Sportsnet Insiders rank the NHLs top 50 players: 10-1

Solberg doesn’t project to have a ton of NHL offense, but he can make a solid first pass and his mobility will help carry him to the next level. He wins tons of pucks with his stick and body, closing gaps confidently while defending in transition. Solberg has the potential to be a meaningful top-four defender in the NHL, complementing the offensive tilt of many of the Ducks’ young defenders. Liam Öhgren is a “jack of all trades, master of none” type of player who will excel in the NHL one day as a complementary winger. He is one of the hardest-working players on the ice every time he plays, and he can do just about anything asked of him. Öhgren has a great shot, good hands, legit playmaking skill, and the skating ability to put all those skills together.

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He is excellent offensively, posting a career-high of 90 points last season, he is exceptional defensively and can skate very well. At one point, he was looked at as a fairly good scoring center who was horrible defensively, but under Rick Tocchet, his game has become very well-rounded. He has hit over a point-per-game in each of the last three seasons, including two 99+ seasons. Offensively, he has been consistently around 50 points over the past three seasons, and on the defensive side, he has been very strong for the club. He has a strong physical presence, and over each of the past five seasons, has earned votes for the Norris Trophy. He is in every conversation for the best defensemen in the league, and if he can take a bigger step offensively, he will have a great chance of winning the Norris Trophy over the next few years.

Nate Danielson, C, Detroit Red Wings

Barlow was also named captain of the Owen Sound Attack at just 17 which speaks to his maturity and leadership abilities. Riley Heidt’s excellent acceleration and edge work make him a natural choice as the lead puck carrier for zone entries and he has excelled in that role with the Prince George Cougars throughout his junior career. His playmaking skills either at full speed or after settling in the offensive zone are impressive and make him a very mobile and shifty threat whenever he has the puck. Good habits away from the puck give me some confidence that he’ll become a full-time NHLer as well.

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Levshunov has a very projectable game, with the size, skating, and offense to be a great NHL defender. He plays with a ton of confidence, which can be a bit of a double-edged sword at times. Levshunov’s offensive game is dynamic, with his smooth skating serving as the catalyst for each thing he does well.

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In a year where seemingly every star for the Avalanche was hurt at some point, Rantanen played a major role in keeping the team afloat. The Finnish power forward had his first 50-goal, 100-point season, leading Colorado with 55 goals and 105 points. Rantanen finished sixth in MVP voting — and I don’t think that did his performance enough justice. In the age of up-and-coming stars taking over the league, the 36-year-old Penguins captain remains one of the most consistent performers at both ends of the ice. After missing the playoffs for his first time since his rookie season, expect a motivated Pittsburgh star center this year.

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He’s a top-three goaltender in the league, coming off a season where he posted a 2.34 GAA, .934 SV% and a 38.7 goals saved above expected. He looked like an absolute star in the KHL last year, once again being loaned to HK Sochi, one of the league’s bottom teams. I expected he would land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season, but the Flyers managed to get him signed and Michkov will make his NHL debut much sooner than expected. He’s a serious contender for the Calder Trophy next year, especially if the Flyers put him in a position to succeed.

• His 10 goals are tied for second out of all skaters, and his 14 power-play points rank first.
• Now, entering the final year of his contract, all eyes will be on whether the Avs and the veteran Finn can agree on a deal that keeps him in Denver long-term.
• While the effort isn’t as prominent on the defensive side of the game, there are not many players with Kucherov’s offensive capabilities.
• It’s becoming increasingly common to see NHL defenders succeed through puck skills and clever positioning rather than simply through physicality and I think Buium could fit that mold.
• He also has great puck skills and can make great passes or dekes while at his remarkable top speed.
• Perreault was one of the most creative and intelligent players in the 2023 Draft and he is great at weaving his way out of trouble when defenders collapse around him, either with a pass or his lightning-quick hands.

Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

As the team pushed closer to making the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, Larkin was injured and the team fell apart in his absence. Larkin has scored at a point-per-game pace over the last three seasons and has been a very strong defensive presence for the Red Wings over that span as well. On top of being offensively strong, Kempe had excellent possession numbers and played very well defensively. Dustin Wolf has officially taken the reins as the starting goaltender for the Calgary Flames after Jacob Markstrom left this past off-season. He may be an undersized goalie, but his athleticism and positioning make him the best rookie goalie in the National Hockey League. He’s going to face a lot of shots and a lot of adversity, especially on a poor Calgary team.

