Top 12 Veteran Players in the National Hockey League at the moment –Part 6
It is the final part of our countdown of the top 12 veteran players in the National Hockey League (NHL) at the moment. We have gone through some huge names in the league which mostly everyone would probably know off, and there were also some which might
have had people guessing.
As another reminder, this list is not in any way a ranking of the players, which would altogether be a separate discussion. This was just a list of worthy mentions that have performed in the previous season and throughout their primetime to have earned a
place as one of the top.
From the list, hockey fans anywhere around the world can infer basically one thing mutually, age is not always a factor in how good a player is, was or will be. All that counts is dedication, hard work and passion for the game. If age was the case, than
all older players would not be able to compete against the younger aspirants, but we have seen, especially last season, that being veteran can work better in many situations, because experience always pays.
The two final additions to our list of top veterans in the league might not be surprising at all. They are well known and deserve a place when it is something concerning them.
Mike Knuble (Forward, Washington Capitals)
Washington Capitals were not the top team in the Eastern Conference without a reason at the end of last season. In Mike Knuble’s two seasons with Washington, the 39-year-old has been a major contributor on their line-up, which has ultimately helped in their
grabbing for the top spot.
They might not make it deep into the playoffs, but that is a totally different situation.
Knuble, a Toronto, Ontario, Canada native, was selected 76th overall during round-four by Detroit Red Wings during the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He has had 40 plus point seasons for the last eight years, which just goes to show his consistency.
Last season, Knuble put up 40 points (24 goals, 16 assists) in 79 games and a finishing plus-minus rating of 10. Mike Knuble has remained a part of some of the top teams in the league including Detroit, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers,
and now Washington.
With the next season starting in October, there does not seem anything which can stop Knuble from continuing to play and perform.
Todd Bertuzzi (Forward, Detroit Red Wings)
When an aspiring player is picked 23rd overall in the first-round of the NHL Entry Draft by a team, it is usually a gamble in determining whether the performer will do what the team expects. Todd Bertuzzi turned out to be one of those which were
successful in making and maintaining a career in major league hockey.
Currently a part of the Detroit Red Wings roster, Bertuzzi holds the image of being a top-notch right wing at the age of 36.
Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Todd Bertuzzi had some pretty high flying seasons with Vancouver Canucks at the turn of the century. His highest season came during the 2002-2003 timeframe as he potted 97 points (46 goals, 51 assists) in all 82 games
played.
That certainly does not mean he has fallen down or anything now, Bertuzzi scored 45 points last season (16 goals, 29 assists), which were the most since 2004, and also contributed well into the playoffs.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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