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The best NHL players in 2024 are not only dominating the ice with their extraordinary performances, but they are also redefining what it means to be elite in the sport of hockey. These athletes continue to amaze with their speed, agility, and strategic play, cementing their status as fan favorites and role models for aspiring hockey stars. With a 60-goal season under his belt, he has shown that he can be among the best in the league. There isn’t as much offense on the Bruins forward group as the other teams higher on the list, and Pastrnak is the one that all of the offense runs through. Since joining the Panthers, Carter Verhaeghe has taken huge steps in his game and has become not only a great goal-scorer but one of the most clutch players in the NHL. He has five overtime goals in the playoffs, which ranks third in NHL history, and in just five years in the league, he has won two Stanley Cups and has 55 points in 69 playoff games.

Ranking the 10 top NHL players in 2024 Stanley Cup Final

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.

Prospects #70-61

Tkachuk may be the face of the franchise, but Barkov is the engine that runs the machine. He leads the playoffs with 31 points heading into the Stanley Cup Final and has recorded at least one point in 14 of the 18 postseason contests in 2024. McDavid is undoubtedly one of the frontrunners for https://gambibet.org/ the Conn Smythe entering the Stanley Cup Final. The Sporting News ranks the top 10 players participating in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Matthews impresses every season, but this one was arguably his best all-around performance, and that should bode well for Toronto’s playoff prospects.

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

This feels like the right level of competition for him right now, challenging enough that he’s not going to score two points each night but manageable enough for him to be one of the best players on his team. He had a great season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds and is looking like the player everyone thought would go first overall back in 2022 once again. Dickinson’s defensive game has shone in an increased role this year and his offense has improved as well, nearly tripling his previous career high for points. There’s a ton of two-way, top-four defender potential in his game, and room for something more if his offensive numbers from this year are to be believed. Jonathan Lekkerimäki had a really tough post-draft season, with multiple injuries/illnesses ruining any momentum he tried to build. That was true all year until the Allsvenskan playoffs where he seemed to finally look like his old self again, scoring 15 points in 15 games.

Ranking the top 50 NHL players in 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs

The few freshmen in line to play on this team are touted players, a first round pick in Michael Hage, a late round pick/USNTDP guy in Christian Humphreys, and a possible first round pick in Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen. Only Hunter Hady or Will Felicio could be in the lineup as a skater as an undrafted freshman. This is a more veteran team than what Michigan is used to and I think they will benefit from it.

• He was an essential piece for the Shawinigan Cataractes as he helped lead them to a QMJHL Championship two seasons ago, and he has proven himself equally as important as a pro.
• They landed some great prospects with each pick, but my favorite of the bunch, Jiri Kulich, was the last one they selected at 28th overall.
• Owen Beck is an incredibly reliable and versatile two-way centerman who has increased his stock considerably ever since being selected in the 2022 NHL Draft at the beginning of the second round.
• While Bedard scores by shooting a wrister as hard as possible, trying to punch a hole through the goalie, Michkov will outsmart the defense and score by finding holes in coverage.
• He is a fantastic complimentary piece to any of the top three centers the LA Kings have, and his versatile playstyle allows him to be deployed in nearly any situation.
• He has the tools to be a top-6 forward, but his offensive game will need to continue to grow if he wants to reach that level of play in the NHL.
• With his game-breaking play every night, McDavid pulls himself closer and closer to the top of the list of all-time greats with each game he plays.

NBA Teams

• He has flirted with a 100-point season in three out of the last four years, securing 92 last year.
• 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.
• Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort.
• He’s a massive power forward (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who is incredibly quick and difficult to knock off the puck.
• The high-end Oilers forwards make offense a bit easier for all of their teammates, but that shouldn’t take away from how great Bouchard was.
• It marked his sixth straight year topping the list, having overtaken Sidney Crosby in 2017 after the Penguins star had a seven-year run at No. 1.
• Though he already has a Stanley Cup on his resume, he will certainly be looking to get back into contention for another Cup this season.
• Luneau made the opening night lineup for the Ducks last year but bounced between the NHL and AHL before heading to Sweden for the World Juniors where he was sidelined with an infection in his knee that ended his season.

