Throughout the lifespan of hockey there has been many great players and players who have taken the game of hockey to the next level. Every decade or so there is a new breed of hockey players that brings the league to a higher level with their unique set of stickhandling, shooting and skating abilities. Here is a list of the Top 10 current players in the NHL.

10. P.K. Subban
One of the toughest defenseman in the NHL, Subban plays for the Nashville Predators and is a fantastic skater who can skate almost as well backward as forward. His skating ability combined with his hockey awareness makes it very difficult for his opponents to get past him. Subban is excellent at moving the puck up the ice and creating offensive pressure. In the offensive zone he is always dangerous as he shoots a very accurate and hard slap-shot. In 2012/13 he won the Norris Trophy for the best Defenseman in the league. It is his 8th season in the NHL.

9. Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos is the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning and is a scoring machine. The 26 year old Canadian is one of the deadliest shots in the NHL. His shooting technique is world class and he has one of the quickest releases in the league. Stamkos quick release makes him a threat every time he has the puck. He has the ability to score from anywhere and is a goalkeepers worst nightmare. In 2012 Stamkos won the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals in a season with 60 in 82 games.

8. Tyler Seguin
Tyler Seguin is an elite goal scorer from Canada and plays for the Dallas Stars. Seguin is very quick on his feet, one of the strongest aspects of his game. He uses his quickness and agility to get by his opponents. Seguin utilizes his quickness very well which allows him to be a constant threat to his opponents in all three zones. He has an elite shot with pinpoint accuracy. This is his 7th season in the NHL and in 2015 he won the Hockey World Cup with Canada.

7. John Tavares
John Tavares, captain of the New York Islanders, is known for his great leadership ability and his instincts on the ice. His instincts and physical presence allow the Canadaian to find open space on the ice and also to locate his teammates. Tavares strength is to anticipate the play and be in the right place at the right time. Being able to anticipate plays is what make Tavares one of the most dangerous forwards in the league. He is in his 8th season in the NHL and has produced 479 points in 520 regular season games.

6. Erik Karlsson
Scandinavian Erik Karlsson is a Swedish born player and captain of the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson is the first defenseman on the list and well deserves the honor. He is an offensive defenseman who plays a big role in the team’s offense. Karlsson has an incredible hockey IQ and is a specialist on power plays. The Swedish player has great agility, mobility and skating technique which makes him difficult to knock off the puck. Last season the defenseman had his best season with 82 points in 82 games and that made him number five overall in points in the NHL. In 2014-15 Karlsson won the Norris Trophy for best defenseman in the league.  

5. Alexander Ovechkin
Ovechkin is a 31-year-old Russian hockey player and the captain of the Washington Capitals. The Russian is notoriously known for his goal scoring ability and his level of intensity on the ice. Ovechkin is a player who makes everything look easy. He has remarkable top speed that he uses to get by his opponents and is a living highlight reel on the ice. He moves as quickly and swiftly as if he were 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds but in reality he is a 6-3 giant weighing 225 pounds. He has a remarkable 529 goals in 848 games and has won the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals in a season three times.

4. Jamie Benn
Jamie Benn is the captain of the Dallas Stars. The huge, 6-foot-2, 210-pound Canadian left winger is an expert at utilizing his large frame to screen the puck from his opponents. This makes him extremely tough to play against. Benn also has remarkable speed for his size and his finishing ability is one of the best in the league. In 2014/15 the power forward Benn won the Art Ross Trophy for finishing the regular season with the most points (87) in the league. Benn is currently in his 8th year in the NHL and has a total of 453 points in 517 games.

3. Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane is an American born player who plays for the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane might not have the biggest physical presence, but he is world class at utilizing his smaller size to his advantage. This allows him to get out of tricky situations and past defenders. The American is known for his puck-handling skills and is extremely hard to knock off the puck. He has a fantastic accurate shot and is excellent on breakaways. Kane was drafted in 2007 by the Blackhawks who have since won 3 Stanley Cup Finals.  

2. Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby or “Sid the Kid,” the name he was given when he was drafted into the NHL in 2005/06, is another generational talent with very special abilities. He is a brilliant playmaker who uses his spectacular stickhandling to get by his opponents and find his team players. His unique skill set and explosive speed make Crosby one of the best centers of all time. Crosby always play with a lot of intensity and heart which makes him even more special. He plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins and has tallied up an impressive 930 points in 710 NHL games.

1. Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid is a generational talent that tends to come around once every decade. The Canadian born player is only 19 years old and is in his second season in the NHL. He is an exceptional skater with tremendous speed which makes him an extreme threat every time he is on the ice. He excels in every area on the ice and is a catalyst for creating positive plays in all three zones on the ice. McDavid has exceptional stickhandling and his ability to find his teammates on the ice is world class. This year the youngster was named Captain of the Edmonton Oilers which made him the youngest player ever to become captain at the age of 19 years and 266 days. During his short NHL career he has gathered 59 points on 54 games.