We can’t believe we’re saying this, but the NHL season is just under a month away. With that being said, many different hockey-affiliated websites and social media accounts have came out with lists stating their picks for the Top 50 players in the NHL. In a collaborative effort, we did the same here at Drive4Five. I polled my fellow writers and contributors, and that formed our list. Lastly, we should note that goaltenders were excluded from this list, as it is extremely difficult to compare goalies with particular skaters in the league as their roles are so vastly different. Click here for our analytical ranking of NHL goalies.

50. Taylor Hall, Buffalo

The 2018 Hart trophy winner hasn’t exactly been in an ideal position the past few seasons, bouncing from Edmonton, to New Jersey, Arizona, and now Buffalo. Injury concerns aside, Hall is still a top offensive presence wherever he lands, and we can expect a vast increase in offensive production from Taylor Hall this year playing alongside Jack Eichel.

49. Ivan Provorov, Philadelphia

Ivan Provorov has become a solid #1 defenseman in Philadelphia, and is the anchor of their defensive unit. Provorov is consistent on both sides of the ice, from shutting down opposing plays to beginning a rush and setting up in the offensive zone. The young defender will only get better and better, and should be much higher on this list in a year or two.

48. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado

Landeskog, the captain of a loaded Colorado team, is a key component in their first line. While he doesn’t have the offensive skill or production of Mikko Rantanen or Nathan MacKinnon, Landeskog is the final piece of the puzzle as he is an excellent leader, two-way player, and playmaker. Last season wasn’t at par with his expectations going in, keeping him slightly lower on the list.

47. Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina

Andrei Svechnikov, who brought the iconic Michigan move into the NHL, has found his game last season in a big way. In his 2019-20 campaign and second career season, Svechnikov notched 24 goals and 61 points in 68 games. His creativity with the puck and ice vision should only lead you to believe he’s going to get better over time and develop into a star, as he is just 20 years of age.

46. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia

Claude Giroux has been the captain of a solid Flyers team for years, and is one of the best players of this generation. While he is exiting his prime and is not the player he once was, him and Sean Couturier still create an excellent one-two center punch. However, with only one goal in his last 25 playoff games, he is kept lower on this list due to his underwhelming postseason performances as of late.

45. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary

After exploding for 99 points in the 2018-19 season where the Flames won the Western conference, Gaudreau has cooled off dramatically. With 58 points and a -10 rating in 70 games last season, many Flames fans were disappointed with their franchise center. However, Gaudreau is still a top offensive presence and is more than good enough to have a bounce-back year on an excellent Flames team.

44. John Carlson, Washington

44 may seem a bit low for a defenseman who scored at above a point-per-game pace last season, but it is a justified position. While Carlson is an elite offensive player, he is a liability defensively. He’s a ridiculously skilled player and fantastic power play quarterback, but the puck finds its way back in the net quite frequently when Carlson is in the defensive zone.

43. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis

The only thing keeping Tarasenko low on this list is his injury concerns. He was out for the majority of last season, and likely won’t be re-evaluated until games are being played. But, when healthy, Tarasenko is a goal-scoring machine. The Blues’ winger had a run of five straight seasons scoring at least 33 goals from the 2014-15 season through the 2018-19 season. He has become slightly underrated due to his inability to stay in the lineup.

42. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington

Kuznetsov has taken Backstrom’s throne for being the best center in Washington. Kuznetsov is always the most dangerous offensive player on the ice when he’s out there, is excellent on the power play, and has a nose for the net. What keeps him lower on this list is how incomplete his game is; he is an offensive player and only an offensive player. To be among the elite, he must improve his 200-foot game.

41. Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary

Like Svechinkov, Matthew Tkachuk elevated his game to a brand new level last season. An offensive threat, an agitator, and a defensively aware winger is a dangerous combination and Tkachuk brings all of those to the table to become the best overall player on the Flames.

40. Jared Spurgeon, Minnesota

Jared Spurgeon is a key component of Minnesota’s top-four defensemen group, which is extremely underrated and quietly one of the best in the NHL. Spurgeon excels in all aspects of the game. The 31-year old notched 32 points in 62 games last season, which is solid for a defender, but his role is to be a two-way defender and he is one of the best in the league at it. Just a great player in every situation.

39. Cale Makar, Colorado

Cale Makar, the recipient of the 2020 Calder Trophy, has “superstar” written all over him. With 50 points in 57 regular season games and 15 points in 15 playoff games last season, there is no doubt that Makar is already an elite defender and will only get better as he still has years to go until his prime. For such a young player, he is also much more well-rounded than some other players lower on the list, like John Carlson or Taylor Hall.

38. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg

Scheifele is the centerpiece of a loaded top-six group in Winnipeg. He exploded for 73 points in 71 games last season, and then was unfortunately injured in their qualifying series in the Return to Play against Calgary. Anyway, in terms of pure offense, Scheifele has been one of the best centers in the entire league for years.

37. Sebastian Aho, Carolina

Aho is the best forward on a very deep Canes team, and scored a career-high 38 goals last year in 68 games for Carolina. In the 2018-19 season, he also went just over point per game, tallying 83 points in 82 games. Needless to say, the 23-year old out of Finland is an elite offensive talent and he hasn’t even entered his prime yet.

36. Mika Zibanejad, NY Rangers

The Rangers’ #1 center is coming off of a career year, exploding for 41 goals and 75 points in 57 games. He led the NHL in goals per game last season and is currently in his prime on a dangerous Rangers offense at age 27. There is not much doubt he was in the top handful of players offensively last year, but the 2019-20 season was the first season of that caliber, or even close, in Zibanejad’s career. If he stays consistent, he will find a much higher spot on this list.

35. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas

Like Cale Makar, Miro Heiskanen is an emerging young superstar on a superb defensive team. The majority of NHL fans were sold on Heiskanen throughout last regular season, as he is a threat everywhere on the ice. Then, he dropped 26 points in 27 PLAYOFF games as a 21 year-old defender. Needless to say, with his defensive awareness and high offensive production, Heiskanen is the real deal.

34. Mathew Barzal, NY Islanders

In all three full seasons he’s been an Islander, Barzal has led the team in points. There is no doubt he is one of the most skilled and dynamic players in the game, and one of the best transition players in the game. However, to rank among the superstars at the top of the list, Barzal needs to be more disciplined, defensively aware, and produce more. For now, #34 is a fair ranking.

33. Shea Theodore, Vegas

Shea Theodore is emerging as one of the league’s best defensemen, and proved it in the Return to Play with 19 points in 20 games. The 25 year-old is the perfect mix of offensively skilled, defensively talented, and a special teams extraordinaire. As he is entering his prime, and will do so playing with Alex Pietrangelo, we don’t expect any sort of regression from the Vegas defender anytime soon.

32. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia

Sean Couturier is one of the most complete players in the National Hockey League and that helped him to receive the Selke Trophy for the best defensive forward last season. In addition to that, Couturier scored 22 goals and 59 points in 69 games this past season, after putting up 76 points twice in a row the two consecutive seasons prior. Couturier is a star in all aspects of the game, and is the best overall player on the Philadelphia Flyers.

31. Seth Jones, Columbus

At this point, it is pretty safe to say the Blue Jackets won the Jones-Johansen trade. Seth Jones gets an obscene amount of time on ice on a limited Columbus roster, and makes a positive impact on the game. He has to face team’s top scorers for almost 25 minutes a night night in and night out, and his work is solid in both ends.

30. Charlie McAvoy, Boston

With Torey Krug signing in St. Louis, that leaves little doubt that Charlie McAvoy is the #1 defender in Boston. McAvoy is solid as a rock defensively, and with Krug’s departure, should get more power play and offensive opportunities to truly showcase his skill this season.

29. Aleksander Barkov, Florida

Despite a bit of a slower season last year, Barkov is still one of the most complete players in the game. The Panthers captain is an excellent defensive forward, and has some of the softest hands in the league on the offensive front. Sasha Barkov is one of the only elite talents left in Florida with Evgenii Dadonov’s departure and Mike Hoffman likely not signing, and a lot of their success this season will rely on his leadership and performance.

28. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina

Over the past couple seasons, Jaccob Slavin has entered the elite category on the blue line for Carolina. Slavin is an excellent player in any position he is put in, and always seems to elevate his game to a different level come playoff time. He also posted an obscene +30 in 68 games this past season. Good things happen when he is on the ice.

27. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado

It is unfortunate that Mikko Rantanen was riddled with injury problems this past season, as he is a fun player to watch. With 250 points in 281 career games, the 24-year old has been a top offensive contributor throughout his entire career thus far in Colorado. As he is playing along Nathan McKinnon and beginning to enter his prime, we expect Rantanen to have a monster season in 2021.

26. John Tavares, Toronto

Despite a slower season with injuries and inconsistency last year, JT is still one of the best offensive players in the league on a stacked offensive team. In his 2018-19 campaign, the Leafs captain put up a career-high 47 goals, and it would be far from shocking if he were to score at a similar pace this year with the offensive weapons surrounding him.

