19. (S25) D (New England Wolfpack) Jasper Clayton || -11
Average Grade: 86.60
Past Seasons: S29-99, S30-84, S31-66, S32-22, S33-8

At 19 is Jasper Clayton of the Wolfpack, falling back a few spots as he was unable to replicate his 48 point season in S32. Clayton has not yet won a Stevens during his career, but has been one of the big MVPs of the Wolfpack as they have had three Challenge Cup victories in four seasons and dominated as a team in the process. Clayton's 8 goals and 40 points isn't otherworldly, but his production is just another drop in the great ocean that has been swallowing the SHL whole lately.

18. (S20) LW (Los Angeles Panthers) - Chester Cunningham || -13
Average Grade: 86.80
Past Seasons: S23-69, S24-50, S25-81. S26-50, S27-56, S28-19, S29-13, S30-36, S31-51, S32-24, S33-5

At 18 is Chester Cunningham of the Panthers, the left winger of doom the last couple of seasons. Cunningham's production fell off in S33, scoring 18 goals but only 40 points. His hits remain a focal point of his value to the team, registering 159 on the year, and he remains an anchor of the Panthers defensive unit. Cunningham's major issue this season was the lack of powerplay production, which makes up for a good chunk of the drop.

17. (S28) G (New England Wolfpack) - Mikke Laukkanen || +13
Average Grade: 87.60
Past Seasons: S32-61, S33-30

At 17 is young goaltender Mikke Laukkanen, jumping up into the list despite a little worse of a statline. He still won 25 goals and had a save percentage of .913, and a goals against average of 2.468, and won the Challenge Cup for the second time in his career as a starter, but it seems as usual New England players on an individual basis get a little underrated. I suppose that is what happens when you have a million top-tier talents hanging from the rafters.

16. (S24) LW (New England Wolfpack) - Patrikov Bure || -2
Average Grade: 87.80
Past Seasons: S31-12, S32-13, S33-14

Patrikov Bure comes in at 16, still among the big top-20 players but going further and further away from the top-10. Must be frustrating for a player who continues to produce as many in the Wolfpack have done over the years. Bure scored 11 goals and 43 points, made 106 hits, blocked a career high 24 shots, and played a career high 172 minutes on the PK. Bure has flown under the radar a bit due to being a S24 player, but has been a vital part of the franchise.

15. (S26) D (Manhattan Rage) - Wyatt Wollker || +19
Average Grade: 88
Past Seasons: S29 -94, S30-100, S31-50, S32-66, S33-34

At 15 is Rage defender Wyatt Wollker, creeping on up in the list and looking to get his chance in at the top-10. Wollker, minus one aberration of a season, has been consistent playing behind some of the best players the SHL has to offer, contributing to their success and looking to get some playoff success on top of it. Wollker scored 11 goals and 48 points on the year, his fourth season with 10 or more goals, and got back into the 100+ in PK minutes.

14. (S26) G (Edmonton Blizzard) - Brett Broadway || -11
Average Grade: 88.20
Past Seasons: S31-32, S32-9, S33-3

Brett Broadway turned heads last season when he dominated the page and won the McBride trophy for best goaltender in S32. Broadway had a bit of a dip in play this season, missing out on even being nominated for the McBride and his save percentage dropping to .903. Broadway remains one of the best goaltenders in the league, however, and is still in his prime with more top-tier years to go.

13.(S21) RW (Los Angeles Panthers) - Jorma Ruutu || +8
Average Grade: 88.40
Past Seasons: S28-91, S29-35, S30-34, S31-29, S32-38, S33-21

At 13 is Panthers winger Jorma Ruutu, a very underrated player coming into the league who has now become ever so close to the top-10 of all SHL players of today. Ruutu scored 8 goals and 48 points playing his third season in a row as a defenseman, proving his versatility and demonstrating himself as one of the best players in the game. Ruutu has suffered a bit from regression in some ways, but still provides a ton of offense and two-way play to make up for it.

12. (S25) C (Winnipeg Jets) - Luke Fleming || +13
Average Grade: 90
Past Seasons: S29-100, S30-79, S31-37, S32-33, S33-25

Luke Fleming of the Jets enters the list at 12, another player looking to get in on the top-10 action. Fleming has proven his worth as a top-tier draft pick (10th overall) and his 20 goals and 56 points proves as much. Fleming has not been the greatest goalscorer, but he has been awfully consistent (21 goal pace the last four seasons), which is a big reason why the Jets have given him so much ice time lately. Fleming's physicality has even ramped up, him registering 169 hits in S33.

11. (S22) D (Winnipeg Jets) - Big Manious || +30
Average Grade: 90.40
Past Seasons: S27-42, S28-41, S29-45, S30-32, S31-22, S32-68, S33-41

At 11 is another Jet, Big Manious, who gets back in the high end of the list with his 16 goals and 43 points. He was ever so close to becoming nominated for the Scott Stevens trophy as best defenseman, but his luke-warm second half brought him down in the defensive scoring leaderboard. Shame, too, since his 162 hits and 93 blocked shots were among the best among defenseman. A good example that all-around players sometimes get overlooked.