NHL Power Rankings: Each Team's Top Offensive Weapon

The NHL has some of the best offensive talent in the history of the game playing today.

There are 30 teams in the league, and each one can be represented by a famous name or a face. Each team has that one stud, the one who stands above the rest, providing offensive output in droves while leading his team to victory.

This list attempts to rank the best offensive player on each squad, comparing ultimately who the best of the best are. Longevity of success, potential success and impact on the NHL and the highlighted player's team all were considered in the selection process.

Keep your comment window handy, there are sure to be some controversial players in controversial positions on this list!

30. Nick Bjugstad: Florida Panthers

Bjugstad is a clear example of a player slowly figuring it out for a young, rebuilding hockey team.

The 22-year-old center led a brutally bad Panthers team with just 38 points last year. He again leads the team with 19 points through 28 games this season.

Bjugstad is on pace for 55 points this year, which can be attributed to the developing team around him, especially this year's first overall pick, defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has 18 points this year. 

The towering 6'6" Bjugstad certainly is a presence on the ice and has some delicate puck control for his size, as the video above shows. As Florida improves and obtains better players, it will be interesting to see just how great Bjugstad can be.

29. Keith Yandle: Arizona Coyotes

A rare defenseman on this list, Yandle has proved to be the most reliable scorer on an Arizona team devoid of a true superstar. 

The 28-year-old led the team last season with 53 points while showing his durability by playing all 82 games. Yandle's played a full schedule in five seasons of his nine-year career, tallying double-digit goals in four of those years. 

Yandle makes his way on this list as one of the premier scoring defensemen and the league. However, as is the case with the Coyotes in general, his impact on the league is minimal, thus the low ranking.

28. Matt Moulson: Buffalo Sabres

Ahh, Buffalo. It's where a player with any shred of hockey talent seems to get lost in an oblivion of nothing.

The Sabres actually have improved quite a bit over the past month; they're 7-3 in their last 10 heading into Monday's games.

Matt Moulson hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire during this stretch, but he's certainly capable of helping Buffalo continue its recent run of success.

Just a few seasons ago, Moulson was considered a prolific goal scorer in the league. He sported three consecutive seasons with the New York Islanders with at least 30 goals from 2009 to 2012. He recorded 23 goals between three different teams last season.

Though he has just six goals through 30 games this year, he represents the most dangerous offensive threat on a Sabres team that isn't that great.

27. Mark Giordano: Calgary Flames

This might be a disrespectful spot for Giordano, who has 30 points through 32 games on defense, but there is a method to the madness.

At 31, Giordano's career year may be more of an aberration than a sign that the defender has become a premier offensive defenseman in the league. His career high was 47 points last season, though he managed to do that in just 64 games.

Still, it's hard to argue with Giordano's production this season, as he's easily the best offensive player on a relatively offensively challenged Calgary team.

26. Jordan Eberle: Edmonton Oilers

Eberle is a great goal scorer on a bad team. Like the Sabres or Panthers, the question becomes how much better Eberle would be if he was on a stronger team.

The winger has an impressive track record, having scored at least 28 goals in two seasons before turning 24.

With the Oilers in transition, it wouldn't come as a surprise if they traded a player like Eberle this season, which would give him a chance to showcase his talents on a contender.

25. Evander Kane: Winnipeg Jets

Kane is a bull in a china shop. He can hit you with his speed, his fists or a a lethal shot.

There's a lot of potential with this 23-year-old stud who has yet to be realized. Whether it's because he hasn't found the right mix of linemates or the right system around him, Kane just hasn't been able to put together a season better than his 30-goal outing in 2011-12.

Injuries have played a factor in his career, and it's no different this season. Kane only has played 21 games, recording just 10 points.

Oozing with talent and intangibles to burn, Kane is a dangerous player every time he touches the ice.

24. Jaromir Jagr: New Jersey Devils

Jaromir Jagr is an incredible freak of nature. He led the Devils last year in scoring with 67 points at the age of 41. 

He's still an absolute beast with the puck in the corners, and anything he's lost over his career through age, he's made up for in his knowledge of the game.

As much as this might be viewed as a honorary pick, it certainly couldn't be any further from the truth. In fact, a case could be made for Jagr to be much higher on this list.

He again leads the Devils in points this season, racking up 18 through 30 games.

23. Ryan Johansen: Columbus Blue Jackets

Johansen is a rising star on a team that is still learning how to win.

He busted out for the playoff-bound Blue Jackets last season, recording 33 goals to go along with 63 points.

