Here's a list of the elite players in the NHL. Start with Sidney Crosby.

No wonder he gets nominated as the toughest player to go against. He's picked as the smartest in the game and comes number two for the best skater. Put those together and it is one heck of a package.

Pavel Datsyuk is a close second to Crosby. Watch him play and you know why. And then there is Niklas Lidstrom as number three. Imagine a team with those three playing together.

Questions for the poll were written by Hockey Night in Canada and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). The questions were circulated to players by the NHLPA. The responses were compiled by staff members of the NHLPA and forwarded to Hockey Night in Canada. 318 players responded to the questionnaire.