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ESPN staff
It is difficult to rank the top 100 NHL players for 2022-23, due to the extraordinary talent at nearly every position.
Our annual ranking of the NHL’s top 100 players was created by an ESPN panel of 50 hockey experts. We asked them to rate the players based on their potential for success in the 2022-23 season, compared with their peers.
Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche With six players, they tied for second place in the Top 100 Players with New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning And the Vancouver Canucks. Only three teams did not place a player in the top 100 — the other two were the winners. Arizona Coyotes You are not one of them.
Emphasis was placed solely on expectations for the upcoming season and predicting potential greatness, rather than past performance, career résumé or positional value. Long-term injuries, such as season-ending surgery, can result in long-term injury to players. Robin Lehner The Vegas Golden KnightsThese were taken into account.
It is hard to find a better indicator of the NHL’s depth than the fact the NHL’s central position, the source of decades of league star power, accounted for just seven spots in the top twenty. The center does not contain the top seven slots, but it does include four.
After counting down from 100-51Here are the top 50, with a significant difference from last season’s top 3:
2021-22 rank: 18
Age: 25
Barzal was the Islanders’ perennial leading scorer and earned an eight year contract extension. This was based on his past performance and potential returns. Barzal is looking to improve his defensive game in order to compliment his offensive playmaking skills as an elite player in New York’s system. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 41
Age: 26
Demko proved last season that he is capable of handling the demands associated with being No. 1, by winning 33 games and starting 61 games. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 96
Age: 26
This 26-year-old forward from Detroit has a speed record and can score 30 goals. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 100
Age: 24
Laine continues to be a top NHL goal-scoring threat, with his highest goals per minute (1.5) since his rookie season of 2021-22. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 28
Age: 29
Hellebuyck remains one of the few goalies who can continue to play more than 60 games per game and still give his team a chance at winning every game. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 48
Age: 22
Svechnikov reached the 30-goal mark last season for the first-time, many of which were made without any lacrosse moves. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 44
Age: 21
He scored 56 points last season, more than in his first two seasons. Hughes may be able to climb even higher in this year. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 9
Age: 34
He is the player that everyone hates. Marchand’s enthusiasm only seems to increase. The 34-year-old was Boston’s leading scorer with 80 points, surpassing the 30-goal mark for five consecutive seasons. Marchand, who is deep into his career, remains an elite left winger in NHL — and the Bruins will miss him greatly as he recovers from offseason hip surgery. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 23
Age: 30
Stone, who only played 37 games last season could answer all those questions with a 20-plus goal campaign, and suffocating 2-way performances. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 58
Age: 32
Even though his postseason was a mess, Markstrom finished second in the Vezina with nine shutouts. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 22
Age: 33
Kane is not. Chicago may be slowing down, but Kane hasn’t. Blackhawks’ right winger, Kane, is a reliable offensive force and showed it again last season when he scored 92 points. What will happen this year? Alex DeBrincat By his side, however? Kane will quickly show that he is capable of rising above the loss of a linemate. The big question is whether he will be doing it in Chicago. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 86
Age: 25
Werenski stepped beyond the shadow of Seth Jones He posted 48 points in 68 games, his best offensive season, while also logging 25:40 minutes of ice time. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 21
After scoring 50 points in 82 matches, the man they call Mo won the Calder Trophy. He also averaged the second-most ice time (23:02) for a rookie defenseman over the past decade. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 23
Although everyone’s eyes are on the 77-point score, the fact that there is a two-way match makes the 22 year-old more dangerous. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 76
Age: 24
DeBrincat is the NHL’s ninth most prolific goal scorer (160) since his entry into the NHL in 2017-18. Another reason so many eyes will be focused on the Sens this year is DeBrincat. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 31
Age: 25
Connor was among the most dangerous scorers in the game last season, scoring 47 goals and 93 points. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 21
Age: 24
The Bruins’ top-pairing defensiveman is McAvoy, a superb skater with excellent instincts, physical, and an outstanding puck-mover with a stellar first pass. McAvoy’s contribution may be best measured in Boston’s ability, or failure to, survive this season without him after he has recovered from shoulder surgery. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 29
