The Silcoff Selections: Ranking The NHL's Top 50 Players Going Into The 2025-26 Season

With NHL training camps opening in about six weeks, I decided it was the perfect time to rank my top 50 players in the league, as we are now in the dog days of the off-season. My process was simple but thorough: I looked through every team’s lineup and looked at players performance over the last three seasons. That said, a few players were simply too good to leave off, even if they haven’t played a full three years yet. I did this as a TikTok series, but here’s the full written version for those who prefer to read it from start to finish.

Note: No Goalies on this list, this list is strictly skaters

50-41: Huston, Jarvis, Thomas, Tkachuk, Josi, Konecny, Hedman, Stutzle, Bouchard, Larkin

50) Lane Huston, D, Montreal Canadiens

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 6 | A: 60 | P: 66 | +/-: -2

The Calder Trophy winner shocked even his biggest supporters with how well he played in his rookie campaign by tying the defenseman rookie assist record and helping the Canadiens reach the playoffs. If his first year was any indication, the sky is the limit for Hutson.

49) Seth Jarvis, C/RW, Carolina Hurricanes

2024-25 Stats: GP: 73 | G: 32 | A: 35 | P: 67 | +/-: +12

With back-to-back 67-point seasons, Jarvis has become one of the more reliable players on the NHL's most consistent teams, the Hurricanes, while improving his game by the year.

48) Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues

2024-25 Stats: GP: 70 | G: 21 | A: 60 | P: 81 | +/-: +20

There were not many players who were better than Thomas this past season after the Four Nations break. His 40 points in 26 games was a huge reason for why the Blues also became the hottest team in the NHL going into the playoffs, where they just fell short to the Winnipeg Jets in an epic 7-game series.

47) Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa Senators

2024-25 Stats: GP: 72 | G: 29 | A: 26 | P: 55 | +/-: 0

The Senators hard-nosed captain got his first taste of the postseason in 2025 and proved his game was built for that time of year with 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 6 games. His relentless net-front presence and physical style of play make him one of the premier power forwards in the game today.

46) Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators

2024-25 Stats: GP: 53 | G: 9 | A: 29 | P: 38 | +/-: -26

Personally, I think Josi's drop-off in production is more due to how bad the Predators were as a team this past season. His Norris Trophy pedigree could be blinding me, but despite his -26 rating, I think he is still one of the league’s best defensemen.

45) Travis Konecny, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 24 | A: 52 | P: 76 | +/-: -17

Konecny may be one of the NHL's most underrated players because of the Flyers' struggles over the last few years. However, he is one of the league's most tenacious forwards and clearly has a ton of offensive upside with 76 points on a team that struggled to score goals last season. It should be interesting to see how he plays under new coach Rick Tocchet.

44) Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 Stats: GP: 79 | G: 15 | A: 51 | P: 66 | +/-: +18

Despite his age, Hedman quietly put up a ridiculous 66 points in 2024-25 and still remains a steady force on the backend for a Lightning team that nobody can ever overlook.

43) Tim Stutzle, C, Ottawa Senators

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 24 | A: 55 | P: 79 | +/-: 0

Stutzle looked more like the player he did in the 2022-23 season rather than the 2023-24 season; this past year he put up 79 points and played in all 82 games for the Senators. To me, Stutzle established himself as the best player on this Ottawa team with his elite playmaking skill.

42) Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 14 | A: 53 | P: 67 | +/-: +14

Bouchard, no doubt, is one of the league’s most polarizing players, because for a player that is so good, his defensive lapses do happen quite often. But, he does make up for it come playoff time, as few defensemen in the NHL have risen to the occasion like he has in the spring. Over the last two postseasons, you could argue no defenseman has been more productive, as he has racked up a staggering 55 points in 47 games.

41) Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 30 | A: 40 | P: 70 | +/-: -16

Larkin might not have the playoff exposure of others on this list, but the Red Wings captain is no doubt one of the best two-way centres in the NHL, with 4 straight years with essentially 70 points a year, making his impact undeniable.

