Below are the top 200 skaters and goalies ranked in descending order based on their value in "banger leagues." A typical banger league consists of the following categories:

The key difference between a banger league and a standard league is the addition of hits and blocked shots. Though it may seem like a minor difference, the inclusion of those categories can greatly affect the value of players.

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God bless America ... for these hockey players.

Happy birthday, United States. Below is an ode to your influence on the great game of hockey: a list of the greatest NHL players by state. First, a few notes.

Due to a dearth of homegrown talent, the following 15 states did not make the cut: Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

For consistency's sake, players are sorted by birthplace according to the league's official website. Therefore, the odd player will seem out of place. For instance, Brett Hull (Belleville, Ont.) is excluded altogether from this exercise, and Arizona's Auston Matthews (San Ramon, Calif.) is elsewhere.

As for honorable mentions, we instituted a two-player limit. Exceptions were made for a handful of hockey-mad states, like Michigan and Minnesota, who received up to five mentions (Statistical info courtesy: QuantHockey.com and Hockey-Reference.com).

Alabama - Nic Dowd, F

Slim pickings in the deep south. Dowd, while an excellent college player in his day, has struggled to make a major impact in the NHL. A 2009 seventh-round pick out of St. Cloud State University, the Huntsville native has filled a depth forward spot for the Kings, previously, and Canucks, presently.

Honorable Mention: N/A

Alaska - Scott Gomez, F

Gomez, a playmaking center who topped out at 84 points, picked up plenty of hardware over a six-team playing career. The pride of Anchorage won a Calder Trophy (1999-00) and two Stanley Cups (2000, 2003). At his peak, Gomez was a star, tying for the league lead in assists in 2003-04 with 56 helpers.

Honorable Mention: D Matt Carle, F Brandon Dubinsky

Arizona - Sean Couturier, F

The desert has never been mistaken for a hockey hotbed, yet Couturier (raised in Quebec), Matthew Tkachuk (raised in St. Louis) and Matthews (born in California, raised in Arizona) represent legitimate NHLers with Arizona ties. Couturier, only 25 and the runner-up in Selke Trophy voting this spring, is a fringe star.

Honorable Mention: F Matthew Tkachuk

California - Auston Matthews, F

It's two years into his NHL career and already Matthews is the top Cali-born player. The five-tool center is dynamic and strong, he drives play and takes very few penalties, and has amassed 74 goals in fewer than 150 games. Matthews, 20, is among a few in contention for the Maple Leafs' captaincy.

Honorable Mention: D Lee Norwood, D Brooks Orpik, F Jason Zucker

Colorado - Ben Bishop, G

Slavin may finish with a better career, but right now Bishop is the home run pick. The netminder has been a model of consistency since settling into the NHL, stopping between 91 percent and 92.4 percent of shots in all six seasons he has appeared in at least 20 games. Amazingly, Bishop has dressed for five teams.

Honorable Mention: F Mike Eaves, D Jaccob Slavin

Connecticut - Jonathan Quick, G

For a place with a population below 4 million, the southern New England state has produced some quality talent. Quick takes the cake here, in large part because he's a winner. Two Stanley Cups and one Conn Smythe vaults him ahead of Drury and Janney, forwards with impressive resumes.

Honorable Mention: F Chris Drury, F Craig Janney, F Max Pacioretty, D Kevin Shattenkirk

District of Columbia - Jeff Halpern, F

Halpern and Kevyn Adams are the only notable NHLers born from the nation's capital. The former strung together a lengthier and more productive career. With stops in Washington, Dallas, Tampa, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, and Phoenix, Halpern made the rounds. He was a faceoff-winning bottom-six forward.

Honorable Mention: F Kevyn Adams

Florida - Shayne Gostisbehere, D

The man they call "the Ghost" is a byproduct of his surroundings, namely the nearby Panthers. Gostisbehere, 25, hails from Pembroke Pines, just down the highway from Sunrise. In 2017-18, he racked up 65 points for the Flyers to finish fourth in defenseman scoring. The sky is the limit for the power-play QB.

Honorable Mention: D Jakob Chychrun, F Dan Hinote

Georgia - Mark Mowers, F

Mowers, now a pro scout for the Sabres, enjoyed seven NHL seasons despite going undrafted out of the University of New Hampshire. The center was born in Decatur but grew up in New York. In the mid-2010s, as Mowers fell out of favor with NHL teams, he jumped to the top Swiss league.

