theScore's top 100 NHL players: 40-31
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
40. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 56 | 43 | 25 |
Draisaitl is coming off a slight regression after a strong 2016-17 campaign that saw him rewarded with an eight-year, $68-million contract. Draisaitl's skill has always been the Oilers' ace in the hole. When he and Connor McDavid are paired together, they're about as unstoppable of a duo as they come. -- Hagerman
39. Filip Forsberg, Predators| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 39 | 40 | 47 |
Forsberg didn't play all 82 games last season for the first time since becoming a regular NHLer, yet he still managed to post a career-high 38 assists while matching his career-best 64 points in only 67 contests before going over a point per game in the playoffs. The skilled winger is still only 24 and his offensive prowess is an invaluable element of Nashville's attack. -- Gold-Smith
38. Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks
Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 52 | 47 | 42 |
Getzlaf is such rare blend of size, physicality, skill, and finesse. He has some of the league's softest hands and an underrated shot. He also has all the intangibles you'd want in a captain. He hasn't missed a beat as he approaches his mid-30s, anchoring a mediocre Ducks offense with 61 points in 56 games during an injury-shortened 2017-18 campaign. -- Wegman
37. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
The more Vasilevskiy is in the net, the better he gets. In a career-high 64 starts last season, the dynamic Lightning netminder led the league in wins (44) and shutouts (eight), while posting a .920 save percentage. At only 24, Vasilevskiy will be the backbone for a dangerous Tampa team for years to come. -- O'Leary
36. Johnny Gaudreau, Flames
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 34 | 37 | 41 |
Gaudreau has led the Calgary Flames in scoring the past three seasons, and while the club may have missed the playoffs last year, the 25-year-old put up a career-best 84 points. He's quickly emerged as one of the most creative and shifty players in the league. The Flames' success this season and going forward lies largely in his hands. -- Hagerman
35. Dustin Byfuglien, Jets| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 37 | 38 | 43 |
Byfuglien contributes in so many ways, and he's a workhorse. He has a rare combination of imposing physicality and consistent offensive production reminiscent of Zdeno Chara in his prime. Whether it's a devastating hit or a blistering shot that leads to a goal, Byfuglien's always doing something to make an impact. -- Gold-Smith
34. David Pastrnak, Bruins
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 30 | 33 | 30 |
The trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Pastrnak has gained a reputation as the best line in the league, and the improved play of the latter is a big part of that. Pastrnak potted a career-high 80 points last season. He was also a monster in the playoffs with 20 points in 12 games while breaking a record previously held by Wayne Gretzky in the process. -- Hagerman
33. Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 36 | 35 | 34 |
Tarasenko's numbers took a slight hit last season, but you know you're among the game's elite when 33 goals and 33 assists is considered a "down" year. Last season, he fired 306 shots on goal but had an uncharacteristically low shooting percentage of 10.8 percent. A little extra luck, plus a new pivot in Ryan O'Reilly, and Tarasenko could easily return to his usual standards. -- O'Leary
32. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets
Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 25 | 31 | 33 |
The world's best athletes elevate their game when it matters most, and Bobrovsky has failed to do that. He's just 5-14 in his postseason career with an .891 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average. Until he exercises his playoff demons, I can't consider him the very best at his position - no matter how much he excels in the regular season. -- Wegman
31. Seth Jones, Blue Jackets| Wegman | O'Leary | Gold-Smith | Hagerman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 28 | 32 | 38 |
If there was any doubt, Jones firmly established himself as one of the game's best young defensemen with a breakout 57-point season in 2017-18, playing over 24 minutes per game in the process. A preseason knee sprain will keep him out for at least a month, but the 23-year-old's wealth of talent is undeniable. -- Gold-Smith
Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.