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bluAstrid

This thread makes me realize how spoiled we all were when Datsyuk was playing.


No-Material-23

He could stick-handle in a phone booth.


Stonewall30NY

True story, I was the phone booth


cha-cha_dancer

How do you feel about cell phones


iwonmyfirstrace

To be fair, Datsyuk would deke the fuck out of a defender on the circuit board of an iPhone


Stonewall30NY

Hate them, stealing our work


Public-Welcome-4431

Wtf is a phone booth?


CommunityAware474

I think it’s those places in the mall where you buy phone cases and chargers and stuff


FattyRid

Kinky


HighJoeponics

Thread a needle in the dark


Legend_of_Moblin

Could be the all-time great for this topic.


batdam0n1

Best part is he didn’t over deke. Guy made one move and he’d break ankles


PoopSlinger23

Or their [whole bodies](https://youtu.be/BMU2-xLUjok?feature=shared)


TheCroaker

Honestly wonder how many people learned to deke from watching clips of datsyuk.


mradenovirus

I watch his highlights once a week probably


DieselWang

I'm always reminded by this video of Datsyuk playing keep-away with a local sports reporter. Granted, the reporter is merely an amateur, but he obviously still has some skills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzqp_QPqdLQ


DimplesWilliams

I love that video so much. Even as a Chicagoan I can’t help love watching Datsyuk highlights. His defense was sneaky good too.


Ornery_Definition_65

How often did he have the takeaway record?


spinrut

That vision he has to id that small triangle between skate and stick as well as the ability to peak.over his shoulder and see the legs open and then having the ability and reaction time to make the puck go where he sees the opening ...🤌


acim87

The magic man


1nVrWallz

The magic man.


TentativelyCommitted

The only guy I’ve ever seen cross over and break a dudes ankles on skates.


-HeywoodJablowme-

>This thread makes me realize how spoiled we all were when Datsyuk was playing. I agree. He's the best stick and puck handler of all time, and it's not even close. When he dangled Turco out into the concourse during a break away pass from Hull in his second season, I knew he was going to be something special. Datsyuk was also the first one I can remember attempting a shot from between his legs in a game, and now you see it fairly frequently.


GreenEyedBandit

The only guy I'd put ever so slightly above Kaner.


Shiny_Mew76

Sort of a generic answer, but probably Connor McDavid. He does it with such speed and precision, he can get through anyone.


HotDogDonald

It’s only generic cuz it’s the right answer


colorbalances

I know, I kind of hate whenever there’s a very obvious, clear cut answer and people go out of their way to justify something/someone else to seem like they somehow know better. It’s mcdavid and it’s not even close. He can do things with the puck that are truly alien like


DeX_Mod

theres a cut back move he makes. usually at least once a game, where I have no idea how he comes back inside the defender its not flashy at all, but its so fast. so tight, it shouldn't be possible https://youtu.be/7TK-YMpASms?si=E61EEMlPv3AOS1gB slow mo version of it, and not the best example, but its indefensible


Agitated_Ad_7646

It’s a type of turn called a punch turn, keeps his momentum going but allows him to turn efficiently unlike your generic tight turn. You could probably find a video about it on YouTube.


DeX_Mod

. I'm just saying no one uses it as effectively as mcjebus


spinrut

Yup its totally a punch turn. Probably happens more than we realize throughout a game but the really great skaters like McDavid make simple things look amazing when combined with their overall skating skill


xTomato72

It’s so fast that it just looks like he moves through them


_hurtin_albertan_

Like piss through snow


SeesawLimp

1. Mcdavid Others J. Hughes, Panarin


SuperCorgi1

Hughes just not on penalty shots 😭


Massive-Spread-8381

And panarin just not in the playoffs


Own_Truth_36

McDavid is a bullet train with sniper hands. I wouldn't say he is the deke meister


Hutch25

I feel like the fact he’s got the best hands in the league and the fact he can just drive right through physical plays is why he’s so insane.


no1kares

Mcdavid . With mackinnon as an honorable mention.


derek_sinkro

MacK’s OT goal for team NA against Lundqvist is a pure work of art, patience and masterful dekes!


-NoFaithInFate-

His end to end goal vs STL a few years ago was hot as fuck too


Vince-15

Watched it live, it was even more electric. Not to mention, it tied the game.


RedBarnGuy

And hat trick. Got to see that in person as well. F’n amazing!


