Leading up to the start of the 2023-24 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal players every day until the top 10 are unveiled Oct. 9.

100-71 | 70-51 | 50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1

Larkin's quietly put together back-to-back 30-goal, near-point-per-game campaigns. Now locked in at an $8.7-million cap hit for the next eight years, the 27-year-old remains the face of the Red Wings for the foreseeable future as the team looks to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Oettinger was a workhorse for the Stars in 2022-23 and was one of just seven goalies in the league to appear in 60 or more games. The 24-year-old handled his increased workload admirably, establishing new career highs with 37 wins, five shutouts, and a .919 save percentage. He's the guy in Dallas.

There was a time when Malkin was much higher on this list but, despite his drop, he showed last season that he still has plenty left in the tank. The Pittsburgh Penguins power forward, who turned 37 in July, collected 27 goals and an impressive 56 assists in 2022-23. Injuries have been an issue for Malkin in the past, but he played all 82 games in the last campaign. He also took more shots on goal than he had in a season since he led the NHL in that department in 2011-12.

Though it didn't get a ton of attention, Keller enjoyed one of the most impressive seasons in the league last season for the lowly Coyotes, authoring a career-high 37 goals and 86 points after breaking his femur late in 2021-22. From February onward, the 25-year-old was the league's fourth-most prolific scorer, trailing only Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Nathan MacKinnon. Not too shabby.

Stamkos, 33, remains productive, tallying 34 goals and 84 points last season. It was his eighth time hitting the 30-goal mark and seventh time reaching the 80-point plateau. He still possesses one of the game's most lethal one-timers and it's hard to envision him slowing down as long as he stays healthy.

Despite dipping below the point-per-game mark for the first time since 2016, Marchand was still a massive part of the Bruins' historic regular season. Boston will need the 35-year-old to remain an elite two-way driver as the team enters its post-Patrice Bergeron era.

The 2022-23 campaign was full of even more Mika magic than usual. Zibanejad reached new heights with a 91-point campaign that saw him lead the offensively potent Rangers with 39 goals in 82 contests. Maybe a 100-point season is what's next for the sniping Swede in the Big Apple.

Nylander will be out to prove he deserves a hefty new contract as a pending unrestricted free agent, but he's already done plenty. He notched career highs in goals (40), assists (47), and points while playing in all 82 regular-season games last season, adding four tallies and six helpers in 11 playoff contests. If the move from wing to center sticks, it'll go a long way in securing him the payday he desires.

The Devils have some flashier players, but Hischier is the up-and-coming club's heart and soul. New Jersey's captain put forth a career-high 80 points last season while posting defensive metrics strong enough to earn him second place in Selke Trophy voting. The hardware could very well be in Hischier's near future now that Patrice Bergeron is out of the running.

Toews sometimes gets overshadowed by his defense partner, Cale Makar, but there's no denying that Toews is elite in his own right. He can drive play offensively and he's also a lockdown defender. Two of our voters thought he deserved a spot in the top 25, which is justifiable considering he's finished no lower than sixth in goals above replacement among blue-liners in each of the last three seasons.

Panarin still ranks among the league's top playmakers: Only Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have tallied more assists than Panarin since 2019. The 31-year-old has scored at a 90-point pace every season in New York and shows no signs of slowing down.

After an injury-riddled first year as a Devil, Hamilton truly arrived in New Jersey in 2022-23. The talented defenseman posted a career-high 22 goals and 74 points while skating in all 82 games for the first time since 2018-19, proving to the Devils that he's worth every penny of the seven-year, $63-million contract he signed in July 2021.

Tkachuk is no longer the Ottawa Senators' brightest star (see below), but the club's captain remains a multi-talented franchise cornerstone and its most important player. The 24-year-old winger collected over a point per game last season and notched at least 30 goals (35) for the second straight campaign. He also ranked fourth in the NHL in shots on goal and 11th in hits while boasting stellar underlying numbers.

Stutzle evolved into a full-blown offensive superstar last season, and don't be surprised if he soars up our list by this time next year. The 21-year-old is one of the top young players in the league and is the Senators' purest offensive catalyst, as evidenced by his 39 goals in 2022-23. The sky truly feels like the limit for Stutzle, and he's just getting started on a career that carries a ton of promise.

Six of our seven voters ranked Hintz between 31 and 42, with the lone outlier coming in at 55. That's about as consensus as it gets for a player in this portion of the rankings. The Stars' first-line center is coming off back-to-back 37-goal seasons and an excellent 2023 playoffs in which he recorded 24 points in 19 games. He's a rare breed with both power and finesse.

