NHL rank: Top 50 players in the Stanley Cup playoffs
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ESPN staff
At the beginning of every NHL season, we publish NHL Rank, a project where ESPN’s hockey analysts vote to determine the best 100 players for the upcoming season.
Now that every team has completed its 82-game campaign and they’ve been whittled down to our 16-team Stanley Cup Playoff bracket, it’s time to redo the rankings, limiting the list to the top 50 players on playoff teams.
Here’s the playoff edition of ESPN NHL Rank, which seeks to identify the top forwards, defensemen and goaltenders in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs. Dozens of voters participated, choosing one winner in a series of head-to-head voting matchups created from the players on the 16 postseason qualifiers.
The following list features NHL award winners, previous Stanley Cup champions and stars who are seeking that first taste of championship glory. As you’ll see, our voters made some interesting calls at the top regarding which players they believe are the best of the best in the 2023 NHL postseason.
2022-23 stats: 64 G | 89 A | 153 PTS
Preseason rank: 1
How does the player considered to be the most dominant in the world further cement his place within the game? Simple: By leading the NHL in goals (64), assists (89) and points (153). Those career-high figures are why McDavid is the front-runner for his third Hart Trophy.
Last year’s postseason saw McDavid break through for 10 goals and lead the league with 33 points over a 16-game run that saw the Oilers reach the Western Conference finals. McDavid carrying his career regular-season exploits into this year’s playoffs could see the Oilers go even further. — Ryan S. Clark
2022-23 stats: 42 G | 69 A | 111 PTS
Preseason rank: 4
Everything MacKinnon achieved in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs played a part in the Avs’ winning their third championship in team history. So often lauded for his pure pace, power and scoring ability, MacKinnon showed he can be an all-around threat to those not familiar with his game.
Injuries were a massive factor for the Avs this season, with MacKinnon missing 11 contests himself. But it did not prevent the 27-year-old from notching his first 100-point campaign while further reinforcing why the Avs could repeat as champions. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 43 G | 56 A | 99 PTS
Preseason rank: 45
There are several explanations for how the Devils ended a four-year playoff drought. Having Hughes is one of them. The 21-year-old’s gradual improvement exploded into a 99-point campaign that could have reached the century mark if not for his missing four games due to injury.
Still, Hughes was a major reason the Devils reached the playoffs and fell a point shy of winning the Metropolitan Division. Now it is a matter of seeing what Hughes will do next in his first postseason appearance.— Clark
2022-23 stats: 52 G | 76 A | 128 PTS
Preseason rank: 6
Because having only one player with a Hart Trophy and multiple 100-point seasons just isn’t enough in today’s economy. Draisaitl used this season to notch his third 50-goal campaign while also reaching the century club for the fourth time in his career, finishing with a personal-best 128 points.
His ability to create for himself and his teammates allowed Draisaitl to lead all players in assists while finishing second in points last postseason (32). It reaffirms the notion that these playoffs have a chance to be special for the Oilers. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 40-6-1 | 1.89 GAA | .938 SV%
Preseason rank: NR
Seven. That’s how many combined regulation and overtime losses Ullmark had in what was one of the strongest individual campaigns in the NHL this season. Ullmark’s second season with the Bruins showed his importance to a team that’s trying to parlay a historic regular season into one that could end with Boston hoisting a Stanley Cup.
Ullmark went 0-2 with a 4.17 goals-against average and a .860 save percentage in last year’s playoffs. But if Ullmark can carry his regular-season exploits into this year’s postseason? It could lead to the Bruins winning their seventh Stanley Cup in team history. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 61 G | 52 A | 113 PTS
Preseason rank: 21
Pastrnak continued to strengthen his place in the discussion as the most dangerous winger in the NHL. His 61 goals are proof that he’s an even more lethal scorer, while his 52 assists show he’s a problem when he’s creating for others.
