NHL Network is getting ready for this season by ranking the top 50 players in the League right now. Researchers, producers and on-air personalities compiled their list, and players 20-11 were revealed on Sunday in the eighth of a nine-part series. Here is the list:
20. Matthew Tkachuk, F, Florida Panthers
Tkachuk has made a massive impact since being traded to the Panthers on July 22, 2022, helping them reach the Cup Final three straight seasons and win back-to-back championships. He missed the final two months of the 2024-25 regular season because of an injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February but still finished third on the Panthers with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 games. The 27-year-old left wing has emerged as one of the League’s top postseason performers, either leading the Panthers in scoring or tying for the lead the past three seasons, including 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 23 games last season, and he’s one of 11 players in NHL history with three straight 20-point playoff seasons. Tkachuk was one of the first six players named to the United States’ preliminary roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
19. William Nylander, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nylander was second in the NHL with 45 goals last season and was second for the Maple Leafs with 84 points (39 assists). It was the third straight season the 29-year-old right wing scored at least 40 goals, and his 125 goals are tied for seventh in the NHL during that span. Nylander is one of four players to score 40 goals in three straight seasons for the Maple Leafs along with Auston Matthews (five straight, 2019-24), Rick Vaive (1981-84) and Lanny McDonald (1976-79). Nylander also played all 82 games for the third straight season; his streak of 259 consecutive games played is seventh among active NHL forwards. He was one of the first six players named to Sweden’s preliminary roster for the Olympics.
18. Mitch Marner, F, Vegas Golden Knights
Marner was fifth in the NHL and led the Maple Leafs with 102 points (27 goals) in 81 games last season, and his 75 assists were the most in a season by a Toronto player since Doug Gilmour had 84 in 1993-94. The 28-year-old right wing is eighth among NHL players with 741 points (221 goals, 520 assists) in 657 games since making his debut in 2016-17. In Maple Leafs history, he is fifth in points and fourth in assists. Marner was traded to the Golden Knights and signed an eight-year contract with them July 1.
17. Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
A first-time finalist last season for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman, Werenski was second at the position with 82 points (23 goals, 59 assists) in 81 games, behind Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (92 points; 30 goals, 62 assists in 80 games). The 28-year-old set Blue Jackets single-season records at the position in all three categories and average ice time (minimum of 25 games played), leading the NHL at 26:45. Werenski also was third among all skaters with 298 shots on goal and was the ninth defenseman since 1996-97 to finish a season with at least 80 points.
16. Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
Point has scored at least 40 goals each of the past three seasons, including finishing with 42 goals and 82 points in 77 games in 2024-25, when he scored his 300th NHL goal in Tampa Bay’s 8-0 win against Utah on March 27. The 29-year-old center had back-to-back 90-plus point seasons from 2022-24 and scored 28 goals in 46 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Tampa Bay win back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. Point had a goal and an assist in four games at the 4 Nations and was named to Canada’s preliminary roster for the Olympics.
15. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews leads the NHL in goals since entering the League for the 2016-17 season (401 in 629 games) and has scored at least 30 in each of his nine seasons, including 60 or more twice. He has won the Maurice