Despite the persistent trade rumors, Hellebuyck remains a Winnipeg Jet entering the final season of his contract. A workhorse goaltender of a seemingly bygone era, Hellebuyck led the NHL in games by a netminder for the fourth time in six years and reached the .920 save percentage mark for the first time since his Vezina trophy campaign in 2020. He's in for a big payday next summer.

The Great Eight posted his 13th career 40-goal season last year, but what else is new? It's nothing that we haven't come to expect from the 38-year-old sniper. Not only will Ovechkin be looking to get his Capitals back into the playoffs in 2023-24, but he'll also continue his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's record: Ovi is 73 tallies away from taking the No. 1 spot on the NHL's all-time goals list.

No NHL goaltender faced more shots or made more saves than Saros last season. Only Hellebuyck played as many games as his Nashville Predators counterpart, and no other puck-stopper saw as much ice time as the Finnish netminder in 2022-23. Despite his workload, Saros ranked among the league's best in save percentage and goals saved above expected. He's been one of the NHL's best goalies for some time now, and he's still in his prime.

Injuries have hurt Stone's stock in recent years, but he proved he's still a world-class player this past spring. He captained the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup and bagged 24 points in 22 games along the way. A healthy Stone is still the best defensive winger in hockey, and his offensive prowess shouldn't be slept on. Since arriving in Vegas, he's managed 203 points in 218 games.

The newest captain of the Canucks, Hughes has been one of the game's most dynamic offensive defensemen since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2019-20. He ranks third among blue-liners in points in that span, trailing only Roman Josi and Cale Makar. But his defensive game has come a long way since his rookie campaign, and he's established himself as one of the game's best all-around players.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2023-24 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal players every day until the top 10 are unveiled Oct. 9.

100-71 | 70-51 | 50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1

A terrifying freak accident limited Carlson to just 40 games a season ago after he was struck in the head by a slap shot. The 33-year-old didn't miss a beat upon his return in late March, averaging 23:23 and tallying eight points in 10 contests post-injury. He remains one of the game's top offensive blue-liners.

There's no doubting the fact that Ekblad is a warrior. He gutted his way through the playoffs with a broken foot, dislocated shoulder, and torn oblique, but he only missed one game. The 27-year-old defenseman will miss the start of the season as the result of his ailments, but he more than earned a placement on these rankings despite that.

Eriksson Ek has developed into one of the NHL's best and most underrated two-way forwards. The 26-year-old Swede posted career highs with 38 assists and 61 points last season. He also ranked 20th in the NHL in individual expected goals and authored largely favorable underlying numbers as a whole, finishing in the top 10 in Selke Trophy voting for the third straight year.

Hyman has gone from an important role player to a star in his own right, and while some might knock him for the quality of players he's lucky enough to play alongside, he gets the prime opportunities for a reason. He's entrusted by coaches in all situations, is a relentless worker, and is fresh of a career year that included 36 goals and 83 points.

Tuch's rare blend of size and speed has helped him blossom into one of the game's premier power forwards. He put everything together for a career year in 2022-23, racking up 36 goals and 79 points in 74 games. The Syracuse product has also become a key leader for the up-and-coming Sabres.

McCann proved his 50-point season from the Kraken's inaugural campaign was no fluke. The 27-year-old hit the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career last season and reached the 70-point plateau. He'll look to lead Seattle in scoring for the third straight campaign.

Brodin was a minutes-munching machine for Minnesota in 2022-23, leading the squad in average ice time (22:52) for the third straight season. The underrated rearguard missed 22 games this past campaign, but he still ranked third on the team in blocked shots (130) and second in shorthanded ice time (177:01).

Much like Eriksson Ek, Cirelli is a skilled two-way player who's often overshadowed by more electric teammates. But the Tampa Bay Lightning forward does it all, playing in the top six at five-on-five, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. His defensive abilities give him versatility and value even when he's not consistently producing offensively.

The reigning Calder Trophy winner showed no signs of being uncomfortable in his first full season in the pros, ranking second on the Kraken with 24 tallies while adding 33 assists. Beniers has strong two-way chops and looks to be the complete package at only 20 years old.

You know a player is special when he's cracking this list without ever playing in an NHL game. Three of our seven voters thought his inclusion was premature, but the hype surrounding Bedard, who came in as high as 51st on one list, made him worthy of a spot. With a generational-caliber shot and skill, will anyone be surprised if he pots 30-plus goals his rookie year? We won't.

The last time DeBrincat's shooting percentage dipped below 15%, he followed it up by scoring at a 50-goal pace. Things didn't work as well as hoped in Ottawa, but a move back home to Michigan with the Red Wings should rejuvenate the two-time 40-goal scorer.

Giroux proved to be an instant match with Ottawa, posting a career-high 35 goals in 82 games while generating plenty of chemistry with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. The young Senators will need the 35-year-old veteran's leadership on and off the ice to enter the playoff picture in 2023-24.

