No two people have the same opinion regarding hockey’s greatest stars and how they all fit in the league’s hierarchy. Certain factions can overlap — traditionalists love big, fast, toolsy players; analysts love actionable impacts regardless of attributes —but even cliques can have internal differences.
Those differences are a major part of what the annual Player Tiers project is all about: Finding common ground and consensus, while embracing that no two lists are identical. That’s where the intrigue lies. The goal is to mix cold, hard data with the intuition and wisdom of those inside the game to create a definitive record of who matters most in the NHL going into the 2026-27 season.
Who matters at certain levels can be so different depending on who you ask, so this is a tiered list. Below you’ll find the 150 best players in hockey, separated into five groups: MVP cornerstones, franchise pillars, All-Star candidates, the true stars and elite support. Within those groups are sub-groups for further separation, but the overarching ideal remains: At a certain level, there’s no need to split hairs. That’s the beauty of a tiered ranking; it celebrates the difference in opinions across the league by bringing the players most closely debated together.
It’s never easy threading the needle between several different viewpoints of what matters, but the mission statement after seven years of ranking which players help their teams win most gets clearer every year.
Which next gen superstars jumped the highest in the NHL player tiers?
The process for that starts with each player’s projected Net Rating. It’s a modelled output that combines a player’s production with his play-driving ability while factoring for usage in order to estimate each player’s impact on their team’s goal differential. An elite player usually comes in at plus-10 or higher while top-of-the-lineup types are closer to plus-five and average is zero.
That’s just the starting point. The five of us then use that baseline to create our own initial lists, shuffling players around based on our own intuition of where the modelled output might be off. We then combine our lists and go through an internal deliberation of where to move players around further until the overall shape starts coming into place.
That’s the list we bring to our panel, a group of over 20 people inside the game who graciously spent hours with us going over the same process, moving players up and down. It’s that intel that shapes the final call that puts the list you see today into place, backed by a group that included general managers, executives, coaches, scouts, data analysts, and former players.
With that in mind, we believe the Player Tiers serve as a glimpse into how we believe the strongest front offices operate: A marriage between quantifiable data and qualitative opinions. The end result is a heavily vetted list of who the NHL’s best players are, all reasoned below along with projected stats for the upcoming season and filterable by team, position and age.
Enjoy, and let the debates begin.
Tier Tier 1 — MVP Tier 2 — Franchise Tier 3 — All-Star Tier 4 — Star Tier 5 — Support
Team ANA BOS BUF CAR CBJ CGY CHI COL DAL DET EDM FLA L.A MIN MTL N.J NSH NYI NYR OTT PHI PIT S.J STL T.B TOR UTA VAN VGK WPG WSH
Pos C C/RW D G LW LW/RW RW
Age 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 39 40
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Tier 1 — MVP
A top 10 player. Someone who is very likely to get serious trophy consideration at season’s end and whom championship-caliber teams are built around. The best player on almost any team in the league.
This is the sixth edition of the Player Tiers, and McDavid has been at the top of every one. If this exercise had existed before 2021, McDavid would surely have a few more years notched at the league’s apex.
McDavid’s run as the league’s best player has been lengthy and seen its share of threats over the years. He’s shared some MVP hardware during that time frame, too. But it never takes long for McDavid to remind everyone he’s still the king, and that remains true going into 2026-27. While it may no longer be a unanimous opinion, anyone who thinks to the contrary (including one of our panelists) is in a very small minority.
“He’s just better than everybody else, and there isn’t much more to say,” a scout said.
“There’s no one else that is as elite as him and has outperformed him in pressure situations,” a coach said. “He belongs alone for sure.”
For the sake of our tier structure, consider McDavid as the lone member in 1A-plus: a sub-tier within a sub-tier that denotes his peerlessness. That he sleepwalked to yet another season north of 130 points — his third time above that number and with his sixth Art Ross win — is a testament to that individual greatness.
There will come a day when someone new steps in and usurps McDavid; it just doesn’t feel like that day is coming anytime soon. He’s still the best.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Consecutive scoring titles hadn’t been enough to push Kucherov into Tier 1A, owing to iffy defensive impacts and the simple fact that he plays on the wing. Nitpicking? Perhaps, but the threshold for mountaintop status is high. A 130-point season in 2025-26 and the second Hart Trophy of his career, though, made his case fairly undeniable. He may be the most creative, dynamic offensive player of his generation, and his placement now fully reflects the label. No winger controls the game, at either five-on-five or on the power play, quite like Kucherov. That puts him comfortably, and deservedly, ahead of everyone else who plays the position.
“He is,” a veteran pro scout said, “a f—ing surgeon.”
For all his gifts, though, this placement was not unanimous. Issues with Kucherov’s recent lack of postseason dominance — he had one goal in Tampa Bay’s seven-game loss to the Montreal Canadiens, their fourth straight first-round elimination — are mounting.
“He tried to do the exact same stuff as he does in the regular season where everybody’s just not as sharp, and everybody’s not going as as hard, which is a crazy thing to say, but it’s true,” an executive said. “Maybe I’m overreacting, but he was lousy in the in the playoffs. … Does he want to do the hard things that he did to to win the Stanley Cup?”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
MacKinnon’s place at the top of the league is undeniable. Year after year, he plays at an MVP-caliber level and is a fixture in the Hart Trophy race. And he does it in such a unique way compared to his fellow 1Aers.
McDavid’s game centers around finesse and tempo, while Kucherov is a slower, more cerebral player. MacKinnon’s is all about power. He controls play in his shifts, whether he’s racing up the ice with possession or cycling through the offensive zone to create time and space. He can flip a switch to change speeds on a dime, or use his strength to force his way right up the middle.
That mix of skill and power is impossible to contain. Opponents struggled all last season, as MacKinnon found new heights with 53 goals. At five-on-five, the Avs completely dominated his minutes, too, with a league-high plus-58 goal differential driven by a ridiculous 100-42 split.
On top of the raw talent and tools, the fire is still burning to be the best player in the world and a champion again. Expect to see MacKinnon stay at the top until Father Time literally forces him out of 1A.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
After four years of being stuck in Tier 1B, Draisaitl finally climbed the mountaintop to Tier 1A last fall following a monster 2024-25 season in which he won the Rocket Richard with 52 goals in 71 games, finished as the runner-up for the Hart Trophy and unlocked a new gear with elite two-way play that earned him a sixth-place finish in Selke Trophy voting. He was flat-out the best skater in the NHL.
Draisaitl’s play last season was still spectacular, but dipped slightly from that ridiculous 2024-25 peak, which explains why he’s back in his usual Tier 1B slot. He scored 17 fewer goals, and more interestingly, his underlying two-way impact took a significant hit. Draisaitl was a unicorn play-driver in 2024-25, with the Oilers pummelling teams on the shot clock and owning more than 60 percent of expected goals during his five-on-five shifts. Last year, Draisaitl’s xG share slipped to 52.8 percent — his line wasn’t nearly as prolific at generating scoring chances, and was far leakier defensively. He was still an excellent player, but he didn’t tilt the ice with his all-around game nearly as commandingly as he did previously.
“If you’re building a team, aren’t you picking Barkov and Celebrini ahead of him?” a scout said. “Not that any of us is lucky enough to worry about that!”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Hughes’ brilliance is more widely accepted around the NHL than it was several years ago, when he was infamously placed in Tier 3B.
In fact, most of the NHL folks we solicited feedback from in compiling this list see the gap between Hughes and Cale Makar as a narrow one indeed — while the consensus generally favoured Makar to Hughes, the majority of our panel viewed both defensemen in the same tier.
“That’s another coin flip,” said an executive.
“There’s more space between (Rasmus) Dahlin and Hughes and between (Zach) Werenski and Hughes than there is space between Makar and Hughes,” a former player said.
“Quinn just has the puck the whole game,” noted another executive. “That’s how he impacts it, by just controlling the flow. He’s the orchestrator.”
Hughes’ virtually unparalleled ability to direct the game was illustrated keenly by his midseason trade to the Minnesota Wild. Without Hughes in the lineup, Vancouver completely fell apart. With Hughes in their lineup, the Wild went from a middling offensive team to a juggernaut.
The way Hughes succeeds might not look conventional given our expectations for defensemen. In fact, he tends to have an effect more typical of a puck-dominant forward. There’s no denying, however, that he’s one of the single highest-quality individual skaters in the sport.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
We asked every panelist the same question: Who’s the best defenseman in the world, Makar or Hughes? The answer was unanimous in its specificity. The gap between the two has seriously closed and everyone agrees it’s small, yet every panelist still took Makar. He’s still the best defenseman in the world.
“Quinn Hughes is special, but Cale Makar is special-er,” a scout said.
“I just think that if he’s healthy and on his game, his A-game is better than anyone else, and that includes Hughes,” a former player said.
“Makar’s got this power to, like, push away when someone’s checking him, and he takes advantage of that inch or two that he has with the power instead of the evasiveness of Hughes and a little bit more edge physically as well,” the former player added. “I think he defends better. … I’d much rather have Makar out at the end of the game than Hughes, and that’s probably the area that separates him the most.”
For Makar, it’s the complete package that puts him at the very top. His ability to tilt the ice in all three zones and individually influence play with and without the puck is still second-to-none on the back end.
Hughes is a very worthy challenger and could make things interesting this year in Minnesota. But Makar remains the industry’s choice at the top of the defenseman hierarchy.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
If Barkov had played last season, it’s quite likely he’d rank higher on our list. The Florida Panthers (and the rest of the league) have long counted on his blend of reliable offensive production and unparalleled all-zones effectiveness in incredibly difficult minutes. Barkov was the engine for back-to-back Stanley Cup champion teams, and he was recognized as such, often receiving Tier 1A consideration. What he lacks in flash, the logic goes, he more than makes up for in substance.
“He’s one of the most skilled players, but he’s also so responsible,” a veteran pro scout said. “For me, he’s the best two-way centerman in the league.”
The issue, of course, is that Barkov missed all of 2025-26 with a torn ACL and MCL, an injury serious enough to necessitate at least some hesitation in immediately assuming he’ll return to his previous level of excellence. In that regard, his placement is conservative, but he remains the league’s gold standard among impactful two-way centers, and it won’t take much to push him back up the list. To wit: another pro scout said Barkov looked good enough for Finland at the World Championships to assuage any lingering concerns.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 1C might be a bit on the conservative side for Celebrini, who finished top-five in Hart Trophy voting as a 19-year-old. A lot of people are expecting him to graduate to Tier 1A very soon, if not this season.
“Celebrini goes right into the into 1A, with MacKinnon. To me, McDavid is still a different level, but I’m not sure I’m not taking Celebrini (No. 1) overall right now,” said an exec.
“This will be the last year that Celebrini’s anything but 1A,” predicted another exec.
However, many people we spoke to wanted to see one more season of him playing at a “top-five player in the world” level before pushing him further up the list. They wanted to be careful not to overhype him too much and noted that while his off-puck tenaciousness is elite, there’s still considerable room for his all-around play to mature. And there is truth to that when you look at his underlying numbers: Celebrini’s xG share was a pedestrian 44.8 percent before the Olympic break. Of course, team context matters, and those results were significantly better after the Olympic break — his xG share jumped to 52.8 percent in the final 25 games — but it explains why some are a bit cautious in their optimism.
For now, he’s in the same tier as Barkov, who isn’t as explosive as Celebrini offensively but is light-years ahead of him defensively.
“Barkov’s won two Cups. So I’m trying not to cop out, but I think Celebrini is gonna score more and be more of a team driver in a lot of ways. But he hasn’t been in the playoffs yet, right? So it’s sort of two different things, and that’s probably why they’re exactly together,” said an exec.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Dahlin has been one of the league’s premier drivers from the back end for a few years, but it’s been hard for some to spot because of how desolate his surroundings were.
One former player put it aptly last year when Dahlin was knocking on the door of Tier 1: “Everything Makar does, this kid does. He just can’t put up 90 points because they f—in’ suck.”
Dahlin still hasn’t hit the 90-point mark, but he came close to the pace last season after returning from a family emergency in mid-November. From that point forward, the Sabres no longer sucked; Dahlin scoring 65 points in 63 games while tilting the ice heavily at five-on-five was a driving force for that. He was Buffalo’s engine.
“What he did in the second half of the season was flat-out elite and he deserves a lot of credit for that,” one coach said.
Buffalo being good is not the reason Dahlin cracked Tier 1 this year. It’s that he proved the level he showed during 2024-25 was no fluke — and then he took it a step further as the season progressed, culminating in a third-place Norris finish. Dahlin is a game-changer, and team success has finally allowed that to shine.
“He’s finally getting the respect he deserves,” an exec said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
With four consecutive 100-point seasons, Pastrňák is a force on the wing.
We asked our panelists how that measures up to Kaprizov, but one source made an even higher comparison.
“I think it’s a closer gap between him and Kucherov than people realize,” a former player said. “I think they’re the top tier of wingers, and not too many people are in it. I have a hard time picking a winger I’d rather have.”
One coach has some concerns about his environment, from the Bruins’ defensive system to the lack of talent he has to play with. Morgan Geekie’s 68 points were second to Pastrňák; in 2024-25, there was a 49-point gap between the two.
