NHL's Top 50 players going into 2020-21 season
Ranking the Top 50 NHL players going into the 2020-21 season.
After missing time with a fractured foot last season, Rielly is fully healthy and will be counted on to eat a ton of minutes and generate offense from the back end for the Toronto Maple Leafs with no Tyson Barrie. Rielly had a Norris Trophy-type season in 2018-19 after recording 72 points (20 goals, 52 assists) in 82 games.
At age 34, Burns averaged a career-high in time on ice per game (25:25) last season for the San Jose Sharks and registered 45 points (12 goals, 33 assists) in 70 games. And that was considered an "off" year. He's still an elite offensive defenseman and showing no signs of slowing down just yet.
Hall scored only 16 goals last season, but he's projected to have a monster year in Buffalo playing alongside potential MVP candidate Jack Eichel. Expect the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner to average at least a point-per-game.
Last season, Gibson had a minus-8.66 goals saved above average. In the previous three seasons, he had a plus-53.3 GSAA. The 27-year-old goaltender simply had a down year, like the rest of the Anaheim Ducks, but he's still one of the elite netminders in the league.
We refuse to believe the Gaudreau we saw last season is going to be the Gaudreau we see this season. He set a career-high in goals (36), assists (63) and points (99) in 2018-19, and recorded only 18 goals and 58 points in 70 games in 2019-20. Gaudreau has a career points-per-game average of 0.96, and that's who we should see this season.
Laine is a three-time 30-goal scorer and coming off a season in which he registered a career-high in assists (35), points-per-game (0.93) and average time on ice (19:25) for the Winnipeg Jets.
O'Reilly took home a lot of hardware in 2018-19, including the Selke Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup. He was recently named captain of the St. Louis Blues and there's nobody more deserving of the honor than O'Reilly, who tied a career-high with 49 assists last season and was on pace to finish with his second-best point total.
Over the last two seasons, Lehner ranks No. 4 in save percentage (.925) and No. 3 in goals saved above average (38.9) among starting goaltenders. He's in the heart of his prime right now and one of the top netminders in the game.
Couturier has been one of the league's best two-way centers for several years now, and he was recognized for it by winning his first Selke Trophy last season. He has scored 86 goals in the last three seasons after scoring only 70 goals in his first six.
Werenski has scored 58 goals since he entered the NHL in 2016-17. Only two other defensemen have scored more over that span: Brent Burns (69) and Dougie Hamilton (62)
Theodore is quickly emerging as a legitimate Norris Trophy-type defenseman. He compiled seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 20 postseason contests after setting a career-high in goals (13), assists (33), points (46) and average time on ice (22:14) during the regular season.
Zibanejad is coming off a season in which he recorded a career-high in goals (41) and points (75), and did so in only 57 games. He had a 1.32 points-per-game average, which ranked No. 7 among all skaters. Zibanejad has scored 98 goals over the last three seasons.
Hamilton was on pace to finish with 24 goals, 45 assists, 69 points and a plus-52 rating before he suffering a broken left fibula in January that ended his season. He would've been a serious Norris Trophy candidate if he stayed healthy and could be one this season if he's back to 100 percent.
Price has a career save percentage of .917, which ranks No. 16 all-time among goaltenders with at least 200 appearances. He also is coming off a postseason in which he recorded a 1.78 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 games for the Montreal Canadiens.
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Scheifele has a points-per-game average of 1.02. Only Patrick Kane (1.14) and Jack Eichel (1.03) have a higher average among American-born players.
Tkachuk is the kind of player you absolutely hate to play against but love to have him on your team. And he's damn good at his job. The 23-year-old winger has the perfect blend of skill, grit and swagger.
Barkov is one of the premier two-way centers in the league. He has 158 points over the last two seasons, which ranks No. 13 among all skaters.
Stamkos is a five-time 40-goal scorer and was on pace to finish with 41 goals, 53 assists and 94 points before suffering a regular season-ending injury. He logged 2:47 of ice time in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final and fittingly scored a goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Heiskanen had a historically great playoff run last season. He finished with 26 points, which is the fourth-most by any defenseman during a postseason year in NHL history, behind only Paul Coffey (37), Brian Leetch (34) and Al MacInnis (31).
A four-time Selke Trophy winner, Bergeron has recorded at least 30 goals in three straight seasons despite drawing top defensive matchups on a nightly basis. And now he's officially the captain of the Boston Bruins.
Tavares set a career-high in goals (47) and points (88) in his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and averaged nearly a point-per-game in his second season. He has 73 goals over the last two seasons, which ranks No. 10 among all skaters.
Hughes finished second in Calder Trophy voting after finishing with eight goals and 45 assists for 53 points in 68 games last season for the Vancouver Canucks. He followed that up by recording two goals and 14 assists for 16 points in 17 postseason contests. Hughes is already an elite offensive defenseman and he's only 21.
In 2018-19, Stone nearly became the first winger to win the Selke Trophy in two decades but finished second in voting. He's an elite two-way player, averaging 0.89 points per game since being acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Makar registered 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games last season for the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the first defenseman in five years to win the Calder Trophy. He's an elite puck-moving blueliner and will be in the Norris Trophy discussion for many years to come.