Horvat amassed 31 goals in only 49 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season, although that red-hot rate predictably plummeted after he was traded to the defensive-minded New York Islanders. However, the skilled center averaged over 20 minutes of ice time and won 58.5% of his faceoffs in 30 contests with his new club. The latter would've been a personal best over a full season.

There's no denying Huberdeau's debut season in Calgary was a massive disappointment, but the veteran playmaker has done enough throughout his career to stay on our list. The 30-year-old is in desperate need of a bounce-back campaign, but his 613 points in 671 career games suggest he'll be just fine.

Kreider's game isn't pretty, but he constantly produces. Nobody expected him to match the 52 goals he scored in 2021-22, but he still managed to find the net an impressive 36 times last season. A heart-and-soul player who loves engaging in the physical aspect of the game, Kreider has garnered a reputation as a clutch performer, tallying 16 goals in 27 games over the last two postseasons.

Verhaeghe has quietly been one of the best offensive drivers since he joined the Panthers in 2020. Florida's generated 3.46 expected goals per 60 at five-on-five with Verhaeghe on the ice during this span, the top mark in the league for any player. The Panthers' run to the Cup final elevated his visibility, and as such, the 28-year-old's starting to get the recognition he deserves after eclipsing the 40-goal and 70-point marks for the first time last season.

Chabot's average ice time (24:58) didn't eclipse the 26-minute mark for the first time since 2018-19, but he still led his teammates by a three-minute margin. The 26-year-old also paced Ottawa in goals above replacement (14.6).

Fiala picked up where he left off with the Wild in his first season with the Kings, producing over a point per game and leading the club with 49 assists despite missing 13 contests due to injury. The Swiss winger can create opportunities in the offensive zone and finish them as well. He's in his prime as a 27-year-old for an up-and-coming L.A. squad.

Caufield was on track to score 40 goals last season before a shoulder injury derailed his campaign near the midway point, but the promise he showed was enough to crack our list. The Canadiens winger is one of the league's purest scorers, and his infectious personality has him on track to be both a household name and a superstar in no time.

Rielly catches some flack for his poor defensive play at times, but he's constantly shown an ability to raise his game in the postseason despite the Maple Leafs' playoff shortcomings. He was their best player during their most recent postseason, buckling down defensively while netting 12 points in 11 games, giving him 37 in 50 playoff contests for his career.

Kempe has proven to be among the league's top sharpshooters over the past two seasons. He's seen his shooting percentage rise four straight years, culminating in him breaking the 40-goal plateau for the first time last season. Kempe will aim to be the first King since 1993 to crack 50 this season.

Miller is still somehow with the Canucks as he's about to enter the first season of the seven-year, $56-million extension he signed last September. The 30-year-old potted 82 points in 81 games last campaign - trailing only Elias Pettersson for the team lead - and he's just one year removed from a 99-point campaign.

Montour erupted for 73 points last season, nearly doubling the previous career high of 37 he established in 2021-22. The defenseman's goal, assist, and point totals all ranked among the league leaders at the position in 2022-23, as did his average ice time (24:08). That rose by more than four minutes over his previous career average, and it skyrocketed even further to a whopping 26:58 in the playoffs. Montour was one of the main reasons the Florida Panthers made their unexpected Stanley Cup Final run.

Dubois finally made his way to a desirable location this summer, and there's no question the Kings landed themselves a premiere player. The 25-year-old is one of the NHL's most versatile power forwards and is fresh off a career year after recording 0.86 points per game. As good as Dubois has proven to be to this point of his career, it feels like he's just scratching the surface of his potential. A fresh start in Hollywood could be the springboard he needs.

Letang's courage is unmatched. The most recent recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy, Letang suffered the second stroke of his career in November but miraculously returned to the Pens' lineup less than two weeks later. He still remains a highly productive offensive blue-liner as he recorded 41 points in 64 games this past campaign.

If you weren't sold on Bratt before the 2022-23 campaign, you better be now. The 25-year-old was rewarded by the Devils with a $63-million contract in June after scoring 73 points for the second straight season. Now that he's locked in for the long haul, the sky's the limit for the Swede in New Jersey.

Sergachev emerged for the Lightning in 2022-23, reaching new career highs in points (64) and ice time (23:49) while leading all Tampa Bay blue-liners in both categories. The 25-year-old's breakthrough comes at the perfect time for the Bolts given that he's entering the first season of an eight-year, $68-million extension.