But this is also a player who, as one executive explained, has recognized how to adjust his game to best fit his current situation. That growth, and the overall evolution of his game, can go under the radar at times.
“He’s maybe the most underrated playmaker in the game because you think of him as a scorer first,” a former player said. “He’s got the ability to take over a game like Kaprizov does, and he makes everyone that he plays with so much better.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Werenski is an apex-level NHL defenseman, and yet somehow, he just continues to elevate his game. The 28-year-old put together his second consecutive season of over 80 points in 2025-26, won the Norris Trophy and was a standout on the blue line for Team USA in the best-on-best environment of the Olympics. His defensive impact was better last season than it was the year prior, and his level of offensive control has hit another level entirely.
Last year, we responded to Werenski’s stunning 2024-25 by accepting that he was a franchise-level player and elevating him into Tier 2. This year, there’s just no credible argument against considering Werenski one of the single best defensemen in the NHL.
“He’s another absolute stud No. 1 defender,” said one scout polled by The Athletic. “(The type of guy) that you’re thrilled to build your blue line around.”
“I personally would have Zach Werenski second behind Cale Makar. I think he’s the second-best two-way defenseman in the world,” a veteran executive said.
That’s high praise. It’s also warranted given the level Werenski has hit, and now sustained, over the past two years.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
A top 30 player. Someone who is the best player on a contending team or second best on a championship-caliber team. An unquestionably elite player.
Ahead of last season, Eichel made his first appearance in Tier 2A — and while he finds himself there again, he hasn’t stagnated. Nobody on our panel argued for him to drop, and many believe he has decisively emerged as the best of that group.
Eichel may lack Jack Hughes’ offensive dynamism or Auston Matthews’ goal-scoring largesse, but he’s consistently added to his toolkit, even after emerging as the engine for a Cup-winning team in 2023 and shaking some of the injury issues that marked the early part of his career. Last season was Eichel’s best in terms of individual production at five-on-five (2.46 points per 60), and he augmented that with high-end play in both the rush and cycle game along with ultra-elite contributions to his teammates’ scoring chances. Mix in a fully matured two-way game and you’ve got a player who’s more than earned his spot. Eichel’s talent is considerable; so, too, is the substance he’s found as he approaches his 30th birthday.
“If you need to win one hockey game,” a former player said, “everyone’s picking Eichel over Hughes.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
VGK
C
29
The golden goal in the Olympics put Hughes on the map of the greater American consciousness, but it’s what he did after it that solidified his place in 2A.
A shaky start to last season put that placement in jeopardy, but Hughes caught fire after the break, with 41 points in 25 games. That was second to only McDavid and it was the type of production — a 134-point pace — we’ve been waiting for since he scored 99 points in 2022-23.
“He’s also a guy that can do it on his own, and that’s really rare,” a former player said. “He’s a game-breaker. He can be not only the best player on the ice, but he can actually dominate games.”
As prolific as his scoring potential is, especially as the Devils shifted back to their rush-oriented identity, Hughes’ placement still comes with a lot of questions. Can he stay healthy? Can he defend? Can he play playoff hockey? Those are the biggest impediments to Hughes reaching Tier 1 and the reason some wanted to push him down to 2B.
“If you want to be in this upper echelon — like, Eichel, he plays against the game’s best players. All these guys do,” an exec said. “Jack (Hughes) doesn’t, and they kind of hide him on the wing sometimes. To me, that’s a massive separator.”
Hughes still has a lot to prove, but his talent is undeniable.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
N.J
C
25
We seriously considered bumping Kaprizov up to Tier 1C, but most people in the league we spoke to felt Pastrňák, the only non-Kucherov winger in Tier 1, is slightly ahead of Kaprizov at this stage.
Pastrňák has posted four consecutive 100-point seasons, outproduced Kaprizov by 11 points last year and has historically been more durable. And while neither player has had a true first-line center to play with, Pastrňák’s supporting cast has been worse: He’s scored a whopping 81 points more than the next highest-scoring Bruin, Morgan Geekie, over the last two years.
“Kaprizov is dangerously close to Tier 1. It’s almost like he could be Tier 2 all on his own,” said a former player.
Our compromise was to make Kaprizov the sole winger in Tier 2A. At his best, he’s an MVP-caliber player who regularly takes games over singlehandedly, but five-on-five consistency and injuries are the minor knocks that made him narrowly miss out on Tier 1 status.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
MIN
LW
29
After two years well below his usual standards, Matthews has fallen from his perch in Tier 1 and his spot in 2A is precarious.
“Based off just last year, I think Auston is a little bit high,” a coach said.
Matthews was buried in difficult usage on a bad team and likely still hampered by injuries, and he just didn’t look anywhere close to his usual dominant self. Based on last year alone, Matthews was closer to a Tier 3 or 4 player. That’s hardly ideal for someone once viewed as a top-three player in the game.
With this spot in 2A, there’s a lot of reverence placed on what Matthews once was: a unicorn 60-goal Selke threat. That sort of ability doesn’t usually disappear overnight; there has to be a bit of a balancing act between that potential and what he’s shown since. That middle ground is still an elite top-10 center.
“You can’t argue anything other than he’s an elite player,” an exec said. “There’s been a slight downward tick (to his game), not having Marner certainly hurt him. … Matthews is in the right spot.”
Given his stature in the game, Matthews is owed a shot to prove himself among the game’s very best one more time, but the clock is ticking on his franchise status. A new coach who knows how to use him should help. Another season like last year’s, though, and Matthews will fall much farther.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
TOR
C
28
What Schaefer did as an 18-year-old defenseman in the NHL wasn’t just phenomenal — it was unprecedented.
“I can’t remember somebody coming in and being that good right away,” an executive said. “I just look at everything in front of me and I’m like holy s—, this is impressive.”
The straight-line speed. The puck retrievals under pressure. The end-to-end skating. The way he commands the ice in the offensive zone and quarterbacks action.
“He’s got an ability to put his team on his back and change the game in one single shift,” a former player said. “He’s probably the best end-to-end rusher in the NHL already as a defenseman.”
This is the best rookie debut in Player Tiers. Makar, to compare, debuted in 2B (before there was a 1C), with 14 players above him. Schaefer, who stands alone in 2A, is only 11 back from the top.
That separation from the top is going to shrink quickly. The more Schaefer matures physically and grows into the responsibilties of being a No. 1, the sooner he will join that upper echelon. So the question is when, not if, he will break through to Tier 1. It could be as soon as next year. There were even some suggestions of moving him there already.
“I’d have him as a Tier 1 guy, seriously,” a scout said. “He was a difference-maker of the highest order and he’s going to be one of, if not the best defender on the planet, if he isn’t already. He’s a generational guy.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
NYI
D
18
Our approach to Crosby’s placement, as he’s continued to strengthen his case for Hockey Rushmore through his late 30s, has been to start conservatively and wait for the panel to argue him up the list. For the first time, that’s not how it went down.
That’s not meant as any sort of knock on the legend, either. “He willed that team into the playoffs,” an exec said. “They had no business being there.” The expectation is that, even at 39, he will continue to produce like an in-his-prime franchise player — a necessity for the Penguins if they’re to make another shocking postseason push.
Are age-related cracks are starting to come through? Sure. Pittsburgh was break-even in expected goals in Crosby’s minutes in 2025-26, which doesn’t bode well for his defensive play, and offensively, his dip in effectiveness on the rush continued. The bigger picture, though, cannot be lost. This is a once-in-a-generation player showcasing once-in-a-lifetime longevity.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
PIT
C
39
After a one-year stint in tier 2A, Heiskanen drops back down to 2B. It’s a perch he has occupied in three of the last four seasons, a remarkable level of consistency that seems appropriate. Heiskanen’s game is the textbook definition of steady, and that’s been reflected in Player Tiers over the years.
One of the league’s most complete individual skaters, Heiskanen’s metronomic consistency can make the game look easy on some nights.
“He could play 85 minutes a night if he wanted to,” joked one scout.
This past season, however, while Heiskanen managed 63 points and was a key contributor on a peerless Stars power-play unit, his overall offensive impact at five-on-five was lower than he’s typically managed over the past several seasons. He was also outdueled in a first-round playoff series that pitted him against Quinn Hughes.
“He was average (last season). I thought he was good but he wasn’t great. He always leaves me wanting more,” said a former player.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
DAL
D
27
Hellebuyck went from winning the Hart in 2024-25 to posting a career-worst .895 save percentage. He got injured last season and the Jets’ typically airtight defensive environment crumbled, both very important context. But his performance was just average, as he saved only one goal above expected in 2025-26. For some, this raised mild questions about whether he can truly carry a shaky defensive team.
“I think (Shesterkin and Sorokin) can win games with porous defense,” a coach said. “Minus the Olympics, Hellebuyck can’t do that. He has to have structure around him to play at that level.”
“They just played the s— out of him for so long that at some point you think it’s going to catch up to him, and maybe it did last year, maybe that was sort of the first sign of cracking,” said an exec. “You just can’t play goalies 60-65 games a year anymore. I think he’s earned the right to stay there, but I think there’s a right to question it.”
On the bright side, his legendary performance in the gold medal game against Canada at the Olympics proved he can be a big-game player, which had previously been a knock.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
WPG
G
33
Marner find himself all alone, the only winger in Tier 2B. Despite his first sub-point-per-game season in nine years, this was something of a dream campaign individually for Marner — even if his teams came up just short at both the Olympics and in the Stanley Cup Final. In his first season with the Vegas Golden Knights, Marner was a dominant two-way force, even succeeding during the regular season while playing out of position at center.
He then put together a brilliant run of form through the Stanley Cup playoffs, single-handedly bludgeoning both his opponents and the tired questions about his ability to elevate his game in the playoffs.
“You have to weigh that the team in Toronto really missed him, and he clearly added a gear to the Golden Knights,” said a head coach. “His hockey IQ is second to none.”
“You saw in the Olympics, in a best-on-best tournament, he was on a short list of players still able to drive play in that environment,” said a scout. “The reputation he got in Toronto was totally unfair. There were more issues facing that team than Marner’s struggles in key moments, and I think the last 12 months have proven that. He’s shown that he’s fully capable of being a legitimate high-end offensive player, a high-end defensive player and one of, if not the best, play drivers off the wing in the NHL.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
VGK
RW
29
Early on in Seider’s career there were some pointed questions regarding whether he had what it takes to be a true franchise-caliber defensemen. The tools were there, the results weren’t. He was getting buried in difficult minutes, but his inability to rise above created some concern about his ultimate ceiling.
After his ridiculous Norris-worthy showing last season, any questions and concern are nonexistent. Seider is a franchise defenseman. The Red Wings looked like a juggernaut with Seider on the ice last year … and completely inept otherwise.
What remains is a terrifyingly unique specimen who’s able to take over games at both ends of the ice with a level of nastiness that’s become rare for players of his caliber. It’s that mix that puts Seider squarely in 2B with the potential to land higher as one of the five best defensemen in the world — specifically because of his monstrous defensive game.
“He’s already good, but I think he’s about to take another step,” a scout said. “Not offensively. I think he’s going to be an bigger f—ing problem defensively.”
There’s no one like Seider.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
DET
D
25
Sanderson keeps rising, and he has moved up into a new tier for the third consecutive year. The 24-year-old is adored around the league for his elite all-around play, which included scoring at a career-best pace of 66 points per 82 games last season. Some even argued for him to move farther up the list.
“I think there’s an argument to be made that he’s the third-best defenseman in the NHL. I’m not sure that people realize that he’s the second-best pure skater in the league behind Connor McDavid,” said a scout.
“Best of 2B,” said another scout.
“Sanderson, I really like him; he’s really gotten a lot better the last two years,” said a former player. “I think he’s still just scratching the surface. I would put him above Slavin. I think him and Seider are neck-and-neck. Seider’s more physical and maybe a little bit more shutdown, and Sanderson’s a little bit more of a Devon Toews type, defends with his stick and his feet. Both those guys are studs.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
OTT
D
24
The Rangers are nothing without their franchise goaltender.
New York was once again one of the worst defensive teams in the league. And yet, their No. 1 goalie gave them a chance on most nights with a quality start — 34 to be exact, in 51 appearances. That adds up to 21 goals saved above expected, which ranked fifth in the league.
Despite an injury and the team in front of him last season, Shesterkin once again proved he was one of the league’s strongest netminders. Factor in his record, in both regular seasons and postseasons past, and it only builds his case as one of the best goalies in the world.
“I still have Shesterkin as my best,” a former player said. “Look, I wouldn’t put him as a Tier 1 guy either, but maybe the only one that would be 2A.
“If you asked me to pick a guy for my team right now that is gonna give me the best chance to win the Cup, that’s the guy I would go with.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
NYR
G
30
No player in the franchise tier has risen as steadily as Suzuki. In each of our last two installments, we erred on the side of caution, and each time, Suzuki responded by leveling up even further. He showed he was a legit All-Star, then he showed he was a high-end first-line center. Last season, he showed even more, posting a Net Rating that was lower than Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini and no one else.
At the moment, it feels like he’s either at his ceiling or close to it, but that’s far from a negative. If a 101-point, Selke-worthy season represents his high-water mark, it’s still enough to plant him firmly in Tier 2. His production and all-zones impact is in line with what you see from the best player on a true contender. There’s a reason Montreal seems to be focused on building out its center depth as its next step; the name at the top of the food chain is undeniable.
One coach referred to Suzuki as “a nightmare,” and he meant as a compliment. More panelists than not would take him over Jack Hughes, despite Hughes’ game-breaking offensive potential. “It’s hard to put him higher, but he’s really, really good. A complete player, still getting better,” the coach said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
MTL
C
27
Every single comment from the insider panel was glowing about Boldy, who has officially leveled up to franchise territory.
“Boldy should be higher. He had a real coming-out party last year,” a former player said. “I think he’s a total stud.”
His strength and skating both took strides last season, which allowed him to push past defenders and position himself in the scoring areas more. He drove play to give Minnesota a more dynamic one-two punch and took over shifts more consistently. And he had the results to back all that up with a career year in scoring.
So it’s no surprise just how many calls there were to move Boldy up — ahead of Brandon Hagel and in line with Matthew Tkachuk and Jason Robertson (who were originally in 2B). Now, in 2C, he is officially in with a group of high-end wingers any contender would love to have.
“[He’s] impossible to defend,” a coach said. “Whatever you try, you’re wrong.”
“He makes something out of nothing,” another coach added. “Pretty much impossible to contain. I’d say he’s one of the hardest players to defend in the league, and to me, that matters. I wouldn’t have much gap between him and Kaprizov.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
MIN
LW/RW
25
Despite numerous detractors demanding that we move Bouchard down in last year’s edition of the tiers, we held our ground. Sometimes you have to go against the overwhelming sentiment when it goes too far and Bouchard, warts and all, was a perfect example of that.
Bouchard is a franchise player, and his 2025-26 campaign — in which he led all defensemen in scoring with a career-high 95 points — vindicated that. This time around, few if any batted an eye at his placement in 2C, exactly the same as the last two seasons.
“He just gets it done,” a coach said. “I think he’s where he should be.”
“He’s a hell of a player. He’s not just a product of McDavid,” an exec said. “I think people like to criticize the loss of value that they see, but they don’t criticize the loss of value that they don’t see because somebody doesn’t do the things he does. Does he give a little back? Sure, but he creates a ton.”
Most we spoke to weren’t shy about Bouchard’s flaws, mainly without the puck where things are still shaky. But he’s proven he belongs with the best of the best.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
EDM
D
26
Fox was the biggest lightning rod for debate in this year’s discussions for the second straight year. Once again, a lot of it stems around his footspeed and play style.
“I don’t think he’s fast enough,” a former player said. “He’s really smart, but he doesn’t have a great shot.”
“He doesn’t have that speed and athleticism to crack a shift open the way the Hughes, Makar types can, but he’s a really good defenseman,” a scout added.
That is a major reason why so many favor other complete defensemen, such as Jake Sanderson and Miro Heiskanen, over him. And it’s why so many on the insider panel called for him to be demoted from his original placement in 2B down to Tier 3 and beyond.
The injuries haven’t helped Fox’s case. Neither did the Olympic snub, or his surroundings in New York. But no matter how disastrous his team was, Fox was the difference-maker the Rangers needed on both ends of the ice.
It’s just different stylistically from some of the top guys in today’s speed game. It relies on anticipation and poise, instead of as much pop and pace.
“You see how dynamic and noticeable (Schaefer and Hutson) are, and you look at Fox, and it’s just the subtle things that allow him to be so effective and so productive,” a former player said. “The understated elements of his game and the way he thinks the game is maybe better than any defenseman on that list.”
“I think he’s brilliant,” an executive said. “The way he plays is almost more valuable because no one is used to seeing it — how long the wait is.”
Without another international tournament to give him bad press, and with more support on the back end in New York, Fox projects to have the third-best Net Rating of any defenseman this season at a plus-17.8. He may not have speed or size, but his smarts are unparalleled. He’s an on-ice genius.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
NYR
D
28
At 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds, no defenseman in hockey has a smaller frame than Hutson. There are also very few defensemen with a mightier output.
It’s only been two seasons, but Hutson has already proved a lot: not only that he can translate his skill to the big leagues, but that he can rise above that challenge to transcend the ice most nights. He was a driving force for Montreal’s success last season and projects to continue doing so for the next decade.
“If he stays on trend, he’s inching towards being a Norris Trophy candidate every year, like the guys in (Tier 1),” one former player said.
Hutson’s most important comp right now is Quinn Hughes: a dynamically creative game manager who imposes a ton of gravity with the puck, but whose size was an early impediment on his defensive ability. If that’s Hutson’s trajectory, he has a real shot of living up to that Tier 1 potential. And it helps that many saw real defensive growth last season, especially in the playoffs.
“I like Hutson where he is because he’s still incomplete,” one exec said. “Don’t forget Quinn Hughes didn’t f—ing defend at all (early in his career), they had to protect him, they had to make sure he played against the right lines, played in the right zones, had the right partner. Now look at him.”
“The question for me is will Hutson (have) that (Hughes-like leap),” the exec added. “That’ll be the difference between Hutson floating between (tier) 2C and 3A for the rest of his career versus finding his way to (tier) 1C/2A.”
For now, Hutson will have to settle for bona fide franchise defenseman. But the sky is the limit for a defenseman with his innate ability with the puck.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
MTL
D
22
Rantanen was one of the primary straws that stirred the drink for an electric Stars power play this past season. Despite that, his five-on-five impact dropped off on both sides of the puck. There were no “Rantanen calls game” type Game 7 heroics from him — or from his teammates — in the playoffs this year.
And the team Rantanen refused to commit to last spring, the Carolina Hurricanes, seemed no worse for wear after short-selling one of the most physically imposing, skilled wingers in the league.
Those factors combined to land Rantanen in Tier 2C, which is the lowest we’ve ranked him in the Player Tiers across the past four years.
“He’s too low,” said an NHL head coach, disagreeing with our ranking. “This guy is a beast. Forget the point totals and goals — in terms of all-around impact, it’s a no-brainer to rank him among the top-five wingers in the sport.”
“It was a tough year in Dallas that way,” said an executive, cautioning against overreacting to Dallas’ five-on-five struggles last season. “It’s not just him, it’s everybody. So let’s see how that kind of unfolds.”
Rantanen remains a franchise-level player based on where he lands in our Player Tiers. He is, without question, one of the most unique attacking forces in the sport.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
DAL
RW
29
Robertson is coming off a phenomenal season in which he led the Stars with 45 goals and 96 points. He followed that up by being the team’s best player in the first round against the Minnesota Wild, scoring five goals in six games, which should quiet some of the whispers about his previous up-and-down playoff track record.
We started this exercise with Robertson in Tier 2B, but many people in the league argued he should move down to Tier 2C, next to Rantanen. Robertson is a bit polarizing in league circles because he’s a poor skater and is considered more one-dimensional than the sport’s other top wingers.
“Drives me f—ing nuts because he is an absolute lethal sniper, but there’s not much more to his game than that,” said a scout.
“He just consistently scores. And he does it night in and night out. Never looks like he’s having a huge game. You’re never on your heels with him on the bench, but man, he just scores,” said a coach.
“If I look at Dallas, I’m taking Rantanen before Robertson: the all-around thing, the fact that Rantanen can even take some face-offs like he did when MacKinnon was out at one point in Colorado, he’s won a Cup, he was the best player on the (Stars) the year before in the first round against Colorado. I don’t think he’s better than Rantanen,” said another scout.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
DAL
LW
27
After a steady climb into the franchise tier, Slavin finally seems to have found his level. His all-world defensive wizardry, blunted as it may have been by an early-season injury in 2025-26, puts him at the bottom of Tier 2 — and his relative lack of offensive relevance makes it impossible to drive him up any further. The names ahead of him all offer significantly more in the way of puck skills and two-way impact. A few analysts also wondered, at 32, if age should become a consideration.
“We’ve waited so long for people to realize how good he is defensively and they finally win the Cup, but I don’t think he actually had a very good year for himself,” an exec said. “You kind of wait for him to get appreciated and then finally everyone’s like, ‘Oh, he’s really good,’ but I just didn’t think he was as good as his normal standard.”
That said, we’re inclined to hold serve and keep Slavin in this space, thanks in part to his supernatural timing and stick play.
“What he does is so special,” a scout said. “No one else in the league does what he does the way he does it.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
CAR
D
32
Sorokin wasn’t just having a Vezina-caliber 2025-26 season — he was playing at an MVP level. He led the league with a sparkling 28.8 GSAx at the Olympic break, driving the Islanders’ playoff run.
But by March, the wheels started to come off. Sorokin registered just one quality start in his last seven outings.
That rang the alarm for one of our panelists.
“There was a time last year where he was playing really, really good or playing really, really bad down the stretch. If you’re gonna be like an upper-echelon guy, like in the 2s or 3A, I can’t see that,” a former player said.
Another former player puts more blame on his workload.
“When he doesn’t have a guy to trade off starts off with, eventually, by the end of the year, he’s getting beat by shots that below-average goaltenders will get beat by. It’s not his fault. If his workload is right, I think he wins the Vezina last year,” the former player said. “I don’t think any goalie’s seen more porous defending in front of them for four years now.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
NYI
G
31
Injuries limited Tkachuk to 31 games last season as the Panthers sagged out of a playoffs berth.
On Team USA, meanwhile, Tkachuk was more of a supporting contributor than the dynamic driver he’s generally been whenever he’s healthy and playing at 100 percent.
Tkachuk has emerged as one of the great winners in hockey over the course of this decade, but given how infrequently he’s played over the past two seasons, and the extent to which his play-driving at five-on-five fell off uncharacteristically this past season, he finds himself in Tier 2A — the lowest he’s ranked across the past four seasons.
“Until he plays a full season and shows that he isn’t one of the best two-way wingers in the game, he deserves the respect of being considered that way,” said a scout.
“I love everything he does and how he impacts a team,” said another scout, who noted they’re worried we’ve already seen the best form of Tkachuk’s career as the injuries and miles mount, “but (the durability) is a concern for me.”
While the direction the arrow is pointing was debated by our panel, there’s nobody questioning what Tkachuk brings to an organization as a leader, a recruiter and a winning hockey player.
“His impact on a team, in terms of that identity and culture element, is the best in the league,” said a veteran talent evaluator.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
FLA
RW
28
Initially, we wondered whether Vasilevskiy’s recent playoff performance — four straight first-round losses, each with a sub-.900 save percentage — was enough to push him down a tick. The panel convincingly argued against it. The future Hall of Famer, two-time Stanley Cup champion and defending Vezina Trophy winner remains a consensus top-three goaltender in the NHL.
An exec pointed out that Vasilevskiy’s .911 save percentage last season was 15 points ahead of the league average, a coach cautioned against overemphasizing Tampa Bay’s first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, and a few panelists placed more of the blame on the Lightning’s skaters.
“Plus if you dock him,” the coach said, “you have to dock (Connor Hellebuyck). Could he have won (the Montreal) series for them? Yes, but the other guys haven’t knocked him off, either.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 2 — Franchise
T.B
G
32
Tier 3 — All-Star
A top 60 player. Someone who wouldn’t be the best player on a contender, but would be an important part of any contending or championship core. A strong top-line forward, above average No. 1 defenseman, or borderline top five goalie.
For the first time in several years, Aho slipped out of the franchise tier. Given how the Carolina Hurricanes ended their season, something tells us he’ll take it.
There’s no shame in this placement, either; Aho is directly behind a historical anomaly (Crosby) and a 101-point Selke Trophy winner (Suzuki). That feels fair for a point-per-game player with reliably solid two-way impact. “He’s really well rounded and really underrated in the way that he competes,” a former player said.
Would a monster playoff run have pushed Aho back up the list? Yes. Could he put up more points in a different system? Perhaps. Does any of that matter? Certainly not. He’s the right player on the right roster, and both sides win.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
CAR
C
29
Guentzel just continues to perform like one of the best and most consistent elite wingers in the sport. That’s reflected year over year in the player tiers exercise — this is the third consecutive season in which he’s landed in tier 3A.
This past season, the winger built on his first successful campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning, producing 88 points and continuing to drive offense at an elite clip in all situations. He was one of the few American players who managed to consistently threaten Canada’s defensive structure in the Olympic gold medal game. And where some of his teammates struggled to elevate in Tampa Bay’s first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Guentzel produced eight points in seven games in a losing effort.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
T.B
LW
31
After another stellar two-way season from Hagel, the big question came up: Is he a true franchise player?
Hagel sat on the cusp last season in 3A, only to cement himself as a legit point-per-game threat. That’s despite not being a PP1 staple while also having an immense dedication to off-puck play. His five-on-five numbers are off-the-charts good and still unbelievable to many. Over the last two seasons, Hagel ranks seventh in scoring and third in xG impact. He’s the only forward who’s top-10 in both facets.
That fact started him in 2C; he just makes an impact on the game in so many ways, as one coach put it.
“I think he’s a superstar,” an exec said. “I think he is an absolute stud. I would take him over Robertson. I would probably bump him up your list a little bit.”
