NHL Rank: Counting down from 50 to 1 for 2022-23
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ESPN staff
The top 100 NHL players for the 2022-23 season are difficult to rank, given the incredible depth of talent at almost every position.
To create our annual ranking of the NHL’s top 100 players, we asked an ESPN panel of more than 50 hockey experts to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2022-23 season compared to their peers.
The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche were tied for the most players in the top 100 with six, along with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vancouver Canucks. Only three teams failed to place a player in the top 100 — and the Arizona Coyotes are not one of the three.
Emphasis was placed solely on expectations for the upcoming season and predicting potential greatness, rather than past performance, career résumé or positional value. Hence, long-term injuries to players, such as the season-ending surgery for Robin Lehner of the Vegas Golden Knights, were taken into consideration.
There may be no greater indication of the NHL’s depth than the fact that the center position — the source of the league’s star power for decades — accounted for only seven spots in the top 20. Centers do encompass four slots in the top seven players, however.
After counting down from 100-51, here we present the top 50, including a significant change from last season’s top three:
2021-22 rank: 18
Age: 25
Barzal earned an eight-year contract extension from the Islanders based on past performance — as the team’s perennial leading scorer — and future returns. The center is eyeing an improved defensive game to complement his offensive abilities as an elite playmaker in New York’s system. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 41
Age: 26
Demko showed last season he was more than capable of handling the demands of being a No. 1 by starting 61 games and winning 33 times. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 96
Age: 26
Blazing speed and 30-goal offense define this 26-year-old forward for Detroit. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 100
Age: 24
Laine remains one of the NHL’s elite goal-scoring threats, posting his highest goals per 60 minutes average (1.5) since his rookie season in 2021-22. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 28
Age: 29
As more teams move to tandems, Hellebuyck continues to be one of those few goalies who can play more than 60 games and still give his team a chance to win every game. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 48
Age: 22
Svechnikov hit the 30 goal mark for the first time last season, many of them without the benefit of a lacrosse move. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 44
Age: 21
The 56 points he scored last season were more than his first two seasons combined. Could this be the year that Hughes climbs even higher? –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 9
Age: 34
He’s the player everyone loves to hate. And that only seems to fuel Marchand’s fire. The 34-year-old led Boston with 80 points last season, and eclipsed the 30-goal mark for the fifth time in seven seasons. Deep into his career, Marchand remains one of the NHL’s elite left wingers — and the Bruins will feel his absence deeply to start the 2022-23 campaign, as the veteran continues recovering from offseason hip surgery. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 23
Age: 30
Stone, who played just 37 games last season, could answer all those questions about his back with another 20-plus goal campaign and suffocating two-way performances. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 58
Age: 32
While his postseason was quite porous, Markstrom led all goalies with nine shutouts in finishing second for the Vezina last season. –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: 22
Age: 33
Chicago may be taking steps back, but Kane isn’t. The right winger is a reliable offensive force for the Blackhawks and proved it again last season with a 92-point campaign. What happens this year without Alex DeBrincat by his side, though? Kane will be quick to prove he can rise above losing a coveted linemate. The bigger question is if he’ll still be doing it in Chicago? –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 86
Age: 25
Werenski stepped outside the shadow of Seth Jones and posted his best offensive season (48 points in 68 games) while logging his highest average ice time (25:40). –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 21
The man they call “Mo” won the Calder Trophy last season after scoring 50 points in 82 games and averaging the second-highest ice time for a rookie defenseman in the last decade (23:02). –Greg Wyshynski
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 23
Everyone fixates on the 77, points but the two-way game is what makes the 22-year-old a more, well-rounded threat. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 76
Age: 24
DeBrincat has scored the ninth-most goals (160) since coming into the NHL in 2017-18. He is another reason why so many eyes will be on the Sens this season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 31
Age: 25
Scoring 47 goals and 93 points last season made it difficult for anyone to ignore Connor’s place among the game’s most dangerous scorers. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 21
Age: 24
The Bruins’ top-pairing defenseman is the total package — a great skater with good instincts, physical and an excellent puck-mover with an elite first pass. McAvoy’s value may be felt most in how well Boston survives – or doesn’t – the start of this season without him as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 29
Gaudreau used last season to remind the NHL he is one of the game’s most dangerous wingers. He will look to do the same now that he is in Columbus after eight years in Calgary. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 16
