NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, E.J. Hradek, and Mike Rupp unveiled their rankings of the NHL’s top 20 wingers on Sunday, with Colorado Avalanche star Martin Necas earning the No. 15 spot after a career year.

The panel weighed players’ performances during the 2025-26 regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs while also factoring in future upside. Necas, who is only 27, is coming off a career-best campaign, recording 100 points in the regular season before adding just one goal and 13 points in 13 playoff games. He’s also set to begin a maximum-term, eight-year contract this season playing alongside star center Nathan MacKinnon.

Necas was sandwiched between Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart at No. 14 and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel at No. 16. He finished tied for second in NHL scoring among wingers during the 2025-26 regular season.

Rupp praised Necas’ elite skating ability during the broadcast. “He has great size, skates like the absolute wind, he can fly out there.”

Topping the list was Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. The reigning Hart Trophy winner is also a three-time Art Ross Trophy recipient, a two-time Ted Lindsay Award winner, and captured his first Hart Trophy during the 2018-19 season.

Former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen also cracked the list, landing at No. 5 after his first full season with the Dallas Stars. He finished one spot behind Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner. Boston’s David Pastrnak and Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov rounded out the top three behind Kucherov.

NHL Network’s Top 20 Wings Right Now:

Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild

Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights

Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild

Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars

Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens 

William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

Artemi Panarin, Los Angeles Kings

Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning

Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche 

Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning

Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth 

Brady Tkachuk, Florida Panthers 

Cutter Gauthier, Anaheim Ducks 

Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings