With a new NHL campaign upon us, TSN Hockey’s blue-ribbon panel has compiled its annual list of the Top 50 players - a projection of the top players for the upcoming season. Today we continue by revealing the players ranked 30th to 21st.
The Montreal Canadiens took a huge step forward last season as they continue to transition from rebuilding to becoming a Stanley Cup contender.
After claiming the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25 and ending a three-season playoff drought, the Canadiens finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 48-24-10 record.
Forward Cole Caufield and defenceman Lane Hutson were key parts of the Canadiens taking that step forward, as they moved into the upper echelons of talent in the NHL.
Caufield entered last season coming off a career year in 2024-25, which was partially inspired by the loss of his friend and former NHL all-star Johnny Gaudreau in a tragic accident. He took another giant step forward offensively in 2025-26, cracking the 50-goal plateau for the first time, finishing with 51 goals and 88 points in 81 games.
The 5-foot-8 winger was a second-team all-star last season and also won the Lady Byng Trophy as the player judged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Hutson has risen the ranks as one of the top young defencemen in the NHL after winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2024-25. His play led the Canadiens to commit to him long term, signing him to an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension that carries an annual cap hit of $8.85 million at the beginning of last season.
The 5-foot-9, puck-moving defenceman didn’t disappoint the Canadiens’ confidence, recording 12 goals and 78 points in 82 games last season while averaging 23:46 of ice time with a plus-36 rating.
Both Caufield and Hutson were instrumental for Montreal in the playoffs as they went all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
Caufield registered six goals and 13 points in 19 playoff games, including goals in three straight games against the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.
Hutson put up three goals and 16 points in 19 playoff games while averaging 25:27 of ice time. His offensive play was highlighted with an overtime winner in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
Montreal’s magic ran out in the Eastern Conference Final when they ran into a Carolina Hurricanes team that finished with the best record in the East and second-best record in the NHL. The Hurricanes defeated the Canadiens in five games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final and eventually beat the Vegas Golden Knights to become Stanley Cup champions.
Caufield and Hutson begin the 2026-27 campaign at No. 23 and 24 on the TSN Hockey’s top 50 NHL players list as the team looks to take the next step forward next season.
30. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
2025-26 Ranking: 20
Nylander begins this group of players at No. 30 on the list.
The 6-foot winger remained a top offensive option for the Maple Leafs, despite losing 17 games to injury.
Nylander put up 30 goals and 79 points in 65 games last season and also represented Sweden at Milano Cortina 2026, recording two goals and four points in a seventh-place finish.
The Maple Leafs as a whole took a step back, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. This led to an overhaul of the roster surrounding core players like Nylander as well as the front office as Toronto looks to return to contention.
29. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
2025-26 Ranking: 31
Scheifele improves two spots from last season after putting up career highs in all offensive categories.
The longest-tenured Jet cracked the 100-point plateau for the first time in his 15-season career, recording 36 goals and 103 points in 82 games.
After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25, the Jets missed the playoffs last season, leading to question marks about some of the core pieces. However, Scheifele has stated that he believes in the organization and is committed to staying in Winnipeg.
28. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
2025-26 Ranking: 21
Tkachuk dropped seven spots in the rankings after playing a significant amount of hockey of the last three seasons.
The 6-foot-2 winger only appeared in 31 games during the regular season while he was recovering from a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia surgery the off-season prior.
He returned to action in time to help the United States win their first men’s gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games since 1980, but the Panthers failed to make the playoffs.
After an extended off-season, Tkachuk is healthy entering the 2026-27 campaign and is getting re-enforcements in the form of his brother Brady after a trade with the Ottawa Senators.
27. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
2025-26 Ranking: 9
Hellebuyck drops 18 spots to sit at No. 27 after he wasn’t able to meet the heights he reached the season before.
After winning the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2025, Hellebuyck went 23-23-11 with an .895 save percentage and 2.86 goals-against average last season as the Jets missed the playoffs.
Hellebuyck starred for the United State at Milano Cortina 2026, winning a gold medal and was named the tournament’s top goaltender.
The three-time Vezina Trophy winner publicly requested a trade in August despite having five years left on his contract that carries an annual cap hit of $8.5 million.
26. Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
2025-26 Ranking: 46
Boldy shot up the top 50 rankings to No. 26 after a phenomenal season with the Wild.
The 6-foot-2 winger cracked the 40-goal plateau for the first time in his career, registering 42 goals and 85 points in 76 games. He also represented the United States at Milano Cortina 2026, recording two goals and four points to help take home the gold medal.
Boldy was a key factor in the Wild finishing third in the Central Division with a 46-24-12 record and added seven goals and 13 points in 11 playoff games before his team fell in the second round to the Colorado Avalanche.
25. Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
2025-26 Ranking: 39
Bouchard also shot up the rankings this season, rising 14 spots to No. 25 after he established himself as the top offensive blueliner in the league.
Bouchard led all defencemen in scoring last season with 21 goals and 95 points in 82 games while averaging 24:41 of ice time. His play was good enough to land him fourth in Norris Trophy voting.
He added a goal and seven points in six playoff games before the Oilers were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks.
24. Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
2025-26 Ranking: N/A
Hutson cracks the top 50 list for the first time, a year after winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
The 5-foot-9, left-shot defenceman continued to take step forwards to becoming one of the best puck-moving blueliners in the league last season, recording 12 goals and 78 points in 82 games and finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting.
He added three goals and 16 points in 19 playoff games while averaging 25:27 of ice time as the Canadiens fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
23. Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
2025-26 Ranking: N/A
Caufield took a giant step forward last season, cracking the list at No.23.
The 5-foot-8 winger finished second in goal scoring last season, potting 51 goals to go along with 88 points in 81 games as the Canadiens made the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
He added six goals and 13 points in 19 playoff games before his team was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final as he continues to translate his individual success into team success.
22. Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
2025-26 Ranking: N/A
The first-overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft established himself as a top 50 player in his rookie year, coming in at No. 22 to begin his sophomore season.
Schaefer took the league by storm as an 18-year-old, registering 23 goals and 59 points in 82 games while averaging 24:41 of ice time.
He became the second player in NHL history to be named the unanimous Calder Trophy winner, joining Teemu Selanne in 1993, after receiving all 198 first-place votes.
21. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
2025-26 Ranking: 50
Robertson secured a 29-spot jump on the list after leading the Stars in scoring for three of the past four seasons.
The 6-foot-3 winger continued to prove he is one of the top offensive players in his position, recording 45 goals and 96 points in 82 games and leading his team to the NHL’s third-best record at 50-23-9.
He added five goals and eight points in six playoff games before the Stars was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Wild.
Robertson had a tumultuous off-season as a restricted free agent. He was unable to come to a long-term deal with the Stars and rejected an eight-year, $120 million offer from the Seattle Kraken as part of a trade that would have paid him $15 million a season.
The Arcadia, Calif., native eventually signed a one-year, $12 million contract for the 2026-27 campaign is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
On Thursday, we reveal No. 20 to No. 11 of our annual Top 50 NHL Players list
