Another thrilling NHL season has wrapped, and with it came standout performances from every corner of the league. We’ve rounded up the best player from each team this year, whether through dominance, resilience, or sheer breakout brilliance. Here’s how it all shook out.
Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche
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MacKinnon was a force at 116 points and a share of the league lead in assists. He anchored the Avalanche offense all season, which made it his third straight year clearing the 100-point mark. His ability to drive play remains unmatched, earning serious MVP talk yet again.
Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg Jets
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Hellebuyck posted career highs in wins (47), goals-against average (2.00), and save percentage (.925). He started 60 games and kept Winnipeg in a strong playoff position with consistent performances. His season likely earns him a third Vezina Trophy, which would be the most among active goalies.
Leon Draisaitl – Edmonton Oilers
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Draisaitl scored 52 goals and totaled 106 points, outperforming teammate Connor McDavid in both categories. He reached the 50-goal mark for the fourth time and notched 100+ points for a fifth time. He was the league’s top goal scorer and Edmonton’s most consistent forward throughout the season.
Mitch Marner – Toronto Maple Leafs
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Marner reached a career-high 102 points while maintaining strong two-way play. It was his seventh straight season averaging a point per game. No other Leaf had more assists than he did this season.
Quinn Hughes – Vancouver Canucks
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A 76-point season in just 68 games made Hughes one of the NHL’s top-scoring defensemen. His average ice time and production on the power play led the team. He ranked third in defenseman scoring league-wide, behind only Cale Makar and Zach Werenski.
Connor Bedard – Chicago Blackhawks
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At 19, Bedard upped his point total to 67 and topped the Blackhawks in special teams scoring and logged the most minutes among forwards. The second-year center continues to develop into a top-line scorer, even while playing on a struggling roster.
Matthew Tkachuk – Florida Panthers
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Despite missing over 25 games, Tkachuk still averaged a team-best 1.10 points per game—the best mark on the roster. The Panthers were noticeably different with him on the ice.
Artemi Panarin – New York Rangers
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The Rangers missed the playoffs, but Panarin kept delivering. He maintained his point-per-game streak for an eighth year. He was also their most creative forward and the engine behind their offense. Even in a down year for the team, Panarin provided stability.
David Pastrnak – Boston Bruins
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Pastrnak put together another standout campaign with 40 goals and 100 points. He repeated last season’s output with 40 goals and a century of points, but this one came with the added responsibility of logging over 20 minutes a night.
Joey Daccord – Seattle Kraken
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Daccord tallied 27 victories despite limited goal support from the skaters. He was named one of the game’s three stars more often than anyone else on the roster.
Jack Hughes – New Jersey Devils
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In just 62 games, his scoring pace is projected to be over 90 points for a full season. Injuries have limited his availability in recent years, and he hasn’t played a full season yet, but when healthy, Hughes remains New Jersey’s top offensive threat.
Brady Tkachuk – Ottawa Senators
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Leading Ottawa in goals (29), power-play goals (14), and penalty minutes (123), Tkachuk also won more than 51% of his faceoffs. He added five game-winning goals and provided the most consistent physical presence on the roster.
Macklin Celebrini – San Jose Sharks
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Celebrini scored 63 points in his rookie season, a new franchise record for a first-year player. He had points in his first NHL game and shared the league lead in rookie points by season’s end. He was drafted first overall in 2024 and immediately became San Jose’s most productive forward.
Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins
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In his 20th season, Crosby recorded 85 points to once again top the Penguins’ scoring chart. His 12 power-play goals were his highest total since 2018, and his 10 game-winners set a new personal best.
Clayton Keller – Utah Hockey Club
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Keller finished with career highs in assists (60) and points (90), adding 30 goals along the way. He also set personal bests in power-play goals and game-winning goals. He was Utah’s top scorer and a key part of their offense in the franchise’s first year post-relocation.
