My Favorite NHL Players

 Growing up, watching and learning about hockey was one of my favorite past times. Whether it was watching highlights on Youtube, playing hockey video games, or doing simple research I came to have my own favorite hockey players. To start this off, I'll talk about my favorite hockey player of all time, Jonathan Toews. I am a die hard Blackhawks fan and Jonathan is part of the reason why. He is the epitome of a true leader and player. Jonathan rarely let his emotions show during the game and earned himself the nickname "captain serious". I looked up to him as a player and as a person. I tried to mimic my game after his. I also tried to copy his demeanor off the ice because he was known as a respectable good person. That is something I have always strived to be. He led my beloved Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup Championships while keeping his captain serious persona. I would not be the person I am today if I did not have a player to look up to like Jonathan Toews. After Jonathan, my next favorite player would be Alex Ovechkin from the Washington Capitals. Alex is the definition of an animal on the ice. He would score these amazing highlight style goals almost every game it seemed like. He is never afraid to throw the body around either, and he has a large one. You do not see skilled players of his caliber throwing around the body as much as he does, that is why he is a rockstar. Alex is set to become the National Hockey League's all time leading scorer, which is an amazing thing to watch unfold. He plays every game like it is a championship game and never slacks. He is a delight to watch play the game whenever his Capitals are playing. After Alex Ovechkin, my next favorite player would be Paul Bissonnette. Paul or "Biz", is one of the greatest personalities to ever play the game of hockey. His interviews were always pure comedy as he never failed to make me laugh just listening to him speak. Paul is the first and probably the only player in the National Hockey League to have an online persona on Twitter. Paul would have some of the funniest tweets. He would just be tweeting about his day, but the way he would phrase a sentence would be absolute comedy. Because of this, his online following grew and he became a very lovable figure in the hockey world. Biz never failed to make me laugh. Paul is also a member of the most popular hockey podcast "Spittin Chiclets" providing news and funny stories to the hockey world. Paul was not a very good hockey player, but at least he knows that himself. These are the reasons he is one of my favorite players to ever play the game of hockey. After Paul, next in line would be Patrick Kane. Who could not like Showtime? That is his nickname, very rightfully earned. Kane is one of the most electric players to ever play in the National Hockey League. Along with Jonathan Toews, Kane won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane has an elite set of skills that just mesmerized me every time he would touch the puck. Watching Patrick Kane in the shootout was like watching him play against kid goaltenders. Some of his moves I tried to replicate growing up but I just could not because his hands are just that silky. Kane had a very loose personality when he was in his 20's giving a kid every reason to think he is awesome. Kane would grow a playoff mullet, which was very rockstar. I always wanted to have one myself and be like him but my parents would never allow it. Kane is by far one of my favorite players of all time. Next on my favorite players list would have to be Tom Wilson. Tom is not really a skill player, but oh baby can he lay a bone crushing hit on a player. Hockey is losing the art of extremely physical play, but Tom is bringing that back. Watching Tom hit someone will fill me with adrenaline and want to run through a brick wall or two. Do not get me wrong, Tom is still a skilled player with some really nice highlight goals, but his hits are the reason he is one of my favorites. He inflicts fear into the opponents and just rag dolls them. He is a rockstar. After Tom Wilson, my next favorite player would have to be the big hoss, Marian Hossa. Marian Hossa was the definition of a pure power forward. It was almost impossible to steal the puck from this guy. Even if someone managed to steal the puck from Hossa, he would relentlessly chase that person and almost always steal it back. He was very naturally skilled and had some amazing highlight reel goals. Hossa was also another player who I tried to mold my game after. I was a bigger player on the ice, so he was a great person to look up to. The way he controlled the puck and used his body to protect it was something I really tried to imitate. He proved you can be a force while being one of the most skilled players in the league. Marian also gave me amazing memories to cherish as he won three Stanley Cups for my beloved Chicago Blackhawks. Finally, I would say my last favorite player is Corey Crawford. Corey was a goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks. The way he would stick up for his teammates while keeping a calm demeanor afterwards is something I always admired. Even if the opposing crowd tried to get in his head by chanting things at him, he would always remain cool and never bit into the agitation. These players are my all time favorite hockey players, and now you can see why. I hope you enjoyed!

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