Ranking the Top 25 NHL Players Ahead of the 2020 Offseason

They're the honors class of the National Hockey League.

The premier point-scorers, nifty playmakers, lockdown defenders and save-making goaltenders.

And precisely the sort of talents needed to revitalize a sagging franchise, make a playoff run or, in the case of the recently crowned Tampa Bay Lightning, bring home a Stanley Cup.

So, in the sweet spot between the post-Final handshakes and the announcement of the first pick in the draft, the B/R ice hockey team convened yet again to compile an updated list of the best players in the league.

We put things together by looking at past achievements, future potential and relationship to others at the same positions across the NHL and ultimately whittled the collection down to a top 25.

Nos. 6-25 are gathered together in groups of five, with the final five getting individual treatment.

Read on to get a feel for our opinions and to see where your favorite stars landed, and drop a comment or two to let us know where we got it right and/or where you saw things another way.

25-21

Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press

25. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Colorado Avalanche

The 10th pick in the 2015 draft has been a consistent producer since becoming a full-timer in Colorado, stringing together years of 20, 29 and 31 goals before netting 19 more across 42 games in a 2019-20 season plagued by injuries and stalled by the pandemic. At 23 years old and on a strong team, his future is bright. 

24. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets

A point-per-game player for four consecutive seasons, the 6'3", 207-pound Scheifele has been a key contributor in the Jets' transformation into a perennial playoff team. He scored 38 goals and registered 84 points in 82 games two seasons ago and managed 73 points in 71 games in 2019-20. 

23. Mitchell Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

An emerging talent in one of hockey's hottest hotbeds, Marner is a deft playmaker who's dished out as many as 68 assists in a full season and had 67 points in 59 games for the Maple Leafs before the schedule was halted in March. Also just 23 years old, the niftiest days ought still be ahead of 2015's fourth overall pick.

22. John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals

Still among the more anonymous stars in today's NHL, Carlson, now 30, made the league as a full-timer back in 2010 and has gradually evolved into a premier offensive defenseman. His point total rose in four straight seasons, from 37 in 2016-17 to a career-best 75 (15 goals, 60 assists) in 2019-20. 

21. Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres

A superb consolation prize after the Sabres lost the Connor McDavid draft sweepstakes in 2015, Eichel is establishing himself as a star and was on his way to statistical career highs in 2019-20 before winding up with 36 goals and 78 points in 68 games. He'll be a recurring MVP candidate for years to come.

20-16

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

20. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

A consistent performer and point-producer since arriving in South Florida following his second overall selection in 2013, Barkov scored 35 times and assisted on 61 others in a breakout 2018-19 season. He followed with 62 points this season and complements the offense with sound two-way play.

19. Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators

Think the league's best players have to always be high first-rounders? Think again when it comes to Josi, who was plucked with the 38th overall pick in 2008 and now has a Norris Trophy on his shelf. The Swiss blue liner produced nearly a point per game (65 points in 69 games) in 2019-20 and provided shutdown defense.

18. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

In his prime at 26, Vasilevskiy added a Stanley Cup to a resume that had a Vezina Trophy (2019) and three straight seasons as the NHL's leader in goaltending wins. He played every minute of the Lightning's playoff run after a regular season in which he'd posted a 2.56 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

17. Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

The sublimely skilled 6'3", 195-pound Russian is a 14-year vet whose stats have him in lofty all-time company. But he's still productive at 34, having produced 74 points in 55 games during the shrunken 2019-20 season. Only four active players have more career points, and he's played fewer games than any of them.

16. Brent Burns, D, San Jose Sharks

A first-round pick way back in 2003, Burns has remained consistent offensively to the tune of 12 or more goals in seven straight seasons. He's played forward at times but won the Norris Trophy in 2017 and has been a finalist for the award twice more in the last five seasons. He's showing no signs of decline in his mid-30s.

15-11

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

15. John Tavares, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Not many can say they've strung together 11 seasons with at least 24 goals, but the consistent Tavares is one of them. He got within three of 50 goals in his first season with the Maple Leafs in 2018-19, and his 345 career goals is tied for 16th among active players—only one of whom (Steven Stamkos) has played fewer games.

14. Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins

Now a veteran at 35, Bergeron is considered a prototype two-way forward. The Quebec native has won the Selke Trophy four times, along with two All-Star nods, two Olympic gold medals and a Stanley Cup. He's also scored 30-plus goals for three straight seasons, including 31 in 2019-20.

13. Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers

Panarin was a finalist for the league's MVP and it was no accident. He scored 32 goals and put up 95 points in his first season with the Rangers, trailing only Leon Draisaitl in the league scoring race. Undrafted before debuting in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, he's scored at least 27 goals for five straight seasons.

12. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

Though recent headlines have been about injuries, it's worth reminding that Stamkos is among the best pure goal scorers of his era. He's scored 40 or more in five seasons, including a high watermark of 60 in 2011-12. He's averaged better than a point a game for four straight seasons, including 66 in 57 games in 2019-20.

11. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins

Speaking of scorers, few are more prolific these days than Boston's 24-year-old right winger, who has boosted his goal totals each year after netting 10 in 46 games as a rookie in 2014-15. His 48 goals in 70 games in 2019-20 led all NHL players and helped boost him to 95 points—tied for third in the league with Panarin.

