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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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Belichick dispels Giants talk, reaffirms UNC focus

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Belichick dispels Giants talk, reaffirms UNC focus

  • Andrea AdelsonNov 14, 2025, 09:05 PM ET

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    • ACC reporter.
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
    • Graduate of the University of Florida.

North Carolina coach Bill Belichick said Friday he will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies after his name surfaced in connection with the vacant New York Giants job.

After the Giants fired Brian Daboll on Monday, Belichick became the subject of speculation around the opening. In a statement posted on Instagram, Belichick said, “Despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.”

Before coming to college coaching, Belichick spent his entire career in the NFL — winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.

But he won two Super Bowls with the Giants as a defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells in the 1986 and 1990 seasons.

“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families. The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade.”

Belichick is in his first season with North Carolina, which has won two straight games to bring its record to 4-5. He was asked during his news conference Tuesday about the speculation concerning the Giants and he reiterated he was focused on Saturday’s game against Wake Forest.

The statement Friday also reiterated his commitment to North Carolina, saying that has not wavered.

“We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud,” Belichick said.

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AD: USC wants long-term benefits of equity deal

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November 15, 2025

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AD: USC wants long-term benefits of equity deal

In a letter to the USC fan base Friday, athletic director Jen Cohen addressed the school’s stance on the pending Big Ten private capital deal that could infuse the conference with up to $2.4 billion.

“As we continue to evaluate the merits of this proposal or any others, our University leadership remains aligned in our stance that our fiduciary obligation to the University of Southern California demands we thoroughly evaluate any deals that could impact our long-term value and flexibility, no matter the short-term benefit,” Cohen said in the letter.

The proposed deal would extend the league’s grant of rights an extra 10 years to 2046 and create a new business entity, Big Ten Enterprises, that would house all leaguewide media rights and sponsorship deals. Each school, as well as the league office, would get shares of ownership of Big Ten Enterprises, while an investment fund that is tied to the University of California pension system would receive a 10% stake in the new entity in exchange for an infusion of over $2 billion to conference athletic departments.

USC and Michigan are the two Big Ten schools that have pushed back on the deal, which has otherwise been supported by a majority of the programs in the conference, as well as Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti.

In a call last month between USC and Michigan trustees, sources told ESPN’s Dan Wetzel that both programs were skeptical of the deal and talked about how it does not address the root issue — soaring costs — that has made cash so imperative for athletic departments. Just providing short-term money, sources said, does not solve that issue.

The schools also noted pending federal legislation that makes predicting the future of college athletics difficult, as well as a general apprehension about selling equity in a university asset — the conference media rights.

Beyond the potential impact to long-term value and flexibility in exchange for a “short-term benefit” that Cohen suggested (an extension to the grant of rights to 2046 could limit conference expansion and the departure of any programs, for example), she also noted in her letter that the $2.4 billion would be “unevenly distributed” among the schools and “create a tiered revenue distribution system moving forward.”

According to reporting from Wetzel and ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the exact equity amounts per school in Big Ten Enterprises are still being negotiated. There is expected to be a small gap in the percentage of the remaining equity among the schools that would favor the league’s biggest athletic brands, but it’s likely to be less than a percentage point. A tier system for initial payments is also expected, but with the lowest amount in the nine-figure range. Larger athletic departments could receive an amount above $150 million.

“We greatly value our membership in the Big Ten Conference and understand and respect the larger landscape,” Cohen said. “But we also recognize the power of the USC brand is far-reaching, deeply engaging, and incredibly valuable, and we will always fight first for what’s best for USC.”

The Big Ten is in the middle of a seven-year, $7 billion media rights package that runs through 2030. The money infusion is believed to be acutely needed at several Big Ten schools that are struggling to pay down debt on new construction and budgeting for direct revenue ($20.5 million this year and expected to rise annually) to athletes.

In a move that altered the college football landscape, USC left the Pac-12 and joined the Big Ten conference in 2024, alongside UCLA, Oregon and Washington, pushing the league to 18 members.