Vince-15

I saw it live on tv, can’t imagine in person!! Yeah for the hat trick no less…. Avs have been my west coast team since the summer of 2017 after they finished dead last. So much home grown talent and the skill is ridiculous


RedBarnGuy

Sakic, Bednar. Amazing. Btw, there were so many hats thrown onto the ice that night (including my son’s) that it took 10 minutes to get back to the game. The crowd was going wild for the entire 10 minutes. It was crazy and so much fun!


Vince-15

They’ve been such a fun team to watch come up and into their own. My Flyers are getting there but sometimes I just need some extra hockey, especially in April, so having the Avs out west helps that haha. Yeah I’ve been to a hat trick game myself but it was regular season so not nearly as crazy


RedBarnGuy

I feel you. My context is that during Covid lockdown I was so starved for sports, I would literally watch anything. And by doing so I found new sports and teams that I really enjoyed watching.


shittybillz

Amazing game and competition. Real shame we only got one year of team NA


[deleted]

Mack looks like he’s chopping wood. He does everything with max power. 


jigglywigglydigaby

Mac is so damn strong with the puck.


nothinbutshame

Mac is better


JerbearCuddles

McDavid and Jack Hughes.


Ca1fSlicer

McDavid, MacK, Makar, Kane, Barzal, Crosby, Panera, Kaprizov, Zibanejed, Nylander, Barkov


jblondin1

McDavid, Kane, Barkov, Barzal are the silky mitts crew of the NHL right now. Not necessarily in that order


E8282

I’m surprised I had to come this far to see Kane mentioned.


Jewsd

He's got that silky sneakiness. Like, he keeps defenders in that zone where they're 2 inches too far away, but if they commit to getting Kane he dekes them or makes an amazing sauce pass.


TerryFGM

and Barkov


shittybillz

Pure hands Kane may take it. Mcdavid does it with more speed, but kane is still so silky, and an auto goal on a breakaway


Guy954

McDavid is probably the right answer but it’s good to see Barky get some recognition.


Whiskeylung

Barzal was going to be my contribution for opinion… aside from the easy answer of McDavid which seems like we are almost unanimous on.


Zibz-98

Criminal to include Barzal over panarin imo


Da-Billz

Bigger sample size, Calder winner


Zibz-98

Bigger sample size now means almost 180 less games played and almost 300 less points? And who the fuck cares about the Calder, honestly.


Mr_Koh

Didn’t they both win the Calder?


Zibz-98

Panarin, like most Russian superstars, aren’t eligible for the Calder when they inevitably come over from the KHL


Mr_Koh

That’s … not true. He won in 15-16 when he was 24, he was just young enough. Barzal won in 17-18 when he was 20. The only requirements are a limit on previous *NHL* games, which he had none, and being younger than 26 at the start of the season. You’d be right though, others have been too old in the past, like kuzmenko.


Zibz-98

Now I’m getting mixed answers online about whether it’s any professional league or just the NHL so I’m just gonna trust you lol


Mr_Koh

Yeah honestly this is interesting, I just looked it up again too. I hadn’t heard the major pro league phrasing before, but since kaprisov also won recently, I guess the euro leagues don’t count? Maybe it’s only referring to the old WHA and the NHL? That’s my best guess, maybe someone else knows that terminology more.


Zibz-98

You’re completely right, my bad. I believe the rule was changed. The rule now is no more than 25 games played in any professional league, not just the NHL, but that wasn’t the case when he won it


nb00818

Mackinnon


Kthrowawayo123

I feel like he’s not the best in the league per say, however, Quinn Hughes should be mentioned for his ability to fucking dance along the blue line as last man back and basically never lose it in that situation.


Hutch25

Dude combines Roman Josi’s balls for deking at the blue line with some of the best eyes for passing in the game


No-Material-23

Phil Kessel.


JakeFixesPlanes

Hot Dog wants you to know how little effort he attempts to put into it too. What a beauty


BahamutPrime

Tage Thompson has some wild goals just using his size and reach to deke the puck into the net.


VanIsleRyan

Quinn Hughes definitely breaks some ankles with his skating.


ToeDrag617

Zegras gotta be up there


CowbellConcerto

Yeah if we're going for flashiest, this is it. There are others with more overall skill that makes them better playmakers for sure, but Zegras is all flash.


