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Hockey (NHL) · Rookies · published 2026-09-28T00:00:00+00:00 · via Gino Hard

McDavid Tops NHL Network's 2026-27 Player Countdown

Image via Gino Hard
Image via Gino Hard

NHL Network finished its top 50 player list on Sunday, placing Connor McDavid first. Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov, and Cale Makar followed in the next three spots. Macklin Celebrini was fifth, while Leon Draisaitl and Aleksander Barkov rounded out the top seven.

Expanded Detail

Macklin Celebrini landed fifth. At 20, he recorded 115 points, close to twice his rookie output, after a five-year, $94 million contract made him the NHL’s top-paid player. Leon Draisaitl was sixth despite playing only 65 games, still posting 97 points.

Aleksander Barkov stayed seventh after sitting out all of 2025-26, with two consecutive Stanley Cups and three Selke Trophies. David Pastrnak was eighth after a fourth straight 100-point campaign, leaving him 67 points from 1,000. Quinn Hughes took ninth after a December trade from Vancouver to Minnesota, and Jack Eichel closed the top 10 following Vegas’s Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Context

Rankings like this may shape how casual fans perceive players and could fuel debate among supporters, media, and fantasy-hockey communities. Teams and athletes

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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This summary is AI-generated and original to You Don't Know Sports; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “NHL Network Rankings: McDavid Named No. 1 Player.” Browse more stories.