Connor McDavid has been ranked the top player in the NHL for the 2025-26 season by ESPN\'s expert panel. The Edmonton Oilers captain maintained his position atop the rankings for the fifth consecutive year, according to ESPN\'s annual NHL Rank poll.
ESPN broadcasters, analysts, reporters and editors rated players based on expected performance this season. The rankings emphasized value for the coming campaign rather than career achievements.
McDavid has captured eight 100-point seasons and led the Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. The 28-year-old center aims to deliver Edmonton its first championship since 1990.
Colorado Avalanche stars Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon ranked second and third respectively. Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, climbed from fourth in last year\'s rankings. MacKinnon enters the season with a chance to win both Olympic gold and his second Stanley Cup.
Leon Draisaitl placed fourth among NHL players. The Oilers center has scored 146 goals since 2022-23, trailing only McDavid during that span.
The Florida Panthers placed six players in the top 100 despite injuries to key personnel. Captain Aleksander Barkov missed the rankings due to an expected lengthy absence. Sam Reinhart ranked 13th after scoring 127 goals over the past three seasons.
The Dallas Stars led all teams with seven players in the top 100. The defending champions and Stars combined for 13 total selections in ESPN\'s rankings.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made the largest jump among top-10 players. He rose from 31st to sixth after winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2025.
Complete Rankings 1-100:
1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
2. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
4. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
5. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
6. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
7. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks
8. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Golden Knights
10. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars
11. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
12. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
13. Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers
14. Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers
15. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild
16. Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa Senators
17. Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
18. Mitch Marner, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
19. Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars
20. Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets
21. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
22. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings
23. Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils
24. Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
25. Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
26. William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
27. Filip Forsberg, LW, Nashville Predators
28. Sebastian Aho, C, Carolina Hurricanes
29. Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
30. Tage Thompson, C, Buffalo Sabres
31. Roope Hintz, C, Dallas Stars
32. Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
33. Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
34. Jake Guentzel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
35. Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
36. Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils
37. J.T. Miller, C, New York Rangers
38. Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers
39. Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal Canadiens
40. Clayton Keller, C, Utah Mammoth
41. Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
42. Seth Jarvis, C, Carolina Hurricanes
43. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets
44. Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils
45. Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
46. Adrian Kempe, C, Los Angeles Kings
47. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
48. Lucas Raymond, RW, Detroit Red Wings
49. Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild
50. Tim Stutzle, LW, Ottawa Senators
51. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks
52. Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers
53. Matt Boldy, LW, Minnesota Wild
54. Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings
55. Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers
56. Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
57. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks
58. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins
59. Alex DeBrincat, LW, Detroit Red Wings
60. Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
61. Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars
62. Noah Dobson, D, Montreal Canadiens
63. Martin Necas, C, Colorado Avalanche
64. Timo Meier, RW, New Jersey Devils
65. Brad Marchand, LW, Florida Panthers
66. Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders
67. Jacob Markstrom, G, New Jersey Devils
68. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
69. Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues
70. Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
71. Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders
72. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers
73. Devon Toews, D, Colorado Avalanche
74. Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
75. Tom Wilson, RW, Washington Capitals
76. Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers
77. Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens
78. Brandon Hagel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
79. Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets
80. Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
81. Thomas Harley, D, Dallas Stars
82. Josh Norris, C, Buffalo Sabres
83. Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators
84. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings
85. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
86. Cole Perfetti, C, Winnipeg Jets
87. Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers
88. Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators
89. Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers
90. MacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames
91. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers
92. Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators
93. Logan Stankoven, C, Carolina Hurricanes
94. Jordan Kyrou, C, St. Louis Blues
95. Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins
96. Mikhail Sergachev, D, Utah Mammoth
97. Logan Cooley, C, Utah Mammoth
98. Mason McTavish, C, Anaheim Ducks
99. Zach Hyman, LW, Edmonton Oilers
100. Bo Horvat, C, New York Islanders
Via ESPN