Age: 23
Pettersson hit career-highs in goals (32) and points (68) last year and is committing to an improved defensive game, which includes being stronger on the puck and adding some physicality. That’s the balanced approach the Canucks need from their top center. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 50
Age: 23
He’s a 30-goal scorer who appears to be on the brink of potentially more for a Senators team that looks like it could be a serious problem this season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 99
Age: 23
Robertson took a promising rookie campaign and went off for 40 goals in his second full season. He’s still young, but he’s already averaging nearly a full point per game in his career. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 72
Age: 27
Saros was already important to the Predators. But his value was nearly immeasurable in 2021-22 when he went from being part of a tandem to a near-nightly fixture with a league-high 67 starts. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 26
Age: 23
Heiskanen might not score a ton of points like some of his contemporaries on the blue line. But his two-way prowess means he can be trusted in practically every situation throughout an entire game. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 28
Getting his first 40-goal, 40-assist season elevated his place among the game’s premier left wingers. And he did that in just 69 games. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 19
Age: 26
Five straight 20-goal seasons and he is a reliable two-way center who can play in all situations. Again, there is a reason why Tampa Bay continues to remain in contention. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: NR
Age: 26
Everyone has seen what a fully healthy Eichel can accomplish. Now it is a matter of seeing what he can do on a team with heavier expectations for a full season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 12
Age: 26
Rantanen might not receive attention like MacKinnon and Makar, but he finds himself in the running for the NHL’s top right winger because he is a threat to score at least 30 goals and have 50 assists. Is this the year he gets the elusive 100-point campaign? –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 8
Age: 24
Already a Norris winner, Fox is one of the players at the vanguard of the young, puck-moving defenseman movement that is making a mark in the NHL. Fox is more than just offense and he is also someone who can be trusted in every situation, having averaged nearly 24 minutes of ice time last season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 29
Age: 25
Is it the six straight 20-goal seasons? The continued offensive growth? Or the consistent defensive contributions? Regardless, it makes Aho one of the NHL’s more complete centers. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 25
Age: 26
If Pastrnak can sidestep any distraction over his yet-to-be-finalized contract extension, then the Bruins’ top goal-scorer should be in line for another impressive season. Pastrnak paced Boston in goals last year (40) and averaged over a point-per-game with 77 in 72 games. David Krejci being back in Boston should help, too. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 55
Age: 32
Remember those discussions about how much Stamkos has left? Well, his response was posting his first 100-point season while finishing tied for the league lead with 11 game-winning goals. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 49
Age: 24
His 104-point season a year ago was the exact number he had in his previous two seasons combined. So how will it all work now that he’s in Florida? –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 13
Age: 30
There are times when it feels like he can score at a moment’s notice. But what makes him arguably more lethal is the fact that McDavid and Patrick Kane are the only players with more assists since Panarin debuted in the 2015-16 season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 15
Age: 37
The Great 8 produced another 50-goal campaign last season — the ninth of his career — and will continue to chase Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 894 goals scored (Ovechkin enters 2022-23 with 780). It’ll be fascinating to watch how Ovechkin can adjust his game to maintain that blistering scoring pace. Even at 37 years old, he has showed no signs of slowing down. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 30
Age: 29
Zibanejad scored a career-high 81 points while showing he could be trusted in every situation imaginable for the Rangers. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 42
Age: 29
Huberdeau cemented his status as one of the game’s best creators with a league-high 85 assists in 2021-22. Only McDavid has more assists since the 2018-19 season. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 24
Age: 32
He scored 96 points, played in every situation and was on the ice for nearly half the game. There is a reason he finished a close second to Makar for the Norris. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 11
Age: 35
Even at age 35, Crosby’s still got it. The Penguins’ band leader and ultimate student stayed healthy and hit elite numbers last season (31 goals and 84 points in 69 games) and there’s boundless potential for Pittsburgh’s top line when Crosby is centering Jake Guentzel and Rickard Rakell. The team’s core is intact for another run, and it’ll be Crosby’s elite two-way play and unparalleled commitment to excellence driving the bus. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 14
Age: 25
Marner is coming off a career year in 2021-22 (35 goals and 97 points in 72 games) that highlighted how the Leafs’ forward has matured his overall game. The winger (mostly) rode shotgun with Auston Matthews on Toronto’s top line and projects to do so again, where Marner’s elite playmaking ability will be on full display. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 32
