NHL Rank: Top-100 player predictions for the 2023-24 season

Last year, Hamilton proved to the Devils he was well worth the investment from the 2022 offseason. The New Jersey defenseman recorded 52 assists and 74 points during the Devils’ breakout season. He’s the No. 1 defenseman any contender needs, providing an offensive option as a right-handed blue liner. After winning it all with St. Louis in 2019, the defenseman brought Vegas its first championship in hockey. He’s a minute muncher who can provide 50 points from the back end while being a leader off the ice as well.

Ranking the top 50 NHL players in 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs

He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. Catton was phenomenal for Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup a year ago as well where he scored 10 points in just five games while captaining Canada to the gold medal. I think his offensive versatility and his potential while attacking off the rush will make him an excellent addition for the Kraken.

• His consistency, effort, speed, and skill make him a coach’s dream even though he may not have the dynamic offensive qualities of some of his peers.
• His poise, hands and superb skating ability make him an offensive dynamo, and he’s only 22 years old.
• Connor McDavid, known for his breathtaking speed and impeccable puck-handling abilities, remains a standout.
• He quickly rose to the top of the Panthers’ blue line and is now one of the most underrated defensemen in the league.
• The Panthers winger was a dominant scorer in the past, but he’s taken it to the next level in 2024.
• On top of that, it was his first time hitting the 100-point mark, and while he was on pace to do it plenty of times, he hasn’t been able to push that number until now.
• Bobrovsky was a large reason why the Panthers made its Stanley Cup Final run last season, but, like the team, he ran out of gas against the Golden Knights.

Connor Bedard tracker: Goals, recaps of each game for the NHL’s top rookie166dESPN staff

• He doesn’t really have any offensive traits that pop at this point so I don’t know that he’ll end up all that high in the Flyers’ lineup, but he has the motor to be an valuable piece someday very soon.
• In truth, you could drop the smooth-skating rearguard into any spot on the ice and he would excel.
• McDavid can take over games and has fared well against even the toughest defensive matchups through the first three rounds.
• There is hope that with an improved top-six, Caufield’s new teammates will help him reach his full potential and challenge for 50 goals someday.

As the team pushed closer to making the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, Larkin was injured and the team fell apart in his absence. Larkin has scored at a point-per-game pace over the last three seasons and has been a very strong defensive presence for the Red Wings over that span as well. On top of being offensively strong, Kempe had excellent possession numbers and played very well defensively. Dustin Wolf has officially taken the reins as the starting goaltender for the Calgary Flames after Jacob Markstrom left this past off-season. He may be an undersized goalie, but his athleticism and positioning make him the best rookie goalie in the National Hockey League. He’s going to face a lot of shots and a lot of adversity, especially on a poor Calgary team.

Highest-paid NHL goaltenders

If you’re wondering why goalies weren’t included in this ranking, that’s because we have a separate article for that position. Doughty’s leadership, experiences, and impact on every game make him a valuable asset, and he is still one of the top two-way defensemen in the game. He hasn’t had a true long-term partner for the majority of his career, and having an anchor on his pair could help propel his game even further. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Modern hockey emerged in England in the mid-19th century and was developed at private schools (like Eton) throughout the country.

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HE has built great chemistry with most of the high-end wingers on the team, making him easy to build around. Despite missing time with an injury last season, Andrei Svechnikov showed just how important he is to the lineup when he returned. With his 52 points, he had a pretty average regular season by his standard, but once the playoffs hit, he was scoring a point per game and making an impact every night. Since signing with the Ottawa Senators, he has been a fantastic addition to the top six and as a quality leader in the locker room. He transitioned from center to the wing as he got older, but he still plays a strong defensive game and has good offensive numbers.

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He’s a massive power forward (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who is incredibly quick and difficult to knock off the puck. His size advantage is part of what makes him a nearly immovable object in the WHL, but he also has great hands, a strong shot, and really good puck protection instincts. His defensive game has looked significantly improved over the years and I think his offensive totals would have earned him a bit more attention this season if he hadn’t dealt with consecutive finger and back injuries. Logan Stankoven is a fearless competitor who is willing to make tough, physical plays and isn’t shy about throwing his body around either. He played full time in the AHL last season for the Texas Stars and looked dominant as a first year pro. Not only did he scoring more than every other top prospect in that league in his time there, but he was actually the leading scorer for the entire league in January before earning a run of play in the NHL.