Scheifele has been one of the NHL's most productive centers since his third full season back in 2015-16. Despite some defensive deficiencies, the 30-year-old is coming off a career-best 42-goal campaign. The Winnipeg Jets are holding off on trading Scheifele, who's entering a contract year, but another solid season from the 2011 seventh overall pick wouldn't be surprising regardless of whether he gets dealt.

Tavares' reputation as a bona fide superstar has taken a hit since his career year in 2018-19. But make no mistake, the soon-to-be 33-year-old is still producing. He racked up 80 points in 80 games this past season and is up to 354 in 360 contests since he joined the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2018.

Lindholm regressed after potting a career-high 42 goals and finishing as the Selke Trophy runner-up in 2021-22. His goal total fell by 20, and he dropped to 10th in voting for the league's top defensive forward honor. However, he's still an excellent two-way center who can fill the net if he's paired with a good playmaker.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To prepare for the 2023-24 NHL season, theScore has all the fantasy hockey advice you need to dominate your draft and win your league.

• Top 250 (hits + blocks)

• Busts to avoid
• Sleepers to steal
• Bounce-back candidates
• Breakouts to target
• Goaltending guide
• Players to stash in keeper leagues

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the offseason edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings heading into the 2023-24 regular season. Check back every other Monday during the regular season for updated rankings.

In this edition, we look at the best offseason decision each team has made so far.

1. Vegas Golden Knights

Re-upping Adin Hill. Contracts for goaltenders are always scary, especially for a netminder who's coming off of a historic Stanley Cup run with only 101 regular-season games to his name. However, keeping Hill in Vegas for only a two-year commitment is solid business from general manager Kelly McCrimmon. Hill gets paid in the short term, and the Golden Knights retain a fan favorite to see if he can truly handle a starter's role.

2. Colorado Avalanche

Adding Jonathan Drouin. The Avalanche retooled their supporting forward group with the acquisitions of Ryan Johansen and Ross Colton, but signing Drouin to a one-year, $825,000 deal was their savviest piece of business. The 28-year-old forward acknowledged he was in need of a "fresh start" after an underwhelming, injury-riddled six-year stint in Montreal, and he's now joining a powerhouse in Colorado. It's a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Avs.

3. Carolina Hurricanes

Signing Dmitry Orlov. Sebastian Aho's max-term, team-friendly extension is a close second for the Hurricanes this summer, but Carolina nailed it when it signed this summer's top free agent. Orlov's arrival arguably gives the Hurricanes the NHL's deepest blue line, and keeping the contract to two years makes it virtually risk-free.

4. New Jersey Devils

Trading for Tyler Toffoli. It may be a lot to ask for the 31-year-old winger to replicate the career-high 34 goals and 73 points he recorded last season, but he still has lots left in the tank and also doubles as a respected veteran with championship pedigree for a young team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Surrendering a third-round pick and Yegor Sharangovich - who was a healthy scratch at times in the playoffs - was a strangely light price to pay.

5. Edmonton Oilers

Connor Brown's creative deal. Brown will almost certainly make $4 million in salary this season but will only cost $775,000 on the Oilers' cap. That's thanks to his performance bonus, which he was only eligible to receive due to missing most of 2022-23 due to a torn ACL. The bonus will likely result in a cap overage that'll apply to the team's 2024-25 payroll, but the deal maximizes Edmonton's chances in 2023-24. A clever contract from GM Ken Holland on a player that has a history with Connor McDavid and has excelled alongside talented players in the past.

6. Dallas Stars

Bringing in Matt Duchene. We're certain that the Stars are more than happy to be Duchene's rebound team after he was dumped bought out by the Predators. The 32-year-old forward said he was "absolutely" motivated by how his tenure ended in Nashiville, and he's bringing that motivation to Dallas for the low cost of a one-year, $3-million deal. Not bad business for a guy who's one season removed from a 43-goal campaign.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

Adding Tyler Bertuzzi. The Maple Leafs' offseason has been met with mixed reviews, but reeling in Bertuzzi was unanimously viewed as a win. He's a big upgrade to Toronto's top six, and a one-year contract can help the Leafs win now without complicating the books as new deals loom for Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and, eventually, Mitch Marner.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning

Letting Alex Killorn walk as a UFA. The Lightning made some savvy under-the-radar additions like Conor Sheary, but their wisest decision was saying goodbye to Killorn. He was a key part of Tampa Bay's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, but creating cap room to give the 33-year-old anything resembling the four-year, $25-million deal he got from the Ducks would've been a colossal mistake.

9. New York Rangers

Adding Blake Wheeler. The 36-year-old isn't the 90-point player he once was, but Wheeler doesn't need to be that at the measly $800,000 cap hit he'll cost the Rangers. Coming off of a 55-point campaign - one that would've put him fourth among New York forwards a season ago - Wheeler still has gas in the tank to provide scoring at a cheap ticket for a Rangers team that's right at the cap ceiling.

