Top 100 NHL players: 30-11

Leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal players every day until the top 10 are unveiled Oct. 6.

100-71 | 70-51 | 50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1

2023-24 rank: 79

Miller continues to silence his doubters by raising the bar even higher as he set career marks in goals (37) and points (103) last season. Yet Miller is still the lowest 100-point scorer in the top 100. It'll be impossible to ignore Miller as one of the league's elite scorers with another campaign of that caliber.

2023-24 rank: NR

Reinhart scored a combined 67 goals in the regular season and playoffs last season, but none were as important as the one that clinched Florida's first Stanley Cup championship in Game 7. Luckily for the Panthers, they were able to retain their top scorer's services for the next eight years with a team-friendly cap hit of $8.625 million.

2023-24 rank: 43

Nylander proved his worth after signing an eight-year, $92-million extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs in January. The 28-year-old notched 40 goals and played all 82 regular-season games for the second straight campaign while averaging 19:55 of ice time - an increase of more than a minute over his previous career best from 2022-23. Many of his 58 assists were on Auston Matthews' goals, but Nylander's talent is undeniable, regardless of his linemates.

2023-24 rank: 68

Forsberg racked up a career-high 48 goals and 96 points last season while playing all 82 games for the first time since 2016-17. His offensive exploits played a major role in pushing the Nashville Predators into the playoffs after a dreadful start, yet Forsberg could be in line for an even better campaign after the Preds' big summer.

2023-24 rank: 24

McAvoy doesn't have the same offensive ceiling as the game's top defensemen, but he's arguably the most well-rounded. The 26-year-old can shut down just about any top forward he faces, and his underlying numbers didn't drop off at all without Patrice Bergeron on his team. McAvoy could be next in line to take the "C" in Boston after Brad Marchand.

2023-24 rank: NR

Bouchard vaults from outside the top 100 entirely to No. 25 after establishing himself as a legitimate No. 1 defender in Edmonton. He played almost five more minutes per game, more than doubled his production to 82 points, and finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting. Yes, playing most of his minutes with Connor McDavid helps, but make no mistake, Bouchard is a big factor in the Oilers' success.

2023-24 rank: 29

Aho is the key to the Carolina Hurricanes' attack. He led the team with a career-high 89 points in 78 contests last season and hit the 36-goal mark for the third straight year. Ten of those tallies were game-winners, tying Kyle Connor and Elias Pettersson for the fourth most in the league. With many expecting the Canes to take a step back, they'll need even more out of their best player.

2023-24 rank: 21

Eichel's biggest downfall has always been his health, but the Vegas Golden Knights center is among the league's most talented game-breakers when he's able to play. He posted more than a point per game last season, collecting 31 goals and 37 assists in just 63 contests while averaging over 20 minutes of ice for the first time since the abbreviated 2021 campaign. Eichel ranked 15th in the NHL in total shots on goal despite missing 19 games.

2023-24 rank: 28

Shesterkin isn't the top goalie on our list, but he's firmly in the debate to be No. 1. He saved his best for the playoffs last season, leading the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three seasons with a .926 save percentage in 16 games. Shesterkin has a career .928 postseason clip.

2023-24 rank: 13

Pettersson undoubtedly dropped a few spots on our list due to a forgettable second half and a miserable postseason, though it's important to note he was playing through some nagging injuries. The silky-smooth Swede remains one of the game's most skilled players and will be out to prove that his poor finish was an outlier.

2023-24 rank: 17

Point racked up another 90-point campaign and buried 46 goals last season. Only Auston Matthews and David Pastrnak have scored more than his 97 goals over the past two seasons, putting Point in the truly elite tier of goal-scorers. His stock could soar in 2024-25 with a place on Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off and a bigger spotlight in Tampa Bay without Steven Stamkos.

2023-24 rank: 16

Kaprizov kept rolling in 2023-24. The Russian amassed 46 goals - just one shy of his career high - and 96 points in 75 outings, good for an outlandish 1.28 point-per-game rate. His goal total becomes even more impressive considering his slow start in which he scored six times in his first 20 games. The Minnesota Wild continue to be hampered by salary-cap constraints, so they'll likely need even more out of Kaprizov if they want to return to the postseason.

2023-24 rank: 35

Hellebuyck earns the distinction as our top goaltender, perhaps unsurprisingly after he won the Vezina Trophy for the second time. But the Winnipeg Jets netminder has been in the best goalie discussion for years as a four-time finalist who's finished in the top four a handful of times in nine seasons. Coming off back-to-back campaigns with a save percentage of at least .920, Hellebuyck remains the gold standard in the crease even at 31 years old.

2023-24 rank: 18

Heiskanen took a step back offensively last season, but his defensive impact makes up for something Dallas can get from other contributors. The 25-year-old averaged more than 24 minutes per contest last season and ranked fourth among all blue-liners in wins above replacement (3.2).

2023-24 rank: 6

Simply put, Tkachuk is a winner. While he's obviously talented, there are players with more raw ability that don't come anywhere near his effectiveness on the ice due to his Hall of Fame-level competitiveness and will to win. Tkachuk will do whatever it takes to lead his team to glory, which was on full display during the last two postseasons.

2023-24 rank: 23

Josi has been among the NHL's elite defensemen every other season since 2019-20. He won the Norris in 2020, then finished second in 2022 and last season. Does the trend continue for Josi after a 23-goal, 85-point campaign, or can he have another Norris-caliber season for a Predators team looking to make noise in the playoffs?

2023-24 rank: 10

Hughes has frequently expressed his frustration over how poorly the New Jersey Devils' 2023-24 campaign went, but it was still a strong year on the scoresheet for the center despite a shoulder injury. He registered 27 goals and 74 points in 62 games while averaging a career-high 20:58 of ice time. The Devils will undoubtedly need a healthy Hughes to re-enter the playoff race in 2024-25.

2023-24 rank: 12

Fox is routinely in the conversation about the NHL's best defensemen, and for good reason. He racks up big offensive numbers (including 17 goals in only 72 games last season), logs big minutes, and has finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting every year since he won it in 2021.

2023-24 rank: 11

Rantanen is fresh off of his second consecutive 100-point season. His chemistry with Nathan MacKinnon on Colorado's top line is arguably unmatched across the league. While the reigning MVP brings the speed and power, Rantanen himself offers a remarkable blend of playmaking and goal-scoring ability as one of the league's most dynamic offensive wingers.

2023-24 rank: 40

Anyone who thought Panarin had peaked as a 95-point player was sorely mistaken when he erupted for 120 last season. There are legitimate questions as to whether he boasts the all-around game to warrant a spot this high on the list, though. He's not a strong defensive player and has yet to truly "take over" during the playoffs.

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)

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