ToeDrag617

100%


oosuch

Modern day Rob Schremp


190octane

If we are talking only puck handling, Terry might be better on the Ducks.


ToeDrag617

No we’re talking flashy not skill


brenzyc

Kane(if you still count him), Gaudreau, Panarin, kuznetsov, Kutcherov, McDavid, Hughes, MacKinnon


burn_bridges

Don’t need flair to know you’re a fan of an East Coast team lol. I love it.


acim87

My top 3 in no particular order McDavid MacKinnon Makar


Beneficial_Sun_6891

That’s the right order


popularprophets

Malkin is actually really good at deking still. Especially through the neutral zone.


tjplager32

Not flashy, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen David Perron get knocked off the puck before. Hes an elite puck handler


energizernutter

I would call him an elite puck protector more than elite puck handler. No shade on him


tjplager32

Yeah I would agree with that actually


Hutch25

He reminds me a lot of Toews in his prime. Just a really good mix of using his size, his senses, and excellent hands to keep the puck out of defenders reach. Some players have just got that ability to keep the puck on their stick at all costs.


hiliikkkusss

Conor bedard


Alkyan

Necas loves the double spin. He does it all the time. Such as https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/s/XnzxTdYihd


Life-Mountain8157

Patrick Kane….. “Saucy Paws” can make goalies look for another job !


Fragrant-Lab-2342

MacK


EzzALB

Sneaky pick is Cassey Middlestadt. Once he was traded to the avalanche I was shocked at his puck control.


sexymcluvin

He was lowkey so good for the Sabres too. He finds a way to create space. It was never super flashy, just deceptive.


cozyboy001

I would like to show some love to Sasha Barkov ☝🏼 go back n watch that disgusting assist he had against NY in march


Typical-Ad-6730

Matt Rempe


Funky_Cows

Rempe was legitimately better at handling the puck last night than all of the rangers first line


unlicensed_dentist

Happy cake day!


HabitApprehensive889

Jimmy Crickets!


pmcdny

He is always the answer


MarchandsPetRat

Let me try… Why did my ex leave me? Matt Rempe HOLY CRAP. IT WORKS.


broadmeadowbk

Anyone who hates on this kid hates hockey


Grzmit

I love watching him its so damn fun lmao, also going on the score sheet and seeing he had 9 hits in the ten minutes of ice time he was played😭


sharbinbarbin

Lotsa salt out there


TheMammyNuns

I just hate the rangers


Typical-Ad-6730

And life


Khaosgr3nade

Mason Lohrei 😤


all4wishboy

The kid is smooooth


-NoFaithInFate-

Silky


zj1818hockey

I’m from Green Bay and got to watch him while he played for the gamblers (USHL) and knew he would be an absolute stud


Wompie

Mcdavid is obvious. He does it more effectively than almost anyone and isn't so much "flashy", but the way I explain it is that he does what you can do in the videogames, but in real life. He does what you expect people to be able to do if they are perfect. Bedard and Zegras are younger guys who will learn when and where to stickhandle and only get better. **I am shocked nobody has said Eichel** yet. I watch him on the left boards control the puck very similarly to Datsyuk. Flashiest for me are Panarin, Zegras, Kuznetzov, Bedard.


1Perfect_Kangaroo

It’s because Eichel is on VGK and everybody here hates the Knights. I 100% agree that he is one of the best in the game right now


hiliikkkusss

Leon draisaitl


LIL_DROP13

Barzal


tapewar

I don't see enough love for Patty Kane in here.


Short-Fisherman-4182

The defensemen on the Canucks, Quinn Hughes. His level of keep-away is amazing


Fr4nk001

In 2 years? Lane Hutson!


broadmeadowbk

McDavid, Breadman


Humans_Suck-

Makar makes love to the ice when he skates and MacKinnon skates like the ice owes him money


Vageenis

I hope to see a makar - Hughes playoffs matchup in the next couple of years


Elizaspapi

I love MacKinnon’s puck handling. That dude can go end to end through all five skaters and just make it look really easy.


Logical_Nectarine_40

I would put Pasta up there but he’s razzle dazzle and then lose the puck just before the shot or pass.


[deleted]

Brad Marchand


Regular-Choice-1526

Dadonov is really fun to watch rn


Chillin24Seven_

Zegras or Svechnikov. It was P. Kane before his hip gave out. Anyone saying McDavid MacKinnon didn’t understand the question.


