Kaprizov, Suzuki and Matthews headline Sportsnet’s 20-11 tier of NHL top 50

Sportsnet’s panel of Insiders has unveiled the next section of its top 50 NHL players list for 2026-27, releasing the group ranked between 20 and 11. The project is designed as a forward-looking snapshot of the league’s elite, focusing strictly on expected performance this coming season rather than past accomplishments or name recognition.

Contributors from across the network submitted their own 50-player lists, covering all positions. Players earned points based on where they appeared on each ballot, and those totals determined the overall ranking. The newest slice of the list is heavy on star centres and includes one defenceman coming off a record-breaking rookie campaign.

Kaprizov, Boldy and Schaefer headline breakout and bounce-back stories

In Minnesota, both Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov secure places in this tier after standout seasons. Boldy’s 2025-26 represented a clear step into the league’s upper echelon, with 42 goals and 85 points for the Wild that put him among the most productive wingers in the NHL. He also delivered on the Olympic stage for the United States, scoring the opening goal of the gold-medal game on a highlight-reel individual effort.

Kaprizov returned to form after an injury-plagued 2024-25, posting 45 goals and 89 points and earning Hart Trophy votes for the fifth time in his six NHL seasons. He finished near the top of the Rocket Richard race and ranked second in goals among all NHL wingers as Minnesota reached the second round of the playoffs.

On Long Island, 19-year-old Matthew Schaefer cracks the list after a stunning first year with the New York Islanders. The rookie defenceman produced 23 goals and 59 points, becoming the youngest blueliner in NHL history to hit 50 points and tying Brian Leetch’s mark for goals by a rookie defenceman. With that kind of impact at such a young age, expectations around his sophomore season are already high.

Marner, Rantanen and Dahlin anchor teams in transition

Mitch Marner appears in this range after his first full season with the Vegas Golden Knights. Although his 80 points in 2025-26 fell short of the 100-point plateau he reached the year prior, he drove Vegas’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, leading all playoff scorers with 29 points in 22 games.

Mikko Rantanen’s season in Dallas was interrupted by an MCL tear at the Milan Olympics, but he still put up 77 points in 64 games in his first full year with the Stars. He returned in late March, recorded a goal and an assist in his first game back and dressed for the playoffs, as Dallas looks for a healthy season from its $12-million forward.

Rasmus Dahlin lands in this band after what looks like a peak season with the Buffalo Sabres. Eight years removed from being selected first overall, the 26-year-old captain produced 19 goals and a career-best 74 points, earning his first Norris Trophy nomination. More importantly for the franchise, he helped steer Buffalo to a division title for the first time since 2010 and a long-awaited playoff return, finishing second in team scoring in the post-season.

Matthews drops, Suzuki climbs as Crosby and Barkov stay elite

At centre, several captains are central to this portion of the ranking. Auston Matthews, who cracked the Insiders’ top 10 a year ago, slips into the mid-teens after the most difficult season of his Toronto Maple Leafs tenure. Limited to 60 games and dealing with a knee injury suffered in mid-March, he finished with 27 goals and 53 points, both career lows. Toronto enters 2026-27 with a new general manager, a new head coach and an injection of talent in 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna, changes the club hopes can help restore Matthews to his usual level.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki moves the other way. After being ranked 29th last year, he jumps into the 14th spot following his first 100-point season, which brought Hart Trophy consideration and his first Selke Trophy. He then led Montreal in playoff scoring as the Canadiens reached the third round and edged closer to full-fledged contender status.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby continues to defy age and remains in the Insiders’ upper tier. Approaching 40, he followed three straight 90-point seasons with another productive year, totalling 29 goals and 74 points in 68 games despite a knee injury at the Olympics. His play again drew Hart and Selke votes as Pittsburgh fought its way back into the playoffs.

Aleksander Barkov’s presence in this group underlines how valuable he is to the Florida Panthers. The captain missed all of 2025-26 after tearing his ACL and MCL in training camp, and the Panthers, fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, fell out of the playoff picture without him. Now healthy, Barkov returns to the lineup after a 2024-25 season in which he scored 71 points in 67 games and captured his third Selke, and he is expected to be central to Florida’s attempt to rejoin the Eastern Conference elite.