ESPN released its 2026-27 player rankings, emphasizing value for the upcoming season. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens lead with six players each in the top 100. The Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks had no representatives.
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers retains the No. 1 spot, extending his reign as the league's best player. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche sits at No. 3, while Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning checks in at No. 5. Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, now the highest-paid player in the game at $20.4 million annually starting in 2027-28, ranks No. 6.
The list, featuring write-ups from Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, and Greg Wyshynski, spans 100 players with top-50 analysis provided. Notable names include Leon Draisaitl, Zach Werenski, and rising star Macklin Celebrini, who aims to guide the San Jose Sharks to the playoffs in his first season as captain.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing