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ESPN staff
Given the depth of talent at every position, it is hard to rank the 100 top NHL players for the 2022/23 season.
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 They tied for sixth place in the top 100 players with six. 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 They are all three.
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 to players such as the season-ending surgery performed for Robin Lehner in 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.
Today we unveil Nos. You can find the list from 51 through 100. For a complete list of top players, tune in to “The Point” Tuesday night. It will be online Wednesday morning.
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 31
Kane is a dependable winger in the league, having scored more than 20 goals eight straight seasons. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 56
Age: 24
Chychrun is a top-end talent, with excellent defensive details and high offensive potential — when he's well. Although injuries have been a part of the past 12 months for Chychrun, they should not distract from the potential he has at full strength. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 28
San Jose believes Hertl, a dynamic player, will be their center for the future and present. The Sharks need more Hertl in this season's slow start. He is a skilled scorer, playmaker, and can lift teammates. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 95
Age: 28
Because of Jones' potential to excel in all three phases, Chicago was all-in when it came time to sign the talented Jones. Jones is a strong skater, he can perform clean breakouts and he can throw his body along the boards. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 97
Age: 27
The captain of the Canucks is a versatile player in the system. He's great at drawing and can handle a matchup role well. Horvat just finished a 31-goal season that was a career high and will channel that offensive energy into the contract year. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 35
Age: 32
Pietrangelo reached the 80-game mark in his fourth season and provided stability during a time when there were many questions for the Golden Knights. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 89
Age: 25
Chabot is an unstoppable motor. He brings everything the Senators need to their blue-line group. The Sens' anchor in Ottawa logs huge minutes and excels in every on-ice situation. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 35
The tiny Norwegian was 13th out of all right wings, averaging 0.85 points per games over the past two seasons. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 36
Age: 35
Letang scored a career-high 68 points and averaged nearly 26 minutes per game, en route to finishing in the top 10 of Norris voting for the fourth season in a row. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 37
Age: 35
Many factors led to the Kings' revival, and Kopitar was one of them. He scored the most points while being the best player in every situation. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 69
Age: 34
Although Giroux might not be the same point-per-game player he used to be in his prime, the 34 year-old is still a solid playmaking presence. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 57
Age: 26
Nylander is now more than a scoring threat. He's willing and able to compete for pucks, takeaways, or break out quickly. He's also able to play strong transition games. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 23
Oettinger's regular-season performances showed that he is capable of serving in a tandem. However, the playoffs proved Oettinger has all the qualities needed to be a No. 1 goaltender. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 24
The big center of Buffalo had a breakout season that made him a prominent face of the team. Thompson is a great scorer, has a great shot, and the Sabres found out last season that he can also play crucial minutes down the middle. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 26
In last season's 35 goal turn, the Swedish sniper was victorious. Because of their great chemistry, Kempe has already upped the ante this year — Kempe scored three goals in three games last season. Anze Kopitar. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 20
Stutzle already plays a significant role in power play for the Senators, scoring 26 of his 58 points during last season. With Claude Giroux Alex DeBrincat His even strength output should also increase when he is a part of the Ottawa forward group. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 94
Age: 28
It was his puck-moving skills that made the difference in Florida and is why Calgary appears to have another weapon on its blueline. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 27
Tristan Jarry silenced the critics of his postseason failure in 2021 by establishing himself to be a consistent and efficient starter for Penguins last season. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 27
The Islanders know what Sorokin puts forth when he begins. In his two NHL seasons, he had a quality start percentage of.713. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 31
Kreider gave the Blueshirts a Broadway-esque performance in his 52-goal effort last season. Surprising? It might be surprising, but the veteran forward followed up with an average of a point per match in the 2022-23 season. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 52
Age: 32
Tavares has seen his game evolve beyond goal scoring. The Leafs' captain is a skilled playmaker. His decade-high number of assists (49) last season complemented his finely tuned, 200-foot performances. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 73
Age: 28
