NHL’s All “Lightning Rod” Starting Lineup

Since Evan Bouchard entered the league, he’s split the hockey world in half. Half think he’s an elite defenseman, someone who puts the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup conversation. The other half sees him as a liability on the defensive end and not an NHL defenseman, but rather a forward who plays at the point.

Bouchard might be the biggest “lightning rod” player in the NHL, or at least the most polarizing defenseman. He’s not the only player who gets this reaction, this extreme split among fans and experts. A handful of players in the NHL right now fit into this category where there’s no in between, no gray area. So, what does the starting lineup look like?

Evan Bouchard – Defenseman

Bouchard’s offense is unquestioned. He scored his 20th goal on Thursday night with an overtime winner, and he can be a Norris Trophy finalist at the end of the season. Yet, many discredit his offense because he plays on the same team as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Even among Oilers fans, there’s the divide. He was playing last season on an expiring contract, and a good percentage of the fanbase wanted him traded while the other half wanted him signed to an eight-year contract. So naturally, the Oilers met in the middle, giving him a four-year deal.

Adam Fox – Defenseman

Adam Fox is the other defenseman who splits the hockey world. In his case, the split is between the watch-the-games crowd and the analytics community. His injuries and decline in play have many questioning whether he’s still an elite defenseman. Then there are the underlying numbers, which suggest he’s a top 10 or even a top-five defenseman.

When Fox was left off the USA Olympic team, it raised eyebrows. However, his play at the Four Nations, where he was a step behind, was a warning sign, and when the games took place, it was clear that Fox wouldn’t have kept up with the speed and the best in the game. The big-picture question is whether the New York Rangers can expect him to remain an elite defenseman and keep him around as a building block, and if not, what does that mean as the team enters a rebuild?

Jack Hughes – Center

The divide on Jack Hughes, certainly on a broad level, started recently. To be fair, he scored a significant goal, one that catapulted him into stardom for the casual sports fans, especially in the USA.

The question is, how good is Hughes? In the NHL, he’s not elite. He’s skilled and an exciting player to watch but he’s not a top-of-the-league player. It’s why many have wondered whether the New Jersey Devils can win with their best player being limited. He’s smaller and doesn’t play a physical game. Plus, his career has been set back by injuries. It’s made him a polarizing player, and his recent fame has only further amplified it.

Tom Wilson – Wing

The divide on Tom Wilson is among fans. Every fanbase dislikes him until he’s on their team. While other teams have added their versions of him or the modern-day enforcers to their lineups (players that can deliver a big hit and fight but also score) but Wilson’s been the polarizing player for years.

Mitch Marner – Wing

Mitch Marner became the scapegoat for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the Core Four era. He was always great in the regular season and was one of the reasons they made the playoffs every year. Then, he’d disappear in the playoffs (in fairness, the rest of the team also disappeared).

Now that Marner is gone, the Maple Leafs realize how much they miss him, especially since this season has been a mess for them. The question remains: how good is Marner? If the Vegas Golden Knights make the playoffs, everyone will find out (which, based on how they’ve played lately, isn’t a given either).

Jordan Binnington – Goaltender

Jordan Binnington is a lightning rod player in more than one way. He’s a goaltender who many players despise and has his antics that are sometimes humorous, sometimes dirty, and oftentimes crazy.

Then, there’s his play in the net. Binnington isn’t a great regular-season goaltender, and this season, he let the St. Louis Blues down. However, he won a Cup and led Canada with strong play at the Four Nations and nearly won them Gold at the Olympics. It’s why there’s plenty of debate surrounding him.

Honorable Mention: Nobody questions whether Connor Hellebuyck is an elite goaltender. However, after winning Gold, there’s plenty of debate about what that does for his all-time status. Is he one of the game’s greatest? His struggles in the Stanley Cup Playoffs suggest otherwise.