North Stars center Niklas Wikstrom, who has taken such a large step back it is amazing he is still on this list. Wikstrom was a late bloomer in the SHL, with two 50+ point seasons later in his career, while the rest of his career was middling production and not much to speak of in the way of intangibles. He has gone even further down than that with his recent play, scoring only 6 goals and 17 points on the season, and doing not much in the process. With retirement on the horizon it looks like Wikstrom is about ready to fade into dust.

78. (S26) C (West Kendall Platoon) - Taystee Poussey || New Entry
Average Grade: 76.33
Past Seasons: None

At 78 is Platoon center Taystee Poussey, enjoying their first spot on the list with 10 goals and 29 points. The defenseman was successful physically as well, with 80 hits and 75 shots, and the expectation is that will continue to rise in time. Will that mean that Poussey becomes an elite center in the league? Probably not, but still looks to be trending as a big contributor for the Platoon very soon.

77. (S24) LW (Los Angeles Panthers) - Anton Fedorov || -25
Average Grade: 76.33
Past Seasons: S30-90, S31-52

At 77 is Anton Fedorov, who looked to be ready to take that next step into consistent elite winger territory along the likes of Banananov, McZehrl, Flacko, among others. But that appears to be on hold for the moment, as Fedorov could not replicate his close to 50 point season and only scored 16 goals and 36 points on the year. Fedorov also appears to be falling behind in the hit department, which wasn't something he was known for, but had a knack for applying every once in awhile.

76. (S28) RW (West Kendall Platoon) - Mikko Linna || New Entry
Average Grade: 76.33
Past Seasons:None

Another new entry on this list is Mikko Linna, member of the Platoon foursome and starting to come into her own with a 16 goal, 32 point season. Her minutes have increased and her work on the powerplay has gotten better, and in her sophomore year she has started to prove why she was drafted so high in the S28 draft. West Kendall has made good on her development and she has the potential to be a member of the top-10 if she continues to progress.

75. (S22) D (New England Wolfpack) - Brandon Pomery || +10
Average Grade: 76.50
Past Seasons: S31-85

At 75 is Wolfpack defenseman Brandom Pomery, who really hasn't got that much of a fair shake in the league when it comes to credit for his team's success. Pomery had a bit of a lapse in production in S31, with 29 points compared to the 34 he had in S30, but he remained on point with the shot blocks and is still a well-rounded defenseman even with the lower point totals. Pomery is starting to regress, though, and it is possible that his offensive production is going to be reduced to nil, but may have a couple years left before that happens.

74. (S26) C (Los Angeles Panthers) - Sven Karlsson || +4
Average Grade: 76.50
Past Seasons: S29-85, S30-61, S31-78

Los Angeles Panthers center Sven Karlsson comes in at 74, who also had a less productive year than S30 but was still excellent in the two-way game. Karlsson scored 11 goals and 32 points, registered 42 hits, played 150 minutes on the PK, and all around was solid for the Panthers even though the team itself had major struggles. Karlsson is still young and may get back to his 43 point season in S29, but he may need to sacrifice some defense to make that happen.

73. (S28) G (Seattle Riot) - Michael McFadden || Even
Average Grade: 76.50
Past Seasons: S31-73

At 73 is Riot goaltender Michael McFadden who didn't move at all on this list, which isn't surprising because his stat line is virtually identical to the year prior. 22 wins once again, 18 losses compared to 17, and 4 OTLs compared to 5. His save percentage has slipped a bit with .902 compared to .908, but his GAA remains steady and that is what the Riot are looking for in their future goaltender. His youth is a positive as well because he has plenty of time to progress and become an elite tender in Seattle.

72. (S27) D (Los Angeles Panthers) - Chris Crutchfield || +9
Average Grade: 76.83
Past Seasons: S31-81

Chris Crutchfield comes in at number 72 on the list, with a slightly down year but still good defensive production with 9 goals and 29 points. This mainly is due to the lack of assists while playing with some poor linemates over the course of a season. He did block 72 shots which was servicable, and lowered the PIMs a lot which makes him more reliable and not one to put his team shorthanded on a regular basis. His progression has stalled a bit, so Los Angeles may need to think about how they utilize him on the ice for him to be most effective and make the most out of his potential.

71. (S23) C (Hamilton Steelhawks) - Nazar Nichushkin || New Entry
Average Grade: 77
Past Seasons: None

Nazar Nichushkin comes in at 71 on the list, a new entry despite being a little older in age. Nichushkin scored 17 goals and 34 points on the year, had a whopping 176 shots, and went back to his PK dominance days on a team that needed it badly. Nichushkin looks to be a good pickup for the Steelhawks if they can get into contention mode soon, as he appears to be finally hitting his stride. But Nichushkin has to keep playing the way he is playing even with regression knocking on the door.

70. (S18) RW (West Kendall Platoon) - Oliver Pettyfer || -35
Average Grade: 77
Past Seasons: S20-87, S21-41, S22-60, S23-65, S24-51, S25-12, S26-15, S27-21, S28-10, S29-43, S30-31, S31-35

Finishing up the top-70 is Oliver Pettyfer of the West Kendall Platoon. Pettyfer had incredible success in previous years, with a whopping 7 seasons at 40 or more points, and a couple seasons where he challenged 50 points. With regression really starting to hurt, Pettyfer has begun to feel the pain and with 11 goals and 25 points he is on the trend downward. That is unfortunate considering the Platoon have always done a great job of showcasing Pettyfer and making him a hot-ticket item whenever the Platoon are playing. This could be the beginning of the end for Pettyfer, but we hope it isn't.

69. (S23) C (Seattle Riot) - David Benson || -5
Average Grade: 77.33
Past Seasons: S28-98, S29-29, S30-72, S31-64

At 69 is Riot center David Benson, coming off a major speedbump season where he scored only 15 goals and 33 points. Many expected him to keep being a dominant player after his 47 point season in S30, but the Riot aren't about individual accomplishments so much as they are about team success. Benson probably doesn't want to use that as an excuse, but with one season before he begins to regress he may need to think about talking to his coaches so he can get some better point totals before he eventually retires.

68. (S22) D (Winnipeg Jets) - Big Manious || -46
Average Grade: 77.67
Past Seasons: S27-42, S28-41, S29-45, S30-32, S31-22

At 68 is defenseman Big Manious, making a gigantic drop off after scoring only 23 points on the season. Manious has been a top-tier defensive juggernaut for the last 5 or so seasons, not being the biggest contributor on the offensive side but being a great defensive stalwart along with enough offense to be a major contributor. Manious has for the first time since his rookie season not lived up to that billing and his -25 is the worst he has ever been in his career. Shot blocks were up, but overall, he was not the same player.

67. (S23) D (Winnipeg Jets) - Connor O'Reilly || -14
Average Grade: 71.60
Past Seasons: S27-82, S28-101, S29-65, S30-42, S31-53

Connor O'Reilly comes in at 67, another drop from his previous season in both offensive and defensive production. O'Reilly scored 33 points compared to 34 in S30, and what really jumped out was his plus minus, which was a brutal -25. Another stat which had a huge drop was his shot blocks, going from 100 to 77. That is a weird thing to see considering the team wasn't that much worse in S30, so why did he stop blocking as many shots?

66. (S26) D (Manhattan Rage) - Wyatt Wollker || -16
Average Grade: 77.83
Past Seasons: S29 -94, S30-100, S31-50

At 66 is yet another defenseman, Wyatt Wollker, who followed up his major breakout performance with a decent but nowehere near comparable campaign in S31. Wollker scored 10 goals but only 29 points, was a -26, and was not relied nearly as much on the PP. However he did improve defensively, with 114 hits on the year as well as 87 shot blocks. Wollker appears to be shaping up as a physical defensive specialist with a glimmer of offensive brilliance depending on the circumstances.

65. (S25) C (New England Wolfpack) - Jonathan Lundberg || +31
Average Grade: 78.17
Past Seasons: S30-82, S31-94

At 65 is Wolfpack center Jonathan Lundberg, finally getting out of the lower portion of this list with a 33 point season and improvement of his intangibles. Lundberg hasn't quite reached that second level where he might get into the top-50, but with him entering his prime he may end up proving it if he can keep working at his fundamentals and be the next wave of elite Wolfpack players along with teammates like Jasper Clayton.

64. (S25) RW (Edmonton Blizzard) - Ivan Koroviev || +6
Average Grade: 78.67
Past Seasons: S31-70

At 64 is Blizzard winger Ivan Koroviev, who has started his climb to the top-50 with a quick jump in his second year on this list. Koroviev had a down year by his own standards, scoring only 35 points, but he did score 17 goals and improved his overall game. Koroviev is another member of the big S25 class, but the one issue is he hasn't quite gotten to the "elite" stage yet. It is possible he becomes one of the consistent forwards like Benjamin Reid, but he has to put a string of good seasons together for that to be the case.

63. (S24) D (Edmonton Blizzard) - Winston Windsor || -23
Average Grade: 78.83
Past Seasons: S27-71, S28-60, S29-77, S30-43, S31-40

At 63 is youngish defenseman Winston Windsor, who has fallen a bit off the planet after being considered the next wave of top-tier defensemen in the league. Windsor scored 33 points in S31, which is the second straight season he has not been able to replicate his past production. Hits remain somewhat weak, however he ramped up the blocked shots with 92, the most in his career. It appears that Windsor has reached his peak, though, and we won't be seeing him crack the top-50 unless he has an uncharacteristic season.

62. (S22) RW (Calgary Dragons) - Pierre-Luc Laflamme || -4
Average Grade: 79
Past Seasons: S24-92, S25-95, S26-18, S27-17, S28-47, S29-40, S30-14, S31-58

At 62 is another forward who was considered to be the next great young star, however he appears to have already reached his peak (though it was a hell of a peak) since his production has not been there after leaving the North Stars. Is it because he has been chasing the money? Is it because he has been cursed by Toronto? Either way 36 points isn't great for a player just now hitting regression, though the goal scoring appears to have come back with a 20 goal campaign. Is this the beginning of the end for Laflamme, or does he have the chance to become great again?

61. (S28) G (New England Wolfpack) - Mikke Laukkanen || New Entry
Average Grade: 79.17
Past Seasons: None

At 61 is a young goaltender Mikke Laukkanen, who started their first season as a starter with some pretty decent numbers. Laukkanen went 22-6-2, won a Challenge Cup, and sported a .910 save percentage all the way. Laukkanen is young, and if the production continues the Wolfpack may have one of the best goaltenders in the youth movement and made a major steal in picking this potential stud up. However that needs to be seen going into S32 before we can make that determination.

60. (S25) C (Winnipeg Jets) - Travis Kudleychuk || +8
Average Grade: 79.17
Past Seasons: S30-95, S31-68

Here is a name I feel we haven't really talked about all that much in the SHL universe. Kudleychuk hits the list at 60, with 17 goals and 34 points on the year. Kudleychuk is still pretty young, but his days of improvement appear to be over, as he has only had one season over 40 points so far and doesn't show any signs of producing more. After jumping around to three different teams he seems to have finally found his home in Winnipeg, where barring a major trade he looks to be playing there for the rest of his career.

59. (S23) LW (West Kendall Platoon) - Slappy McDoodle || +8
Average Grade: 79.33
Past Seasons: S29-95, S30-57, S31-67

At 59 is Platoon forward Slappy McDoodle, who has been a more consistent player over the last few seasons despite the fact he hasn't entirely made that extra step to the elite status of forwards. McDoodle scored 14 goals and 32 points, this all despite his shot totals falling back. The big thing that has been his forte has been his physical play, and once again he got close to the 100 hits mark. While not looking like he will be much more than a second line physical beast, that isn't anything to scoff at.

58. (S25) RW (Buffalo Stampede) - Robb Wind || New Entry
Average Grade: 79.50
Past Seasons: None

At 58 is Robb Wind, who has surprisingly never entered the list before this season. Wind has been a pretty consistent guy for the Stampede, though despite being the first ever pick of the expansion team has never really lived up to his hype. This is mainly due to the fact he hasn't been seen in the gym since his rookie season, but despite that his talent has given him multiple 30+ point seasons. Productive, but very disappointing.

57. (S23) D (Toronto North Stars) - Lukas Johnson || +29
Average Grade: 79.50
Past Seasons: S27-83, S28-80, S29-64, S30-49, S31-86

At 57 is Lukas Johnson, consistent, albeit not dominant defenseman. Johnson has enjoyed six straight seasons with 30+ points, though he has not had one season where he has passed that number. This season he scored 6 goals and 34 points, with a number of minutes on the PK and 60+ blocked shots once again. Johnson is close to regression, which means this is about as good as we are going to see of the defenseman, but he has been a consistent asset and has been valuable for Toronto and their successes.

56. (S23) LW (Manhattan Rage) - Bryce Collins || New Entry
Average Grade: 79.67
Past Seasons: None

At 56 is another new entry, Bryce Collins, who had 11 goals and 38 points on the year with his new team in the Manhattan Rage. Collins hasn't been too much of a player, but has been pretty productive in certain situations for a majority of his career so far. Though with Manhattan a couple steps away from real contention, it may be a waste to have a guy like Collins in the lineup, because once regression hits Collins is unlikely to be very productive long enough for it to matter for their Challenge Cup runs in the future.