Gaudreau used his last season to remind NHL that he’s one of the best wingers in the league. After eight years in Calgary, Gaudreau will do the same in Columbus. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 16
Age: 23
Pettersson set career-highs last year in goals (32) and points (68) and is committed to improving his defensive game. He will be stronger on the puck, and will also add some physicality. This is the balanced approach that the Canucks require from their top center. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 50
Age: 23
He is a 30-goal scorer and appears to be poised for more for a Senators team which looks like it could have serious problems this season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 99
Age: 23
Robertson enjoyed a promising rookie season and scored 40 goals in his second full-season. Although he is still young, he has already averaged nearly a full game per season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 72
Age: 27
Saros was already an important Predators player. Saros’s value was almost incomparable when he transformed from a tandem player to a fixture of the team with an average of 67 starts per game. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 26
Age: 23
Heiskanen may not score as many points than his fellow blue line players, but he is still a capable player. Heiskanen’s versatility means that he can be trusted throughout any game. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 28
His 40-goal, 40 assist season was his breakthrough. He accomplished this feat in just 69 games. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 19
Age: 26
He is a reliable, two-way center that can be used in any situation. Tampa Bay remains in contention because of this. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 26
Everyone has seen the potential of Eichel when fully healthy. It is now up to him to show what he can do with a team that has higher expectations for the full season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 12
Age: 26
Rantanen may not get the same attention as Makar and MacKinnon, but he is in contention to be the NHL’s top right-winger. He is a threat to score at minimum 30 goals and have at least 50 assists. Are you sure this is the year Rantanen gets that 100-point campaign? –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 8
Age: 24
Fox, who is already a Norris Winner, is one of the leading players in the fledgling, puck-moving defenseman movement making a name for itself in the NHL. Fox is not just an offensive player. He is also someone you can trust in any situation. Fox averaged almost 24 minutes per game last season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 29
Age: 25
It’s the six consecutive 20-goal season. Continued offensive growth? Or the steady defensive contributions? It makes Aho one the NHL’s most complete centers. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 25
Age: 26
Pastrnak should be able to ignore any distractions over the yet-to-be finalized contract extension. The Bruins’ top goal-scorer will have another great season. Pastrnak led Boston in goals (40), and averaged more than a point per game with 77 games. David Krejci Being back in Boston can also be a great help. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 55
Age: 32
Are you still wondering how much Stamkos is left? He responded by posting his first 100 point season, while also finishing tied for second in the league with 11 game-winning goals. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 49
Age: 24
His 104-point year a year back was the exact same number as his previous two seasons. How will it all go now that he is in Florida? –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 13
Age: 30
He can score at any moment. McDavid, Patrick Kane and Panarin are the only two players to have more assists since Panarin’s debut in 2015-16. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 15
Age: 37
The Great 8 put together another 50-goal campaign last year — the ninth of his career — and will continue to chase Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals (Ovechkin enters 2022/23 with 780). It will be interesting to see how Ovechkin adjusts his game to keep up that incredible scoring pace. He has not shown any signs of slowing down, even at 37. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 30
Age: 29
Zibanejad was able to score a record-breaking 81 points, proving that he can be trusted in any situation for the Rangers. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 42
Age: 29
Huberdeau established his reputation as one the best creators of the game with 85 assists in 2021-22, a league record. McDavid has had more assists than Huberdeau since the 2018-19 season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 24
Age: 32
He had 96 points and played in every situation. He finished second to Makar in the Norris. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 11
Age: 35
Crosby still has it, even at 35. Crosby, the Penguins’ band leader/ultimate student, remained healthy and posted elite numbers last season (31 goals & 84 points in just 69 games). There’s boundless potential for Pittsburgh when Crosby is centered. Jake Guentzel Rickard Rakell. Crosby’s exceptional two-way play, unmatched dedication to excellence and core team are all intact for the next run. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 14
Age: 25
Marner just finished a record year in 2021-22 with 35 goals and 97 points in 72 matches. This highlights how the Leafs forward has improved his game. Marner was a winger who rode shotgun with Auston Matthews Toronto’s Top Line and Projects to Do So Again, where Marner will be displaying his elite playmaking abilities. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 32