When the stage got bigger, so did Johansen's play. Columbus got a taste of the NHL playoffs with a first-round battle against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though the team fell in six games, Johansen and the Blue Jackets were a tough out, with Johansen notching six points.

Columbus has struggled this season with consistency and the injury bug, but Johansen is still racking up the points. He has 27 through 29 games so far.

22. David Krejci: Boston Bruins

Krejci has suffered through injuries this season, but when he takes the ice for the Bruins, there isn't a more consistent offensive weapon.

He's totaled at least 60 points in his last three full seasons, leading the club with 69 points last year. A good two-way player, Krejci led the league with a plus-37 rating in 2008-09.

On a team that has been built with consistency and solid contributors all through the lineup over the years, Krejci has been the most effective weapon offensively.

He's also a big-time playoff performer, tallying more than 20 points in two postseasons.

21. Max Pacioretty: Montreal Canadiens

Like the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens are built pretty consistently throughout. Though they have players who can score and find success, there isn't one specific player who sticks out like a Pavel Datsyuk or Alex Ovechkin.

If one would have to pick an offensive standout from a Montreal team where guys like goaltender Carey Price and defenseman P.K. Subban steal the headlines, Max Pacioretty would have to be the clear favorite.

Most outside NHL fans may remember Pacioretty as being on the receiving end of a controversial hit by Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara in 2011, but they should know him for his goal-scoring ability. 

Last year was a career year for the winger, who buried 39 goals in 73 games. That beat a 33-goal mark he set two years prior.

Pacioretty is an underrated scorer in the league, and at 26, he appears to only be improving. He has 22 points through 31 games this season.  

20. Nathan MacKinnon: Colorado Avalanche

Inconsistency has plagued last season's Calder winner early in his career. This year started similar to his first season—with a slump.

In four games in December, MacKinnon has failed to register a point, and he has only 19 in 30 games this season.

MacKinnon is the best player on the Avalanche offensively, and if they are going to get past their early-season struggles, it will be MacKinnon who leads the way.

He's proved he can put the team on his back, as evidenced by his wild playoff run last year, when he scored 10 points in just seven games.

19. Joe Thornton: San Jose Sharks

Thornton is an old yet reliable option for the San Jose Sharks.

As maybe the best passer in the league, Thornton has been a proverbial assist machine his whole career. He has 872 helpers in his tenure heading into Monday's games, good enough for 23rd on the all-time list.

A surefire Hockey Hall of Famer, Thornton has accumulated at least 70 points in his last eight full seasons. A former Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner, he has 28 points through 32 games this year.

Thornton is one of a handful of players in this countdown who have consistently delivered quality production for their teams through many years.

18. Eric Staal: Carolina Hurricanes

As the best player in franchise history, Eric Staal has been a consistent offensive force in Carolina for 11 seasons running.

Though his days of scoring 40 goals a season, a feat he accomplished twice during his career, are likely over, Staal is a shoo-in for compiling at least 60 points per season.

There may be flashier or more talented players waiting to truly break out for the Hurricanes, but until then, this statue of consistent excellence will continue to quietly put together outstanding seasons. 

17. Henrik Sedin: Vancouver Canucks

Henrik Sedin always has been just a bit better than his twin brother Daniel. For a time, there wasn't a better pass distributor than the Canucks center.

In 2009-10, he dished an impressive 83 assists to go with 112 points, winning the Art Ross and Hart Trophies in the process. 

At 34, Sedin's game hasn't fallen off much, though the play of oft-contending Vancouver has.

A place in the Hockey Hall of Fame likely awaits the twins when they decide to hang up their skates.

16. Alex Ovechkin: Washington Capitals

When two of the NHL's most talked-about phenoms came into the league during the 2005-06 season, the great debate was simple: Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin?

Surely, it was a hard question. Ovechkin took the league by storm, scoring at least 50 goals in four of his first five seasons, including a ridiculous 65 goals in 2007-08.

Still, as coaches came and went, Ovechkin's game never truly evolved. He has an amazing shot, the best in the game, but that's become the only distinguishable trait in his offensive repertoire.

At this point in his career, he's a glorified power-play specialist. Yes, he scored 51 goals last season, but 24 of those were with the man advantage. He only had 13 assists at even strength and was an absolutely brutal minus-35.

There's still no way to discredit 51 goals; any team would gladly take that. However, when it comes to ranking the best offensive players on every team, this one-trick pony only finds himself at No. 16.

15. Filip Forsberg: Nashville Predators

This was a tough selection, as both James Neal and rookie sensation Filip Forsberg have been integral to the Nashville Predators' early-season success.

In the end, the all-around game of Forsberg ultimately proved favorable to the sniper.

