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Right wing is where it's at. At this very moment in time, it's the most talented position in hockey. As per usual, speed is what characterizes the right side. You gots to fly to hang with these guys, Clyde.

1. Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Mighty Ducks: After a bit of down time in Winnipeg, The Finnish Flash has been rejuvenated since arriving in Anaheim. And it's not just because he's playing with Paul Kariya. Kariya? Selanne doesn't need no stinking Kariya. With his high-scoring left wing pal out most of the season and with little more than AHL talent surrounding him, Selanne didn't cry and feel sorry for himself. He just went out and scored 52 goals and 86 points in 73 games. To put that in perspective, only four other Ducks even scored 10 goals last season. One was Kariya, who only played 22 games. One was Travis Green, who scored most of his 19 goals on Long Island. The other two were Steve Rucchin, who potted 17, and Scott Young, who bagged 13. So it was no real mystery who teams were trying to shut down when they faced Anaheim. But it still didn't matter. Teemu was unstoppable.

Selanne is simply an amazing player. His game has no weaknesses. One of the fastest skaters on the planet, Selanne is a pure goal- scorer that is just as comfortable at handling the puck. Even though he has the hands to humiliate defenders with the highlight-reel dekes, Selanne doesn't rely solely on finesse. Truth be told, he's probably more comfortable with just bearing down on the puck, shifting gears, and barging wide on defensemen. That's what separates him from other talented scorers. Much like Peter Forsberg, Selanne can make a play with skill or power. He's so strong on his skates that defenders really can't handle him cleanly. And once he gets a step it's all over.

Selanne also works well without the puck. He's responsible in his own end and doesn't shy away from physical play. He actually rather enjoys it, dishing out his share of hits on a routine basis. The Flash can bang.

Looking at the complete picture, it's easy to see why Selanne is our top rated right winger. But is he the best player in the league? Sure.

2. Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins: The Czech Wonder Kid fell to the number two spot this year in part because of Selanne's greatness and in part because of his own troubles. Let's start with the good.

Jagr was the only player to break the 100-point barrier last season, posting 35 goals and 102 points in 77 games for the Penguins. He also tied for the league lead in assists with 67 and was a team-high +17. When inspired, Jagr can dominate a game like few others in the history of the sport. He's such a powerful skater and stickhandler that defensemen are left helpless in one-on-one situations. The only way to stop Jagr is to wrap him up and tackle him. Luckily for blueliners everywhere, the NHL seems to consider this an acceptable ploy. Otherwise Jagr would score at will.

Jaromir used to get ripped for being a selfish player, always looking to make the one extra move instead of passing the puck. That's a bad wrap. It used to be true early in his career, but it hasn't been the case since 1994-95 when Jaromir carried the club during Mario Lemieux's one-year hiatus. Learning from his mentor Ron Francis, Jagr became a terrific playmaker. His ability to hold the puck and fend off defensemen allows him to create more time for his linemates to get open and makes him one of the best assist men in the game.

Despite the goal total being down a bit last season, Jagr has developed into an excellent shooter. When he first broke into the league 90% of his goals were probably scored on dekes around the net. That's all changed. Thanks to years of hard work in practice with assistant coach Rick Kehoe, Jagr now possesses a wrist shot from hell. It's a sweeping shot, not the short compact wrister favored by the great Joe Sakic. This means it takes him a split second longer to get it off, but once it does it usually finds the back of the net. And his slap shot is... well, he doesn't really have a slap shot. But who needs one when you can shoot a wrister like Jagr?

You also can't talk about Jagr without mentioning his endurance. This kid could play forever. He just never seems to get tired. He gets stronger the more he plays, which is why he's owned the third period throughout his career.

Okay, enough with the shameless praise. Let's get down to why he's no longer our top rated right winger. We'll start with the obvious. He doesn't hit. Granted, hitting isn't his game, but when competing against Selanne for top honors not taking the body will kill you. Then there's that nagging groin problem of his that always threatens to knock him out of action. He did play 77 games last year, but the condition was a definite concern. Then there's that whole goal celebration thing he does. It's one thing to sweat Terrell Davis, but at least do it right. Jagr's little gay sailor wave is hardly even recognizable as a salute.

