2009 NHL SURVEY

ESPN.com's NHL player survey is back for another year, with 193 responses from players on all 30 NHL teams. Here are the ten questions asked, along with the NHL players' answers, and ours.

1. Who is the Best Leader in the NHL?
Players said: Jarome Iginla (22%)
I'm more inclined to go with Niklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings here. He's been such a good leader for so long with the Wings. The rings on his fingers help too.

Other Choices: Brind'Amour, Doan, Lidstrom, Marleau, Neidermayer, Ovechkin, Sakic, Sundin, Thornton

2. Which Goalie Would Make the Best Forward/Defenseman?
Players said: Marty Turco (54%)
Martin Brodeur is the answer here because of his immense talent handling the puck and his high hockey IQ. Brodeur is so smooth with the puck on his stick, he would be a pretty good in other facets of the game.

Other Choices: DiPietro, Kiprussoff, Lundqvist, Luongo, Nabokov, Roloson, Smith, Thomas, Turco

3. If You Could Change Lives With Another NHL Player, Who Would it be?
Players said: Alexander Ovechkin (16%)
Sidney Crosby is the obvious choice because he is young, rich, famous, and the face of the league. The only other logical choice is Ovechkin because he has so much fun playing the game, but my choice would be Crosby.

Other Choices: Fisher, Iginla, Kovalev, Lecavalier, Lidstrom, Modano, Ovechkin, Sakic, Thornton

4. Which Player Complains Most on the Ice?
Players said: Sidney Crosby (52%)
This one is also Crosby. Everybody knows that the NHL, like most other leagues, caters to it's superstars, but every time Sid the Kid gets called for a penalty he is upset or surprised at the call.

Other Choices: Avery, Bertuzzi, Savard, Tucker, Richards, Pronger, Ott, Getzlaf, Doan

5. Which Player Would Make the Best President/Prime Minister?
Players said: Jarome Iginla (8%)
Mike Modano is the answer because of his experience, smarts, and skill. Looking from a hockey only perspective (no politics), he's been a superstar player for a very long time and is extremely well respected around the league.

Other Choices: Avery, Chelios, Doan, Crosby, Ovechkin, Iginla, Sakic, Peca, Roenick

6. Which Team has the Most Disruptive Fans?
Players said: Philadelphia (24%)
Honestly, it's just good to see fans at games these days. Montreal has to be the answer because of the crazy pressure they put on their players to succeed. No where else even compares.

Other Choices: Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Detroit, Edmonton, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, San Jose, Vancouver

7. Who is the Best Referee in the NHL?
Players said: Kerry Fraser (18%)
Can't go wrong with either Fraser or Don Koharski. Both have been doing it for such a long time, which means they are doing something right.

Other Choices: Don Koharski, Kelly Sutherland, Bill McCreary, Don VanMassenhoven, Paul Devorski, Tim Peel, Wes McCauley, Rob Shick, Steve Kozari, Mike Hasenfratz, Brad Watson

8. If the NHL Expands/Relocates, Where Would You Like to See a New Team?
Players said: Las Vegas (47%)
Hamilton, Ontario is my choice because of the fan base in that area. When the Predators nearly moved to the area a few years ago, they sold more season tickets in a couple of weeks than they had in Nashville all season. More fans means more exposure for the game.

Other Choices: Europe, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Portland, Quebec, Seattle, Winnipeg, Anywhere in Canada

9. Do You Want to see NHL Players in the Olympics Beyond 2010?
Players said: Yes (82%)
No, but only because I think promoting the World Championships as the premier international hockey event would benefit the sport. Instead of getting caught up in all the Olympic fervor, having a world tournament all to themselves would be good for hockey. And yes, NHL players would be a part of that.

10. Who is the Most Underrated Player in the NHL?
Players said: Patrick Marleau
I say David Krejci, but of course I am biased. Krejci has turned into one of the NHL's best offensive players, yet rarely gets credit. The 22-year-old Krejci wasn't even invited to the Young Stars game!

Other Choices: Green, Brown, Keith, M. Koivu, Parise, M. Richards, Weber, Zetterberg, Carter, Hemsky, Kronwall, B. Richards, Thomas