24 in '24: Ranking the Best NHL Players
September 24, 2024
As the 2024 NHL season kicks off on October 4, anticipation is running high for hockey fans. The league is brimming with talent, and apart from McDavid and MacKinnon being one and two has hockey fans giving rankings with all sorts of outcomes.
In this ranking, we take a deep-dive into the top 24 players and rank them based off consistency, potential, and ability to dominate the game. So with all that said, let's get started.
Honourable Mention: Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
Both Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau made a positive impact on the game of hockey.
Johnny, known for his lightning-fast speed, playmaking, and creativity on the ice, inspired countless young players with his fearless style despite his smaller stature. Many Flames fans remember Gaudreau's
game-winning shot to defeat the Dallas Stars in a seven game series, advancing the Flames to the second round of the playoffs.
Matthew, known for his gritty, physical edge and offensive flair, had 63 points in 119 games for
Boston College. Matthew was the head coach of his former high school's hockey team,
Gloucester Catholic in New Jersey. Additionally, Matthew was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Rebels, a junior program that develops NCAA and pro prospects.
Together, the Gaudreau brothers elevated the excitement of the game, showcasing skill, heart, and a love for hockey that continues to resonate with fans across the league.
24. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Let's get this out of the way: Sidney Crosby is a top-five player in the history of the league. He's the best player of the 21st century (so far) and the textbook definition of a leader. Ever since being selected
first overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, expectations have been high for Crosby, and somehow, he has met them.
Nineteen years into his career, Crosby signed a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $8.7 million. I thought I was being cheeky doing a 24-in-'24 player ranking, but this beats it.
For a 36-year-old to rank
12th in the league in points, including 42 goals, and play all 82 games in
back-to-back seasons is impressive. The only reason Crosby ranks this low on my list is due to the lack of a strong supporting cast around him. He was the Penguins' leading goal-scorer and
point-producer in consecutive seasons. For context, Evgeni Malkin ranked second in points, with nearly
a 30 point gap between him and Crosby.
According to
Puckpedia, the Penguins' projected salary cap space ranges from $874,000 to $19 million. The team around Crosby is
aging and in need of revitalization. Signing someone like Mikko Rantanen in the 2025 free agency would ease some of the pressure on Crosby, allowing him to focus more on playmaking. This could elevate Crosby's stats to the point where he is catapulted into my top 15 players for the 2025-26 season.
23. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
Brayden Point took a step forward last year, further developing his game. He has recorded
back-to-back seasons with 90 or more points and finished third on the team in power-play goals. This is quite the accomplishment, considering the Lightning
led the league in power-play percentage. Once again, Point will centre the first line alongside
current Art Ross-winner (the league leader in points at the end of the regular season) Nikita Kucherov.
What's working in Point's favour? He has arguably
the best playmaker in the league in Kucherov, and now two-time all-star Jake Guentzel joining the first line. Guentzel had six more assists than Stamkos, despite playing
12 less games. Guentzel possesses the ability to find the open man and has a reliable wrist shot in the slot (the area immediately in front of the goal crease). With an accurate slapshot and
improvements scoring low-danger goals (a shot typically farther away from the net and low likelihood of going in), it's possible Kucherov and Guentzel will find Point open for a one-timer.
What separates Point from other noteworthy candidates is his potential to become
a 100+ point player. Point led the league in
game-winning goals and
the fourth highest shooting percentage last season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes next season as a top-five goal scorer.
22. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Speaking of Stamkos, let's talk about his new teammate Filip Forsberg. Last year, Forsberg led the team in points accounting for
13 per cent of the team's total points. Last season was not only
a career-high in goals and assists for Forsberg, but
tied for 12th in the league for points.
Since arriving from the Swedish Hockey League, he has made an immediate impact and was good enough to make the NHL All-Star Game
as a rookie. In 2023, Forsberg was named to the
NHL Second All-Star Team (the equivalent to All-NBA 2nd Team).
His
patience to find the most opportune moment makes him so fun to watch. He might
toe-drag (using the toe of his or her stick to draw the puck back) and
fake the goalie out of his crease. When he calmly dekes around opponents, it reminds me ever so slightly of Pavel Datsyuk. Now Forsberg gets to play on
the top powerplay line with exceptional goal-scorers Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.
