The Most Entertaining NHL Players to Watch in the 2015-16 Season

The NHL's best and brightest give fans something to cheer about every night of the schedule. Brilliant passes from the skill players, rocket shots from the snipers and speed burners to transport the puck in a heartbeat.

Each of the NHL's most exciting players possess that one special thing that separates them from the crowd. The shot of Alex Ovechkin, the wizardry of Erik Karlsson, so many outstanding talents that make the league must-watch viewing.

Here are the 10 most exciting players in the game today and the reason they are so much fun to watch.

Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins is a pest, although agitator has also been used to describe him. As an added value, he does it while playing on a top skill line and contributing offensively.

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? He doesn't dominate any statistical area—although his penalty minutes are high annually—but he is an effective player. Marchand's 33 goals this season reflect his value.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? Marchand is 28 and plays a rugged style despite being only 5'9'' and 181 pounds. He has a lot of miles on him and is unlikely to be playing the same style—and having this success—deep into his 30s.

Calgary Flames: Johnny Gaudreau

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Johnny Gaudreau is a clever offensive player with an enormous future. Despite a lack of size—he is 5'9", 157 pounds—his elusiveness gives opposition defenders fits.

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? He posted 40 assists as a rookie and should surpass that total in his second season. We don't have an established level for Gaudreau, but it appears he will push toward 50 assists—or more—in his prime seasons. 

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? With a newer player with fewer than three seasons, it is difficult to find an established level. Gaudreau is still developing his story, and it is impressive.

Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Patrick Kane is lightning-quick with the puck on his stick. He is so quick that the most famous goal of his career came in front of millions of eyes, and many didn't see it in real time.

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? He is an offensive machine and scores over 30 goals per 82 games in the NHL. This year, he leads the entire NHL in points by a significant margin.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? Kane is 27 and is in his prime, so he should be able to continue at a high level for the next few seasons. He has lost some games to injury in the past, and that is an early warning for what could happen when he hits his mid-30s. 

Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars is a power winger and an elite scorer. He is a ferocious offensive player with the puck on his stick and almost impossible to defend when he is at full speed. 

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? Benn is early in his career but has already led the league in points and has scored more than 30 goals in the last three seasons.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? Benn is 26 and healthy, and he appears to have stepped into his peak at about 24. He should be able to post substantial offensive numbers into his 30s.

Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Connor McDavid is the newest impact player on the scene, and the key to his initial success has been blinding speed. Defensemen think they have him marked, but the youngster changes gears and is gone in a flash.

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? McDavid is a rookie, so there isn't a lot of evidence to reference at this point. He does lead all NHL rookies in points per game and ranks second overall. Perhaps most impressive is his No. 1 ranking in five-by-five points per 60 among all NHL players—via Stats.HockeyAnaylysis.com.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? We don't have a lot to go on, but McDavid appears to be establishing himself as a bona fide impact player. If it holds true, he should push his point totals up annually until his mid-20s and then slowly slide down over the next eight to 10 seasons. We are probably looking at a generational talent, although making that kind of projection on 30 games of evidence is risky.

Montreal Canadiens: P.K. Subban

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What One Word Best Describes Him? P.K. Subban is one of the most explosive players in the game's history. His shot from the point is mammoth, and his open-ice hits are legendary. In terms of pure entertainment, he is difficult to top—even among the best players in the league. 

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? He is strong in all offensive statistics among defensemen, including some outstanding numbers at even strength—a difficult thing for defenders to do in the NHL. He also plays a lot—over 26 minutes a game—giving his coach a major advantage. 

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? Subban is 26 and has been durable, so Canadiens fans can expect production for their top defenseman for years to come. His shooting percentage is down markedly this season, but it should correct next year.

Ottawa Senators: Erik Karlsson

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Erik Karlsson's game is marked by intelligence, with a healthy dose of fantastic execution. No team in the league today is more reliant on one player to deliver offensive sorties than the Senators with their brilliant defender.

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? Karlsson is an assist machine, owing to terrific vision and passing ability. Despite opponents keying on him, he is able to thread the needle and make plays that result in goals.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? He is 25 and likely at his offensive peak at this time. Karlsson should be able to maintain current levels and follow it with a long and productive period before falling off as an offensive player. If healthy, he could be a going concern for the next decade.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Sidney Crosby is one of the most complete players in the history of the game. Offensively he can beat an opponent with his shot, deke them out of their shoes or devastate with his vision and speed. 

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? He led the NHL in points at age 19 and again at age 26, and he continues to be an impact offensive player.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? Crosby is 28 now and has lost significant time to injuries. His 30s could be plagued by injury—many careers disrupted in the 20s have been shortened a decade later—but as long as he is healthy, Crosby should be an impact player.

St. Louis Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Vladimir Tarasenko is one of the best young scorers in the game today. He is also a dynamic skater, but the word that fits best is probably sniper. 

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? He has scored 30 or more goals in each of the last two seasons. Tarasenko is also among the league leaders in shots on goal. 

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? At 24 and in his fourth NHL season, Blues fans should be able to enjoy Tarasenko's offensive brilliance through the end of the decade. St. Louis could get more production from him with an elite center. 

Washington Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin

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What One Word Best Describes Him? Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is a player with power. His shot is a top weapon in the league, and when he drives into the offensive zone with the puck on his stick, defensemen give up ice.

What Areas Does He Dominate Statistically? Ovechkin has led the league in scoring five times and leads this year. He has also led the league in shots in all but one of his active seasons.

How Much Longer Will He Play At This Level? He turned 30 in September, and his career-best goal total came at 22. Ovechkin's sustain as a scorer has been exceptional, and he should be a top-end scorer for the next four or five years—and could extend it if expansion arrives.