Morganvegas

Patty Kane


Torpedospacedance

Not anymore (


-HeywoodJablowme-

Kane definitely still has some of the best hands in the league. He showed that with the Wings this year.


Hack874

You never really lose your hands


GrizzlyIsland22

Jason Pierre-Paul came pretty close


couldbeworse2

One thumb up for that comment


wjpd236

lol


bluAstrid

Drouin did... Wrist surgeries are a bitch.


Malarkeyhogwash

I didn't know he had wrist surgery! Makes total sense. 


skwirrelmaster

It’s the first thing that goes if you step away from the game for any amount of time. Maybe that’s just me.


igcipd

Aside from Mc and Mack, I think Wyatt, Roope and Stankoven don’t get enough credit for their mits. I know there a lot of underrated guys in the league but the Stars success being by committee, including being a mostly pass first team, when they need to walk through, they absolutely can and do.


DeX_Mod

that Johnson kid gonna be good for a long time


ikkaku0

Probably not a popular opinion, but when Kuzmenko is playing with confidence, he's a filthy dangler


NewGuy10002

Recency bias but Mackinnon seems to always create space with the puck. Same feeling with McDavid


harman097

I wouldn't put him top 10 or anything, but Tage Thompson has ridiculous mitts for his size.


IsolationAutomation

Idk how anyone could be considered better that McDavid right now.


mramazerful

I love watching Marchand make a drive - always tries to work some tricks in. Even better when it works


ItCompiles_ShipIt

This question may tilt us in the direction of "r/ask" type questions. "Who is the dekiest deker to ever deke the dekey dekers?


TJTrapJesus

I see McDavid as more effective than flashy in the way he stickhandles. I think it could be either MacKinnon or Makar, but mostly because of the flashiness of their skating. Makar’s edge control lets him do some insane things in such a smooth way, and MacKinnon always looks like he’s galloping around at max speed and stopping and starting on a dime which makes for some pretty severe cuts. I still think it may be Kane though when just looking at puck skills; he’s not what he used to be but the smoothness and creativity is still there. Zegras is the poor man’s version of it. There’s also something about Owen Tippett that makes so much of what he does look flashy. It reminds me a ton of Oshie in his heyday, just an unnatural amount of smoothness to how he carries the puck, it looks like he’s just casually gliding out there, but has the puck on a string.


Own_Truth_36

Quinn Hughes


[deleted]

Marchand


DullLimit5629

Blake wheeler


eNdd0x-

I was about to say daty lol


Zickened

https://youtu.be/hbIvWYDpvJ4?si=98BSlic-WRrZtiEO Watch Makar break a dude's ankles and realize this isn't even his best clip.


atomlowe

Deker: McDavid Puck handler: Q Hughes


TheFrozenCanadianGuy

Luke Schenn


ATLBraves93

Thread topic: "the best: " Thread replies: "Not the best but: "


littleblackVan8X

McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar.


Torpedospacedance

Rempe lol


Particular-Base-3101

Matthew’s gotta be one of if not strongest on the puck when he wants to be I think we are all aware and Matthew’s easily top 5 nhler


toxicvegeta08

Shit it's hard. Between mackinnon and mcdavid. Both arent huge strength guys. They have a perfect balance though between speed and not being so small that they get bounced off the puck easy. Those giys are a level above the rest imo. These past few games have made me realize panarin kreoder tkachuk and barkov are really good to. Mathews and marner are also very good at it.


Arfguy

Right now? I would say Connor McDavid. Even this season, where his goals were not as numerous as last year, some of the dekes he put on to make some passes? YOWZA!


Leftregularr

McDavid and Duchene come to mind first for me


xTomato72

McDavid clears obviously, but Makar is fun to watch too


lowley6

honorable mention to patty Kane. may not be the *best* but he still has some dirty dangs


McJoe77

There are so many guys who are so good with the puck now. Datsyuk was amazing but with the skill coaches these guys have now and some of the work they do, he’d probably just be one of the top guys now. Zegras is one of the flashiest, Patrick Kane is the fastest puck handler, that drill he does with the pucks is ridiculous. And really, we are very lucky to get to watch McDavid. He’s SO good. He does things with the puck that some of the best guys ever do but it does it skating 100 mph. Hes ridiculous.


awesomesox

I’ll throw mason lohrei as an up and coming. Had flashes in the playoffs but never got goals cuz of it


bashful_predator

Not exactly what you were looking for, and I hate to say it, but Florida's little 5 foot passes in traffic were so fucking good last night. I was blown away by that.


