The most valuable players in the NHL entering the 2025-26 season

The importance of having a deep, reliable roster is paramount to winning games in the NHL -- but every club has its most valuable player who sets the pace and can be counted on to perform night after night.

We're going to be evaluating the top 16 most valuable NHL players in part two of this league-wide ranking, highlighting each skater on overall impact, leadership, and how essential they are to their team’s identity and performance. You can read part one first if you'd like to discover how No. 17 through No. 32 played out. 

16. Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

Reinhart finds himself at No. 16 on this list mostly because there are several other very viable options for Panthers MVP, and he is not responsible for the team's success on his own. Nevertheless, Reinhart's solid play on both sides of the puck and explosive offense certainly earn him recognition. The 29-year-old is one year removed from a 57-goal season and he followed that up with 81 points in 78 regular season games, then 23 points in 21 playoff matches en route to the Panthers' 2025 Stanley Cup win. Whether driving the play himself or complementing teammates with his hockey IQ and puck movement, Reinhart was at the center of nearly everything Florida did right.

15. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers

Panarin was a huge reason why the Rangers were so successful in 2023-24, quietly putting up a 120-point season -- 43 more points than Vincent Trocheck who was second on the team in scoring. Then, as the Blueshirts faced a partial collapse in 2024-25, Panarin led the team once more with 89 points in 80 games, topping the next-highest Rangers point total by 27. The 33-year-old Russian skater is holding the Rangers together and, though he's getting older and New York faces an uncertain future, he has proven to have plenty of gas in the tank.

14. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Aho's point totals are a bit on the conservative side compared to other skaters on this list, but his playmaking, knack for clutch goals, and the way he elevates the play of those around him make him an asset for the Hurricanes. He has five 30-goal seasons under his belt, including 9 or more game-winning goals in each of the last four campaigns. Aho has led the Canes in scoring two years in a row, tallying 74 points in 79 games this year, but his responsible play in all three zones is what sets him apart. As a dependable forward and one of the key pieces of Carolina's gameplan, Aho is invaluable to his team.

13. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin ranked this high in the year 2025? Perhaps a tad controversial, but The Great 8 still contributes a great deal to his team beyond the fanfare of his goal-scoring record. He has led the team in game-winning goals in four of the last five seasons, scoring 73 points in 65 games played in 2024-25. The Washington Capitals captain remains one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the league and is still capable of tallying north of 40 goals approaching age 40. He's the driving force of the team's offense and a major morale booster off the ice, making him worthy of the title of team MVP.

12. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel can do it all: apply pressure on the backcheck in the defensive end, create seamless passes to his teammates in all three zones, or even carry the puck up ice and light the lamp himself. After overcoming some serious injuries several years ago, Eichel has scored at a consistent point-per-game basis and exploded for 94 points in 77 games played this past season. He's tasked with shutting down the opponent's top players on a nightly basis, and does so effectively. Not to mention, he led the team in scoring during the playoffs en route to their 2023 Stanley Cup championship. The Golden Knights are not nearly as complete of a team if Eichel isn't on it, and he is deserving of the team MVP title.

11. Kirill Kaprizov, Minneosta Wild

Kirill Kaprizov is the engine that drives Minnesota's offense and he's become the face of the franchise even since his Calder Trophy-winning debut season. Kaprizov has consistently led the team in scoring, impressing with his skilled edgework and vision. The 28-year-old was stifled by injury this past season, and yet still managed to score 25 goals in just 41 games played. But his playmaking ability coupled with his deadly shot is what makes him elite. He elevates everyone around him and draws top defensive attention every night, creating space for teammates. Kaprizov has become must-watch hockey in Minnesota, giving the Wild excitement -- and offense -- every time he hits the ice.

10. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

If it weren't for untimely injuries, the middle Hughes brother could potentially be even higher on this list. At 24 years old, he is the cornerstone of the Devils offense, breaking the franchise scoring record in 2022-23 at age 21. Hughes has developed at a steady rate with over a point per game in each of the last four seasons. He regularly plays over 20 minutes per night and most recently has found himself a part of New Jersey's effective penalty killing unit, in addition to his game-changing offensive output. That's not to mention the natural instincts that make him a dynamic, exciting player to watch. Hughes has made tremendous progress as an all-situation forward and still has a ways to go physically, but he unquestionably ranks as one of the league's best young forwards.

9. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Sid the Kid may be 37 years old now but even on a struggling Penguins team, Crosby continues to make a tremendous impact on his club. With two Conn Smythes, two Hart Trophy titles, two Art Ross Trophy wins and two Rocket Richards under his belt, that's just the short list of his accomplishments -- and there is no sign of stopping. Crosby has topped 90 points in three straight seasons and also tallied 84 points four seasons ago, despite only playing 69 games. Pittsburgh may be in the midst of a dark age so to speak, but without Crosby, this downfall would have begun many years ago and he provides a wonderful leadership role to the younger players on the roster. On and off the ice, Crosby is the definition of MVP.

8. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

The eldest Hughes brother is the anchor of the Canucks and the heartbeat of the team on both ends of the rink. The 2024 Norris Trophy winner finished Top 3 in scoring by defensemen in each of the last three seasons and is an offensive threat on a nightly basis thanks to his innate hockey sense. He controls the pace of the game, delivering accurate breakout passes to transition through the zones and just as efficiently carrying it up himself to spark Vancouver's offensive rush. But his ability to shut down opponents is equally refined, making him one of the most difficult D-men to get around in the league and the most irreplacable skater on the Canucks roster.

6. Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

It didn't take long for Mikko Rantanen to become one of the best players on the Stars roster -- if not the best -- after he was acquired mid-season. He hit the ground running with 18 points in his first 20 games in Dallas, then followed that up with a clutch playoff performance, notching 22 points in 18 games. That included a blistering streak of eight goals and seven helpers in the opening eight matchups. While his offense did gradually cool down, Rantanen's ability to set the tone physically and contribute in all three zones makes him an invaluable asset beyond the scoresheet.

7. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Dating back to 2016-17, no goalie has gotten more wins in a single season than Connor Hellebuyck's 47 victories in 2024-25, and only three other netminders in that span recorded more than his eight shutouts. At age 32, Hellebuyck just seems to get better with age. He's started over 60 games in each of the last four campaigns, a testament to how much the Jets rely on him. His quick reflexes, tremendous rebound control, and calm presence in the crease make him incredibly difficult to beat. Playoff results aside, Hellebuyck is inarguably the best goaltender in the NHL right now and Winnipeg likely doesn't claim the President's Trophy without him in net.

5. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

Riding a streak of three straight 100-point seasons, David Pastrnak is the heartbeat of the Bruins, especially now as other Boston staples like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand are no longer on the roster. He is a threat every time he touches the puck due to his creativity and speed. While the team as a whole took a step back this past season, the affectionately-nicknamed Pasta has embraced a leadership role and can change the game every time he's on the ice.

4. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews was hampered by injuries this past season which limited him to 67 games and resulted in a career-low 33 goals. But scoring at a rate of 0.49 goals per game still placed him at No. 11 in the league, and his 1.16 points per game ranked tenth in the NHL. If a "slow" season still features top-ten statistics, that only proves how much Matthews impacts the game and how the Maple Leafs shape their strategy around him. With a deceptive shot and an ever-improving 200-foot game, the 27-year-old commands attention every time he steps foot on the ice. Toronto simply wouldn’t be the same threat they are in the Atlantic Division without their best player -- by a wide margin.

3. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Dating back to 2017-18, Kucherov has scored 100 or more points in every single full season he played -- the only exceptions being the COVID-shortened campaign in 2019-20 and an injury-riddled season that held him to 47 matchups in 2021-22. The 32-year-old is one of the greatest pure offensive threats in the league thanks to his crafty playmaking and equally strong ability to hit the back of the net with his rocket of a shot. Kucherov is one of just five players in NHL history to ever reach 100 assists in a single season. The back-to-back Art Ross Trophy winner as the league's leading scorer is bound to reach the 1,000-point plateau in the upcoming campaign, currently sitting at 994 in 803 games played.

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Speed, vision, hockey IQ, playmaking, compete level -- Nathan MacKinnon has every asset that comprises an elite NHL athlete. With his explosive speed, unmatched intensity and relentless puck pursuit, he can make the most skillful plays look effortless as he beats opponents to the puck and finds outlets for passes and shots alike where other players might not be able to. His defensive play is just as refined, being able to seal opponents out effectively and turn play around to go the other way. The puck shielding, distribution, and ability to pump out 100-point seasons like it's light work make MacKinnon the Avs' most valuable player, and one of the league's most premier skaters.

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

There's not much to say about McDavid that hasn't already been written. He is simply the best player in the NHL right now, and he has the accolades to show for it. As one half of the dynamic duo with Leon Draisaitl, McDavid has the ability to tilt a game in the Oilers' favor every time he is on the ice. He has eclipsed 100 points in eight of his 10 NHL seasons, including the 2020-21 campaign where he played just 56 games. While there is certianly an argument to be made for Draisaitl to make appearance on this list, McDavid's ingenuity, affinity for breaking records, and ability to make even 40-year-old Corey Perry look like an All-Star alongisde him makes McDavid the easy choice for No. 1 on our list.