Cole Eiserman, LW, New York Islanders

Rutger McGroarty is in an exciting position after being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After clearly wanting out of Winnipeg, he becomes the best prospect and rookie for the Penguins by a mile. But there will be a lot of high expectations on a young player who is expected to slot into the Penguins’ top six. He shines in the offensive zone with his goal-scoring and playmaking ability, being able to handle the puck with the likes of his elite teammates. Look for him to have a lot of opportunities this season, as Pittsburgh will be in an interesting position not only this season but for years to come.

Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings

He plays well in all situations, including dominating on the power play and shutting things down on the penalty kill. Sebastian Aho has quietly crept his way into the superstar-caliber player conversation. He is one of the most underrated players in the game and has a huge impact on the team each night. He has developed into a perennial Sekle Trophy candidate while also being a 70-point center.

Carter Verhaeghe, Florida Panthers

McDavid can take over games and has fared well against even the toughest defensive matchups through the first three rounds. The Panthers will throw the kitchen sink at him, but McDavid is just operating on another level right now. Draisaitl could be the No. 1 guy on many teams around the NHL, but in Edmonton he has Connor McDavid as a teammate. Draisaitl gives the Oilers a truly elite finisher, both at five-on-five and on the power play. After notching 41 goals in the regular season, he has 10 goals this postseason, which is second in the NHL and would be first on the Panthers. What makes Draisaitl so key in this series is that, although he’s earned a reputation as a prolific goal-scorer, he’s no pushover in the physicality department.

Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

He missed most of his freshman season at the University of Michigan due to injury, but had an excellent sophomore year last season and is set to go pro this Fall. Sam Rinzel was drafted 25th overall by the Blackhawks back in 2022, largely for the massive potential he brings to the table. As a 6-foot-4, right-shot defender, Rinzel has the basic tools that all NHL teams look for.

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings

He’s an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. He doesn’t project to be much of a factor defensively, but his shot and playmaking are his best tools and they could make him a great NHL player someday. Tanner Molendyk was one of the best skaters in the 2023 draft, with excellent edgework and speed. Molendyk’s edgework makes him incredibly mobile in all directions, capable of acting on new information at a moment’s notice. He isn’t the biggest defenseman (just under 6-feet) but he competes hard and defends well as a result of his energy and skating.

Nick Suzuki had one of the best offensive seasons by a Montreal Canadiens player since 2000, and not only was he producing at a great rate, but he is also an excellent defensive center. With Suzuki being the first-line center on a team that struggled as much as the Canadiens did defensively, what is even more impressive is that he earned Selke Trophy votes. There is so much potential for Cole Caufield to become one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL, and while he has yet to hit the 30-goal mark, he has a great release and plays well. There is hope that with an improved top-six, Caufield’s new teammates will help him reach his full potential and challenge for 50 goals someday. Regarded as one of the top two-way players in the entire league, Mark Stone is likely only this low because of his health.

Snuggerud is a responsible defensive player which is impressive for a winger with so much offensive potential. Tom Willander is a high end skater, which allows him to carry the puck out of his own zone and lets him take some risks offensively while still recovering quickly enough on the back-check. His skating is so strong and his motor runs high enough that even in games where he’s quiet offensively, he still provides a ton of value on the defensive end. I liked what I saw from Willander in the NCAA last season, and I think he’s going to be a very talented two-way defender for the Canucks. After a solid showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer of 2022, Quentin Musty was considered by many to be the best U.S. born prospect in this draft class. After an up and down draft year, Musty has silenced many doubts after he tore up the OHL last season.

• The New Jersey Devils and Tampa Bay Lightning lead the charge with six players each in the top 100, while the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers failed to get anyone on our list.
• He isn’t a physical player, but with his 6-foot-5 frame, he will learn to use it better when carrying and protecting the puck.
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki had a really tough post-draft season, with multiple injuries/illnesses ruining any momentum he tried to build.
• He has been a strong shut-down center for the club, and while his play has taken a step back over his massive $77 million deal, he is still a very valuable player.
• There is so much potential for Cole Caufield to become one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL, and while he has yet to hit the 30-goal mark, he has a great release and plays well.

