Top 100 NHL players: 50-31

Leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal players every day until the top 10 are unveiled Oct. 6.

100-71 | 70-51 | 50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1

2023-24 rank: NR

Thomas surges into the top 50 after tallying career marks in goals (26), assists (60), and points (86). Still only 25 years old, Thomas has established himself as the Blues' top forward and among the best distributors in the league.

2023-24 rank: NR

The Canadiens' top line of Cole Caufield, Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky is starting to come together, and the captain is key to the trio's success. Suzuki led Montreal with 33 goals and 77 points in 82 games while setting new career highs in all three offensive categories. The 25-year-old center also won 52.6% of his faceoffs and finished 13th in Selke Trophy voting.

2023-24 rank: 36

Hintz is a big reason the Dallas Stars' top line is one of the NHL's most electric units. The Finnish forward can score - he's topped 30 goals for three straight seasons - and won 56.2% of his faceoffs last season. But Hintz also excels defensively, finishing sixth in Selke Trophy voting in 2023-24.

2023-24 rank: 91

Bedard missed a good chunk of his rookie season but his Calder Trophy campaign was dazzling enough to skyrocket him up the list. His lethal wrist shot and offensive instincts translated seamlessly into the NHL, and with a stronger supporting cast around him in Year 2, we're expecting big things out of the 19-year-old.

2023-24 rank: 41

Toews is not just the Robin to Cale Makar's Batman. Though he often gets lost in Makar's shadow, he's a legitimate No. 1 defenseman in his own right. Toews has produced three consecutive 50-point seasons and is an elite play driver. He's seemingly a lock for top-paring duty for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

2023-24 rank: 33

In an era where starting goaltenders are playing fewer and fewer games, Saros is one of the only netminders left who's a lock to play over 60 contests. He's led the NHL in saves for the past two years and has finished in the top six in Vezina Trophy voting for the past four seasons. He's firmly in the league's elite, which is why the Predators locked up him long term this summer.

2023-24 rank: NR

At long last, Bobrovsky is a Stanley Cup champion. The veteran netminder was named a Vezina Trophy finalist - he posted 36 wins and a .915 save percentage in the regular season - but Playoff Bob is a different beast. Despite squaring off against some of the best offenses in the league last spring, Bobrovsky held strong with a .906 clip and ranked third in goals saved above expected (7.81).

2023-24 rank: 52

Morrissey is one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. The "Norrissey" nickname Winnipeg Jets fans gave him is a stretch, but the 29-year-old racks up big offensive numbers for a blue-liner while taking on a hefty workload. Morrissey finished one point shy of collecting 70 following a 76-point effort, and he played more than 24 minutes per game in each of the last two campaigns.

2023-24 rank: NR

Contract drama throughout training camp has made many forget how good Swayman was last year. He took over Boston's No. 1 job in the regular season, utterly dominated the Maple Leafs in Round 1, and then was the main reason the Bruins put up a fight against the Panthers in Round 2. Swayman's undeniably one of the best young goalies in the NHL, but it'll be fascinating to see if the messy negotiations affect his play whenever he returns to the ice.

2023-24 rank: NR

Demko put together the finest campaign of his career in 2023-24, finishing as the Vezina Trophy runner-up with a .918 save percentage in 51 games. He finished fourth among NHL goalies in Evolving-Hockey's goals saved above expected metric. But injury concerns stemming from last season beg the question of whether Demko can hold up as a workhorse, No. 1 netminder.

2023-24 rank: NR

The breakout player from the Panthers' Stanley Cup triumph, Forsling's rise is nothing short of remarkable. A waiver-wire pickup in 2021, he's grown into an elite, shutdown defenseman with his high-end skating and stick-checking. He led the NHL with a plus-56 rating last season and was leaned on as Florida's top defender in the playoffs over Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad. And in true Panthers fashion, they have him locked in for less than $6 million against the cap.

2023-24 rank: 53

Slavin continues to be one of the best defensive defensemen in the league - and the Carolina Hurricanes rewarded him with an eight-year, $51.17-million extension which kicks in next season. The 30-year-old logged 37 points, 71 takeaways, and just eight penalty minutes in 81 games in 2023-24, ultimately earning him his second career Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

2023-24 rank: 61

The Tampa Bay Lightning traded for and then signed Guentzel after their longtime captain and face of the franchise, Steven Stamkos, left for Nashville. Guentzel can't replace Stamkos' leadership, but the 29-year-old winger was a 30-goal scorer last season and he's buried 40 twice. He should thrive alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov while making those stars look even better.

2023-24 rank: 38

Tkachuk netted a career-high 37 goals last season and finished third in the league with 294 hits. He's the heartbeat of the Senators, and leads by example with physicality and production each and every night. The younger Tkachuk is built for the playoffs, the Senators just have to get there.

2023-24 rank: NR

Dobson erupted for 70 points in 79 games last season, finishing eighth in Norris Trophy voting. Defensemen with his 6-foot-4 frame, impressive mobility, and offensive gifts don't come around too often. At just 24 years old, he's going to be in Norris discussions for years to come.

2023-24 rank: 27

Dahlin is one of the league's top workhorse defensemen: Only Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson have played more minutes than Dahlin over the past two seasons. He's also an elite defensive threat - the 24-year-old was one of only four defensemen to hit the 20-goal mark last year despite a 14-point drop in overall production. Now entering his prime, Dahlin will be a Norris contender for seasons to come.

2023-24 rank: 97

Hyman went from barely making this list last season to just missing out on the top 30 this time around. The veteran forward recorded a team-leading 54 goals in 80 games, which was a major contributor to his atmospheric ascension. Thirty-nine of those tallies came at even strength, good for the third most in the NHL behind only Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews.

2023-24 rank: 15

Robertson regressed offensively last season after amassing 109 points in the previous campaign, but he still posted nearly a point per game (80 while suiting up for all 82), including 51 assists. Much like Hintz, Robertson also provides strong defensive play up front, and his commendable all-around abilities keep him in the discussion of the league's top wingers.

2023-24 rank: 25

Marner is undisputedly one of the league's most talented wingers, but another disappointing playoff forced him down our rankings. A big postseason in 2025 could change the minds of many Toronto fans - and it may be his last shot with his hometown club as free agency looms.

2023-24 rank: 26

Hedman racked up 76 points in 2023-24, the second-highest total of his career. While that may indicate he's still at the top of his game, the underlying numbers paint a different picture. His minus-6.9 defensive goals above replacement was the second-worst among NHL blue-liners a year ago. But he's still a star offensively and remains worthy of a prime spot on this list.