Forsberg is the kind of player who's always improving the offensive components of his game. If he can stay healthy, he's in for
a career-best season. Pre-established teammates, along with two additions who possess high scoring upside, should (at least on paper) improve Forsberg's playmaking ability.
21. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander is possibly the biggest high-risk-high-reward player on this list.
Compared to the 2022-23 season, takeaways dropped and giveaways increased. The lack of effort on the defensive end was noticeable at times. Watching him play last year, there were moments I was genuinely concerned that one of his
45 turnovers would lead to a goal (such as
the neutral zone turnover in the playoffs against the Panthers). He doesn't hit much, doesn't block shots that often — although, to be fair, he has been improving
year-after-year. Overall, my biggest issue with Nylander is that his effort level is inconsistent. In my opinion, it seems like Nylander stays back on defence to get a head start on the fast-break opportunities, rather than force defenders to turn the puck over in the defensive zone.
I'm hoping new head coach Brad Treliving will give Nylander some time on either the first or second penalty kill unit. Now that Nylander is making
$92 million over the next eight years, the Leafs might as well use him as much as possible. Working alongside Marner to improve on the defensive end would prove he's more than an all-star goal-scorer. Also, I agree with Nylander when he came out to expressed enthusiasm
to play centre instead of right wing.
His ability to remain calm in intense games, while being the forward who stays back as the "
trigger man" is elite.
Last year, his shot volume increased, yet he was
25th in goals above shooting talent. Nylander has back-to-back seasons with 40 goals and 45-plus assists. If he can accept his role on the second line and put in his full effort, I could see a future where Nylander moves to centre and Matthews shifts to the left wing.
20. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Arguably the most controversial player on the list. In the playoffs, Marner has 11 goals and 39 assists but has only made it out of the first round once. As a member of the "Core Four," when Marner fails to perform in the postseason (he was just
seventh in team points), Leafs fans become understandably frustrated. Earning nearly $11 million of the team's $88-million salary cap, his desire to hold onto his no-movement clause makes it hard for the Leafs to shake up the roster and make necessary improvements.
Chris Johnston of
The Athletic put it best: "If you win, the points don’t really matter. If you deliver big at the right time, many of the other details simply get lost to time."
But with all that said, Marner's contributions in the regular season are often overshadowed by his playoff performances. Since entering the league, Marner has posted 90 points in three different seasons. In 2022, he broke the Leafs’ record for most consecutive games with a point, at 23. Former head coach Sheldon Keefe said in April last year,
"Mitch is our most reliable and consistent defensive player" and even used him as a defenceman during a game against the Coyotes. Marner ranked 26th in primary assists, despite playing only 69 games, thanks to his high hockey IQ and reliable drop pass. If it weren't for Bergeron and Barkov, Marner might have already been a Selke Trophy nominee.
After this most recent playoff run, fans have really turned on him, to the point where I doubt he feels comfortable staying with the Leafs. As much as I’d like him to stay, realistically, he’ll probably land a big contract with another team come free agency. He’s good enough, and as
Nathan MacKinnon said, "Marner is one of the best players in the league. I play with some of the best players in the league, and then I skate with Marns, and he's right up there with anyone."
19. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
If you're looking for the secret to an explosive season, just shave your head bald. Artemi Panarin did that and
finished fourth in total points and first in goals above expected. When the 32-year-old gets an open-ice opportunity, he’s electric.
According to Forever Blueshirts, Panarin has averaged more than a point per game for the last five seasons and set the franchise record for the most 90-point seasons.
Outlets like
The Hockey News and The Hockey Writers have pleaded Panarin's case for more Hart Trophy consideration. When he's in the opposition's defensive zone, it’s like a shark smelling blood. You know he’ll attack, but how, where, and when? New head coach Peter Laviolette favours a 2-3 offensive zone forecheck system, essentially having forwards double-team puck carriers to prevent lateral passes. The Rangers
ranked sixth in takeaways per game with this system and fourth in puck possession time. The point of bringing this up is that Panarin is in an environment where he can thrive. As a hard-working difference-maker for the Rangers, he has done a good job adjusting his style of play. Panarin has become more aggressive with the puck and puts pressure on defenders by always trying to get involved offensively.
Last year, he was on the fringe of the top five, and the only reason he's ranked this far back is the small sample size of superstar-calibre statistics. For the most part, he remains
in the top five for playoff point production. If he can maintain this consistency in the regular season and be more aggressive come playoff time, the "Breadman" could easily leap into the top 10.
18. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
You know the league is filled with talent when the best all-around defender is all the way back at 19. Josi is a brick wall, trusted to put his body on the line.
In a single season, he can produce 80 hits, 150+ blocked shots, and a goals-against that never exceeds 0.85. Aside from the
shortened COVID year, Josi plays
at least 67 games, and like Crosby, the 34-year-old captain shows no signs of slowing down. His
defensive awareness and ability to disrupt the offensive flow is arguably the best among defenders.
Last year,
Daily Faceoff gave Josi a 95 per cent rating for power-play effectiveness. His hand-eye coordination, combined with his slapshot power, makes him unpredictable at the blue line. With several years of leading his team in points and ice time, Josi is
one of those rare defenders who can put up 20+ goals and 70+ assists in a single season.
Throughout his career, Josi has built quite the résumé. He won the 2020
Norris Trophy (best defender in the league) and was nominated two other times, finishing
second this past year. In 2020, 2022, and 2024, Josi was
voted to the NHL First All-Star Team by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (the equivalent of the All-NBA First Team). Having players like O'Reilly, Forsberg, Marchessault, and Stamkos will prevent opponents from double-teaming him, improving Josi's offensive capabilities.
That’s why he is my way-too-early pick to win the 2024 Norris Trophy.
17. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck is the most consistent player and the heartbeat of this franchise. When he's off, the team will likely lose. Take, for instance, the playoff series against Colorado where Hellebuyck looked helpless against their formidable offensive firepower. He played every game, and the Jets were outscored 28-15, losing the series 4-1. The thing is — Hellebuyck is so good that hockey fans are
willing to overlook this blunder.
The
most recent winner of the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender) and the William M. Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed in the regular season), Hellebuyck has incredible reflexes, especially on the glove side. When
starting in 50 or more games, Hellebuyck has been in the top three in save percentage twice and top five in shutouts twice. With two Vezina Trophies in five years and being the clear leader in goals saved above expected last year (per
Sport Logiq), it’s no wonder Hellebuyck was the top-rated goalie in
NHL 25.Admittedly, losing 4-1 in back-to-back playoffs doesn't look good. But since 2021, Hellebuyck has been one of the most reliable goalies. Throughout last season, he made sprawling stick saves, rolled around on his head, and dove headfirst to prevent second-chance opportunities. His career save percentage in the playoffs is
four per cent higher than it was in last year’s playoffs.
The save percentage in his most recent Vezina-winning season was
less than a percentage point below his career average. Would the Jets have had back-to-back
90-point seasons without Hellebuyck between the pipes? Probably not.
16. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers
What do you get when you sign an athletic, flashy, multi-skilled goalie? Igor Shesterkin.
Ever since taking over for Henrik Lundqvist in
2020, Shesterkin hasn’t posted a save percentage lower than
.951. His 2021-22 season was so dominant, not only did he win
the Vezina Trophy, but he also finished
third in Hart Trophy voting (the NHL’s Most Valuable Player). To put that into perspective, only
eight other goalies have been Hart Trophy finalists since 2000.
Shesterkin's production continues to speak for itself. His “slump season” still placed him in the
top 15 for save percentage and goals against average (GAA). According to
Evolving Hockey, during the most recent playoff run, Shesterkin saved 15.7 goals above expected, placing him in the top four for this category. He also held the number one spot in 2021-22. His focus, reflexes, and poise under pressure remain constant, further solidifying his case as
one of the best goalies of the 21st century.
He knows when to challenge the puck based on whether his defenders can protect his blind spots. Rather than continuing to list off stats to emphasize that Shesterkin is the best goalie right now, I’ll share this moment the NHL deemed the “
save of the year” or
this video from NHL Network ranking him as the 18th-best player before the 2023 season. I am confident Shesterkin will bounce back