55. (S24) D (Seattle Riot) Patrick Brumm || +33
Average Grade: 80
Past Seasons: S27-89, S28-63, S29-91, S30-88, S31-87

At 55 is Riot defenseman Patrick Brumm, with his highest ranking so far in the top-100. Brumm scored 11 goals and 36 points, registered 103 shots, blocked 50 shots, and played a ton of time on the PK. Like everyone in Seattle, he had to play a mean two-way game in order to be relied upon in major situations. Most players see their production drop, but Brumm saw it as an opportunity to fine-tune his offense and his game has been all the better for it.

54. (S23) G (Los Angeles Panthers) - Erik Lundqvist || +8
Average Grade: 80
Past Seasons: S31-62

At 54 is Pantehrs goaltender Erik Lundqvist, the slow improving goaltender who was quite successful last season. Lundqvist went 24-19-1, with a .911 save percentage and 2.78 goals against. For a team like the Panthers that definitely had some warts as a team, goaltending was not a major issue. However with Lundqvist's age and diminishing returns, the Panthers are unlikely to be satisfied with his adequate production and are likely to move on from him in the future.

53. (S20) RW (Seattle Riot) - Dean Colt || -6
Average Grade: 80
Past Seasons: S25-73, S26-25, S27-62, S28-21, S29-51, S30-12, S31-47

At 53 is Riot winger Dean Colt, a player who has seen his fair share of new homes, and has found a way to be successful in just about all of them. However Seattle hasn't quite been as kind, mainly due to their team structure. Colt scored 8 goals and 33 points, not his worst season by any stretch but not his greatest. Of course his physical play and faceoff prowess remains about as good as it gets, but that alone isn't going to get you high in the rankings unless the production follows moreso than it has for Colt over the last couple of seasons.

52. (S25) D (West Kendall Platoon) - Maria Maximova || +43
Average Grade: 80.67
Past Seasons: S27-96, S29-71, S30-96, S31-95

At 52 is Platoon defenseman Maria Maximova. Maximova has finally broken past the bottom-30 of the list and is one step away from the top-50. Maximova had her first 30+ point season, scored a whopping 17 goals, and finally amped up her physicality with 103 hits. Her shot blocking remains to be seen (though being such a small individual she probably is physically incapable of getting pucks to hit her), but for the Platoon this is a good sign as she starts to enter her prime. If her point production improves even marginally, then she will be considered a fearsome two-way defenseman.

51. (S22) D (Winnipeg Jets) Rembrandt Q. Einstein || -30
Average Grade: 81
Past Seasons: S23-85, S24-94, S25-89, S26-57, S27-78, S28-23, S29-36, S30-4, S31-21

Rembrandt Q. Einstein enters the list at 51, no longer looking like the big defenseman on the block, but more one of the better defensemen in the league. That isn't terrible, but of course Einstein has a lot of expectations for himself. Einstein scored 5 goals and 33 points, was -12, and blocked 73 shots. Overall a valuable part of the Jets franchise, but is now under the thumb of regression where he will be getting slightly worse each season, unless his training amps up to 11.

50. (S24) C (Calgary Dragons) - Alex Mack || +13
Average Grade: 81.50
Past Seasons: S29-72, S30-65, S31-63

At 50 is Dragons center Alex Mack, former playoff MVP winner but has only just now gotten his due by being recognized as a top-50 player. Mack scored 14 goals and 37 points, strangely enough a lower season than S30 where he scored 45 points, but his improvement in hits must have really swayed the voters this season. Mack is one of the few big draft picks of the S24 draft, and still has a couple more seasons to really prove himself as a top-50 player. Perhaps with a 50 point season?

49. (S26) D (Winnipeg Jets) - Scott Robertson || +27
Average Grade: 81.67
Past Seasons: S31-76

At 49 is Jets defenseman Scott Robertson, making a big jump into the top-50 with his 15 goal, 35 point performance. Strangely enough he was like many players who had a jump despite a drop in production, but it appears that his consistency is a high point for many of the voters. Robertson also had a career high 111 hits on the year, something he has never done before (he has typically been a 60 hit guy). His shot blocks went down, which is a concern going forward.

48. (S24) G (Hamilton Steelhawks) - Earnest Ciarelli || +26
Average Grade: 81.83
Past Seasons: S30-67, S31-74

At 48 is Steelhawks goaltender Earnest Ciarelli, who after being drafted to the New England Wolfpack has had a rocky career thus far. Ciarelli continued his 20 win streak, and had a damn fine save percentage to boot (.910, the best of his career), but there remains a mystery as to if he will ever live up to his potential, and after moving to Texas and now Hamilton, that mystery continues to become further shrouded in doubt.

47. (S24) C (Los Angeles Panthers) - Kaapo Kekkonen || +22
Average Grade: 82.33
Past Seasons: S31-69

Kaapo Kekkonen comes in at number 47, the Panther having a pretty decent year with 20 goals and 38 points. Kekkonen was dominant physically, with 162 hits, a career high. He also spent 140+ minutes on the Pk for the second straight year, showing he is one of the top up and coming two-way centers in the league.

46. (S27) G (West Kendall Platoon) - Matt Lewis-Flood || +44
Average Grade: 82.67
Past Seasons: S31-90

At 46 is Platoon goaltender Matt Lewis-Flood who came off an impressive 26 win season with a .911 save percentage and 2.381 GAA. Lewis-Flood has been quiet in the media, but it appears that he is still a pretty active guy, so the Platoon probably don't really care either way. Will Lewis-Flood become one of the next great goaltenders? That is the next step if he can keep progressing with West Kendall.

45. (S25) C (Texas Renegades) - Jack Durden || +30
Average Grade: 83
Past Seasons: S30-62, S31-75

At 45 is Renegades center Jack Durden, rising up in the list with his first 40 point season. Durden scored 14 goals and 45 points, registered 185 shots, and started to actually improve on other aspects of his game. He currently isn't nearly there to becoming a great all-around forward (37 hits? Really?), but he is getting those offensive tools in order to where he should be very close to becoming a major force in the SHL.

44. (S26) LW (New England Wolfpack) - Mainio Makinen || +28
Average Grade: 83.17
Past Seasons: S31-72

Mainio Makinen of the Wolfpack comes in at 44, and the winger has been about as consistent as you can expect through his career, with his rookie season being considered as his "stretching out" period. Makinen has scored at least 38 points the last four seasons, and while he isn't looking quite like the guy who gets 50+ points and wins scoring titles, that kind of production is about what we would expect from a New England Wolfpack player who brings home Challenge Cups (hard to argue with their recent track record).

