Some things never change.<\/p>\n
Sidney Crosby<\/a> averages a point per game, Alex Ovechkin<\/a> scores at a 40-goal pace and Connor McDavid<\/a> is the No. 1 player in TSN\u2019s annual Top 50 NHL Players poll.<\/p>\n McDavid is the uncontested choice of voters \u2026 again.<\/p>\n He received 18 first-place votes in a poll of 20 TSN hockey experts on the eve of the 2025-26 season. <\/p>\n That makes it nine straight years for McDavid, who is generally regarded as the most skilled player in hockey history.<\/p>\n Others may have won more personal honours and more team honours \u2013 McDavid, as an example, has yet to win a Stanley Cup \u2013 but nobody, not Bobby Orr, not Mario Lemieux<\/a>, has been as sensational a talent.<\/p>\n McDavid is coming off what he regards as a down season – witness 26 goals – but he did stretch his streak of scoring at a 100-point pace to nine seasons.<\/p>\n The Edmonton Oilers<\/a>\u2019 captain, whose contract expires at the end of this season, has yet to sign a new deal. He has hesitated not because of a disagreement over money but because he wants to ensure – as much as one can – to maximize his chances of winning a Cup.<\/p>\n McDavid\u2019s Quest<\/p>\n When Legends won first Cup<\/p>\n PlayerFirst Cup Won > McDavid is entering his 11th NHL season<\/p>\n Most of the modern legends of the game – Orr, Sidney Crosby<\/a> (No. 13 in this year\u2019s Top 50), Wayne Gretzky<\/a> and Lemieux – won Cups relatively early in their careers. <\/p>\n McDavid is entering his 11th season and can take heart from the knowledge Dominik Hasek<\/a> won in his 11th season, and this year\u2019s No. 49 Ovechkin won in his 13th season.<\/p>\n An important footnote is that McDavid did win the first 4 Nations Face-Off last season with Canada, scoring the championship-winning goal in overtime.<\/p>\n The only other player to receive No. 1 votes in the Top 50 poll was Colorado\u2019s Nathan MacKinnon<\/a>, who collected the other two first-place nods and finished No. 2 – runner-up to McDavid – for the second straight season and fourth time in six years.<\/p>\n He is a worthy candidate for top billing: MacKinnon has earned 1st all-star status at centre each of the last two seasons and was MVP of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.<\/p>\n MacKinnon has an exemplary career playoff record, averaging a point per game every single one of his nine playoff appearances, including Colorado\u2019s run to the Stanley Cup in 2022.<\/p>\n Completing the top 10 are:<\/p>\n No. 3 Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl<\/a> is a four-time 50-goal scorer who has won the Rocket Richard, Art Ross, Hart and Ted Lindsay<\/a> awards. Now he has set his sights on the Selke Trophy and recognition as one of the NHL\u2019s premier defensive forwards.<\/p>\n No. 4 Colorado right defenceman Cale Makar<\/a> is one of a kind. He\u2019s the only current player with a year-end honour to his credit every season of his career. Makar made it six straight years in 2024-25 with a second Norris Trophy and third selection to the first all-star team.<\/p>\n No. 5 Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov<\/a> went about winning a second straight scoring title in a business-like fashion and his peers took notice, voting him a second Ted Lindsay<\/a> Award as the NHLers\u2019 choice for most outstanding player.<\/p>\n No. 6 Vancouver left defenceman Quinn Hughes<\/a> has put himself in elite company with four consecutive 60-assist seasons. Only three other blueliners have done it: Orr, Paul Coffey<\/a> and Ray Bourque.<\/p>\n No. 7 Toronto centre Auston Matthews<\/a> is only the third player in NHL history to begin his career by scoring at a 40-goal pace nine straight seasons. The other two who have done it? Bossy and Wayne Gretzky<\/a>.<\/p>\n No. 8 Minnesota left winger Kirill (The Thrill) Kaprizov is arguably as important to his franchise as any player in the league and he knows it, reportedly turning down an eight-year, $16-million-AAV contract one season away from unrestricted free agency.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Bobby Orr4th SeasonSidney Crosby4th SeasonWayne Gretzky5th SeasonMario Lemieux7th SeasonDominik Hasek11th SeasonAlex Ovechkin13th Season<\/p>\n