NHL Stat Leaders 2024-25 preseason Top hockey players

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.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers

Östlund is also a skilled puck handler with the speed and agility to make plays happen both on and off the puck. He works hard in all phases of the game and could become a great middle-six center if all goes well in his development. After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Samuel Honzek has done nothing but impress in his two seasons in North America.

Oil Kings’ Alex Worthington Playing Well After Taking Over Starting Spot

Isak Rosen laced up for exactly 120 professional hockey games by his 20th birthday, and has added quite a few since. The main reasons he has been so successful against larger and stronger competition are his phenomenal skating and his ability to make good decisions at a very high speed. Rosen has the defensive effort and technique to be a solid two-way winger in the NHL one day, which has served him well in the AHL so far, where he’s been one of the league’s best young players for the past two seasons.

• On top of that, Noah Dobson led the Islanders defense in scoring by a significant margin of over 40 points.
• The defenseman has been a steady member of the Dallas blue line for years, but it wasn’t until last season that Heiskanen significantly produced on the score sheet.
• Östlund is also a skilled puck handler with the speed and agility to make plays happen both on and off the puck.
• After his time in Buffalo came to an end, his fresh start with the Golden Knights has been very promising.
• Gauthier has great size, skating, and has the effort and ability to become a great defensive forward.

Hutson confident ‘better years’ ahead for Canadiens, young defense corps

Three of those have been game-winners, which put him a tie for second in the league. Hyman is proving the regular season was no fluke, and he could end up a strong argument for the Conn Smythe. The Stars center can flat-out fly up and down the ice, making him one of the most exciting players to watch. He potted exactly 37 goals for the second consecutive season, and followed up a 78-point regular season with 24 playoff points in 19 contests.

Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets

When Panthers GM Bill Zito acquired Matthew Tkachuk during the 2022 offseason, it was a bold move for the organization. The Florida winger is a perfect blend of skill and physicality, playing the same exact power forward style his dad, Keith, did in his NHL days. This series pits the best player in the game against the best team in the game, meaning whoever comes out to lift Lord Stanley will have won a ferocious battle.

Highest-paid NHL goaltenders

• With many awards finalists and proven playoff performers in the mix this spring, who comes out on top?
• 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.
• There is still a bit more to hope for out of Eichel, but after his injuries and struggles, some time to get back on his feet was earned, and he is still an elite center.
• Here, in the twilight of his career, he’s still doing it, altering his game to keep up with a league that seems to be running a hundred miles-per-hour faster than it did when he was in his prime.
• 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.

Hyman has turned himself into a net-front menace, and that hasn’t changed in the playoffs, no matter how hard other teams have tried to neutralize him. Hyman leads all playoff performers with 14 goals, and the Panthers better have an answer for him in the low slot, especially when Edmonton is on the man advantage. Sergei Bobrovsky really thrived throughout the Panthers’ series win against the Rangers. Bobrosvsky yielded two or fewer goals in five of his six starts in that series and compiled a 2.00 goals-against-average even after surrendering five goals in Game 3 against New York. According to Money Puck, Bobrovsky has registered a .960 save percentage when facing unblocked shots throughout the postseason.

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

The Panthers star can stickhandle at an elite level, and has scored six goals throughout the 2024 postseason, while also having no problem setting up his teammates along the way. It won’t be a huge surprise if Barkov makes his presence known at many points during the series. One big reason the Oilers have gotten over the playoff hump this season is that the cast around McDavid and Draisaitl is shouldering more of the burden. In his ninth NHL season, Hyman broke out for 54 goals, which was 18 more than his previous career high.

McDavid, MacKinnon lead top 10 players

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.

Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings

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.