He can jump up in the rush to provide offense, he can find breakout passes into the neutral zone, and he is exceptional with his stick defensively, either breaking up plays or blocking passing lanes. Forsling has four goals and 11 points in these playoffs, more than both Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, two of his teammates considered to be extra offensive-minded. The Finnish center played an integral part in Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, leading all players in faceoff wins. His 78 points in 68 games in the regular season marked the third consecutive point-per-game season and fourth in the last five. Marner has always been dynamic on offense, but over the last couple of seasons, the winger has developed into a legitimate defensive threat. For the first time in his career, the Maple Leafs star was a finalist for the Selke, finishing third in voting behind Patrice Bergeron and Nico Hischier.

Gustav Forsling I D I Florida Panthers

Cristall managed to increase his scoring pace last season in the WHL, scoring 111 points in 62 games making him the league’s fifth leading scorer. He draws tons of attention in the offensive zone and is great at making smart plays under pressure to help open teammates up, making their jobs much easier. Only time will tell if his game will translate to the pro level given his 5-foot-10 frame, but I like his hands and tenacity enough that I think he’s got a great chance. Carter Yakemchuk has an enviable physical makeup as a right-shot defender who already measures at 6-foot-2, 194 pounds and he has produced a ton of offense for the Calgary Hitmen.

• His size advantage is part of what makes him a nearly immovable object in the WHL, but he also has great hands, a strong shot, and really good puck protection instincts.
• He brings great offensive skills and has some of the best possession metrics on his team last season.
• Jiricek produces a ton of chances on offense from the blueline, readily activating into play to support his teammates and keep the puck moving.
• Sam Reinhart might be Florida’s most dangerous offensive option to put the puck in the net.
• He enters this season with one year left on his contract with the Leafs, and it could be Nylander’s final season in Toronto.
• There is no denying that the Wild have become immensely more fun to watch since Kaprizov came over from Russia.
• So, to kick the season off, here are ten rookies to keep an eye on (listed alphabetically).

Because the boring vets can be found on the waiver wire at any time unless you play in a 32-team league. Aleksander Barkov is arguably one of the Panthers’ biggest threats on both ends of the ice. After https://gambibet.org/ all, Barkov won the Selke Trophy this season as the best defensive forward in the NHL. As harassing as Barkov can be on the defensive end, he’s just as dangerous when he’s got the puck on his stick.

Igor Chernyshov, LW, San Jose Sharks

Florida will no doubt try to lay the lumber on Edmonton’s stars, but Draisaitl has a unique knack for getting the puck in the net one way or another. Demidov isn’t quite at the same level as top 2023 Draft prospect Matvei Michkov, but he is a legit top-end talent who has clear top-line potential in the NHL. One thing he and Michkov have in common is a difficulty earning minutes in the KHL as a draft eligible player. Demidov sat out many games to start the year and played full time in the MHL for the rest of the season.

Silayev is 6-foot-7, but he moves like he’s 6-foot-2, and he has shown great two-way play so far in the KHL. He scored six points in his first six games, but slowed down significantly, finishing the season with 11 points after 63 regular season games. There’s a very real chance that he ends up as the top defender in this class given the massive potential his frame and agility provide. The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to snag Lane Hutson near the end of the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft because many expected he’d be drafted much, much earlier. He battles well against larger players and his low center of gravity makes him harder to knock off the puck than you would expect.

He has a great shot and playmaking vision but could use some work on his speed to help him separate from defenders on the rush. Nyman scored 26 goals and 43 points in 48 Liiga games last season and is making the jump to the AHL next year where I expect he’ll be a powerful force for the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Edstrom isn’t the flashiest player offensively, but he skates well for his size and wins tons of battles, clearing the way for his linemates to produce more offense. I expect he’ll earn time on both special teams units in the NHL, and has some top-six center potential if he continues to grow offensively like has over the past 18 months or so.