As great as the Oilers are on offense, they do need to play some defense to win the Stanley Cup. Since joining Edmonton ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, Ekholm has provided some much needed stability on defense, and he has elevated his game in these playoffs. In his 321 minutes of ice time at five-on-five, the Oilers have controlled 57.2% of the expected goals and outscored opponents 19-11, per Natural Stat Trick. Those numbers are even more eye-popping when you consider Ekholm is tasked with slowing down the opposition’s top forwards. It’s probably safe to assume that Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe will get a heavy dose of Ekholm in this series. Artyom Levshunov has an incredibly exciting toolkit as a big, right-handed defender who skates incredibly well.

Kirk Cousins Proves he is THAT DUDE at Quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons

Celebrini excels at everything, with great skating, goal scoring ability, off-puck play, defensive effort, confidence, and just about every other attribute you could dream of. After tearing up the United States high school prep circuit with Shattuck St. Mary’s, Celebrini tried his hand in the USHL last season with the Chicago Steel and was immediately the best player in the league. Simon Edvinsson is one of the most exciting prospects in the hockey world, with nearly limitless potential due to his remarkable size (6-foot-6), mobility (guys his size rarely skate this well), and offensive skill. Edvinsson was an impressive two-way force in the SHL after being drafted, and made the transition to North America two seasons ago. He looked much more comfortable with the North American game over the course of his first season and grew a lot on ice from his NHL pre-season games to the NHL games he played toward the end of the year.

Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

If it hadn’t been for McDavid’s outrageous scoring pace, Barkov would have won the Conn Smythe Trophy as he received second-place votes on 15 out of the 17 ballots. A huge breakout year for Sam Reinhart propelled him up this list, and if he can replicate this kind of season and prove it isn’t a one-and-done kind of year, he will continue to shoot up the list. Scoring 57 goals has only been done by a handful of players currently active, and while many were on the powerplay, they all count the same.

• 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.
• When he was drafted first overall, the offense was known to be his biggest asset, but his defensive play has become much stronger and he is now able to take control over a game at both ends of the ice.
• He blocks a ton of shots, plays excellent defense, and is one of the strongest leaders and mentors in the league.
• The Rangers’ acquisition of Zibanejad a few years ago from the Senators continues to age like fine wine.
• He’s a top-three goaltender in the league, coming off a season where he posted a 2.34 GAA, .934 SV% and a 38.7 goals saved above expected.
• Rantanen finished sixth in MVP voting — and I don’t think that did his performance enough justice.
• His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably effective in the NHL someday.

Editor’s Picks

His skating is his best tool both on offense and on defense, but he could use some help defensively where he can get pushed around a bit. Okay, I may have under-sold Brzustewicz’s offense already, he finished last season 10th in OHL scoring and led the league in assists with 79. He has second-pairing potential in the NHL, especially if paired with a solid defensive defender who can make up for his deficiencies on that end. He’s extremely deceptive when setting up his teammates and has a very underrated shot. Lysell has spent the last two seasons in the AHL where he has been excellent for the Providence Bruins, scoring 87 points in 110 total games. It won’t be long before he debuts in Boston, and I think his skating will make him stand out at the NHL level from day-one.

The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2024-25 Preseason Update

• Sandin Pellikka had a great showing for Sweden at the World Juniors in his draft year, improving his draft stock considerably.
• Wallinder was one of the best young players in Sweden last season and has made the switch to North America this year with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
• With 145 points over the last two seasons, being a strong defensive presence for the Jets, and earning a fifth- and seventh-place finish in Norris Trophy voting, he has really emerged as a true number-one defenseman.
• Despite the strong goaltending from Augustine, MSU gave up 117 goals last season which was quite a few (way more than Minnesota, Wisconsin, or ND) and a lot of that was attributable to icing a very young D.
• There are always a few first-round picks who rose in their draft year in large part to their size advantage, and Lian Bichsel is certainly one of them.
• David Reinbacher is a 6-foot-2 defender with a right-handed shot and great mobility who played lots of minutes in the National League (NL), Switzerland’s top professional men’s league, during his draft year.