Goals Against Average

• He looks like a pro and has a ton of qualities, including a really dangerous shot, that make me confident he’ll find a role in the middle-six forward group of an NHL team someday.
• Hyman leads all playoff performers with 14 goals, and the Panthers better have an answer for him in the low slot, especially when Edmonton is on the man advantage.
• Look for him to have a lot of opportunities this season, as Pittsburgh will be in an interesting position not only this season but for years to come.
• Without further ado, here is our ranking of the top 100 NHL prospects as well as a few honourable mentions.
• I am notoriously harsh on the boring veteran types who get 40 to 50 points a year in their sleep, such as J.T.
• His first NCAA mirrored that closely, with an increased defensive responsibility as the year wore on.

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.

Draft breakouts for 2024-25

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.

Who are the highest-paid NHL players? A ranking of how much hockey stars make

He’s an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. He doesn’t project to be much of a factor defensively, but his shot and playmaking are his best tools and they could make him a great NHL player someday. Tanner Molendyk was one of the best skaters in the 2023 draft, with excellent edgework and speed. Molendyk’s edgework makes him incredibly mobile in all directions, capable of acting on new information at a moment’s notice. 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.

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But as a result, they still don’t have a very rich senior class and they didn’t pursue the portal to accent this group. Thus it still feels like they’re a year away, especially in adding another huge freshman class, one that doesn’t have a lot of drafted players nor obvious top tier USHL stars. PSU should still be decent and competitive in a tough B1G but seems more like an ongoing retool while they grow and develop the 14 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.

• He’s an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight.
• Dmitri Simashev is a very intriguing prospect with the size/skating combo (6-foot-4) that is so coveted in the modern NHL.
• He has smooth hands but doesn’t make a ton of plays as a distributor, though his finishing ability typically makes up for that.
• The Finnish center played an integral part in Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, leading all players in faceoff wins.
• With Snuggerud, Wood, and Oliver Moore up front, the Gophers boast three first round picks who have the ability to form what could be the conference’s best scoring line.
• A big offensive step forward for Lucas Raymond has him relatively high on this list.
• He is a physical, smart, and strong defensive defenseman who can chip in with good offensive numbers.

He joined Sweden again for this past World Juniors as well, and was named the tournament’s top defender thanks to some timely goals in the knockout rounds. He is a force on offense but don’t let that fool you, he is a hard-working defender who makes a lot of stops despite his 5-foot-11 frame. The Buffalo Sabres were lucky enough to have three selections in the first round of the 2022 Draft, picks nine, 16, and 28.

Highest-paid NHL players by salary cap hit

If you’re wondering why goalies weren’t included in this ranking, that’s because we have a separate article for that position. Doughty’s leadership, experiences, and impact on every game make him a valuable asset, and he is still one of the top two-way defensemen in the game. He hasn’t had a true long-term partner for https://gambibet.org/ the majority of his career, and having an anchor on his pair could help propel his game even further. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Modern hockey emerged in England in the mid-19th century and was developed at private schools (like Eton) throughout the country.

Tim Stutzle, LW, Ottawa Senators

Anton Silayev was the story of the year early on last season, going from an unknown defender in Russia’s junior system last year to an elite defensive prospect who was tearing up the KHL. After scoring just 18 points with the Seattle Thunderbirds the season before, Iginla flourished with the Kelowna Rockets. His game relies heavily on speed and he’s able to do a ton of damage on the rush at the junior level because of it. Iginla has an excellent wrist shot as well, but he isn’t the most gifted playmaker or physical guy. Denton Mateychuk is a dynamic offensive defenseman who excels with the puck and can control the play from the point.

Silayev is 6-foot-7, but he moves like he’s 6-foot-2, and he has shown great two-way play so far in the KHL. He scored six points in his first six games, but slowed down significantly, finishing the season with 11 points after 63 regular season games. There’s a very real chance that he ends up as the top defender in this class given the massive potential his frame and agility provide. The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to snag Lane Hutson near the end of the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft because many expected he’d be drafted much, much earlier. He battles well against larger players and his low center of gravity makes him harder to knock off the puck than you would expect.

