Ranking star duos in the Pacific Division | Silky N’ Filthy podcast

What’s tickling your fancy in terms of hockey content right now?

Of course, that first answer should be anything on NucksMisconduct.com. However, if you’re looking to get lost in a rabbit hole of YouTube clips, Kyle and I share what we’ve been binging during the break.

On the latest episode of Silky N’ Filthy, we also dig into three hypotheticals. Which cities in each division are best primed to host NHL action if the NHL resumes centralized play in the summer? Was Drew Doughty right when he said a Stanley Cup win would be tainted? And where do Kyle and I fall on the Troy Stecher vs. Chris Tanev debate?

Finally, we also rank the best star duos in the Pacific Division. Here’s a rundown of our episode, followed by our ranking below.

• From the Miracle On Ice to the Good Friday Massacre: what we’re watching (2:45)
• Which cities are in the best position to host centralized NHL games? (21:00)
• Was Drew Doughty right? (25:00)
• What should the Canucks do with Stecher and Tanev? (29:30)
• Ranking star duos in the Pacific Divison (37:00)

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8. Ryan Getzlaf & John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks.

It wasn’t a banner year for either of these “stars” on the Ducks. Getzlaf had the least productive season of his career, and Gibson was outplayed by back-up Ryan Miller. Getzlaf is 34 and fading, but Gibson should be better. Just a terrible year all-around for Anaheim, and this duo easily ranks last in the division.

Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images

7. Taylor Hall & Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes

Hall slots in as the Coyotes “mirage star,” with a good chance that the 2018 Hart Trophy winner finds work elsewhere for the 2020-21 season. Clayton Keller has also underwhelmed after being drafted seventh overall in 2017. Perhaps this duo should rank higher in a weak class of stars in the Pacific, but their middling performances relative to expectations has them slotted seventh on this list.

Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images

6. Anze Kopitar & Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are clearly a bad team as they plow through a rebuild, but imagine how bed they would be without Kopitar and Doughty. With an abundance of middling players surrounding them, Kopitar and Doughty are still dangerous players despite both being on the wrong side of 30.

Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images

5. Erik Karlsson & Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

Before the Sharks plummeted down the standings, this duo should have ranked in the top three. Alas, after a disappointing performance from the Sharks, including their two star defencemen, the dynamic defensive duo slips into the bottom half of this list. Is this the beginning of a downturn for both players?

Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images

4. Johnny Gaudreau & Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames

Also two stars who disappointed relative to expectations, although perhaps not as much as the Sharks defencemen. Gaudreau was on pace for 67 points this year after posting 99 a year ago. Monahan was also on pace for his lowest point totals since he was a rookie back in 2013-14. Still, they’re important players for the Flames, even as rumours swirl about Gaudreau’s future.

Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

3. Mark Stone & Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights

Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list, Stone and Pacioretty have spearheaded the offensive charge on a talented Golden Knights team. Pacioretty was having a bounce-back year, surpassing 30 goals and 60 points for the first time since 2016-17. Stone, once again, was a force at both ends of the ice. Both players were leaders in playoff scoring last season before the Knights were shockingly bounced in the first round.

Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

2. Elias Pettersson & Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

These two young stars have changed the trajectory of the down-trodden Canucks. Pettersson and Hughes have dazzled with highlight-reel plays ever since the first donned a Canucks jersey. They’re two of the best young players in the NHL among their age groups, and should lead the Canucks on some playoff runs in the years to come.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

1. Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

No surprises here. Draisaitl and McDavid had nearly propelled the Oilers to the playoffs before the stoppage. After dominating during the regular season for years now, the next step is for the Oilers superstars to prove their worth in the playoffs.