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‘Last Chance U’ coach Beam dies after being shot

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'Last Chance U' coach Beam dies after being shot

  • Associated Press

Nov 14, 2025, 03:36 PM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. — Celebrated former football coach John Beam, who was featured in the Netflix series “Last Chance U” that showcased the connections he made with players others wouldn’t gamble on, has died after being shot on the college campus where he worked, the Oakland Police Department said Friday.

The suspect, who police say knew and targeted Beam, 66, has been arrested.

Beam’s death a day after he was shot at Laney College rattled the community with scores holding a vigil outside the hospital before he died and remembering him as someone who always tried to help anyone.

Oakland Assistant Chief James Beere said the suspect went on campus for a “specific reason” but did not elaborate on what that was. “This was a very targeted incident,” he said.

Beere did not say how Beam and the suspect knew each other but said the suspect was known to loiter around the Laney campus. The suspect had played football at a high school where Beam had worked but not at the time the coach was employed there.

The suspect was taken into custody without any altercation and a gun has been recovered, the assistant chief added. Charges were still pending.

Authorities credited technology, specifically cameras at the college campus, private residences and on public transit, in tracking the suspect identified as Cedric Irving Jr.

Irving was arrested without incident at a commuter rail station in Oakland just after 3 a.m. on Friday and police recovered the gun. He was being held at a local jail on charges of murder and carrying a concealed weapon, according to Alameda County’s inmate locator. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday morning. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Irving’s brother, Samuael Irving, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was stunned to learn of the arrest and that his brother excelled academically and athletically in high school, where he ran track and played football. The brother said Cedric grew distant from the family in recent years after an argument with their father. Irving recently lost his job as a security guard after an altercation, his brother said, and then was evicted from his apartment.

“I hope it isn’t him,” Samuael Irving said quietly. “The Cedric I knew wasn’t capable of murder – but the way things had been going, I honestly don’t know.”

Police said the shooting happened Thursday before noon, and officers arrived to find Beam shot. Few other details were available. It was the second shooting in two days at a school in Oakland.

The Netflix docuseries focused on athletes at junior colleges striving to turn their lives around, and Beam’s Laney College Eagles starred in the 2020 season. Beam gambled on players nobody else wanted. He developed deep relationships with his players while fielding a team that regularly competed for championships.

Beam’s family said in a statement that he was a “loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend.”

“Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love,” the family said, requesting privacy.

Piedmont Police Chief Fred Shavies, who previously served as a deputy chief in the Oakland Police Department, said he was a friend, mentee and longtime admirer of Beam.

“John was so much more than a coach,” he said. “He was a father figure to thousands of not only men but young women in our community.”

Shavies said that he met Beam when he was in the eighth grade and that he supported him after Shavies lost his father in high school, calling him “an absolutely incredible human being.” He asked how Beam left his mark on so many people “with just 24 hours in a day, right?”

Two of Beam’s former players — brothers Nahshon and Rejzohn Wright, now in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints — posted on social media after the shooting.

“You mean the world to me,” Rejzohn Wright said in a post with a photo of Beam.

His brother shared a photo of the coach alongside a broken heart emoji.

Mayor Barbara Lee described Beam as a “giant” in the city who mentored thousands of young people, including her own nephew, and “gave Oakland’s youth their best chance” at success.

“For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family,” Lee said.

Beam, who was serving as athletic director, joined Laney College in 2004 as a running backs coach and became head coach in 2012, winning two league titles. He retired from coaching in 2024 but stayed on at the school to shape its athletic programs. According to his biography on the college’s website, at least 20 of his players have gone on to the NFL.

Beam’s shooting came a day after a student was shot at Oakland’s Skyline High School. The student is in stable condition. Beam had previously worked at Skyline High School, and the suspect had played football there after Beam had already left for another job.

Lee said the back-to-back shootings on Oakland campuses demonstrate “the gun violence crisis playing out in real time.” She gave no indication that they were connected.

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