Countdown 56: Top 10 NHL Players of the 1990s

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Who are the top NHL players of the 1990s?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

10. Sergei Fedorov: one of the greatest Russian-born players in NHL history, Fedorov tallied close to 750 total points during the 1990s en route to three All-Star Games, two Selke Trophies, both the Hart and Pearson in 1993-1994, and back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings.

9. Steve Yzerman: the longtime captain of the Red Wings, Yzerman was one of the most consistent players of the 1990s, putting up 850+ total points, earning six All-Star Game selections, and winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with a Conn Smythe Trophy.

8. Joe Sakic: the second-highest scorer of the decade with nearly 900 total points, Sakic was a 7x All-Star Game selection who led the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup in their inaugural season after relocating from Quebec, winning Conn Smythe honors in the process.

7. Brett Hull: by far the highest goal scorer of the 1990s with more than 450 goals and nearly 850 points, Hull was a 6x All-Star Game selection and Lady Byng Trophy winner who won both the Hart and Pearson in 1990-1991 and later helped the Dallas Stars to a Stanley Cup title.

6. Patrick Roy: a standout goalie who won Stanley Cups during the 1990s with both the Montreal Canadiens and the Avalanche, Roy led the decade with 311 wins with a 2.56 GAA and .912 SV% while making seven All-Star Games and winning a pair of Vezina Trophies, a Jennings Trophy, and a Conn Smythe Trophy (during the Montreal title).

5. Wayne Gretzky: even after his Edmonton Oilers heyday, Gretzky remained a force in the 1990s with 850+ total points, three Ross Trophies, three Lady Byngs, and an All-Star Game selection every year.

4. Jaromir Jagr: despite being “only” the second-best player on his own team, Jagr was the top point-scorer of the 1990s (950+ points), earning seven All-Star Game selections, three Ross Trophies, both the Hart and the Pearson in 1998-1999, and consecutive Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

3. Ray Bourque: the highest-scoring defenseman in league history, Bourque played in every All-Star Game in the 1990s while winning three Norris Trophies and leading all defenseman with nearly 700 points for the decade.

2. Dominik Hasek: perhaps the most dominant goalie ever, Hasek not only made four All-Star Games and won five Vezina Trophies and a Jennings Trophy in the 1990s, but also earned both the Hart and Pearson in consecutive seasons while totaling 210 wins and 45 shutouts with a 2.26 GAA and a .926 SV% (tops among all goalies for the decade).

1. Mario Lemieux: with far and away the decade’s highest points-per-game average and more than 650 total points, Lemieux not only successfully beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma and earned the Masterton Trophy, but was also a 4x All-Star Game selection, 4x Ross Trophy winner, 2x Hart Trophy winner, 2x Pearson Award winner, and back-to-back Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins, winning the Conn Smythe both times.

Agree/Disagree?  As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.

Note: All statistics as of time of publication.

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