43. (S19) C (Texas Renegades) - Liam Kinsler || -18
Average Grade: 83.33
Past Seasons: S24-75, S25-25, S26-7, S27-1, S28-2, S29-19, S30-41, S31-25

At 43 is old timer Liam Kinsler, dropping back on the list a bit, but still maintaining a productive season with 15 goals and 35 points. Kinsler is not nearly the same player we saw in previous years where he was one of the top-10 players on this list, but Kinsler is fighting regression as hard as anyone right now. The great thing is despite him getting older, he has had another 100+ hit season, and his body doesn't seem to be breaking down at all.

42. (S22) C (Toronto North Stars) - Andrey Barbashev || -19
Average Grade: 83.67
Past Seasons: S27-87, S28-30, S29-44, S30-23, S31-23

At 42 is Andrey Barbashev with a 13 goal and 39 point season. Another older player falling back, this time with regression right on the front door, Barbashev has started to lose the dominant ability he once had. His 39 points is a far cry from the 50 point season he had back in S29, and with his overall game faltering a bit it will be interesting to see where his career takes him from this point.

41. (S26) G (Minnesota Cheifs) - Robert Andersson || +1
Average Grade: 84.17
Past Seasons: S28-45, S29-87, S30-28, S31-42

At 41 is Robert Anderson, trying to bounce back a bit after what was an admittedly sub-par S30 (at least by his standards). Andersson won 26 games, had a .911 save percentage, and registered 3 shutouts. The bigger problem in the future won't be Andersson and his ability to compete going forward, but the team in front of him. He has set records in Minnesota for facing the most shots against, and if the Chiefs don't improve the defense fast, he is going to see his GAA continue to dip.

40. (S22) C (Calgary Dragons) - Bubba Nuck || -37
Average Grade: 84.33
Past Seasons: S24-98, S26-59, S28-51, S29-74, S30-63, S31-3

Finishing the 40s is Bubba Nuck, a player who started out with so much promise following his MVP campaign. Nuck went from 61 points to 24, and even Dragons management can't seem to figure out what went wrong with his season. Did he burn himself out? Was it just a fluke? It is very unlike a player of Nuck's talent to fizzle out like that, so hopefully it is seen as just a one-off bad year and he gets back in the top-10 next season.

39. (S21) RW (Calgary Dragons) - Tommy Creller || +6
Average Grade: 84.50
Past Seasons: S22-99, S23-40, S24-38, S25-11, S26-51, S27-20, S28-25, S29-30, S30-68, S31-45

After a big drop for Season 30, veteran Tommy Creller continues to be a mainstay in the top half of this list. Ranking in at number 39 this season after a 21 goal, 45 point performance in Season 31, the longtime Rage forward has thrived with two new teams in the past two seasons. In Season 32, he will be playing for another new team in the Calgary Dragons, his fourth team in four seasons. Now two seasons into regression, Creller will have to work hard to maintain his position in the top 50 next season. However, he has been a strong player in the SHL for many seasons now so while the odds are stacked against him, Creller could easily prove us wrong.

38. (S21) RW (Los Angeles Panthers) - Jorma Ruutu || -9
Average Grade: 84.50
Past Seasons: S28-91, S29-35, S30-34, S31-29

Ruutu, a late bloomer in the league, has been a model of consistency over the past few seasons with the Los Angeles Panthers. This season he comes in at 38th, marking the fourth straight season in the top 40. While his 37 points are a small decline from seasons past, Ruutu is still pounding bodies on the ice, finishing Season 31 with 121 hits. One of the best power forwards in the league, Ruutu will have to continue to make efforts to prevent his age from catching up with him, especially if he is using his body as much as he has over the course of his career. And, for the Panthers, they will be hoping Ruutu can maintain his level of play for, at least, the next few seasons as the team looks to start competing for cups after a short rebuild.

37. (S25) LW (West Kendall Platoon) - Adam Falk || -13
Average Grade: 84.67
Past Seasons: S30-76, S31-24

After Falk’s breakout performance in Season 30 with 54 points, he came back down to earth in Season 31, scoring just 39 points but actually improving upon his goal-scoring total from 20 to 21. This season, Falk will be playing for a team other than the Toronto North Stars for the first time in his career after with the Platoon after asking out. He will be entering a good situation where he will likely be West Kendall’s top forward for the time being and we very well could see him returning to his level of play in Season 30. But, Falk’s motivation to have a long career has been put in jeopardy and he very well may be a player who has a strong yet short peak, suffering heavily once regression hits. For West Kendall, this is a risk that they are strongly hoping will pay off for them in the form of a cup.

36. (S24) RW (West Kendall Platoon) - Ray Pejonis || +62
Average Grade: 84.83
Past Seasons: S31-98

At 24 we have another Platoon forward, this one being Ray Pejonis who makes a huge jump on this list after a breakout 45 point performance. His 22 goals and +26 rating in Season 31 led his team and it is likely he will continue to be a very important player for West Kendall, especially with the departure of Zalleras Szlerchek. Because of this, Season 32 will be a defining season for Pejonis’ career as he looks to prove that last season was not some aberration and that he is a true first line forward.

35. (S20) D (Buffalo Stampede) Fredrich Muller || -27
Average Grade: 85.67
Past Seasons: S21-102, S22-47, S23-38, S24-66, S25-54, S26-75, S27-66, S28-75, S29-41, S30-20, S31-8

After a career-high top 10 ranking for Season 31, Friedrich Muller has dropped down to 27th on this list after his first season with the Buffalo Stampede. In his twelfth consecutive season in the Top 100, Muller will be looking to improve upon his 31 point season in Season 31, down from 45 the year prior. The light-hitting veteran defenseman will be relied upon heavily by the Stampede as they desperately look to make the playoffs this year. Muller has the skill and experience to help make it happen – the only question is if the young guns will step up to the plate.

34. (S20) RW (Seattle Riot) - Jed Lloren || +31
Average Grade: 85.83
Past Seasons: S22-83, S23-68, S24-62, S25-19, S26-21, S27-68, S28-59, S29-46, S30-51, S31-65

For the eleventh season in a row, winger Jed Lloren makes his mark on the list at 34. Season 31 was a bit of a resurgence for the forward who was ranked 19th and 21st in Seasons 25 and 26, respectively, as he scored 20 goals and 45 points while using his body fairly well. While most of last season was spent with the Stampede, he was moved to the Riot at the deadline to help the Riot make the playoffs and he certainly made the most of his short time with the team, scoring 9 points in 10 games. If that was an indication of anything to come, Lloren could very well see a rise in his ranking in his 13th season since being drafted.

33. (S25) C (Winnipeg Jets) - Luke Fleming || +4
Average Grade: 85.83
Past Seasons: S29-100, S30-79, S31-37

Fleming had always been a highly heralded player and with his Season 31 performance, he has truly cemented himself among the league’s best, seeing a ranking increase to 33. While his point total declined from 52 to 38, he put on display just how well-rounded a player he is, racking up 127 hits and winning more than 50% of his faceoffs. While the Jets are going through a rough patch after a period of dominance, Fleming is a player who will be a tremendously important part of the team moving forward.

