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NHLPA releases 2019-20 player poll

Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty

The NHLPA released its annual player poll on Tuesday, giving players a chance to provide their input on who among their peers is tops in several categories. The poll also includes what players think about different arenas, mascots, and jerseys.

Broken into three categories - on ice, off ice, and arenas/teams - we've compiled the results for the majority of the questions.

On Ice

Best forward: Connor McDavid

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Player - Team % of vote
Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers 68.35%
Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins 14.93%
Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche 6.65%
Nikita Kucherov - Tampa Bay Lightning 2.88%

For the second consecutive year, McDavid earns the honor, running away with the vote. The 23-year-old has racked up an incredible 34 goals and 97 points in 64 games this season.

Best defenseman: Victor Hedman

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Player - Team % of vote
Victor Hedman - Tampa Bay Lightning 37.88%
John Carlson - Washington Capitals 21.35%
Roman Josi - Nashville Predators 9.04%
Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings 6.54%
Brent Burns - San Jose Sharks 6.54%

The 2017-18 Norris Trophy winner has been voted the top rearguard in back-to-back years. Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson makes his first appearance on the list amid a career-best campaign.

Best goalie: Carey Price

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Player - Team % of vote
Carey Price - Montreal Canadiens 41.55%
Andrei Vasilevskiy - Tampa Bay Lightning 17.09%
Marc-Andre Fleury - Vegas Golden Knights 8.93%
Sergei Bobrovsky - Florida Panthers 5.63%

It's hard to believe Price has been stifling his opponents for over a decade. The 32-year-old puck-stopper continues to be among the game's elite at his position entering the back end of his career.

Choose one player to win one game: Sidney Crosby

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Player - Team % of vote
Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins 44.03%
Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers 30.53%
Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche 4.11%
Patrice Bergeron - Boston Bruins 3.33%

With three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe trophies, and two Olympic gold medals, is there a better answer here than No. 87?

Most complete player: Sidney Crosby

Player - Team % of vote
Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins 45.56%
Patrice Bergeron - Boston Bruins 25.44%
Aleksander Barkov - Florida Panthers 7.50%
Ryan O'Reilly - St. Louis Blues 5.33%

Again, after winning nearly every individual award the NHL offers, it's hard to argue anyone other than Crosby is the game's top all-around talent.

Best trash-talker: Brad Marchand

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Player - Team % of vote
Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins 25.87%
Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings 13.37%
Ryan Reaves - Vegas Golden Knights 11.05%
Patrick Maroon - Tampa Bay Lightning 3.78%

The game's most infamous talent has done it again. Marchand earned top honors in this department last season, and he's clearly continued to run his mouth while dominating opponents on the scoresheet.

Worst trash-talker: Brad Marchand

Player - Team % of vote
Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins 10.59%
Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings 6.85%
P.K. Subban - New Jersey Devils 6.85%
Nick Cousins - Vegas Golden Knights 5.61%

You've got to be pressing the right buttons to be voted both best and worst trash-talker. Kudos to Marchand and Doughty for this hilarious achievement.

Best female player: Marie-Philip Poulin

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Player - Nation % of vote
Marie-Philip Poulin - Team Canada 39.92%
Hilary Knight - Team USA 36.29%
Kendall Coyne Schofield - Team USA 15.52%
Emily Matheson - Team USA 1.41%

Known for her ability to perform in the clutch, Poulin has helped Canada capture a pair of Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014), and she served as team captain at the 2018 Games.

Off ice

Funniest player: Keith Yandle

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Player - Team % of vote
Keith Yandle - Florida Panthers 17.98%
Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings 6.94%
Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins 5.68%
Phil Kessel - Arizona Coyotes 4.73%

Yandle has been voted the class clown for the second consecutive year. Please treat yourself to the 33-year-old's comedic chops:

Best bromance in the league: David Perron, Ryan O'Reilly

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Players - Team % of vote
David Perron & Ryan O'Reilly - St. Louis Blues 6.42%
Joe Thornton & Brent Burns - San Jose Sharks 5.05%
Auston Matthews & Mitch Marner - Toronto Maple Leafs 4.59%
Matthew Tkachuk & Drew Doughty - L.A. Kings & Calgary Flames 3.67%
Jamie Benn & Tyler Seguin - Dallas Stars 3.67%
Brad Marchand & Patrice Bergeron - Boston Bruins 3.67%

We can only imagine how much winning a Stanley Cup would strengthen the league's top bromance. Perron and O'Reilly take the cake, but it's clear players enjoyed themselves here, throwing a couple of rivals into the running.

Best social media follow: P.K. Subban

Andy Marlin / National Hockey League / Getty
Players - Team % of votes
P.K. Subban - New Jersey Devils 13.59%
Alex Ovechkin - Washington Capitals 6.31%
Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins 4.37%
Max Domi - Montreal Canadiens 4.37%

Subban has always been one of the best in the league at connecting with the fans. With 1.1 million followers on Twitter and 981,000 on Instagram, Subban is one of the most active players on social media.

Best nickname: Tomas "Tuna" Tatar

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Player - Team % of vote
Tomas "Tuna" Tatar - Montreal Canadiens 8.08%
David "Pasta" Pastrnak - Boston Bruins 7.31%
Artemi "Breadman" Panarin - New York Rangers 5.77%
Christian "Stinky" Fischer - Arizona Coyotes 2.69%

There's nothing fishy about the production from "Tuna" this season. Tatar is enjoying a career year in Montreal, leading the club with 61 points in 69 games.

Best golfer: Joe Pavelski

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Player - Team % of vote
Joe Pavelski - Dallas Stars 15.84%
Tyler Bozak - St. Louis Blues 5.57%
Justin Schultz - Pittsburgh Penguins 4.11%
Mark Stone - Vegas Golden Knights 3.81%
Cal Clutterbuck - New York Islanders 3.81%
Greg McKegg - New York Rangers 3.81% 

There's never a bad time to hit the links in San Jose, and Pavelski has lived there for over a decade. Known as one of the top multi-sport athletes in the NHL, Pavelski showed off his golf game at the American Century Championship a few summers back.

Arenas/Teams

Best visitor's dressing room: Rogers Place, Edmonton Oilers

Arena - Team % of votes
Rogers Place - Edmonton Oilers 38.01%
T-Mobile Arena - Vegas Golden Knights 26.47%
Little Ceasars Arena - Detroit Red Wings 23.30%
PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh Penguins 6.79%

Best ice: Bell Centre, Montreal Canadiens

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Arena - Team % of votes
Bell Centre - Montreal Canadiens 31.75%
Rogers Place - Edmonton Oilers 16.75%
Bell MTS Place - Winnipeg Jets 11.00%
T-Mobile Arena - Vegas Golden Knights 8.75%

It makes sense that three of the league's coldest cities would be able to preserve the best ice, but Vegas? The Golden Knights have done just about everything right since debuting during the 2017-18 season, which is further proven in the next category.

Best jersey: Chicago Blackhawks

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Team - % of votes
Chicago Blackhawks 28.25%
Vegas Golden Knights 6.83%
Toronto Maple Leafs 6.83%
New York Rangers 6.38%

Three original six teams with the league's newest club in the mix? It's safe to say the Vegas Golden Knights' branding department is doing a spectacular job.

Best team mascot: Gritty

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Was there ever any doubt? The Flyers' mascot took an overwhelming 69.72% of the vote.

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