ESPN team of workers
Initially of each and every NHL season, we put up NHL Rank, a challenge the place ESPN’s hockey analysts vote to decide the most productive 100 gamers for the after season.
Now that each and every workforce has finished its 82-game marketing campaign they usually’ve been whittled all the way down to our 16-team Stanley Cup playoff bracket, it’s pace to redo the scores, proscribing the record to the peak 50 gamers on playoff groups.
Right here’s the playoff version of ESPN NHL Rank, which seeks to spot the peak forwards, defensemen and goaltenders within the after playoffs. Dozens of electorate participated, opting for one winner in a layout of head-to-head vote casting matchups made from the gamers at the 16 postseason qualifiers.
Refer to record options NHL award winners, earlier Stanley Cup champions and stars who’re searching for that first style of championship glory. As you’ll see, our electorate made some fascinating cries on the peak relating to which gamers they consider are the most productive of the most productive within the 2023 NHL postseason.
2022-23 stats: 64 G | 89 A | 153 PTS
Preseason rank: 1
How does the participant regarded as to be probably the most dominant on the earth additional cement his playground inside the tournament? Easy: Via chief the NHL in aims (64), assists (89) and issues (153). The ones career-high figures are why McDavid is the front-runner for his 3rd Hart Trophy.
Closing postseason, McDavid poor via for 10 aims and led the league with 33 issues over a 16-game run that noticed the Oilers succeed in the Western Convention finals. If McDavid carries his profession regular-season exploits into this yr’s playoffs, lets see the Oilers journey even additional. — Ryan S. Clark
2022-23 stats: 42 G | 69 A | 111 PTS
Preseason rank: 4
The whole thing MacKinnon completed in ultimate yr’s playoffs performed a component within the Avs’ successful their 3rd championship in workforce historical past. So ceaselessly lauded for his natural date, energy and scoring talent, MacKinnon confirmed he can also be an all-around warning to these now not common together with his tournament.
Accidents have been a immense issue for the Avs this season, with MacKinnon lacking 11 contests. But it surely didn’t restrain the 27-year-old from notching his first 100-point marketing campaign occasion additional reinforcing why the Avs may just repeat as champions. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 43 G | 56 A | 99 PTS
Preseason rank: 45
There are so many explanations for a way the Devils ended a four-year playoff drought. Having Hughes is one in all them. The 21-year-old’s sluggish growth exploded right into a 99-point marketing campaign that will have reached the century mark if now not for his lacking 4 video games because of trauma.
Hughes was once a significant reason why the Devils reached the playoffs and fell some extent shy of successful the Metropolitan Category. Now this is a subject of visible what Hughes will do after in his first postseason look. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 52 G | 76 A | 128 PTS
Preseason rank: 6
As a result of having just one participant with a Hart Trophy and more than one 100-point seasons simply isn’t plenty in as of late’s financial system. Draisaitl worn this season to notch his 3rd 50-goal marketing campaign occasion additionally attaining the century membership for the fourth pace in his profession, completing with a personal-best 128 issues.
His talent to manufacture for himself and his teammates allowed Draisaitl to govern all gamers in assists occasion completing 2nd in issues ultimate postseason (32). It reaffirms the perception that those playoffs have a anticipation to be particular for the Oilers. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 40-6-1 | 1.89 GAA | .938 SV%
Preseason rank: NR
Seven. That’s what number of blended legislation and additional time losses Ullmark had in what was once one of the vital most powerful particular person campaigns within the NHL. Ullmark’s 2nd season with the Bruins confirmed his utility to a workforce that’s seeking to parlay a historical steady season into one that would finish with a Stanley Cup.
Ullmark went 0-2 with a 4.17 goals-against reasonable and a .860 save share in ultimate yr’s playoffs. But when Ullmark can elevate his regular-season exploits into this postseason? It would consequence within the Bruins’ 7th Stanley Cup in workforce historical past. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 61 G | 52 A | 113 PTS
Preseason rank: 21
Pastrnak persevered to improve his playground within the dialogue as probably the most bad winger within the NHL. His 61 aims are evidence that he’s an much more deadly scorer, occasion his 52 assists display he’s a disorder when he’s growing for others.
All of it quantities to Pastrnak being a Hart Trophy hopeful who has been one of the vital greatest causes the Bruins are a valid Stanley Cup challenger. For his profession, he’s averaging greater than some extent according to tournament over 70 playoff contests, numbers he may just spice up this postseason. — Clark
7. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
2022-23 stats: 17 G | 49 A | 66 PTS
Preseason rank: 2
He’s the reigning Conn Smythe and Norris Trophy winner who does the entirety required of a modern top-four defenseman — he can facilitate play games, wood weighty mins, orchestrate an influence play games and be a relied on member of a penalty shoot. Accidents performed a immense phase within the dip in Makar’s regular-season statistics.
But if he was once wholesome, he led the league in reasonable ice pace and was once pressured to tackle an expanded function to assistance the Avs circumvent their perpetual trauma woes. Sight what Makar does for a follow-up function may well be the important thing within the Avs’ quest for a 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup. — Clark
2022-23 stats: 9 G | 40 A | 49 PTS
Preseason rank: 8
It’s juiceless to argue any defenseman is extra essential to his workforce’s luck than Hedman. The Lightning have performed extra hockey than somebody the month 3 seasons — 3 directly journeys to the Stanley Cup Ultimate will do this — and Hedman has been the similar stalwart presence chief Tampa Bay from the again finish.
This season he has beaten main top-pairing mins (23:43 according to evening) once more, and added offensively (49 issues in 76 video games). At 32, Hedman continues adjusting his tournament to paintings smarter, now not tougher, so he can stock shutting i’m sick the after stream of snipers hoping to knock Tampa Bay off monitor. — Kristen Shilton
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 45 A | 85 PTS
Preseason rank: 3
Even a so-called i’m sick yr for Matthews continues to be superb. The Maple Leafs’ peak middle didn’t method the 60-goal mark once more this season, however he did notch 40 for the 5th pace in his seven NHL campaigns, occasion averaging 1.15 issues according to tournament. Matthews has the facility to raise the ones round him and is at his ideally suited bringing a robust two-way tournament nightly for the Leafs.
The 25-year-old additionally possesses one of the vital league’s maximum deadly, unpredictable pictures, and when he’s rolling, he residue a goalie’s worst nightmare and a matchup disorder opposed to any opponent. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 12 G | 60 A | 72 PTS
Preseason rank: 23
Fox gained the Norris Trophy in his 2nd season within the NHL and has gotten even higher since next. The 25-year-old drives play games at 5-on-5, quarterbacks the workforce’s tough energy play games and is valuable in his personal finish as smartly.
Fox had 72 issues in 82 video games for the Rangers; occasion the ones aren’t bonkers Erik Karlsson numbers, they may well be excellent plenty to get Fox again into the Norris peak 3. — Greg Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 30 G | 83 A | 113 PTS
Preseason rank: 5
The NHL is rife with playmakers — however few can contact Kucherov in that division. The Lightning winger was once 2nd handiest to McDavid in assists this season (83), racked up a fab 113 issues and stored Tampa Bay’s offense buzzing in a difficult season of ups and downs for the workforce. Kucherov is the type of difference-maker who can enter the a complete tournament, single-handedly throw an opponent off path or come via with that well timed play games to store a playoff end result.
He has accomplished all of it earlier than, and it’s why Kucherov perennially residue a feared, fierce presence at the ice. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 34-22-4 | 2.65 GAA | .915 SV%
Preseason rank: 10
It sort of feels inconceivable Vasilevskiy is solely 28 years ancient. Tampa Bay’s starter has gained the entirety from Vezina Trophies to Stanley Cups to Conn Smythe honors. Since 2018-19, Vasilevskiy has paced the NHL in playoff wins (48) with a .925 SV% and a pair of.18 GAA and has carried the Lightning to loftier heights than the franchise would possibly have ever imagined.
Vasilevskiy continuously presentations a capability to turn the transfer even all the way through tough stretches, and when victory is at the form — in particular within the postseason — Tampa Bay’s Refuse. 1 is understood in order the knockout, shutout punch his workforce calls for to stick on peak. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 7 G | 45 A | 52 PTS
Preseason rank: 34
McAvoy brings it fascinated with the Bruins. Elite, top-pairing defensive pedigree with shutdown capacity? Test. Talent to wood notable mins at 5-on-5, at the energy play games and penalty shoot? You wager. Contributions at the ranking sheet? Refuse query (52 issues in 67 video games this season).
If Boston has a jack-of-all-trades, it’s McAvoy. At 25 years ancient, he already has proved to be a top-10 — if now not top-5 — blueliner within the NHL, or even stunning years like the only teammate Hampus Lindholm is having at the Bruins’ again finish can’t overshadow how vital McAvoy is to Boston’s luck. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 36 G | 31 A | 67 PTS
Preseason rank: 22
There’s a reason why Aho is Carolina’s MVP season then season. The 25-year-old hardly appears to be rattled. His 36 aims this season marked the fourth pace he has handed the 30-goal plateau and his 26 even-strength ratings have been a profession ideally suited. Aho is constant (averaging just about 20 mins of ice pace according to tournament), however he too can flourish plenty flash to rank with any of the NHL’s alternative dynamic performers.
When the Hurricanes want any person to return via, they are able to extra ceaselessly than now not rely on Aho to manufacture a game-changing hour. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 21 G | 46 A | 67 PTS
Preseason rank: 43
Everybody likes to abhor Marchand, however any participant within the league would wish the winger on his facet. Marchand can also be each a get-under-your-skin pest and a firstclass scoring warning, bowling a man over earlier than blowing month a goaltender.
It’s a novel form few gamers within the league can or would even struggle to stability on. Marchand has made a profession in that twin length, and it’s a key to the 34-year-old’s longevity, as he’s nonetheless amongst Boston’s ideally suited performers (2nd in issues this season). — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 34 G | 50 A | 84 PTS
Preseason rank: 20
Stamkos accident a couple of profession milestones this season in recording his five hundredth target and 1,000th level. His manufacturing declined from ultimate season, however that’s all relative whilst you’re Steven Stamkos: The 33-year-old captain had 84 issues in 81 video games because the Lightning push for a fourth directly go back and forth to the Stanley Cup Ultimate. — Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 55 G | 50 A | 105 PTS
Preseason rank: 24
The Avalanche noticed their lineup ravaged via accidents then successful the Stanley Cup ultimate postseason, with gamers like Makar lacking pace and captain Gabriel Landeskog out for the season.
Best 4 Colorado gamers seemed in all 82 video games, and Rantanen obviously had the best affect. The winger i’m ready a unused profession majestic for aims (55) and issues (105), breaking the century mark for the primary pace. He scored 42 of the ones aims at even energy, buoyed via an build up in shot quantity (306 at the season). The Avs gained the Central once more, and Rantanen was once a number one reason why. — Wyshynski
18. Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
2022-23 stats: 51 G | 44 A | 95 PTS
Preseason rank: 26
Level is a soft-spoken participant, so it’s handiest suitable that his career-best offensive season reputedly flew beneath everybody’s radar. The 27-year-old middle had 51 aims and 95 issues, taking part in all 82 video games for the Lights. His days as a burgeoning Selke candidate have handed, however Level reestablished himself as an offensive power this season. — Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 31 G | 49 A | 80 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
Hischier’s stand has been a sluggish burn. Ahead of this season, the Devils’ captain was once a forged two-way skater and worthy playmaker. This season, Hischier became up the warmth.
In his 6th NHL marketing campaign, Unused Jersey’s peak pivot began capturing extra and producing offense from feature fields to be a bona fide warning on all sides of the puck. Hischier is notable at the cycle, too, including territory for a Devils workforce that loves scoring off the push. The tougher Hischier residue to check up opposed to, the simpler for Unused Jersey. He’s appearing that capacity increasingly. — Shilton
2022-23 stats: 37-13-8 | 2.48 GAA | .916 SV%
Preseason rank: 11
Shesterkin adopted his Vezina Trophy win with every other robust season for the Rangers. The 27-year-old netminder posted a .916 save share and a 2.48 goals-against reasonable to backstop the Rangers again to the postseason then chief them to the Japanese Convention finals. He was once 5th within the NHL in aims stored above reasonable. One of the most few goalies within the playoffs who may just win a layout on his personal. — Wyshynski
2022-23 stats: 46 G | 63 A | 109 PTS
Preseason rank: 30
2022-23 stats: 10 G | 43 A | 53 PTS
Preseason rank: 76
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 35 A | 75 PTS
Preseason rank: 7
2022-23 stats: 11 G | 62 A | 73 PTS
Preseason rank: 28
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 69 A | 109 PTS
Preseason rank: 19
2022-23 stats: 37-25-2 | 2.49 GAA | .920 SV%
Preseason rank: 46
27. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
2022-23 stats: 30 G | 69 A | 99 PTS
Preseason rank: 12
2022-23 stats: 17 G | 21 A | 38 PTS
Preseason rank: 42
2022-23 stats: 39 G | 52 A | 91 PTS
Preseason rank: 16
2022-23 stats: 27 G | 31 A | 58 PTS
Preseason rank: 51
2022-23 stats: 31-22-7 | 2.34 GAA | 0.924 SV%
Preseason rank: 82
2022-23 stats: 22 G | 52 A | 74 PTS
Preseason rank: 63
2022-23 stats: 29 G | 63 A | 92 PTS
Preseason rank: 18
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 47 A | 87 PTS
Preseason rank: 89
35. Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Blonde Knights
2022-23 stats: 27 G | 39 A | 66 PTS
Preseason rank: 25
36. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
2022-23 stats: 7 G | 20 A | 27 PTS
Preseason rank: 69
37. Patrick Kane, RW, Unused York Rangers
2022-23 stats: 21 G | 36 A | 57 PTS
Preseason rank: 40
38. Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Blonde Knights
2022-23 stats: 8 G | 33 A | 41 PTS
Preseason rank: HM
2022-23 stats: 37-11-11 | 2.37 GAA | .919 SV%
Preseason rank: 88
2022-23 stats: 37 G | 38 A | 75 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
2022-23 stats: 23 G | 49 A | 72 PTS
Preseason rank: 57
2022-23 stats: 29-14-5 | 2.75 GAA | .914 SV%
Preseason rank: NR
43. Timo Meier, RW, Unused Jersey Devils
2022-23 stats: 40 G | 26 A | 66 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
2022-23 stats: 23 G | 55 A | 78 PTS
Preseason rank: 9
2022-23 stats: 37 G | 67 A | 104 PTS
Preseason rank: NR
2022-23 stats: 10 G | 54 A | 64 PTS
Preseason rank: 75
47. Evander Kane, LW, Edmonton Oilers
2022-23 stats: 16 G | 12 A | 28 PTS
Preseason rank: 100
2022-23 stats: 12 G | 31 A | 43 PTS
Preseason rank: 62
49. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
2022-23 stats: 4 G | 37 A | 41 PTS
Preseason rank: 79
50. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings
2022-23 stats: 28 G | 46 A | 74 PTS
Preseason rank: 91
