Ranking the top 25 players in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

With the NHL playoffs set to begin Wednesday, we rank the top 25 players who are hoping to claim the Stanley Cup (2018-19 stats in tables):

25. Sebastian Aho, Carolina HurricanesGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	30	53	83	20:09

Aho is one of the NHL's most unheralded young stars, but this postseason should put him firmly on the national radar. It'll be well-deserved for the leading scorer on one of the league's most entertaining teams.

24. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights

GP	W	L	OTL	GAA	SV%
61	35	21	5	2.51	.913

The three-time Stanley Cup champion is back and ready to rock. Fleury lost consecutive tuneup games after returning from injury on April 4, but more importantly, he looked healthy between the pipes. Since 2014, the 34-year old is tied for third in both postseason appearances and playoff wins.

23. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
65	16	40	56	25:58

The Penguins have never missed the playoffs with Letang on their roster. Since the start of the decade, the 31-year-old ranks second in postseason points by a defenseman and has three Stanley Cup championships to show for his work.

22. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	38	46	84	21:52

Scheifele just wrapped up his second straight point-per-game season, and he'll need to carry that success into the playoffs for the Jets to capitalize on their Stanley Cup aspirations. The big center doesn't have a ton of postseason experience, but proved he's a big-time performer with 14 goals in 17 playoff games last spring.

21. Mark Stone, Golden Knights

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
77	33	40	73	19:53

Stone is probably the least flashy player on this list, but his high hockey IQ and 200-foot game always make his presence felt on the ice. The winger's 122 takeaways led the league by a wide margin in 2018-19, and he ranked third in Relative Corsi For percentage, which measures how effective a player is at driving possession.

20. David Pastrnak, Boston BruinsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
66	38	43	81	18:45

After returning from a thumb injury on March 19, Pastrnak racked up seven goals and 15 points in 10 games to end the campaign. And despite missing an extended period with the ailment, the 22-year-old marksman scored a career-high 38 goals overall. Last season, Pastrnak tallied 20 points in 12 playoff contests, which were highlighted by a six-point outing in Game 2 of the opening round against the Maple Leafs.

19. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	26	68	94	19:49

Marner's magic was on full display throughout his third NHL campaign. The 21-year-old became the first Maple Leaf in more than 20 years to hit the 90-point mark and led the team in scoring for a second straight season. He's been the Leafs' top playoff performer in the past, too, producing at a point-per-game-pace in 13 career contests, which included nine points in seven games against the Bruins last year.

18. Blake Wheeler, Jets

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	20	71	91	20:43

Wheeler is the ultimate captain and set a new Jets franchise record with 71 assists this season to go along with a team-leading 91 points. The 32-year-old didn't miss a beat last postseason, contributing 21 points in 17 contests en route to the Western Conference Final.

17. John Tavares, Maple Leafs

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	47	41	88	19:05

It's safe to say Tavares got comfortable during his first season playing at home, as the Mississauga, Ontario, native set a franchise record for goals by a centerman and by a first-year Maple Leaf. The 88 points also marked a career high, as the 28-year-old is playing the best hockey of his life heading into the playoffs.

16. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
79	41	51	92	18:55

An incredible playoff run last spring saw Point rack up 16 points in 17 games while turning heads with his elite two-way play. The 5-foot-10 center went on to produce a breakout campaign in 2018-19 - enjoying one of the biggest statistical improvements in the league - and will look to keep it going in the postseason.

15. Erik Karlsson, San Jose SharksIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
53	3	42	45	24:29

It's a shame that injuries sidelined Karlsson in the second half of the season, as he was rounding into top form after a slow start. Still, the defenseman racked up almost a point per game in his first campaign with the Sharks, including 27 points in his last 23 contests. We've seen Karlsson rise to the occasion as a playoff workhorse, and he'll need to play a key role for San Jose this time around.

14. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

GP	W	L	OTL	GAA	SV%
53	39	10	4	2.40	.925

Vasilevskiy was incredibly consistent while backstopping one of the greatest teams in NHL history this season, losing back-to-back starts just once and never in regulation. The 24-year old is also no stranger to pressure, with 29 postseason appearances under his belt, including two in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final as a 20-year-old.