It all amounts to Pastrnak being a Hart Trophy hopeful who has been one of the biggest reasons the Bruins are a legitimate Stanley Cup challenger. For his career, he is averaging more than a point per game over 70 playoff contests, numbers he could boost this postseason. — Clark
7. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
2022-23 stats: 17 G | 49 A | 66 PTS
Preseason rank: 2
He’s the reigning Conn Smythe and Norris Trophy winner who does everything required of a contemporary top-four defenseman — he can facilitate play, log heavy minutes, orchestrate a power play and be a trusted member of a penalty kill. Injuries played a massive part in the dip of Makar’s regular-season statistics.
But when he was healthy, he led the league in average ice time and was forced to take on an expanded role to help the Avs circumvent their perpetual injury woes. Seeing what Makar does for a follow-up act could be the key in the Avs winning a second consecutive Stanley Cup. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 9 G | 40 A | 49 PTS
Preseason rank: 8
It’s hard to argue any defenseman is more vital to his team’s success than Hedman. The Lightning have played more hockey than anyone the past three seasons — three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final will do that — and Hedman has been the same stalwart presence leading Tampa Bay from the back end.
This season he has crushed major top-pairing minutes (23:43 per night) again, and added offensively (49 points in 76 games). At 32, Hedman continues adjusting his game to work smarter, not harder, so he can keep shutting down the next wave of snipers hoping to knock Tampa Bay off track. — Kristen Shilton
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 45 A | 85 PTS
Preseason rank: 3
Even a so-called down year for Matthews is still superior. The Maple Leafs’ top center didn’t approach the 60-goal mark again this season, but he did notch 40 for the fifth time in his seven NHL campaigns, while averaging 1.15 points per game. Matthews has the ability to elevate those around him and is at his best bringing a strong two-way game nightly for the Leafs.
The 25-year-old also possesses one of the league’s most lethal, unpredictable shots, and when he’s rolling, remains a goalie’s worst nightmare and a matchup problem against any opponent. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 12 G | 60 A | 72 PTS
Preseason rank: 23
Fox won the Norris Trophy in his second season in the NHL and has gotten even better since then. The 25-year-old drives play at 5-on-5, quarterbacks the team’s powerful power play and is effective in his own end as well.
Fox had 72 points in 82 games for the Rangers; while those aren’t bonkers Erik Karlsson numbers, they could be good enough to get Fox back into the Norris top three. — Greg Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 30 G | 83 A | 113 PTS
Preseason rank: 5
The NHL is rife with playmakers — but few can touch Kucherov in that category. The Lightning winger was second only to McDavid in assists this season (83), racked up a cool 113 points and kept Tampa Bay’s offense humming in a challenging season of ups and downs for the team. Kucherov is the kind of difference-maker who can take over an entire game, single-handedly throw an opponent off course or come through with that timely play to secure a playoff outcome.
He has done it all before, and it’s why Kucherov perennially remains a feared, fierce presence on the ice. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 34-22-4 | 2.65 GAA | .915 SV%
Preseason rank: 10
It seems impossible Vasilevskiy is just 28 years old. Tampa Bay’s starter has won everything from Vezina Trophies to Stanley Cups to Conn Smythe honors. Since 2018-19, Vasilevskiy has paced the NHL in playoff wins (48) with a .925 SV% and 2.18 GAA and has carried the Lightning to loftier heights than the franchise might have ever imagined.
Vasilevskiy constantly shows an ability to flip the switch even during difficult stretches, and when victory is on the line — particularly in the postseason — Tampa Bay’s No. 1 is known to deliver the knockout, shutout punch his team requires to stay on top. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 7 G | 45 A | 52 PTS
Preseason rank: 34
McAvoy brings it all for the Bruins. Elite, top-pairing defensive pedigree with shutdown capability? Check. Ability to log important minutes at 5-on-5, on the power play and penalty kill? You bet. Contributes offensively on the score sheet? No question (52 points in 67 games this season).
If Boston has a jack-of-all-trades, it’s McAvoy. At 25 years old he already has proved to be a top-10, if not top-5, blueliner in the NHL and even great years like the one his teammate Hampus Lindholm is having on the Bruins’ back end can’t snuff out how critical McAvoy is to Boston’s success. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 36 G | 31 A | 67 PTS
Preseason rank: 22
There’s a reason Aho is Carolina’s MVP season after season. The 25-year-old rarely seems to be rattled. His 36 goals this season marked the fourth time he has passed the 30-goal plateau and his 26 even-strength scores were a career best as well. Aho is consistent (averaging nearly 20 minutes TOI per game), but he can also wield enough flash to rank with any of the NHL’s other dynamic performers.