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After being traded one-for-one to the Jets, Yager looks poised to remain in the Canadian Prairies for the foreseeable future. He grew up in Saskatchewan, played his junior hockey there (in Moose Jaw), and will likely make the jump straight to the NHL after one final year in the WHL. Noah Östlund is one of the best pure playmakers on this list as his ability to keep track of his teammates’ locations all over the ice leads to plenty of brilliant passes that nobody else seems to see coming. His ability to anticipate the play and make the right play to maximize the scoring chance for his team is remarkable.

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All of the concerns about Jakob Chychrun’s ability to stay healthy were put to bed last season when he played his first full season, playing in all 82 games. He did tie his career-high in points, but with a significant amount more games played than any other season, the Senators were hoping for a bit more out of him than that. Not only did he not have the offensive output they were hoping for, but his defensive game wasn’t as strong in Ottawa either. This will be a good skating team and they will play with aggression because they still have plenty of skill, but I’d hope that it isn’t as much of a defensive rollercoaster as it has been at times given the experience.

Ryan Leonard, LW/C, Washington Capitals

Forsling will be depended on to log heavy minutes as the Oilers will be arguably his most difficult matchup yet. At the end of the day, Zach Hyman is proving to be an elite goal scorer for the Oilers and a picture-perfect winger to play with the two superstars. He possesses an uncanny ability to get open in front of the net, knocking in passes on the backdoor and cleaning up rebounds in front in the process. It had been a few years since Kucherov dominated a regular season, but he got back to his ways last year, putting up 113 points and 83 assists. He was one of only two players to hit at least 80 helpers on the year, (McDavid was the other), en route to his third triple-digit points campaign. The Lightning winger is an elite playmaker who always finds himself among the league leaders in assists.

• He scored six points in his first six games, but slowed down significantly, finishing the season with 11 points after 63 regular season games.
• After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Samuel Honzek has done nothing but impress in his two seasons in North America.
• With Celebrini looking like the team’s future 1C, Smith will get the chance to feast on easier competition on the second line which I think will benefit him greatly.
• The No. 1 pick from 2018 had his breakout campaign, putting up 73 points in 78 games.
• His 14 assists are tied for fourth in the league, and his six power-play helpers slot him in the same spot.
• He has a great shot, but more often than not he scores goals because he slipped his defender and managed to find the space and time necessary to score a goal.

He was drafted to be a two-way center with a strong shot and he’s not far from being just that in the NHL. Minten’s first WHL season after being drafted was a great showcase for his shot and his compete level, with Minten becoming a very important forechecker and defensive forward for the Kamloops Blazers. Luneau made the opening night lineup for the Ducks last year but bounced between the NHL and AHL before heading to Sweden for the World Juniors where he was sidelined with an infection in his knee that ended his season.

Joe Pavelski, C, Dallas Stars

A towering defender at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, William Wallinder was drafted 32nd overall in 2020. He’s extremely mobile and has a smooth skating stride and a very strong puck carrier. He has put in a lot of work on his defensive game to round out his strengths, but his offensive instincts are what will make him a very good option for the Detroit Red Wings on defense. Wallinder was one of the best young players in Sweden last season and has made the switch to North America this year with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The transition hasn’t been the smoothest and the offensive production hasn’t really arrived yet, but his size and skating sure have, making him a solid defensive player from the jump. Jagger Firkus had a phenomenal final season at the junior level, leading the entire CHL in scoring (goals and points), and being named MVP of the WHL and CHL.

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Over the last two seasons, Martin Necas has emerged as a goal-scoring and point-scoring winger. He had hopes of playing at center, but it doesn’t look like he will be making that transition. He is still very effective and plays a versatile enough game that he can fit in with any center and make offense happen. Drew Doughty fought back after a downward trend in his career, and over the last few seasons, has proven he still has lots left in the tank. He is a physical, smart, and strong defensive defenseman who can chip in with good offensive numbers.

Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers

Last year, Hamilton proved to the Devils he was well worth the investment from the 2022 offseason. The New Jersey defenseman recorded 52 assists and 74 points during the Devils’ breakout season. He’s the No. 1 defenseman any contender needs, providing an offensive option as a right-handed blue liner. After winning it all with St. Louis in 2019, the defenseman brought Vegas its first championship in hockey. He’s a minute muncher who can provide 50 points from the back end while being a leader off the ice as well.

