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
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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
Penn State has fired coach James Franklin after 12 seasons, the school announced Sunday.
Franklin is owed more than $49 million, according to his contract. It’s the second-biggest buyout in college football history behind only Jimbo Fisher’s $76 million buyout from Texas A&M.
Associate head coach Terry Smith will serve as the Nittany Lions’ interim head coach for the remainder of the season, the school said.
Less than a year removed from an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Franklin’s program appeared to hit a new low when the Nittany Lions traveled out to Los Angeles two weeks ago only to lose to UCLA, a team that not only was winless but hadn’t previously held a lead all season.
The woes flew back home with the team to Penn State, and with them came “Fire Franklin!” chants at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Nittany Lions dropped their second straight home game, and third overall, when they fell to Northwestern 22-21 in front of a stunned crowd at Happy Valley.
With the two losses, Penn State became the first team since the FBS and FCS split in 1978 to lose consecutive games while favored by 20 or more points in each game, according to ESPN Research.
In Saturday’s defeat to the Wildcats, the Nittany Lions committed six penalties for 71 yards in the first half alone. They simply could never get out of their own way, and that was before quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter.
Earlier in the season, when the losing streak began against Oregon at Happy Valley, Franklin fell to 4-21 at Penn State against AP top-10 opponents, including 1-18 against top-10 Big Ten teams.
Franklin’s .160 winning percentage against AP top-10 teams is tied for the third-worst record by a coach (minimum 25 games) at a single school since the poll era began in 1936, according to ESPN Research.
Hired in 2014 in the wake of Bill O’Brien’s departure for the NFL, Franklin inherited a team still feeling the effects of unprecedented NCAA sanctions in the wake of Jerry Sandusky’s sexual-abuse crimes.
Armed with relentless optimism and an ability to recruit, Franklin’s program regularly churned out NFL-level talent, from Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons. Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to the 2016 Big Ten title and a seemingly permanent spot in the rankings.
There was hope this fall might be the season when Penn State would finally break through and win its third national championship and first since 1986. Yet after three easy wins during a light nonconference schedule, the Nittany Lions crumbled.
Athletic director Pat Kraft said the school owes Franklin an “enormous amount of gratitude” for leading the Nittany Lions back to relevance but felt it was time to make a change.
“We hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships,” Kraft said.
The move will cost Penn State at a time the athletic department has committed to a $700 million renovation to Beaver Stadium. The project is expected to be completed by 2027.
Former athletic director Sandy Barbour signed Franklin to a 10-year contract extension worth up to $85 million in 2021. According to terms of the deal, Penn State will have to pay Franklin’s base salary of $500,000, supplemental pay of $6.5 million and an insurance loan of $1 million until 2031.
It’s a steep price, but one the university appears willing to pay to find a coach who can complete the climb to a national title.
“We have the best college football fans in America, a rich tradition of excellence, significant investments in our program, compete in the best conference in college sports and have a state-of-the-art renovated stadium on the horizon,” Kraft said. “I am confident in our future and in our ability to attract elite candidates to lead our program.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Oregon State has fired coach Trent Bray in the wake of an 0-7 start, the school announced Sunday.
It is the worst start for the Beavers since 1991, when they started 0-10.
“I want to thank Coach Bray for the energy and determination he brought to the role,” athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement. “… This was a difficult decision, but the results on the field were not acceptable and after evaluating every aspect of the football program, I believe it is in the best interests of OSU football student-athletes, our fans and our university.”
Bray, an Oregon State alum who got promoted to the head coaching job after Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State following the 2023 season, finishes with a 5-14 record after taking over in 2024.
Robb Akey, who was in his first year as special assistant to the head coach, has been named interim coach for the remainder of the season. He was the defensive coordinator at Central Michigan from 2019 to 2024.
Bray is expected to be owed a little more than $4 million in buyout money, as he was in the second year of a five-year contract. The school said the buyout will come from donor-generated funds.
The move comes after a difficult start for the Beavers, which included heartbreaking losses at home to Houston and on the road at Appalachian State. Wake Forest handily won in Corvallis on Saturday, 39-14, with a backup quarterback starting for the Demon Deacons.
“I’m frustrated. I’m disappointed. I look at myself, and I’ve got to fix it,” Bray said after Saturday’s game. “It’s unacceptable to me where we’re at. That’s just how I look at it. What can I do? I’ve got to look at it. What can I do different to get these guys going?”
Special teams coordinator Jamie Christian was fired following the loss to Appalachian State.
The move comes amid a time of financial uncertainty in college athletics, as Oregon State is set to be part of the refurbished Pac-12 in 2026. Oregon State is adjusting to significantly lower television payouts.
Oregon State made three straight bowl games under Smith prior to his departure, and Bray was a linchpin of that rebuild. Oregon State was ranked as high as No. 10 in the country in 2023.
Bray is a former All-Pac-12 player at Oregon State, an honor he earned in 2005.
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