40-31: Raymond, Ovechkin, Stone, Guentzel, Miller, Keller, Scheifele, Robertson, Bratt, Hagel

40) Lucas Raymond, LW, Detroit Red Wings

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 27 | A: 53 | P: 80 | +/-: -15

Raymond took a massive leap in 2024–25, proving he is one of the best young forwards in all of hockey by setting a career high in points, reaching 80 for the first time in his career.

39) Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

2024-25 Stats: GP: 65 | G: 44 | A: 29 | P: 73 | +/-: +15

After a "down year" in the 2023–24 season, Ovechkin had an unforgettable season in 2024–25, where we saw the Great Eight break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record and finish the season with 44 goals in 65 games, helping the Capitals finish with the top record in the Eastern Conference. If he didn't break his leg in November, there would have been a real possibility Ovechkin would have ended the season winning another Rocket Richard Trophy as the league's top goal scorer.

38) Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights

2024-25 Stats: GP: 66 | G: 19 | A: 48 | P: 67 | +/-: +22

Stone had his healthiest season in years, playing 66 games in 2024-25. The Golden Knights captain showed he is still one of the best two-way wingers in the game when healthy.

37) Jake Guentzel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 Stats: GP: 80 | G: 41 | A: 39 | P: 80 | +/-: +18

In his first season with the Lightning, Guentzel hit the 40-goal mark for the first time since 2022, proving he’s one of the league's best goal scorers as he established himself as a perfect fit in Tampa Bay.

36) J.T. Miller, C, New York Rangers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 72 | G: 22 | A: 48 | P: 70 | +/-: -6

After a turbulent start to the season in Vancouver that saw a rift between him and Elias Pettersson force the Canucks hand, Miller was traded to the New York Rangers in January, where he eventually found his game. In 32 games with the Rangers, Miller recorded 35 points while also bringing his usual edge and versatility to a Ranger team that desperately needed it.

35) Clayton Keller, LW, Utah Mammoth

2024-25 Stats: GP: 81 | G: 30 | A: 60 | P: 90 | +/-: -12

Keller set a career high with 90 points in his first season serving as an NHL captain in Utah's inaugural season. His consistent production and offensive game are major reasons why so many are high on the Mammoth going into the 2025-26 season.

34) Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 39 | A: 48 | P: 87 | +/-: +12

Scheifele had a career-best season in 2024–25, scoring nearly 40 goals and approaching 90 points to help lead the Jets to the Presidents’ Trophy as Winnipeg finished the regular season as the NHL's top team.

33) Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 35 | A: 45 | P: 80 | +/-: +10

An injury in the regular-season finale forced Robertson to miss Round 1 of the playoffs, which could help explain his postseason struggles in 2025. When healthy, he remains one of the league’s best young players.

32) Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils

2024-25 Stats: GP: 81 | G: 21 | A: 67 | P: 88 | +/-: +5

Truthfully, I didn't watch many Devils games this past season, but when I did, Bratt seemed to dominate almost every time I tuned in. With back-to-back 80+ point seasons, he’s established himself as one of the NHL's top playmaking wingers.

31) Brandon Hagel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 35 | A: 55 | P: 90 | +/-: +33

Brandon Hagel enjoyed a great season in 2024-25, hitting 90 points for the first time in his career. What makes his past season even crazier is that I think he may own the wildest stat in the NHL from this past year: Hagel scored 35 goals and hit 90 points, yet somehow not one of his goals came on the power play, showcasing his 5-on-5 dominance.

30-21: Slavin, Thompson, Hischier, Panarin, Suzuki, Heiskanen, Aho, Connor, Nylander, Marner

30) Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

2024-25 Stats: GP: 80 | G: 6 | A: 21 | P: 27 | +/-: +16

Slavin may not put up the numbers that defensemen like Makar or Hughes do on the offensive side of the ice, but nobody in the league defends better than Carolina's number one D-man. Night after night, he shuts down the opposition’s best, which was put on display while representing Team USA at the Four Nations Faceoff in February.

