Physical dominance meets elite playmaking as Dallas’ offensive nucleus joins David Pastrnak and Connor Bedard in this exclusive look at the league’s most impactful top-tier superstars.
The Hockey News has opened its full archive to subscribers, giving fans access to 76 years of hockey history, feature stories, and unforgettable moments. In the latest issue, we rank the NHL’s top 100 players, with Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen coming in the closing spot to round out the top 20. Here is a free preview featuring players ranked 19 through 24.
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Top 100 NHL Players: 19-24 - Apr. 17 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 10
19 DAVID PASTRNAK
POS: RW | AGE: 29 | LY: 15
> On a roster that’s in transition, Pastrnak is the last link to the Bruins’ past when they were a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Though his goal totals have dipped this season, he’s highly productive and dynamic, averaging well over a point per game. He sits top five in league scoring since the start of 2022-23.
20 MIKKO RANTANEN
POS: RW | AGE: 29 | LY: 21
> Rantanen’s physical dominance alone sets him apart, but combining it with dazzling hands, playmaking vision and a sniper’s shot turns him into a handful for even top defenders. Now that he’s settled in Dallas, he’ll be the offensive nucleus as the Stars eye a seamless transition from one generation to the next.
21 CONNOR BEDARD
POS: C | AGE: 20 | LY: 84
> Before a mid-December injury sidelined him for a month, Bedard was in the thick of the Art Ross race, only nine points off the league lead in scoring. He can singlehandedly spark the Blackhawks’ offense, and with reinforcements arriving, it seems only a matter of time before Bedard has his definitive breakout season.
22 ILYA SOROKIN
POS: G | AGE: 30 | LY: NR
> While Matthew Schaefer has rightly grabbed a lot of the headlines on Long Island, let’s not forget what New York has in net. Sorokin led the NHL in shutouts with seven while also posting one of the league’s best goals-saved-above-expected marks. So, he’s not just playing in front of a good Islanders defense.
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23 CHARLIE MCAVOY
POS: D | AGE: 28 | LY: 30
> In a season filled with painful injuries that have made McAvoy look like the Elephant Man at times, the NHL’s resident pinata has excelled. There are few defensemen who have a greater impact at both ends of the ice. McAvoy has many dimensions to his game: high IQ, elite skating ability and a physical edge.
24 BRADY TKACHUK
POS: LW | AGE: 26 | LY: 34
> There was a time when Tkachuk was a powder keg waiting to explode, but his game and demeanor have matured. The edge he brings to the game has not dulled, however. He’s more than just a sneering face. His puck skills and ability to play with finesse in tight quarters have made him a consistent 30-goal man when healthy.
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