NHL Network unveils more of its Top-50 players list

On Sunday, the NHL Network continued its countdown of the top-50 players currently in the league. Today's post featured players ranked 20th through 11th, so let's take a look!

20. Mark Stone (2020-21 rank: 28)

"He's a perennial Selke finalist in my opinion and should be for years to come," NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said. "But he can put up offense. He had one of his greatest offensive productive seasons this past season and what I find really unique about this is for the Vegas Golden Knights, he's driving offense from the wing. There's not many guys in the League that do that. I love his ability, what he brings to the table."

19. Patrice Bergeron (2020-21 rank: 16)

"You know what you're going to get," Rupp said. "This guy can have 10 games with no points but he's still helping his team win, why? Key face-offs, penalty killer, he's just able to neutralize the other team's best players. This is what Patrice Bergeron brings to the table. He, in my opinion, will be on this list until the day he hangs up his skates. He's that good."

18. Mitch Marner (2020-21 rank: 21)

"His offensive IQ, it's through the roof," Rupp said. "The way he see offense and creates offense, generates offense, there's not many that can do it like him. When you look at him, whether it's on the power play, 5-on-5, he just generates offense no matter where he goes and what he does on the ice."

17. Alexander Ovechkin (2020-21 rank: 8)

"I think Ovi goes for that, he gets that (goals) record...even today, this guy is the best pure goal scorer our game has ever seen," Rupp said. "This guy, he's different. He's so good at just getting the puck on net, getting it on net quickly and it usually turns into a goal."

16. Mikko Rantanen (2020-21 rank: 24)

"This guy has got the size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and has got the ability to play in traffic and still generate offense in the playoffs," Rupp said. "The big thing for me with this guy is every single year that he has been in the League, his goals per game average has gone up. I don't think we've seen the ceiling on him."

15. Aleksander Barkov (2020-21 rank: 23)

"Selke winner and his best season in this League, had 96 points," Rupp said. "When you put those two things together, that's unbelievable. You've got a guy that can completely drive offense for an entire team, but he's also shutting the other team's top player down. If he can continue to grow, along with Jonathan Huberdeau -- who I think is a world-class player -- this team could be the best team in Florida this year. I really do believe that."

14. Brayden Point (2020-21 rank: 19)

"He's not that big (5-10, 183), he's got a great skating ability and sees the game really well, has got a great hockey IQ," Rupp said. "This guy does not get his due. What we've seen in his career in the playoffs and the regular season...he's up there with the top offensive contributors in the National Hockey League right now."

13. Cale Makar (2020-21 rank: 34)

"I think Connor McDavid changed the way we view forwards in the modern game when he came into the League (2015), I think Makar is doing that on the backend," Rupp said. "Cale Makar is starting to be referred to as the bar for the new age defenseman. You can't find players like this, that how special Cale is."

12. David Pastrnak (2020-21 rank: 6)

"[The Bruins] took their time with him in Providence (of the American Hockey League) and it's paying dividends now because he keeps getting better and better," Rupp said. "He's a gamer, he sits there, he's passionate, he's fun He's one of the best goal scorers our League has right now."

11. Patrick Kane (2020-21 rank: 11)

"He's our American Sidney Crosby," Rupp said. "I'm so excited about this Hawks team this year, because you have the additions of (defenseman) Seth Jones, (goalie) Marc-Andre Fleury. I think we're going to see Patty Kane back in the playoffs and that's where he should be, because he's had three cups under his belt at this point (2010, 2013, 2015) and he's still getting it done. The best all-time American-born player in my opinion."

Next week, the NHL Network will release their final list, featuring players ranked ten through number one.

We know you have thoughts. Let's hear them. #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/PQqZRlGcoj— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 19, 2021

Source: NHL Network

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