NHL: Top Ten Forwards Outside of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin

As the 2010 playoff season has commenced, one thing is evident: the NHL is loaded with a smorgasbord of talent.

Yes -- I said smorgasbord.

In the constant debate over whether Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin is the league's best player, we tend to overlook the rest of the NHL's vast array of talent.

Although it may not seem like it, our league is full of other great players beyond Crosby and Ovechkin.

It's time we start giving credit where credit is due.

With that being said, here are the ten best forwards in the NHL outside of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

10. Zach Parise - New Jersey Devils

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

81 games played; 38 goals; 44 assists; 82 points; 24 +/-

Rounding out the top ten is the New Jersey Devil left-winger, Zach Parise.

In just his fifth season in the NHL, Parise has become the heart and soul of the New Jersey Devils, missing just three games in five years.

After finishing third in the NHL last year with 45 goals, Parise put together another impressive effort in 2009-2010, marking his fourth consecutive 30-goal season.

9. Patrick Kane - Chicago Blackhawks

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

82 games played; 30 goals; 58 assists; 88 points; 16 +/-

It's not always easy to live up to the expectations of being a number one overall draft-pick, but Patrick Kane has done it.

Kane’s incendiary quickness and silky-smooth hands make him one of the most dangerous forwards in the game.

In the 2009-2010 regular season, Kane put together the first 30-goal season of his young career and has been the best forward on one of the league's best teams, all season long.

With Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith all signed to long-term deals, Chicago looks to continue to assert themselves as one of the top teams in the NHL for years to come.

8. Joe Thornton - San Jose Sharks

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

79 games played; 20 goals; 69 assists; 89 points; 17 +/-

Has there been a more consistent player over the past decade than Joe Thornton?

Since 2000, Thornton’s lowest point output was his 68-point effort in 2001-2002 – a season in which he played in only 66 games.

Over this ten-year span, Thornton has put up over 90 points in four out of nine seasons.

Included in this is Thornton’s 2005-2006 season in which he tallied 125 points to win both the Art Ross and Hart Trophy.

Thornton’s consistency and play-making abilities land him at number eight of the ten best forwards not named Crosby or Ovechkin.

7. Dany Heatley - San Jose Sharks

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

82 games played; 39 goals; 43 assists; 82 points; 14 +/-

Dany Heatley is one of the most dynamic goal-scorers in the game today.

Since the lockout, Heatley has scored 50 goals in two of his last five seasons. His lowest output in that five-year span is a measly 39 goals (in which he totaled twice).

The man can score goals.

He has an impressive career goals per-game average of .508 and a career point per-game average of 1.06.

Add this to his size and strength, and it's clear that Dany Heatley is one of the top forwards in the NHL.

6. Ilya Kovalchuk - New Jersey Devils

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

76 games played; 41 goals; 44 assists; 85 points; 10 +/-

The second New Jersey Devil on the list comes in at number six.

Outside of Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk is the most pure goal-scorer in the NHL.

Ilya is one of those special players who makes you hold your breath every time he has the puck within scoring distance – which for him is virtually anywhere on the ice.

Kovalchuk's 41-goal effort this year gives him six consecutive 40-goal seasons -- a feat which no other current player has achieved.

His lethal goal-scoring ability earns Ilya Kovalchuk the number six spot of the best forwards in the game excluding Crosby and Ovechkin.

5. Steven Stamkos - Tampa Bay Lightning

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

82 games played; 51 goals; 44 assists; 95 points; -2 +/-

Rounding out the top five is budding star, Steven Stamkos.

In just his second year in the league, 20 year-old Stamkos has developed into one of the NHL’s top players.

While the whole world watched Crosby and Ovechkin to see who would prevail to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, it was Stamkos who surprised everyone and wound up tying Sidney Crosby with 51 goals for a share of the trophy.

Stamkos is absolutely lethal on the powerplay – sporting one of the best one-timers in hockey. He led the league with 24 power play goals this year. The closest player to him was Dany Heatley with 18.

At just 20 years old, and playing on a poor team, Stamkos put up numbers that rival the league’s best.

It will be scary to see what he’s capable of in the future.

4. Nicklas Backstrom - Washington Capitals

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

82 games played; 33 goals; 68 assists; 101 points; 37 +/-

Despite often being overlooked due to his star linemate, (who needn't be mentioned at this point) Nicklas Backstrom has silently become one of the best forwards in the NHL.

Coming into this season, Backstrom was predominantly known for his ability as a playmaker.

This year, in just his third season, Backstrom added goal scoring to his repertoire, making him one of the most complete players in the league.

After finishing fourth in the Art Ross race this season, Backstrom lands as the fourth best forward in the NHL not named Crosby or Ovechkin.

3. Evgeni Malkin - Pittsburgh Penguins

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

67 games played; 28 goals; 49 assists; 77 points; -6 +/-

Evgeni Malkin is having a bit of a down year for his standards, but is still more than deserving of making this list.

After two consecutive Hart-worthy seasons in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, scoring 100 points in each, “Geno” has proven that he is one of the league’s top players.

Despite his inconsistent play this year, Malkin is still capable of taking over a game at any time.

For that, Evgeni lands himself at number three.

2. The Sedin Twins - Vancouver Canucks

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

Daniel - 63 games played; 29 goals; 56 assists; 85 points; 36 +/-

Henrik - 82 games played; 29 goals; 83 assists; 112 points; 35 +/-

The Sedin Twins do everything else as a package, so it’s only fair that they get grouped together here at number two.

Henrik’s season has been well documented.

He played at a high level game-in and game-out – with or without Daniel – earning him the Art Ross Trophy and making him a leading candidate for the Hart Trophy.

While Henrik got all the attention, Daniel played every bit as well when he got the chance.

His 85 points in 63 games gave him a 1.35 points per-game average, tying him with the likes of Sidney Crosby, and putting him just below his brother who averaged 1.37 points per-game.

Grouping them together is not to say the Sedin's aren't great individual players. They are just too similar to separate into two separate spots.

For that, Daniel and Henrik Sedin land themselves at number two.

1. Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings

2009-2010 Regular Season Statistics:

80 games played; 27 goals; 43 assists; 70 points; 17 +/-

Many people will be surprised to find Pavel Datsyuk at the top of the list.

Much like Evgeni Malkin, Datsyuk had a lackluster season after a Hart-worthy performance last year.

His 70 points are down 27 from his last season's totals. His goal totals and plus/minus rating are both down as well.

So, why do I still rank him this high?

Let’s see…

He’s the best two-way forward in hockey; is one of the best face-off men in the league; sports the league’s smoothest hands; and is calm, cool, and collected in any and all situations.

Simply put, Datsyuk is the epitome of a player you want on your team.

Congrats to Pavel Datsyuk – the third best forward in the NHL.