Honorable Mention: N/A

Illinois - Chris Chelios, D

Underrated historically, Chelios is not only Illinois' claim to hockey fame but also one of the game's all-time defensemen. The ageless wonder finally retired at 48, riding off into the sunset with three Norris Trophies and three Stanley Cups. Chelios, an 11-time All-Star, offered a unique mix of grit and skill.

Honorable Mention: G Craig Anderson, F Ed Olczyk

Indiana - Jack Johnson, D

Johnson, of Indianapolis, is past his prime but has enjoyed a productive career as a minute-munching defenseman. He spent nearly five full seasons on the Kings, before being dealt to the Blue Jackets in 2012. Now locked up by the Penguins, Johnson can reset and, at 31, potentially get back on track.

Honorable Mention: F Donald Brashear, D John-Michael Liles

Iowa - Scott Clemmensen, G

Perhaps best known for being one of Martin Brodeur's backups, the Des Moines native was no All-Star. However, considering he was picked in the eighth round of the 1997 NHL Draft, Clemmensen sure made something out of nothing. In retirement, he develops goaltenders for the Devils.

Honorable Mention: N/A

Maine - Brian Dumoulin, D

The Pine Tree State is a toss-up. On one hand, blue-liner Dumoulin is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, yet a veteran of just 243 NHL games. On the other, Rick DiPietro, now an analyst, was a highly touted prospect and decent NHL goalie whose body of work is forever incomplete due to career-ending injuries.

Honorable Mention: G Rick DiPietro

Maryland - Jeff Brubaker, F

There isn't much meat on the bone in Maryland, with Jeff Halpern's birthplace listed as Washington, D.C. So, by default, Brubaker is the state's golden boy. The Frederick native had trouble finding steady NHL work, topping out at eight goals and four assists in 68 games for the Maple Leafs in 1984-85.

Honorable Mention: N/A

Massachusetts - Jeremy Roenick, F

Roenick is hands-down a top-10 American-born player. He edges out a great collection of players hailing from Massachusetts, thanks to a resume straddling the Hall of Fame line. J.R. produced three 100-point seasons and two 50-goal campaigns, and he never shied away from flaunting that magnetic personality.

Honorable Mention: F Tony Amonte, G Tom Barrasso, F Bobby Carpenter, F Bill Guerin, F Keith Tkachuk

Michigan - Mike Modano, F

Modano is arguably the greatest U.S.-born player to skate in the NHL. One of his closest competitors, Brett Hull, was born in Canada, while Brian Leetch and Chris Chelios don't seem to carry the same clout. Modano holds the nation's record for goals and points, and he has a Stanley Cup ring.

Honorable Mention: D Mark Howe, F Ryan Kesler, G Ryan Miller, G Tim Thomas, F Doug Weight

Minnesota - Phil Housley, D

Fourth all-time in points by a defenseman, Housley was a treat to watch for 20 years. His effortless skating, crafty passing, and ability to run a power play was a deadly combination. In 1992-93, the State of Hockey's best nearly hit triple digits - a rare feat for a blue-liner - but settled for 97 points in 80 games.

Honorable Mention: G Frank Brimsek, F Neal Broten, F Dave Christian, F Jamie Langenbrunner

Missouri - Pat LaFontaine, F

Call him Mr. Missouri. Among those born in the Midwest state, LaFontaine is in another realm. The Hall of Fame center racked up a ridiculous 148 points in 1992-93, his second of two triple-digit seasons. He made five All-Star teams and holds the 15th-highest points per game in NHL history.

Honorable Mention: F Patrick Maroon, F Paul Ranheim

Nebraska - Jed Ortmeyer, F

A member of the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame, Ortmeyer is as good as it gets in Nebraska. He averaged 11 minutes per night over eight seasons. The right-handed forward dressed for the Rangers, Predators, Sharks, and Wild. Nowadays, he is employed by the Rangers in a player development capacity.

Honorable Mention: N/A

New Hampshire - Deron Quint, D

Drafted by the original Jets, Quint never made a major impact on the NHL. The left-handed blue-liner from Durham was by no means a point producer, with seasonal career highs of seven goals and 18 assists. Quint, now 42, was traded twice in 2000 and played for five clubs.