10-6

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

10. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

A legitimate superstar on the rise, Matthews arrived as a 40-goal man in his rookie season and hasn't looked back. In fact, his 158 goals over the last four seasons are second only to Alex Ovechkin's 181, and they've come in 31 fewer games. His 47 goals and 80 points in 2019-20 were both career highs in just 70 games.

9. Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins

A consistent commodity for the Bruins since arriving as a full-timer in 2010-11, Marchand ratcheted things up to become a point-per-game player in 2016-17 and has now maintained that pace for four seasons. He's also managed to develop quite a reputation as a pest, or worse depending on who's asked, along the way.

8. Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago Blackhawks

His team isn't the juggernaut it was while winning three Stanley Cups in six seasons, but the winger is still just as dangerous. His 110 points in 2018-19 were a career best, and he still managed 33 goals and 84 points this season. Just 31, he's already been Rookie of the Year, scoring champion, MVP and playoff MVP.

7. Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

A candidate for best defenseman of his generation, Hedman arrived as a No. 2 overall pick in 2009 and recently added a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup to go with the Norris he won in 2018. His 24:03 average ice time was 15th in the league this season, and his 55 points were third among blue liners.

6. Leon Draisaitl, LW/C, Edmonton Oilers

No longer in teammate Connor McDavid's shadow, the rugged German has established his own brand over the last two seasons, posting more points (215) than any player (including McDavid) and scoring more goals (93) than anyone not named Ovechkin (99). The 24-year-old won both the Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophies in 2019-20.

5. Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press

Age: 35

Honors: Calder Trophy (2005-06), Art Ross Trophy (2007-08), Maurice Richard Trophy (2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20), Ted Lindsay Award (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10), Hart Memorial Trophy (2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13), Conn Smythe Trophy (2017-18), Stanley Cup champion (2017-18)

You can tell a man's quality by the company he keeps, which means the fact that Ovechkin is now eighth all-time in goals scored indicates a lot.

No player ahead of him has scored fewer than 708 goals, and a 50-goal season in 2020-21 (he's averaged 50 goals per 82 games in his career) would vault him past the likes of Mark Gartner, Phil Esposito, Marcel Dionne and Brett Hull—and leave him behind only Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Jaromir Jagr.

Winning the Stanley Cup in 2017-18 cemented his place among the all-time greats from any era.

4. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Age: 27

Honors: Art Ross Trophy (2018-19), Ted Lindsay Award (2018-19), Hart Memorial Trophy (2018-19), Stanley Cup champion (2019-20)

The most prolific point-producer on the best team in the NHL, Kucherov followed up a pair of 100-point seasons with another 85 points across 68 games last season and led all players with 34 points in the run to the franchise's second Stanley Cup championship. 

A second-round draft pick by then-GM Steve Yzerman back in 2011, Kucherov has averaged 1.31 points per game over the last four seasons, more than anyone other than Connor McDavid (1.38).

3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Age: 25

Honors: Calder Trophy (2013-14), Lady Byng Trophy (2019-20)

Among the reasons why it's awfully good to be a Colorado Avalanche fan these days, MacKinnon has eclipsed 90 points in each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 99 in 2018-19 and another 93 across just 69 games in 2019-20.

The No. 1 overall pick by Colorado in 2013, his 115 goals in the aforementioned three years are good for sixth-best in the league, and his 289 points trail only Nikita Kucherov (313) and Connor McDavid (321).

2. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press

Age: 33

Honors: Art Ross Trophy (2006-07, 2013-14), Maurice Richard Trophy (2009-10, 2016-17), Ted Lindsay Award (2006-07, 2012-13, 2013-14), Hart Memorial Trophy (2006-07, 2013-14), Conn Smythe Trophy (2015-16, 2016-17), Stanley Cup champion (2008-09, 2015-16, 2016-17)

A superstar who's done everything expected of him, and more, since arriving as the teenage No. 1 overall pick by the Penguins in 2005. He was a 100-point scorer as a rookie, led the league in scoring in his second season and had added an MVP and a Stanley Cup by the time he turned 22 years old.

Another scoring title, another MVP, two more Stanley Cups and two Conn Smythe Trophies have since followed, certifying Sid the Kid's status as an all-time NHL great. And he was still a point-per-game player in an injury-riddled 2019-20, scoring 16 goals and adding 31 assists in 41 games. 

1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press

Age: 23

Honors: Art Ross Trophy (2016-17, 2017-18), Ted Lindsay Award (2016-17, 2017-18), Hart Memorial Trophy (2016-17)

The "best player in the world" according to nearly every credible assessor, McDavid has established himself as the ultraskilled face of the league while trying to lift a moribund Oilers franchise back to relevance.

He arrived as the first overall draft pick in 2015, was named captain of the team soon after and has since led all NHL players in assists (307) and points (469) despite missing 37 games in his rookie season. He won the scoring title and the MVP in his second season and added another scoring title in season No. 3.

McDavid blends world-class speed with sublime stick-handling to consistently fill highlight reels and terrorize defenses.