Juraj Slafkovsky headlines new 60‑51 tier in THN’s NHL top‑80 list

Marking its 80th anniversary, The Hockey News has released the latest section of its NHL top‑80 players list for the 2026‑27 season, revealing those slotted between 60 and 51. This instalment mixes decorated veterans, prime‑age stars and a wave of young scorers pushing toward the league’s upper tier.

Malkin, Panarin and Shesterkin still among game’s best

The new tier opens with Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins at No. 60. Once a fixture in any top‑10 conversation and a past Conn Smythe, Hart Trophy and three‑time Stanley Cup winner, he remains a major offensive driver when healthy. After a relatively quiet 2024‑25 season, he bounced back last year with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games, an indication he can still produce even as he hits 40.

Artemi Panarin, now a key figure for the Los Angeles Kings, also lands in this range. Since arriving in the NHL in 2015, he has reached the 30‑goal mark five times and averaged at least 70 points per season over a 10‑year span. At age 34, The Hockey News notes his peak years are likely behind him, but he continues to create and finish plays at a rate that keeps him among the most impactful wingers of his era.

In goal, New York Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin is recognized for elite consistency. A former Vezina Trophy winner, he has never posted a save percentage below .905 and has been at .912 or better in six of his seven NHL seasons. While last year did not match his most dominant campaigns, the ranking suggests he can climb again if he regains his usual form, particularly when the spotlight brightens in the playoffs.

Slafkovsky and rising scorers take centre stage

Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most notable climbers in this slice of the list, coming in at No. 56. Selected at the top of the draft with heavy expectations, he has steadily expanded his game through three and a half NHL seasons. In 2025‑26, he broke through with 30 goals and 73 points in 82 games, a step that underscores his potential as a long‑term offensive pillar in Montreal.

Dylan Guenther, now a central piece for the Utah Mammoth, is highlighted as another emerging force. Drafted ninth overall in 2021, he spent time bouncing between the NHL, AHL and WHL before turning a corner in 2024‑25 with 27 goals and 60 points. He built on that last season with 40 goals and 73 points, and The Hockey News points out that, even in a quieter market, Utah views him as a critical part of its blueprint for success.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier is also singled out as a budding top‑line threat. After a standout college career at Boston College, he stepped into the NHL in 2024‑25 and scored 20 goals with 44 points as a rookie. He then took another leap last year, reaching 41 goals and 69 points, leading THN to characterize him as one of the game’s premier young wingers on a Ducks team that could quickly become more dangerous offensively.

Hagel, DeBrincat, Tkachuk and Kempe anchor contenders

Brandon Hagel’s steady rise with the Tampa Bay Lightning earns him a place in this tier. After a slower adjustment to the league, his move to Tampa in 2021‑22 coincided with a breakout; over his four full seasons with the Lightning, he has produced at least 30 goals and 74 points three times, including each of the past two years. His appearances with Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 4 Nations Face‑Off further underline his stature.

Detroit Red Wings sniper Alex DeBrincat is recognized for his finishing touch. In three of the past five seasons, he has hit at least 39 goals and 67 points, fuelled by pinpoint shooting and soft hands that allow him to close out plays. He is not known for a physical game, but his goal‑scoring track record places him among the league’s most reliable offensive producers.

Matthew Tkachuk, who forced a move from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, is portrayed as both polarizing and undeniably elite. His offensive totals have dipped over the last two seasons, down to 22 goals and 59 points in his most recent campaign, yet his edge and competitiveness remain central to his value. The Hockey News stresses that his ultimate evaluation will hinge on what he delivers in the playoffs.

Rounding out the group, Adrian Kempe of the Kings is cited as the club’s most dependable source of offence since 2021. He has reached at least 35 goals and 67 points in four of the last five seasons and has recorded no fewer than 37 assists and 73 points in each of the past three. THN notes that his lack of playoff runs beyond the first round could influence how high he can climb in future editions of the rankings.