In June this year, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that the 2023/24 regular season will commence on October 10. More than a month after the kick-off and things starting to heat up, we have prepared a list of the top 10 most productive players in the league to follow this season. Below is the list:
Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid is, without a doubt, one of the finest NFL players ever. The 26-year-old ice hockey center won the Art Ross Trophy after outscoring everyone for three consecutive seasons with 64 goals and 83 assists in 182 games. He is currently the first player in the league’s history to have 3-point periods in three straight games, breaking a 28-year milestone.
Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche
Born in September 1995, Nathan MacKinnon is the alternate captain and center of the Colorado Avalanche. He is known for his electric speed, shots, and unquestionable passion for hockey. Last season, the 28-year-old managed to set new NHL career heights with 111 points, 69 assists, and 42 goals in 71 games. His 366 shots were the second in the league.
Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar is a Canadian defenseman born in October 1998. He made his NHL debut in the 2019/20 season, immediately making an impact and bagging the Calder Memorial Trophy. Last season, Makar had 17 goals and 49 assists in 60 games, falling short of claiming the Norris Trophy for the second straight season. He also averaged 1.10 points per game, only second to Erik Karlsson (1.23) among NFL’s defensemen.
Leon Draisaiti – Edmonton Oilers
Leon Draisaiti is another world-class talent in the NHL worth backing at sportsbooks in Canada. The 28-year-old German ice hockey center finished second in the 2022/23 season with 76 assists and 52 goals (128 points). Remarkably, this is the fifth consecutive season that Draisaiti has been among the top four highest-scoring players in the league. He also won an incredible 54.9% of his face-offs.
Matthew Tkachuk – Florida Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk was born in December 1997 in Arizona, United States, and is the son of Keith Tkachuk, a former hockey player. During the 2021/22 and 2022/23 NHL seasons, he was a top 10 point-scorer after hitting 104 and 109 points, respectively. Last year, the 25-year-old left wing also featured in the league’s Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player in the NFL.
David Pastrnak – Boston Bruins
David Pastrnak is an alternate captain and left winger for the Boston Bruins. The 27-year-old Czech Republic professional player made his NHL debut in 2014 after being selected in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Fast forward to the 2022/23 season, he signed a $90 million, 8-year contract extension before finishing the season with a career-best of 113 points and 61 goals, the second most goals in the league.
Auston Matthews – Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews is a center and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old US international began his NHL career in the 2016/17 season, scoring 40 goals and becoming the second rookie in the team’s history to reach this milestone. In the 2021/22 season, he became the first American-born and Maple Leaf player to score the most goals in a season and scooped the Rocket Richard Trophy for the second time.
Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov is a Russian right-winger born in June 1993. The 30-year-old is credited for his visionary passing and shooting, winning multiple awards in the NHL, including the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award. In 2021 and 2022, he led the team to win the Stanley Cup, scoring in both outings. Last season, Kucherov finished third with 83 assists and 30 goals in 82 games.
Mikko Rantanen – Colorado Avalanche
Born in October 1996, Mikko Rantanen is a right winger and center for the Colorado Avalanche and Finland. He made his NHL debut for the team following his 2015 NHL Entry Draft selection. However, the 2017/18 season marked his breakout year, scoring 29 goals and 55 assists. Last season, he became the first Finn to break the 50-goal record in a regular NHL season.
Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins
Born in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1987, Sidney Crosby is a center and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before the Penguin selected him in the 2005 NHFL Entry Draft, Crosby was widely regarded as a huge talent, nicknamed “The Next One.” In the 2022/23 season, he led the team with 33 goals and 60 assists in 82 games. Interestingly, this was the eleventh time he scored 30+ goals a season.
Conclusion
Did your favorite NHL player miss out on this top-ten list? Don’t worry because the list can be endless. Players such as Igor Shesterkin (Rangers), Kirill Kaprizov (Wild), and Mitch Marner (Maple Leafs) deserve a spot for being some of the most productive all-stars.