Honorable Mention: D Mark Fayne, D Ben Lovejoy

New Jersey - Johnny Gaudreau, F

Gaudreau, the 5-foot-9, 157-pound perennial scoring threat, is just revving up, whereas Bobby Ryan and James van Riemsdyk have probably hit their respective ceilings. Johnny Hockey, who bagged 24 goals and 60 assists this past season, should be contending for Art Ross and Lady Byng honors over the next decade.

Honorable Mention: F Bobby Ryan, F James van Riemsdyk

New York - Joe Mullen, F

Hall of Famer Mullen is a slam dunk here, even though Kane is arguably the best active American. A point-per-game player for his career, Mullen won three Stanley Cups in four years (1989 with the Flames; 1991, 1992 with the Penguins). He picked up two Lady Byngs and recorded 110 points in 1988-89.

Honorable Mention: F Dustin Brown, F Brian Gionta, F Patrick Kane, D Mathieu Schneider

North Carolina - Jared Boll, F

Boll, who hails from Charlotte, went 101st overall in the 2005 NHL Draft. Since, he has carved out a decent career as a big-bodied, throwback right winger. He's hanging on as the league drifts toward speed and skill. As of this writing, Boll is an unrestricted free agent following two years with the Ducks.

Honorable Mention: F Ben Smith

North Dakota - Paul Gaustad, F

Size and faceoffs - that was Gaustad in three words. With a 6-foot-5, 227-pound frame and a knack for winning more draws than basically the whole league, he was a valuable role player. Now retired, Gaustad's body of work can be fairly compared to Tim Jackman's career. And it's Gaustad by a mile.

Honorable Mention: F Tim Jackman

Ohio - Bryan Smolinski, F

A handy player for 14-plus seasons, Smolinski's career can be summed up in a word: solid. The Toledo native scored the odd timely goal, pitched in on the power play, and was a mainstay on penalty-killing units across the NHL. All told, the 6-foot-1, 203-pounder dressed for eight teams.

Honorable Mention: D Dave Ellett, F Curt Fraser, D Moe Mantha

Oklahoma - Tyler Arnason, F

This is basically a tie, with the advantage going to Arnason for (as of now) boasting a fuller resume than John Merrill. The left-handed center had a career year with the Blackhawks in 2002-03, contributing 22 goals and 33 assists in 82 games. Merrill, picked by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft, is just 26.

Honorable Mention: D Jon Merrill

Oregon - Jere Gillis, F

It has been a long time since Oregon produced an NHLer. In fact, Gillis, who played from 1977 to 1986, is the only local to even flirt with the 200-game mark. The Bend native suited up for the Canucks, Rangers, Nordiques, Sabres, Canucks, and, for one game, the Flyers.

Honorable Mention: F Scott Levins

Pennsylvania - Mike Richter, G

Richter is America's most famous goaltender. Helping his case for Pennsylvania's best is a Stanley Cup, three All-Star selections and a career spent under the spotlight. Richter, who had his down years with the Rangers, ranks 33rd on the all-time wins list. John Gibson might eventually snatch his crown.

Honorable Mention: G John Gibson, F Ryan Malone, F Vincent Trocheck, F R.J. Umberger

Rhode Island - Bryan Berard, D

Hailing from a place called Woonsocket, Berard burst onto the scene as the first overall pick and 1996-97 Calder Trophy winner. Unfortunately, his career was derailed by a gruesome eye injury. He missed the entire 2000-01 season and, though he didn't retire until years later, was never the same player.

Honorable Mention: G Brian Boucher, D Keith Carney

South Carolina - Ryan Hartman, F

Hartman, born on Hilton Head Island, is a work in progress. The 23-year-old's underlying numbers are nice but the counting stats haven't caught up. After going 30th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, Hartman has split two-and-a-half seasons between the Blackhawks (past) and Predators (current).

Honorable Mention: N/A

Texas - Brian Leetch, D

Texas: Land of defensemen - apparently. All three of the state's NHLers are quality blue-liners. Unequivocally, it's Leetch who holds serve. He won four individual awards (Calder, Norris, Conn Smythe, Norris) despite competing against Nicklas Lidstrom. Plus: 11 All-Star nods and a Stanley Cup.