But for several, the franchise tier still felt too rich. That dropped him back to 3A. But if he can keep these numbers up for another season, Hagel’s place in the game as a franchise guy will be simply undeniable. To some, he’s already there.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
T.B
LW
27
Hischier is one of the most valuable players in New Jersey. Some of it’s out of necessity, given Hughes’ injury track record. But it’s also thanks to his utilty. Hischier’s a dangerous passer who can go head-to-head with the opponents’ best and defend well. And he can be trusted to go first over the boards in any situation, at any moment in the game, on both ends of the ice.
But as important as Hischier is, he’s also not the Devils’ No. 1 guy when the team is healthy. And that’s an important distinction between franchise and all-star.
“He’s a No. 2 centerman, sort of defined,” a former player said. “I think for most other guys on this list, they’re their team’s undisputed No. 1.”
Add in the fact that Hischier’s scoring was a tick down and his defensive impacts weren’t as stout as usual, and he moves one notch down to 3A.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
N.J
C
27
Jarvis is one of the league’s premier all-around wingers with his remarkably consistent play-driving, goal scoring and high-end defensive value.
“I think he should be in 2C. He’s tremendous. I think that he’s really underrated. He is such a dog on pucks. That is such an element of his game, he is just a relentless player and it creates value that doesn’t show up on the score sheet,” said an exec.
Jarvis wasn’t at his best in the playoffs (four goals and 11 points in 19 games), but we’re giving him a pass for that because he was playing through a serious shoulder injury that required surgery in the summer. He’s a more valuable player than his raw point totals would indicate, but to earn Tier 2 status as a franchise player, we’d still like to see Jarvis reach a higher offensive ceiling, as he’s yet to reach the point-per-game mark across a season.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
CAR
RW
24
There aren’t many players on this list with more high-rise potential than Johnston, who’s coming off an 86-point season at just 23 years old.
Multiple panelists believe he’ll cement his status as a true franchise center in 2026-27, and few had any doubt he’ll grow into a contender-worthy first-liner. A coach put it plainly: “If you’re asking me who I’d want on my team, I get to Johnston on my list of centers more quickly.”
The easiest way for Johnston to push his way up is to dial up his five-on-five production; his 1.79 points per 60 slotted in behind players such as Joel Eriksson Ek, Shane Pinto and Jackson Blake. Still, there’s plenty to like.
“He’s 163 pounds soaking wet, but he is so f—ing intelligent and he rises to the moment,” the scout said, citing Johnston’s ability to make an impact regardless of the skill level of his linemates. “I just think his intelligence is off the charts.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
DAL
C
23
There’s a lot to like about McAvoy. His skill set and hard-nosed approach is unique in today’s NHL. He’s an extremley tough competitor. He plays playoff-style hockey year-round.
It’s just easy to get carried away with that versus his actual on-ice value.
“Sometimes you like the way he plays more than what he actually does, but he’s a beast top-pair defender,” a coach said.
That was clear in Boston last season. His defensive play buoyed a weak Bruins blue line and he was a standout in best-on-best play for Team USA. His offense may never be dynamic, but it’s finally coming around, too.
“I think we’ve treated him like he’s a 60-point defenseman for six or seven years, but he finally just got to that point,” a former player said. “He’s a really good blend of an all-around game, but there’s probably more gaffes and big mistakes in his game than other guys in his tier.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
BOS
D
28
Morrissey has established himself as one of the league’s more underrated No. 1 defensemen over the last few years, finishing fifth, fourth and seventh respectively in Norris Trophy voting between 2022-25. He’s one heck of an all-around player with his skating, offensive ability and shutdown acumen, but his form slipped a bit last season and the league’s young defensemen have also raised the bar compared to last year, hence the slight drop from Tier 2C last fall to Tier 3A this time around.
Morrissey’s offensive production dipped to 55 points in 77 games (he had averaged 69 points the previous three years) and his play-driving impact was less robust, as his xG share dropped from 55.7 percent in 2024-25 to 49.8 percent last season. He still had a strong season relative to the struggling team around him, but there is a slightly higher level he can reach this coming season.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
WPG
D
31
With Nylander, it’s the same story most years. Spellbinding play rushing up ice, dazzling dominance in the offensive zone … and a frustrating lack of care without the puck and in his own zone.
At this point, he is what he is: one of the league’s most gifted offensive players, but one who lives on the fringe of the franchise tier because of a lack of a complete game. The wingers above him have that.
“He’s in the top five or so players in the league when he really plays his best,” an exec said. “His skating, edge work and ability to hold onto the puck is so freaking good. He’s so good, and that’s why you get so mad at him sometimes when you watch him.”
Last season, Nylander lived at the extremes of that notion: a career-high 99-point pace and the weakest defensive output of his career.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
TOR
RW
30
It was a difficult season for the Florida Panthers, and Reinhart — Aleksander Barkov’s most frequent running mate during the Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup victories — felt that difficulty more than most.
Reinhart’s production fell precipitously this past season. The 40-goal, Selke-finalist form he sustained across consecutive seasons, which saw him elevate to Tier 2C last year, largely evaporated. At the Olympics, for whatever reason, Reinhart just couldn’t find chemistry with any of Canada’s top centers and saw his role diminish as the tournament went along.
Reinhart remains one of the best all-around wingers in the sport, but this was a down year by his lofty standards.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
FLA
RW
30
Last season was some kind of coming out party for Carlsson, who shot up from Tier 5B last summer to Tier 3B on this year’s list.
The physically assertive Swedish winger broke out for the Ducks offensively this past season, then put up some genuine “Him” type moments in the playoffs. Finally Carlsson broke the NHL’s wage scale this summer by signing a massive offer sheet that the Ducks ultimately matched. They had to do it. Carlsson is too good, and too promising.
“He could be like Kopitar or Barkov with a little bit more flash and shifting gears offensively than those guys,” said an NHL scout.
“I think he’s going to be talked about with Macklin Celebrini as one of the best two-way players in the league in a couple years,” said another scout. “And he’s already there for me.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
ANA
C
21
It’s not just that Caufield is coming off a 51-goal year; it’s how he does it.
“He’s an electric pure goal scorer,” a former player said. “Caufield’s kind of the straw that stirs the drink, if Suzuki’s the heartbeat.”
Another former player highlighted Caufield’s ability as a smaller player, to “gain leverage with their size in a battle and come away with the puck.” The player continued, “His tight angle shooting ability might be the best in the world.”
That scoring is the focal point, but it’s not all he contributes. That’s why he’s here. But some limitations in his play are what hold him back from leveling up to the franchise tier.
“He’s a high-end complementary player. You saw in the playoffs that he had some difficulty driving on his own when the competition ratcheted up,” a scout said. “That said, the one-touch shooting ability is elite. There’s no arguing that in a goal-scoring contest, he’s good at scoring goals. Isn’t that what hockey is?”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
MTL
LW
25
There are certainly fewer hockey fans unfamiliar with LaCombe’s game these days, thanks to his star-making playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, but Tiers readers already knew. LaCombe made his debut on the list ahead of last season, when our panel accounted for the possibility he could push his way up in a hurry.
He did just that, continuing his growth into an all-situations beast and shining in springtime matchup minutes against McDavid. Now, he’s firmly in the All-Star tier with more room for growth. Several voters argued him up the list — we were happy to oblige them — and a handful believe he’s about to have a season befitting a true franchise defenseman.
“He’s a f—in’ stud,” a former player said, noting that while Anaheim’s subpar defense will mean even more responsibility for LaCombe, he’s equipped to handle it: “He is going to play 30 minutes, and he can, because of the way he skates. … This kid skates like Quinn Hughes, except he’s (6-foot-2).”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
ANA
D
25
Raymond, who flirted with the point-per-game mark for a second consecutive season, is a high-end first-line winger. He’s exceptionally dynamic and shifty, which powers his play-driving and ability to create chances. Raymond was outstanding on the Olympic stage, too, with nine points in five games as Sweden’s most dangerous forward.
“He’s an ascendant guy,” a scout said. “Plays with a lot of pace and checks a lot of boxes for a star player. I think you can build around this guy. Maybe he doesn’t hit that level of a true pinnacle franchise-level guy, but he’s exceptional.”
“I like where you have him. He’s quietly becoming one of the league’s better offensive players, drivers — he’s producing like a first-line winger and the defense is improving steadily,” said an analyst.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
DET
RW
24
As predicted last year, Panarin has officially trended out of franchise territory.
Aging curves, and the path ahead, are one consideration. So are some recent downticks in scoring. Panarin is still an ace playmaker at five-on-five with scoring to back it up, but he isn’t taking over on the power play to give his team as much of an advantage in his minutes, and that’s had a real impact on his all-situations numbers.
While a full season away from New York could help, the Kings aren’t an offensive juggernaut, either.
“From a skill perspective, he’s top-10 in the league easy, but for me, I think of him and William Nylander sort of similarly. Great players, but don’t impact the game physically,” a scout said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
L.A
LW
34
If we knew Stone would play 84 games, he’d be in Tier 2. He was that good last season. Stone’s usual brand of defense, combined with a quiet 100-point pace, put him on track for a plus-23 Net Rating over a full season — second to only Kucherov among wingers.
The problem is, we know Stone will not play 84 games, or even come close. He’s at 60, 66, 56, 43, and 37 over the last five years. Yet another injury scare in last year’s playoffs — and he struggled when he did play — only puts that in further jeopardy.
“I’m a firm believer that availability is the most important ability,” an exec said. “I love the player, but you’ve got to be able to play all the time if you’re going to be considered one of the best.”
He’s an elite player, but Stone is too fragile to land any higher than this. Some wanted to push him down even further.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
VGK
RW
34
Stützle produces 80 points in season while falling out of bed.
The skilled German pivot has established himself now as one of the most consistently dynamic first-line offensive centers in the league, and finds himself in Tier 3 for a fourth consecutive season.
“He just has a way of controlling games,” said an NHL coach. “He’s one of the hardest guys in the league to game-plan against.”
The next step for Stützle would appear to be finding a way to produce in the playoffs. He created a lot of looks against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes this spring, but couldn’t quite break through. His defensive game also fell off somewhat relative to his usual standard, and while he’s a sturdy two-way option overall, Stützle can still struggle a bit with the puck management side of the game.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
OTT
C
24
The pressure was mounting on Swayman after a controversial, drawn-out contract dispute last fall, a subsequent eight-year extension which raised expectations, and a dismal 2024-25 season where he posted a career-worst .892 save percentage. He responded emphatically last season, dragging a middling Bruins team to a surprise 100-point campaign. Swayman consistently stole games, ranked third in the NHL in goals saved above expected, and re-established himself as a no-doubt-about-it elite netminder.
“Swayman can definitely steal you a series and steal you a Cup,” a former player said. “Boston was not a great team in front of him last year, and they ended up with, what was it, 100 points? I didn’t think Boston was a 100-point team, but they were because Swayman was good.
“Swayman did everything, like (in) Game 1. He has a shutout up until 10 minutes in the game. He was really the only reason they were in the games that they won.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
BOS
G
27
At times, Theodore has played like a fringe Norris Trophy candidate. That wasn’t quite the case in 2025-26, but that doesn’t mean the skilled puck-mover took a huge step back, either.
Theodore’s rate of production dipped at five-on-five from an elite 2.32 points per 60 to 1.46, as did his puck touches in the defensive zone, but Vegas still decisively won his minutes — impressive, given he was tasked with picking up some of the slack for the retired Alex Pietrangelo. Ultimately, no voters banged the proverbial table for him to move in either direction.
“Theodore has really rounded out his game, but truthfully, there’s a lot of nights where he’s just good, not great,” a veteran pro scout said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
VGK
D
31
If there’s one knock to Thomas’ game, it’s consistency. “I think he can be the best player on any given night in any given game, but I’m not sure he has the drive that some of the other guys in this range have,” a scout said. “There’s just more nights off there.”
What we’d like to see: more of what Thomas was doing after the Olympic break, less of what came before. Thomas jumped from a 64-point pace and average five-on-five impacts to pure dominance at even strength while scoring 31 points in 22 games. The latter is franchise-level stuff, but it’s everything before that keeps him in Tier 3.
Thomas plays hard minutes, defends well, gets pucks out at an elite level and is a proven point-per-game player. He’s also one of the game’s best passers. The upside is there … if he can put it all together for a full season, not just 20 games.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
STL
C
27
A coach adequately summed up the prevailing view on Thompson: “I hate watching him, but he’s done it for multiple years in a row.” The results for Washington’s Vezina Trophy finalist — two consecutive seasons with numbers well above league average — speak for themselves.
That’s not to say our panel is fully sold. There remain questions about Thompson’s comportment in net, his unorthodox style and the fact that the Capitals play a goalie-friendly style, but for now, he seems to be in the spot he deserves.
“Two years ago, maybe (he was) a flash in the pan. Last year, he backed it up,” a former player said. “I don’t think (the Capitals) would have sniffed 90 points if they didn’t have Logan Thompson. He’s a different goalie. He plays a different style. He’s unorthodox. He’s stand-up, one leg down, he’s catching with the right hand — he’s all of these quirky things, but I think the way that he’s played the last two years, I would have had him 3A.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
WSH
G
29
The tip of the attacking spear for the upstart Buffalo Sabres, who at long last appear to be on track as an ascendant team, Thompson excelled on the third line for Team USA at the Olympics and paced the Sabres to a long-overdue playoff berth.
Thompson is a specimen, standing 6-foot-7 with a level of offensive skill that’s extremely rare for a player with his size.
There are moments when Thompson is one of the most dominant individual forces in the sport, however, and moments — like we saw against the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs — when his focus and defensive reliability can wane.
“Tage could absolutely dominate the league night in and night out if he wanted to,” said an NHL scout. “Some nights he’s curl and drag — more nights than he’s a straight-line player.”
It’s worth noting as well that Thompson’s best big-game moments last season — both in the playoffs and at the Olympic tournament — occurred when he was playing on the wing, rather than at center.
“Moving to wing makes sense, big-picture, because of how he wants to play,” said an NHL executive.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
BUF
C/RW
28
After three seasons in the league, it’s still difficult to get a read on Bedard’s value.
With the puck on his stick, he’s already a very special player. He’s flashed all the tools of being an elite offensive engine, but the Blackhawks have unfortunately built a Flintstones car around him.
The degree of difficulty Bedard has faced in front of and around him makes his 75 points in 69 games last season all the more impressive. Before getting injured early in the season, he was neck-and-neck with Celebrini.
Without the puck on his stick, though, is a very different story. Yes, it’s hard to defend well on a team as poorly constructed as Chicago. But while there’s been a rise in compete, the flaws in Bedard’s defensive game remain too significant to warrant the franchise status his offensive game arguably merits.
“He has holes in his game because it’s never mattered,” an exec said. “He’s played kind of nothing but losing hockey.”
Most of the panel surveyed believe he’ll get there. One former player believes he has the potential to lead the league in scoring one day. But until either of those things happen, Bedard’s game still has a lot of growing to do. And hopefully he finally gets the right help to foster that.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
CHI
C
21
Bratt has generally been the picture of quiet effectiveness and consistency in New Jersey. His puck-moving ability and overall two-way game fit wherever the Devils need him, which makes him the ideal complentary winger to franchise centers Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.
Usually, that’s 3B-worthy. This year, he slides down a sub-tier to 3C after a relatively underwheming 2025-26 by his standards. The Devils looked better under the hood in his minutes, but poor puck luck on both ends of the ice held the team back — and sometimes, so did Bratt’s pass-first mentality. He’s far from the only player in New Jersey to struggle last season, and if the Devils can regain their identity this season and stay healthy, Bratt should level back up.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
N.J
LW/RW
28
Forsling’s defensive impact degraded across the board last season, which included his five-on-five goals-against rate spiking from 1.91 per 60 to 3.01 per 60. It raised some questions about how much of his reputation as an elite defensive player is perhaps tied to the Barkov effect. Around the league, though, the people we spoke to confidently backed Forsling, which explains why he’s only slightly dropped from Tier 3B to 3C after a down season.
“Barkov does an amazing job of reducing the defensive chaos that Forsling has to clean up — less time defending broken plays than a typical defenseman with his usage,” said an analyst. “But Forsling independently grades as a high-end transition defenseman. The skating, retrievals and exits are all legitimately exceptional and would translate well to any team.”
Others pointed to the physical toll of Florida’s deep playoff runs as reason for giving him a one-year pass.
“Do you know what that does to your f—ing body? And the way they play, physical, in your face, it f—ing is exhausting,” said a former player. “And they did it three years in a f—ing row. So I’m giving him a pass. I think he stays there.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
FLA
D
30
“Had an unreal year,” a scout said. “Drives me nuts.”
Welcome to the Erik Karlsson Experience, now starting its 18th season and headed for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Karlsson bounced back to an almost incredible degree for Pittsburgh in 2025-26, helping to fuel an unexpected run to the postseason and finding his way back on to a handful of Norris Trophy ballots. Karlsson was 10th among defensemen in points per 60 and, even more crucially, Pittsburgh won his minutes 73-53 after outright losing them in 2024-25.
“He can go either way, but what he did last season was special,” a veteran executive said. “There’s just not a lot of defenders on your list that can put together the sort of season that he managed.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
PIT
D
36
Keller holds steady in Tier 3 for a fourth consecutive season.
The Utah Mammoth’s leading scorer enjoyed one of his most effective two-way seasons, played himself onto Team USA and won a gold medal at the Olympics, and found excellent chemistry on a line with Nick Schmaltz that helped power the Mammoth to their first playoff berth since the franchise moved to Utah.
Among our panel of NHL contacts, Keller’s ranking was somewhat controversial.
“I think Guenther, his teammate, is more of a driver on the same team,” said a scout. “I struggle with ranking him ahead of a teammate that impresses me more when I watch that team play.”
“I think he could be at the top of Tier 3,” argued an NHL head coach, who praised Keller’s two-way growth at length.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
UTA
LW/RW
28
Marchenko started at the top of Tier 4 because he’s yet to crack the 80-point mark and is coming off a more modest 67-point season, but it didn’t take long for him to get argued up the list. He’s adored around the NHL and there’s a strong feeling he’s only scratching the surface of his potential.
“It wouldn’t shock me if the next year we had Kirill in the top 10 (wingers),” said a coach. “He’s a super dynamic player. I feel about him the way I feel about those guys at the top — the Pastrňáks, the Kaprizovs. All of a sudden, he just makes a play. He’s got speed and a big body.”
“He’s one of the most underrated players in the league,” said another coach. “Maybe he’s just always really good against us. Maybe it’s that nobody talks about him, but he dominates the game consistently. He always has the puck, makes great plays. I’d argue him as high as the 3As, pushing to get into the 2s.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
CBJ
RW
26
Last year, we said another offensive step would move Nečas up. He responded with a 100-point season and scored at a pace of 3.58 points per 60 that, coincidentally enough, tied with Rantanen in the top 15 in the league.
There were some split opinions, though, on MacKinnon’s impact on that uptick in scoring.
“I think Nečas is an empty-calories guy,” an executive said. “Can you move Nathan MacKinnon up a tier and move Nečas down? If you put him with a regular center, he isn’t a 100-point winger.”
A former player, while citing the MacKinnon Effect, also thinks it can be difficult to keep up with him, and credits how dangerous Nečas has become with his skill, size and playmaking.
“When I think of guys that can enter a zone and use their size to turn up and find the next wave, he might be as good as anyone at that,” the player said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
COL
RW
27
Point’s drop from Tier 2B to 3C is steep, but it reflects just how wildly disappointing his play was last season. He mustered just 18 goals in 63 games, looked like a shadow of himself by the eye test and was invisible in the playoffs. Injuries are definitely part of the story, and perhaps better health is all Point needs for a bounce-back, but the hockey people we spoke to seem worried.
“The one concern I have with Point is that if he’s lost a step at all, it would get really hard for him fast, because he’s a speed-based guy,” a coach said. “I watched this year and I don’t see the same impact. I love the guy. He’s a f—ing warrior. But I don’t see the impact anymore.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything because we know how good he can be, but he was not himself last year. Something was missing dynamically in his game,” said an exec.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
T.B
C
30
It’s easy to poke holes in Scheifele’s game. He isn’t a dominant 1C. Saying defense isn’t a strength may undersell just how poorly he plays in his own zone.
He isn’t the go-to center most would pick for those reasons. One former player said they would take Eriksson Ek over Scheifele to win.
But Scheifele also keeps finding ways to level up offensively. His scoring rate has ticked up in each of the last four years, to a career-high pace of 3.5 points per 60. His ability to set up scoring chances is in the upper echelon of the league, too.
One executive framed it perfectly.
“You’ve got to rate him for what he is, rather than criticize or downgrade him for what he isn’t. You’ve got to recognize his warts, don’t get me wrong, but you’re talking about a 103-point player that nobody f—ing likes? Think about (how silly that sounds) for a second.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
WPG
C
33
Tkachuk is a great player, but he dropped to 3C because that ability may not shine so brightly on a team as stacked as Florida. And there weren’t many who argued against that. He couldn’t be The Guy in Ottawa; maybe being second (or fourth) banana in Florida is the answer.
His unique profile should be a perfect fit for the Panthers’ style of play. But the problem with Brady is that he tends to leave a lot of value on the table. Over the last three seasons, Ottawa had a 58 percent xG share with him on the ice, but just 51 percent of the actual goals. It also manifests in other ways, with one scout citing a lack of poise and poor feel for game flow that leads to bad penalties and bad fights.
Both concerns are things he’ll need to figure out in Florida.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
FLA
LW
26
Pop quiz: Would you rather have Wilson or Brady Tkachuk on your roster?
For a few of our panelists, it’s Wilson, and probably by a larger margin than you’d guess. “They’re similar players, but Tom is the better version,” a coach said. “Done it more, scored more, more physically impactful.”
We couldn’t quite get there — both players are in Tier 3C — but it was a compelling enough argument to help Wilson push his way into the All-Star tier for the first time. Perhaps a one-of-one combination of physicality and skill, Wilson has now scored comfortably above a 30-goal pace in consecutive seasons and, at 32, is more productive at a per-60 rate than ever before.
As for the Capitals, with Ovechkin aging into a purely one-dimensional player and no true franchise-caliber replacement in the system, they’ve come to rely on a “strength in numbers” approach to their forward group. Wilson leads the way.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 3 — All-Star
WSH
RW
32
Tier 4 — Star
A top 100 player. Someone who would be a strong piece within a contending or championship core, but not a go-to option. An average top line forward, below average number one defenseman, or top 10 goalie.
Nobody can deny how ridiculously gifted Barzal is as a puck carrier and playmaker, but the shortcomings of his game are also real. You’re always left wishing for a tad more production relative to his skill level — he’s only hit the 80-point mark once in the last eight seasons — and some believe he’s more effective on the wing than at center.
“The way he forechecks is better as a winger, and he’s one of the worst in the NHL taking faceoffs, and that matters a whole lot,” said a former player. “And even when he is playing center, often one of his linemates might be sharing the duties down low in his own zone … He’s a guy that, I think for a lot of people, you’re like, ‘How do you not have at least a point a game when you control the play as much as he does?’”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
This could prove a bit low for Chychrun, who followed up the best season of his career with another major step. In 2025-26, he led all NHL defensemen in goals (26) and was second with 15 at five-on-five, behind only Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski.
We knew Chychrun was gifted offensively. The bigger deal was that he did it all in first-pair minutes, which the Capitals won thanks in part to his impact with the puck. The most common assessment from our panelists: A repeat performance, or something close to it, is likely to push him further up the list — potentially, one player said, into the franchise tier.
“He had a great year,” the player said. “I want to see it again.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
What’s the difference between Connor being in 3B last season and back in 4A this season? Actually winning his minutes.
Last season, the Jets had 60 percent of the goals and 53 percent of the xG with Connor on the ice; it felt like proof he could finally be a winning player. One year later, he’s back at square one: another 90-point season in which the actual impact at five-on-five is a shade under mid — all stemming from a weak defensive game.
“There are guys who can give it back a little bit because of the goals, but he doesn’t even seem like he does that,” an exec said.
Connor is extremely dangerous in the offensive zone, better than many of the guys in Tier 3. But if it doesn’t influence winning games, it’s just empty calories.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Seemingly every time Cooley receives the puck on the breakout, with or without a head of steam, it’s an automatic zone entry.
One of the league’s most dynamic skaters, Cooley has elevated himself from the bottom of Tier 4 to the apex of it as a result of his continued offensive development and general un-guardability. If he continues on his current developmental track, it’s only a matter of time before he ascends toward the level of a franchise-level player.
“He’s got some jam, which I didn’t see,” said an executive of Cooley’s progress. “He’s going to be in a different category in 12 months.”
“I love that guy,” said an NHL head coach. “He’s a really great player and I think he gets the short end of the stick with his linemates.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
“I don’t understand what Winnipeg was doing with him for the majority of his career,” an executive said.
No matter how dynamic Ehlers was in his minutes, he never got true top-line deployment. He didn’t in the regular season with the Hurricanes, either, last season, although his usage was a tick up from the last three seasons.
In the playoffs, though, the coaches let him cook in expanded usage — and the results were undeniable.
“Ehlers surprised the hell out of me in the playoffs this year,” an executive said. “He did way better than his past would have suggested.”
So while he wasn’t The Guy for the Hurricanes, that just isn’t how the team operates. And that was something to keep in mind with his evaluation, as another executive reminded us.
“I do think that you guys are unfair to players who play less, when sometimes it’s in service of the team’s goals.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
We strongly considered bumping Faber up to Tier 3 after seeing how many of our NHL contacts went to bat for him.
“I thought Faber was really low,” an exec said.
“He’s a puck-possession guy, plays with no fear and he has some grit to him. I think he belongs with that group of 3C guys ahead of him,” said a coach.
“Faber wasn’t just on the (U.S. Olympic) team; he was getting the McDavid matchup,” another exec said. “That’s the world, that’s the regard that NHL coaches have in Faber. They see him, he’s like Slavin, he’s not quite as good defensively, but that’s how they use him. Unlike Slavin, he has offense.”
Ultimately, we kept him in Tier 4 for a couple of reasons. Before the Hughes trade, Faber’s results in a No. 1 role were mixed; in 2024-25, Minnesota only had a 46.4 percent control of xG and was outscored by two goals with Faber on the ice at five-on-five. He was spectacular last season, but for now we have to be mindful of the Hughes bump.
To us, he’s closer to being an elite No. 2 rather than a true No. 1, similar to Devon Toews, who’s also in Tier 4A. He’s only 24, though, so he could easily make the jump into Tier 3 next fall with a season that mirrors Toews in his prime.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Last season was a rare one for Forsberg — he scored at a 40-goal pace. The 32-year-old winger is typically either in the 50- or 30-goal range, rather than splitting the difference. The fact Nashville has been stuck in the mushy middle with him as their best forward for several years works against him. What’s clear, though, is that his floor as a producer is relatively high, and that makes him valuable.
Interestingly, in our discussions with our panelists, he emerged as something of a dividing line; “Player X should be above/below Forsberg” is a sentiment we heard more than once.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Guenther has it all. He’s got high-end skating skill, is a muscle memory-type finisher — with both a quick release and a deadly one-time shot — and has the size to be a prototypical power forward as he enters his prime years.
“I think he could score 50 in his sleep the next couple years,” a former player said. “I don’t think he’s gonna be a 30-goal guy ever again. I think he’s gonna have 40 to 50, the rest of his career. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him a little higher next year; where he’s at right now. I can stomach it, but I think it’s a little low.”
Guenther is edging his way toward the top of Tier 4, and as with Cooley, it seems like it’s only a matter of time and maturity before they’re established as two sides of one of the most dynamic attacking partnerships in the Western Conference.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 4 — Star
UTA
LW/RW
23
Harley had a 30-game stretch last season in which he really struggled, but his game stabilized in time for him to be a standout blue-line contributor for Team Canada at the Olympics.
“He had an off year,” noted a scout. “He’s in a good spot. I really like him, but he needs to get his s— together.”
Overall, Harley remains a high quality top-pair option, but his overall defensive impact fell off and he didn’t continue the upward trajectory he appeared to be on after the 2024-25 campaign. That’s why he’s dropped down from the top of Tier 3 last season to the middle of Tier 4.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
After years of consistently playing through a variety of injuries, Hintz finally missed serious time in 2025-26. A torn hamstring ended his season in March, and the Stars missed him greatly. Wyatt Johnston’s breakout helped, but without Hintz, Dallas simply lacked the down-the-middle power necessary to reach their championship potential.
Before his injury, Hintz was having something of a bounce-back season. Dallas was winning his minutes 36-19 with an expected goal share of 56 percent, up from around 50 percent in 2024-25. That substance is part of the reason he’s back in 4A after starting last season in 4B, and one of the things that, according to some panelists, gives him the edge over a few centers ranked ahead of him.
“When (Hintz) is healthy,” one scout said, “he is a f—ing horse.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Last year, the insider panel was split on what a jack-of-all-trades center like Larkin actually is, between a solid 1C versus an elite 2C.
This time around, the consensus was clear: a great second-line center.
“Larkin was never a 1C. Never gonna be a 1C. But he’s a f—in’ really good 2,” a scout said.
As one former player put it, he would be a 2C to some of the players in 4A, such as Logan Cooley and Roope Hintz.
That could be what’s holding back a Larkin trade. He’s a 1C in Detroit, but any interested contending teams likely view him otherwise.
“If he ends up on a team with any of the guys above him, that’s a contender, because then he’s your second center,” an executive said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
On one hand, Oettinger has high pedigree, is remarkably consistent in handling a heavy regular-season workload and has shown flashes of dominance going back to the 2022 playoffs. On the other hand, he has never been a Vezina finalist, is coming off an .899 save percentage season and has been up-and-down during the last couple of playoffs.
“I think Oettinger has a bit of a reputation which holds him up,” said an exec.
“He’s big, he’s athletic, he has a lot of tools, and when he’s on, it looks very easy,” a former player said. “I think that when things are not as perfect, he starts to guess, he starts to chase.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Toews ends his five-year run as a Tier 3 fixture and drops down to the top of Tier 4 in this year’s edition.
The steady transitional defensive defenseman, a mainstay on a pair with Makar, endured a few shaky moments in the Olympics and in the playoffs, but was mostly the same steady-Eddie top-pair-caliber blueliner he’s been for much of this decade in Colorado.
“He’s the most underrated defender in the league,” said a pro scout, who suggested Toews was ranked too low.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Father Time eventually comes for everyone and Josi is no exception. Though the 36-year-old scored at a 66-point pace, his ability to push play forward noticeably slipped last season. He had a below-average impact on xG for the first time since 2018-19 and looked shockingly mediocre when it came to exiting the zone.
Josi has been a staple in the franchise defenseman tier for a long time and was on the cusp at the start of last season. After the year he had, though, it’s become difficult to hold him in the same reverence. Josi is officially on the decline.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
His first season with St. Louis was a proof of concept for Broberg. Not only was he a legit everyday defenseman, he was a damn good one, showing the puck-moving and defensive acumen necessary to eat tough minutes. That’s not easy for any young defenseman to accomplish in their first full season, but he made it look that way with his skating and size.
Broberg not only belonged, he proved he could thrive. And last season he cemented that with another stellar two-way season. He’s become the Blues’ go-to defenseman.
As for next steps, a scout said this: “Right now he’s a wild horse who can out-skate his problems. If he can contain himself and improve how he processes the game, he’ll be right there.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Cirelli earned a place in 4B last season for his elite shutdown play. Despite being a finalist for the Selke Trophy in 2025-26, that isn’t exactly what kept him slotted here this year.
Cirelli’s defense wasn’t up to his usual heights, despite sharing the burden of matchup minutes with Yanni Gourde last season. Instead, he was so far above break-even in xG thanks to really strong offense in his minutes with Brandon Hagel. The Lightning’s second-line duo generated a ton of quality chances and scored at an impressive rate of 4.27 goals per 60.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Dobson fell out of Tier 3 ahead of last season, his first in Montreal, primarily over a massive drop in point production (70 to 39) with the Islanders. What he had going for him, though, was one of the strongest expected goal shares in the league.
With the Canadiens, Dobson’s production hovered in the same space, and his expected goal share dropped from 54 percent to 47 percent, worse than Montreal’s average. That made arguing him back up the list a tough sell. Nobody on our panel made the attempt.
Still, Dobson remains an obvious long-term piece for the Canadiens and he has, it seems, a positive impact on Lane Hutson. Hutson’s puck-possession numbers improved with Dobson as his defensive partner. He also created chances for his teammates at a much higher rate than he did on Long Island.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
From Eriksson Ek’s completeness to his high value in Minnesota, the insider panel had a ton of praise for him this year.
“He’s a do-everything guy for (Minnesota),” a former player said. “I would have him on a on a short list for the guys that I think are capable of winning Selke every year.”
“He is everything you want from crease to crease in a competitor,” a scout explained. “You wish he had a little bit more polish and finish offensively, but his work ethic, compete, grind and willingness make up for that lack of production.”
The fact that he doesn’t have that finesse is part of what holds him back from the true championship-caliber 1C tier. But that speaks to Minnesota’s lack of depth more than his actual play.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
We found something of a consensus on Gauthier, who shot the puck more on a per-60 basis than any other regular NHL player. He’s got the look of a future goal-scoring champion, but it makes sense to tap the breaks — at least for one more season.
Still, our panelists said, that was a whole lot of goals for a 22-year-old, and plenty more are on the way.
One exec expected that to be “at least the norm” for Gauthier, and a coach compared his ability to shoot in traffic to Auston Matthews. “He may be one of those players where how you defend him just doesn’t matter,” the coach said. Another exec expressed concern about his defense but said the offense more than counterbalanced it.
“I think if you look around the league and ask, ‘Who is the next 60-goal scorer?’ the best bet you’ll find is Cutter Gauthier,” a pro scout said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 4 — Star
ANA
LW/RW
22
When Holloway exploded as a high-end top-six forward during his first season in St. Louis, the big question was whether he could repeat it. Last season proved the breakout was legit.
It wasn’t a perfect season — Holloway endured a slow start and only played 59 games because of injury — but his run after the Olympic break was unreal. Holloway totaled 34 points in the last 25 games, with him and Thomas driving nearly 60 percent of scoring chances and outscoring opponents 23-8 in that stretch. He’s big, fast, skilled and tenacious, which makes him a scary good play-driver. The next step will require staying healthy and consistent so he can put together a 70-to-80-point season.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
While Horvat’s pre-trade 2022-23 performance was a bit of a reach, fueled by a high shooting percentage, it has rightfully recalibrated expectations about what he can add in the goal-scoring and scoring chance departments. Just look at his last season, when he generated a ton of quality looks and had the scoring to match as one of the Islanders’ best offensive threats.
As one executive described it, “He’ll have a two-week stretch where he’s the best player on their team and he’s scoring and doing it all. … He’s a unique player.”
In a perfect world, the Islanders would have more support around him to deepen their attack. But credit to him for doing a lot with a little on Long Island.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
The 34-year-old net-front specialist was sorely missed by the Oilers during his extended absence in the regular season last season, and remains as efficient as any goal scorer in the league.
Hyman remains a unique player. His unrivaled fitness level, in particular, is a vital trait that permits him to be such an effective running mate for McDavid and Draisaitl.
Our panel, however, has some concern about how his game is likely to age.
“I’d have him in (Tier 5),” said an executive. “I think he’s going the opposite way.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 4 — Star
EDM
LW/RW
34
The versatile, defensively-aware speedster has become one of the NHL’s most consistent 35-plus goal scorers. And while Brandt Clarke’s emergence has diminished the need for the Kings to use Kempe at the point on the power play, his excellence in that spot is a valuable arrow in his overall attacking quiver.
“He’s legit,” suggested a scout. “Bookmark (40 goals) for him.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Sergachev is blessed with excellent physical tools and immense talent, but he looked overmatched at times as Utah’s No. 1 last season. The Mammoth controlled a tick under 50 percent of xG and were outscored by two goals with Sergachev on the ice at five-on-five. His defensive metrics in particular are trending in the wrong direction. He handles the toughest matchups on the blue line — he’d likely be more effective with an easier burden — but that’s what holds him back from being a true No. 1.
He’s a consistent 50-to-60-point offensive producer, and there’s no doubt he’s still a bona fide top-pair defenseman, but a former player feels he’s declining “in the sense that he’s happy with what he’s doing. To me, he doesn’t push himself.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
The first few seasons of Slafkovský’s career didn’t scream “No. 1 draft pick.” Last season felt like a breakthrough as he grew alongside a line that completely leveled up.
He jumped to 30 goals and 73 points, becoming a more imposing force in the offensive zone with his chance creation. Sure, he was third fiddle on that line and struggled defensively at times, but he was by no means a passenger. He proved it at the Olympics, where he dominated in a feature role without much help.
Slafkovský is starting to rise; the question is how high he can climb this season.
“He may be too low,” a scout said. “He’s just starting to take it up a notch, and I think he’s a guy that could make your list not age that well.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 4 — Star
MTL
LW/RW
22
Finding the right spot for Svechnikov, due to injury and inconsistency, has been a challenge. Last summer, after perhaps the worst season of his career, we held the fort and placed him near the top of Tier 4.
He did his part to make that decision stand up, returning to form as a five-on-five play-driver and point producer and assembling by far the best power-play season of his career. He also made up for a quiet postseason with two goals in Carolina’s crucial Game 5 win over Vegas.
Still, he’s down a tick, largely due to the upward mobility of wingers Kirill Marchenko, Dylan Guenther and former Cane Martin Necas. All three leapfrogged Svechnikov, and each had more panelists willing to go to bat for them.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
This is a make-or-break season for Byfield. Everybody likes his size, speed and flashes of tantalizing skill, but it feels like we’ve been waiting forever for him to break out from the 50-to-55 point range he’s been stuck in for the last three seasons. Will the increased power-play time and No. 1 center opportunity following Anže Kopitar’s retirement be the fuel for a big leap? Opinions are split.
“I’m not convinced that he has what it takes to be their No. 1 guy in Los Angeles,” said a scout.
“He’s been their No. 1 defensive (center) over the last two years, not Kopitar. And it’s not close if you look at the metrics,” said an exec. “The problem with Byfield is, he ends the year with 24 goals, but he (only) had 9 at the midway point of the season. He has to start taking games over. I think by circumstance, role and (increased) usage alone, he should get minimum 15 or more points next year.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
DeBrincat has climbed out of the support tier for the first time in three years, thanks to his scoring ability. His player archetype is an interesting one, because 40-goal scorers like him don’t grow on trees. But as important as that ability is — and it unquestionably is — there is more to the complete picture. And that’s where DeBrincat falls short, especially when comparing him to a player of a similar build, such as Cole Caufield.
“He’s a smart player, not just a shooter,” an executive said, pointing to how impressive it is to generate his chances off the off-wing.
“I don’t want to say you only notice DeBrincat when he’s got a scoring chance. I think Caufield just creates more than him,” a former player said.
An analyst was of a similar opinion, noting that DeBrincat has an elite shot but his play-driving is a little more dependent.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Edvinsson rises from Tier 5 last year into Tier 4. While he only managed 25 points in 72 games on a non-playoff team last season, Edvinsson has some major supporters among our NHL contacts.
“I’d have him way, way higher,” said an executive. “The breakout has already happened.”
Another executive believes Edvinsson already belongs in Tier 3, and expressed confidence that he’d work his way into that mix this season.
