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NHL Stars to Watch in 2025-2026 Playoffs

Rankings are one of the most fun things to do as a fan, analyst and even former player, and while ranking teams is always fun, there’s nothing better than ranking the Top 10 Best NHL Players in the league. For some leagues, that may be easy, but in the NHL, it’s anything but, as we have some of the greatest players in league history in their prime, veterans clinging onto success and rising stars that are solidifying themselves as superstars of the future.

Following the 2025-26 regular season, some players have separated themselves from others, but with the depth of stars like we’ve never seen before, there is so much overall talent around the National Hockey League. Whether it’s superstar goal scorers, two-way blue liners or dominant net minders, there’s so many ways to find your name on this list, but for now, there can only be 10 among the best of the best.

So, here’s a look at the Top 10 Best NHL Players 2025-2026 Rankings.

Honorable Mentions

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Position: Goaltender

Last season, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was not only the Vezina Trophy winner but the MVP as well, but in 2025-26, he took a major step back, losing his No. 1 goaltender crown to another veteran. That would be Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has been incredibly dominant throughout his NHL career, and this season, he bounced back to his very best form with good health.

In 58 appearances, Vasilevskiy posted a dominant 2.31 GAA alongside a .912 save percentage, and at this point, he is likely the favorite for the Vezina once again after winning it back in 2018-19. In the post-season, Vasi’s play is absolutely unmatched, and after dominating in the regular season once again, he has solidified himself as a top player in the NHL and the best net minder in the league once more.

Kirill Kaprizov

Team: Minnesota Wild 

Position: Wing

Kirill Kaprizov was once a fifth-round pick in the NHL Draft, and thus far in his career, he’s done nothing but prove he may be the greatest fifth-round pick in the history of the league. While he’s yet to surpass 100 points in a season since the 2021-22 campaign due to injury issues, when healthy, No. 97 is among the best players, regardless of position in the NHL.

This season, Kaprizov dominated for a revitalized Minnesota Wild team, tallying 45 goals and 89 points in 78 games played, and given the success of the players around him, it’s clear he’s grown as a leader. At 28-years of age, there’s time for Kaprizov to solidify himself as one of the top wingers of this generation, and if he continues this production, it’s a matter of when, not if Minnesota experience some post-season success as a result.

Top 10 NHL Players 2025-2026 Rankings

10. Nick Suzuki

Team: Montreal Canadiens 

Position: Center 

When talking about underrated players in the NHL, there’s no one that fits that bill more than Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who put together a career year in 2025-26. In 82 games played, Suzuki tallied 29 goals and 101 points, the first time he went over 100 in his career as he became just the fifth Canadien in history to surpass the tally.

Not only that, but he’s an incredible leader for a young Montreal team that is back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season, helping the likes of Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky unlock their best play. While it may be high for some, it’s clear that Suzuki has taken his game to the next level, and after ending the year with 101 points, he’s earned his place among the elite of the elite in the NHL.

9. Sidney Crosby

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

Position: Center

While he may be ageing, Sidney Crosby continues to get better and better, with the Pittsburgh Penguins captain leading the surprise team of the year as Pittsburgh ended the year in the No. 2 spot in the Metropolitan Division. Sure, his point output wasn’t quite as good (29 goals, 74 points in 68 games), but given the unmatched IQ and the leadership, he remains one of the most well rounded players in the league.

At 39-years of age, it’s only a matter of time until Crosby’s career declines, but after 6 points in 4 games at the Olympics, Crosby proved he can hang with players 20 years younger than him. For now, Crosby continues to slide down a list he once topped, but given what he means to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, it’s safe to say he’s still arguably the most valuable player to his team in the NHL.

8. Quinn Hughes

Team: Minnesota Wild

Position: Defenseman

Plenty of big names were on the move in the NHL over the past 12 months, but perhaps none were more impactful to their new team than former Vancouver Canucks captain, Quinn Hughes. While he was off to a good start in Vancouver, once Hughes was dealt to the Minnesota Wild, he took his game to another level, helping the team to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

In 48 games with his new team, Hughes tallied 5 goals and 53 points, and with a +6 differential, he showed just how impactful he can be no matter what team he is on. On top of that, Hughes scored 8 points in 6 games for Team USA’s Gold Medal winning team at the 2026 Olympic Games, and given his speed, his skill and the ridiculous skating, it’s easy to see him as the clear No. 2 defenseman in the NHL.

7. Leon Draisaitl

Team: Edmonton Oilers

Position: Center 

For years now, Leon Draisaitl’s spot among the elite players in the NHL has been debated, and if not for missing 17 games this season, there’s a chance he may have been higher on this list. In those 65 games in 2025-26, the German star was absolutely dominant, posting 35 goals and 97 points as he once again showed why he’s just as important to Edmonton’s success as Connor McDavid.

