It takes more than one elite player to win the Stanley Cup. The repeat champion
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2024-25 rank: 8
Age: 29
Could his first full season in Dallas be the one that sees the Stars win the Stanley Cup that has eluded them over the past few years? Rantanen left Colorado in the NHL’s biggest trade last season and then made his way back to the Central Division in a subsequent deal. But with a long-term pact in hand, he’ll be a key player for the Stars for the foreseeable future. — Clark
2024-25 rank: 11
Age: 29
Pastrnak has scored over 40 goals in four consecutive seasons. Given his career total with the Bruins (391 entering this season), he could move all the way to third in franchise history if he notches another 40 goals in 2025-26. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 27
Age: 31
Some might have surmised that Vasilevskiy was heading into a decline based on 2023-24, when his save percentage dipped to .900 after seven straight seasons at .915 or higher. The 2024-25 campaign ended that talk, as he registered a .921 mark along with a 2.18 GAA and 38 wins. The “Big Cat” can still roar. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 30
Age: 29
The Panthers pulled off a unique feat last season, placing two players in the top two spots in Selke Trophy voting. Florida captain Aleksander Barkov — who won the award — is likely out until April (if not longer), meaning Reinhart and others will have to pick up the slack on both ends of the ice. The scoring part won’t be a problem, as Reinhart has 127 goals in the past three seasons combined. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 26
Age: 29
A one-time Vezina Trophy winner (for now), Shesterkin is easily the best player drafted at No. 118 in NHL history. If the Rangers fail to make the postseason again, it won’t be because of their superstar goaltender. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 17
Age: 28
All anyone needs to know about Kaprizov and his value could be seen last season. Before he got hurt, he was among the front-runners for the Hart Trophy, and the Wild looked as if they could win the Central. But an injury meant that Kaprizov played in just 41 regular-season games. The Wild struggled to score goals in his absence before his eventual return helped them capture a wild-card spot. — Clark
2024-25 rank: 25
Age: 26
Brady Tkachuk captained the Senators to their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2017. His goal scoring and physicality will be vital not only to Ottawa in the NHL, but also to Team USA in the 2026 Olympics. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 23
Age: 34
The 6-7 blueliner remains a dominant presence in both ends of the ice: 66 points in 79 games last season, while using physicality and his considerable wingspan to disrupt opponents in his own zone. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 14
Age: 28
Marner is the unique skater who dominates individually while also elevating literally any linemate he’s paired with. A force on special teams — his penalty killing is particularly good — Marner is more likely to try setting up a goal than attempting to score one himself. And the Golden Knights are counting on his playmaking to carry them for years to come — Shilton
2024-25 rank: 35
Age: 26
Part of the Stars’ legendary 2017 draft class (with Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger), Robertson has 269 points in 246 games the past three regular seasons. His line with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen will be one of the NHL’s most dangerous this season. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 58
Age: 28
The Michigan native removed any sense of uncertainty for next summer by signing a team-record $96 million contract extension on the eve of the season — then opened the campaign with a hat trick against the Stars. He’ll also be a key player for the U.S. in the Olympic Games. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 13
Age: 38
Father Time? Crosby has never heard of him, apparently. The Penguins’ captain is playing as well now as he has throughout a legendary career that kept Pittsburgh as a contender for nearly two decades. And Crosby shows no signs of wanting to slow down. — Shilton
2024-25 rank: 55
Age: 38
Season No. 20 will be the last one in the NHL for Kopitar, by far the best hockey player ever from Slovenia — he has outscored second-place Jan Mursak 1,281 to 4 heading into this season. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 63
Age: 26
The Devils’ captain built another strong case for a Selke Trophy in 2024-25 and finished fourth in the voting, garnering 11 first-place votes. Another standout season could see him land in the finalists’ circle. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 49
Age: 29
The heart and soul of the Red Wings, Larkin turned heads with his excellent two-way play during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Can he lead the Red Wings back to the postseason? — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 22
Age: 26
There are sitcoms that have episodes with lesser run time than Heiskanen averages in a game. He’s frequently in the discussion for the league’s best shutdown defenseman, and he’d receive even more acclaim if he had offensive numbers similar to some of his peers. — Clark
2024-25 rank: 32
Age: 29
With Mitch Marner now plying his trade for the Golden Knights, the Leafs will need continued production out of the elite scorers who remain — and Nylander is certainly one of them, with 125 goals in the past three seasons combined. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 34
Age: 31
Forsberg was not immune to whatever plagued the Predators in 2024-25, as his 76 points was a steep decline from 94 the season prior. Will 2025-26 be a rebound for him personally and for his team? — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 19
Age: 28
The top center on the Hurricanes, Aho is a point-per-game offensive player whose defensive play fits the Carolina tradition of two-way play. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 62
Age: 40
The greatest goal scorer in NHL history began the 2025-26 campaign with 897 career tallies. How many will he add to his total this season — and will it be his last in the NHL? — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 64
Age: 27
One of the snubs left off the United States’ 4 Nations Face-off roster, the 27-year-old Thompson has extra motivation to get off to a fast start to get his name on the list for the Olympics. Getting on a pace for 40-plus goals (as he has done twice in his young career) would be a good start. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 39
Age: 28
Part of the Stars’ “Finnish Mafia,” Hintz’s 200-foot game means that opponents have to construct their game plan around him. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 21
Age: 29
Point had always been a dangerous offensive player, but his goal scoring has exploded over the past three seasons (139 goals) while taking passes from former league MVP Nikita Kucherov on his wing. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 24
Age: 26
Does Elias Pettersson still belong among the top 25 players in the NHL? That’s what the Canucks star is trying to prove in 2025-26 after injuries and locker room drama contributed to the worst offensive season of his career. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 18
Age: 31
Jake Guentzel has earned the chance to skate with the greatest. He was Sidney Crosby’s linemate for eight seasons in Pittsburgh. Last season, his first with the Lightning, he scored a career-high 41 goals on a line with Nikita Kucherov. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 33
Age: 26
The man they call “Otter” has been everything the Stars wanted after they selected him 26th in the 2017 draft, including 151 wins in 253 career games and a 2.54 GAA. — ESPN staff
2024-25 rank: 15
Age: 24
When Jack Hughes is in the lineup, he’s one of the most gifted playmakers in the NHL, averaging 1.13 points per game last season. The trick has been staying in the lineup, as Hughes has played over 70 games only once in the past four seasons with the Devils. — Wyshynski
2024-25 rank: 28
Age: 32
The newest captain of the Rangers was brought in to set a new tone as the Blueshirts hope their playoff absence last season was an aberration. — ESPN staff
Honorable mentions
Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order.
Mackenzie Blackwood, G, Colorado Avalanche
Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks
Thatcher Demko, G, Vancouver Canucks
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils
Tomas Hertl, C, Vegas Golden Knights
Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
Colton Parayko, D, St. Louis Blues
Dylan Strome, C, Washington Capitals
