The NHL’s best players in 2026 are not all dominating in the same way. Some are piling up goals and assists, others are controlling games from the blue line, while elite goaltenders can change the outcome of a night with a handful of crucial saves. That makes any list of the best hockey players more complicated than simply checking who finished first in scoring.
Recent production, overall impact, consistency, position, playoff value, and the ability to affect a game in different situations are all factors for this ranking. So you end up with a team built around familiar NHL stars, but with younger players creeping into the conversation more and more.
How the best hockey players are ranked
Points are still an important starting point, but they are not the whole story. Goals and assists are offensive production. Other hockey statistics help explain a player’s contribution away from the scoresheet.
“Forwards are evaluated on scoring, puck possession, playmaking and defensive responsibility. Defensemen need a different lens because their value is also in preventing chances, moving the puck and controlling minutes against top opposition. For goaltenders, save percentage, goals-against average, workload and performance in high-pressure situations are some of the key indicators.
The recent NHL.com rankings for the 2026-27 season are based on regular-season and playoff production, power-play opportunities, line combinations, defensive pairings, injuries, age and projected role.
1. Connor McDavid
If you’re looking for the best hockey player in the world, it’s hard to look past Connor McDavid. Edmonton Oilers captain followed up another incredible season by winning his sixth Art Ross Trophy in 2025-26. He finished with 48 goals, 90 assists and 138 points in 82 games, eight points clear of Nikita Kucherov in the scoring race.
But McDavid’s value is more than just his numbers. His acceleration can completely alter the shape of a defensive set-up and his ability to carry the puck thru traffic makes him dangerous even when he doesn’t finish the play himself. NHL.com’s latest 2026-27 fantasy rankings also have McDavid as the top overall player, which further illustrates how consistently he is the league’s most valuable offensive player.
2. Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon is still one of the most complete attacking forwards in the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche center has explosive skating, a powerful shot and the ability to create opportunities for teammates. His game is based on pace, so he’s especially tough to contain when he gets space thru the neutral zone. McDavid may have the strongest case for No. 1, but MacKinnon is close enough that the argument is far from one-sided. His most recent overall ranking from NHL.com is No. 2 behind McDavid.
3. Nikita Kucherov
Nikita Kucherov is still one of the most dangerous playmakers in hockey. The Tampa Bay Lightning star finished second in the 2025-26 scoring race to McDavid, and his ability to continue to create offense on the power play makes him a nightmare for opposing penalty kills.
Kucherov is not just fast for the sake of being dominant. His vision and timing allow him to see passing lanes before they even open up, giving teammates chances that a lot of players would never generate. His close proximity to the top of the 2026 rankings is no shock.
4. Cale Makar
Cale Makar is the prototype of the modern NHL defenseman. The Colorado Avalanche star is able to provide offensive help without sacrificing his defensive duties, and his skating allows him to move the puck quickly from his own zone to attack positions.
That’s the combination that makes Makar so valuable, he can influence a game even when he’s not scoring. He is ranked eighth overall and first among defensemen on NHL.com’s current rankings. Makar’s skill set is almost tailor-made for the league, a league increasingly built on speed and puck movement.
5. Leon Draisaitl
Leon Draisaitl has proven to be more than a sidekick to McDavid. The Edmonton forward adds a different dimension to the Oilers’ attack with his size, strength, shooting ability and passing range to create chances. He is effective along the boards, in front of the net and from dangerous areas of the offensive zone. Draisaitl is fifth overall in the latest NHL.com rankings, firmly nestled among the elite of the game.
6. David Pastrnak
David Pastrnak still one of the NHL’s best pure goal-scorers. The Boston Bruins winger has continued to produce at a high level, and his one-timer remains one of the league’s most recognizable offensive weapons. He can hit goals from distance, create chances off the rush and punish defensive errors.
Pastrnak still ranks among the league’s best in current 2026 rankings. He’s currently 6th overall on NHL.com’s board and 2nd among wings on NHL Network’s recent positional rankings, trailing only Kucherov.