Honorable Mention: D Seth Jones, D Tyler Myers

Utah - Steve Konowalchuk, F

Not the sexiest name in NHL history, but the Salt Lake City native built a decent career. Konowalchuk, recently fired by the Ducks as a coach, collected 40 or more points five times during his playing career. The left winger had his moments, registering a pair of hat tricks with the Capitals in 1995-96.

Honorable Mention: F Trevor Lewis

Vermont - John LeClair, F

Standing alone atop the Vermont hockey mountain is one of the most dominant power forwards of his generation. LeClair, at 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, was a beast in his prime, bagging 50 goals in back-to-back-to-back seasons. And he followed up those three golden years with campaigns of 43 and 40 goals.

Honorable Mention: N/A

Virginia - Eric Weinrich, D

Talk about longevity. Weinrich survived six NHL trades, stretching out his stay on the blue line to nearly 1,200 games. He provided teams with stability and durability. Scott Darling (longtime minor leaguer) and Scott Lachance (Olympian) are nice stories, but not quite at Weinrich's impact level.

Honorable Mention: G Scott Darling, D Scott Lachance

Washington - T.J. Oshie, F

It's safe to say Oshie is a 50-point guy. The pride of Everett has been within striking distance of, hit, or surpassed 50 in the seven campaigns he has dressed for at least 60 games. Tyler Johnson (two 50-point seasons and a 70-pointer) is right there with him. Tie goes to Stanley Cup champion Oshie.

Honorable Mention: F Patrick Dwyer, F Tyler Johnson

Wisconsin - Gary Suter, D

Gary Suter leads an excellent group of Wisconsinites. A quick career synopsis: Ryan's uncle went in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL Draft, picked up the Calder Trophy in 1985-86, recorded 91 points in his third season, helped lead the Flames to a Stanley Cup in his fourth, and then played 13 more.

Honorable Mention: F Phil Kessel, F Joe Pavelski, F Drew Stafford, D Ryan Suter

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill has, over recent years, made a habit of making a major offseason splash in an attempt to get his club back to a Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2000.

Nill was beaten to the punch this summer by new Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas' signing of John Tavares. But according to a report Tuesday, Nill doesn't seem to be standing idly by. In fact, if rumors are to be believed, the Stars have emerged as front-runners to land highly-prized blue-liner Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators.

Senators GM Pierre Dorion's future with the Sens hangs in the balance as Ottawa fans wait with bated breath to see if the much-maligned front-office executive can right the ship and resurrect the franchise from what has been a dismal 10-month period.

Karlsson is the face of the Senators, so Dorion needs to get the deal right - to save both himself and the franchise. But where would he even start?

What pieces would be involved?

First off, moving Karlsson means Ottawa will need to fill a massive hole on its blue line, so a promising defensive prospect being involved is crucial.

Quite obviously, no players coming back to the Senators would remotely make up for the loss of Karlsson. But this move is being made to solidify Ottawa's future, not to win a mediocre amount of games in 2018-19 and become a bubble team.

There's no denying that Karlsson was a different player after returning from serious offseason ankle surgery last year, but he remains one of the best puck-moving offensive defensemen in the league. So the package going Ottawa's way will have to be substantial, regardless of the franchise needing to cut payroll.

Reports have indicated the Sens are focusing on making 2017 third overall draft pick and stud defensive prospect Miro Heiskanen part of the deal, which would make a ton of sense from Dorion's perspective. Only problem, is Nill prepared to move one of the more promising players from last year's draft? If he's not, this is another potential deal that could work for both sides:

Realistically, there are myriad packages for what the Senators could get in return for their two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, as the club is in dire need of help at basically every position. But a trade like the one right above fills a lot of holes for Dorion right away.

However, Ottawa is devoid of a 2019 first-rounder from the Matt Duchene deal, so you can expect that Dorion will be holding firm on having a first-round pick being included in any potential Karlsson trade.

How would the trade impact the Stars?

Dallas is going to have to give up at least one or two active roster pieces to land a player of Karlsson's caliber. And there's no denying the bright futures of guys like Heiskanen, Honka, and Janmark. But that would be a small price to pay to add a perennial All-Star to its blue line.

Not to mention, imagine what the Stars' power play would like with Jon Klingberg playing opposite to his Swedish countryman? See you later. Both D-men average an insane amount of ice time per game (23:03 career average for Klingberg, 25:58 career average for Karlsson) and are both capable of hitting the 50- to 60-point mark on a yearly basis.