“I think there’s a lot of upside with him,” said a coach. “He’s a freak athletically, can skate and his skill game has come a long, long way.”
There is still some skepticism within the industry about his fit with Moritz Seider long-term, his work rate and his inconsistency. Nobody, however, doubts his potential.
“He hasn’t put it together,” said another executive, “but he has the potential to be a horse.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
As with many of his teammates in South Florida, Jones’ 2025-26 came with an injury-related asterisk; he missed more than two months with a broken bone in his foot and returned too late to make much a difference.
Still, we’re expecting him to pick up where he left off in his first half-season with the Panthers. Years of over-extension with the Chicago Blackhawks showed Jones is not a No. 1 defenseman. His playoff run in 2025, though, showed that he’s a championship-caliber No. 2, and he remains a solid set-up man in the offensive zone with plenty of two-way ability against the proper competition. Nobody on our panel took issue with his placement, and one pro scout said that if Jones is healthy, he could move up in Tier 4.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
This is the fourth consecutive year Konecny has slotted in Tier 4. He’s established himself as a 70ish-point top-line winger who can be the offensive engine for a team for some spurts and stretches, but not quite consistently enough to be an elite player.
At his best, he was an inspiring solo offensive driver on some very talent-bereft Flyers teams, but it was a tad disappointing that his form dipped last season, even though the environment and talent around him improved. He was fairly quiet at times last season and only scored one goal in 10 playoff games, but it’s noteworthy that he still racked up 68 points and handily won his five-on-five minutes in what was considered a “down” season.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 4 — Star
PHI
LW/RW
29
Last season, Lindell led the entire NHL with a Defensive Rating of plus-11.4 and he has the highest projected rating going into next season. When it comes to the conversation of who the league’s best defensive defensemen are, he’s in the thick of it.
“He does one thing and he does it really well,” a scout said.
Lindell’s offensive game is limited enough to not land higher in Tier 4, but he’s an underrated stud on the back end and a big part of Dallas’ defensive might.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
A fresh start away from the Rangers’ chaos was the key to Miller channeling all of his raw talent and tools into a consistent top-four level.
“In New York, he stepped out of his comfort zone and tried to do too much. Everybody on that team did,” a former player explained. “Now he’s playing within himself.”
Miller has a place here thanks to his glow-up in Carolina. But balancing the influence of the Hurricanes’ system made his exact placement tricky.
“The Trouba usage was insane,” an executive said. “Guys look much better moving from bad teams all the time.”
One scout noted he probably should be higher than Tier 5, but wants to see him do it again. Another former player added no one would argue with that range, but there is a simple case for Tier 4: “He won, and he was a big part of it… that should elevate him just based on that alone.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Moser was the unsung hero who permitted the Lightning to withstand a cataclysm of blue-line injuries in the early portion of last season. Darren Raddysh may have scored the power-play goals, but Moser was the matchup defenseman who emerged as the No. 1 and all-around engine for the Lightning.
“I could see Moser someday getting to that Forsling level,” said a former player. “Really similar profiles of those two guys, and Moser’s a little bit mean. He frustrates guys. He breaks the puck out really well. He’s an efficient player, and he breaks up so many plays and does so many little things to get it started.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
A rising, underrated shutdown center, Pinto’s two-way breakout last season was enough for him to make his Tiers debut in 4C. Pinto was tasked with incredibly challenging matchups — he played the seventh-most minutes against “elite” competition among all NHL forwards in 2025-26, according to PuckIQ — yet he decisively won his minutes, driving a 54 percent xG share along the way. His projected Defensive Rating ranks in the 96th percentile for this coming season. On top of that, he scored at a pace of 26 goals per 82 games last season.
One coach believes Pinto belongs in the same conversation as Cirelli and Eriksson Ek, but first, we wanted to see him build a longer track record.
“I love Shane Pinto,” said a scout, which echoed the league-wide sentiment about his all-around value.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Sanheim continues to elevate into one of the premier shutdown defensemen in the league. He doesn’t put up the flashy point totals of a typical No. 1 defenseman — his 37 points last season were the second-best mark of his career — but his defensive impact is stellar due to his rangy 6-4 frame and outstanding skating ability. That earned him a well-deserved spot on Canada’s Olympic team.
Sanheim was also exceptional in Round 1 against the Penguins last spring. He played more than 59 minutes head-to-head against Crosby at even strength, in which the Flyers didn’t surrender a single goal.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Among our panel of industry contacts, nobody on the list was a more popular pick to rise significantly and quickly than Beckett Sennecke.
“He’s going to move up after next year,” said a former player. “I think he’s going to be elite.”
“I think he’s way too low,” agreed an executive.
The 20-year-old power forward, a shocking pick when the Ducks selected him at No. 3 in the 2024 draft, has emerged as a totally unique attacking weapon. Standing 6-3 with plus skating speed, Sennecke’s rush playmaking ability is almost totally unique for a winger his size.
“He had a late growth spurt and it shows up in his game,” said one amateur scout. “He has all the small-guy skills, with the body positioning and skill, but in a power-forward body. He’s special.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
You’re likely aware of Stankoven’s 2026 postseason as one of the offensive engines for the Stanley Cup champions. All those goals didn’t simply appear, though.
After the Olympics, Stankoven saw his scoring rate jump from 0.72 to 1.08 goals per 60, a hair behind wingers known primarily for their ability to produce offense, such as Jason Robertson and Kirill Kaprizov. Stankoven, for the first time in his hockey career, is a full-time center.
If the 5-foot-8 relentless puck hound picks up where he left off during the Hurricanes’ title run, he’ll push his way further up the list in a hurry. Until then, our panel is fine with placing him squarely in Tier 4, among other high-end 2Cs.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
A top 150 player. Someone who would offer strong support to a contending or championship core, but who wouldn’t be an integral piece within it. A below average top-line forward, a strong No. 2 defenseman, or an above average starter.
Bennett’s never going to be the most prolific regular-season player, but we all know he transforms into a different beast in the playoffs. He is a clutch big-game scorer, controversially toes the line with his belligerent physicality and is an underrated puck-carrier through the neutral zone.
He’s a one-of-a-kind player on a one-of-a-kind team. Tier 5A, where there are a few high-end second-line centers, felt like the right range to slot him in.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Benson’s pot-stirring generates so much of the buzz around him. As one scout put it, “he has more of that F-you to his game.” But there’s also a lot of two-way strengths to back up that rat-king energy. Benson’s a tenacious puck hound who forechecks hard and forces takeaways. He has the hands to set up his teammates with slick passes and drives right to the net-front to create chaos. And that translated in a big way when it mattered most last spring.
“He gets himself in situations where he gets opportunities,” an executive said. The question is whether he’ll add the chops to capitalize on all those chances.
That’s what the 21-year-old has to prove after his playoff breakout. He looks poised to build on that in Buffalo.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
BUF
LW
21
Carlson initially started this exercise in Tier 4, but was pushed down by the panel, with the last two postseasons being concerning. After solid and consistent regular seasons, Carlson ran out of gas when it mattered most. “He’s nowhere near that type of player anymore,” one former player said.
Even with the decline on the way for the 36-year-old defenseman, there’s a real possibility this placement could look silly on the surface this season. Carlson is going to have a real cushy opportunity to put up some gaudy numbers, but that doesn’t change the fact he probably isn’t a true No. 1 anymore.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
With Sanderson around as Ottawa’s go-to guy, Chabot has found the perfect place in the lineup as the offensive sidekick on the second pair. That lightened load at both ends of the ice has suited Chabot well as he can offer crucial puck-moving support to Ottawa’s second layer of attack.
Chabot makes the forward group feel deeper, though he isn’t without his defensive warts. That limits his ability to be a true No. 1.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Demidov’s deceptive skill captured the imagination of the hockey world in his first NHL season, and he debuts on the Player Tiers at the top of Tier 5. That perch is very much a temporary thing, though few were as excited to move him up to Tier 4 as they were for Sennecke. The potential is obvious, the skill level is tantalizing and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Demidov ascends to the level of a star winger.
“Fair ranking,” said an NHL head coach, “but make no mistake, this kid has a chance to skyrocket up the list.”
“Honestly, I see 50-goal upside,” said a veteran NHL talent evaluator.
A total of 62 points as a 20-year-old rookie forward was an exceptional start to Demidov’s NHL career, but there’s little question around the league that he’s only just scratching the surface.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
MTL
RW
20
Dorofeyev proved his 35-goal season wasn’t a fluke. He surpassed that in the regular season and built on it with a playoff breakout. The question is whether he can be the best version of himself in new surroundings.
“I think it’s fair to expect a regression now that he’s away from the Vegas system,” an analyst said.
Dorofeyev’s shooting talent is valuable and earns him a place here. But he isn’t the most complete player; he’s not a true play-driver or a defensive ace. Whether he can thrive away from Vegas’ support is the difference between supporting territory and the star tier.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
NYR
LW/RW
25
Considering the current makeup of Anaheim’s defense corps, this is going to be a massive season for Dostál — not that his job already wasn’t hard enough given the Ducks’ defensive shortcomings. Over the last three seasons, Dostál’s expected save percentage of .894 is the league’s seventh-lowest mark.
Each season, Dostál has been mostly up to the task in one of the league’s most difficult environments. That’s created trust that he’s one of the few goalies who matter. But there are some cracks under the surface after last season, as one former player lamented a lot of bad goals against leading to a below-average GSAx.
That’s what makes the upcoming season so pivotal. With a potentially shallow defensive group in front of him, it’s time for Dostál to prove he’s the legit top-10 goalie his reputation suggests.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Hanifin had an opportunity to push his way up, given some of his added responsibility with Vegas after Alex Pietrangelo’s departure. He didn’t faceplant — but he did’t capitalize, either. In all, it felt prudent to drop him from the bottom of Tier 4 to the top of Tier 5.
His profile remains that of a solid No. 2 who’s decent in most areas but stands out in none, though his skating got some props and his zone entries improved.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
For the second time in the last three seasons, Hronek has made it onto the list in Tier 5.
The versatile matchup defenseman emerged as a genuine power-play threat for the Canucks down the stretch last season, stepping into the role vacated by former running mate Quinn Hughes and excelling in that spot. Hronek’s calling card, however, remains his ability to eat minutes against tough competition while being skilled enough to boost his team offensively in those minutes.
“He really does it all,” said an NHL head coach. “Underrated on the power play. I think he’s almost a tier too low.”
“That guy is overrated,” said an executive, who noted that someone needs to play a featured role on an overmatched team and that has to be weighed in analyzing Hronek’s late-season offensive breakout.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
A blazing-fast, rush-attacking winger who can frustrate coaches with his inconsistency, Kyrou has floated between Tier 4 and Tier 5 over the last four years.
We were forced to drop him to Tier 5A after a down season in which he slumped to 46 points in 72 games, but we feel confident a bounce-back is coming. He had a long track record as a 70-point-ish producer before 2025-26, and more importantly, his play-driving numbers were extremely good last season. No player had a bigger impact on xG relative to teammates than Kyrou last season, boding well for a return to form in production for the Capitals.
“I like him. I always have,” said an exec. “There’s been more than enough times where I’ve disagreed with someone about him. I don’t know what it is about him that people don’t like.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
WSH
RW
28
The Rangers’ struggles were bigger than one player, but Miller’s first full season back in New York missed the mark. Poor shooting luck was one factor, but so were lackluster defense and injury issues throughout the season. Add in some expected age-related decline, and Miller dropped a full tier from last year. He’s still in the fold thanks to some bounce-back potential, aided by offseason moves that should help boost his scoring and stabilize his game.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
It was yet another season of goals in the 30s and points in the 60s for the super consistent 34-year-old veteran from Warroad, Minn.
Nelson has remained a staple second-line scoring center for the Avalanche, although it’s worth noting he struggled to provide the secondary scoring they needed in the playoffs, with just three points in 13 games.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
O’Reilly turned the clock back with a terrific season, scoring 74 points and decisively winning his two-way matchups as a No. 1 center. We’re expecting some offensive regression next season — he’s 35 and only cracked the 70-point milestone once before 2025-26 — but his longevity as an impactful, all-around top-six center is admirable. He’s lost a step with his skating, but his IQ, stick checking and small-area game are all exceptional.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
After finishing as the 2024-25 Calder Trophy runner-up and almost singlehandedly dragging the Flames to the playoffs, Wolf’s play came back down to Earth in his sophomore campaign. He’s dropped to Tier 5 as a result, but we’re still believers in his skill set and pedigree, especially when you factor in how leaky the Flames were defensively.
“Great first year, not as good in that second year,” said an exec. “When he’s playing and focused and on his game, he deserves to be where he’s ranked. I’ll be curious if he can maintain it, but I’m not sure.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Zibanejad’s game declined so much that the Rangers experimented with shifting him away from the middle. But he got back on track with a resurgent season in bleak surroundings. Zibanejad shouldered matchup minutes, shot the puck more and bounced back on the scoresheet — all while playing center.
“It’s so hard to get more than 40 or 50 points in the NHL,” an executive said. “He had a solid year on a team that wasn’t going anywhere.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
The playoffs were a breakthrough, but Blake was already showing signs of moving the needle during his sophomore season. One exec commented that if Blake was on the top power play, he’d be a 70-point guy. He certainly flashed that level of production during the postseason, leading the Cup champs in points.