Calum Ritchie has great puck skills and sometimes it looks like he’s glued the puck to his stick while carving through defenders or when he’s on a breakaway. His tools make him very well suited as a center at the next level with good size, a coveted right-handed shot, good defensive habits (kills penalties quite well), and solid faceoff results. 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. Ritchie missed pieces of the past two seasons with injuries, but his play down the stretch in the OHL last season was phenomenal. Despite missing nearly all of his draft-1 season to injury, Michael Hage has established himself as a high end prospect, and was drafted 21st overall. 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.

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.

• His play in the NCAA was wildly impressive, with him already establishing himself as the best player in all of college hockey.
• He’s headed to the University of North Dakota this Fall, a program that has a long track record of developing solid NHL talent.
• His offense has barely fallen off over the past decade, and his defensive game has arguably gotten better.
• He can play physically, but can sometimes get caught chasing hits and losing track of defensive coverage.
• The Boston goaltender was sensational in net, leading the league in wins (48), GAA (1.89) and SV% (.938) en route to his first Vezina win.
• He joined Sweden again for this past World Juniors as well, and was named the tournament’s top defender thanks to some timely goals in the knockout rounds.
• The top of the Oilers’ lineup, headlined by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, is as loaded as they come.

He is excellent offensively, posting a career-high of 90 points last season, he is exceptional defensively and can skate very well. At one point, he was looked at as a fairly good scoring center who was horrible defensively, but under Rick Tocchet, his game has become very well-rounded. He has hit over a point-per-game in each of the last three seasons, including two 99+ seasons. Offensively, he has been consistently around 50 points over the past three seasons, and on the defensive side, he has been very strong for the club. He has a strong physical presence, and over each of the past five seasons, has earned votes for the Norris Trophy. He is in every conversation for the best defensemen in the league, and if he can take a bigger step offensively, he will have a great chance of winning the Norris Trophy over the next few years.

He’s strong in breakout/entry situations, has some clever stretch passes in his toolkit, and walks the blueline with confidence. Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move.

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. 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. One of the best shorthanded players in the league, while also having good offensive numbers and playing a physical, gritty game, Brad Marchand is the heartbeat of the Boston Bruins. Robert Thomas had a big breakout year last season, scoring 86 points, but even more impressively, 60 assists, which only 16 players accomplished last season.

Matthews was just named the 26th captain in Maple Leafs history and was well-deserving of it. He is consistently scoring 40+ goals, and on a relatively weak offensive group on the Wild, all of the offense runs through him. Another outstanding season from Filip Forsberg, especially in the goal-scoring department, has helped him establish himself as a top winger in the league. He has two 40-goal seasons in the past three years and has been the top forward on the Predators as they come out of a quick re-tool. Since his outstanding rookie season, Mat Barzal hasn’t been able to get back to the 85-point mark, but last season he came pretty close. After a few years where fans were questioning if he would ever get back, Barzal had a great offensive season and put those doubts to shame.

Carson Rehkopf is a well-rounded forward with the size, skating, skill, and shot of an NHL player. Rehkopf scored nearly 60 goals in the OHL last season (58 through regular and postseason play), proving that his 30+ goal draft year was no fluke. His power and ability to play both on the wing and at center are intriguing as well, though I expect he’ll be a winger in Seattle, especially given their many talented centers. Rehkopf’s goalscoring is high-end, and his speed makes him a dangerous threat in transition.

But as the season begins and expectations are all over the place, rosters could be more malleable. This rookie class looks to be one of the best in recent memory, with plenty of young star power to wow fans. With all this talent ready to be debuted, the Calder Trophy race will be as enjoyable as ever. So, to kick the season off, here are ten rookies to keep an eye on (listed alphabetically).

Not only has the Swede improved immensely on defense, but he hit 100 points last year, potting 39 goals and adding 63 assists. Shesterkin came back to Earth a bit after winning the Vezina in 2022, but the Rangers goaltender is one of the best in the crease. The Russian netminder posted a 2.48 GAA, a .916 SV% and 28.1 goals saved above expected. The Rangers rely probably too much on Shesterkin at times, but he has been a reliant backbone for their franchise since coming over from the KHL five years ago.

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.