When the Hurricanes need someone to come through, they can more often than not count on Aho to create a game-changing moment. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 21 G | 46 A | 67 PTS
Preseason rank: 43
Everyone loves to hate Marchand, but any player outside the Bruins would want the winger on his side. Marchand can be both a get-under-your-skin pest and a first-class scoring threat, bowling a guy over before blowing past a goaltender.
It’s a unique line few players in the league can or would even try to balance on. Marchand has made a career in that dual space, and it’s a key to the 34-year-old’s longevity, as he’s still among Boston’s best performers (sitting second in points this season). — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 34 G | 50 A | 84 PTS
Preseason rank: 20
Stamkos hit a pair of career milestones this season in recording his 500th goal and 1,000th point. His production declined from last season, but that’s all relative when you’re Steven Stamkos: The 33-year-old captain had 84 points in 81 games as the Lightning pushed for a fourth straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. — Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 55 G | 50 A | 105 PTS
Preseason rank: 24
The Avalanche saw their lineup ravaged by injuries after winning the Stanley Cup last postseason, with players like Makar missing time and captain Gabriel Landeskog out for the season.
Only four Colorado players appeared in all 82 games, and Rantanen clearly had the greatest impact. The winger set a new career high for goals (55) and points (105), breaking the century mark for the first time. He scored 42 of those goals at even strength, buoyed by an increase in shot volume (306 on the season). The Avs won the Central again, and Rantanen was a primary reason. — Wyshynski
18. Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
2022-23 stats: 51 G | 44 A | 95 PTS
Preseason rank: 26
Point is a soft-spoken player, so it’s only appropriate that his career-best offensive season seemingly flew under everyone’s radar. The 27-year-old center had 51 goals and 95 points, playing all 82 games for the Lighting. His days as a burgeoning Selke candidate have passed, but Point reestablished himself as an offensive force this season. — Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 31 G | 49 A | 80 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
Hischier’s rise has been a slow burn. Before this season, the Devils’ captain was a solid two-way skater and reliable playmaker. This season, Hischier turned up the heat.
In his sixth NHL campaign, New Jersey’s top pivot started shooting more and generating offense from quality areas to be a bona fide threat on both sides of the puck. Hischier is impressive on the cycle, too, adding dimension for a Devils team that loves scoring off the rush. The harder Hischier remains to match up against, the better for New Jersey. He’s showing that capability more and more. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 37-13-8 | 2.48 GAA | .916 SV%
Preseason rank: 11
Shesterkin followed his Vezina Trophy win with another strong season for the Rangers. The 27-year-old netminder posted a .916 save percentage and a 2.48 goals-against average to backstop the Rangers back to the postseason after leading them to the Eastern Conference final. He was fifth in the NHL in goals saved above average. One of the few goalies in the playoffs that could win a series on his own. — Wyshynski
2:10
Who is the Bruins’ biggest threat to hoisting the Stanley Cup?
P.K. Subban points to the Oilers as the Bruins’ biggest Stanley Cup threat and speaks to the greatness of Connor McDavid.
2022-23 stats: 46 G | 63 A | 109 PTS
Preseason rank: 30
2022-23 stats: 10 G | 43 A | 53 PTS
Preseason rank: 76
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 35 A | 75 PTS
Preseason rank: 7
2022-23 stats: 11 G | 62 A | 73 PTS
Preseason rank: 28
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 69 A | 109 PTS
Preseason rank: 19
2022-23 stats: 37-25-2 | 2.49 GAA | .920 SV%
Preseason rank: 46
27. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
2022-23 stats: 30 G | 69 A | 99 PTS
Preseason rank: 12
2022-23 stats: 17 G | 21 A | 38 PTS
Preseason rank: 42
2022-23 stats: 39 G | 52 A | 91 PTS
Preseason rank: 16
2022-23 stats: 27 G | 31 A | 58 PTS
Preseason rank: 51
2022-23 stats: 31-22-7 | 2.34 GAA | 0.924 SV%
Preseason rank: 82
2022-23 stats: 22 G | 52 A | 74 PTS
Preseason rank: 63
2022-23 stats: 29 G | 63 A | 92 PTS
Preseason rank: 18
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 47 A | 87 PTS
Preseason rank: 89
35. Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Golden Knights
2022-23 stats: 27 G | 39 A | 66 PTS
Preseason rank: 25
36. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
2022-23 stats: 7 G | 20 A | 27 PTS
Preseason rank: 69
37. Patrick Kane, RW, New York Rangers
2022-23 stats: 21 G | 36 A | 57 PTS
Preseason rank: 40
38. Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights
2022-23 stats: 8 G | 33 A | 41 PTS
Preseason rank: HM
2022-23 stats: 37-11-11 | 2.37 GAA | .919 SV%
Preseason rank: 88
2022-23 stats: 37 G | 38 A | 75 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
2022-23 stats: 23 G | 49 A | 72 PTS
Preseason rank: 57
2022-23 stats: 29-14-5 | 2.75 GAA | .914 SV%
Preseason rank: NR
43. Timo Meier, RW, New Jersey Devils
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 26 A | 66 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
2022-23 stats: 23 G | 55 A | 78 PTS
Preseason rank: 9
2022-23 stats: 37 G | 67 A | 104 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
2022-23 stats: 10 G | 54 A | 64 PTS
Preseason rank: 75
47. Evander Kane, LW, Edmonton Oilers
2022-23 stats: 16 G | 12 A | 28 PTS
Preseason rank: 100
2022-23 stats: 12 G | 31 A | 43 PTS
Preseason rank: 62
49. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
2022-23 stats: 4 G | 37 A | 41 PTS
Preseason rank: 79
50. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings
2022-23 stats: 28 G | 46 A | 74 PTS
Preseason rank: 91
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Jesse Rogers
MILWAUKEE — Perhaps some divine intervention had a hand in the Brewers advancing to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2018 after they defeated the Cubs in Game 5 of the NL Division Series on Saturday night. More than once, general manager Matt Arnold said he looked “to the heavens” for some inspiration from Brewers icon Bob Uecker, who passed away last offseason.
“I kept saying, ‘Bob, we need you,'” Arnold said in the Brewers’ champagne-soaked clubhouse following the tense 3-1 win. “We know he’s with us.”
Arnold’s prayers were answered as Milwaukee hit three solo home runs while perfectly navigating its own bullpen game — just as the Cubs were attempting to do — holding Chicago to a solo home run. Midseason pickup Andrew Vaughn went deep again, while midseason call-up Jacob Misiorowski pitched the bulk of the game, going four innings and allowing just that one run.
Vaughn, in particular, felt the meaning of the moment more than most. Traded by the Chicago White Sox after a terrible start to his season, he found new life with the Brewers. He compiled a 1.126 OPS in the series, including two home runs.
“The journey has been kind of crazy,” Vaughn said. “But not taking anything for granted. The opportunity to be with this group, it’s changed my life.”
For Misiorowski, it was the first time in 17 appearances, dating back to the regular season, that he didn’t issue a walk. He gave up three hits and struck out three in a masterful performance.
“I think I was giving everything I’ve got,” he said. “And I think I left everything out there.”
The other four Brewers pitchers held the Cubs scoreless.
“It kind of went according to plan,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “But then, we saw [Aaron Ashby] was a little bit not as sharp as he could have been. It’s his fourth time seeing them. And then, Chad Patrick was maybe the player of the game because you don’t expect him to be that good, pitching an inning plus.”
Patrick relieved Ashby during a potential turning point in the sixth. With Milwaukee up 2-1, Ashby gave up a hit and then hit a batter, putting runners on first and second with no outs. But then he threw the pitch of the game, a nasty 98.6 mph fastball on the edge of the zone to Kyle Tucker, who swung and missed on a 3-2 count. Patrick entered next. He got Seiya Suzuki to fly out and caught Ian Happ looking. It was the last rally of the season for the Cubs.
“Ashby made a pretty darned good pitch, 3-2, to Tucker,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Looked like right down away on the corner. It was a nasty pitch. Seiya had a good at-bat against Patrick. … And then, they got out of it essentially.
“It’s really the only inning you could talk about. We just didn’t do much. We had six baserunners. You’re going to have to hit homers to have any runs scoring in scenarios like that.”
The win completed a back-and-forth series where the home team held serve throughout. The Brewers admitted the environment in Games 3 and 4 in Chicago got to them, allowing the Cubs to even the series after Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead. Would the Brewers give it away like they did in the wild-card round last year when New York Mets star Pete Alonso beat them with a late home run in the deciding game?
Longtime Brewers star Christian Yelich was asked what he learned from that heartbreaking experience.
“Just go at it fearless,” Yelich said during the postgame clubhouse party. “You can’t really lose them tougher than we did last year. So going into the night, you just play with a bunch of freedom. You know you’ve got belief and trust in your teammates that we’re going to be able to get the job done. That’s exactly what we’re able to do.”
The Brewers said all the right things about beating the Cubs, though it had to feel extra special taking down a big-market payroll and Milwaukee’s former manager, who left for greener pastures two years ago. As has become the norm since he took the job in Chicago, Counsell was booed every time he poked his head out of the dugout.
Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio was asked if he had any doubts about his team continuing its winning ways after Counsell left the organization before the 2024 season.
“I believed in the process and the system and the people,” Attanasio said. “The Cubs were really good this year. It’s just a testament to this whole organization.”
In terms of big-market, high-payroll teams, the Cubs were just the appetizer. Next up for the Brewers are the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who reside in the sport’s second-largest market and own the highest team payroll in the majors, more than $200 million ahead of the Brewers.
“It doesn’t get any more big market and small market than Brewers-Dodgers,” Yelich said with a smile. “We’re up against it. We know it. We love being in those situations. It’s fitting the season for us is going to come down to that series, that team and all that star power. You have the average Joes coming there. We’re going to do what we did all year, compete our asses off, go hard and see what happens.”
Attanasio added: “Let’s go! I can’t wait.”
The Brewers went 6-0 against the Dodgers in the regular season and have home-field advantage in the series, but they will be the decided underdogs. Uecker’s spirit might be needed now more than ever, as taking down the Dodgers despite everything that the Brewers have accomplished will be their toughest task yet.
“I’m grateful for the guys we’ve had in the room,” Murphy said. “They’ve been doubted every year. Everyone. There’s no one predicting the Brewers playing the Dodgers in the series.”
Arnold added: “We’ve been planning for this. You can’t just roll out of bed and play the Dodgers.”
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Jorge Castillo
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is not on the roster for the AL Championship Series vs. the Seattle Mariners.
Bichette has not played since spraining his left knee in a collision on Sept. 6. He ran for the first time Wednesday, hit live pitching Friday and appeared to be in some discomfort as he ran the bases for the first time Saturday.
Game 1 against the Mariners is scheduled for Sunday night at Rogers Centre.
Toronto’s offense did not falter without the 27-year-old Bichette in the AL Division Series. The Blue Jays scored 34 runs in the four games and pounded the New York Yankees‘ pitching for 23 runs in the first two contests at home. But Bichette was one of the team’s three best hitters during the regular season.
A free agent this winter, Bichette rebounded from a dreadful, injury-plagued 2024 season in which he posted a .598 OPS in 81 games to his previous All-Star-level form in his platform year. He batted .311 — tied for second in the AL — with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games, though he was the worst defensive shortstop in the majors as measured by outs above average and defensive runs saved.
Andres Gimenez, previously the team’s starting second baseman, started at shortstop for the Blue Jays in their division series win over Yankees. Utilityman Ernie Clement also played shortstop for Toronto during the regular season after Bichette’s injury.
After carrying just three starters in the AL Division Series and deploying a bullpen game in Game 4, the Blue Jays are carrying both Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt — who finished the season on the injured list with back inflammation — on the ALCS roster as possible options for length. Both starters threw in a simulated game early in the week at Rogers Centre.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.
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