25. Mark Stone, Vegas

Mark Stone is the best forward on the Vegas Golden Knights and there’s not too much to deliberate about. Not only is his offensive production solid for a first liner, especially come playoff time, he is one of the most complete forwards in the NHL. When he is on the ice, the opposition seems to get far fewer dangerous scoring opportunities, and his worth should be measured accordingly.

24. Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida

For the past few seasons, Huberdeau has been one of the most underrated players in the league and an absolutely dominant offensive presence in Sunrise. With 170 points in 151 games over the past two seasons, it is safe to say that Huberdeau is a top offensive player. While he’s not the most complete player, no one should take his production for granted.

23. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay

Steven Stamkos is one of the best players and goal scorers of this generation. Despite his inability to stay healthy, Stammer is now a Stanley Cup champion, and has collected 422 goals and 832 points in 803 career games. When healthy, the Bolts captain still produces quite nicely on offense. In 57 games last season, he put up 29 goals and 66 points. With that being said, Stamkos should still be considered in any discussion about the top players in the NHL.

22. Elias Petterson, Vancouver

Even at such a young age, Elias Petterson is one of the best centers in the NHL. He is dangerous offensively, with 132 points in 139 career games on the Canucks. He is solid in his own end as well, contributing to his +16 rating last season on a team with some defensive struggles. In terms of impact he has when he is on the ice, Petterson is one of the best in the game.

21. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina

Over the past couple seasons, Dougie Hamilton has developed into a top defender in the NHL and the best overall player on the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite his injury last year, he put up 40 points in 47 games from the blue line and is elite in his own end. While plus-minus can be a flawed statistic, being +30 in 47 games last season in the Metropolitan Division is nothing to scoff at.

20. Mitch Marner, Toronto

Mitch Marner is one of the craftiest players in hockey, and fits nicely on a line with either Auston Matthews or John Tavares. He is an electric player, and creates all kinds of problems for opposing defenses when he’s on the ice. With 119 assists in 141 games these past two seasons, it’s pretty safe to call him one of the best playmakers in the league as well.

19. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh

To this day, Evgeni Malkin is still a top offensive player in this league. He was Pittsburgh’s best player last year, with 25 goals and 74 points in 55 games despite dealing with injuries all season long. He makes his wingers so much better. Bryan Rust is an example of this, as he scored well above a point per game playing with #71 last season.

18. Patrick Kane, Chicago

Arguably the greatest American player ever to play, Patrick Kane isn’t showing any signs of regression, even on a rebuilding Chicago team. While Kane isn’t the best defensive player, he is as good of an offensive player you could ever ask for. He’s shifty, fast, skilled, has incredible vision, and a good shot. He’s coming off of an 84-point season in 70 games.

17. Patrice Bergeron, Boston

Despite slowing down slightly, Bergeron is still one of the best centers in hockey and is the glue that keeps the “Perfection Line” in Boston together. He’s won the Selke Trophy numerous times as a result of his superb two-way play, is dangerous up front, and has scored clutch goals in bunches in his career. Bergeron is doing all the same now. It will be interesting to see how he performs without Marchand or Pastrnak on his wings for the first couple months of the season.

16. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis

Ever since O’Reilly has left Buffalo for St. Louis, his play has been on another planet. While you may be surprised to see O’Reilly this high with his offensive numbers, you can make the argument that O’Reilly is the best two-way player in the game. O’Reilly creates all kinds of scoring chances for his teammates and limits opportunities from his opponents.

15. David Pastrnak, Boston

David Pastrnak is one of the most fun players to watch in the NHL, a goal scoring machine, and a dangerous player every time he touches the ice. Him and Alex Ovechkin each tallied 48 goals last season and shared the Rocket Richard trophy. Pastrnak takes advantage of the majority of the offensive opportunities he’s given, and was first in the NHL with 4.3 points/60 last season. In short, Pastrnak is an elite offensive talent on the best line in the NHL.

14. Alex Ovechkin, Washington

Alex Ovechkin is arguably the greatest goal scorer in the history of the game, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He’s a leader, very physical, and of course, still scoring at astronomical rates. He hit 700 goals last season, and has won the Rocket Richard nine times in his career. He has rounded out his game slightly, but isn’t complete enough of a player to crack our top ten.

13. Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas

Alex Pietrangelo is the perfect defender. He does it all. He is a fantastic leader, great in his own end, excellent on the power play and offensively, and physical when you need him to be. The Blues will certainly miss their former captain, and this lines up for Pietrangelo-Theodore to potentially be the best defensive pairing in the entire league.

