theScore's top 100 NHL players: 90-81
Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
90. Brayden Point, Lightning| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 93 | 87 | 83 |
Point took a huge step last season after an admirable rookie campaign. He hit the 30-goal mark for the first time, finishing second on the club behind only Nikita Kucherov, while contributing 66 points. He put up another 16 points in 17 playoff games. -- Hagerman
89. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| NR | 68 | 91 | 81 |
Despite a decline in production over recent years, Toews has the benefit of an impeccable resume to back his case as one of the league's best players. He may not be winning Conn Smythes anymore, but Toews remains one of the game's most recognizable faces and can be depended on in all situations. -- O'Leary
88. Joe Pavelski, Sharks
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 99 | 82 | 97 |
Pavelski's performance has declined over the past two seasons, but he remains one of the NHL's most durable, versatile, and consistent two-way forwards. -- Wegman
87. Nikolaj Ehlers, Jets| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | 91 | 90 | 70 |
Ehlers is one of the most dynamic young talents in the NHL and is a key cog in the Jets' overwhelming offense. He skates with blistering pace and racked up 29 goals last season despite averaging only 16 minutes of ice time per game. The sky is the limit. -- O'Leary
86. Hampus Lindholm, Ducks
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 65 | NR | NR |
Lindholm is a piece every NHL team would covet for their blue line. The swift-skating 24-year-old drives possession effectively and can be used dependably in all scenarios. He also poured in a career-high 13 goals last season despite playing just 69 games. -- O'Leary
85. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Sharks| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| NR | 81 | 85 | 67 |
Vlasic has become one of the premiere defensive defensemen in the league. He's remained disciplined despite his rugged style of play, taking just two minor penalties during the 2017-18 season, and both were for a delay of game. Meanwhile, he played 72.3 percent of his five-on-five ice time against opposing top-six forwards, the fourth-highest percentage in the NHL. -- Hagerman
84. Jonathan Marchessault, Golden Knights
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | 90 | 77 | 89 |
The Florida Panthers probably weren't expecting Marchessault to repeat his 30-goal 2016-17 season when they exposed him in the expansion draft, but he nearly matched it with the Vegas Golden Knights. Marchessault poured in 27 goals and piled up a career-high 75 points in 77 games, and was even better in the playoffs. He's the real deal. -- Gold-Smith
83. Tuukka Rask, Bruins| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 78 | 84 | 77 |
Rask appeared in fewer games over an 82-game schedule last season (54) than he's played since 2011-12. However, he proved he's still a reliable goaltender when healthy, posting a .917 save percentage and a better high-danger save percentage than Connor Hellebuyck and Frederik Andersen, per Corsica. The 31-year-old remains a model of consistency. -- Gold-Smith
82. Eric Staal, Wild
Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | NR | 89 | 64 |
The eldest Staal brother is coming off a bounce-back season for the ages, finishing fourth in the league with 42 goals. An inflated 17.4 shooting percentage played a part, but he's undoubtedly reestablished himself as one of the league's premier power forwards. -- Wegman
81. Mikael Granlund, Wild| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | NR | 83 | 71 |
Granlund is at least partially responsible for Staal's reemergence. Since moving from center to the wing prior to the 2016-17 season, the highly-skilled Finn has collected 136 points in 158 games, proving to be the driving force of the Wild's offensive attack. -- Wegman
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