The Toronto defense's long-standing backbone, Rielly, does it all while leading the way. Rielly is an elite skater and puck-mover who can be used in any situation. He's capable of creating offense while still maintaining his defensive responsibilities. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 51
Age: 26
Ekblad is a defenseman worth having in the Norris Trophy conversation if he's healthy, especially considering his playmaking skills (42 assists last year). –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 25
Terry's 67-point scoring season shows that Terry is confident in his ability to contribute to the Ducks' long term plans. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 27
Lindholm was an elite, if not under-the radar — two-way center prior to last season's spectacular 42-goal performance that put him on the map. Former linemates Johnny Gaudreau Matthew Tkachuk While Lindholm might have lost his scoring prowess and defensive savvy, it is still a shining example of Lindholm. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 68
Age: 24
Sergachev's season is his chance to shine Ryan McDonagh He was traded to Nashville. He's the Bolts second best offensive defenceman behind Victor Hedman. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 28
Trouba is most well-known for his thunderous hits but he can also contribute offensively at any strength. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 38
Age: 32
Last season, Doughty's injury was a huge loss for the Kings as he was poised to set a career-high in points. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 27
Age: 29
Scheifele can put an end to all the talk about Winnipeg by turning in 20 more goals with the possibility of scoring 30. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 93
Age: 30
Tarasenko was one of the NHL's greatest “remember me?” players. Seasons, Tarasenko reignited his star with an average of 3.9 points per minute. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 67
Age: 25
Boeser is a pure goal scorer for the Canucks with 46 goals in 127 games during the past two seasons. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 28
Slavin is a great player, but his impact on the Hurricanes speaks volumes. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 22
Dahlin enjoys big minutes with Buffalo's top unit. The 22-year old has grown before Sabres' eyes. Dahlin is adding more offense to the blue line this season. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 38
In his late 30s, he was able to score a career high 81 points, be responsible and show two-way consistency. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 78
Age: 26
Ehlers can be a deadly player in transition, making him an important playmaker for rushes. Ehlers is Winnipeg's most valuable player due to his vision and talent. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 27
He is 6-foot-4, a forward with 25 goals and a two-way game. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 53
Age: 32
He didn't win norris but Carlson is a steady defenseman who bank points while Ovechkin runs the power play. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 34
Age: 29
Hamilton lost one goal in his second year in New Jersey, even though he played fewer games. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 90
Age: 37
Nurse has averaged over 25 mins of ice time per match in each of the last two seasons. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 43
Age: 29
Landeskog adds 20 goals to the Avalanche and could help them reach the 30-goal mark, if they don't suffer from injuries. He missed the start of this season because he suffered a lower body injury. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 21
Zegras' video-game moves (and those that end up in games) made him famous instantly, but he has the skills to continue to be an NHL offensive force. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 28
Take a look at his offensive and defensive metrics to see why Toews has such high value in Denver. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 59
Age: 23
Bruce Boudreau, Canucks' bench boss, says Hughes is able to pass the puck better than any coach he has ever coached. He already anchors Vancouver's backend with great success at 23 years old. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 26
Fiala's 33 goals and 85 point total did more than just land him a new contract. This puts him in the spotlight as someone who might make the Kings even more dangerous. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 79
Age: 28
He is an underrated offensive force. His chemistry is unmatched. Sidney Crosby After a second campaign with 40 goals in 2021-22, it is now on display. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 47
Age: 31
He is one of the NHL's most respected two-way centers. He has attained at least 50 point in nine consecutive seasons and won over 58% in seven of his faceoffs. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 32
Kadri scored 87 points, which raised expectations already high about him doing the same with the Flames. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 29
Miller has been a key center option for Canucks who signed a seven-year extension to Miller. Miller's 32 goals and 99 points were personal bests. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 24
Kyrou's outstanding offensive game is driven by skill and speed. St. Louis granted Kyrou an eight-year extension after last season's record (27 goals, 75 point in 74 matches), which cemented his status as the franchise's face. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 33
Age: 37
Bergeron, 37 years old, has been so consistent that Selke voting voted him out of the top three more times than a decade ago. –Ryan S. Clark
