Ranking the top 50 players in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs

The NHL has whittled down from 32 teams to 16 that remain in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. With the playoffs set to begin on Saturday, it’s time for our annual ranking of the top 50 players who will participate in the postseason.

The playoff edition of ESPN NHL Rank seeks to identify the top forwards, defensemen and goaltenders in the upcoming tournament. Dozens of voters participated, choosing one winner in a series of head-to-head voting matchups created from the players on the 16 postseason qualifiers.

With many awards finalists and proven playoff performers in the mix this spring, who comes out on top? We start with a player who scored more goals this season than anyone in the past 30 years.

Note: Preseason rank refers to the top 100 published on Oct. 17, 2023. Write-ups are courtesy of ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.

2023-24 stats: 69 G | 38 A | 107 PTS
Preseason rank: 5

Matthews impresses every season, but this one was arguably his best all-around performance — and that should bode well for Toronto’s playoff prospects.

The Leafs’ star center racing towards the 70-goal mark kept everyone enthralled, but also showed how he can dominate offensively without sacrificing his two-way game. Those goals weren’t meaningless, either. Matthews has shone brightest in most of Toronto’s critical moments, foreshadowing the sort of detail and energy the Leafs need from him throughout a postseason run. — Shilton

2023-24 stats: 21 G | 69 A | 89 PTS
Preseason rank: 2

Makar is often mentioned as one of the best — if not the best — defensemen in hockey. When the Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2022, it was Makar who won the Conn Smythe Award as playoffs MVP. His ability to create for others and himself is a big reason why the Avs are seeking a second Stanley Cup in the last three seasons. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 51 G | 87 A | 138 PTS
Preseason rank: 3

There’s a reason why MacKinnon is considered to be one of the game’s most dangerous players. While his regular-season exploits have garnered attention, just know that “Playoff MacKinnon” is a real thing. MacKinnon has averaged at least a point per game in each of his previous seven postseason campaigns. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 32 G | 100 A | 132 PTS
Preseason rank: 1

After a slow start for the team and its star center, McDavid helped lead the Oilers back to the playoffs with a historic offensive campaign, becoming just the fourth player in NHL history to eclipse 100 assists in a single season. — Wyshynski

2023-24 stats: 41 G | 65 A | 106 PTS
Preseason rank: 6

Draisaitl had 106 points in 80 games for the Oilers in the regular season. Over the last two postseasons, he’s second to McDavid in points-per-game average (1.79). — Wyshynski

2023-24 stats: 43 G | 99 A | 142 PTS
Preseason rank: 8

Kucherov was voted the NHL’s top playmaker by his peers in the latest NHLPA poll, and you can see why: The star winger had a point on over 50% of his team’s goals this season, something only six other players have accomplished in NHL history. — Wyshynski

2023-24 stats: 26 G | 62 A | 88 PTS
Preseason rank: 11

What will Tkachuk do for an encore? That’s what we’re all wondering after the Panthers star had 24 points in 20 games last postseason. That included 11 goals, of which three were overtime game-winners, gifting us the “bus in 10, boys!” celebration that saw Tkachuk sprinting off the ice. — Wyshynski

2023-24 stats: 37-19-4 | 2.39 GAA | .921 SV%
Preseason rank: 14

A five-time 30-game winner, the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner has established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the game. What he’s done this season only adds to that reputation. What he could do in the playoffs could further enhance his standing as he seeks to lead the Jets out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 49 G | 71 A | 120 PTS
Preseason rank: 32

Panarin was upset about his performance in last year’s playoffs. So he shaved his head, trained hard and returned to have the best season of his career, with 49 goals and 120 points. Few players are more determined to make their mark in the playoffs than the Rangers winger. — Wyshynski

2023-24 stats: 57 G | 37 A | 94 PTS
Preseason rank: NR

While Reinhart’s extraordinary 57-goal season will get most of the attention, the Panthers forward was also an extremely effective defensive player as well. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer, and a stellar postseason will only increase his worth. — Wyshynski

