B/R's Top 32 NHL Player Rankings for the Start of the 2024-25 Season

Lyle Fitzsimmons Featured Columnist III

B/R's Top 32 NHL Player Rankings for the Start of the 2024-25 Season

Codie McLachlan/ There are a lot of great players in the NHL.
But who's the best? And how do the others compare?
Those were the questions a giddy B/R hockey staff pondered over the weekend as we celebrated the official start of the 2024-25 season with a pair of games in Europe.
The gang got together and composed individual lists of the top 32 players in the league - mirroring our Power Rankings methodology - then combined the lists and assigned points values from end to end, 32 points for a first-place vote down to one point for a 32nd place.
Factors like career achievement, current productivity and status compared to others at a given position were among the factors considered, and exactly 37 players got at least a mention on one list or another.
The top 32 (plus a tie) are presented here in reverse order along with a handful of honorably mentioned others who received votes. Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought of your own in the comments.

Honorable Mentions

Scott Audette/NHLI via Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes: One of the game's most unsung players, Aho has posted eight straight seasons of at least 24 goals and has reached 30 five times, too.
Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers: A first-round pick of the Oilers in 2018, Bouchard became one of the rare point-per-game defensemen in 2023-24, registering 82 points in 81 games.
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning: An OG who was picked second overall in 2009, Hedman has a Norris, a Conn Smythe and two Stanley Cup rings in his Tampa trophy case.
Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers: A veteran of three teams in a career stretching back to 2010, Bobrovsky added a first championship last spring to the two Vezinas he'd already won.

Dave Sandford/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Seventh Oiler to score 50 goals; Third NHL player drafted in Round 2 or later to score 50
A Toronto native whose game elevated when he left his hometown, Hyman has blossomed with a powerful Edmonton team, establishing career-highs in goals in each of his three seasons with the Oilers - including a team-best 54 in 2024-25.

Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: NHL All-Rookie Team (2019), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2019)
If you're bullish on the Dallas Stars to be among the league's elite teams, the 25-year-old Heiskanen is surely among the reasons. He was picked third overall in 2017 and has been a stalwart since, averaging 23 minutes or better for six seasons on the Dallas blue line.

David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2019-20, 2023-24)
A foot soldier during his debut NHL season with the Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lightning, Verhaeghe crossed the state as a free agent and has been a vital cog with the Florida Panthers, scoring 21 playoff points on the way to a second career Cup hoist last spring.

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Played in NHL All-Star Game (2024)
Yet another who's benefited from a change of scenery, Miller spent parts of seven seasons with the New York Rangers and Lightning before heading to Vancouver and finding his game - including career-bests in goals (37), assists (66) and points (103) in 2023-24.

Claus Andersen/Career Stats:
Accolades: NHL All-Rookie Team (2017), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2020, 2023, 2024), NHL First All-Star Team (2021, 2022)
He may be a lightning rod for criticism in a hockey-mad Toronto, but there aren't many players league-wide who've been as productive as Marner, who's been a point-per-game producer for six straight seasons and plus-20 or better in four of them.

Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2019-20, 2020-21), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2018)
A third-round pick who became a more effective player as the Lightning's run of Eastern Conference dominance began, Point was an All-Star in the team's record 62-win season and led the league in postseason goals on the way to Cup hoists in both 2020 and 2021.

Bruce Bennett/Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2023-24), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2024)
The second overall pick in the 2014 draft, Reinhart had perhaps the best-timed contract season of all time in 2023-24, spiking his career-best goal total from 33 to 57 and winning a Stanley Cup for the Panthers before signing an eight-year deal worth $69 million.

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2011-12, 2013-14), Frank J. Selke Trophy (2015-16, 2017-18), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2015-16, 2022-23), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2020)
Kopitar has been everything the Kings could have asked, and more, as a No. 11 overall draft pick in 2005. He's scored 20 or more goals in 13 seasons, been recognized as the league's best two-way forward twice, and helped the franchise to both of its Stanley Cup.

Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: NHL All-Rookie Team (2019), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Lest anyone think he's still just Matthew's little brother, the younger Tkachuk has become a high-end NHL player in his own right, playing in four All-Star Games and ticking from 30 to 35 to 37 goals across the last three seasons with an Ottawa team that's on the rise, too.

Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Calder Memorial Trophy (2018-19), NHL All-Rookie Team (2019), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
A lanky Swede who was chosen fifth overall in 2017, Pettersson has been a plug-and-play producer for the Canucks, scoring 30 goals three times and providing production on both the power play and while shorthanded, in addition to winning 50-plus percent of faceoffs.

Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: Played in NHL All-Star Game (2024)
A second-generation NHL'er whose father, Michael, 920 games with seven teams, William Nylander has worked his way into star status in Toronto, where he's scored 114 goals across the last three seasons - good for 15th in the league and second among the Maple Leafs.

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: NHL All-Rookie Team (2021), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2023), NHL First All-Star Team (2023)
He's only played parts of five seasons in the NHL, but the 25-year-old Robertson - a second-round pick in 2017 - has already begun climbing charts, with his 109 points in 2022-23 putting him first all-time among U.S.-born players aged 23 or younger.

Andrew Mordzynski/Career Stats:
Accolades: James Norris Memorial Trophy (2020-21), NHL First All-Star Team (2021, 2023), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2023), NHL Second All-Star Team (2024)
Though he was selected by Calgary in the third round of the 2016 draft, Fox had grown up near New York as a Rangers fan and flourished upon being traded there in 2019, becoming the only player other than Bobby Orr to win the Norris Trophy in his second NHL season.

Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2021-22), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2019, 2023), NHL Second All-Star Team (2021)
Perhaps the best NHL player who's not widely known outside the hardcore fan set, Rantanen has scored the fifth-most goals in the league (163) over the last four seasons - trailing only the likes of Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak.

Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2022-23), NHL All-Rookie Team (2016), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2018, 2019, 2020)
Forever recognized as the No. 2 pick behind Connor McDavid in 2015, Eichel was the best player on a bad Buffalo team to start but joined a group of stars after a trade to Vegas and raised his game to a Cup-winning level with 26 points in 22 playoff games in 2023.

Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2023-24), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2020, 2023), NHL All-Star Game MVP (2023), NHL Second All-Star Team (2022, 2023)
One of those players you hate as an opponent but love to have on your team, Tkachuk rode alongside Johnny Gaudreau on a powerful Calgary team before a deal to Florida in 2022 yielded a career-best 109 points in Year 1 and a franchise first Stanley Cup in Year 2.

John Russell/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: James Norris Memorial Trophy (2019-20), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2016, 2019, 2020, 2022), NHL First All-Star Team (2020, 2022, 2024)
He's become a Nashville icon after 13 seasons there, but don't be fooled into thinking Josi is just a Predators thing. The 34-year-old was a Norris winner in 2020 and a finalist in 2024 after he led all blue-liners in goals (23) and shots (268) and third in points (85).

Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: Calder Memorial Trophy (2020-21), NHL All-Rookie Team (2021), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2022, 2023, 2024)
It took five years for Kaprizov to make his way from fifth-round draft choice (2015) to NHL rookie (2020), but he's made quite the impact since his arrival, winning a Rookie of the Year award and scoring 133 goals - which is good for fifth-best in the NHL over that stretch.

Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: Calder Memorial Trophy (2023-24), NHL All-Rookie Team (2024)
It's not easy to make the transition from teenage junior to No. 1 overall draft pick and savior of an Original Six franchise, but Bedard pulled it off with alacrity for the Blackhawks last season. He was the fifth 18-year-old in league history to record a five-point game in March.

Andrew Maclean /NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Played in NHL All-Star Game (2022, 2023)
Another in a series of No. 1 picks on our list, Hughes was the fifth member of the U.S. national development program and became the youngest Devils player to reach 40 goals in 14 years when he did it in 2022-23 - the same season he established a New Jersey points record.

Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Calder Memorial Trophy (2015-16), NHL All-Rookie Team (2016), NHL Second All-Star Team (2017, 2023), NHL First All-Star Team (2020, 2024), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2023)
To suggest Panarin turned out pretty well for an undrafted free agent is an All-Star-level understatement, given his perennial status as an MVP candidate and track record as a point-per-game producer across nearly 700 games in parts of nine seasons.

Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Vezina Trophy (2019-20, 2023-24), William M. Jennings Trophy (2023-24), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024), NHL Second All-Star Team (2018), NHL First All-Star Team (2020, 2024)
One of only two goalies on our 32-player list, Hellebuyck was a gem of a fifth-round pick by the Jets in 2012 and was a 40-game winner in the NHL by 2017-18. He's one of just 23 players to win multiple Vezina trophies and his 37 shutouts are sixth among active goalies.

