10. Jay Cutler: The list begins with the quarterback for the Monsters of the Midway: Jay Cutler. Since 2009, Cutler has been the field general for the Bears, with his 2015 campaign being one of his best. Cutler passed for 3,659 yards and had 21 touchdowns. Although his team as a whole finished 6-10, how much better would the Bears have been with Jimmy Clausen?
9. Jimmy Butler: Many people may think I’m crazy placing Butler here at nine, but honestly, he isn’t the same Jimmy Buckets he used to be. Butler is averaging about 1.2 more points per game this season compared to last year. Coming off a season like last year, it’s hard to live up to the high standard, but recently he hasn’t been playing well. It also doesn’t help that his Bulls look terrible as a team.
8. Elena Della Donne: THE MOST DOMINANT BASKETBALL PLAYER IN CHICAGO. Yes, I said it. Della Donne’s 2015 season with the Chicago Sky was one of the most impressive showings in Chicago Basketball history. She was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player, averaging 23.4 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game.
7. Jonathan Toews: A list about the best players in Chicago right now would not be complete without mentioning the captain, Jonathan Toews. Although the Blackhawks aren’t playing very well right now, Toews plays his best hockey in the playoffs. We’ve seen it before: the Hawks get to the playoffs, get hot, win the Cup. And a lot of that is because of Toews. With Toews leading this team, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again.
6. Jose Abreu: As a Cub fan this hurts a little but SPOILER ALERT, he’s not the only White Sox player on this list. Abreu is the Southside’s Anthony Rizzo, his hitting ability impresses me. Abreu hit 30 dingers and drove in 101 runs last year for a struggling Sox team, and if he has another season like that, anything can happen for this White Sox team.
5. Derrick Rose: He’s no MVP anymore, but he’s becoming one of my favorite players to watch again. Like I mentioned, this Bulls season is rough, but the diamond in that rough is Derrick Rose. He’s averaging almost 17 points per game and about five assists. Rose is this high on my list because if the Bulls didn’t have Rose this year, they may be even worse than they are right now.
4. Anthony Rizzo: There was no way I was going to put Abreu over Rizzo, and I have my reasons. Rizzo hit 31 homers last season to Abreu’s 30, and Rizzo also batted in 101 runs just like the Southside’s first basemen. So, by one homerun, Rizzo gets ranked higher. Honestly it’s a coin flip, but as of right now, I still go Rizzo. But, we’ll see when this season starts up.
3. Chris Sale: Here’s the second White Sox player I mentioned. Although his ERA and record doesn’t speak much for him, his strikeouts do. Sale recorded a franchise record 274 strikeouts, and what’s more impressive is he went eight straight games with double-digit strike outs.
2. Jake Arrieta: Last season was a career year for the right-hander, and by “career year” I mean Cy Young-winning campaign. Arrieta posted a 1.77 ERA, had a record of 22-6, and not to mention, shut down the Pittsburgh Pirates in the one game Wildcard playoff last season. Going off last season, Arrieta edges out the lefty from the White Sox. But, like I said before, anything can happen this year.
1. Patrick Kane: As of right now Kaner is on top of my list. Not only is he a three time Stanley Cup Champion, but he is the key to the Blackhawks’ success. When Kane plays well, the Hawks play well, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say he’s playing the best hockey in the world right now. Earlier this season Kane had a point streak of 26 games, which is the longest such streak in the NHL since the 1992-93 season. Kane is notorious for stepping up in the playoffs, so let’s see if it will happen again.