32. (S26) G (Texas Renegades) - Christoffer Björnsson || +23
Average Grade: 86.17
Past Seasons: S31-55

The journeyman goaltender continued to put on display for the league his ability in Season 31 for the Rage, saving 91.5% of shots faced despite playing on a fairly weak team. His play was good enough to see an increase on this list to 32 and to earn a contract from the Texas Renegades, who will be his third team in three seasons. The Renegades have been a solid team for many seasons now; playoff success, however, has eluded them as of late. They will be hoping that Björnsson can be that missing piece that they’ve been looking for to become more competitive in a tight Western Conference. And he very well may be.

31. (S22) D (West Kendall Platoon) - Ales Smirnov || +15
Average Grade: 86.17
Past Seasons: S26-84, S27-58, S28-93, S29-56, S30-47, S31-46
At 31 we have Platoon defenseman Ales Smirnov, who continues to climb on this list. His climb on the rankings is very well deserved as he has put together a solid stretch of performances season to season. In Season 31, he reached the 40 point milestone for the second season in a row as he scored 14 goals and 33 assists. However, Smirnov is not the prototypical physical defenseman, picking up just 58 hits as he prefers to do damage offensively. With Wagner, Maximova, and McDoodle also part of the team’s defensive corps, the Platoon have one of the best groups of defensemen in the SHL.


30. (S25) RW (Texas Renegades) - Geoffrey Allen || +19
Average Grade: 86.50
Past Seasons: S28-72, S29-73, S30-87, S31-49

After making his debut in the top 50 for Season 31, Geoffrey Allen proved his Season 30 play in which he scored 48 points was no fluke. With 20 goals and 45 points to his name in Season 31, he slots in here at 30 and is establishing himself as a premier player in the SHL. A first round draft pick by the Renegades back in Season 25, Allen has certainly proven his worth to the team and is truly one of the Renegades’ top players. In Season 32, expect Allen to continue to prove that he is among the league’s best, as he likely will do for many seasons to come.

29. (S24) C (Calgary Dragons) - Randy Randleman || +7
Average Grade: 87
Past Seasons: S27-64, S28-58, S29-20, S30-39, S31-36

At 29 is Randy Randleman, back in the top-30 after a couple year hiatus. Why? Consistency. Randleman has enjoyed his fourth 40+ point season in a row, and while he isn't at that 50 point level again, he has shown an amazing ability to produce no matter the circumstance with the Calgary Dragons. Not to mention through his entire career so far he has scored at least 20 goals a season. That is something to behold, and while he has only played 6 seasons in the league, he is just about to hit his prime and could extend that 20+ goal streak up until he hits regression.

28. (S25) D (Texas Renegades) - Cody Black || +63
Average Grade: 87.17
Past Seasons: S30-81, S31-91

At 28 is Renegades defenseman Cody Black, who was a contender for the Stevens for a majority of the year until the latter half where he fell back a bit. Black was very successful as the cornerstone defender for a rebuilding Steelhawks team, and his 45 point season allowed him the ability to get a nice payday with a new team in Texas (may or may not be accurate). Black now fits his name playing for the dark wraiths of the Texas Renegades, along with star defensemen Vladimir Lidstrom and Lord Vader. Does he thrive in this position or falter without the major minutes?

27. (S25) C (Texas Renegades) - Evandrus Jesster || +53
Average Grade: 87.83
Past Seasons: S28-64, S29-60, S30-48, S31-80

Evandruss Jesster enters the list at 27, former 1st overall pick for the Seattle Riot, now entering his second season with the Texas Renegades. Jesster scored 24 goals and 49 points, his best season to date, and the Renegades anticipate he is going to soar even higher as he gets closer and closer to his prime. Jesster has even improved his physical game, and with 7 game winning goals Jesster may be close to being the clutch center that he was drafted to be.

26. (S20) D (West Kendall Platoon) - Bojo Biscuit || -6
Average Grade: 88.17
Past Seasons: S22-64, S23-36, S23-29, S25-26 S26-20, S27-35, S28-8, S29-14, S30-26, S31-20

At 26 is Platoon defenseman and potential future hall of famer Bojo Biscuit, one of the most underrated defenders in the league. Biscuit scored 6 goals and 40 points, bringing back a great season after a couple seasons without 40 points. Another player with amazing consistency, Biscuit has not scored fewer than 30 points since his rookie season, which is insane considering he has already had a couple of seasons under the influence of reression. His 1700 hits continues to rise, and he could soon become the highest hitting defenseman to ever play the game if he keeps it up.

25. (S23) D (Calgary Dragons) - Michael Boychuk || +16
Average Grade: 88.83
Past Seasons: S28-97, S29-67, S30-53, S31-41

At 25 is another defenseman, Michael Boychuk of the Calary Draons. Boychuk was able to make up for his partner Nuck's struggles with 8 goals and 46 points. Not quite the same numbers as his teammate, but still incredible numbers that is coming at just the right time. Boychuk is facing regression next season, so S32 is expected to be his finest performance yet. With his numbers in both offensive and defensive categories starting to rise, there is a lot of hype coming from the Dragons blueline this season.

24. (S20) LW (Toronto North Stars) - Chester Cunningham || +27
Average Grade: 90
Past Seasons: S23-69, S24-50, S25-81. S26-50, S27-56, S28-19, S29-13, S30-36, S31-51

At 24 is North Stars winger Chester Cunningham, with the best season of his career so far, unfortunately without the same results as he had in S28 and S29 on this list. Cunningham scored 16 goals and 52 points, was +22, registered 104 hits, and played 124 minutes on the PK. The North Stars have enjoyed his ability to fight regression, but with this season being such an aberration from previous years they should not expect him to replicate the numbers next season. We hope he can, though.

23. (S20) C (Calgary Dragons) - Nicholas Pedersen || -6
Average Grade: 90.33
Past Seasons: S23-46, S24-59, S25-16, S26-22, S27-49, S28-27, S29-58, S30-24, S31-17

At 23 is Nicholas Pedersen, falling out of the top-20 but still sporting a 40+ point season, his 8th in 9 seasons. He continued to rack up assists as well, making sure his teammates had great goal numbers with him feeding them in front of the net. He also got on the hitting market, with 131 hits, making sure that he could take the puck in the offensive zone by any means necessary. Another S20 player who continues to spit in the face of father time.