Derek Cain/Career Stats:
Accolades: James Norris Memorial Trophy (2023-24), NHL All-Rookie Team (2020), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2020, 2024), NHL First All-Star Team (2024)
The second of two Hughes brothers in the top half of the list, Quinn Hughes' prowess as a puck-moving defenseman has been clear since his arrival in Vancouver at the end of the 2018-19 season. His 17 goals, 75 assists and 92 points last season were all career highs.

Dave Sandford/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2008-09, 2015-16, 2016-17), Art Ross Trophy (2006-07, 2013-14), Conn Smythe Trophy (2015-16, 2016-17), Hart Memorial Trophy (2006-07, 2013-14), NHL All-Rookie Team (2006), NHL First All-Star Team (2007, 2013, 2014, 2016), NHL Second All-Star Team (2010, 2015, 2017, 2019), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2007, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024), NHL All-Star Game MVP (2019)
Because the "Kid" is still producing at such a high level - his 94 points last season were his most since 2018-19 - it's easy to forget he's 37 years old. Not only is the Hall of Fame a lock after retirement, he'll be prominently mentioned on a shorter list of the greatest players ever.

Bruce Bennett/Career Stats:
Accolades: Vezina Trophy (2021-22), NHL First All-Star Team (2022), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2023, 2024)
The Rangers plucked Shesterkin in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and played the waiting game with him, but their patience has been rewarded in a big way. His 109 wins across the last three seasons are tops in the NHL and his 13 shutouts are second.

Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2023-24), Frank J. Selke Trophy (2020-21, 2023-24), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2018-19), Played NHL All-Star Game (2018, 2023)
Perhaps the finest two-way forward in the game today and among the best of his era, Barkov captained the Panthers to their first title last season while producing more than a point per game, maintaining a plus-33 rating and winning better than 57 percent of his faceoffs.

7. David Pastrňák, Boston Bruins

Rich Gagnon/Career Stats:
Accolades: Played NHL All-Star Game (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024), NHL First All-Star Team (2020, 2023), NHL All-Star Game MVP (2020), NHL Second All-Star Team (2024)
One of the most spectacularly skilled players of the generation, "Pasta" has reached the 100-point plateau in each of the last two seasons and is one of just 23 players in league history - and one of five still active - to score at least 60 goals in a single season.

Leila Devlin/Career Stats:
Accolades: Art Ross Trophy (2019-20), Hart Memorial Trophy (2019-20), NHL First All-Star Team (2020), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), NHL Second All-Star Team (2023)
Though he's sometimes overshadowed by a prolific teammate in Edmonton, there's little doubt Draisaitl is also among the era's greats. His three 50-goal seasons are second only to Alex Ovechkin among active players and his 108 playoff points since 2017 are third best.

Mike Carlson/NHLI via Career Stats:
There's hardly been a player in the league as offensively dangerous as Kucherov has been since his full-time arrival to the Lightning in 2014-15. In fact, his 855 points are second in the NHL in that time frame and his 52 goals and 166 playoff points are both first.

Michael Martin/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2021-22), Calder Memorial Trophy (2019-20), Conn Smythe Trophy (2021-22), James Norris Memorial Trophy (2021-22), NHL All-Rookie Team (2020), NHL First All-Star Team (2021, 2022), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2022, 2023, 2024), NHL Second All-Star Team (2023, 2024)
He's still a few weeks short of 26 years old, but Makar has already had quite the career. The Rookie of the Year award in 2020 was just an appetizer for the triple crown that came two years later in the form of the Norris Trophy, the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup.

David Becker/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Stanley Cup (2021-22), Calder Memorial Trophy (2013-14), Hart Memorial Trophy (2023-24), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2019-20), NHL All-Rookie Team (2014), NHL Second All-Star Team (2018, 2020), NHL First All-Star Team (2024), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024)
The penultimate No. 1 overall pick on our list, MacKinnon was the league's top rookie upon arrival but didn't break into superstar status until 2017-18, when he spiked from 53 points to 97. Last season's 51 goals, 89 assists and 140 points were career bests and earned an MVP.

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Career Stats:
Accolades: Art Ross Trophy (2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23), Conn Smythe Trophy (2023-24), Hart Memorial Trophy (2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23), NHL All-Rookie Team (2016), NHL First All-Star Team (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023), Played in NHL All-Star Game (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), NHL Second All-Star Team (2022, 2024)
The league is flush with superstars but McDavid was a unanimous choice as its best thanks to a nine-year run that's been historic. His 1.52 points per game are the NHL's best since 2015 and third all-time for a career behind only guys named Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

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