But the real reason Jagr is number two this year is his character. He caused a whole mess of grief behind the scenes last season in Pittsburgh in regards to new coach Kevin Constantine's system. Jagr was reluctant to toe the line and if not for the interventions of Francis the situation would have likely eroded beyond repair. Jagr had the chance to prove that he finally matured into a true leader by welcoming Constantine and his new team-first approach. But he didn't. Worse yet, he made his feelings about the coach public in the local papers just a couple weeks before the playoffs started. That's weak. While Selanne scored, Jagr complained. That's why Selanne is number one.

Peter Bondra by Meredith Martini

3. Peter Bondra, Washington Capitals: One of our personal favorites, Bondra just continues to impress. He tied Selanne for the league lead in goals this past season with 52 and added 26 assists for 78 points in 76 games. Needless to say, Bondra is not a playmaker. He scores goals. That's his job. It's what he does.

Perhaps the game's best shooter, Bondra boasts both a quick, accurate wrister and an overpowering slap shot. But it's Bondra's skating that truly makes him a great scorer. He's simply explosive. One or two strides is all it takes for the Slovakian sniper to hit top speed, and once in full flight all other players on the ice are reduced to innocent bystanders. This speed makes it difficult for goaltenders to read his shot, since the angle changes so rapidly. Bondra is one of the few players in today's NHL still capable of driving the wing and scoring with a slap shot from out high along the boards. His overtime goal against Dominik Hasek in the Eastern Conference Finals was a perfect example. That was wizard. If possible, I'd like to get it on a loop and just have it run at my house 24 hours a day.

Bondra isn't all flash and dash, though. He's a solid defensive citizen and an excellent penalty-killer. His 19 short-handed goals over the past four seasons, including five last year, are the highest total in the league. But it gets better. Bondra also has a mean streak. He won't back down from anyone and isn't scared to partake in the occasion cheap shot. Can't ask for much more than that in a 50-goal scorer.

Tony Amonte by Meredith Martini

4. Tony Amonte, Chicago Blackhawks: When discussing the best all-around forwards in the game, the usual names come up: Peter Forsberg, Ron Francis, Mike Modano, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov. Well, it's about time that people start to realize that Amonte belongs in that group.

While his skating and scoring always gets the majority of the attention, Amonte is a tremendous defensive player. A tireless worker without the puck, Amonte uses his fearsome speed to pressure the play all over the ice and seldom misses an opportunity to finish a check. Once the puck does get turned over, Amonte's speed again comes into play, making him one of the most dangerous transition players in the game.

Even though he scored 31 goals last season and 41 the previous year, Amonte isn't really a natural goal-scorer. He works hard for everything he gets. If he could finish even half the chances his speed creates he'd be a perennial 50-goal man. One area where he has improved is on breakaways where he's developed a lethal forehand move over the past two years that usually leaves goaltenders wrecked. But he still probably misses more than he makes. Yet, while more goals would be appreciated, it isn't like he's playing with the '84 Oilers. Amonte, who has missed only two regular season games the past four years, is on his own most nights. The guy can only do so much.

5. Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks: The Russian Rocket finally returned to form last season after nearly three years of mediocre play and injuries. Appearing in all 82 games for the Canucks, Bure blitzed the opposition for 51 goals and 90 points. As usual, Bure's main weapon was his astounding speed. It's almost not fair how much faster he is than everybody else. No one gets more breakaways than Pavel. The only catch is that no one misses more breakaways, either. Bure would have easily claimed the goal title had he been more efficient in one-on-one situations. But it's no big thing. Breakaways are a lot like buses to Bure. Even if he misses the first, another one will be along in a few minutes. Bure's story is just speed, speed, speed, although he might be the only premier goal-scorer that relies a bit more on his slap shot than his wrister. He likes to wind up.

He may not be a Selke candidate, but Bure is pretty solid in his own zone. He also doesn't mind taking the body and can actually belt some people when he puts his mind to it. The only downside to Bure is that he doesn't exactly exude leadership. It just seems he tends to put himself ahead of the team on occasion. How else could you explain Vancouver's performance last season? Now he says he never wants to play for the Canucks again and is demanding a trade. Considering he's one of the most exciting players in the game, there won't be a shortage of potential new homes. Whichever team lands the Rocket is going to be the better for doing so... just as long as they don't expect him to wear the "C".