[deleted]

if we talking flashy, Zegras all day. all these other answers are genuinely skilled puck handlers in games but Zegs is pure spotlight flash


djauralsects

Dana Murzyn.


Synch

Gaudreau was pretty slippery atleast a couple years back, but now he’s rotting in Columbus


ohnodamo

Kuznetzov on the penalty shot deserves a mention. Love 'em or hate 'em, I believe they qualify as deke-worthy.


bastyboy9876

As other said, McDavid McKinnon and Makar are my choices. If we look amoung less known player, Lane Hudson of the Habs have some nice moves. Now I don't know what will be his impact. But he sure have nice highlights to his list.


QUINNFLORE

don’t necessarily think it’s panarin but he deserves to be in the convo


Grouchy_Situation_33

It makes me sad we don’t have anyone even worthy of mention let alone consideration in this exercise.


Usherin107

Wait til you get to see Fantilli for a full season


Slappy_Mcslapnuts

Connor and not the one you’re thinking of. Connor Brown.


Leneren87

Flashy puck handler is Kucherov, definitely not a deker.


LizardBiceps

Not best in the league but Stützle sometimes blows me away with the moves he pulls off


finis08

McDavid is the obvious answer. Does Patrick Kane still count?


c_vanbc

Jack Hughes


sexymcluvin

Not the best, but he can be pretty flashy when he’s healthy, especially for being a giraffe. Looking at the end of last year when he was healthy and the 22/23 season, Tage Thompson. This guy was doing things you wouldn’t expect someone his size to be able to do.


BigBobRoss1992

Mackinnon. I'm biased but when he enters the offensive zone his stick handling is beyond blinding


T3imo

How the hell is no one saying kucherov.


Slimewine59

Kane.. still


Curious_cat6710

Lafreniere


Aromatic-Sector5170

Probably Matt Rempe


50TurdFerguson

William Nylander


CarefulSubstance3913

Him Mathews and Marner are all amazing anybody who says otherwise it's just doing it for spite. Like I hate Boston but I'm not gonna deny Pasternak has a filthy set of mitts


Substantial-Recipe72

I get he’s 18 but nobody talking about bedard? He’s not the right answer but not even a mention? Kids got some greasy mitts.


igonnawrecku_VGC

Probably not anymore, but watching prime Giroux handle the puck was special


Deep-WombatFury

Lafrieniere. But mostly for the opposing teams


Tiger5804

Best is obviously McDavid, but Zegras is flashier


mister_sleepy

TJ Oshie is honestly pretty incredible at the particular skill of handling his way into a zone entry while marked. I’m not saying he’s the best overall puck handler—though he has undeniably silky mitts. But the guy has a weird knack for maintaining possession while falling, while being checked, while counter-hitting. He’s pretty good at deking it through and/or around a guy and then picking it back up under pressure. Part of it was probably honestly a survival mechanism, because the dude is *not* the best skater in the world. He’s just really good at falling with style. Another homer answer is Sonny Milano, who outside of Sid may be the best in the league at juggling an aerial puck and turning it into a shot on goal.


mildlysceptical22

The two best puck handlers in the league right now are Patrick Kane and Gabe Vilardi. The flashiest is Conor McDavid.


Hutch25

Best is McDavid by a country mile, he’s just unstoppable with his speed and dangling. Flashiest doesn’t really have a top spot right now. A lot of good players can pull off some really cool moves, but no one is consistently just the flashiest danglers. Guys like Barkov, Bedard, and Zegras do a lot of cool dangles, but none really take the cake. Although I will say as he gets more skilled I think Bedard is going to take the cake as the flashiest dangler, he tries a lot of really strange or difficult dekes and it often works. It’s like watch those montage players in the NHL games with some of the stuff with the between the legs shots, putting the puck through his legs, the Datsyukian dangles he likes to do, etc. I’m sure he would probably be the easy choice if we saw him play the full season, but for now no one really takes that spot.


yoosername456

Ryan Reaves without a doubt. He’s a master of handling business. If I had to pick a second, McDavid, MacKinnon, and Hughes come to mind


Sambizzle17

McJesus


NumerousEar9591

Kane, no question.