NHL teams
Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter 1y

Oilers' Connor McDavid earns praise from peers in NHLPA poll

NHL, Edmonton Oilers

The NHL Players' Association released its annual player poll Wednesday, and, unsurprisingly, Edmonton Oilers captain -- and Hart Trophy front-runner -- Connor McDavid earned plenty of peer praise.

This is the eighth time a player poll has been conducted, with 626 participants covering 14 topics that include most complete player, most impactful forward in a must-win game, goalie most likely to win one game and which player they least enjoy facing (but wouldn't mind on their own team).

McDavid earned the majority of votes (59.3%) as the players' choice for most impactful player in a must-win game. The Oilers star is leading the NHL with 136 points. His teammate Leon Draisaitl is second with 106 points; 25% of players deemed Draisaitl the league's best passer.

Other accolades went to Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (most complete player), Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (most likely to win a single game), Colorado Avalanche blueliner (and reigning Norris Trophy winner) Cale Makar (best defenseman) and New York Rangers forward Patrick Kane (best stick handler).

The players picked Team Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin as the female skater they'd most like on their team.

And Boston Bruins pest Brad Marchand was selected as the guy most players hate facing -- but would like on their team.

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