Forsberg leads the league with a plus-24 rating heading into Monday's games.

His 29 points in 29 games leads all Predators and ranks 14th in the NHL.

If he keeps this level of play up, Forsberg appears set to become the Calder winner as the NHL's best rookie.

14. Vladimir Tarasenko: St. Louis Blues

Some may think this is too high for a player who has a career-high 21 goals.

Anyone who has seen Tarasenko and the St. Louis Blues play this season, though, knows it's just about right.

No other player has been more of a revelation than this 23-year-old stud who is on pace for a monstrous 46 goals and 87 points.

Tarasenko and linemate Jori Lehtera have been a dynamic duo this season.

What's probably most impressive about Tarasenko is his plus-17 rating, which, at the moment, actually is behind his impressive plus-20 rookie campaign.

13. Zach Parise: Minnesota Wild

Parise and teammate Ryan Suter were the talk of the 2012 NHL free-agency period when they both signed with the Minnesota Wild.

The move elevated the Wild to instant Cup favorites heading out of the Western Conference.

Though the club has struggled to reach its ultimate goal, Parise has certainly proved to be every bit as good as the 13-year deal he signed with the club.

With a mix of goal-scoring ability and speed, Parise has led Minnesota in points per game in his first three seasons with the club. 

This year, he has 23 points through 23 games, leading the team despite missing a few games to injury.

12. Anze Kopitar: Los Angeles Kings

The best player on the league's best team last year, Kopitar is the typical European player, blessed with a great shot and outstanding deking ability. He's garnered at least 25 goals in seven of nine seasons with the Kings, an impressive run of consistency for the big-bodied, defensive-minded Cup champions.

What boosts Kopitar up this list is his recent 26-point performance during the Kings' latest Cup run. He was absolutely brilliant, leading the club with 21 assists.

At 27 years old, it appears Kopitar's best hockey is ahead of him.  

11. Rick Nash: New York Rangers

When Rick Nash plays like Rick Nash is capable of playing, he provides one of the toughest challenges for any opponent in the league.

Similar to Ryan Getzlaf, Nash is a prototypical power forward when he is on, using his 6'4" frame and reach to drive past and shake off defenders as he charges to the net. His powerful stride gives him deceptive speed and, combined with a great shot, makes him a deadly weapon off the rush.

Nash struggled by his standards in his first two seasons with the Rangers, not exceeding more than 26 goals in either year. He was especially quiet during New York's playoff run last year. Nash tallied at least 30 goals per campaign in seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

He has silenced his critics for the time being this season, displaying the traits that made him one of the league's best with Columbus. He currently ranks second in the NHL with 18 goals heading into Monday's games.

As a premier power forward, Nash is a rare commodity in the league today.

10. Tyler Seguin: Dallas Stars

Maybe this spot is too low for Seguin, the league's leader in points heading into Monday's games with 38.

The 22-year-old center likely will be considered one of the top five players in the league by year's end. There's certainly a case for that now, as Seguin is coming off a breakout season, one in which he put up 37 goals and 47 assists.

Seguin accumulated seven points in a recent four-game point streak to help solidify that top spot among the leagues leading scorers.

Combined with teammate Jamie Benn, Seguin has found a home in Dallas after a few curious years in Boston.

It'll be interesting to see if Seguin will remain a legitimate challenger for the scoring title as the season progresses.

9. Erik Karlsson: Ottawa Senators

The best player at his position should obviously earn a top-10 spot on this list. Erik Karlsson is the total package for a defenseman in the NHL today.

The 2012 Norris Trophy winner for the league's best defenseman, Karlsson would add to his impressive resume two seasons later, coming back from a lacerated Achilles tendon suffered the year before to lead all players at the position with 74 points. 

Karlsson has 20 points in 29 games, good for ninth among defensemen heading into Monday's games. However, nobody should expect him to stay down there for long.

8. John Tavares: New York Islanders

This ranking is a little bit based on production and a little bit based on potential.

John Tavares seems to improve every season. He came into the league in 2009-10 as on the the best prospects in the past decade and quickly asserted himself with 24 goals in his rookie campaign.

Improvements, particularly in his skating, have been drastic over the years. Last year seemed like it would be Tavares' breakout year, as he recorded 66 points in 59 games. Unfortunately, his season came to a premature end with a leg injury suffered in a game for Team Canada during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Tavares hasn't quite found his footing yet this season for the surprising New York Islanders, but he still has 27 points through his first 30 games.