29) Tage Thompson, RW, Buffalo Sabres

2024-25 Stats: GP: 76 | G: 44 | A: 28 | P: 72 | +/-: -2

Thompson is one of the few NHL players I genuinely feel bad for because of how poorly run the Sabres have been throughout his time with the franchise. At 6'6, he's shown to be a powerhouse, as over the last four seasons he’s proven to be one of the game’s true elite goal scorers, including a 44-goal season in 2024-25. Despite his goal-scoring ability, I fear it may all be for naught, as playoff hockey still feels far away in Buffalo.

28) Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils

2024-25 Stats: GP: 75 | G: 35 | A: 34 | P: 69 | +/-: +9

The Devils captain set a new career high in goals with 35 in 2024-25 while continuing to make his impact felt defensively with his elite two-way play. At just 26, he should be a Selke Trophy contender for years to come.

27) Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 80 | G: 37 | A: 52 | P: 89 | +/-: -9

It may not have been the 120-point year he had in 2023-24, but Panarin did still have a productive year in a frustrating 2024-25 season for the Rangers as a whole. Now entering the last year of his contract, don't be shocked if Panarin is back up to the 100-point range as he looks for one final big payday.

26) Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 30 | A: 59 | P: 89 | +/-: +19

Year after year, Suzuki has upped his production and has yet to miss a game throughout his six NHL seasons. Not many players were better than Suzuki post-Four Nations break, as he put up 37 points in 26 games to guide the Habs to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, cementing himself as one of the NHL’s top two-way centres.

25) Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars

2024-25 Stats: GP: 50 | G: 5 | A: 20 | P: 25 | +/-: +7

Heiskanen missed significant time after a knee injury in January and was not able to return until Round 2 of the playoffs. To add onto that, at least in my eyes, he was having his least productive season since 2022, but with a full off-season to recover and get healthy, a rebound season feels very likely.

24) Sebastian Aho, C, Carolina Hurricanes

2024-25 Stats: GP: 79 | G: 29 | A: 45 | P: 74 | +/-: +7

There may have been a 15-point drop from 2023-24, but Aho is still one of the more skilled centres in hockey and has improved his game defensively each year in Rod Brind'amour's system. At 28, he's still in the middle of his prime and remains a driving force for the Hurricanes.

23) Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 41 | A: 56 | P: 97 | +/-: +17

Connor was the best skater on the best team throughout the regular season, as he finished with a career-best 97 points in the Jets Presidents Trophy-winning regular season. With him scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, he should be one of the league’s most intriguing players to keep an eye on next season.

22) William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 45 | A: 39 | P: 84 | +/-: +10

As a Montreal Canadiens fan, this is a weird thing for me to say, but the fact that Nylander, despite being so good for so long, still seems to get better by the year has made him become my personal favourite Maple Leaf. On a team that often lets the pressure get to them in the playoffs, his cool, calm demeanour is probably why it feels like he is the one guy the Maple Leafs can rely on come playoff time.

21) Mitch Marner, RW, Vegas Golden Knights

2024-25 Stats: GP: 81 | G: 27 | A: 75 | P: 102 | +/-: +18

To my surprise, Marner is the only player on this list who will be suiting up for a new team next season, as he is set to join the Vegas Golden Knights next season after nine years in Toronto. As things got ugly near the end in Toronto, I think we all should remember he is coming off his best regular season to date, scoring 100+ points for the first time in his career. The change, I think, was needed for Marner, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s playing in more than one Cup Final as a Golden Knight.

20-11: Reinhart, Tkachuk, Point, Fox, Hughes, Dahlin, Werenski, Crosby, Rantanen, Eichel

20) Sam Reinhart, C/RW, Florida Panthers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 79 | G: 39 | A: 42 | P: 81 | +/-: +6

After a 57 goal year in 2023-24, Reinhart proved it wasn't a fluke by nearly having another 40 goal campaign and proving he truly is one of the best goal scorers in hockey. His epic four-goal game in Game 6 of the Cup Final help the Panthers secure their second straight Stanley Cup championship over the Edmonton Oilers.

19) Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 52 | G: 22 | A: 35 | P: 57 | +/-: -3

Tkachuk was having another great season in Florida up until the Four Nations Faceoff, where he tore his adductor off the bone and suffered a hernia, which forced him to miss the remainder of the regular season. Somehow, he was able to get back for Game 1 of the playoffs but clearly was not himself throughout the spring. That said, he did battle through to help Florida win another Cup. While he is expected to miss significant time to start next season, he remains one of the NHL’s best power forwards when healthy, and his arrival in Florida in 2022 has changed everything for the franchise.

18) Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 Stats: GP: 77 | G: 42 | A: 40 | P: 82 | +/-: +17

Point is still one of the best and most consistent centres in hockey as he enjoyed yet another 80+ point season where he showed off his elite speed and scoring touch.

17) Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 77 | G: 42 | A: 40 | P: 82 | +/-: +17

Because of the Rangers’ struggles this past season, I personally feel like people forget just how good Adam Fox is. The 2021 Norris Trophy winner is still one of the premier offensive defensemen in the NHL, as shown by people calling a 60+ point season for him a "down year." Expect a bounce-back campaign from Fox in 2025-26.

16) Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils

2024-25 Stats: GP: 62 | G: 27 | A: 43 | P: 70 | +/-: +12

Hughes' season was cut short by a shoulder injury that required surgery, which forced him to miss the postseason, also somewhat ruining the Devils chances at making a deep run in the playoffs. With his elite skill and playmaking back in the fold, New Jersey should be a serious threat out East next season.

15) Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres

2024-25 Stats: GP: 72 | G: 17 | A: 51 | P: 68 | +/-: +12

Like with Tage Thompson, I can’t help but feel bad for Rasmus Dahlin being stuck on a Sabres team that can just never figure it out. I honestly believe Dahlin has all the tools to win a Norris Trophy someday, and the fact he finished as a +11 on a team this bad is just further proof of how good Dahlin is.

14) Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

2024-25 Stats: GP: 81 | G: 23 | A: 59 | P: 82 | +/-: +12

The more I think about it, I don't think any player in the NHL impressed more than Werenski this past season. Putting up 82 points as a defenseman is absurd, and if it were not for Cale Makar, Werenski would have a shoe-in for the Norris Trophy, as he came so close to dragging the Blue Jackets to the playoffs despite the heartbreak and heavy hearts the organization played with all year.

13) Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

2024-25 Stats: GP: 80 | G: 33 | A: 58 | P: 91 | +/-: -20

Make no mistake, even though he's heading into year 21, Sidney Crosby is still one of the best centres in hockey and plays at an elite level despite being on one of the worst teams in the NHL. By putting up yet another 90+ point season, his longevity is up there with the likes of Tom Brady and LeBron James. While it’s tough to think he may end his career losing a lot of games, it’s certainly not on him, as he has been able to sustain a high level of play in an unfortunate circumstance.

12) Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 32 | A: 56 | P: 88 | +/-: +13

After one of the craziest seasons I have ever seen a superstar go through as he played for three different teams, to me, the playoffs are where Rantanen showed he is by far the best power forward in the NHL. At 6'4", not many forwards can drive play like him, and you can’t help but wonder how much the Avalanche regret not getting a deal done with him, which eventually allowed him to end up back in their division for the next eight years with the Stars.

11) Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Golden Knights

2024-25 Stats: GP: 77 | G: 28 | A: 66 | P: 94 | +/-: +32

Since leaving Buffalo, seeing the journey Eichel has gone on has been wonderful to watch as a fan of hockey. In Las Vegas, he has not only become a Stanley Cup champion but also developed into one of the best two-way centres in hockey by improving his game defensively each season. I can't wait to watch him and Mitch Marner on the same line next season as the Golden Knights chase another Stanley Cup.