6. Ziggy Palffy, New York Islanders: The man named Ziggy just continues to rack up goals. Isles GM Mike Milbury got a little silly last off-season when he said Palffy would score 60 in 1997-98, but his heart was in the right place. Although, Palffy did end up with 45 red lights, and in today's NHL that's almost the equivalent of 60. At 26 years of age, Palffy has emerged as one of the sport's premiere goal-scorers. Over the past three seasons, only John LeClair (152), Peter Bondra (150), Jaromir Jagr (144), Teemu Selanne (143), and Keith Tkachuk (142) have scored more goals than Palffy's 136. He's also proven to be quite durable, missing a mere three games over that same span.

Unlike a lot of the big name right wingers, Palffy doesn't have amazing speed. No doubt he's fast, he's just not in the same league as guys like Amonte, Bondra, Bure, and Selanne. But what Palffy lacks in straight ahead velocity he makes up for in agility. He's a shifty skater that can change directions and dart into openings that others would never reach.

It's sort of a similar story in regards to Palffy's shooting. He's not really going to overpower a lot of goaltenders, but he gets rid of his shot in a hurry, always keeps it around the net, and has a knack for finding the holes.

At 5'10", 183 pounds, Palffy isn't a physical force. He's not going to mix it up along the boards or in the corners. So don't expect to see him run anybody. But that doesn't mean he's soft. You can't score 136 goals over three straight seasons and be soft. What he is, though, is sneaky. It can seem like Ziggy's not doing anything and then he pops home a pair before you realize what happened. And unless the Isles cough up some major mazuma to sign him to a new contract, Palffy might just pop out of town.

7. Theo Fleury, Calgary Flames: Playing for the lowly Flames, it's easy to overlook Fleury. The fact that he isn't tall enough to ride the bumper cars makes it even easier. But the little fella just keeps on truckin'. Even though he's been playing center a lot lately we still like to consider Theo a right winger because, well, this is our publication and we can pretty much do whatever the hell we want.

Playing in all 82 games last season, Fleury led the Flames in goals (27), assists (51), and points (78). He was also tops in penalty minutes, amassing a stunning 197 minutes in the box. Aw, that's just Theo bein' Theo. How can you not like a 5'6" guy that gets 197 penalty minutes? That's 2.98 penalty minutes per inch. Fleury is just packed solid with penalty-minute goodness.

Fleury is an exceptional all-around player. He has incredible speed and uses it to forecheck like a demon. One of the league's best penalty-killers throughout his career, Fleury has ventured into new ground on special teams recently by taking some time at the point on the power play. Along with his willingness to play out of position, this is just another example of Fleury doing whatever it takes to help the team. With the Flames several years from challenging in the West, it would be easy for Fleury, who turned 30 this summer, to demand a trade to a contender. But so far he's kept quiet. He seems committed to helping bring a winner back to Calgary, even though it means his individual numbers may suffer while the club rebuilds around him. That's admirable. Futile, but admirable.

8. Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators: Alfredsson had a brutal time of it last year. A recurring ankle injury cost him 27 games and just made it impossible for him to get in any kind of rhythm. He ended the schedule with just 17 goals and 45 points in 55 games. But to illustrate how important Alfredsson is to the Senators, seven of his 17 goals were game-winners. He's just a clutch scorer. All one has to do is look at his playoff history. Alfredsson has 12 goals in 18 career post- season games. That's some big-time production.

Alfredsson is a complete player. In fact, I'd pick him as the second most complete player in the game behind only Peter Forsberg. Alfie can do it all. He hits, plays defense, and is a one-of-a-kind talent on offense. A born sniper, Alfredsson can pick a goaltender apart with a variety of shots. He's also a gifted playmaker that can read the game's flow at a level most can't even perceive. He has the hands to exist solely as a finesse player yet thrives in traffic and along the boards. Only Jaromir Jagr can cycle the puck down low as well as Ottawa's ace.

