Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was named the NHL’s best winger entering the 2017-18 season by NHL Network on Monday. They’ve been rolling out rankings by position for the whole league this month, and Kane comes in No. 1 on the list of top wings.
Here are the full rankings:
And the Top 20 Wings Right Now are…#NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/JDQEV17bmd
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 14, 2017
So this list, like the one that somehow ranked Corey Crawford outside the top 10 goalies, definitely is not perfect. Pastrnak and Hall seem too low, for example. But it’s also an interesting snapshot of the league’s best wingers, and a reminder that Kane remains one of the most well-regarded players in hockey.
Last season with the Hawks, Kane recorded 34 goals and 55 assists in 82 games. It was a drop in production from 46 goals and 60 assists during his Hart Trophy-winning 2015-16 season, but he was still tied for second in the NHL in points with Sidney Crosby. As the league’s top-scoring winger for back-to-back seasons, it should be no surprise Kane topped the NHL Network’s ranking at the position.