10. Los Angeles Kings

Acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois. Sure, there's some concern since he's already on his third NHL team ahead of his seventh season, but a one-two-three punch of Anze Kopitar, Dubois, and Phillip Danault down the middle in Los Angeles sounds downright fearsome to us. Fingers crossed that Dubois' eight-year, $68-million extension is fruitful for both parties.

11. Florida Panthers

Snagging Evan Rodrigues. The Panthers were strapped financially this offseason, but signing Rodrigues to a four-year, $12-million contract was a shrewd piece of business. He's coming off his best season on a point-per-game basis (0.57) and should complement Florida's big offensive guns nicely. Rodrigues contributes strongly at both ends of the ice and can fill in at center or the wing.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins

Trading for stud defenseman Erik Karlsson. Obviously. The swap was a masterclass from new GM Kyle Dubas, who acquired the reigning Norris Trophy winner without having to part with top prospects Owen Pickering and Brayden Yager, and they shed cap space in the process. This is a team that has its eye on getting Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang another Cup.

13. Boston Bruins

Signing Morgan Geekie to a two-year, $4-million contract. This was a pretty low-risk, high-reward investment. The 2023 unrestricted free-agent class was short on centers, and Geekie was one of the youngest available at 25 years old. His 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame gives him the physical tools to be a strong defensive player, and his 2.47 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five (31st best in the league among qualified players) show some untapped offensive potential.

14. Seattle Kraken

Locking up Vince Dunn. When the Kraken claimed Dunn in the expansion draft, the hope was that he could move up the lineup and become a top-end defender after posting excellent metrics on St. Louis' third pairing. Dunn made good on that potential last season, ranking top 10 in scoring among blue-liners, and Seattle rewarded him accordingly. His $7.35-million cap hit will be more than worth the price if he remains a 23-plus-minute, top-pairing anchor.

15. Buffalo Sabres

Drafting Zach Benson. Buffalo wasn't a major player in free agency or the trade market this summer, but the Sabres made an already outstanding prospect pool even more impressive at the draft when they selected Benson 13th overall. Many viewed it as a slide for the dynamic WHL winger, who racked up 98 points in 60 games before turning 18 with the Winnipeg Ice this past season.

16. Minnesota Wild

Drafting Riley Heidt 64th overall. It's been a quiet summer in Minnesota, but snagging Heidt with the last selection of the second round - with one of the picks acquired in the Jordan Greenway trade - could look like a steal in a few years' time. Several analysts pegged the supremely skilled Heidt as a first-round pick after he tallied 97 points in 68 games with the WHL's Prince George Cougars last season.

17. Ottawa Senators

Nabbing Vladimir Tarasenko. Being forced to move on from Alex DeBrincat was a tough pill to swallow for the Senators, but GM Pierre Dorion softened the blow by adding Tarasenko on a one-year pact worth $5 million. The 31-year-old is one year removed from a 34-goal, point-per-game campaign and has significant playoff experience. On a short contract, there's minimal risk and a lot of upside for an Ottawa team that remains on the cusp.

18. New York Islanders

Re-signing Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin could've become a UFA in 2024, but he got his bag one year early, inking an eight-year, $66-million extension July 1. Sure, that's a lot of term for a goalie who's already 28 years old, but Sorokin has proven to be the guy on Long Island. He earned his first Vezina Trophy nomination in 2022-23 after posting a .924 save percentage and six shutouts while dragging the Islanders to the playoffs.

19. Washington Capitals

Taking a chance on Max Pacioretty. The Capitals were viewed as a strong candidate for wholesale changes after missing the playoffs, but Washington stayed relatively quiet this summer. Its most notable player transaction was bringing in Pacioretty on a one-year, $2-million deal. It's a touch risky given his recent Achilles tendon injuries, but someone other than Alex Ovechkin needs to score goals, and Pacioretty has six 30-goal campaigns to his credit.

20. Detroit Red Wings

Trading for DeBrincat. There are many big Red Wing moves to choose from, but we can't ignore the splashiest. The price of a conditional first-round pick, a fourth-round pick, Dominik Kubalik, and Donovan Sebrango was more than worth it for a Detroit team with a rich prospect pipeline that needs star talent to get over the hump. DeBrincat is coming off a poor season in Ottawa, but the 25-year-old two-time 40-goal scorer could be poised for a huge year with his hometown team.

21. Winnipeg Jets

Getting multiple assets for Dubois. The Jets did incredibly well to get three NHLers and a high second-round pick for Dubois when everyone knew he wanted out of Winnipeg. Losing Dubois hurts, but gaining a budding young player in Gabe Vilardi, a consistent producer in Alex Iafallo, and a center with upside in Rasmus Kupari allows the Jets to remain competitive despite moving a top center.