Early returns have been good as Mesar has had back-to-back great showings at the World Juniors over the past 12 months and has already shown a ton of improvement in two seasons in the OHL. Few OHL defenders are capable of slowing him down in transition where his quick weight shifts and deceptive posture can be incredibly difficult to read. Mesar will be a fascinating player to watch in the AHL next season as he moves back to the pro level. That’s been the case from the very beginning, as he came back season after season with some skill tweaked, some ability enhanced.

Draft busts for 2024-25

I’m very excited to see this team on the ice, not necessarily because I think they’ll be better than recent years but because I do think they’ll be more interesting. After several years of having a gigantic talent advantage (especially at F) against nearly anyone they played, this Michigan team doesn’t have quite the same level of firepower. I am not sure we’ll have a 20-goal scorer on this team, as this one is less about the blue chip scoring talent and more about being able to build multiple scoring lines with a veteran defense behind them. Different than the mold we’re used to, which is why it should be a barometer of how adaptable this coaching staff is. The number one pick of the 2024 NHL entry draft, Macklin Celebrini, is already looking to be a huge favorite for the Calder trophy at the season’s end.

Simon Edvinsson, LD, Detroit Red Wings

He is still a bit of a raw prospect at this point, which means there’s a lot of room for growth. Levshunov was a poor defender in the USHL when he first arrived, but finished that season as a strong two-way player. His first NCAA mirrored that closely, with an increased defensive responsibility as the year wore on. It looks like Levshunov is set to make the jump to the pros next season, and while his defensive game may not be great right off the bat, he’s shown himself to be a quick study.

Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils

Once viewed as a questionable pick in the 2020 NHL draft, Shakir Mukhamadullin’s stock has consistently risen ever since. He possesses great physical qualities, but his game was very raw and needed to be refined. At 6-foot-4, 194 pounds, he’s extremely mobile and has a very smooth stride in transition, not to mention he can make a strong breakout pass to start a play. Mukhamadullin joined the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL last year and has been an excellent two-way player, one who looks more than capable of cracking the Sharks’ lineup very soon.

Next year’s NHL rookie class is rightfully earning a lot of early attention, with a massive group of talented youngsters who each have a chance at the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy for the league’s best rookie. From Macklin Celebrini and Matvei Michkov, to Logan Stankoven and Will Smith, the NHL is experiencing a massive influx of young talent once again this season. Before we get into the top 100 prospect ranking update, here are a few notes on the criteria and content of this list.

Harmanpreet Singh tops scoring charts at Paris 2024

• Drew Doughty fought back after a downward trend in his career, and over the last few seasons, has proven he still has lots left in the tank.
• He was so good, in fact, that he has made the choice to enter the NCAA early, playing as a 17-year-old for Boston University last season.
• In the half-decade since, he’s collected the second-most points in the league from the blue line, Roman Josi earning a pair more, albeit in far more games.
• I like him as a two-way defensive prospect and his right-handed shot and 6-foot-2 frame will help him out on draft day.
• He provides strong offense, and set a new career-high in goals last season, but took a bit of a step back in point production after some nagging injuries throughout the season.
• There is no doubt that as it stands today, Ovechkin is the greatest goal-scorer in history, and he will challenge Wayne Gretzky’s goal record this season.
• However, last season, the Devils captain proved he can get it done at both ends of the ice, hitting 31 goals and 80 points.

There is no denying that the Wild have become immensely more fun to watch since Kaprizov came over from Russia. The slippery winger dealt with injuries last year that kept him out of 15 games, but he still managed to record 40 goals and 75 points. Kaprizov has incredible vision and hands, and he has been the engine behind the Wild offense. There is very little that separates the three, so Isles fans, don’t read into it too much. Some will argue that Sorokin deserved the Vezina last year over Linus Ullmark, but it’s only a matter of when, not if, the New York goaltender earns the honor.

Reinhart, who is in line for a big payday this summer, is someone that Edmonton’s defense will need to keep track of at all times during this series. Tkachuk leads the Panthers in points with 19 in 17 contests, which is good for sixth among all players. His 14 assists are tied for fourth in the league, and his six power-play helpers slot him in the same spot. When the Florida winger is on the ice, his team is the one generating the chances, as he carries a +14 goal differential.

