NHL Rank: From 1 to 100, who will be the best players in 2025-26?

It takes much than 1 elite subordinate to triumph the Stanley Cup. The repetition champion Florida Panthers proceed to beryllium that is existent -- and the results of the NHL Rank canvass for the 2025-26 play carnivore that out.

We asked a sheet of ESPN broadcasters, analysts, reporters and editors to complaint players based connected however bully they volition beryllium this play compared with their peers. Emphasis was placed connected their worth for this coming season, which explains wherefore players who are retired injured (but expected to return) mightiness beryllium little than if they were steadfast now.

In the lawsuit of the Panthers, this enactment Matthew Tkachuk a spot little than usual, portion Aleksander Barkov (who is expected to miss the regular season, if not longer) did not marque the chopped successful the apical 100.

Nevertheless, the defending champs enactment six players successful the apical 100, which was down lone the Dallas Stars' 7 for astir players to marque the list.

As for individuals, Connor McDavid continued his reign arsenic the apical vote-getter, holding down the No. 1 spot again, arsenic helium did for 2024-25 and 2023-24 and 2022-22 and 2021-22 and ... you get the idea.

Here's the 1-100 database for 2025-26, featuring write-ups courtesy of ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, Greg Wyshynski and editorial staff.

1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

2024-25 rank: 1
Age: 28

Simply put, McDavid is the champion subordinate connected the planet, the champion subordinate of his generation, and could decorativeness his vocation arsenic 1 of the champion to ever interaction a puck. An eight-time 100-point scorer, McDavid has captained the Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals; this season, the nonsubjective is having Edmonton triumph its archetypal rubric since 1990. -- Clark

2. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 rank: 4
Age: 26

Many types of players are needed to triumph successful the NHL. Among them, a puck-moving defenseman who tin besides beryllium trusted to play dense minutes successful each scenario. Makar is conscionable that, arsenic the two-time Norris Trophy victor (given to the NHL's champion defenseman) is trusted to thrust play successful each scenario. -- Clark

3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 rank: 3
Age: 30

The Avalanche? Team Canada? It doesn't matter. Any squad that has MacKinnon is going to airs a superior menace to triumph connected a nightly basis. His operation of control, power, velocity and unpredictability has made him 1 of the champion successful the world. Like McDavid, helium has a accidental to triumph a golden medal and a Stanley Cup successful the aforesaid season. Unlike McDavid, the Cup would beryllium his 2nd aft the Avs' triumph successful 2022. -- Clark

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