Top 100 NHL players: 60-41

Leading up to the start of the 2021-22 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 Oct. 11.

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

60. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty

Werenski has been an offensive threat ever since making his debut - he's tied for third in goals among NHL defensemen with 65, dating back to 2016. However, he'll be without Seth Jones in 2021-22 and will need to step up as the Blue Jackets' new No. 1.

59. Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens

Petry produced a career year offensively last campaign, ranking among the league leaders with 42 points in 55 games. The Canadiens blue-liner has been one of the NHL's most underrated players for years now, in addition to collecting at least 40 points in four consecutive seasons.

58. Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Guentzel often doesn't get the respect he deserves, but that's part of the price you pay when you play alongside Sidney Crosby. The left-winger has played over a point-per-game pace over the last two campaigns with the Penguins and can score goals just as easily as he can dish assists.

57. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

The younger Tkachuk brother is captain material for the up-and-coming Senators, contributing points, physicality, and intangibles each and every night. The young forward's only going to get more effective as he matures, and it's often hard to remember he's only 22.

56. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers

Nurse took major offensive strides last season, recording 16 goals and 20 assists in 56 contests. The 26-year-old could still stand to improve defensively, but as a strong skater standing at 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, he has all the physical capabilities to do so.

55. Thomas Chabot, Senators Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Over the past two campaigns, it's been Chabot and Drew Doughty leading all NHL defensemen in average ice time. The 24-year-old Sens star has a lot on his plate and has quietly risen to the challenge.

54. Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary Flames

The elder Tkachuk underwhelmed to an extent in 2021, but so did the Flames as a whole. Calgary's versatile pest continues to be one of the few players in the league that provide scoring and the ability to regularly get under opponents' skin.

53. John Carlson, Washington Capitals

Carlson was bound to regress a bit after the best season of his career in 2019-20, but he's still among the NHL's best when it comes to producing offense. Since 2017, the Capitals blue-liner ranks third at his position in goals (53) and first in points (257).

52. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets

Ehlers enjoyed his breakout campaign with the Jets in 2021, managing 46 points in 47 games. At top speed, he's one of the fastest skaters in the league, and his deceptive skillset makes him a nightmare for opposing defenders.

51. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

Nylander silenced just about all of his critics this past spring, carrying the Leafs' offense in the playoffs as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner struggled while tallying five goals and three assists in seven contests.

50. Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty

Chychrun stunned the desert in the 2020-21 season. A strong skater with a big-time shot, the 23-year-old defenseman trailed only Phil Kessel with 41 points in 56 games while leading all Coyotes skaters in ice time. Chychrun's only going to get scarier over time.

49. Taylor Hall, Boston Bruins

What a difference a change of scenery made for Hall, the 2017-18 MVP who struggled mightily in his brief foray with the moribund Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins' skill undoubtedly helped Hall return to form, but he was also incredibly unlucky with the Sabres, and he remains one of the NHL's best left-wingers.

48. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

Landeskog's decision to re-sign with the Avalanche this summer was a wise one. Passing up the option to play alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen would have been foolish, as the trio combine to make one of the league's best lines.

47. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights

Pacioretty remains an elite play driver and lethal finisher as he approaches 33 years of age. The forward's presence on the Golden Knights' top line is a key reason why they're one of the NHL's best.

46. John Tavares, Maple Leafs

Tavares has begun to show modest signs of decline at age 31, but he's still undoubtedly a top-line caliber center. He produced at a near point-per-game rate last campaign despite a slow start.

45. Kyle Connor, Jets Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty

A perennial scoring threat, Connor has been among Winnipeg's top three in goals for the past four seasons. With 50 points in 56 matchups last campaign, the 24-year-old is one of the quietest stars in the league.

44. Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes

Svechnikov has dropped plenty of jaws with his numerous lacrosse-style goals, but he's far more than a one-trick pony. The 21-year-old Hurricanes star is a consistent playmaker whose skill evokes that of a much older forward.

43. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Stamkos is still one of the NHL's top stars as long as he can stay healthy. Since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, his 1.12 points per game ranks 10th in the league. The fact that Stamkos is arguably the Lightning's fifth-best player is simply unfair.

42. Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks

All DeBrincat does is score. The winger's one of the lesser-known names on a Blackhawks team laden with veteran standouts, but he's the future of the franchise and has 50-goal potential.

41. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

Hughes still needs to refine his defensive game, but he's certainly one of the most exciting and dynamic blue-liners in the NHL. Oh, and he's just 21 years old.

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