22. Calgary Flames

Breaking up with Darryl Sutter. More moves may be on the way (Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Mikael Backlund are all question marks), but firing their head coach is the Flames' best offseason decision so far. After a listless 2022-23 campaign, Calgary didn't appear to be in love with Sutter's hard-ass style anymore, so it was time to call it quits. Now it'll be up to newbie Ryan Huska to put the pieces together in his first season as an NHL head coach.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets

Landing Damon Severson. The Blue Jackets pounced on Severson in a rare sign-and-trade rather than take their chances with him on the open market. It only cost Columbus a third-round pick for a premier puck-mover that further bolsters a Blue Jackets backend that's suddenly deep as anyone's. Eight years is a lot for a 29-year-old, but Severson immediately makes Columbus a better team.

24. Nashville Predators

Signing of Denis Gurianov for one year at $850,000. Nashville's splashy additions of Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn come with some risk due to age and contract term, but Gurianov carries literally none. Now 26, the former first-round pick and 20-goal scorer has struggled in recent years, but his size-speed combination gives him plenty of upside, and he should be hungry while playing on a prove-it deal.

25. Vancouver Canucks

Signing Pius Suter. It was a surprise to see Suter remain a free agent until mid-August when he was finally scooped up by the Canucks on a two-year deal with a $1.6-million cap hit. The 27-year-old isn't the most glamorous addition, but Suter adds versatility to Vancouver's bottom six and brings much-needed shorthanded skill to a team that had the worst penalty kill in the league a season ago.

26. St. Louis Blues

Trading for Kevin Hayes. All it took for the Blues to scoop him up from the Flyers was a 2024 sixth-round pick. Oh, and St. Louis got him on sale, too, with Philadelphia retaining 50% of his inflated $7.143-million cap hit. That's tidy work for a veteran center who hit the 50-point plateau for the second time in his career during the 2022-23 campaign.

27. Arizona Coyotes

Acquiring Sean Durzi. The Coyotes signed a collection of players to one-year deals in free agency, presumably for trade bait in a few months. However, trading for Durzi, who's a restricted free agent after the 2023-24 season, was a clever and low-cost move. He's a dynamic talent on the blue line and should help Arizona on its long-winding path to contention.

28. Montreal Canadiens

Signing Cole Caufield to an eight-year contract with a $7.85-million cap hit. Caufield has scored 48 goals in 83 games since Martin St. Louis became Montreal's head coach in February 2022. If he scores anywhere near that pace, the contract is already a bargain. As the salary cap rises, it could become one of the most team-friendly deals in the entire NHL. Caufield is still just 22 with lots of room to improve, too.

29. Chicago Blackhawks

Drafting Connor Bedard. The trajectory of the Blackhawks' franchise was altered when they landed the rights to draft Bedard first overall. He's the most hyped prospect in the sport since some other Connor in 2015, and for good reason. Bedard's arrival will rejuvenate the fanbase and make Chicago a must-watch team this season.

30. Anaheim Ducks

Troy Terry's extension. The Ducks haven't signed creative RFA forward Trevor Zegras yet, so we're going to zero in on his teammate instead. Terry is an important piece of Anaheim's long-term future, and GM Pat Verbeek proved that by signing the 25-year-old winger and two-time All-Star to a seven-year, $49-million deal. A key producer for the Ducks over the past two seasons, Terry's deal can look even better as the salary cap continues to rise.

31. Philadelphia Flyers

Drafting Matvei Michkov. It's teardown time in Philadelphia, but if the Flyers find their way back to relevancy any time soon, selecting the uber-talented Russian seventh overall is sure to help the cause. It'll take a couple of years for this pick to pay dividends, but Michkov immediately became Philly's top prospect and should be more than NHL-ready by the time his KHL contract expires.

32. San Jose Sharks

Signing Filip Zadina to a one-year, $1.1-million deal. The 2018 No. 6 pick was in dire need of a fresh start before agreeing with the Red Wings to have his contract terminated, and the Sharks were smart to pounce at the opportunity for a reclamation project as they continue to rebuild. It wouldn't be surprising if Zadina hits his stride in a new environment, where he could potentially play alongside a talented center like Logan Couture or Tomas Hertl.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals selected Andrew Cristall with the 40th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Andrew Cristall

Position: Left wing
Height: 5-foot-9.5
Weight: 175 lbs
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
Club: Kelowna (WHL)
Nationality: 🇨🇦
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 15th among North American skaters

2022-23 stats

If not for Connor Bedard, Cristall would've had the highest scoring rate by a draft-eligible WHLer in a full season since 1999. That's the caliber of offensive talent here in this prospect.