• In its early form, field hockey was played on natural grass, but the heavy turf made the game slower.
• In that two-year stretch, only two wingers in the league have managed to outscore Rantanen, and only one’s managed to rack up more goals than the Colorado stalwart.
• In his final junior season, Beck scored at a higher rate than ever and was a strong play driver for the Saginaw Spirit throughout the regular season, OHL playoffs, and their Memorial Cup victory.
• The Winnipeg Jets still chose Chaz Lucius 18th overall in the 2021 Draft despite him losing a lot of time in his draft year rehabbing a knee injury.
• Helenius’ two-way play against pros as a teenager has been very impressive, especially in transition where he is able to keep up with the pace of play both physically and mentally.
• His talent alone can help elevate the ceiling of the Philadelphia Flyers this season.
• But as the season begins and expectations are all over the place, rosters could be more malleable.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers

Many point to his ice time with McDavid as the reason, but it is clear that he is an elite talent in his own regard. With 81 playoff points over his last three seasons, Draisaitl is not only one of the best playoff producers in the NHL but one of the best in history. In the same season he was named captain of the Canucks, he had the best season of his career which ended by taking home the Norris Trophy. Hughes has been among the best defensemen in the league since breaking in, and with a previously established elite offensive game, the development in his defensive play over the last five years has been outstanding.

• I expected he would land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season, but the Flyers managed to get him signed and Michkov will make his NHL debut much sooner than expected.
• His goal-scoring ability is unmatched in today’s league, and on top of that, he was a nominee for the Frank J. Selke Trophy last season as well.
• He is a high-end winger who has one of the best shots in the game, and when fitted with strong linemates and good chemistry, he thrives as an impactful player.
• The LA Kings have built their defensive structure around him for well over a decade, and he is still a crucial part of their team.
• His greatest strength is his shot which looks like a quality NHL tool though his skill with the puck is noteworthy as well.
• His ability to anticipate the play and make the right play to maximize the scoring chance for his team is remarkable.
• When Panthers GM Bill Zito acquired Matthew Tkachuk during the 2022 offseason, it was a bold move for the organization.
• These athletes continue to amaze with their speed, agility, and strategic play, cementing their status as fan favorites and role models for aspiring hockey stars.

They landed some great prospects with each pick, but my favorite of the bunch, Jiri Kulich, was the last one they selected at 28th overall. Kulich burst onto the scene at the U18 World Junior Championship just before the 2022 Draft where he scored nine goals in just six games. He is great at finding soft spots in defensive coverage and setting up for a rocket of a one-timer. Trevor Connelly is a skilled winger with dynamic skating and a high-effort two way game. His hands are really quick and he plays with a ton of deception which made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the entire USHL last season. He was a clear first round talent with some top-six potential, but the off-ice noise is loud enough still that his ultimate NHL potential is a bit up in the air.

Skinner was even benched for two games during Edmonton’s second-round meeting with the Vancouver Canucks. Apparently, that time to clear his head worked because Skinner was exceptional in the Western Conference Final, boasting a .922 save percentage and 0.45 goals saved above average. With former Bruins star Patrice Bergeron out of the league, you can easily argue that Barkov is the best two-way center in the game. He’s dominant down low, he excels in the faceoff dot, he’s incredibly skilled offensively, and he is an absolute pain to play against defensively.

If it hadn’t been for a season-ending injury early in the year, Dougie Hamilton could have been in the running for the Norris Trophy last season. He was off to a fantastic start and built off of the prior season’s career-high of 74 points. Aaron Ekblad’s play has regressed over the past two seasons, but he is still a strong defensive presence. The Florida Panthers have relied on him as a true number-one defenseman over the course of his career, but as they built a stronger team, more defensemen stepped up. His defensive play last season was good, but his offense was the lowest of his career.

He is still a bit of a raw prospect at this point, which means there’s a lot of room for growth. Levshunov was a poor defender in the USHL when he first arrived, but finished that season as a strong two-way player. His first NCAA mirrored that closely, with an increased defensive responsibility as the year wore on. It looks like Levshunov is set to make the jump to the pros next season, and while his defensive game may not be great right off the bat, he’s shown himself to be a quick study.

He blocks a bunch of shots, shattered his career-high in hits, and had his best season in many defensive metrics. He only played 59 games last season but was credited with 142 hits, which would be nearly 200 https://gambibet.org/ hits across a full season. He isn’t afraid to mix things up and will battle for any loose puck harder than most. While he still awaits a big offensive breakout, Svechnikov is very valuable to the Hurricanes.

He’s strong in breakout/entry situations, has some clever stretch passes in his toolkit, and walks the blueline with confidence. Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move.

The combination of his skating, shot, and quick hands makes him a really fun offensive weapon. He is agile enough that I expect he’ll be very successful on zone entries in the NHL some day, giving the Blackhawks a chance to control play in the offensive zone every time he touches the puck. He produced solid offense as a freshman in the NCAA last season, but only time will tell if he can handle a top-six workload in the NHL or if he’ll be better suited as a third-line center. Dalibor Dvorsky was very impressive in his draft year against men, playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish professional league. He has made the move to North America and absolutely schooled the OHL last season with the Sudbury Wolves.