Sure, the two can be great alone, but together, it’s arguably the best duo in the National Hockey League, and as a result, No. 29 has been dominant for the entirety of his career. Before his injury, Draisaitl had 100 points or more in six straight full seasons, and while he often gets underrated by the wider majority, it’s safe to say that all of this production speaks for itself.

6. David Pastrnak

Team: Boston Bruins

Position: Right Wing

Last season, the Boston Bruins had the biggest drop off in points in NHL history, and coming into 2025-26, many feared this team would struggle the same once again. However, they bounced back in a big way, with David Pastrnak once again leading the way, posting 100 points for the fourth straight season as he put together 29 goals and 100 points in 77 games played.

With his creativity, speed and incredibly quick release, Pastrnak has all the tools to be one of the NHL’s best for a long time, as he has already compiled an impressive career with 933 points in 833 games played. While he doesn’t get the credit that he often deserves, Pastrnak has been incredibly consistent throughout his career, and while some players have their peaks and valleys, Pastrnak is dominant, as deserves his credit as a top player in the NHL.

5. Cale Makar

Team: Colorado Avalanche

Position: Defenseman

Our highest defenseman on this list is Colorado Avalanche blue liner Cale Makar, and for good reason, as the 27-year old appears in line to win his third Norris Trophy in 2025-26. Only time will tell if he takes that award home, but on the NHL’s best team this season, he was once again dominant, tallying 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games played.

In that time, Makar had a +32 goal differential, showing that he’s not all about the flashy offense, but has enough leadership and impact on the defensive end of the ice as well. On paper, there’s no blue liner in the NHL as good as Makar, and while his numbers are down from 92 and 90 points in the last two seasons, his impact is felt all the same, as he’s among the best of the best in the National Hockey League.

4. Macklin Celebrini

Team: San Jose Sharks

Position: Center 

After a spectacular rookie campaign in 2024-25, not many knew what to expect from Macklin Celebrini this season, but it’s safe to say that whatever the highest expectations, he blew them out of the water. At just 19-years of age, Celebrini appeared in all 82 games for the San Jose Sharks, tallying a ridiculous 45 goals and 115 points in that time.

Not only is that an incredible number for a 19-year old, but it’s also the Sharks franchise record for points in a single season, and although he couldn’t drag them into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he did everything possible. Pair that performance with 5 goals and 10 points for Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics and we have a genuine superstar on our hands, and with years ahead of him, he’ll no doubt find his way into the No. 1 spot one day.

3. Nikita Kucherov

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Position: Wing

Despite being one of the best point producers in the National Hockey League for over a decade, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov often goes underrated in these talks, with many simply putting his success down to the loaded squad that the Lightning have. Although he missed six games in 2025-26, Kucherov was once again among the league’s top scorers, posting 44 goals and 130 points, marking his sixth 100-point season of his career.

While he’s known as an elite passer, Kucherov has the ability to put the puck in the back of the net as well, tallying 401 goals across 879 games in his career, and given the post-season success, it’s hard to argue his place on this list. Sure, he may not have a Hart Trophy since 2019, and he may never win another, but given the consistent dominance and his importance to the success of the Lightning, he deserves his flowers as one of the greatest players of this generation.

2. Nathan MacKinnon

Team: Colorado Avalanche

Position: Center 

Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche were the NHL’s best team in 2025-26, and after an impressive career thus far, he put up a career high of 53 goals to go along with 127 points scored. With his relentless determination, MacKinnon took home the Rocket Richard Trophy this season, silencing any doubts about his standings as the NHL’s premier player alongside our No. 1 pick.

Sure, he may have the help of a loaded team, but given his style of play, it’s him that makes the likes of Martin Necas look like elite wingers alongside him. Across his career, MacKinnon has been one of the NHL’s best players over all 200ft of ice, and after a down year in 2024-25, he’s bounced back in a big way, dominating like only ‘Nate Dogg’ truly can.

1. Connor McDavid

Team: Edmonton Oilers

Position: Center 

For years now, Connor McDavid has been the NHL’s most spectacular player, and while it hasn’t yet resulted in a Stanley Cup, that doesn’t diminish just how dominant he’s been across the first decade of his career. In 2025-26, he was just as dominant, tallying 48 goals and 138 points across 82 games played, once again driving the offense for an Edmonton Oilers team that isn’t anywhere near as stacked as other post-season teams.

In his career, McDavid now has 409 goals and 1,220 points in 794 games played, and while he’s not quite on Wayne Gretzky’s scoring pace, he’s on pace to put himself among the greatest that have ever played in the National Hockey League. With the incredible combination of speed, skill, confidence and flair, the 29-year old has been among the best in the league since the moment he stepped on the ice back in 2015.

While he may not win the Hart Trophy every single year, there’s no denying McDavid’s brilliance, and given his continued dominance, we’re watching an all-time level peak in Edmonton.

How would you rank the best NHL Players going into the 2025-2026 season? Rank below to be added in the NHL Power Rankings.