Age: 26
Meet the man who looks to overtake Vasilveskiy as the NHL’s top goaltender. Shesterkin is the reigning Vezina winner who could use this season to take the Rangers farther, claim another Vezina and potenitally walk away with the Hart too (where he finished third last season). –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 10
Age: 28
Vasilevskiy continues to maintain his position as the No. 1 goaltender in the game for a reason. But there is competition for that title. Still, he has five straight seasons of more than 30 regular-season wins and is one of the key reasons why Tampa remains a perennial contender. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 4
Age: 27
Barkov has long been the standard pick for “NHL’s most underrated player” and that needs to stop. Florida’s captain can put on a clinic any night. He tallied 39 goals and 88 points in 67 games last season while remaining one of the league’s most consistently dominant defensive forwards. Barkov’s skill lets him do it all with ease, from creating offense to blocking shots to lifting sticks and getting pucks back. Nothing “underrated” about it. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 7
Age: 31
Hedman apparently gets better with age. Tampa Bay’s blue-line stalwart does it all: a perennial Norris Trophy finalist who’s as dependable and consistent with his defensive details as he is at producing offense. Hedman has used that booming shot from the point to score 45 or more points in seven straight seasons. The Lightning’s defensive personnel might change, but Hedman is the consistent anchor holding the group together. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 20
Age: 25
Scoring 27 goals and averaging nearly a point per game as a rookie set the stage. Scoring 47 goals and 108 points the following season has allowed Kaprizov to climb the rankings while mounting a serious Hart Trophy challenge. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 6
Age: 27
The Oilers’ (other) top forward has been an offensive stalwart for years — with and without that McDavid guy by his side — but Draisaitl has evolved into more than just a regular 100-plus point producer. Since winning the Hart Trophy in 2020, Draisaitl has emerged as an upper-tier defensive center, trustworthy in all situations and as effective on the penalty kill as the power play. And his gutsy performance playing hurt throughout the playoffs last spring showed his commitment to guiding these Oilers back to contender status. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 17
Age: 29
Let’s say he plays a full 82-game season last year. Kucherov would have been on pace to score 120 points and finish three points shy of the scoring lead. Yeah, he’s pretty good. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 2
Age: 27
Even MacKinnon admitted he needed time to find his way. Once he did, he turned into an NHL superstar who is one of the reasons why the Avs could parlay their collective success beyond just one Stanley Cup. –Ryan S. Clark
2021-22 rank: 3
Age: 25
Matthews hit the 60-goal mark last season, joining an elite group of just nine NHL players who’ve accomplished that feat in the past 30 years. And Matthews’ 106 points in 73 games put him on par with Alex Ovechkin as the only active player to go for 60-plus goals and 100-plus points in a season (Ovechkin did it in 2007-08). What will Toronto’s top-line center do for an encore? Matthews’ unmatched release makes his shot dangerous, and that 6-foot-3 frame cuts an imposing figure on the ice. Is there any limit to his potential from here? –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 5
Age: 23
There hasn’t been a Hart Trophy-winning defenseman in the NHL since Chris Pronger in 2000. Makar, entering his fourth pro season, could realistically be next. He earned a Norris Trophy last spring for his 28-goal, 86-point regular season, and followed that by winning Conn Smythe honors for a 29-point effort during Colorado’s Stanley Cup run. Makar, 23, is an elite skater with excellent offensive ability that complements a sound defensive game. He’s a threat everywhere, on every shift, with an uncanny ability to make the competition look silly. –Kristen Shilton
2021-22 rank: 1
Age: 25
McDavid’s play can’t be adequately described. But it simply can’t be missed. “He’s the most exciting guy to watch in the league,” Washington goaltender Darcy Kuemper said. “Whenever [Edmonton] is on, it’s kind of much-watch TV.” Case in point: McDavid scored a hat trick in Edmonton’s season opener to seal a comeback victory over Vancouver. Because, of course. Oilers’ coach Jay Woodcroft calls McDavid “otherworldly,” and that about sums up what McDavid accomplished last season, hitting 44 goals and 123 points in 80 games. That’s a 1.54 points-per-game pace. Edmonton’s captain has a more well-rounded game than ever, which drives his production and leaves little doubt, night in and night out, about who is the best player in the league. –Kristen Shilton
Honorable mentions
Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils
Brent Burns, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Winnipeg Jets
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Minnesota Wild
Roope Hintz, C, Dallas Stars
Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils
John Klingberg, D, Anaheim Ducks
Darcy Kuemper, G, Colorado Avalanche
Anders Lee, LW, New York Islanders
Elvis Merzlikins, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
Max Pacioretty, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars
Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights
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Ryan S. Clark
Before we go any further, maybe it’s fair to establish some ground rules for how to assess this particular Stanley Cup final.
Specifically, unless the Edmonton Oilers or Florida Panthers gain such a large lead to put the game out of reach, everything could be decided within the final 10 minutes of regulation or whenever the game-winning goal in overtime (or even double overtime) is scored.
OK. Now that we’re all on the same page, here’s a look at how the Oilers took Game 1 with a 4-3 overtime win, and what it all means going forward for both parties ahead of Game 2.
Winning the third period in the manner in which the Oilers did was crucial. Not only because it led to overtime, but because it was arguably their most consistent frame in Game 1.
They had the shots in the first period, but still trailed. They struggled to gain possession and generate shots in the second, which played a role in why they were down by a goal. Getting a goal from Mattias Ekholm early in the third gave the Oilers their 20th different scorer this postseason. They also outshot the Panthers 14-2, while having a 58.3% shot share, providing them with a sense of control they had been lacking to start.
Although they began overtime on the defensive, their constant ability to apply pressure for the final 15 minutes paid off with Leon Draisaitl scoring the game-winner off the power play with 1:06 remaining.
They survived the Kasperi Kapanen mini-breakaway. They survived the point-blank chance from Trent Frederic at the faceoff circle. They survived when the Oilers had a 5-on-5 sequence they treated like a power play. They survived the Evan Bouchard scoring chance in which he slipped behind the defense for another point-blank opportunity that Sergei Bobrovsky stopped.
Even Destiny’s Child, for those familiar, thought the Panthers survived a bit too much.
In the end, they could not survive the Oilers going on a late overtime power play, during which Draisaitl scored the goal that led to the Panthers falling in Game 1.
Every game comes with an inflection point — especially if a team loses. The Panthers had a few. Will it be the second period, which saw them have a 65.2% shot share while breaking through to launch 17 shots on goal — only to come away with one goal largely due to Stuart Skinner‘s solid play in net? Is it the third period that saw them get just two shots on goal? Or will it be how they couldn’t make the most of their dominant start in overtime?
Arda Öcal’s Three Stars of Game 1
Draisaitl didn’t have a single goal in the 2024 Cup Final. He scored 66 seconds into Game 1, then scored the overtime game-winner. A sublime start to this year’s championship series. Draisaitl has scored or assisted on five of the Oilers’ six OT goals over the last two postseasons.
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Leon Draisaitl scores 66 seconds into Game 1 for Oilers
Leon Draisaitl nets the first goal of the Stanley Cup Final just over a minute into the game for the Oilers vs. the Panthers.
The veteran defenseman scored his first goal of this postseason in his second game back from injury. He became the 20th Oiler to score in these playoffs, which is tied for the second most in a single postseason in NHL history (the 1987 Flyers and 2019 Blues both had 21 different goal scorers).
A two-goal effort in a losing cause. Bennett now has 12 goals this postseason, which is the most in a single playoffs in franchise history. Eleven of those goals have been on the road, which is tied with Mark Scheifele (2018) for most road goals in a single postseason in NHL history.
Players to watch in Game 2
Remember: This man was on waivers in November. The Oilers’ claim of him was initially viewed as a chance to add depth on the cheap, only for it to turn into something greater. His game-winning goal in the series-clinching Game 5 overtime victory in the Western Conference finals opened the door for more playing time. He almost did it again in Game 1 in overtime too, but he did get an assist on the game-winning goal.
He’s been part of the solution for how the Oilers would fare without Zach Hyman, who sustained an injury in the Western Conference finals that will keep him out for the rest of the postseason. Kapanen did his part by having three assists, while his five hits allowed the Oilers to maintain the physical edge they’ve used as part of their identity to reach a consecutive Cup Final.
There are two ways to look at what Bennett did in Game 1. The first being that his two-point effort once again reinforced what has made him a serious candidate to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Bennett was already atop the leaderboard prior to the game, as he has scored a postseason-high 10 goals. Collecting two more now gives him 18 points, which is tied with Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for fourth place.
The second is that he’s going to get paid this offseason. Earlier in the day, the Colorado Avalanche re-signed Brock Nelson to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million annually to avoid him hitting the open market. What Bennett did to help the Panthers reach three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals — and be in a position to claim at least a second title — is only going to increase what he could command come July 1.
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Sam Bennett’s 2nd goal gives Florida a 3-1 lead
Sam Bennett tallies his second goal of the game to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead over the Oilers.
Big questions for Game 2
Did the third period and overtime give the Oilers a defensive road map against the Panthers?
The Oilers’ path back to the Stanley Cup Final was based on how their defensive structure made life hellish for the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, two teams that were in the top five in goals per game in the regular season — and which struggled in the playoffs.
The Oilers had a few challenges in the first period, with Skinner getting partially shielded on the first two goals before having a breakdown in the second period that left their goalie on an island.
From there, the Oilers gave up a combined eight shots over the final frames, with the largest concentration coming in the first five minutes of overtime.
Of course, the Panthers have found breakthroughs against teams with constricting defensive structures, like the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. Are the Panthers about to find another in Game 2? Or could the Oilers be onto something that could see them find even more success within their defensive identity?
What is the major takeaway going forward: Their start or their finish?
Here’s where it gets complicated — and it goes back to the earlier statement about teams having inflection points. In the second period, the Panthers were aggressive in a way that hardly anyone has been against the Oilers. That resulted in five high-danger scoring chances, along with an overall sense of control.
That’s what made coming away with just one goal — especially in a one-goal game — something that could pose questions about how they make the most of those opportunities going forward.
But at the same time, the notion they were forced to survive in an overtime that saw them split the shot share with the Oilers, have more high-danger scoring chances but fail to provide that consistent threat?
That could also give the Panthers even more to think about in the coming days … or maybe they won’t question the process, given the Panthers had won their last 31 playoff games in which they held a second-period lead.
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Greg Wyshynski
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers swore things would be different in their Stanley Cup Final rematch with the Florida Panthers. They proved it in Game 1 with an impressive comeback and a 4-3 overtime win.
Last year, the Panthers took a 3-0 series lead that started with a shutout win. The Oilers were in uncharted territory, while Florida was playing in its second straight Final. Having gone through the experience of last season — and the heartbreak of losing in Game 7 — the Oilers were confident and poised before star center Leon Draisaitl‘s power-play goal with 31 seconds left in OT earned them the 1-0 series lead.
“It’s huge. Obviously when you look back at it, if we get one win right away, it’s a completely different story [last season],” said goalie Stuart Skinner, who was solid again with 30 saves Wednesday night. “I think the way that we showed up right from the get-go, and the way that we continued to keep on going even though we were down by two, that shows a lot of character by us.”
The mindset was clear even before the game. Skinner remembered feeling overwhelmed when the Stanley Cup trophy was presented on the ice before the first game last year. This time, when the Cup made its cameo, Skinner said he felt completely different.
“When I saw the Cup on the ice last year, I was kind of looking at it with googly eyes,” he acknowledged. “This year, I saw it already. So now it’s time to get back to work. It felt completely different emotionally.”
The Oilers took a 1-0 lead just 1:06 into the game thanks to a furious forecheck by Draisaitl. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had trouble with a shot from inside the point. Draisaitl was there to shoot home the rebound for an early lead.
The game took a turn just after the midway point of the first when a Carter Verhaeghe shot deflected off of Panthers center Sam Bennett and behind Skinner. Replays showed that Bennett’s leg made contact with that of Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak before he fell into the crease.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch opted to use his coach’s challenge for goalie interference. After a brief review, the officials confirmed it was a good goal at 10:49 of the first and Edmonton was given a delay-of-game penalty.
Brad Marchand scored a power-play goal at 12:30, roofing the puck to Skinner’s left, for the 2-1 lead.
Ironically, the turning point of the Oilers’ postseason involved a failed coach’s challenge. In Game 3 against Los Angeles, trailing the series 2-0, Kings coach Jim Hiller challenged the game-tying goal by Edmonton, which scored the game-winning goal 10 seconds into their ensuing power play.
“I challenged that any day,” Knoblauch said. “I feel what I’ve seen the NHL with goalie interference, I had a lot of confidence in challenge.”
Bennett extended the lead to 3-1 just two minutes into the second period, before Viktor Arvidsson answered 1:17 later.
The score remained that until 13:27 of the third period when Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm blasted a shot past Bobrovsky to knot it up 3-3. It was Ekholm’s first goal of the playoffs, having missed 15 postseason games with an injury. McDavid floated a pass through the crease to set up Ekholm.