Ranking Alfredsson eighth hurts. It's just tough to put him in the top three, where he rightfully belongs, on the strength of last season. But rest assured, if Alfredsson can stay healthy he'll find his proper home.

9. Brett Hull, Dallas Stars: Brett Hull is now a member of the Dallas Stars. Once again, Brett Hull is now a member of the Dallas Stars. Nope, still doesn't sound quite right. But it's true. The man who carried St. Louis hockey for the past 10 years will no longer wear the Blue Note on his chest.

It's hard to believe that Hull's relationship with St. Louis could deteriorate as quickly as it did near the end of last season. After contract talks fell apart and Hull mentioned that he'd consider testing the free-agent waters, fans at the Kiel Center were actually booing him whenever he touched the puck. That's disgraceful. The cold shoulder from the fans made it all the easier for the cash-strapped St. Louis brass to allow Brett to leave. At 34 years of age and coming off the lowest goal output since his rookie campaign of 1987-88, the Blues figured Hull wasn't worth the investment. Bad decision.

Sure, the Golden Brett was a bit tarnished last season, missing 16 games due to injury and only posting 27 goals, but he's still Brett Hull! If you have a chance to have Brett Hull on your team, take it. He hasn't lost much, if anything, from his shot. The release is still super quick. See, what I did there was add the word "super" to the word "quick" to give the impression that Hull's release is even faster than "quick." It's an advanced technique. Feel free to try and use it. But make sure you have a spotter. Anyway, the point is Hull can still shoot the rock better than just about everyone. And even though he wasn't putting the puck in the net as often as in the past, Hull picked up the slack with his passing, collecting 45 assists and still leading the Blues in scoring with 72 points. He's also a much better defensive player now than he was when he was racking 76 goals a year. Plus he's an outspoken leader that likes to make fun of the league. That's always welcome around the offices of LCS Hockey. Remember last year when he called the NHL boring and said it was like a rodeo on ice? Remember that? That was awesome.

10. Mark Recchi, Montreal Canadiens: The Recchin' Ball led the Canadiens in scoring last season with 32 goals and 74 points in 82 games. Playing the full slate was nothing out of the ordinary for Recchi. He hasn't missed a game since the 1990- 91 season. That's the longest Iron Man streak in the NHL at the moment. Not to brag or anything, but I've got an Iron Man streak of my own going... I haven't missed an episode of "Columbo" since 1995. And that's all year round without an off-season to mend. I do what I can.

Recchi is a unique skater. Hardly fluid, the stocky 5'10", 180- pounder uses a barrage of choppy strides to get where he's going. He won't win many races with the other top right wingers, but the small strides do enable him to get out of the gate in a hurry and catch defenders flat-footed. Though he's a good stickhandler, Recchi's not the type of player to freak people one-on-one. He prefers to use his quick bursts of speed to back defenders off and then takes advantage of the open space. Once he finds room, Recchi is a quality passer that knows how to set the table for his linemates. But the best part of Recchi's game is his wrist shot. It's an absolute laser. Once he does the little hop to his left foot it's all over for the netminder.

The one knock against Recchi is, despite all the numbers he puts up, he's just not a franchise type guy. He's a supporting cast member, not the star of the show. A Rocky, not a Bullwinkle. He just lacks that little something that all great superstars have. Call it charisma, call it flair, call it antlers, he just doesn't have it.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars: It just goes to show how deep right wing is when Jere Lehtinen can't crack the top ten. The Selke winner is a wonderfully talented player that is at home at either end of the rink. He recorded a career-high 23 goals last season but has the potential to be a consistent 30-goal threat.

Sami Kapanen by Meredith Martini

Sami Kapanen, Carolina Hurricanes: Kapanen came into his own last season playing on Carolina's top line with Keith Primeau and Gary Roberts. The diminutive Finn (5'10", 170), appearing in just his third NHL season, notched career highs in goals (26), assists (37), and points (63), posting identical numbers with Primeau to tie for the team lead in all three categories. His 16 penalty minutes are a little misleading. Combined with his size, some might get the impression that Kapanen must be a fragile European floater that avoids contact. That's not the case at all. Sami plays a clean, physical game. He'll take the body and work the boards without fear for his own safety. He's a gritty, hard-working kid that likes to compete. He should play a huge role in Carolina's rise to the top this coming season.

