Over the last two seasons, Martin Necas has emerged as a goal-scoring and point-scoring winger. He had hopes of playing at center, but it doesn’t look like he will be making that transition. He is still very effective and plays a versatile enough game that he can fit in with any center and make offense happen. 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 is a physical, smart, and strong defensive defenseman who can chip in with good offensive numbers.
Lightning’s Geekie suspended 1 preseason game
The LA Kings have built their defensive structure around him for well over a decade, and he is still a crucial part of their team. After getting his first full season under his belt, Byfield’s 55 points and his superstar projections earned him a big contract that will allow the LA Kings to plan ahead and have him as a https://gambibet.org/ staple in their top-six group. Byfield is still young at just 22 years old, and he has proven that he has the skills to take a big jump in production and could use his size as an advantage. 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.
Highest-paid NHL players by salary cap hit
However, he potted 36 goals yet again, marking the fourth time in the last five years the Hurricanes center posted at least 30 goals. His knack for finding the back of the net is paired with a solid defensive presence, making the Finn one of the league’s top centers. He posted 66 points in 67 games in the regular season before contributing 26 points in 20 games in his first playoff run, culminating in a Stanley Cup win. He looked like the franchise star the Golden Knights were expecting him to be when they traded for him two years ago. Similar to Heiskanen, McAvoy has always provided the Bruins with strong, two-way play on the blue line.
Mattias Ekholm D Edmonton Oilers
- In the same season he was named captain of the Canucks, he had the best season of his career which ended by taking home the Norris Trophy.
- Marner has always been dynamic on offense, but over the last couple of seasons, the winger has developed into a legitimate defensive threat.
- And with Thatcher Demko still unavailable to start this NHL season, he has the potential to become the Canucks starting goaltender.
- Different than the mold we’re used to, which is why it should be a barometer of how adaptable this coaching staff is.
- But the Maple Leafs superstar still has the best release in the league, making him dangerous at all angles in the offensive zone.
- He is still a bit of a raw prospect at this point, which means there’s a lot of room for growth.
- Sergei Bobrovsky really thrived throughout the Panthers’ series win against the Rangers.
He finished last season third in hits, fourth in shots, and second in penalty minutes. TJ Hughes’ point totals may take a step back because Michigan’s PP likely won’t be the most efficient PP in modern NCAA history, but you scan this lineup and see a lot of guys with the potential to give you 8-12 goals. Moldenhauer, Hallum, Eernisse, Werner, Humphreys could all reasonably chip in something in that range and then you’re hoping to get from Hughes and Schifsky based on their production last season. The two X-Factors are Michael Hage and William Whitelaw, two guys who could easily score 8-10 goals or could hit 20 on the high side. If they can each meet somewhere in the middle, given the rest of the scoring depth, you’re really not in bad shape as a robust offense.
NHL Fantasy On Ice
And if it is more solid in the DZ, I feel much more comfortable about the goaltending situation. I never like not having a proven commodity, but there are real reasons for optimism for both Cameron Korpi and Logan Stein. Hard to imagine at least one of them doesn’t succeed enough to at least give Michigan average goaltending. If they’re a solid defensive team and have a robust and deep offense, average goaltending should get this team into the NCAA Tournament.
Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils
- The No. 1 pick from 2019 is living up to expectations in New Jersey, finishing a point shy of 100 last season to lead the Devils to a surprise second-place finish in the Metro.
- Draisaitl is regarded as the best passer in the league, and rightfully so with his slick dishing ability.
- This remains one of the least talented rosters in the conference and it’s also not a very old one either, skewing heavily towards freshmen/sophomores like PSU.
- The playoff edition of ESPN NHL Rank seeks to identify the top forwards, defensemen and goaltenders in the upcoming tournament.
- After taking huge steps in his game over the past two seasons, Josh Morrissey has entered the conversation of one of the best defensemen in the league.
- His goals are second to only Verhaeghe on the Panthers, his 65 shots on goal trail just Tkachuk on the team, and his 9.9 expected goals rank second to Hyman out of all postseason players.
- In the end I come out with 2.42 points out of 5, a little bit worse than previous years but still not bad.
The oddest moment of the offseason came very recently, when it was announced that Rhett Pitlick, a longtime Gopher who tied for the team lead in scoring last season, is transferring to rival Minnesota State… I frankly have no clue what’s going on with that, other than that Pitlick tried to sign with NHL teams over the summer but it never happened. I also am not sure how he’s eligible to play for Mankato right away, but apparently he is. It’s a tough blow for Minnesota’s roster, which was looking pretty darn good with Pitlick but now will look less good, but still solid. After having two elite seasons at Boston University, Lane Hudson looks to finally make the jump to the NHL for the Montréal Canadiens on their blue line.
