00:00For a long time, everyone focused on the health of the National Hockey League.
00:05And there are maybe a couple of things you can look at.
00:07Like, hey, what's going on? Broadcast deal in Canada, all that.
00:10But what you can't deny is the level of talent in this league.
00:14And so putting together a list of the top 10 players in the NHL, a little tricky.
00:18But doing it anyway, here are the 10 best players in the NHL going into the 26-27 season.
00:29All right, coming in at number 10 is Rasmus Dahlin.
00:32Finally able to really break through with the Buffalo Sabres, getting them to the second round of the playoffs.
00:38And just, you really got to see a showcase of what this guy has.
00:42The speed, the skill, the talent, all of that all over the place.
00:45Just an exceptional, exceptional hockey player.
00:47So that is why I have him at number 10 on this list.
00:51At 9, I think we're forgetting how good Jack Eichel can be.
00:54Because the season didn't end well for them.
00:57But I think we forget it didn't end well for him in the Stanley Cup Final.
01:01Like, yeah, it was not the most productive Cup Final that he could have had.
01:05But I think that also shows how important and how impactful this guy is.
01:10Because once he started to slow down a little bit, so much around him slowed down also.
01:14So I think that this is still one of the better playmakers in the NHL.
01:18And just genuinely one of the better players that this league has.
01:21And, yes, again, Cup Final didn't end very well for him.
01:25But aside from that, it was another phenomenal season for Jack Eichel.
01:28At 8, Zach Wierenski.
01:30Again, a lot of people realizing last season that this is, like, truly one of the best defensemen in the
01:34league.
01:34And I think he, along with a couple of others, but I think he exceptionally, especially, there we go.
01:40Although, exceptional is a way to describe him.
01:42But I think being on that stage with the Olympics and the Four Nations and all of that, and still
01:49being able to be a very solid player in those surroundings, I think really did boost his stock.
01:54And just showed everyone, this guy can play at the highest of high levels and not even lose a step.
01:59So, again, we are at a great time in the NHL for, just in general.
02:05But defensemen, like, oh my goodness.
02:07Like, I really, really like Heiskanen.
02:09And he's not even making this list this year because there's just so many good guys.
02:12At number seven, Macklin Celebrini.
02:14I said before, that contract extension and the gigantic pay raise, I would like to see him maybe prove it
02:20a little bit more than just one good season.
02:23But that one good season almost got, like, got him a number of Hart Trophy votes, right?
02:27Like, this is a guy who has rocketed onto the scene.
02:30And, again, it's not just what he's able to do for the San Jose Sharks team in the regular season,
02:35but what he was able to do in best-on-best competition at the Olympics.
02:39There were times he was the best player out on the ice.
02:41And when you get that, you just get to be on this list.
02:45So, the only thing he hasn't done is do it again.
02:49We will see if he can do that this upcoming season.
02:51At number six, Cale McCarr, again, one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
02:55The skating ability, how he is able to use that in helping him out defensively as well.
03:01Look, he's not Nick Lidstrom, but he's not, you know, Eric Carlson defensively either.
03:06You know, like, this is just such a talented, talented player.
03:09He's getting paid like it.
03:10But, I just, I don't know much for flaws in his game.
03:14I like him a lot at number six.
03:16At five, it is Leon Dreisaitl.
03:18And I think there are going to be some oiler people who aren't thrilled with this ranking.
03:21But, this is more a nod to the high level of players that are ahead of him.
03:26Not necessarily any knock on Leon Dreisaitl.
03:29Still, like, the power forward in this league and the skating and the size and all of that that he
03:35can do.
03:35Like, just exceptional, right?
03:36So, yeah.
03:38Maybe a little bit lower than some people would like to see him on this list.
03:40But, that's more a nod to the guys ahead of him than anything that he has done wrong.
03:44At number four, Nikita Kucherov.
03:46Once again, playing at an absurdly high level last season.
03:50And, because he has that booming shot, I sometimes forget how good of a passer and playmaker he is.
03:55And, I think because he's a bit of a stockier guy, you forget about the skating ability for him.
03:59But, he does just piece it all together so very well.
04:02Truly one of the more dynamic offensive players we have in the league.
04:05At three, Quinn Hughes.
04:06A lot of talk about where he's going to be playing.
04:08Maybe even as early as this season.
04:10But, the talent, there is no question.
04:12When, like, you see him in favor, that turned into the best defensive duo in the NHL.
04:17And, like, Hughes, the skating, the vision, the awareness, all of that stuff.
04:22Getting out of a bad situation in Vancouver, you really saw everything that he could do.
04:27So, he makes this list at number three.
04:29At two, Nathan McKinnon.
04:31Honestly, I think there was a touch of an opening if he would have had, like, a run to the
04:36Stanley Cup and winning it.
04:37There at least maybe would have been a conversation.
04:39Because, McDavid was a little bit banged up in the playoffs.
04:41But, still, being the second best player in the world for, like, the third or fourth year in a row.
04:46Nothing to sneeze at.
04:49Leadership, intensity, like, intangibles, he's got it.
04:52And, the on-ice stuff is second to one.
04:54Like, he had skating, shot, vision, playmaking, everything.
04:58Checks all those boxes.
04:59And, number one, it's Connor McDavid.
05:01Had his first real stumble, playoff-wise.
05:03I know a lot of people talk about, like, Game 7s and all of those sorts of things.
05:07But, like, in terms of, like, a full series, he obviously was banged up.
05:10And, obviously, was just not comfortable out there.
05:14This is still, like, one of the most talented humans we've ever seen play this sport.
05:19And, the only thing missing is winning the Stanley Cup.
05:21To talk about him as, like, an all-time great sort of a player.
05:25We will see if that happens this year.
05:27I actually like Edmonton's offseason.
05:29But, this is the first time there's been any kind of a question because of, like, injuries and stuff like
05:33that.
05:33Basically, since his rookie year.
05:35How does he respond this season?
05:36I'll be very interested to see.
05:37So, McDavid, number one on the NHL best player list.
05:40Probably didn't go 10 for 10 on your list.
05:42Where was I wrong?
05:43Let me know in the comments and on social media.
05:46And, we can keep chatting there.
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