13. Brent Burns, Sharks

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	16	67	83	25:06

Burns notched a career-high 83 points this season, which led all NHL blue-liners. The 2016-17 Norris Trophy winner is seemingly getting better with age, as he became just the eighth defenseman in league history to record his first 80-point season at 34 or older. The strapping defenseman also brings a boatload of postseason experience to the table with 46 points in 74 career contests.

12. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
68	37	36	73	18:33

These playoffs will be a chance at redemption for Matthews, who found himself under the microscope last spring while recording only two points versus the Bruins. Now, he'll get another shot at Boston following his best regular season yet.

11. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	36	63	99	20:04

Gaudreau hasn't gotten enough love this season despite being the offensive catalyst for the resurgent Flames. "Johnny Hockey" took a big step forward in 2018-19, setting career highs in goals, assists, and points while further establishing himself as one of the game's most dynamic, consistent, and creative players.

10. Steven Stamkos, LightningScott Audette / National Hockey League / Getty

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	45	53	98	18:18

It's not very often that a 45-goal scorer flies under the radar, but teammate Nikita Kucherov's dominant play allowed Stamkos to quietly assemble the best season of his career. The two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner hit the 40-goal mark for the first time in four campaigns and notched a career-high 98 points while captaining one of the greatest teams in league history.

9. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
68	21	51	72	18:48

Malkin battled through injury this season but returned to the Penguins' lineup for a few tuneup games down the stretch. During his distinguished postseason career, Geno's notched 165 points in 158 games while earning a Conn Smythe and three titles.

8. Mark Giordano, Flames

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
78	17	57	74	24:14

Giordano produced a career year at age 35 and should warrant serious consideration for both the Norris Trophy and the Masterton. Calgary's captain excels in all situations while serving as the team's unquestioned leader.

7. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	41	58	99	22:05

While Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog missed extended time down the stretch, MacKinnon put the Avalanche on his back. The 23-year-old notched 15 points in the final 14 games, leading Colorado to a 9-3-2 record and into the playoffs. It's the first time the Avalanche have qualified in consecutive seasons since 2006.

6. Brad Marchand, Bruins

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
79	36	64	100	19:37

Marchand has rightfully earned his reputation as a pest, but his well-rounded game was on full display this season. The winger's 100 points easily set a career high, while he led the Bruins with nine game-winning goals, more than double anyone else on the roster.

5. Victor Hedman, LightningMike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
70	12	42	54	22:46

Has there ever been a defenseman with Hedman's combination of size (6-foot-6) and effortless skating stride? The Swede also played fewer minutes in 2018-19 than in any of the last three seasons, so he should be ready to log close to 30 per night when necessary in the playoffs.

4. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
65	32	47	79	18:28

Like his teammate Marchand, Bergeron produced a career year in 2018-19. Despite playing just 65 games, he managed a personal best of 79 points and continued the kind of excellent two-way play you'd expect from a four-time Selke Trophy winner. With 112 games of postseason experience and a Cup win under his belt, Bergeron is the type of player who can be relied upon on the biggest stage.

3. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
81	51	38	89	20:55

Even at age 33, Ovechkin isn't slowing down. He surpassed the 50-goal mark yet again this season after leading all playoff scorers with 15 en route to winning the Stanley Cup last June. There's no reason the veteran can't get it done again.

2. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
82	41	87	128	19:58

What a season it was for Kucherov. The Lightning star blew away the rest of the league with 128 points - the most by a Russian in NHL history and the highest total by any player since Mario Lemieux had 161 in 1995-96. He may not have a Cup victory to his name, but Kucherov was a key piece of Tampa's run to the final in 2015 and has recorded 59 points over 62 career postseason games.

1. Sidney Crosby, Penguins

GP	G	A	P	ATOI
79	35	65	100	21:00

Yes, Kucherov was the most dominant player this season, but Crosby is still the top dog as far as the playoffs are concerned. Sid ranks eighth all time in postseason points per game, and let's not forget those three championships or the back-to-back Conn Smythe Trophy wins.

The Penguins captain is still playing at an elite level, so until that changes, he's the clear choice as the No. 1 player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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