It’s what else Blake brings to the table that puts him on the map, though. One analyst lauded Blake’s “offensive processing” while a director said he was a Zach Benson-type in his ability to be all over the puck.
Blake has become an excellent complementary piece that fits well with the other on-the-rise wingers in 5B.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
CAR
RW
23
The offense may never pop and durability can be a question mark, but Brodin’s consistent defensive excellence earns him a place back in the top 150.
How elite is Brodin’s shutdown game? He heads into the 2025-26 season with a projected plus-5.4 Defensive Rating, a mark only four players can contend with: Esa Lindell, Jake Sanderson, Moritz Seider and Jaccob Slavin.
“(He) might still be the second-best stick defender in the league,” one scout said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Doan’s first full season in the NHL couldn’t have been more successful. He scored 25 goals, posted strong play-driving numbers, earned a seven-year contract and, though it’s still early, seems to be a superior player to JJ Peterka. Buffalo, of course, traded Peterka to Utah for Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring.
All that, though, may pale in comparison to the compliment he received from a pro scout: the way Doan uses his stick and his brain give off some “Mark Stone vibes.”
“He goes to the hard areas expecting things to happen, and they do,” the scout said. “He’s here to stay.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
BUF
RW
24
Fantilli has his fans, and it’s impossible to blame them. He’s 21 and, as one scout called him, “an absolute horse” who already has a 30-goal season on his resume.
Still, nobody on our panel banged the table for him to move up the list, and one exec, while saying he believed that Fantilli will be an annual 30-goal scorer, wondered if a relative lack of high-end playmaking ability will keep him from growing into a true franchise center.
“He’s a shooter, and if you’re constantly seeking out shot attempts, there aren’t many of those (centers) on the list outside of (Auston Matthews),” the exec said. “It’s hard to be that type of player without it creating holes.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
A lot of people don’t know what to make of Greaves. Yet. The numbers so far are undeniable; he’s saved 33 goals above expected over his first 75 games. Over the last three years, only six goalies have saved more and none have been better per game. But 75 games, especially for a goalie, is not a lot to go off.
That’s the difficult part, and while Greaves has flashed top-five ability, showing year-to-year consistency at volume is the real challenge.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
“He was undisputedly the best defenseman in the world, and no one could really dominate with the range of everything that he brings,” a former player said.
But nowadays, it’s a different story with Hedman.
“His feet are definitely slowing down. There’s more mistakes in his game,” the former player added.
Hedman’s legacy is undeniable. But so is his aging curve, exacerbated by all the miles on his body. He could rebound — look what Erik Karlsson did last year — but it just feels less likely, considering their respective playstyles.
“There’s a bigger question mark on Hedman going into next year than there is Karlsson,” another former player said. “I think you’ll see a slightly better version of what he was this year, but I don’t think you’ll see the Hedman of old.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
It’s a little difficult to square the season Knies just had in Toronto. On the one hand, he’s a power forward — a highly coveted archetype — that put up a career-best 66 points on a bad team while playing through injury. On the other, he struggled mightily to drive the game forward as that same bad team leaned on him more in the absence of Marner.
The end result is someone who can’t do it himself and may not end up a cornerstone piece, but who holds a high floor as a very strong complementary piece.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
TOR
LW
23
No one is downplaying how impressive Raddysh’s season was. It wasn’t just the 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games, it was playing tough minutes while having a major role moving the puck up ice.
The question is whether Raddysh can repeat the feat, especially on a worse team. It’s fair to be skeptical about a career breakthrough like that for an undrafted 30-year-old defenseman in his third full season.
One exec, though, wasn’t convinced. “If you look at some of these other guys, it’s not like they’ve done it very long either,” he said. “I think Raddysh is in this blue tier all day.”
Time to do it again and prove it.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Schmaltz established himself as a full-time center last season and paired up with Clayton Keller to form one of the most dynamic attacking lines in the Western Conference.
“He accommodates his linemates,” was how one executive described Schmaltz’s game.
“He played better at center than he did on the wing,” noted one scout. “Like, way better. I like that coach there. I think he’s made Schmaltz into a legitimate top-six center, and I had very little time for him on the wing.”
Schmaltz put up the first 70-point season of his career last year and earned a significant contract extension. His play has opened a lot of eyes around the league, based on the feedback we received from our panelists.
“He really had a fantastic season,” said an executive. “He needs to move up.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
There’s no question Tavares has lost some luster over the years and he’s slipped to Tier 5 as a result. But when he’s on, he can still be a game-changer.
There were some issues with consistency from month to month last year, but by season’s end, Tavares still clocked in with 31 goals and 71 points. Even at 35, he’s still good for The Usual. Can’t complain too much about those numbers, and at five-on-five he was one of the few Leafs that moved the needle.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Sure, Tuch hit free agency at the ideal moment, but that shouldn’t obscure the fact that he remains a solid, well-balanced, substantive player. He can be counted upon to score at a 30-goal pace without relying on the power play, and he’s got the size, skill and skating necessary to make an impact in all situations. That makes him a perfect (if expensive) fit for a Capitals team that’s trying to level up as a contender with a strength-in-numbers approach.
Also, we’ll note that Tuch fell off the list last summer. Sabres fans believed that to be an, um, oversight, and they were proven correct.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
WSH
RW
30
A change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered, as Zegras scored 67 points in Year 1 as a Flyer. He’s still a polarizing player in league circles, though, in part because not everyone is convinced he’s well-rounded enough to stick at center.
“Trevor had a great year. If he does it again, he probably moves up this list,” said sn exec.
“Zegras is not a (center). And has no business being above Schmaltz. Zegras took 384 draws and won 34 percent of them,” one exec said.
“I felt Zegras was low. I’ve always been a Zegras guy,” another exec said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Batherson debuts on the Player Tiers list on the strength of a 30-goal campaign for the Senators.
The rangy 28-year-old winger probably outperformed his total production from a two-way standpoint last season, and was among a short list of Senators players who managed to elevate their game in a first-round sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
OTT
LW
28
Byram, who went from the Sabres’ No. 3 defenseman to the Blackhawks’ No. 1 this summer, didn’t initially make the cut owing to his lack of a track record and shaky defensive impacts, even down the lineup. Several panelists, though, said his offensive skill and the opportunity to run a power play and skate with Connor Bedard will earn him a spot.
“I don’t think he’s a No. 1, but he’s better than (other Tier 5C candidates),” a former player said. “He has never been in the position to be a (No. 1). Now, he’s going to a place where he’s gonna be a No. 1. He’s gonna play a ton, and we’re gonna find out. So if you put him in the 5s, he’s on the come-up.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Clarke was a surprisingly polarizing figure around the league. “Drives me nuts,” a scout said, while an exec wondered what he is if he’s not a great defender or point-producer. Some wanted him off the list entirely.
But those who went to bat for him went hard. “The underlying stuff is off the charts,” an exec said, while another said he’s poised to make one of the biggest jumps of any defenseman this season.
Another exec went even further. “In terms of moving the puck, in terms of deception, in terms of zone exits and zone entries… if you’re watching it and don’t see elite, I’m sure you could go over to scout curling or report on curling. Whatever your position is, it should be away from hockey.”
We’ll see if Clarke can live up to that with a big jump next season. First, he’s got to start earning more trust from his own team.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
It was a bit of a lost season for Dubois, who was limited to just 29 games by a core injury and a fractured hand, but using that as an excuse to push him off the list would’ve been unfair. Dubois’ solid 2024-25 for Washington, when he set a career high in points (66) and decisively won matchup minutes, bought him his share of credit and leeway. If he regains that form, he’ll move up.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
It was an up-and-down season for Hertl. His defensive game fell off a bit in the regular season, he was snake-bit for Czechia at the Olympics and he struggled in the playoffs — until he came alive in the Stanley Cup Final.
One executive we spoke with said he belonged nowhere near this list, describing him as a “toxic asset.”
Another head coach suggested that while Hertl is still “really good,” his ranking was a bit too generous given his form the past few seasons.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
The Canadiens’ goaltending was a roller coaster early last season. Samuel Montembeault was outright unplayable and Jacob Fowler was unproven. While Dobeš showed glimpses of starting ability, he also had some breakdowns.
After the Olympic break, everything changed. That’s when Dobeš took off, with 14 goals saved above expected in 16 games, before an impressive run through three rounds of playoff hockey. There were some dicey moments, but he always battled back.
“He wasn’t the guy until he was,” a former player said. “His success built confidence.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Knight was excellent in 55 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, but it’s one thing to look sturdy on a bad team with no real pressure and another thing entirely to confidently backstop a contending team.
“He has the talent and detail to be a No. 1 goalie in this league,” said a scout.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Some of the puck-moving play that fueled Lafrenière during his 2023-24 breakout eroded over the last couple of years in New York. But in the second half of last season, he started to find more balance between strengthening his forecheck and letting his skill shine.
“He really came out of his shell after Artemi Panarin’s departure,” a scout said. “(Lafrenière) seemed to grab the bull by the horns when his role expanded.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
NYR
LW/RW
24
Which forward born in the mid-1980s led Pittsburgh in all-situations points per 60 last season? That would be Malkin (3.72), who was rejuvenated by a move to the wing at 39.
The future Hall of Famer might no longer be a dominant down-the-middle force, but he’s still producing plenty of offense, period, let alone for an old guy. Is a repeat performance a dodgy proposition? Sure — but slotting him in as a highly productive second-line wing seems reasonable and fair.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
PIT
C/RW
40
There’s a lot to like about Parayko as a top-pair shutdown defenseman, with his giant 6-6 frame and elite skating. It’s also true, though, that his game took a noticeable step back in 2025-26 and he isn’t a true No.1.
Parayko went from scoring 16 goals in 64 games in 2024-25 to just four goals in 77 games last season, while failing to crack the 20-point mark for the first time in a full season in his career.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Pettersson hasn’t played to a level that belongs on this list in two and a half seasons.
“We’re a long time away from when he was awesome,” said an executive, pointing out the obvious.
Ultimately, however, Pettersson belongs on this list. Yes, we’re two and a half years away from him performing to an elite level, but that level was rare.
Pettersson was once a franchise-level player, and based on his potential to rise back up this list like a rocketship, we couldn’t exclude him entirely.
“You have to meet him about where he’s at right now,” said a former player. “At any moment, it feels like he could jump three tiers, I think, and he’s the only veteran guy on the list — not counting some of the younger players — that could do that.”
“You have to keep him somewhere because the highs are so high, and he might be better somewhere else,” said a scout. “But Pettersson has to find something here pretty quick, and I’m not sure it’s going to happen for him in Vancouver.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
“(Power) has got his warts,” a former player said. Some of that, the player said, has to do with how hard he plays. “Just because he’s tall, people want him to run people through the boards.”
Power may never be big and tough, but he can keep learning to use his size to defend effectively. Separate the size from the player, and the expectations that come with being a No. 1 pick, and there is a top-four-caliber defenseman who is finally making real progress in Buffalo.
“He’s starting to figure it out. He’s starting to understand,” the former player added.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Protas didn’t quite replicate the production from his 2024-25 breakout, but he came relatively close — he went from 20 five-on-five goals to 17 and once again posted strong underlying numbers.
For now, he remains a solid support player, and while nobody on our panel argued him on the list, they didn’t argue him down, either. His size, substance and versatility give him a high floor, even if he falls out of the 25-to-30-goal range.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
WSH
LW/RW
25
One scout we spoke to speaks for us all: “Didn’t see that coming from him.”
Samuelsson went from maligned anchor to proper sidekick for Dahlin last season, finally living up to the promise he showed early in his career. Defensively, Samuelsson has always been decent relative to his usage, but it was last season’s offensive step to 41 points that really turned heads.
“I think he could take (another) step up,” a former player said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Defensively, there’s still a lot of room for Smith to grow. But it’s hard to deny a 20-year-old scoring at a 70-point pace as Celebrini’s wingman.
The Sharks are an on-the-rise team and Smith figures to be a crucial part of that. It’s time he starts paying attention to the details to make that happen, but the offense is already coming along nicely. His ability to create chances took a major step forward last year.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
S.J
RW
21
Once every seven games or so, Tippett looks like one of the 30 best players on the planet. The problem is, there’s those other six games or so to account for.
“What he does well is jarring when you see it, because he skates faster than everyone else,” an executive said.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
PHI
LW/RW
27
He isn’t much of a play-driver, and his skating will never look pretty, but Vilardi is a perfect complementary top-line winger for Scheifele and Connor.
Vilardi has excellent instincts, hands and finishing ability around the net. He finally stayed healthy for a full 82 games for the first time in his career and rewarded the Jets with a career-high 69 points.
Projected stats (2026 – 27)
Tier 5 — Support
WPG
RW
27
We had to be cautious about how high we ranked Wallstedt because he only has 40 career regular-season games under his belt, but he’s showing all the signs of a high-end starter. The 23-year-old Swede has the talent, pedigree and calm demeanor to shoot up the rankings next fall if he builds on his impressive rookie campaign.
“I’m taking Wallstedt over Greaves and Wolf,” an exec said. “He’s got the body, and those guys don’t. More pucks hit him. He’s too young. He’s too good.”
Projected stats (2026 – 27)