Ranking the Top 15 NHL Players Ahead of the 2025-26 Season

1. Connor McDavid

Position: Center | Team: Edmonton Oilers | Age: 28

Key Notes:

- Has tallied at least 100 points in each of the past five seasons, reaching 123 or more in three of them.

- 3x Hart Trophy winner

- 1.52 career points per game is the third-highest in league history.

- Fourth fastest player to reach 1000 career points (659 games).

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14. Jack Eichel

Position: Center | Team: Vegas Golden Knights | Age: 28

Key Notes:

- Ranked eighth in scoring last season with a career-high 94 points (28 G, 66 A) in 77 games. He also notched career-highs in power play points (34) and +/- (33).

- Has tallied 228 points in 207 games over the last three seasons (1.10 PTS/G).

13. Mikko Rantanen

Position: Right Wing | Team: Dallas Stars | Age: 28

Key Notes:

- Was top 15 in scoring last season (88 points) despite playing for three teams (Avalanche, Hurricanes, and Stars).

- Recorded 22 points in 18 games during last year's playoffs.

- Since 2018, his 123 playoff points are the fourth-most during that span.

- Set an NHL record last postseason by recording a point in 13 consecutive team goals.

12. Kirill Kaprizov

Position: Left Wing | Team: Minnesota Wild | Age: 28

Key Notes:

- Was the NHL's point leader through the first two months of last season (38 points in 23 games) before missing substantial time with a lower-body injury.

- Has scored 25+ goals in each of his first five seasons, including three 40+ goal campaigns.

- Has tallied 13 goals in 18 playoff games over the last three seasons.

11. David Pastrnak

Position: Right Wing | Team: Boston Bruins | Age: 29

Key Notes:

- Recorded his third straight 100+ point campaign (106) last season.

- Since 2021-22, his 191 goals are the third most in the league, behind Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl.

- His 69 points from Jan. 1 to the end of the 2024-25 season were the most in the NHL during that span.

10. Connor Hellebuyck

Position: Goaltender | Team: Winnipeg Jets | Age: 32

Key Notes:

- Won both the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy last season, becoming just the eighth goalie to do so.

- Has won the Vezina Trophy in each of the last two seasons.

- Has been a true workhorse, starting 60+ games in each of the last four years.

9. Quinn Hughes

Position: Defenseman | Team: Vancouver Canucks | Age: 25

Key Notes:

- Notched 76 points (16 G, 60 A) in 68 games last season -- 1.12 points per game tied the highest mark of his seven-year career.

- Has recorded 60+ assists in each of the last four seasons, the first defenseman to do so since Hall of Famer Ray Bourque notched five straight from 1989-94.

- Holds the record for most career assists by a defenseman in franchise history (350).

8. Sidney Crosby

Position: Center | Team: Pittsburgh Penguins | Age: 38

Key Notes:

- Has averaged a point per game for an NHL-record 20 consecutive seasons.

- Ranks 9th all-time in career points (1,687).

- Will tie Steve Yzerman for the longest-tenured captain in NHL history (19 seasons).

7. Aleksander Barkov

Position: Center | Team: Florida Panthers | Age: 30

Key Notes:

- Captained the Panthers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship last season.

- One of only six players in NHL history to win 3+ Selke Trophies, including each of the past two seasons.

- Has recorded a faceoff win percentage of 53.0%+ in each of the last eight years.

Note: Barkov is expected to miss the entire regular season after undergoing knee surgery for an injury suffered in practice.

6. Auston Matthews

Position: Center | Team: Toronto Maple Leafs | Age: 28

Key Notes:

- Since entering the NHL in 2016-17, Matthews's 401 goals are the most in the NHL during that span.

- Has scored 30+ goals in each of his first nine seasons, including two 60+ goal campaigns.

- One of only two players in Maple Leafs history with 400+ goals, joining Mats Sundin.

5. Nikita Kucherov

Position: Right Wing | Team: Tampa Bay Lightning | Age: 32

Key Notes:

- Won Art Ross Trophy in each of the last two seasons.

- Only winger in NHL history with four consecutive 80+ assist seasons.

- Only player in Lightning franchise history with multiple 100+ point seasons (5).

4. Cale Makar

Position: Defenseman | Team: Colorado Avalanche | Age: 26

Key Notes:

- Won second career Norris Trophy last season (has been named a finalist for the award five straight years).

- Scored career-high 30 goals last season -- first D-man to score 30+goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09.

- Third all-time in points per game by a defenseman in playoff history, behind Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey.

3. Leon Draisaitl

Position: Center/Winger | Team: Edmonton Oilers | Age: 29

Key Notes:

- Reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner with 52 goals, his fourth career 50+ goal campaign and third in the past four years.

- Has recorded 100+ points in each of the last four seasons.

- Since 2014-15, his 162 power play points rank second in the NHL behind Alex Ovechkin (175).

2. Nathan MacKinnon

Position: Center | Team: Colorado Avalanche | Age: 30

Key Notes:

- Tied for the league lead with 84 assists last season.

- Has recorded 110+ points in each of the last three seasons.

- Led all players with four goals in the 4 Nations Face-Off en route to being named the Tournament's MVP.

1. Connor McDavid

Position: Center | Team: Edmonton Oilers | Age: 28

Key Notes:

- Has tallied at least 100 points in each of the past five seasons, reaching 123 or more in three of them.

- 3x Hart Trophy winner

- 1.52 career points per game is the third-highest in league history.

- Fourth fastest player to reach 1000 career points (659 games).

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