7. Kirill Kaprizov
Kirill Kaprizov is the centerpiece for the Minnesota Wild and one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league. “He’s hard to defend. He’s creative with the puck. He can create scoring opportunities. He’s hard to defend when he’s got space in the offensive zone.” He can create offense for himself and get his teammates in dangerous positions.
Kaprizov is seventh overall in NHL.com’s 2026-27 rankings, ahead of some established superstars.
8. Macklin Celebrini
Macklin Celebrini is already holding his own in conversations usually reserved for seasoned veterans. The San Jose Sharks forward is one of the most important young stars in the NHL to watch thanks to his youth, scoring and offensive creativity. His ranking at No. 4 in NHL.com’s 2026-27 fantasy rankings shows how quickly his reputation has grown.
Celebrini’s rise is particularly notable because the league is entering another generational transition. Established stars are still the dominant force but younger players are increasingly able to challenge them.
9. Quinn Hughes
Quinn Hughes is a top defenseman in the league because of his skating, puck skills and ability to drive play. Now with the Minnesota Wild, Hughes has the kind of offensive creativity from the blue line that can change the way a team exits its defensive zone and enters the attack. His value is really shown when his team needs to turn defensive possessions into offensive pressure. Hughes is No. 12 overall on NHL.com’s latest rankings and among the top defensemen in the league.
10. Auston Matthews
Auston Matthews remains one of the most dangerous goal-scorers in hockey, even after a rough 2025-26 season that was plagued by injuries and inconsistent production. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain fell a lot in some 2026 rankings after the season, with The Hockey News ranking him somewhere between 21st and 30th. This is because rankings should reflect recent performance rather than just reputation.
Still, Matthews’ scoring ability, shot selection and two-way development make it hard to completely rule him out of a top-10 conversation. He’s 17th on NHL.com’s current fantasy ranking, which shows the great variance in opinion depending on methodology.
Other NHL stars worth watching
The list of elite talent in the NHL today is so long that a top-10 list doesn’t do it justice. The NHL.com top 20 currently features Jason Robertson, Matt Boldy, Zach Werenski, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nick Suzuki, Wyatt Johnston, Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield and Brady Tkachuk all in prominent roles.
Sidney Crosby is still a thing at age 38. In 2025-26, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain collected 74 points in 68 games, extending his remarkable streak to 21 consecutive point-per-game seasons.
Such longevity makes Crosby an outlier for any modern listing. He might not be in his prime anymore, but the fact that he’s still productive at an age where most players have declined is remarkable in and of itself.
Who are the top scorers in hockey?
It’s one of the simplest things to compare offensive players, and the 2025-26 NHL season had a familiar name at the top. McDavid registered 138 points, 48 goals and 90 assists. NHL.com’s review of the season showed Kucherov was second with 130 points.
But the highest goal scorer is not necessarily the best player overall. A defenseman can be incredibly valuable without approaching the point totals of an elite forward, and a goalie’s impact is measured by a completely different set of stats.
Forwards vs defensemen vs goaltenders
One of the toughest parts of making hockey rankings is comparing players from different positions. Forwards usually have more chances to get points, especially when they play on the power play. Defensemen impact games with their puck movement, defensive positioning and transition play, while goaltenders can affect games with saves that don’t appear in traditional scoring stats. That’s why the best players in the world can’t just be a scoring leaderboard.
Final ranking: Best hockey players in 2026
A reasonable overall ranking based on recent performance, current ability, positional value and consistency would look like this:
- Connor McDavid — Edmonton Oilers
- Nathan MacKinnon — Colorado Avalanche
- Nikita Kucherov — Tampa Bay Lightning
- Cale Makar — Colorado Avalanche
- Leon Draisaitl — Edmonton Oilers
- David Pastrnak — Boston Bruins
- Kirill Kaprizov — Minnesota Wild
- Macklin Celebrini — San Jose Sharks
- Quinn Hughes — Minnesota Wild
- Auston Matthews — Toronto Maple Leafs
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