Billy Guerin, Edmonton Oilers: After holding out most of the season in a contract dispute with the Devils, Guerin found his new home in Edmonton much to his liking. He only finished with 18 goals and 39 points in 59 games, but Guerin really started to find his stride towards the end of the season and into the playoffs. He has great speed, a bullet wrist shot, loves to hit, and will bust heads when needed. Consistency has always been his problem. If he plays a full season with Dougie Weight, assuming Weight stays with the Oil, Guerin will be presented with numerous scoring chances night after night and will have no choice but to score on a regular basis. He could be a 35-goal guy for the Bubbling Crude.

MOVIN' ON UP

Glen Murray, Los Angeles Kings: After spending several rather uneventful years in Boston and Pittsburgh, Murray seems to have found a home in Los Angeles. The 25-year-old winger has good size (6'2", 215), a powerful stride, and a heavy wrist shot that can maul goaltenders. His main worry in the past was that he missed the net with his best chances. That's just a lack of confidence. The problem was fixed when he was turned loose on L.A.'s top line. He responded by posting career-highs in goals (29), assists (31), and points (60). It was a good start, but there should be more success in his future... provided he keeps the faith in himself.

Alexei Morozov by Meredith Martini

Alexei Morozov, Pittsburgh Penguins: He may have only scored 13 goals and 26 points in his rookie season for the Penguins, but Morozov is going to be one of them there superstars. He can skate like the wind, has a cannon shot, sees the ice like a veteran playmaker, and can do things with the puck that would pack a circus sideshow tent. I'd say that he'd be a fixture on this list for years to come but with his natural playmaking instincts he'll likely see stardom as a center.

DOWNSVILLE

Claude Lemieux, Colorado Avalanche: Pepe had a decent year with 26 goals and 53 points, but who couldn't have a respectable year playing with Peter Forsberg? Claude is still cool and all, but it was pretty hard to ignore how slow and uninterested he looked last season.

CONFUSION

Owen Nolan, San Jose Sharks: LCS Hockey loves itself some Owen Nolan. When he wants to he can be one of the most dominating power forwards in hockey. Take San Jose's series with Dallas as exhibit A. Now if he'd only show up on a nightly basis. The 14 goals and 41 points he posted last season were a complete joke. Even with the lack of a top flight center, anything less than 30 goals is an embarrassment for Nolan.

Adam Deadmarsh, Colorado Avalanche: While Nolan needs a center, Deadmarsh needs to center. Last year was supposed to be Deadmarsh's first as a star. It didn't happen. His 22 goals and 43 points were a big disappointment in Colorado. Even though he plays the majority of time with Joe Sakic, Deadmarsh just seems out of place on the wing. He played the best hockey of his young career when he filled in at center in 1996-97 when both Sakic and Forsberg were out with injuries. A return to the middle might be just the spark this scrappy kid needs to find his true niche.

Alexander Mogilny, Vancouver Canucks: It was only a few years ago that Mogilny was our number two right winger. Now, after two straight subpar seasons and a lengthy contract holdout, Alex can't even take root in the top ten. What gives? He had 18 goals and 45 points in 51 games with Vancouver last season. Those are respectable numbers for an average player, but are far bellow Mogilny's norm. And the fact that he couldn't make a bigger impact on Vancouver's win-loss record once he joined the team after his holdout condemned him to a spot with the confused. Will Mogilny return to his superstar ways or continue to flounder in obscurity? Hopefully this minor slap in the face on our part will serve as a wake-up call.

Alexei Kovalev, New York Rangers: Kovalev gets listed in this section every year. He did nothing in 1997-98 to change his residence, sucking for most of the season before turning it on late to salvage a 23-goal, 53-point effort. It's the same as it ever was with Kovalev. He has enough raw ability to dominate any game he plays, but only seems to compete when he has nothing better to do. His act is going to eventually wear thin. The only thing keeping him around this long is that he has so much talent and upside potential that the Rangers don't want to cut him loose and watch him become a superstar somewhere else. But how many more years do we have to wait before we can say he's a stiff? Aw, what the hell? Let's just call him a stiff now and get it out of the way.

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