Five current Stars among ESPN's 'Top 100 NHL Players of the Decade'

The Dallas Stars were shown some national love on ESPN's "Top 100 NHL Players of the Decade" list this week.
Five current Stars players made the cut with forward Joe Pavelski coming in at No. 20, left wing Jamie Benn at No. 31, right wing Corey Perry at No. 36, center Tyler Seguin at No. 43 and goaltender Ben Bishop at No. 73, respectively.

The list, compiled by longtime NHL writer Greg Wyshynski, ranked Sidney Crosby as the best player of the 2010s followed by Edmonton's Connor McDavid, Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, San Jose's Erik Karlsson and Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers.
Here's what Wyshynski said about each Stars player on ESPN.com:

Joe Pavelski, No. 20

"Only five players scored more goals in the decade than Pavelski (304 in 789 games), and arguably none of them scored more off their faces. Great on faceoffs, dominant in possession (54.4 shot attempts percentage for the decade) and behind only Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos in goals (132) from 2012-13 to 2015-16, one of the best goal-scoring stretches of the decade."

Jamie Benn, No. 31

"Another player whose recent results -- which have been so underwhelming that the Stars' CEO compared his play to horse excrement in 2018 -- might have obscured a truly dominant stretch in the middle of the decade. From 2012-13 to 2017-18, Benn amassed 436 points, fourth among forwards. He won the scoring title in 2014-15 with 87 points, which is like winning the Masters with a 2 over par."

Corey Perry, No. 36

"Perry's production has fallen so far off in recent seasons that it's hard to picture when he was one of the NHL's preeminent goal scorers, but from 2009-10 to 2011-12, only Steven Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin scored more goals than Perry's 114. That included a 50-goal campaign that earned him the Hart Trophy for the Ducks in 2011. But since 2018, he's a minus-1.7 in goals scored above average."

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Tyler Seguin, No. 43

"After a Stanley Cup and an ill-fated trade from the Bruins, Seguin blossomed into one of the league's top scorers of the decade at 0.86 points per game (28th). From 2014-15 to 2017-18, he was tied for fifth in goals per game (0.44)."

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Ben Bishop, No. 73

"Six feet and seven inches of goalie, Bishop is tied with Pekka Rinne for second in even-strength save percentage for the decade (.927) during stints with the Blues, Senators, Lightning and Stars. Oh, and seven games in L.A. He is fourth in goals saved above average per 60 minutes (0.315)."
To view the complete list, click here.
Don't miss your chance to see the Stars take on the Calgary Flames as they return home to American Airlines Center on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. The first 5,000 kids receive a Miro Heiskanen youth jersey presented by AT&T. Get your tickets now!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.