22. (S25) D (New England Wolfpack) Jasper Clayton || +44
Average Grade: 90.50
Past Seasons: S29-99, S30-84, S31-66

At 22 is Wolfpack defenseman Jasper Clayton. This defenseman has already had a ton of team success early in his career, and while he hasn't had the major numbers we have seen from other Stevens candidates, we cannot discount his production at both ends of the ice that have led to back to back Challenge Cups. Clayton scored 6 goals and 45 points, registered 93 hits, and blocked 60 shots. A damn fine statline with the playoff pedigree to boot. Clayton is close to becoming a top-10 talent, but we have to see it on the ice if he wants to be recognized for it.

21. (S19) C (Edmonton Blizzard) Zallerras Szlerchek || +6
Average Grade: 90.50
Past Seasons: S20-86, S21-58, S22-40, S23-71, S24-68, S25-38, S26-48, S27-10, S28-14, S29-4, S30-16, S31-27

At 21 is one of the few S19 players left, Zallerras Szlerchek, who had another productive year. Szlerchek scored 19 goals and 47 points, registered 129 hits, and put 190 shots on goal with Edmonton. His work was so important that the Blizzard consider him one of the team's MVPs over the last two seasons, regular season and playoffs. Szlerchek has been looking towards retirement, but we are hoping he can stick around while he is still a dominant center in the league.

20. (S24) D (West Kendall Platoon) - Klaus Wagner || Returning Entry
Average Grade: 91.17
Past Seasons: S29-93, S30-73

Talk about a bounce-back season! Wagner was knocked right off the list last season with a paltry couple of seasons. However Wagner was able to break the 30 point plateau with a 54 point season, 46 assists and top-5 all-time in that regard. Wagner was not a very physical defenseman, but it didn't really matter that much considering he led the team in scoring and is a major potential candidate for the Stevens and the MVP awards. Wagner just needs to put another great performance together and he will be a top-10 player in no time.

Alonzo Garbanzo Final Tallies (Among Defensemen):
2nd in Goals (208), All-Time Assists Leader (765)*, All-Time Points Leader (973), 3rd in Hits (2587), All-Time Blocked Shots Leader (1882)*
*All-Time Leader Among All Skaters
Player Profile | Update Thread
[Image: IeEV7Iv.png]

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#2

19. (S18) D (Manhattan Rage) - Roy Razin || -9
Average Grade: 91.50
Past Seasons: S20-82, S21-62, S22-46, S23-4, S24-17, S25-24, S26-73, S27-50, S28-74, S29-18, S30-50, S31-10

At 19 we have veteran defenseman Roy Razin, who now finds himself on this list for the thirteenth consecutive season. While thirteen seasons in a row among the top players in the league is an impressive feat in and of itself, to be ranked as the 19th best player in the league as one of the SHL’s oldest players is truly remarkable. While Razin was not quite able to match his impressive Season 30 performance, he continued to prove his immense worth in Season 31 with 44 points and an even +/- rating despite playing for a weak Rage team. Although he has never been known as a very physical player, Roy Razin is still, after all these years, able to strike fear into his opponents with his elite play in any situation.

18. (S20) C (Minnesota Chiefs) - Griffin Simons || +8
Average Grade: 91.67
Past Seasons: S22-66, S23-58, S24-37, S25-14, S26-32, S27-28, S28-4, S29-9, S30-2, S31-26

Once expected to begin and end his career with the Steelhawks, Griffin Simons has played for three different teams in the past three seasons. And although his career is coming to an end after he announced his impending retirement, he is certainly no slouch despite being at the end of his career, ranking in at 18 after a solid Season 31. In his first season with the Chiefs, he logged big minutes en route to a 22 goal, 54 point season in which he contributed in a big way to both the powerplay and the penalty kill. Despite his performance in Season 31, he will be lucky to maintain such a high level of play in his final season.

17. (S22) G (Toronto North Stars) - Mark Harter || +27
Average Grade: 91.83
Past Seasons: S24-101, S25-78, S26-89, S27-69, S28-22, S29-25, S30-30, S31-44

North Stars goaltender Mark Harter, after an impressive Season 31 performance, makes a big jump on this list and finds himself at 17th, the highest mark of his career. His 91.7% save percentage and 6 shutouts were among the best in the league as he helped lead the North Stars to a second place finish in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for Harter, playoff success has been elusive for his team and he will surely play a big role if that is ever going to change. Harter will be hoping it does before age starts to catch up to him.

16. (S22) C (Manhattan Rage) - Kian Hamilton || +17
Average Grade: 92
Past Seasons: S27-41, S28-36, S29-33, S30-21, S31-33

In his sixth straight season on the list and sixth straight in the top 50, Kian Hamilton will now debut in the Top 20. His strong Season 31 performance marked by 58 points and a +12 rating was good enough to push him to number 16. After two seasons with Minnesota, the dominant centerman will be taking his talents to conference rival Manhattan, where he will likely receive similar opportunities for success. Expect Hamilton to continue to rank among the very best players in the league, at least for the next few seasons.

15. (S18) LW (Calgary Dragons) - Esa Anrikkanen || -10
Average Grade: 92
Past Seasons: S20-45, S21-48, S22-35, S23-6, S24-7, S25-34, S26-14, S27-27, S28-29, S29-12, S30-11, S31-5

Another constant presence on this list, career Calgary Dragon Esa Anrikkanen comes in at 15th, his lowest position on this list since Season 28. Anrikkanen has been nothing short of dominant throughout his career and while he is now entering his fifteenth season since being drafted, he is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. In Season 31, he picked up 20 goals and 45 points while playing a strong physical game and even winning just under 53% of his faceoffs. This Hall of Fame lock has many elite seasons left in the tank, provided he has the will to continue.

14. (S20) LW (Texas Renegades) - Yuri Boyka || +24
Average Grade: 92.17
Past Seasons: S22-97, S23-64, S24-55, S25-17, S26-53, S27-25, S28-66, S29-34, S30-17, S31-38

Boyka, a member of the renowned Season 20 Draft Class, manages to find himself at 14, his highest position ever in the SHL Top 100. His Season 31 performance played a huge part in this ranking as he led the Renegades in both assists, with 37, and points, with 54. The solid forward may not have many elite seasons remaining but Texas will be hoping they can milk as much out of him now as they continue to desperately search for the playoff success that one would expect out of such a strong regular season team as of late.

13. (S24) LW (New England Wolfpack) - Patrikov Bure || -1
Average Grade: 92.83
Past Seasons: S31-12

After a breakout 26 goal, 60 point performance in Season 30, Bure was able to prove that his play was not at all a fluke, coming back in Season 31 with 19 goals and 51 points. His play this past season was not able to quite push him into the Top 10 but it was good enough to essentially maintain his position, falling back one spot to 13th. However, expect to see Bure’s name atop this list for many seasons to come as the forward is continuing to develop the physical aspect of his game while maintaining his offensive prowess.

