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
5,591860Connor Mcdavid
CenterBirthplace: Newmarket, Canada
2
7,3284,205Sidney Crosby
CentermanBirthplace: Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada
Nationality: Canada
3
1,141399Nikita Kucherov
ForwardBirthplace: Maykop, Russia
Nationality: Russia
4
2,6061,523Nathan MacKinnon
CenterBirthplace: Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada
Nationality: Canada
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2,6261,196Auston Matthews
CentermanBirthplace: San Ramon, California, United States of America
Nationality: United States of America
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701350Artemi Panarin
Left wingBirthplace: Korkino, Russia
7
27750Leon Draisaitl
ForwardBirthplace: Cologne, Germany
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29676David Pastrňák
Forward9
921510Victor Hedman
DefensemanBirthplace: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Nationality: Sweden
10
825318Jack Eichel
CenterBirthplace: North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Nationality: United States of America
11
1,451864Marc-André Fleury
GoaltenderBirthplace: Sorel-Tracy, Canada
Nationality: Canada
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22888Andrei Vasilevskiy
GoaltenderBirthplace: Tyumen, Russia
Nationality: Russia
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2,0081,323Patrice Bergeron
Centerman, ForwardBirthplace: L'Ancienne-Lorette, Canada
Nationality: Canada
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18556Elias Pettersson
CenterBirthplace: Sundsvall
Nationality: Sweden
15
23888Matthew Barzal
CenterBirthplace: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Nationality: Canada
16
1,217759Johnny Gaudreau
Left WingBirthplace: Carneys Point, New Jersey
Nationality: United States of America
17
1,252842Brent Burns
DefensemanBirthplace: Barrie, Canada
Nationality: Canada
18
3,1082,282Steven Stamkos
CentermanBirthplace: Markham, Canada
Nationality: Canada
19
561310Roman Josi
DefensemanBirthplace: Bern, Switzerland
Nationality: Switzerland
20
506257Mark Scheifele
CentermanBirthplace: Kitchener, Brantford, Canada
Nationality: Canada
21
4,6483,547Patrick Kane
Right wing, CentermanBirthplace: Buffalo, New York
Nationality: United States of America
22
1,8971,424Vladimir Tarasenko
Right wingBirthplace: Yaroslavl, Russia
Nationality: Russia
23
13738Sebastian Aho
CenterNationality: Finland
24
1,365911Patrik Laine
Right wing25
550350Evgeny Kuznetsov
CenterBirthplace: Chelyabinsk, Russia
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