Did Eberle Score the Best First Goal Ever? Counting Down My Top 5 NHL Lead-off Snipes.
In honour of the 2010 #1 Overall NHL draft pick, the Edmonton Oilers’ Taylor Hall FINALLY scoring his first goal, I decided to look into some of the best all-time first NHL goals ever scored. Unfortunately for Taylor, he didn’t make the list. His teammate, Jordan Eberle did though [hint: he’s at the top of the list, and my pick for the Calder Trophy this year/lead all rookies in scoring]. Keep in mind that these are not ranked as the best goals these players have scored, they are only the best first NHL goals scored by players. Also, there are only 5, and the only ones I could post video evidence of. I have a feeling I’ve missed some good ones ( I can’t find Gretzky’s, and a whole bunch of others that I assume scored beauts), so feel free to chime in with some suggestions/corrections, but be advised, you have to defend your pick with video evidence 🙂 Please take the poll after you peruse the evidence and vote for your favorite, or specifiy an alternative!
So without further adieu, here’s how I’ve ranked the NHL’s best firsts, starting at the top:
1) Jordan Eberle toe-drag (ala announcer…”FROM FOREHAND TO BACKHAND!”):
2) Anze Kopitar OMG:
3) Mario Lemieux breakaway bury on the first shot of his first shift:
4) Jonathan Toews snipe:
5) Tyler Bozak dangle:
*honorable mention for situational awesomeness* Danny Syvret scoring in the Winter Classic:
I considered that one, but in the end, the finish seemed a little sloppy, and I didn’t think it was better than the other 5/6. Nice goal though.
also good, but not better, in my opinion.
Love the list. Gotta go, though, with Bob Brooke on Grant Fuhr.
Nice list. Eberle’s was sick
Eberle’s was definitely the best in your list. I seen Gretzky’s first goal once and it was actually a pretty scrappy goal.