Concerns over Cristall's size - he's listed at 5-foot-10 - and subpar skating resulted in him being ranked in a wide range. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler listed Cristall as the No. 13 player overall in the draft class, Central Scouting had him as the No. 15 North American skater, and The Athletic's Corey Pronman ranked him as a third-round prospect at No. 68.

A lackluster showing in the WHL playoffs, where he scored just one goal as Kelowna was swept by the Seattle Thunderbirds, only made the concerns over his game stronger. It was again reinforced when Cristall was bumped down the lineup with Team Canada early at the U18s.

The vastly different perspectives on Cristall made him one of the more uncertain players to project heading into the 2023 draft. His size and skating concerns, in addition to his struggles at the end of the season, loom large, but the upside of his skill and scoring ability is tantalizing.

Cristall will return to the WHL's Kelowna Rockets next season, where he'll have a strong chance to feature prominently for Team Canada at the 2024 world junior.

What they're saying

"He's as fun to watch with the puck on his stick as almost anyone in this draft," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote. "He's just a natural creator for himself and others who manufactures offense in a variety of ways. And while his speed in straight lines is a definite barrier, his skating is adjustable in tight space."

"Dynamic when he has time and space," wrote Sportsnet's Jason Bukala. "Pace off the puck, zone exits, and overall detail have room for significant improvement."

"The concerns come down to his frame and especially his skating," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman. "He will need to score a lot in the NHL to justify his various risk factors, and while I think he can get games due to his immense offensive talent, I have a hard time seeing him as a long NHL career type given his various risk factors."

Click here to watch Cristall's highlights.

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The Calgary Flames took Samuel Honzek with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Samuel Honzek

Position: Left wing
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
Club: Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Nationality: 🇸🇰
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 9th among North American skaters

2022-23 stats

Honzek is a physically imposing winger who the Giants used in all situations this past season. He finished second on his team in scoring - which is particularly impressive given that it was his first campaign in North America. However, an injury sustained at the world juniors slowed Honzek down and kept him sidelined long after the tournament finished.

He's not the flashiest offensive player, but he's a powerful skater with a knack for finding the back of the net in tight. While Honzek might be a few years away from contributing in Calgary's lineup, he certainly has the tools to blossom into a productive NHL player.

What they're saying

"He skates quite well for his size, he's got good hands and dexterity, he's got great feel and sense for the pressures that exist on the ice, and he's by all accounts a great teammate and kid who is coachable and pays attention to the details of the game," wrote The Athletic's Scott Wheeler.

"Honzek's game is exciting from a pro-projection standpoint," stated The Athletic's Corey Pronman in May. "He's a big forward who can skate well, which, when combined with the offense he's showing, makes for a well-rounded player. I don't think he's amazing with the puck, but he has good hands, can make tough plays with pace, and can finish chances both from range and in tight."

Click here to watch Honzek's highlights.

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The Winnipeg Jets selected Colby Barlow with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Colby Barlow

Position: Left wing
Height: 6-foot-0.5
Weight: 195 lbs
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
Club: Owen Sound (OHL)
Nationality: 🇨🇦
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 12th among North American skaters

2022-23 stats

Barlow is among the best finishers in the draft. Over the past decade, only three draft-eligible OHL forwards have scored more than the 46 goals Barlow tallied this season: Buffalo's Jack Quinn, Los Angeles' Arthur Kaliyev, and Ottawa's Alex DeBrincat.

That production made him a first-team OHL All-Star at season's end, the lone draft-eligible player to make the All-Star team.

Ranked the No. 10 North American skater on Central Scouting's midterm list, Barlow slipped to No. 12 in the final edition. While his goal-scoring increased with 23 goals in 28 games during the second half of the season, his overall point production decreased down the stretch.

In addition to his immense goal-scoring ability, Barlow's been lauded for his leadership qualities. He became the youngest captain in Owen Sound Attack history at the start of the season and was named the CHL's Scholastic Player of the Year for 2022-23.

The Orillia, Ontario, native battled through a nagging injury while playing a major role at the U18s in April. Barlow logged over 22 minutes in Canada's semifinal loss against Sweden and tallied a goal in the bronze-medal game versus Slovakia.

Barlow will return to the OHL with Owen Sound next season.

What they're saying

"Barlow is a goal-scorer with an elite release who doesn't require much room to rip pucks on net," Sportsnet's Jason Bukala wrote. "He's a threat off the half wall and net front at even strength and on the power play."

"He has a high floor and should safely become a strong third-line player but also has the upside to become more if things really click in his north-south game at the next level," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote.

