best hockey players 2024

Snuggerud is a responsible defensive player which is impressive for a winger with so much offensive potential. Tom Willander is a high end skater, which allows him to carry the puck out of his own zone and lets him take some risks offensively while still recovering quickly enough on the back-check. His skating is so strong and his motor runs high enough that even in games where he’s quiet offensively, he still provides a ton of value on the defensive end. I liked what I saw from Willander in the NCAA last season, and I think he’s going to be a very talented two-way defender for the Canucks. After a solid showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer of 2022, Quentin Musty was considered by many to be the best U.S. born prospect in this draft class. After an up and down draft year, Musty has silenced many doubts after he tore up the OHL last season.

Sam Reinhart I C I Florida Panthers

The 24-year-old is coming off a second consecutive 40-goal campaign, finishing with over 100 points for the first time in his career. Along with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, the smooth-skating winger forms the most dominant forward trio in hockey. He combines size and aggression with slick skill, showcasing some of the best hands in the league while not being afraid to muck things up. After he was acquired by the Panthers last summer, he emerged as the face of the franchise, posting his second consecutive 100-point season. Tkachuk’s clutch run in the playoffs was the cherry on top of a sensational first season in Florida.

Roope Hintz, C, Stars

The Red Wings haven’t given Edvinsson a chance to stick in the NHL just yet but he’s really close to breaking through and I can’t imagine him spending longer in the AHL than the NHL next season. Detroit’s log-jam on the left side of defense has slowed his NHL trajectory a little, but I think letting him become a near dominant force in the AHL was a good call. Cutter Gauthier was the player whose draft stock rose the most following the 2022 NHL Draft Combine where NHL scouts and general managers were impressed by his maturity, physical strength. He showed that he was committed to becoming a pro center, but that won’t likely be asked of him now in Anaheim where he’ll likely flank one of Leo Carlsson or Mason McTavish.

NHL Free Agent Tracker

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers both have plenty of star power, and those marquee names will go toe-to-toe for hockey’s ultimate prize. Back during the Oilers’ dynasty in the 1980s, those Wayne Gretzky clubs had the great Paul Coffey. There’s a clear path for Celebrini to become an excellent first-line center in the NHL and the San Jose Sharks are counting the days until he can show what he’s made of at their training camp in a few short days.

Top 10 impact players in Stanley Cup Final

Buium has a great motor and always finds himself in the thick of the action on both ends of the ice. He has good skill with the puck but his calling card will be his skating and sense which he uses to his advantage best on the rush both as a passer and a scoring threat. Buium falling to 12th in the draft could make a few teams look really silly if he becomes the player I expect he will. Zeev Buium is a complete defenseman who has had a ton of success early in his collegiate career, scoring well above a point-per-game as a freshman defender. He is an excellent skater and has plenty of hockey sense which allows him to defend incredibly well in the NCAA, and likely in the NHL as well. It’s becoming increasingly common to see NHL defenders succeed through puck skills and clever positioning rather than simply through physicality and I think Buium could fit that mold.

Eight Boston College Eagles Named to The Hockey News Top 100 NCAA Players to Watch in 2024-25

And if it is more solid in the DZ, I feel much more comfortable about the goaltending situation. I never like not having a proven commodity, but there are real reasons for optimism for both Cameron Korpi and Logan Stein. Hard to imagine at least one of them doesn’t succeed enough to at least give Michigan average goaltending. If they’re a solid defensive team and have a robust and deep offense, average goaltending should get this team into the NCAA Tournament.

Prospects #60-51

The No. 1 pick from 2017 has always been touted as a responsible, two-way center that excels in the faceoff dot. However, last season, the Devils captain proved he can get it done at both ends of the ice, hitting 31 goals and 80 points. The duo of Hischier and Hughes down the middle for New Jersey is flat-out terrifying.

Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars

Over the last three years, Stamkos has been one of the top point producers and had drug his team into battle every night. The Stars have taken a lot of pride in their defensive game as an entire team, but the biggest anchor for their success comes from Miro Heiskanen. He is one of the best two-way defenders in the game and has had great offensive numbers over the past two seasons. A big step back in production last season prevented Tim Stutzle from being higher on this list.

  • Ullmark’s play was a big reason the Bruins broke the regular-season records for most points and wins last year.
  • And if it is more solid in the DZ, I feel much more comfortable about the goaltending situation.
  • The Senators didn’t have a strong group overall, but with three high-end left-handed defensemen, with preference going to the two home-grown ones, he was the odd man out and played on the third pair with more limited time.
  • He is one of the most underrated players in the game and has a huge impact on the team each night.
  • His tools make him very well suited as a center at the next level with good size, a coveted right-handed shot, good defensive habits (kills penalties quite well), and solid faceoff results.

Roope Hintz, C, Dallas Stars

Florida will no doubt try to lay the lumber on Edmonton’s stars, but Draisaitl has a unique knack for getting the puck in the net one way or another. Demidov isn’t quite at the same level as top 2023 Draft prospect Matvei Michkov, but he is a legit top-end talent who has clear top-line potential in the NHL. One thing he and Michkov have in common is a difficulty earning minutes in the KHL as a draft eligible player. Demidov sat out many games to start the year and played full time in the MHL for the rest of the season.

Prospects #90-81

  • He was loaned to a different KHL club this year where he had to prove himself once again.
  • He is among the best wingers in the league, he has the skating and speed to compete with anybody and adds a physical element to his game to help with puck retrievals.
  • Since joining the Panthers, Carter Verhaeghe has taken huge steps in his game and has become not only a great goal-scorer but one of the most clutch players in the NHL.
  • I frankly have no clue what’s going on with that, other than that Pitlick tried to sign with NHL teams over the summer but it never happened.
  • The Stars have taken a lot of pride in their defensive game as an entire team, but the biggest anchor for their success comes from Miro Heiskanen.
  • He anticipates play really well, and is vocal with his teammates, coordinating play at both ends of the ice.

He’s a very responsible defender who shuts down tons of rush attempts with an active stick and stellar positioning. He finished the season as the second highest scoring U20 player in the league behind only Leo Carlsson and was a net-positive player even as a teenager in a very difficult professional league. Kasper then made the move to the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins last season, and while the transition wasn’t the smoothest, his play and production picked up significantly in the new year. Fraser Minten has developed very well since being drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the 2022 Draft.

Over the last two seasons, Martin Necas has emerged as a goal-scoring and point-scoring winger. He had hopes of playing at center, but it doesn’t look like he will be making that transition. He is still very effective and plays a versatile enough game that he can fit in with any center and make offense happen. Drew Doughty fought back after a downward trend in his career, and over the last few seasons, has proven he still has lots left in the tank. He is a physical, smart, and strong defensive defenseman who can chip in with good offensive numbers.

The few freshmen in line to play on this team are touted players, a first round pick in Michael Hage, a late round pick/USNTDP guy in Christian Humphreys, and a possible first round pick in Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen. Only Hunter Hady or Will Felicio could be in the lineup as a skater as an undrafted freshman. This is a more veteran team than what Michigan is used to and I think they will benefit from it.

Goals Against Average

  • It marked his sixth straight year topping the list, having overtaken Sidney Crosby in 2017 after the Penguins star had a seven-year run at No. 1.
  • Luneau made the opening night lineup for the Ducks last year but bounced between the NHL and AHL before heading to Sweden for the World Juniors where he was sidelined with an infection in his knee that ended his season.
  • Some may be worried about his lack of production in the WHL, but anyone who saw Danielson play in the NHL Preseason last Fall should know he’s well on his way to becoming a high-end NHLer.
  • He has flirted with a 100-point season in three out of the last four years, securing 92 last year.
  • Though he already has a Stanley Cup on his resume, he will certainly be looking to get back into contention for another Cup this season.
  • He has made the move to North America and absolutely schooled the OHL last season with the Sudbury Wolves.

In terms of clutch players, Tkachuk certainly fits the bill, and he’s one that could end up being a thorn in the Oilers’ side throughout the series. Sam Reinhart might be Florida’s most dangerous offensive option to put the puck in the net. Entering the series, Reinhart leads the team with eight goals, including netting the overtime winner in Game 4 against the New York Rangers when the Panthers desperately needed a win. The Panthers forward also had a career-high 57 goals during the regular season, so he’s a threat to score when he’s within earshot of the puck.

best hockey players 2024

He’s strong in breakout/entry situations, has some clever stretch passes in his toolkit, and walks the blueline with confidence. Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move.

The NHL has been whittled down from 32 teams to 16 that remain in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. With the playoffs set to begin Saturday, it’s time for our annual ranking of the top 50 players who will participate in the postseason. Not only did fans see a first-time champion crowned in Vegas, but records were broken, careers were revitalized and breakout stars were born. Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Hughes and Jason Robertson continue to lead a youth movement in the league, while superstar Connor McDavid continues to wow audiences with his video game-like production.

Keys to the offseason: What’s next for Panthers and Oilers?101dRyan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton

He joined Sweden again for this past World Juniors as well, and was named the tournament’s top defender thanks to some timely goals in the knockout rounds. He is a force on offense but don’t let that fool you, he is a hard-working defender who makes a lot of stops despite his 5-foot-11 frame. The Buffalo Sabres were lucky enough to have three selections in the first round of the 2022 Draft, picks nine, 16, and 28.

Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

The combination of speed, hands and stick handling makes him an offensive catalyst and he maintains offensive zone possession extremely well. Savoie has excellent vision to spot a lane to engage or find his teammates with a perfectly executed pass and he’s a dynamic skater as well. He got his first taste of pro hockey last Fall and was one of the best players in the WHL last year in his final year of junior play. Stian Solberg is a big, physical defender who skates well for his size and made a big splash as a top player for Norway at the recent Men’s World Championship.

He’s headed to the University of North Dakota this Fall, a program that has a long track record of developing solid NHL talent. Grizzled veteran scorers who are more consistent and don’t make the mistakes that 18/19-year-old future NHLers do is a very valid way to win in college hockey. The Badgers were an excellent goal prevention outfit this season and that’s what you have to have alongside that forward corps.

He has emerged into a 40+ goal and 90+ point center on the Lightning since taking over the top-line role from Steven Stamkos. Not only can he produce, but he has also received votes for the Lady Byng and Selke Trophies throughout his young career. Like Reinhart, a big breakout year from Hyman in terms of goal-scoring shot him up this list pretty high. Now that he has 90 goals and 160 points over the past two seasons, he has proven that he is a perfect fit with the big names on the Oilers like McDavid and Draisaitl, and compliments their game very well. After a very long and successful career with the Lightning, Steven Stamkos has moved on and joined the Predators. He was one of the best goal-scorers for the last decade and a half, one of the best leaders in the game, and still brings a ton of offense every night.

The combination of his skating, shot, and quick hands makes him a really fun offensive weapon. He is agile enough that I expect he’ll be very successful on zone entries in the NHL some day, giving the Blackhawks a chance to control play in the offensive zone every time he touches the puck. He produced solid offense as a freshman in the NCAA last season, but only https://gambibet.org/ time will tell if he can handle a top-six workload in the NHL or if he’ll be better suited as a third-line center. Dalibor Dvorsky was very impressive in his draft year against men, playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish professional league. He has made the move to North America and absolutely schooled the OHL last season with the Sudbury Wolves.

Many point to his ice time with McDavid as the reason, but it is clear that he is an elite talent in his own regard. With 81 playoff points over his last three seasons, Draisaitl is not only one of the best playoff producers in the NHL but one of the best in history. In the same season he was named captain of the Canucks, he had the best season of his career which ended by taking home the Norris Trophy. Hughes has been among the best defensemen in the league since breaking in, and with a previously established elite offensive game, the development in his defensive play over the last five years has been outstanding.

He’s a top-three goaltender in the league, coming off a season where he posted a 2.34 GAA, .934 SV% and a 38.7 goals saved above expected. He looked like an absolute star in the KHL last year, once again being loaned to HK Sochi, one of the league’s bottom teams. I expected he would land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season, but the Flyers managed to get him signed and Michkov will make his NHL debut much sooner than expected. He’s a serious contender for the Calder Trophy next year, especially if the Flyers put him in a position to succeed.

He is an effective scorer, and despite having a slow start to the season, he caught up quickly and finished with over a point per game. His physicality, leadership, and playoff performances have launched him up the list over the past two years and he has become one of the most impactful players in the league. One of the best defensemen in the league, Roma Josi continues to score a significant amount of goals and points every season.

He is the best player they have, one of the longest-tenured players with the Utah/Coyotes team, and provides great leadership. Keller has been scoring nearly a point per game over three seasons, during which time the Coyotes have struggled a lot. He has proven himself as one of the top-scoring wingers in the league and is starting to get recognition for it. They lost last year’s #2 goalscorer Ryan Kirwan to the transfer portal (ASU), and #3 goalscorer Jacques Bouquot graduated. PSU rolls over Aiden Fink, Matt DiMarsico, and Reese Laubach, all of whom were freshmen last year and they seem like a solid group to build a team around.

Next year’s NHL rookie class is rightfully earning a lot of early attention, with a massive group of talented youngsters who each have a chance at the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy for the league’s best rookie. From Macklin Celebrini and Matvei Michkov, to Logan Stankoven and Will Smith, the NHL is experiencing a massive influx of young talent once again this season. Before we get into the top 100 prospect ranking update, here are a few notes on the criteria and content of this list.

The best NHL players in 2024 are not only dominating the ice with their extraordinary performances, but they are also redefining what it means to be elite in the sport of hockey. These athletes continue to amaze with their speed, agility, and strategic play, cementing their status as fan favorites and role models for aspiring hockey stars. With a 60-goal season under his belt, he has shown that he can be among the best in the league. There isn’t as much offense on the Bruins forward group as the other teams higher on the list, and Pastrnak is the one that all of the offense runs through. Since joining the Panthers, Carter Verhaeghe has taken huge steps in his game and has become not only a great goal-scorer but one of the most clutch players in the NHL. He has five overtime goals in the playoffs, which ranks third in NHL history, and in just five years in the league, he has won two Stanley Cups and has 55 points in 69 playoff games.

But as a result, they still don’t have a very rich senior class and they didn’t pursue the portal to accent this group. Thus it still feels like they’re a year away, especially in adding another huge freshman class, one that doesn’t have a lot of drafted players nor obvious top tier USHL stars. PSU should still be decent and competitive in a tough B1G but seems more like an ongoing retool while they grow and develop the 14 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.

His offensive game is impressive for a defender of his size and his skating makes him even more intriguing as an NHL prospect. Yakemchuk has a rocket of a shot, scoring 19 goals last season, something that makes him a true goal scoring threat from the point. He challenges opposing players one-on-one like a forward, constantly setting himself up for these incredible dekes. The problem is, he doesn’t succeed 100% of the time and can put himself in tough positions to recover defensively.

He missed most of his freshman season at the University of Michigan due to injury, but had an excellent sophomore year last season and is set to go pro this Fall. Sam Rinzel was drafted 25th overall by the Blackhawks back in 2022, largely for the massive potential he brings to the table. As a 6-foot-4, right-shot defender, Rinzel has the basic tools that all NHL teams look for.