10: Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 67 | G: 20 | A: 51 | P: 71 | +/-: +1

Barkov, the captain of the back-to-back champion Panthers, is by far the best two-way centre in the NHL, as seen by his three Selke Trophy wins, including the last two. The way he was able to shut Connor McDavid down in the Cup Final was nothing short of a masterpiece.

9: Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild

2024-25 Stats: GP: 41 | G: 25 | A: 31 | P: 56 | +/-: +19

This might be low for

, who was on pace to potentially win the Hart Trophy after an excellent start to the year before injuries sidelined him for months. His skill level is off the charts, and with a full healthy season, don’t be surprised to see him crack the top five after the 2025–26 season.

8: Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

2024-25 Stats: GP: 67 | G: 33 | A: 45 | P: 78 | +/-: +11

After nearly scoring 70 goals in 2023-24, Matthews does drop a bit, in large part due to the time he missed this past season and Toronto’s continued playoff failures, where Matthews simply has not been good enough. That said, when healthy, he is still the best goal scorer in the NHL, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he comes back in 2025–26 with an MVP-calibre season.

7: Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks

2024-25 Stats: GP: 68 | G: 16 | A: 60 | P: 76 | +/-: +2

While it was a very disappointing 2024-25 season in Vancouver, the only reason the Canucks stayed in the playoff race for as long as they did was because Hughes almost singlehandedly carried them night after night. He’s elite in every sense with his offensive and skating ability while also getting better defensively each season. In my opinion, only one defenseman in the league is better than him.

6: David Pastrňák, RW, Boston Bruins

2024-25 Stats: GP: 82 | G: 43 | A: 63 | P: 106 | +/-: 0

I think maybe the most underappreciated season last year belonged to David Pastrňák, who somehow put up 105+ points on a terrible Bruins team that finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Pastrňák is so good that he’s the only reason I’m not already pencilling Boston in as one of the bottom two teams in the Atlantic next year.

5: Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 Stats: GP: 80 | G: 30 | A: 62 | P: 92 | +/-: +28

Not much needs to be said here—to me, Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the NHL, and he has been for a while now. Scoring 30 goals as a defenseman is crazy, and somehow, he continues to improve with each passing season.

4: Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 Stats: GP: 78 | G: 37 | A: 84 | P: 121 | +/-: +22

Kucherov is still a regular-season machine, winning the Art Ross with ease, but his playoff play the past two years has been disappointing, to say the least. He’s still one of the game’s most gifted players I have ever seen, but after two awful postseasons, he needs to rediscover his postseason magic in order to climb this list.

3: Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 71 | G: 52 | A: 54 | P: 106 | +/-: +32

Draisaitl takes the number 3 spot after winning the Rocket Richard in 2024-25 and delivering another elite playoff run for the Oilers. Draisaitl was nominated for the league MVP award and rightfully so after carrying the load for the Oilers over the second half of the season when Connor McDavid was in and out of the lineup and to me, proving he’s one of the top three players in the NHL going into 2025-26.

2: Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 Stats: GP: 79 | G: 32 | A: 84 | P: 116 | +/-: +25

Only one player is on MacKinnon's level in terms of combining speed and skill as he remains one of the most dominant forces in hockey. However, the Avalanche have only advanced past the first round once since their 2022 Cup win, so it’s time for MacKinnon to reclaim his postseason dominance.

1: Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

2024-25 Stats: GP: 67 | G: 26 | A: 74 | P: 100 | +/-: +20

No surprises here—Connor McDavid remains the clear number one player in hockey. This was the first season since his rookie year where he dealt with some injury issues, but even then, he hit the 100-point mark for the fifth straight year and eighth time in his career. Now, after back-to-back Final losses, it’s time for McDavid to get over the hump and win a Cup if he truly wants to cement his place on hockey’s Mount Rushmore like I believe he has the potential to do.