Top 100 NHL players: 80-61

Leading up to the start of the 2021 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. Injuries affecting players entering the season have been taken into consideration. We'll reveal 20 players every day until the top 20 is unveiled Jan. 12.

100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1

80. Erik Karlsson, Sharks Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Injuries have set Karlsson back a step, but even his last three "down" seasons have resulted in an average of 67 points per 82 games. He claims his ailments are a thing of the past, but we'll have to see it before we believe it.

79. Tyler Seguin, Stars

Seguin further established himself as one of the league's elite pivots after leading the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in September. The Stars' alternate captain will be sidelined for most of the regular season but should be healthy in time to help the club make another deep playoff push.

78. Anthony Cirelli, Lightning

Cirelli is blossoming into one of the NHL's finest two-way pivots. He showed the world what he can do by playing a crucial role in the Tampa Bay Lightning's Cup run this past summer. Just another mid-round gem unearthed by the Lightning's top-tier scouting department.

77. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Capitals

Kuznetsov had a quiet season last year by his standards, but he was still on pace to put up a respectable 67 points. The Russian will need to do some heavy lifting this year as the Washington Capitals are set to face some stiff competition in a tough East Division.

76. Brady Tkachuk, Senators Andre Ringuette / National Hockey League / Getty

Don't mistake Tkachuk's underwhelming - but nearly identical - goal and point totals during his first two NHL seasons as an indicator of growing pains. The talented 21-year-old forward has already proven he can provide a highly coveted mix of skill and grit, just like his father and brother.

75. Jake Guentzel, Penguins

Those who thought Guentzel was merely a product of Sidney Crosby were proven wrong last season. Guentzel recorded 12 goals and 17 assists in the 22 games he played without Crosby.

74. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Blue Jackets

Dubois will look to carry his success in the bubble into his fourth NHL season. The 6-foot-3 pivot has a strong two-way game and could develop into a bona fide star if he can improve his scoring touch.

73. Ryan Ellis, Predators

Ellis is one of the league's best defenders by several advanced metrics. He's quietly been the rock on Nashville's deep blue line for years.

72. Ben Bishop, Stars

Bishop is expected to be sidelined for a decent chunk of the upcoming campaign, but he's among the league's best goalies when he's in Dallas' crease. His .927 save percentage is No. 1 among all netminders over the last two seasons.

71. Thomas Chabot, Senators

The Ottawa Senators have handed Chabot heavy minutes partly out of necessity, but that trust is also a testament to the 23-year-old's abilities. He's a franchise cornerstone and a dependable workhorse on the back end.

70. Claude Giroux, Flyers

Giroux has enjoyed a late-career offensive resurgence after moving from center to the wing prior to the 2017-18 campaign. However, his point total has declined in three straight seasons, so it wouldn't be surprising if he doesn't make next year's list.

69. John Gibson, Ducks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Gibson has been strong for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks despite compiling the worst statistical season of his young career in 2019-20. The 27-year-old is an absolute horse between the pipes, logging the sixth-most minutes among all netminders since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.

68. Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals

Now well into his 30s, Backstrom is still as smooth and reliable as ever. The Capitals pivot, who's a major catalyst in the team's attack, is rapidly approaching 1,000 career points.

67. Kris Letang, Penguins

Letang isn't often talked about when discussing the league's top defensemen anymore, but the 33-year-old is quietly still putting up big numbers with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He averaged 0.72 points per game last season, which was good for 11th among all blue-liners.

66. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are now in rebuilding mode, but that won't stop the ultra-competitive Toews from producing or playing at a high level. Chicago's captain is no longer one of the best at his position, but the 32-year-old remains a skilled two-way center who racked up 60 points across 70 games last season.

65. Bo Horvat, Canucks Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Horvat proved just how much of a force he can be in the playoffs, potting 10 goals in 17 contests. He often draws tough defensive matchups and typically isn't flanked by Vancouver's most talented wingers, but he still manages to produce strong underlying numbers.

64. Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs

The smooth-skating rearguard is the backbone of an improved Toronto Maple Leafs blue line. Rielly ranks eighth among all defensemen with 151 points over the last three seasons. He'll be looking to bounce back after an injury-riddled campaign in 2019-20.

63. Torey Krug, Blues

Krug ranks seventh among all defenders in points since becoming an NHL regular in 2013-14. He's averaged over 20 minutes per night over that span, too, proving himself deserving of the big contract the St. Louis Blues gave him this offseason as a true top-pairing blue-liner.

62. Jacob Markstrom, Flames

Markstrom will look to replicate last season's Vezina-worthy campaign in his first year with the Calgary Flames. His .838 high-danger save percentage was sixth among goalies, while his .924 even-strength save percentage ranked 10th.

61. Patrik Laine, Jets

The Winnipeg Jets' best offseason move was holding onto Laine amid rampant speculation about the Finnish forward's future. It would be understandable if the 22-year-old felt slighted on a deep Winnipeg squad, but he's one of the league's most promising goal-scorers.

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