The price might be steep, and his future cap situation would need some tinkering, but if Nill has the opportunity to add a franchise player like Karlsson, he should be seriously considering coughing up the proper return to bring in that game-changing piece. If Nill can get Karlsson in Big D, the Stars quickly transform into a serious playoff threat.

How would the trade impact the Senators?

While Sens fans continue to groan and eye-roll in disapproval at seemingly every piece of news that comes out of the nation's capital this summer, Dorion has the chance to put the past season of mayhem behind him and turn the page on a new chapter of Ottawa hockey.

It was previously believed that any deal involving Karlsson would have to include winger Bobby Ryan and his hefty cap hit of $7.25 million over the next four years. But that rumor appears to be just that, as the Senators have reportedly agreed to not include Ryan in any Karlsson negotiations.

A trade with the Stars involving Karlsson wouldn't bring Ottawa back to life overnight, but it would go a long way in setting the club up for a successful future.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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The Carolina Hurricanes signed free-agent defenseman Calvin de Haan to a four-year, $18.2-million contract on Tuesday, the team announced.

"Calvin is a solid, puck-moving defenseman who will bring a veteran presence to the blue line," general manager Don Waddell said in a release. "He is a strong two-way player who is capable of shutting down opponents' top lines, and he will help solidify the left side and upgrade our defense."

The 27-year-old had been among the most coveted free-agent defensemen on the market.

De Haan gets himself a deal with an annual average of $4.55 million despite being limited to just 33 games this past season after undergoing shoulder surgery in late December.

In his limited action, de Haan managed 12 points while averaging 18:45 of ice time per night, fourth among all Islanders defenders.

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The Dallas Stars have emerged as the front-runners to land highly sought-after defenseman Erik Karlsson, sources told Chris Stevenson of The Athletic.

Related - Report: Senators give teams permission to negotiate with Karlsson

News regarding Dallas' keen interest in the two-time Norris Trophy winner comes only one day after the Senators reportedly gave teams permission to negotiate a new contract with Karlsson.

Despite it being heavily rumored that any deal involving Karlsson would have to also include Bobby Ryan and his beastly $7.25-million cap hit over the next four seasons, the deal with Dallas would not include the much-maligned winger, per Stevenson.

Ottawa offered its prized rearguard a contract extension on July 1 worth a reported $10 million per season, but given the relative mess the franchise currently finds itself in, it's widely expected Karlsson has played his final game in the nation's capital.

Karlsson is coming off a season in which he registered nine goals and 53 assists in 71 games.

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The St. Louis Blues re-signed forward Robby Fabbri to a one-year contract on Tuesday, the team announced.

Fabbri, who was a restricted free agent, missed the entire 2017-18 season following ACL surgery in October. It was the second time he underwent an ACL procedure, but Luckily for the 22-year-old, on Tuesday he was also medically cleared to return to hockey-related activities.

In his first two NHL seasons, Fabbri recorded 29 goals and 66 points in 123 games. He was drafted 21st overall in 2014.

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The New York Islanders agreed to terms with goaltender Robin Lehner on a one-year contract Tuesday, the team announced. The deal is worth $1.5 million, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

Lehner moves to an Islanders squad that finished with the most goals allowed last season with a staggering 293 tallies. He also joins a goalie depth chart that includes only career backup Thomas Greiss and unproven AHL netminder Christopher Gibson.

A veteran of eight NHL seasons split between the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres, Lehner has a career regular-season record of 72-97-35 to go along with a career 2.82 GAA and .915 save percentage.

Lehner struggled last season for the Sabres, both with injury and with his consistency, while registering a 14-26-9 record with three shutouts. He was drafted by the Senators in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs spent the last few days focusing on one of the best free-agent forwards in recent memory. On Tuesday, their attention turned to the back end with the signing of defenseman Justin Holl to a two-year contract, the team announced. The deal carries an annual average value of $675,000.

Holl made his NHL debut last season, playing two games for the Leafs and scoring a goal in each appearance.

The majority of Holl's 2017-18 campaign was spent with the Marlies, Toronto's AHL affiliate. He registered seven goals and 21 assists in 60 regular-season games. Holl also chipped in with three goals and two assists in 20 playoff games during the Marlies' championship run.

Holl played collegiately for the University of Minnesota Gophers, and he was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft. His deal with the Leafs is of the one-way variety, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

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