In overtime, the Panthers skated out on fire, pressuring Skinner. But one critical mistake led to Draisaitl’s game-winner. With 1:42 left, forward Tomas Nosek put the puck over the glass for a delay-of-game penalty. Florida entered the game with the best penalty kill in the playoffs (87.9%) until Draisaitl’s goal.
Florida coach Paul Maurice defended his fourth-line center whose mistake ended up costing the Panthers Game 1.
“We’re not here without Tomas Nosek. He gets a tough break. So we’ll just make sure he doesn’t need alone tonight. He’s got lots of people sitting on his table and reminding him how good he’s been to us,” Maurice said.
As for Draisaitl, his game winner continued a dominant postseason. He’s second to McDavid (28) in points (27) in the playoffs. This was his third OT goal of the playoffs, tying an NHL record for most in a single postseason with Mel Hill in 1939, Maurice Richard in 1951, his Oilers teammate Corey Perry in 2017 and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk in 2023.
Draisaitl is the fourth player ever to score an overtime power-play goal in the Stanley Cup Final since 1934, when goals by type were first officially tracked.
McDavid, who assisted on Draisaitl’s game winner, had nothing but praise for his teammate.
“He’s invaluable. There’s so many good things. You name it, he does it. He doesn’t get enough respect or credit for his defensive abilities,” McDavid said. “There’s not many better. Maybe nobody better.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night in Edmonton.
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Ryan S. Clark
Wednesday witnessed the Colorado Avalanche answer their biggest offseason question by re-signing center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract, with a source telling ESPN the deal is worth $7.5 million annually.
Nelson’s future had been in question ever since he arrived in a March 9 trade from the New York Islanders. Although he filled the Avalanche’s second-line center void in the interim, Nelson was a pending unrestricted free agent who was expected to be one of the most coveted players in free agency on July 1.
Instead, the 33-year-old Nelson, who had six goals and 13 points in 19 games, will remain with an Avalanche franchise that will seek to win its second Stanley Cup since 2022.
“We’re thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. “He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he’s a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice.”
Getting a new deal done with Nelson is the latest entry in what’s become a near-annual challenge for the Avalanche when it comes to solidifying a second-line center. Nazem Kadri, who was part of their title-winning team, left in free agency to sign with the Calgary Flames. That turned into the Avs going through a revolving door of second-line centers that saw several players attempt to fill that void with the front office making a trade to get All-Star Ryan Johansen prior to the 2023-24 season.
Johansen struggled in Denver, which led to the team trading him ahead of the deadline and acquiring Casey Mittlestadt from the Buffalo Sabres. Mittlestadt scored four goals and 10 points in 18 regular-season games before finishing with nine points in 11 playoff games. He signed a three-year deal last June worth $5.575 million to give the Avs a then-25-year-old second-line center for now and the future.
Mittelstadt would struggle during his first full season in Colorado, which saw him fall further down the depth chart. It prompted the Avs to make a trade for Nelson before eventually moving Mittlestadt in a trade with the Boston Bruins that saw them get Charlie Coyle.
Enter Nelson. A nine-time 20-goal scorer, Nelson was one of the most consistent players the Islanders cultivated with a farm system that has produced several players, including Avs defenseman Devon Toews, who arrived in a 2020 trade and would form one of the league’s strongest defensive tandems with 2020 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar.
Having Nelson also gives the Avalanche what might be one of the strongest top-nine center setups in the NHL, led by reigning Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon on the top line while Coyle operates at third-line center.
PuckPedia projects that the Avalanche will now have $1.2 million left in free agency to address their roster concerns.
Like many of their peers in a championship window, the Avs have most of their core signed to long-term deals. Nelson now one of eight players who have three or more years remaining on their current contracts.
The Avalanche have a six-player UFA class that’s led by forward Jonathan Drouin and defenseman Ryan Lindgren. Drouin, who had signed consecutive one-year deals with the Avalanche starting in 2023, scored 11 goals and 37 points in 43 games. A year earlier, he scored 19 goals and finished with a career-high 56 points.
As for Lindgren, he was also a trade deadline addition in a deal the Avs made with the New York Rangers. Lindgren had three points in 18 games while logging 18:59 in ice time per game with the Avs in a top-four role that also provided them with another penalty killer.
It’s possible that the Avalanche could use trades to create more cap flexibility while playing in a Central Division that saw five teams make the postseason with a sixth, the Utah Hockey Club, finished seven points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
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