The best current NHL players are not just the league-leading skaters and goaltenders in the league right now but also some of the best hockey players in the world. These players are consistently leading their teams in statistical categories and in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As the NHL's golden child and fan favorite NHL player, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is seen by many as the best current NHL player. The young star quickly made his mark in the league by leading the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Championship in 2009 at the age of 21, the youngest captain to ever do so. He had a little help though with Evgeni Malkin, who also makes this list, serving as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the playoffs.
But there are many more great current NHL players in the league besides those playing in Pittsburgh. Steven Stamkos, Alexander Giroux, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Zdeno Chara and Jonathan Toews are all among the elite forwards and defensemen in the NHL right now. In net, Henrik Lundqvist, Jonathan Quick and Jimmy Howard are seen as the top NHL goaltenders right now.
Who do you think are the top NHL players in the league right now? The better question might be will these current hockey players be remembered among the best NHL players of all time? Have your say and vote for your favorites for the 2018-2019 season, add those not listed or re-rank this list of the best current NHL players!
1
7,3354,211Sidney Crosby
CentermanBirthplace: Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada
Nationality: Canada
2
5,601863Connor Mcdavid
CenterBirthplace: Newmarket, Canada
3
1,141406Nikita Kucherov
ForwardBirthplace: Maykop, Russia
Nationality: Russia
4
2,6141,524Nathan MacKinnon
CenterBirthplace: Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada
Nationality: Canada
5
2,6301,198Auston Matthews
CentermanBirthplace: San Ramon, California, United States of America
Nationality: United States of America
6
28152Leon Draisaitl
ForwardBirthplace: Cologne, Germany
7
30376David Pastrňák
Forward8
701357Artemi Panarin
Left wingBirthplace: Korkino, Russia
9
925511Victor Hedman
DefensemanBirthplace: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Nationality: Sweden
10
828320Jack Eichel
CenterBirthplace: North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Nationality: United States of America
11
1,452867Marc-André Fleury
GoaltenderBirthplace: Sorel-Tracy, Canada
Nationality: Canada
12
2,0101,324Patrice Bergeron
Centerman, ForwardBirthplace: L'Ancienne-Lorette, Canada
Nationality: Canada
13
23089Andrei Vasilevskiy
GoaltenderBirthplace: Tyumen, Russia
Nationality: Russia
14
1,218760Johnny Gaudreau
Left WingBirthplace: Carneys Point, New Jersey
Nationality: United States of America
15
24090Matthew Barzal
CenterBirthplace: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Nationality: Canada
16
18558Elias Pettersson
CenterBirthplace: Sundsvall
Nationality: Sweden
17
1,252843Brent Burns
DefensemanBirthplace: Barrie, Canada
Nationality: Canada
18
507257Mark Scheifele
CentermanBirthplace: Kitchener, Brantford, Canada
Nationality: Canada
19
3,1102,282Steven Stamkos
CentermanBirthplace: Markham, Canada
Nationality: Canada
20
562310Roman Josi
DefensemanBirthplace: Bern, Switzerland
Nationality: Switzerland
21
13838Sebastian Aho
CenterNationality: Finland
22
4,6513,547Patrick Kane
Right wing, CentermanBirthplace: Buffalo, New York
Nationality: United States of America
23
1,8971,426Vladimir Tarasenko
Right wingBirthplace: Yaroslavl, Russia
Nationality: Russia
24
1,368911Patrik Laine
Right wing25
1,141844Taylor Hall
Left WingBirthplace: Calgary, Canada
Nationality: Canada
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