12. Auston Matthews, Toronto

Auston Matthews, the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has one of the most lethal shots in the game and is an incredible offensive player. After coming off of a 47-goal season, there is no real reason to believe his production will slow down anytime soon besides injuries. Matthews is great with the puck in tight spaces, and whenever he has time with the puck in the slot, it’s likely ending up in the back of the net.

11. Jack Eichel, Buffalo

Jack Eichel is a superstar. Despite being on a mediocre Buffalo team, his offensive production is still eye-catching, and his numbers will likely get even better this year playing alongside Taylor Hall. However, with 36 goals and 78 points in 68 games last season, that is quite the request. This Sabres team can be exciting if built properly around Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin.

10. Roman Josi, Nashville

You could make the argument that Roman Josi is the best all around defender in the NHL, and is coming off of winning the Norris trophy. The Predators’ star defenseman excels in all areas of the game, and is the epitome of an elite all-around defenseman, similarly to Alex Pietrangelo.

9. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay

Nikita Kucherov’s offensive production is out of this world. He dropped 128 points in the 2018-19 season, and led all players in the 2020 postseason with 33 points. While offense is really his only strength, when he’s put on the ice, the opposing team is always in some danger of the puck ending up in the back of their net.

8. Brad Marchand, Boston

Brad Marchand is the type of player you absolutely hate… unless he’s on your team. Marchand is quite the agitator and knows how to get under peoples’ skin, but that’s what makes him such a unique, and quite frankly, successful player. He is great in all 200-feet of the ice, an incredible playmaker as he sets up the majority of David Pastrnak’s goals, and a physical presence as well. Whether it’s a game saving defensive play, a jab off the face-off, or a game-winning offensive set-up, Marchand is tough as nails to play against.

7. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay

Other than Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon, Brayden Point may be the most valuable asset in hockey. At just 24 years of age, the Tampa Bay center has been dominant his past few seasons in the NHL, especially in last year’s RTP. He’s solid defensively, and one of the most dangerous players in the league on the attack. Between the regular season and playoffs last year, his combined 97 points in 89 games should vouch for that.

6. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton

After scoring 110 points last year and running away with the Art Ross, Hart, and Ted Lindsay awards, it is safe to say that Leon Draisaitl is not carried by Connor McDavid. In fact, when McDavid was injured last year, Draisaitl put up 10 points in four games. He is also not on a line with McDavid, yet was fifth in the NHL last season for even-strength goals. With that being said, Draisaitl is an elite offensive presence, and his chemistry with Connor McDavid makes for a historically good power play.

5. Artemi Panarin, NY Rangers

In his first season with the Rangers, Artemi Panarin proved he was all that and then some.  He is an excellent two-way winger, and the face of the Rangers franchise contemporarily. He put up 95 points this last season, with Jesper Fast and Ryan Strome on his line for the majority of the season, not even Zibanejad. As a result, the conclusion that can be reached is that Panarin is an incredible offensive talent and makes the players around him so much better. He carried the team on his back last season.

4. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay

If this Return to Play proved anything, it’s that Victor Hedman is the best defenseman in the National Hockey League and it’s tough to argue otherwise. Hedman is exceptional in every facet of the game, and it’s tough to find a weakness in his game. At a towering 6’7″, he is physical, hard to knock the puck off of, and blocks a lot of shots. He has a cannon of a shot, is the perfect power play quarterback, and scores at the biggest moments. And of course, he is solid as a rock in his own end, mitigating scoring chances against anyone he plays.

3. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby is the best player of this generation, and there’s no real arguing it logically. His leadership, success, shot, defense, skating, and hockey IQ are all mind-bogglingly good, and it’s quite a shame that his entire career has been riddled with injuries because nobody will know how much we missed out on. Despite his injury concerns, Crosby is still a brilliant hockey player, quite possibly the best skater this game has ever seen, and an overwhelming offensive presence.

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado

Watching Nathan McKinnon play is quite the treat. The captain of the Avalanche is an incredible offensive player regardless of how you slice it. He’s a wonderful skater, has excellent hands and ice vision, and scores plenty of goals to boot. His excellence shined bright in the Return to Play, as he exploded for 25 points in 15 games without his line mates in some cases, and had 118 combined points in 84 games between the regular season and playoffs last year. Yeah, he’s good.

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton

Right now, Connor McDavid is the best player in hockey and it’s not even close. He is a generational talent and if he keeps up this pace, will go down as one of the game’s best to ever play. McDavid’s speed and skill is just on another level of anyone else’s in the NHL, and dominates every time he’s on the ice. I’m asking on behalf of everyone who watches hockey (minus Flames fans, of course), get an elite winger for Connor McDavid. History can be made, because McDavid will likely be the best player in the game for at least a decade and maybe even longer.