Andrew Cristall, LW, Washington Capitals

There is still a lot of faith that he can bounce back after last season, and with his shooting and utilization of his size, there isn’t much reason to think 56 points is going to be a regular season for him. When he was drafted first overall, the offense was known to be his biggest asset, but his defensive play has become much stronger and he is now able to take control over a game at both ends of the ice. He is a bit of a hot-and-cold player with his offense, but over the course of a season, he has proven he can be relied upon for 50+ points regularly, he could even challenge the point-per-game mark soon. After a couple of dominant years in a row, Mika Zibanejad took a bit of a step back in his goal-scoring and point production last season.

The Russian dynamo is the easy favorite behind Macklin Celebrini to be in contention for the Calder trophy. He has the opportunity and the skill set from his playing time in Russia to become a dominant rookie in his first season in the national hockey league. He may be the most skilled rookie in this class, but he already has the IQ and game sense to play at the highest level. He will automatically become one of the Philadelphia Flyers’ best players, and it won’t even be close. His talent alone can help elevate the ceiling of the Philadelphia Flyers this season. After a 54-goal regular season, Hyman is out to 14 goals in 18 contests this postseason — a jaw-dropping 0.77 goals per game rate.

He has all the talent and the résumé to prove he can have a breakout year and become a core piece of the Flames’ future. Throughout Florida’s Stanley Cup run in 2023, Matthew Tkachuk constantly rose to the occasion, and nothing has changed this time around. Tkachuk currently leads the Panthers in points (19) during the Stanley Cup Playoffs with five goals and a team-high 14 assists. The veteran forward has thrived on the power-play throughout the postseason with a team-high six power-play assists thus far. Tkachuk plays with an ample amount of physicality, and will likely do his best to get under the skin of the opposition. He also has no problem making his living around the net on the offensive end of the ice.

Beckett Sennecke is a big winger with very impressive puck skill that allows him to regularly deke through several layers of defense. He was phenomenal for the Generals in the OHL playoffs, who ran out of steam in the OHL final with Sennecke on the sidelines injured. Sennecke has a solid playmaking game, with good enough sense to spot difficult lanes and make smart passes.

He has emerged into a 40+ goal and 90+ point center on the Lightning since taking over the top-line role from Steven Stamkos. Not only can he produce, but he has also received votes for the Lady Byng and Selke Trophies throughout his young career. Like Reinhart, a big breakout year from Hyman in terms of goal-scoring shot him up this list pretty high. Now that he has 90 goals and 160 points over the past two seasons, he has proven that he is a perfect fit with the big names on the Oilers like McDavid and Draisaitl, and compliments their game very well. After a very long and successful career with the Lightning, Steven Stamkos has moved on and joined the Predators. He was one of the best goal-scorers for the last decade and a half, one of the best leaders in the game, and still brings a ton of offense every night.

He missed the World Juniors with an injury but will be eligible to join Canada there again next year where he should be a massive factor for them. Molendyk scored a ton this year in the WHL, seriously improving on his point totals from the season before. His transition game, defensive play, and wicked wrist shot make him an all around threat at the junior level already.

Skinner was even benched for two games during Edmonton’s second-round meeting with the Vancouver Canucks. Apparently, that time to clear his head worked because Skinner was exceptional in the Western Conference Final, boasting a .922 save percentage and 0.45 goals saved above average. With former Bruins star Patrice Bergeron out of the league, you can easily argue that Barkov is the best two-way center in the game. He’s dominant down low, he excels in the faceoff dot, he’s incredibly skilled offensively, and he is an absolute pain to play against defensively.

His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably effective in the NHL someday. Sam Dickinson is a big two-way defender with a tool kit that NHL General Managers dream of. He’s a 6-foot-3 defender who defends well, has shown flashes of great puck skills, and competes incredibly hard. Dickinson skates well for his size which bodes well for his NHL projection, though he will need to put in some work for his offensive game to be worthy of power play minutes in the NHL someday.