NHL Player Rankings: Who’s Trending up and Down? And Who Are the Top Players as Well? We’re Here to Let You Know With Our Weekly Risers and Fallers!
Welcome to our weekly NHL Player Rankings, a compilation of lists showing you who is on top, as well as who is on the bottom in every position. We’ll also show you the best player of the week for all three zones of the ice.
For forwards and defenseman, the deciding factor will come down to points-per-game averages. This statistic shows us how well a player has scored in the games they have played when given an advanced look it lets us know their potential to lead the league in points.
Goalies will be decided by goals-against-average and shutouts. While goalies are obviously going to let in pucks, this stat is fundamental in watching their overall success and potential to where they could be in the league if playing for a better defensive team.
Legend:
LW = Last Week
NR = Not Ranked
**Minimum 45 Games Played** (Forwards/Defense)
**Minimum 35 Games Played** (Goalies)
Top 10 Centers:
1 (LW/-) – Sidney Crosby (PIT) – 48GP, 30G, 30A, 60PTS, 1.25PPG
2 (LW/-) – Evgeni Malkin (PIT) – 47GP, 22G, 32A, 54PTS, 1.15PPG
3 (LW/-) – Connor McDavid (EDM) – 56GP, 18G, 43A, 61PTS, 1.09PPG
4 (LW/+1) – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) – 56GP, 17G, 43A, 60PTS, 1.07PPG
5 (LW/-1) – Mark Scheifele (WPG) – 55GP, 25G, 28A, 53PTS, 0.96PPG
6 (LW/-) – Tyler Seguin (DAL) – 57GP, 20G, 34A, 54PTS, 0.95PPG
7 (LW/+1) – Jeff Carter (LA) – 55GP, 29G, 22A, 51PTS, 0.93PPG
8 (LW/-1) – Mikael Granlund (MIN) – 55GP, 16G, 34A, 50PTS, 0.91PPG
9 (LW/-) – Mitch Marner (TOR) – 54GP, 15G, 32A, 47PTS, 0.87PPG
10 (LW/NR) – John Tavares (NYI) – 54GP, 20G, 26A, 46PTS, 0.85PPG
Top 10 Left Wingers:
1 (LW/-) – Brad Marchand (BOS) – 58GP, 24G, 34A, 58PTS, 1.00PPG
2 (LW/-) – Jamie Benn (DAL) – 53GP, 18G, 33A, 51PTS, 0.96PPG
3 (LW/-) – Alex Ovechkin (WSH) – 56GP, 26G, 25A, 51PTS, 0.91PPG
4 (LW/-) – Artemi Panarin (CHI) – 57GP, 19G, 32A, 51PTS, 0.89PPG
5 (LW/+4) – Max Pacioretty (MTL) – 58GP, 28G, 22A, 50PTS, 0.86PPG
6 (LW/NR) – J.T. Miller (NYR) – 55GP, 18G, 27A, 45PTS, 0.82PPG
7 (LW/-1) – Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG) – 58GP, 19G, 28A, 47PTS, 0.81PPG
8 (LW/NR) – Taylor Hall (NJ) – 45GP, 13G, 23A, 36PTS, 0.80PPG
9 (LW/-4) – James van Riemsdyk (TOR) – 54GP, 19G, 24A, 43PTS, 0.80PPG
10 (LW/-) – Chris Kreider (NYR) – 49GP, 22G, 17A, 39PTS, 0.80PPG
Top 10 Right Wingers:
1 (LW/+2) – Patrick Kane (CHI) – 57GP, 19G, 39A, 58PTS, 1.02PPG
2 (LW/-1) – Nikita Kucherov (TB) – 49GP, 21G, 28A, 49PTS, 1.00PPG
3 (LW/-1) – Phil Kessel (PIT) – 54GP, 19G, 34A, 53PTS, 0.98PPG
4 (LW/-) – Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) – 56GP, 26G, 27A, 53PTS, 0.95PPG
5 (LW/+1) – David Pastrnak (BOS) – 51GP, 25G, 23A, 48PTS, 0.94PPG
6 (LW/-1) – Cam Atkinson (CBJ) – 54GP, 27G, 22A, 49PTS, 0.91PPG
7 (LW/-) – Patrik Laine (WPG) – 50GP, 23G, 21A, 44PTS, 0.88PPG
8 (LW/NR) – T.J. Oshie (WSH) – 47GP, 23G, 17A, 40PTS, 0.85PPG
9 (LW/-1) – Jakub Voracek (PHI) – 56GP, 14G, 33A, 47PTS, 0.84PPG
10 (LW/-1) – Blake Wheeler (WPG) – 58GP, 16G, 31A, 47PTS, 0.81PPG
Top 10 Defenseman:
1 (LW/-) – Brent Burns (SJ) – 57GP, 24G, 35A, 59PTS, 1.04PPG
2 (LW/-) – Erik Karlsson (OTT) – 53GP, 8G, 37A, 45PTS, 0.85PPG
3 (LW/-) – Victor Hedman (TB) – 53GP, 8G, 36A, 44PTS, 0.83PPG
4 (LW/-) – Justin Schultz (PIT) – 54GP, 9G, 30A, 39PTS, 0.72PPG
5 (LW/+1) – Duncan Keith (CHI) – 57GP, 5G, 35A, 40GP, 0.70PPG
6 (LW/-1) – Kevin Shattenkirk (STL) – 56GP, 11G, 28A, 39PTS, 0.70PPG
7 (LW/NR) – Torey Krug (BOS) – 58GP, 5G, 31A, 36PTS, 0.62PPG
8 (LW/-1) – Dustin Byfuglien (WPG) – 58GP, 7G, 28A, 35PTS, 0.60PPG
9 (LW/-1) – Dougie Hamilton (CGY) – 55GP, 8G, 25A, 33PTS, 0.60PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Roman Josi (NSH) – 47GP, 9G, 19A, 28PTS, 0.60PPG
Top 10 Goalies:
1 (LW/+1) – Braden Holtby (WSH) – 43GP, 29W, 2.02GAA, 7SO, .926SV%
2 (LW/-1) – Peter Budaj (LA) – 48GP, 26W, 2.11GAA, 7SO, .917SV%
3 (LW/-) – Tuukka Rask (BOS) – 46GP, 27W, 2.27GAA, 6SO, .912SV%
4 (LW/-) – Cam Talbot (EDM) – 50GP, 27W, 2.37GAA, 5SO, .920SV%
5 (LW/-) – Devan Dubnyk (MIN) – 43GP, 31W, 1.99GAA, 5SO, .933SV%
6 (LW/+2) – Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ) – 44GP, 30W, 2.17GAA, 3SO, .926SV%
7 (LW/-1) – John Gibson (ANA) – 44GP, 21W, 2.36GAA, 3SO, .918SV%
8 (LW/-1) – Frederik Andersen (TOR) – 45GP, 22W, 2.79GAA, 3SO, .914SV%
9 (LW/-) – Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) – 38GP, 17W, 2.79GAA, 3SO, .909SV%
10 (LW/NR) – Cory Schneider (NJ) – 42GP, 17W, 2.67GAA, 2SO, .912SV%
**Minimum 35 Games Played** (Forwards/Defense)
**Minimum 15 Games Played** (Goalies)
Bottom 10 Centers:
1 (LW/-) – John Mitchell (COL) – 45GP, 2G, 0A, 2PTS, 0.04PPG
2 (LW/NR) – Vernon Fiddler (NSH) – 43GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS, 0.07PPG
3 (LW/-1) – Derek Grant (NSH) – 44GP, 0G, 4A, 4PTS, 0.09PPG
4 (LW/-) – Sergey Kalinin (NJ) – 41GP, 2G, 2A, 4PTS, 0.10PPG
5 (LW/+2) – Steve Ott (DET) – 38GP, 2G, 2A, 4PTS, 0.11PPG
6 (LW/-) – Brendan Gaunce (VAN) – 47GP, 0G, 5A, 5PTS, 0.11PPG
7 (LW/NR) – Logan Shaw (ANA) – 37GP, 2G, 2A, 4PTS, 0.11PPG
8 (LW/-) – Jay McClement (CAR) – 52GP, 4G, 2A, 6PTS, 0.12PPG
9 (LW/-4) – Joe Colborne (COL) – 43GP, 4G, 1A, 5PTS, 0.12PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Tyler Graovac (MIN) – 45GP, 6G, 0A, 6PTS, 0.13PPG
Bottom 10 Left Wingers:
1 (LW/+2) – Brandon Tanev (WPG) – 39GP, 2G, 2A, 4PTS, 0.10PPG
2 (LW/+3) – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (PHI) – 56GP, 3G, 3A, 6PTS, 0.11PPG
3 (LW/+1) – Cody McLeod (NSH) – 41GP, 4G, 1A, 5PTS, 0.12PPG
4 (LW/+2) – Roman Lyubimov (PHI) – 41GP, 4G, 1A, 5PTS, 0.12PPG
5 (LW/-3) – Andreas Martinsen (COL) – 47GP, 3G, 3A, 6PTS, 0.13PPG
6 (LW/+1) – Matt Martin (TOR) – 54GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, 0.13PPG
7 (LW/+1) – Joakim Nordstrom (CAR) – 53GP, 3G, 5A, 8PTS, 0.15PPG
8 (LW/+1) – Lawson Crouse (ARI) – 49GP, 3G, 5A, 8PTS, 0.16PPG
9 (LW/NR) – William Carrier (BUF) – 35GP, 4G, 2A, 6PTS, 0.17PPG
10 (LW/-) – Drew Miller (DET) – 35GP, 5G, 1A, 6PTS, 0.17PPG
Bottom 10 Right Wingers:
1 (LW/-) – Jordin Tootoo (CHI) – 36GP, 0G, 0A, 0PTS, 0.00PPG
2 (LW/-) – Jared Boll (ANA) – 38GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS, 0.05PPG
3 (LW/-) – Chris Neil (OTT) – 47GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS, 0.06PPG
4 (LW/-) – Jimmy Hayes (BOS) – 43GP, 2G, 2A, 4PTS, 0.09PPG
5 (LW/-) – Chris Thorburn (WPG) – 42GP, 3G, 1A, 4PTS, 0.10PPG
6 (LW/+1) – Dale Weise (PHI) – 46GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS, 0.11PPG
7 (LW/-1) – J.T. Brown (TB) – 43GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS, 0.12PPG
8 (LW/-) – Ryan Reaves (STL) – 54GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS, 0.13PPG
9 (LW/+1) – Jack Skille (VAN) – 49GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, 0.14PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Devante Smith-Pelly – 43GP, 2G, 5A, 7PTS, 0.16PPG
Bottom 10 Defenseman:
1 (LW/-) – Mark Borowiecki (OTT) – 45GP, 1G, 1A, 2PTS, 0.04PPG
2 (LW/-) – Josh Gorges (BUF) – 40GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS, 0.05PPG
3 (LW/-) – Luke Schenn (ARI) – 49GP, 0G, 3A, 3PTS, 0.06PPG
4 (LW/-) – Kevin Gravel (LA) – 38GP, 0G, 3A, 3PTS, 0.08PPG
5 (LW/NR) – Carl Gunnarsson (STL) – 36GP, 0G, 3A, 3PTS, 0.08PPG
6 (LW/+3) – Roman Polak (TOR) – 49GP, 3G, 2A, 5PTS, 0.10PPG
7 (LW/-) – Kris Russell (EDM) – 47GP, 0G, 5A, 5PTS, 0.11PPG
8 (LW/NR) – Brenden Dillon (SJ) – 56G, 1G, 5A, 6PTS, 0.11PPG
9 (LW/+1) – Ben Lovejoy (NJ) – 55GP, 1G, 5A, 6PTS, 0.11PPG
10 (LW/-4) – Braydon Coburn (TB) – 54GP, 2G, 4A, 6PTS, 0.11PPG
Bottom 10 Goalies:
1 (LW/+2) – James Reimer (FLA) – 22GP, 9W, 2.55GAA, 0SO, .915SV%
2 (LW/-) – Antti Niemi (DAL) – 28GP, 10W, 3.20GAA, 0SO, .901SV%
3 (LW/+1) – Keith Kinkaid (NJ) – 16GP, 6W, 2.59GAA, 0SO, .920SV%
4 (LW/-3) – Louis Domingue (ARI) – 21GP, 5W, 3.19GAA, 0S0, .897SV%
5 (LW/+1) – Michal Neuvirth (PHI) – 19GP, 9W, 2.67GAA, 0SO, .897SV%
6 (LW/-1) – Jacob Markstrom (VAN) – 25GP, 10W, 2.56GAA, 0SO, .914SV%
7 (LW/+2) – Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) – 29GP, 14W, 3.17GAA, 0SO, .904SV%
8 (LW/-1) – Brian Elliott (CGY) – 27GP, 11W, 2.85GAA, 0SO, .895SV%
9 (LW/NR) – Semyon Varlamov (COL) – 24GP, 6W, 3.38GAA, 1SO, .898SV%
10 (LW/NR) – Roberto Luongo (FLA) – 35GP, 15W, 2.64GAA, 1SO, .916SV%
Top Forward of the Week: Marcus Johansson (WSH) – 4GP, 4G, 4A, 8PTS, +4.
Washington has been on an absolute tear as of late and in doing so they have captured the top in the entire NHL by four points. And that’s due to solid goaltending, netminding, and all of their scorers firing on all cylinders. And with Marcus Johansson putting up eight points in four games is just great and going to further help the teams scoring.
Next: Early look at the Wild Before Trade Deadline
Top Defenseman of the Week: Kevin Shattenkirk (STL) – 4GP, 0G, 4A, 4PTS, +6.
After so much speculating on who is going to make a push for Kevin Shattenkirk or what St. Louis may even do, he doesn’t let the rumors affect his play and proof of that is four points in four games with an outstanding plus six rating.
Top Goalie of the Week: Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) – 4GP, 4W, 2.25GAA, .939SV%, 0SO.
Henrik Lundqvist was off to quite a not so normal start, but just before the all-star break, he’s changed his play completely around. And in doing so he put up a perfect 4-0-0 record throughout his last four games over the week.