"Barlow is a well-rounded winger," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman. "He's a hard-working forward who has some physicality, can kill penalties, and is quite physically advanced for his age. Offensively, he has excellent stick skills and a great shot."

Click here to watch Barlow's highlights.

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The Philadelphia Flyers selected Russian winger Matvei Michkov with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday.

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said he didn't think Michkov would be available at No. 7, and that he even tried to trade up to pick him, but the price was too high, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

"We were blown away by his personality. ... He kept saying he wanted to be a Flyer," Briere said, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.

Matvei Michkov

Position: Right wing
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 172 lbs
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
Club: Sochi (KHL)
Nationality: 🇷🇺
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 2nd among European skaters

2022-23 stats

There's a case to be made that Michkov is the second-most talented player in this entire draft. However, he's signed in the KHL for the next three seasons, meaning his NHL debut likely won't come until at least the 2026-27 campaign.

But he could be well worth the wait. What Michkov lacks in size, he makes up for in high-end skill and genius hockey IQ. He possesses elite hands and elusiveness that allow him to embarrass defenders one-on-one, a lethal shot, and excellent goal-scoring instincts.

Michkov's 0.67 points per game set the KHL record for the best mark by a draft-eligible player. For comparison, Alex Ovechkin managed just 0.45 points per game in his draft year.

When asked how excited he was to be part of the Flyers' rebuild, Michkov offered a confident quip.

"I guess that means we'll start winning when I get here," he said in Russian, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Giana Han.

What they're saying

"Michkov is one of the very best first-year draft eligibles I've ever seen from inside the offensive blue line," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman, who ranked Michkov No. 3 on his board and used Nikita Kucherov as a player comparison. "He has truly special offensive skill and hockey sense. His mind operates differently from other players in how he sees the play develop, and he always seems to find ways to figure into scoring chances despite not being the biggest or fastest."

"Michkov has remarkable net sense, which makes him a scoring threat at all times," wrote FloHockey's Chris Peters, who had him at No. 4 in his prospect rankings. "While (Connor) Bedard has the best shot in the draft, Michkov may have the best understanding of how to score. He outthinks goalies and opposing defenses and is always in an attack position in the offensive zone."

Click here to watch Michkov's highlights.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Easton Cowan 28th overall in the 2023 NHL draft.

The London Knights forward tallied 20 goals and 53 points in 68 regular-season games, before scoring 21 points in 20 postseason contests.

More to come.

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The Arizona Coyotes selected Dmitriy Simashev with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Dmitriy Simashev

Position: Defense
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 198 lbs
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
Club: Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Nationality: 🇷🇺
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 19th among European skaters

2022-23 stats

Few players in the 2023 draft class have been ranked in as wide a range as Simashev.

Evaluators from outlets such as Elite Prospects, The Athletic, and The Hockey News have ranked Simashev as a top-10 prospect. Others, including those from Sportsnet and TSN, have had him outside of the first round.

The debate largely comes down to tools versus production. Simashev has been lauded by scouts for his size, mobility, and defensive prowess. He also only scored one goal and 12 points in 33 games against Russian junior teams, ranking seventh in the league among draft-eligible defensemen in scoring rate.

Simashev began to change the negative perception of his offensive upside with a stellar performance in the MHL playoffs, in which he tallied an improved two goals and six points in 10 contests.

He didn't look out of place in 18 KHL contests, either. Though he only averaged 6:55 per game, it's rare for a 17-year-old defenseman to play in the KHL at all. Shakir Mukhamadullin, a 2020 first-rounder is the only blue-liner to have played more KHL games at the position at the same age.

Then there's the unknown surrounding Simashev. He's never had the opportunity to play at an international event due to Russia's IIHF sanctions. A vast majority of scouts are evaluating his talent through video, and all are doing so from games played exclusively against KHL and MHL competition.

Simashev's under contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl through 2024-25, meaning the earliest he can sign an NHL contract and play in North America is when he's 20 years old.

What they're saying

"Size, skating, maturity, and confident puck-moving capabilities, it's all there for Simashev," wrote FloHockey's Chris Peters. "His offensive numbers were somewhat troubling this year, but they improved as the season wore on, and he showed a more aggressive offensive skill set when playing among his age peers as opposed to playing with pros."

"He is an excellent skater, physical force, deft puck-handler, crisp passer, and an intelligent defender with a booming shot," wrote The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari. "Simashev could easily be the best defender in the draft class if he can pull his package all together when surrounded by talent that is better."

"Simashev competes hard, has some physicality in his game, and showed in the first half he could play against men at a young age," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "I see a lot of indicators of a two-way top-pair defenseman in the NHL, even if I don't think he'll put up big point totals."

Click here to watch Simashev's highlights.

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