7. Pavel Datsyuk: Detroit Red Wings

Some would consider putting Datsyuk this low on the list criminal. Yes, he's the master of the dangle. Yes, he's an outstanding defensive player. Yes, he's a premier player in the league.

However, Datsyuk has certainly slowed down through the years, with injuries playing a factor. For as lauded as the winger is, he hasn't put up a truly impressive campaign since his back-to-back 97-point efforts in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.

This season, he has 23 points in 20 games.

Still, it's hard to ignore the breathtaking moves and passes that only a player like Datsyuk can make. See the video above for proof.

6. Phil Kessel: Toronto Maple Leafs

Kessel always seems to get lost in the shuffle of the NHL's great offensive players.

Still, the diminutive forward has shown he is the heart and soul of the Maple Leafs' offensive unit for quite some time.

His consistency has been impressive, as Kessel has notched at least 80 points in the past two full seasons. In the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, he garnered 52 points in 48 games, which had him on pace for another 80.

As is the case with most of the top NHL players today, speed rules all. Kessel's ability to produce offensively is predicated on his quickness.

In the clip above, Kessel uses his speed to embarrass the New Jersey Devils in the 2013-14 season.

Kessel again finds himself among the league leaders this year with 31 points in 30 games.

5. Ryan Getzlaf: Anaheim Ducks

An opposing 6'4", 218-pound machine, Getzlaf is a rare player in the league.

As perhaps the only true superstar power forward in the game (Nash has been inconsistent), the Ducks captain brings a physical level that is matched only by his playmaking ability and devastating shot.

Proof of his offensive exploits was his 87 points last season, second to only Sidney Crosby. Getzlaf is on pace to have another fruitful year, ranking seventh in the NHL with 33 points in 31 games.

His playmaking ability has allowed teammate Corey Perry to achieve four seasons of at least 30 goals.

Based on his size and playmaking ability, Getzlaf ranks fifth on this list.

4. Claude Giroux: Philadelphia Flyers

Giroux took gradual steps to make his way into the conversation of the NHL's elite offensive players. His points-per-season total improved his first four years in the league, eventually peaking with an impressive 93-point effort in the 2011-12 season.

The Philadelphia center helped lead his team to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in the 2009-10 season.

It's difficult to not rank Jakub Voracek, who led the NHL in scoring for the first part of this season, on this list. Giroux's consistent excellence ultimately gives him the nudge over his teammate. 

There's really nothing that ultimately stands out in Giroux's game; he simply does everything well as a prototypical, playmaking center.

Giroux is putting together another fine season in Philadelphia, leading the league in assists with 26 and ranking fifth overall with 34 points in 29 games. 

3. Patrick Kane: Chicago Blackhawks

This might be a controversial selection for some, as Kane hasn't produced more than 88 points in a season in his seven-year NHL career.

Kane's simply up this high because of his combination of skills and, ultimately, his clutch factor.

As I pointed out in my review of the Chicago Blackhawks' best moments in team history, Kane has been the most clutch playoff performer in recent memory.

His game-winning goal in the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Final in Game 6 clinched Chicago's first Cup win in 49 years.

Kane ranks 14th in the league with 29 points in 31 games this season.

Blessed with immense speed and skill with the puck, Kane's clutch factor tags him ahead of teammate Jonathan Toews and third overall on this list.

2. Steven Stamkos: Tampa Bay Lightning

There may not be a purer goal scorer in the league, which lands Stamkos second on this list.

Stammer is a two-time Maurice Richard winner for the league's best goal scorer, scoring a career-high 60 goals in the 2011-12 season.

Last year, Stamkos seemed like the only possible player to keep pace with Sidney Crosby as the league's top point producer, but a broken leg sidelined him for a large portion of the season.

Gifted with a wicked shot, Stamkos has continued his tear on the league this year, blasting 17 goals to go along with 34 points in 31 games, good enough for fifth place in NHL scoring heading into Monday night's games.

1. Sidney Crosby: Pittsburgh Penguins

The reigning Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner, Sidney Crosby has proved to be every bit the player he was hyped up to be before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins first overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft.

What separates Crosby from his peers is the speed at which he plays the game, both physically and mentally.

Similar to Mario Lemieux before him, Crosby is able to anticipate and see plays before they happen.

Sid crushed it last year in the scoring department, notching 104 points in 80 games. The next closest player was Ryan Getzlaf, who finished with 87.

Crosby has struggled by his standards this season, tallying 35 points in 27 games, though he's still only three points away from the league lead heading into Monday's games.

It should be noted that Evgeni Malkin would likely rank second on this list if he played on a different team.

All statistics courtesy of NHL.com and current as of 12/15/2014.