- 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.
- When Panthers GM Bill Zito acquired Matthew Tkachuk during the 2022 offseason, it was a bold move for the organization.
- I expected he would land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season, but the Flyers managed to get him signed and Michkov will make his NHL debut much sooner than expected.
- Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Hughes and Jason Robertson continue to lead a youth movement in the league, while superstar Connor McDavid continues to wow audiences with his video game-like production.
- Selected eighth overall in 2021, Clarke can take control of a shift or lead a rush chance whenever he’s on the ice with his skating and speed.
- His greatest strength is his shot which looks like a quality NHL tool though his skill with the puck is noteworthy as well.
Team Staff
He didn’t last very long and didn’t leave the biggest impact, but he’s still just 19 so every bit of pro experience and guidance he soaked up in those weeks was time well spent. Your votes will help highlight the athletes who are making the biggest impact this season, showcasing the talent and dedication of the best players in the league. Join us in recognizing the exceptional performances of these hockey heroes and contributing to the ongoing excitement of the NHL. Last season, Makar became the second-fastest defenseman to reach 300 career points, and he did so in just 280 games.
THE NHL’S TOP 50 PLAYERS: 10-1
Goyette reads opposing defenses very well which allows him to attack in a wide variety of ways. He can charge through soft spots, deke through defenders to make space, or draw tons of attention before passing to a teammate who is wide open. Goyette was one of the best players in the OHL last season and I think he has a chance to be an excellent pro player next season with the Firebirds in the AHL.
Fantasy Hockey Defenseman Tiers
I do think he’s a solid defender when he’s properly engaged, cutting off passes and angling opponents toward the boards. Parekh is a remarkable talent, with Quinn Hughes-like offensive upside if things go well, but the defensive end is in need of some real work. He’s talented enough and looked strong enough defensively in the Memorial Cup that I think he’ll figure it out in the NHL though, if given enough time. Shane Wright’s biggest obstacle since being drafted has been the NHL/CHL agreement but he was granted an exception last year so he could compete in the AHL despite not being officially eligible.
Fantasy hockey rankings 2024-25: Sleepers, breakouts and busts from proven NHL model
Luchanko reads plays really well and has that knack for timing and finding openings in defensive coverage that is difficult to teach. 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. Felix Unger Sörum is already looking like a year out from the 2023 Draft where he was taken late in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes. Unger Sörum is an excellent playmaker, regularly feathering passes to teammates through traffic.
Augustine’s return gives MSU a high floor, because they can project to get very solid goaltending most nights from one of the more talented NHL goalie prospects in the world. Augustine was a huge piece of MSU’s success as I was not terribly high on the defense they played in front of him and returning the netminder is a coup. Losing Levshunov, who signed with the Blackhawks after being drafted (may spend the year in the AHL), was a big blow and will be the big challenge for Nightingale’s staff.
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 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.
He is the best player they have, one of the longest-tenured players with the Utah/Coyotes team, and provides great leadership. Keller has been scoring nearly a point per game over three seasons, during which time the Coyotes have struggled a lot. He has proven himself as one of the top-scoring wingers in the league and is starting to get recognition for it. They lost last year’s #2 goalscorer Ryan Kirwan to the transfer portal (ASU), and #3 goalscorer Jacques Bouquot graduated. PSU rolls over Aiden Fink, Matt DiMarsico, and Reese Laubach, all of whom were freshmen last year and they seem like a solid group to build a team around.
Owen Power, D, Buffalo Sabres
He was drafted to be a two-way center with a strong shot and he’s not far from being just that in the NHL. Minten’s first WHL season after being drafted was a great showcase for his shot and his compete level, with Minten becoming a very important forechecker and defensive forward for the Kamloops Blazers. 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.
Cale Makar, a defenseman with remarkable offensive talents, continues to impress with his vision and ability to control the game from the blue line, earning accolades and respect from fans and peers alike. The Edmonton blue liner’s 27 points only trail McDavid and Draisaitl out of all players, but it’s already the fifth-most points in a single playoff by a defenseman of all time. His six goals put him in a tie for the lead at his position in 2024, while his 21 assists rank second out of all skaters. Bouchard’s thunderous slap shot at the point makes him an exceptional weapon on the Edmonton power play, as he creates tons of offensive chances for the team. On top of all that, his 140 shot attempts are the most this postseason out of all skaters. He’s a center with a June birthday, meaning he’s one of the youngest players from the 2024 draft class, and will be just 18 years old for his entire rookie season in the NHL.
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. He looked like an absolute star in the KHL last year, once again being loaned to HK Sochi, one of the league’s bottom teams. I expected he would land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season, but the Flyers managed to get him signed and Michkov will make his NHL debut much sooner than expected. He’s a serious contender for the Calder Trophy next year, especially if the Flyers put him in a position to succeed.
Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild
- Don’t get me wrong, 52 points in 67 games is nothing to sneeze at, but if the Boston defender wants to shake his underrated status, he’ll have to put up more on the score sheet.
- 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.
- Not only has the Swede improved immensely on defense, but he hit 100 points last year, potting 39 goals and adding 63 assists.
- He has a really well-rounded tool kit as a 6-foot-1 center who skates well, has excellent skill with the puck and can create chances at will in the USHL.
- He led the Giants in points per game during his draft year and was among the top scorers in the WHL at large before suffering an injury at the 2023 WJC with Slovakia.
After ranking sixth last year, Victor Hedman tumbled down the list to No. 23 this year. Hedman’s Tampa Bay Lightning teammate Andrei Vasilevskiy also tumbled out of the top 10, checking in at No. 19 after placing seventh last year. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey.
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.
He is great at finding open space off the puck and he rewards teammates for passing to him by charging the middle of the ice or ripping a puck mid-stride. Öhgren’s ability to out-work opponents stands out, even at the pro level, and should continue in the AHL next season. David Goyette is finally starting to earn some of the attention that I think he has deserved all along. He’s an excellent skater who doesn’t quit on the play which helps him win a lot of puck battles and races to pucks.
The projection is tantalizing, but the reason people are hesitant about Geekie is that his skating is average at best. He will need to keep putting work into his ability to play at a fast pace but his length and skill combo should make him an effective middle-six player for Tampa Bay regardless. He also seems to have a knack for unleashing the full weight of that extra gear when it matters most. Perhaps it was because he began his NHL career in the post-season that Makar feels so at home in the grind of the playoffs. Just 25 years old, fresh off a career 21-goal, 90-point season, the question isn’t whether Makar can maintain his current level — it’s how much higher he’ll have raised it when all is said and done.
Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team. Part of the reason the Stars have materialized into legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in the Western Conference is due to Oettinger. The Dallas goaltender wasted no time adjusting to the NHL level when he made the jump from the NCAA in 2020. The 24-year-old is one of the most promising young goaltenders, coming off a season where he posted a 2.42 GAA and a .916 SV%. McDavid picked up all 20 first-place votes last season despite having finished second in Hart Trophy voting to Auston Matthews just a few months earlier.
A fault can lead the referee to inflict a green card (two-minute suspension), yellow (five-minute suspension) or red (ejection) to the player concerned. The Panthers, on the other hand, are a team that prides themselves on playing suffocating defense from top to bottom. Captain Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling will be asked to contain McDavid as much as possible while Matthew Tkachuk leads a punishing forecheck for the Panthers in the offensive zone. Verhaeghe is already in the NHL history books, as his five career overtime playoff goals are tied for the third-most of all-time. He’s been the hero once in 2014, which came in the first round against the Lightning — one of two OT wins this postseason for Florida. In total, Verhaeghe has nine goals heading into the Stanley Cup Final, which puts him in a tie for fourth out of all skaters.
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. His play in the NCAA was wildly impressive, with him already establishing himself as the best player in all of college hockey. Celebrini’s performance for Team Canada at the 2024 World Juniors was borderline dominant, and he was their best player in the entire tournament despite being a double-underager. His first-touch passing has improved, making him a more dangerous puck carrier in his own end, and his defensive decision making has made him a serious threat on defense. Lamoureux looks like a future NHLer to me at this point, though his offensive play at the pro level will likely decide his ultimate ceiling. Thankfully, his treatment and recovery have been going well and he returned to play the following season.
And with Thatcher Demko still unavailable to start this NHL season, he has the potential to become the Canucks starting goaltender. A lot of high expectations will be placed on him after his incredible performances in the playoffs, but luckily for him, he has an outstanding defense in front of him in Vancouver. The 6’4” Latvian goaltender has the skill and athleticism to prove he belongs in the NHL. I am notoriously harsh on the boring veteran types who get 40 to 50 points a year in their sleep, such as J.T. You’ll see some rookies who aren’t even guaranteed to make their teams ranked higher than them.
Hutson sees the ice really well and was dominant offensively through two NCAA seasons. He earned a quick two game NHL tryout with Montreal at the end of last season and looked dangerous so expect him to be a difference maker on the backend there very soon. Cowan is a quick and hardworking winger whose offensive production skyrocketed in the OHL last season, nearly doubling his production from the prior season in fewer games. The skill and skating were always there, but his ultimate offensive potential was the biggest question. He has gone a long way to putting that question to rest this year so keep an eye on Cowan as he finishes his junior career and enters the pros very soon.