Rantanen was on pace to have a monster season last year but was plagued by injuries. He did just that in the postseason, though, accumulating 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 15 games for a points-per-game average of 1.40. Don't be surprised if Rantanen is among the league leaders in scoring this season.
Pietrangelo has scored at least 13 goals in four straight seasons and is coming off a campaign in which he recorded a career-high 16 goals. He was on pace to set a career-high in points, too. He should fit in nicely with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Rask went 26-8-6 last season for the Boston Bruins with 2.12 goals-against average, .929 save percentage, five shutouts and 22.6 goals saved above average, which ranked No. 1 among all goaltenders. His career .922 save percentage is tied for No. 1 all-time with Dominik Hasek.
Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Carlson ranks No. 1 among all defensemen in assists (170), points (213), points-per-game (0.92) and game-winning goals (11).
Aho set a career-high in goals last season with 38 and was on pace to finish with 45. He led the Carolina Hurricanes in postseason scoring with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in eight games. Aho is one of the most dependable two-way centers in the game.
Pettersson put up back-to-back 66-point seasons to begin his NHL career and was the recipient of the 2019 Calder Trophy. He's going to be an elite playmaking center for many years to come and it might not be long before he's in the Hart Trophy discussion.
Marchand has scored 418 goals since the start of the 2015-16 season. Only Connor McDavid (469), Patrick Kane (465) and Nikita Kucherov (464) have scored more over that span.
Malkin amassed 74 points (25 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games last season for a points-per-game average of 1.35, which was tied for No. 5 among all skaters. He was on pace to finish with 110 points.
Hellebuyck is coming off a Vezina Trophy season after going 31-21-5 with a 2.57 goals-against average, .922 save percentage, six shutouts and 22.4 goals saved above average, which ranked No. 2 among all goaltenders.
Jones is one of the most complete defensemen in the NHL and it showed in the postseason, where he averaged 32:40 of ice time for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He set the NHL record for most ice time in a game after logging 65:06 in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Marner is an elite playmaking winger but one of the better defensive forwards in the league, too. He has 291 points since entering the league in 2016. Only Nikita Kucherov (398), Patrick Kane (359), David Pastrnak (326) and Blake Wheeler (321) have more points among right-wingers over the stretch.
Barzal can easily be a 100-point player, but the New York Islanders play a style of hockey that doesn't allow him to flourish offensively. Not only is he one of the best players in the game, but he's also one of the most entertaining players to watch, too.
Josi won the Norris Trophy last season after finishing second among defensemen in goals (16), assists (49) and points (65). He's one of the best all-around defensemen in the game.
Eichel was sneakily in the Hart Trophy conversation last season but the Buffalo Sabres weren't good enough to take him seriously. He went on an 18-game point streak and was on pace to finish with 43 goals and 94 points. Expect Eichel to have a monster year.
Since he entered the NHL in 2017, Kane has 1,022 points. Only Alex Ovechkin (1,080) and Sidney Crosby (1,041) have more. Kane was on pace to flirt with his third career 100-point season last year at age 31.
Pastrnak has scored 155 goals over the last four seasons, which ranks No. 3 among all skaters, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (181) and Auston Matthews (158). He was on pace to finish with 56 goals and 111 points last season.
One year after setting a career-high in goals (41) and points (92), Point turned in a terrific playoff performance by compiling 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 23 games for the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. He's officially established himself as one of the top players in the league.
Ovechkin won his ninth Rocket Richard Trophy last season after scored 48 goals at the age of 34. He would've easily cracked 50 for the ninth time of his career. Will he catch Wayne Gretzky's goal record? Not sure you can bet against him The Great 8 at this point.
In back-to-back seasons, Vasilevskiy won his first career Vezina Trophy after posting a .925 save percentage and then backstopped the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup after recording a .927 save percentage in the postseason. He is unquestionably the best goaltender in the NHL right now.
Crosby is two years removed from his sixth 100-point season and still averaging 1.28 points-per-game for his NHL career, which ranks No. 6 all-time among players with at least 500 career points. He's one of the best to ever play.
Panarin has established himself as the best winger in the game after turning in an MVP-type season last year for the New York Rangers with 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 65 games. He finished third in the Hart Trophy voting.
Hedman is a Norris Trophy winner, and now he's a Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner. He's the best all-around defenseman in hockey and on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Matthews has scored 121 even-strength goals since he entered the league in 2016-17, which ranks No. 1 among all skaters over that span. He's one of the best goal-scorers in the game and is producing at above a point-per-game rate for his career (1.01).
Over the last two seasons, Draisaitl ranks second in goals (93) and first in points (215) among all skaters. He won the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2019-20 after a career-high 110-point campaign.
MacKinnon finished fourth in postseason scoring last year with 25 points ... and he only played in two rounds. The 2019-20 Hart Trophy finalist recorded at least one point in every playoff game but one and had eight multi-point outings, including five straight. MacKinnon is going to have another monster season.
Since he entered the NHL in 2015-16, McDavid ranks first in assists (307) and points (469). His 1.34 points-per-game average also ranks No. 5 all-time. He's the best player in the world.
