Too many people take this exercise for granted. It isn't just hockey supporters, either. Fans of the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. don't often seen the value of player rankings. Some think they're purely clickbait or just mindless endeavors. Rest assured, attempting to decipher the best hockey players in the world is no easy task.
You better also believe it has a purpose. Ranking the top players allows us to see who should be favorites for some of the year-end awards, which in turn gives us an idea of how to bet on NHL props. The best of the best tend to come from Eastern Conference and Western Conference powerhouses as well, which can then help us make decisions about the Stanley Cup playoffs.
So even if you don't agree with the order of or inclusions on our list, please at least realize this process matters.
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The Top NHL Players in the World
Finally, try to keep in mind we're looking exclusively at the current 2023-24 NHL season. We will be taking past performances into account and ranking players according to how we believe the pecking order will stand for the rest of the year. But the returns from the 2022-23 campaign to date will remain our heaviest weighted criteria.
1. Conor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
McDavid is the best player in the world, and it's not particularly close. That's not a knock on the rest of the league's superstars, but no one is sniffing the Oilers captain's production. McDavid hit 64 goals last year and became the first player in 27 years to secure 153 points. The crazy thing is not many people would bat an eye if he has a better year in 2023-24.
2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
A usual MVP candidate, MacKinnon combines jaw-dropping speed with slick hands and an undeniable passion for the game. Coming off a career-high 111 points last season, he remains one of hockey's most exciting talents. Though the Avalanche have lightened his scoring load, his impact is obvious whenever he hits the ice.
3. Cale Makar, D, Avalanche
Had Makar played a full season last year, there's a chance he would be entering this year as a back-to-back Norris Trophy winner. Nonetheless, Makar enters this season as the league's best defenseman and a top-three player in the league. He only played 60 games last year with injury, but still managed to finish top-10 in defensemen scoring (66 points) and one of only two blue-liners to put up a point-per-game (1.10).
4. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
The Robin to McDavid's Batman, Draisaitl is a world-class talent who would be the best player on 30 other teams. The German center finished with 52 goals and a career-high 128 points last season, giving him now three years with at least 50 goals and four seasons with at least 100 points. Draisaitl is regarded as the best passer in the league, and rightfully so with his slick dishing ability.
5. Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs
We go from the best passer to the best pure goal-scorer. Matthews regressed a tad last season, going from 60 goals to 40 and 106 points to 85. But the Maple Leafs superstar still has the best release in the league, making him dangerous at all angles in the offensive zone. Matthews has also greatly improved defensively and in the faceoff dot, forming into an all-around star for Toronto.
6. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
If we're talking about players who can contend with Matthews and McDavid for the Rocket Richard, Pastrnak tops the list. The Bruins sniper is coming off a 61-goal, 113-point campaign in 2022-23 — and you can't point to his linemates anymore, as he spent a majority of the season away from Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Pasta is one of the best goal scorers in the league, with his patented one-timer from the dot among his favorite weapons.
7. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Lightning
It had been a few years since Kucherov dominated a regular season, but he got back to his ways last year, putting up 113 points and 83 assists. He was one of only two players to hit at least 80 helpers on the year, (McDavid was the other), en route to his third triple-digit points campaign. The Lightning winger is an elite playmaker who always finds himself among the league leaders in assists.
8. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Panthers
Tkachuk is a unicorn in today's NHL. He combines size and aggression with slick skill, showcasing some of the best hands in the league while not being afraid to muck things up. After he was acquired by the Panthers last summer, he emerged as the face of the franchise, posting his second consecutive 100-point season. Tkachuk's clutch run in the playoffs was the cherry on top of a sensational first season in Florida.
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