Every NHL team has at least one player who stands out on the roster, whether it be a perennial superstar or an up-and-coming young gun. But how do those skaters stack up against one another when it comes to ranking the league's most valuable players?
Writing this list was like splitting hairs at times, as each of these players has tremendous value to their clubs. Factors like age, consistency, and overall impact on team performance were taken into consideration. In the first installation of this two-part series, find out where the first 16 superstars from every NHL club fall on our list.
32. Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks
On a low-scoring Ducks team that has struggled in the standings, Dostal is one of the bright spots. The 25-year-old goaltender is the team's starter of the future. Dostal had a below-average 3.10 GAA and a decent .903 SV% in 2024-25 on a team that ranked in the bottom 10 in goals against. More impressively, Dostal recorded 14.3 goals saved above expected which indicates that he played significantly better than the average goaltender would on a team at the Ducks' level. He has a lot to prove, but Dostal is a source of hope for Anaheim fans and will surely be a cornerstone of the team moving forward.
31. Joey Daccord, Seattle Kraken
At age 28, Joey Daccord has just two seasons under his belt as the starter for the Kraken but he has arguably proven himself to be the team's most important player. For a club that relies heavily on depth scoring, Daccord is a standout on the roster. He has a .910 SV%, 2.61 GAA and five shutouts in the last two years, which is even more meaningful considering Seattle has finished below .500 in the standings both times. As the team inches closer to being true playoff contenders, Daccord will no doubt have a bigger impact on the Kraken's success than any skater currently does.
30. Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers
Matvei Michkov may have been robbed of a Calder Trophy nomination, but he is a rising star nonetheless. The 20-year-old Russian forward is coming off of a stellar rookie campaign with 63 points in 80 games, and he is surely who management has in mind as they continue to build the roster. Travis Konecny is a viable runner-up for the title of Philadelphia's MVP but the high ceiling for potential that Michkov has just points to him being an integral part of the lineup for many years to come.
29. Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
Like Michkov, 19-year-old Celebrini broke into the NHL on a hot streak with 63 points in 70 games during his rookie year. The 2024 first overall pick has thus far lived up to the high expectations placed on him, despite the lack of team success. As he continues to prove himself, Celebrini has the potential to develop into an elite puck distributor who can light the lamp equally as much as he can detect a perfect passing lane for his teammates.
28. Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames
In his first season with a full-time NHL starter gig, Dustin Wolf impressed right out of the gate. He posted a 29-16-8 record with a .910 SV%, 2.68 GAA and three shutouts in 53 starts. The 24-year-old is already playing a high volume of games and very nearly carried the Flames to a playoff berth -- almost singlehandedly, given Calgary's low scoring production. Wolf has the opportunity to grow into a premier young goaltender if the team can perform well in front of him.
27. Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
On a struggling Sabres team, Tage Thompson has still managed to produce offense year after year. However, the 27-year-old has been quite inconsistent, recording 94 points in 78 games three seasons ago then following it up with 56 points in 71 games before bouncing back in 2024-25 with 44 goals and 72 points in 76 games. It's hard to say how much of that is due to his lack of a supporting cast or if he would be more consistent on a squad that can score goals regularly. Regardless, Thompson is the most valuable offensive player for Buffalo and is in his prime as a high-level sniper.
26. Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
It feels wrong to have Lucas Raymond so low on this list, but don't let the ranking fool you -- he is one of the best young forwards in the league right now. At age 23, Raymond hit the 80-point plateau for the first time this past season and has progressed very steadily over the course of his four seasons in the NHL. He's still growing into his all-around game, but Raymond is a dominant force in the Red Wings lineup and will surely be a huge piece in the team's resurgence as playoff contenders in the near future.
Lucas Raymond has led the @DetroitRedWings in points throughout each of the past two seasons, which included a career-high 80 points in 2024-25. #NHLYoungStarsWeek highlights the 23-year-old who sits within striking distance of 100 career goals this season. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/eqPGysN7vL
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 19, 2025
25. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard is the symbol of the Blackhawks' future and everything you could ask for in a center. He brings a coveted blend of creativity and speed that energizes the entire lineup and creates space for his teammates. The 20-year-old tallied 23 goals and 67 points in 82 games this season, while playing on the league's 7th-worst offensive team. As Chicago rebuilds around him, the leadership potential and high-impact playmaking of Bedard is pointing the franchise in the right direction.
24. Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Over the past three seasons in particular, Kempe has emerged as a steady offensive producer with an eye for hitting the back of the net. The 28-year-old has led the Kings in scoring in back-to-back years now, though he is not higher on this list because Los Angeles has a fairly deep team that can score across the board. Kempe has yet to crack the point-per-game mark in his career, and that doesn't matter because he is dependable on both sides of the puck and plays a dynamic style of game that puts his innate hockey sense on display night after night.
23. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
Tallying more than 80 points in back-to-back campaigns, 25-year-old Robert Thomas is the go-to center for the Blues. He averages nearly a full minute of ice time more than any other forward for St. Louis, showing how much the team relies on not only his offense but his play in all situations and all three zones. Thomas is on an upward trajectory as a dependable playmaker and his contributions to the Blues cannot be overlooked.
22. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Forsberg has been the face of the Predators' offense for the majority of his 13-year career. He was two shy of reaching the 50-goal mark in 2023-24, and produced 31 goals and 76 points this past season to build on that. Nashville saw a steep dropoff in goal scoring overall, so the slight regression isn't surprising, but Forsberg is still an elite player who's scored 25 or more goals eight times in his career. At age 30, he is in his peak and still has several years of high-quality hockey in the tank.
21. Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders
If it wasn't for Ilya Sorokin in net, the Islanders would be in a very different position. New York allowed the 13th-most goals in the league this past season at 3.13 per game, yet Sorokin posted a respectable stat line of .907 SV%, 2.71 GAA and three shutouts. The former Vezina Trophy nominee has put the team on his back and, if the Isles can bounce back from missing the playoffs this year, it will be in large part due to their trusty netminder.
20. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk is the heart and soul of the Senators lineup. He is not always the driving force of the team's offense like Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson are, but he brings a level of physicality and relentless energy to every game. Tkachuk did take a step back with just 55 points in 72 games this year, but he scored 29 goals to follow up on three consecutive 30-goal campaigns. Ottawa's captain has tallied over 200 hits in each of the last six seasons, and repeatedly sets the tone with his net-front presence, willingness to fight for teammates, and momentum-shifting plays.
19. Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
In the club's first season in Salt Lake City, Keller has emerged as the leader of the Mammoth both on and off the ice. The 26-year-old's offensive production just keeps getting better, as he's coming off of his third straight 30-goal season with a career-high 90 points in 2024-25. His consistency, vision, and ability to generate chances in all situations made him the player Utah leaned on night after night. Without his elite production and leadership, the Mammoth's first season would have looked very different.
18. Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
Nick Suzuki can fly under the radar at times, but make no mistake: he is among the league's most reliable two-way players. He's averaged more than 20 minutes of time on ice per game in four straight seasons, and is fresh off of a career-best campaign with 89 points in 82 games. The Canadiens captain plays both sides of the puck with extreme efficiency and is known for his sharp hockey IQ which allows him to always make the smart play.
17. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Werenski got a bit of bad luck being matched up against Cale Makar for the 2025 Norris Trophy, but the runner-up honor was well deserved. At age 28, Werenski exploded for 23 goals and 82 points this season, breaking all of his old franchise records for scoring by defensemen. That's not to mention his stellar play in the defensive zone. His tremendous skillset in all three zones earned him a league-leading 26:45 TOI/GP this season. Werenski has a Norris in his future and the Blue Jackets would be far lower in the standings without him on the ice.
Stay tuned for part two, which will feature the Top 16 most valuable players and where they rank in the NHL.