Age: 26
Meet the man who wants to surpass Vasilveskiy’s title as NHL’s best goaltender. Shesterkin is the current Vezina winner and could use his season to help the Rangers go further, win another Vezina and potentially walk away with Hart too (where last season he finished third). –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 10
Age: 28
Vasilevskiy is still the No. There is a reason Vasilevskiy remains the No.1 goaltender in the league. There is still competition for the title. But he still has five consecutive seasons of over 30 regular-season wins. This is why Tampa remains a perennial contender. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 4
Age: 27
Barkov has been long the “NHL’s most underrated player”, and it needs to change. Florida’s captain can give a clinic at any time. In 67 games, he had 39 goals and scored 88 points. While he was one of the league’s most consistent defensive forwards, he still managed to score 39 goals. Barkov’s skills allow him to do it all effortlessly, from creating offense to blocking shots to lifting pucks and getting them back. There is nothing “underrated” about this. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 7
Age: 31
Hedman appears to improve with age. Tampa Bay’s blue line stalwart is an all-around star. A perennial Norris Trophy finalist, Hedman is as consistent and reliable with his defensive details than he can be at producing offense. Hedman has scored 45 or more points in seven consecutive seasons using his booming shot at the point. Hedman, the Lightning’s consistent anchor, is the one who holds the group together. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 20
Age: 25
As a rookie, Kaprizov scored 27 goals and averaged nearly one point per game. Kaprizov’s 47 goals and 108 point season the next season allowed him to climb the ranks while attempting a Hart Trophy challenge. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 6
Age: 27
Oilers’ other top forward, Draisaitl, has been an offensive stalwart over the years — with or without McDavid — but Draisaitl is more than a regular producer of 100+ points. Draisaitl is now a top-tier defensive center. He has proven to be trustworthy in all situations and just as efficient on the penalty kill. His brave performance last spring while playing injured in the playoffs showed his determination to help these Oilers return to contender status. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 17
Age: 29
Let’s suppose he played an entire 82-game season last summer. Kucherov would be on pace for 120 points and only three points short of the scoring lead. Yes, he is quite good. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 2
Age: 27
Even MacKinnon admits that it took him time to find his path. He became a NHL star and is one reason the Avs have been able to win more than one Stanley Cup. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 3
Age: 25
Matthews reached the 60-goal mark in his last season. He joins a select group of nine NHL players who have achieved this feat over the past 30 year. Matthews scored 106 points in 73 contests, which was equal to Alex Ovechkin’s record of 60+ goals and 100+ points per season. Ovechkin did this in 2007-08. What is Toronto’s top-line center going to do for a second encore? Matthews’ explosive release makes him dangerous and his 6-foot-3 frame is a formidable figure on the ice. What is Matthews’ limit? –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 5
Age: 23
Since Chris Pronger’s 2000 win, there has not been a Hart Trophy-winning NHL defenseman. Makar is in his fourth professional season and could be the next. He won the Norris Trophy in spring last year for his 28-goal and 86-point regular-season performance. Conn Smythe was awarded for his 29-point effort during Colorado’s Stanley Cup run. Makar, 23 years old, is an elite skater who has excellent offensive skills that compliment a solid defensive game. Makar is a danger everywhere and on every shift. He has an uncanny ability make everyone around him laugh. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 1
Age: 25
McDavid’s performance cannot be described adequately. This is a game you can’t miss. Washington goaltender: “He’s one of the most exciting guys in the league.” Darcy Kuemper said. “Whenever [Edmonton] It’s a popular TV show that is often viewed. McDavid scored a triple in Edmonton’s season opener, to win a comeback over Vancouver. Because of that. Jay Woodcroft, Oilers coach, describes McDavid as “otherworldly.” This sums up McDavid’s accomplishments last season. McDavid scored 44 goals and scored an impressive 123 points over 80 games. This is 1.54 points per-game. Edmonton’s captain is a better player than ever. This drives his production and leaves no doubt night in and day out about who the best player in the league. –Kristen Shilton
Honorable mentions
Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils
Brent Burns, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Winnipeg Jets
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Minnesota Wild
Roope Hintz, C, Dallas Stars
Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils
John Klingberg, D, Anaheim Ducks
Darcy Kuemper, G, Colorado Avalanche
Anders Lee, LW, New York Islanders
Elvis Merzlikins, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
Max Pacioretty, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars
Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights