2022-23 NHL Rank: Top player predictions across teams

The top 100 NHL players for the 2022-23 season are difficult to rank, given the incredible depth of talent at almost every position.

To create our annual ranking of the NHL's top 100 players, we asked an ESPN panel of more than 50 hockey experts to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2022-23 season compared to their peers.

The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche were tied for the most players in the top 100 with six, along with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vancouver Canucks. Only three teams failed to place a player in the top 100 -- and the Arizona Coyotesare not one of the three.

Emphasis was placed solely on expectations for the upcoming season and predicting potential greatness, rather than past performance, career résumé or positional value. Hence, long-term injuries to players, such as the season-ending surgery for Robin Lehner of the Vegas Golden Knights, were taken into consideration.

There may be no greater indication of the NHL's depth than the fact that the center position -- the source of the league's star power for decades -- accounted for only seven spots in the top 20. Centers do encompass four slots in the top seven players, however.

Today we reveal Nos. 51 through 100 on the list.

100. Evander Kane, LW, Edmonton Oilers

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 31

Eight straight seasons of more than 20 goals is what makes Kane one of the league's more consistent wingers. --Ryan S. Clark

99. Jakob Chychrun, D, Arizona Coyotes

2021-22 rank: 56

Age: 24

Chychrun is a high-end talent with great defensive details and offensive upside -- when he's healthy. Injuries have defined the blueliner's past 12 months but shouldn't distract from what he can offer at full strength. --Kristen Shilton

98. Tomas Hertl, C, San Jose Sharks

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 28

San Jose believes the dynamic Hertl will be their top-line center of the present -- and future. He's a skilled scorer, deft playmaker and can elevate teammates, all of which the Sharks need to see more of amid a slow start to this season. --Kristen Shilton

97. Seth Jones, D, Chicago Blackhawks

2021-22 rank: 95

Age: 28

Chicago went all-in on signing the talented Jones last offseason because of his potential to perform in all three phases. Jones is a strong passer, executes clean breakouts, and he throws his frame along the boards, all elements of a solidly well-rounded skater. --Kristen Shilton

96. Bo Horvat, C, Vancouver Canucks

2021-22 rank: 97

Age: 27

The Canucks' captain is a versatile cog in the system, excellent on draws and handles a matchup role well. Horvat just had a career-best 31-goal season, and he will be channeling that offensive energy into this contract year. --Kristen Shilton

95. Alex Pietrangelo, D, Vegas Golden Knights

2021-22 rank: 35

Age: 32

Pietrangelo hit the 80-game mark for the first time in four seasons and gave a sense of stability at a time of questions for the Golden Knights. --Ryan S. Clark

94. Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators

2021-22 rank: 89

Age: 25

Chabot has a relentless motor, and he brings everything you'd want to the Senators' blue-line group. Ottawa's anchor regularly logs massive minutes while excelling in every on-ice scenario, proving that where Chabot goes, so go the Sens. --Kristen Shilton

93. Mats Zuccarello, RW, Minnesota Wild

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 35

The diminutive Norwegian was 13th among all right wings with a 0.85 points per game average over the past two seasons. --Greg Wyshynski

92. Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

2021-22 rank: 36

Age: 35

Letang had a career-best 68 points while averaging nearly 26 minutes en route finishing in the top 10 in Norris voting for the third time in four seasons. --Ryan S. Clark

91. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings

2021-22 rank: 37

Age: 35

Several items led to the Kings' resurgence, and Kopitar was among them by leading the team in scoring while playing in every situation. --Ryan S. Clark

90. Claude Giroux, C, Ottawa Senators

2021-22 rank: 69

Age: 34

Giroux may no longer be the point-per-game player he was in his prime, but the 34-year-old remains a steady playmaking presence. --Greg Wyshynski

89. William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

2021-22 rank: 57

Age: 26

Nylander has matured into more than just a scoring threat. He's willing to battle for pucks, create takeaways and breaks out quickly. He also has the wheels to wield a strong transition game. --Kristen Shilton

88. Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 23

His regular-season efforts showed he can serve in a tandem, but the playoffs showed Oettinger has everything needed to be a No. 1 goaltender. --Ryan S. Clark

87. Tage Thompson, C, Buffalo Sabres

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 24

Buffalo's big center had a big breakout year that's turned him into an emerging face of the franchise. Thompson's got elite scoring ability, a killer shot and, as the Sabres discovered last season, the versatility to play important minutes down the middle. --Kristen Shilton

86. Adrian Kempe, C, Los Angeles Kings

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 26

The Swedish sniper broke through in last season's 35-goal turn. Kempe's upping the ante already this year -- three goals in three games -- thanks to great chemistry with Anze Kopitar. --Kristen Shilton

85. Tim Stutzle, LW, Ottawa Senators

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 20

Stutzle is already a power-play force for the Senators (26 of his 58 points last season). With Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat added to the Ottawa forward group, his even strength output should increase. --Greg Wyshynski

84. MacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames

2021-22 rank: 94

Age: 28

His puck-moving ability made a difference in Florida, and it is why Calgary looks like it has another weapon on its blue line. --Ryan S. Clark

83. Tristan Jarry, G, Pittsburgh Penguins

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 27

Tristan Jarry silenced critics of his disastrous 2021 postseason by establishing himself as a consistent, effective starter for the Penguins last season. --Greg Wyshynski

82. Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 27

When Sorokin starts, the Islanders know what kind of effort they're getting. He had a quality starts percentage of .713 over his first two NHL seasons. --Greg Wyshynski

81. Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 31

The Blueshirts got a Broadway-esque star turn from Kreider in his 52-goal effort a season ago. Surprising? Maybe, but the veteran forward has followed it up by averaging a point per game early in the 2022-23 season. --Kristen Shilton

80. John Tavares, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

2021-22 rank: 52

Age: 32

Tavares' game has evolved beyond just goal scoring. The Leafs' captain is a proven playmaker who hit a decade-high in assists (49) last season that complemented his more finely tuned, 200-foot performances. --Kristen Shilton

79. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

2021-22 rank: 73

Age: 28

The longtime backbone of Toronto's defense does it all while leading by example. Rielly's an elite skater and puck mover used in every situation, where he's capable of generating offense without sacrificing defensive responsibilities. --Kristen Shilton

78. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers

2021-22 rank: 51

Age: 26

When Ekblad's healthy, he's a defenseman worthy of being in the Norris Trophy conversation, especially given his playmaking abilities (42 assists last season). --Greg Wyshynski

77. Troy Terry, C, Anaheim Ducks

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 25

Terry's 67-point season sets the expectation that he has found his footing within the Ducks' long-term plans. --Ryan S. Clark

76. Elias Lindholm, C, Calgary Flames

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 27

Lindholm was an elite -- if under-the-radar -- two-way center before last season's explosive 42-goal showing put him on the map. Former linemates Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk might be gone but Lindholm's defensive savvy and scoring prowess continue to shine. --Kristen Shilton

75. Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

2021-22 rank: 68

Age: 24

This season is Sergachev's time to shine with Ryan McDonagh having been traded to Nashville. He's the second best offensive defenseman on the Bolts behind Victor Hedman. --Greg Wyshynski

74. Jacob Trouba, D, New York Rangers

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 28

Trouba is best known for thunderous hits, but he can chip in offensively at even strength too. --Greg Wyshynski

73. Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings

2021-22 rank: 38

Age: 32

Doughty getting injured last season was a big loss for the Kings given he was on pace to set a career high in points. --Ryan S. Clark

72. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets

2021-22 rank: 27

Age: 29

For all the talk in Winnipeg, Scheifele can calm those concerns by turning in another 20-goal season with the idea he could also threaten to score 30. --Ryan S. Clark

71. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis Blues

2021-22 rank: 93

Age: 30

Tarasenko had one of the NHL's best "remember me?" seasons, reigniting his star with a 3.9 points per 60 minutes average. --Greg Wyshynski

70. Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks

2021-22 rank: 67

Age: 25

Boeser is one of the better pure goal scorers on the Canucks, with 46 goals in 127 games over the past two seasons. --Greg Wyshynski

69. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 28

Subtlety is Slavin's game, yet the impact he has speaks rather loudly for the Hurricanes. --Ryan S. Clark

68. Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 22

Dahlin relishes playing big minutes on Buffalo's top unit, where the 22-year-old has matured before the Sabres' eyes. This season he's adding more offense from the blue line already, too. --Kristen Shilton

67. Joe Pavelski, C, Dallas Stars

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 38

All he did was score a career-high 81 points, play a responsible game and have two-way consistency ... in his late 30s. --Ryan S. Clark

66. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets

2021-22 rank: 78

Age: 26

Ehlers is lethal in transition, making him a must-watch playmaker off the rush. That skill and vision planted Ehlers on Winnipeg's top line. --Kristen Shilton

65. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Colorado Avalanche

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 27

He's a two-way, 25-goal-scoring power forward who is 6-foot-4 and gives the Avs another dimension. --Ryan S. Clark

64. John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals

2021-22 rank: 53

Age: 32

While he never broke through to win the Norris, Carlson has been a consistent defenseman who banks points while running Ovechkin's power play. --Greg Wyshynski

63. Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils

2021-22 rank: 34

Age: 29

Even with fewer games, Hamilton fell a goal shy of what would have been an eighth-straight season of more than 10 goals during his first year in New Jersey. --Ryan S. Clark

62. Darnell Nurse, D, Edmonton Oilers

2021-22 rank: 90

Age:27

Nurse has averaged over 25 minutes of ice time per game the past two seasons, being tasked with playing against top competition. --Greg Wyshynski

61. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche

2021-22 rank: 43

Age: 29

Landeskog gives the Avalanche another 20-goal scorer who could possibly reach the 30-goal mark if not for injuries (he missed the start of the season with a lower-body injury). --Ryan S. Clark

60. Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 21

The video-game moves (and moves that end up in video games) made him instantly famous, but Zegras has the skills to remain an NHL offensive force. --Greg Wyshynski

59. Devon Toews, D, Colorado Avalanche

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 28

Look at his defensive and offensive metrics and you will see why Toews is so valued in Denver. --Ryan S. Clark

58. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks

2021-22 rank: 59

Age: 23

Canucks' bench boss Bruce Boudreau says Hughes passes the puck as well as anyone he has coached. High praise for the 23-year-old, who already is ably anchoring Vancouver's backend. --Kristen Shilton

57. Kevin Fiala, LW, Los Angeles Kings

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 26

Scoring 33 goals and 85 points did more than land Fiala a new contract. It places him under a spotlight as someone who could help make the Kings even more dangerous. --Ryan S. Clark

56. Jake Guentzel, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins

2021-22 rank: 79

Age: 28

An underrated offensive force. His chemistry with Sidney Crosby is already on display this season following a second 40-goal campaign in 2021-22. --Kristen Shilton

55. Ryan O'Reilly, C, St. Louis Blues

2021-22 rank: 47

Age: 31

One of the NHL's top two-way centers. He's had at least 50 points in nine straight seasons and won over 58% of his faceoffs in seven straight seasons. --Greg Wyshynski

54. Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 32

Kadri broke through to score 87 points and further raised already high expectations about doing the same now that he is with the Flames. --Ryan S. Clark

53. J.T. Miller, C, Vancouver Canucks

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 29

Miller has become a top center option for the Canucks, who recently signed the big forward to a seven-year extension. His 32 goals and 99 points last season were both personal bests. --Kristen Shilton

52. Jordan Kyrou, C, St. Louis Blues

2021-22 rank: NR

Age: 24

Speed and skill drive Kyrou's impressive offensive game. St. Louis gave him an eight-year extension following last season's career totals (27 goals, 75 points in 74 games), cementing Kyrou as a face of the franchise. --Kristen Shilton

51. Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins

2021-22 rank: 33

Age: 37

The 37-year-old Bergeron has remained so consistent, the last time he was not top 3 in Selke voting was more than a decade ago. --Ryan S. Clark