12. (S20) LW (Edmonton Blizzard) - Pedro Sarantez || -5
Average Grade: 92.83
Past Seasons: S22-75, S23-54, S24-30, S25-33, S26-39, S27-6, S28-65, S29-50, S30-15, S31-7

After making his second appearance in the Top 10 in Season 31, Sarantez finds himself out a few spots at number 12 despite another strong season. After a 27 goal, 55 point display in Season 30, he managed 21 and 51 last season as Theo Kane supplanted him as Edmonton’s leading scorer. He will be a key player to watch for in Season 32 as many attributed his decline in performance to age while others to nothing more than a matter of circumstance. It is expected, however, that he will be able to play at a high level for at least the next few seasons.

11. (S21) G (Calgary Dragons) Hunter Wong || +7
Average Grade: 93
Past Seasons: S23-94, S25-82, S26-83, S27-63, S28-46, S29-31, S30-33, S31-18

Just missing out on the Top 10 is Calgary Dragons goaltender Hunter Wong, slotting in at 11. The consistently dominant goaltender had yet another strong performance in Season 31, saving 91% of his shots faced and picking up 7 shutouts on the year. He has been as key a member of Calgary’s reign of dominance over the SHL and, at his current level of play, should continue to be an important part of his team’s inevitable success.

10. (S21) RW (Edmonton Blizzard) - Theo Kane || +3
Average Grade: 93.33
Past Seasons: S23-75, S24-77, S25-56, S26-76, S27-57, S28-20, S29-32, S30-1, S31-13

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Kane.png]</div>

Starting out the top-10 is Theo Kane, returning as a top-10 player after dropping to 13 last season. Kane has been one of the major big names coming out of the S21 draft class, and Kane has had yet another season where he is one of the top-tier players in the league. Kane scored 23 goals and 51 points with his long-time team, had a great playoff run, and overall has proven once again he is not a player to be taken lightly despite getting into his later years. Kane's physical game has remained dominant, registering 187 hits. Finally he has remained an underrated faceoff specialist, taking 1500 faceoffs and winning 55% of them on the year. Kane may have only a few of these dominant years left, but he could stay in the top-10 for all of them.

9. (S26) G (Edmonton Blizzard) - Brett Broadway || +23
Average Grade: 93.83
Past Seasons: S31-32

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Broadway.png]</div>

At 9 is Blizzard goaltender Brett Broadway who has had one of the biggest rises to the top that we have seen in the history of this list. Broadway is considered the top goaltender of this list, and it is hard to argue with that assertion. Broadway won 26 games, registered a .918 save percentage (even better than his .917 save percentage the previous season), and finished with 6 shutouts on the year. It is safe to say he was the MVP of the Blizzard during the regular season, and considering his back-to-back finals appearances it could be argued he has been their MVP over the past two seasons. Broadway is still young, and is possibly the youngest goaltender to make the top-10? Hell of a career so far, all that is missing is the Challenge Cup right now.

8. (S20) D (Edmonton Blizzard) - Barney Stinson || +8
Average Grade: 93.83
Past Seasons: S23-56, S24-34, S25-28, S26-55, S27-90, S28-87, S29-52, S30-8, S31-16

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Stinson.png]</div>

At 8 is another Blizzard defenseman, Barney Stinson. Stinson has had a bit of a journey around the SHL so far, playing for his third team in the last three seasons in Edmonton. Stinson has been about as consistent as he can be, though, scoring at least 45 points each of the three seasons, and having a 50 point season with his return to Edmonton. Pretty incredible considering his age and he has never been cosnsidered this kind of defenseman during the earlier parts of his career. We can definitely call this guy a late bloomer. He even beat his career high in hits, registering 224 on the season., and beating his career high in blocked shots with 88. Stinson had a career year, and with him getting older and older it couldn't have come at a better time, really.

7. (S23) D (Texas Renegades) Vladimir Lidstrom || +2
Average Grade: 94
Past Seasons: S27-94, S28-82, S29-62, S30-59, S31-9

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Lidstrom.png]</div>

At 7 is a defenseman who has bloomed as quick as any we have seen, and intends to stay in the limelight with his recent performances. Vladimir Lidstrom scored 13 goals and 50 points on the season, not quite what we saw in S30, but incredible nonetheless. Lidstrom also had 78 blocked shots, though his hits remain a problem (Lidstrom was considered a physical beast in juniors). Either way, he has been as productive as any player on the Renegades, and with one more season before he starts to fall back, he could beat any of his numbers in S32. With his tenacity and poise, it is very likely we see it happen.

6. (S20) RW (New England Wolfpack) - Nathan Russell || +9
Average Grade: 95.33
Past Seasons: S24-91, S25-72, S26-12, S27-31, S28-16, S29-22, S30-27, S31-15
<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Russell.png]</div>

At 6 is Wolfpack winger Nathan Russell, who despite missing out on the Jeff Dar trophy this season is likely the best two-way forward we have in the league today. Russell had his second 50+ point and 200+ hit season in a row, scored 21 goals, and led the Wolfpack to a top-tier penalty kill and Challenge Cup championship. Russell has made his first appearance on this list, though over the past few seasons he has been in the top-20 and close to top-10 conversation. This guy looks like hall of fame talent, and New England will definitely be considering him in their own hall of fame.

5. (S20) RW (Toronto North Stars) - Kristian Eriksson || +25
Average Grade: 95.67
Past Seasons: S22-96, S23-77, S24-57, S25-40, S26-11, S27-30, S28-55, S29-39, S30-55, S31-30

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Eriksson.png]</div>

At number 5 is a player who has flown under the radar in recent years, only being part of the top-20 one time in his career, but still being very productive in the process. That man is Kristian Eriksson, who is in the top-10 for the first time ever with his 60+ point season. He had an incredible career year, scoring 62 points, 27 goals, and playing as well as necessary for the North Stars to succeed. His play even gave him recognition for the Mexico Trophy, which is high praise considering the players he was competing against for the award. Eriksson is another S20 player, and we don't know how long he will be able to keep up his recent play, but he is looking like he has a second wind ready to defend his MVP award.

4. (S21) D (Minnesota Chiefs) - Alonzo Garbanzo || Even
Average Grade: 97.17
Past Seasons: S23-59, S24-76, S25-18, S26-30, S27-13, S28-3, S29-15, S30-6, S31-4


<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Garbanzo.png]</div>

Alonzo Garbanzo hits the list at number 4 for the second straight year, enjoying his third spot on the top-10 in a row and 4th in the last five seasons. Garbanzo has been a model of consistent play on the defensive end, and that consistency won him the Scott Stevens trophy (his second) despite other players potentially having better seasons. However, considering he has been nominated three other times in his career, it isn't a surprise that he eventually was able to squeeze another one out. Already regressing but not looking it, Garbanzo could repeat his 51 point season and win his third Stevens trophy. That is how good he has been.