2023-24 stats: 41 G | 62 A | 103 PTS
Preseason rank: 7

He’s the author of three straight seasons of more than 50 assists, and just completed his second consecutive campaign of more than 100 points. All the elements that make Rantanen such a threat is only amplified in the playoffs, where he’s scored 30 goals and is averaging more than a point per game over 70 postseason contests. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 17 G | 74 A | 91 PTS
Preseason rank: 60

It’s never been a question of talent when it comes to the oldest Hughes brother. If anything, it’s been more about timing. And with what the Canucks have done this season, could that time be now? Hughes, who is considered to be the front-runner for the Norris Trophy, has the Canucks heading down the path of going from a franchise that missed the playoffs last season to one that could have a long postseason run this year. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 34 G | 55 A | 89 PTS
Preseason rank: 16

Back in 2019-20, Pettersson used his maiden playoff voyage to finish with seven goals and 18 points in 17 games. It created the belief that the Canucks indeed have the sort of postseason performer who could help them reach new heights. Now that the Canucks are back in the playoffs, there’s a feeling that Pettersson could once again pose a big problem to opponents. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 17 G | 56 A | 73 PTS
Preseason rank: 13

Fox is a beacon of consistency on the Rangers’ blue line. New York can count on him to carry its defense, as he has all season, through anything from injuries to role changes. Fox shows up when it matters most. He has a penchant for scoring game-winning goals (5), quarterbacks the Rangers’ top power play with ease, and does all the small things well — from blocking shots to creating takeaways — that New York will need for a successful playoff stint. — Shilton

2023-24 stats: 36 G | 53 A | 89 PTS
Preseason rank: 22

Aho had the best regular season of his career and looks sharper than ever heading into the playoffs. Carolina’s top-line skater is a force with and without the puck, capable of generating as much space for himself as he is setting the table for a teammate. He’s scored an eye-popping 10 game-winners this season — a testament to how, when the Hurricanes need a star to step up, it’s frequently Aho answering the bell. — Shilton

2023-24 stats: 9 G | 45 A | 54 PTS
Preseason rank: 29

Meet one of the biggest reasons why the Stars are in Cup contention, and could be for years to come. Everything Heiskanen accomplished last postseason explained why he’s viewed as one of the best defensemen in the NHL. His average ice time per game was the same length as an episode of “Abbott Elementary,” all while playing in every single situation from 5-on-5 sequences to the power play to the penalty kill. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 35-13-2 | 2.44 GAA | .918 SV%
Preseason rank: 80

Demko is coming off one of the best regular seasons of his career. That success has translated into the Canucks being one of the NHL’s best teams heading into the playoffs. Now it is a matter of seeing if Demko, who is back after missing 14 games with a knee injury, can take the Canucks on a long run. — Clark

2023-24 stats: 47 G | 63 A | 110 PTS
Preseason rank: 10

Pastrnak has been head and shoulders above his Bruins’ teammates in scoring production this season. That’s hardly anything new for Boston’s top forward. Pastrnak can be a magician with the puck on his stick, and has elite playmaking ability that sets him apart year after year. The Bruins will be counting on Pastrnak’s consistency — at 5-on-5 and on the power play — to write a better ending in this postseason and prove the team’s doubters wrong. — Shilton

2023-24 stats: 23 G | 57 A | 80 PTS
Preseason rank: 15

Barkov does it all — and does it all well — for the Panthers. He may not have garnered the same attention as linemate Sam Reinhart this season, but it’s been Barkov — one of the league’s premier two-way skaters — by Reinhart’s side feeding him pucks to fuel that 50-plus goal effort. Barkov excels in just about every area, from driving play up front to being an integral piece of Florida’s power play and penalty kill. With Barkov in their arsenal, Florida can create matchup nightmares in the postseason that ultimately push a series in their favor. — Shilton

2023-24 stats: 36-17-4 | 2.37 GAA | .915 SV%
Preseason rank: 97

Bobrovsky flipped his proverbial switch back to “elite” in last season’s playoffs — and hasn’t looked back. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner built on his previous success with a steady, confident campaign that saw Florida through any bumps in the road. The Panthers will rally around Bobrovsky when the playoffs begin and for good reason: Bobrovsky has put the work in to overcome previous struggles to be playing at his peak right now. That’s a scary thought for the opposition, and a delightful reality for Florida to embrace. — Shilton