3. (S22) RW (Minnesota Chiefs) - Chernika Banananov || -2
Average Grade: 97.33
Past Seasons: S25-96, S26-90, S27-19, S28-48, S29-1, S30-3, S31-1

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Banananov.png]</div>

Another consistent player is Chiefs winger Chernika Banananov, who has set records with the Chiefs and has made the top-10 for the 4th season in a row. Banananov has had four straight 50+ point seasons, two 30+ goal seasons, and last season won his second Jeff Dar for the best two-way forward in the league. Banananov is a sight to behold in Minnesota, and while their depth has basically been eradicated over the last couple seasons, Banananov is still able to hold his own and put major points on the board. With regression coming up, Banananov is likely to be trending downwards, so us fans should enjoy it while it lasts.

2. (S24) RW (Manhattan Rage) - Vincent-Leon-Anze Draisaitl-McZehrl || Even
Average Grade: 97.50
Past Seasons: S29-21, S30-9, S31-2

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20McZherl.png]</div>

Speaking of consistency, another top-tier winger is Vincent-Leon-Anze Draisaitl-McZehrl, or VlaD for short. VlaD has also had four 50+ point seasons in a row, also has two 30+ goal seasons in a row, and also has been put in the history books for his production. The big thing that separates VlaD from other wingers is his physical play, which was again pretty damn impressive. Considering the forward has a couple more seasons before he starts to regress, it is safe to say he will be contending for the top-10 for at least three more seasons. It would be incredible if he is a top-10 player for 5+ seasons, as that is something we have never seen before on the history of this list.

1. (S25) RW (Minnesota Chiefs) - Lord Pretty Flacko || +10
Average Grade: 97.67
Past Seasons: S30-70, S31-11

<div align="center">[Image: Top-100%20Flacko.png]</div>

The number one player on this list for S32 is none other than Chiefs winger Lord Pretty Flacko, who shocked the world with his incredible 34 goal, 65 point performance, running away with a ton of awards, such as the Sarmad Khan, the Jay McDonald, and the Sergei Karpotsov trophies. Flacko has been an amazing talent since coming out of the SMJHL, had some real shining moments with New England, and in his prime is showing his true potential with the Minnesota Chiefs. Flacko is one of the youngest #1 players in this list's history, and the bar is going to be set even higher for the forward while the Chiefs enter rebuilding mode. Can this superstar keep the team competitive despite the lack of depth?

Alonzo Garbanzo Final Tallies (Among Defensemen):
2nd in Goals (208), All-Time Assists Leader (765)*, All-Time Points Leader (973), 3rd in Hits (2587), All-Time Blocked Shots Leader (1882)*
*All-Time Leader Among All Skaters
Player Profile | Update Thread
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#3

Heh, Flow made the top 100. Towel

Grats flow and Wert!

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#4

How did Tony Flow almost crack the top 90 with only 9 points...

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#5

Quote:Originally posted by WannabeFinn@Dec 6 2016, 01:05 PM
How did Tony Flow almost crack the top 90 with only 9 points...

because <a href='index.php?showuser=1138' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>Massive Coiler</a> is the god damn bomb! :D

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#6

Quote:Originally posted by WannabeFinn@Dec 6 2016, 11:05 AM
How did Tony Flow almost crack the top 90 with only 9 points...

Kekkonen top 10 incoming

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#7

Quote:Originally posted by WannabeFinn@Dec 6 2016, 02:05 PM
How did Tony Flow almost crack the top 90 with only 9 points...
Someone gave him an 89.

Alonzo Garbanzo Final Tallies (Among Defensemen):
2nd in Goals (208), All-Time Assists Leader (765)*, All-Time Points Leader (973), 3rd in Hits (2587), All-Time Blocked Shots Leader (1882)*
*All-Time Leader Among All Skaters
Player Profile | Update Thread
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#8

Quote:Originally posted by ArGarBarGar@Dec 6 2016, 01:26 PM

Someone gave him an 89.



i mean that sounds right to me. Ninja

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#9

"Perhaps this is the result of bias on the part of one or more of the experts but Flow’s presence here is honestly an insult to some of the players who did not crack the list. "

lol

and whose bias? none of his teammates were part of the "experts"

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FranceCitadellesPanthersScarecrowsCitadellesPanthersScarecrowsCitadellesPanthersFrance



Reply
#10

Quote:Originally posted by Bojo@Dec 6 2016, 08:26 PM




i mean that sounds right to me.&nbsp; Ninja


Flow is in

Bojo is out


Ninja

[Image: McZehrl.png]

Challenge Cup Wins:
S18 - Riot Seattle Riot (with Chris McZehrl)*
S23 - Wolfpack New England Wolfpack (with Chris McZehrl)*
S27 - Dragons Calgary Dragons (with VLAD McZehrl)
S34 - Rage Manhattan Rage (with VLAD McZehrl)
S37 - Jets Winnipeg Jets (with VLAD McZehrl)
S46 - Stampede Buffalo Stampede (with GOD McZehrl)*

*first ever Challenge Cup of Franchise History

Four Star Cup Wins:
S24 - Whalers Vancouver Whalers (with VLAD McZehrl)
S39 - Scarecrows St. Louis Scarecrows (with GOD McZehrl)

SHL Hall of Fame Members:
S24 - Chris McZehrl Platoon Panthers Dragons Riot Wolfpack *
(GP: 764 | G: 322 | A: 461 | P: 783 | +/-: +109)
S40 - VLAD McZehrl Dragons Riot Rage Stampede Jets Wolfpack *
(GP: 653 | G: 333 | A: 361 | P: 694 | +/-: +141)

*1st Ballot Hall of Famer

small note: GOD McZehrl played at first as Defender and later as Forward!
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#11

nice work
Reply
#12

Turns out the last 10 or so on the ballot were jumbled around in the total spreadsheet.

Looks like I have to make poor Baelor re-write based on the correct ones.

Alonzo Garbanzo Final Tallies (Among Defensemen):
2nd in Goals (208), All-Time Assists Leader (765)*, All-Time Points Leader (973), 3rd in Hits (2587), All-Time Blocked Shots Leader (1882)*
*All-Time Leader Among All Skaters
Player Profile | Update Thread
[Image: IeEV7Iv.png]

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#13

inb4 Pejo is ranked 90th because he's too old and has no physical game
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#14

great work as always. I wonder if I dropped off because of the shit season I had after I think it was 75 and 83 for two seasons. also is there a reason why 92 is missing of was that tony Flow?
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#15

#AcknowledgeFlow'sGreatness

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