Leading up to the start of the 2019-20 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled Oct. 2.
Johnny Hockey had his best year during the 2018-19 season, setting personal bests in goals (36), assists (63), and points (99). His efforts helped lead the Flames to their best regular season since 1988-89 when they went on to win the Stanley Cup. Gaudreau didn't find the same kind of postseason success with just one point in a five-game first-round loss, so he'll be chomping at the bit for a shot at playoff redemption.
19. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning
The NHL's best goalie was a major reason why Tampa Bay was so dominant in the 2018-19 regular season. Vasilevskiy posted a career-high .925 save percentage en route to claiming the Vezina Trophy for the first time, and he's improved in each of the last three campaigns. Can the 25-year-old get even better this season?
18. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers
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The big German went scorched-earth in 2018-19 and became the first Oilers player to record a 50-goal season since Wayne Gretzky in 1986-87. Draisaitl isn't just a goal-scorer, either. His career-best 55 assists ranked second on the club to only Connor McDavid.
17. Taylor Hall, Devils
After he was limited to just 33 games last year, it can be easy to forget that Hall is one of the NHL's most dynamic players. The 27-year-old won the Hart Trophy with 93 points in 2017-18, but next season could be a career year for one of the most powerful skaters in the league after the Devils beefed up in the offseason.
16. Brad Marchand, Bruins
Marchand may not be the most popular player outside of Boston, but his impact on the ice is undeniable. Often known more for his ability to pester the opposition, Marchand took his game to another level last year, reaching the 100-point mark for the first time in his career and then equalling Ryan O'Reilly for the league lead with 23 postseason points.
15. Steven Stamkos, Lightning
The captain of the NHL's most watchable team is a huge part of its fearsome offensive attack, and he remains one of the league's brightest stars. Stamkos was also a major contributor to linemate Nikita Kucherov's 2018-19 Hart Trophy exploits, pouring in 45 goals and a career-high 98 points.
14. Brent Burns, Sharks
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Will Burns ever slow down? It appears the 34-year-old rearguard is only getting better with age. Burns has reached the 60-point mark in five straight campaigns, including a career-high 83 point season in 2018-19. His 101 goals in that span lead all NHL defensemen by a wide margin of 17.
13. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
Should the Selke just be renamed the Bergeron? The Bruins pivot has been named the NHL's top defensive forward a record-tying four times. He likely could've added to that total, but injuries have held him out of a combined 35 games over the past two years. He may be 34 now, but he's coming off a career-best 79 point season despite skating in just 65 contests.
12. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
Barkov emerged as a premier two-way player last season after several years as a Selke Trophy contender. The 24-year-old added elite offensive production to his defensive acumen, putting up a career-high 98 points, 18 higher than his previous best, and helping bring a lot of optimism for the future in Sunrise.
11. John Tavares, Maple Leafs
Tavares' first season with Toronto was the best campaign of his career from a production standpoint. The former New York Islanders captain came within three tallies of the 50-goal mark and racked up 88 points while playing every game. Few centers in the NHL possess Tavares' scoring touch, and his quick hands make him very difficult to contain.
This is the first edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last year's infamous first-round sweep was a massive disappointment, but the Lightning remain as deep and dangerous as they were during a historically dominant 2018-19 regular season. Tampa Bay still boasts the NHL's most potent roster, and thus begins the season as the prohibitive Stanley Cup favorite.
2. Boston Bruins
The Bruins came within one win of the Stanley Cup in June and return for 2019-20 with the core intact. After extending blue-liners Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, the reigning Eastern Conference champions are well-positioned for another deep run.
3. St. Louis Blues
Though few expect the Blues to repeat, the defending champs also enter the new campaign with virtually the same core that won a title this past spring. The acquisition of Justin Faulk raises some questions, but it does give the team even more defensive depth. St. Louis remains a well-rounded club with strength in all three positional groups.
4. San Jose Sharks
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San Jose lost some firepower over the summer but still has plenty of it. With Erik Karlsson now signed for the long haul and Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc both inked at reasonable rates, the Sharks are once again poised to be one of the NHL's top clubs.
5. Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights will be as motivated as any team in 2019-20 after last season's controversial first-round exit. Trading away cap casualties Nikita Gusev and Colin Miller might sting, but Vegas still boasts a dangerous top six, a solid top four on the blue line, and the ever-dependable Marc-Andre Fleury in the crease.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
With Mitch Marner's contract situation resolved, the Maple Leafs again enter the season with one of the league's most talented stables of forwards. Will the defense-bolstering addition of Tyson Barrie and continued development of the young core be enough to get them over the first-round hump this spring?
7. Calgary Flames
The Flames got their own high-profile restricted free agent, Matthew Tkachuk, signed to a new deal last week, but a few questions loom large: Can David Rittich shoulder a starter's workload in net? Can Mark Giordano avoid a big regression? Will Milan Lucic make a positive impact following the worst season of his NHL career?
8. Nashville Predators
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Matt Duchene should help improve the league's worst powerplay of 2018-19. P.K. Subban is gone, but Predators general manager David Poile felt comfortable making that trade partly because of what he's seen from Dante Fabbro. Nashville's vaunted blue line likely won't be significantly worse this season.
9. Colorado Avalanche
An utterly fearsome top line, a potential Calder Trophy candidate in Cale Makar, and some new depth up front have the Avalanche poised to take a big step forward in 2019-20. Philipp Grubauer is going to exceed last season's career-high 37 appearances; if he can provide stability over the course of a full schedule, Colorado should be one of the NHL's most dangerous teams.
10. Carolina Hurricanes
There's been some turnover for the Hurricanes following their run to the Eastern Conference Final. The team will still ice one of the NHL's deepest defensive groups, however, as well as a trio of promising young forwards. "Storm Surge" or not, Carolina will be a tough out once again.
11. Washington Capitals
A first-round playoff exit followed by a fairly uneventful offseason in D.C. has cast some doubt on the Capitals' chances of returning to their 2017-2018 championship form. They'll be more intimidating, with Radko Gudas joining a team that already features Tom Wilson, but will that ultimately matter?
12. Dallas Stars
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The Stars could be legitimate contenders in 2019-20. If Jamie Benn can get back on track and Miro Heiskanen takes another step forward in his development, Dallas should improve on last season's wild-card finish and make some noise come playoff time.
13. Florida Panthers
What a difference an offseason makes. Sure, the Panthers didn't get Artemi Panarin, but Sergei Bobrovsky and new head coach Joel Quenneville should turn Florida into a quasi-contender before long, especially considering the talent already on the roster.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
Changes were clearly coming for the Penguins after they were swept out of the first round in the spring, but general manager Jim Rutherford raised eyebrows when he traded Phil Kessel for Alex Galchenyuk and signed Brandon Tanev to a six-year deal. The Penguins' window isn't closed yet, but it's starting to slide shut.
15. New Jersey Devils
The Devils already possessed a solid collection of talent before putting together an incredible offseason. Adding P.K. Subban, Jack Hughes, and Nikita Gusev to a group that includes Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, and Kyle Palmieri all but ensures this New Jersey squad will be much better than the one that finished with the NHL's third-worst record in 2018-19.
16. Winnipeg Jets
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Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor are back in the fold, but Dustin Byfuglien's future is still up in the air and the Jets' defense is depleted regardless of whether the hulking blue-liner returns. Winnipeg has the talent to remain competitive, but this team will be in tough keeping pace in the ultra-tight Central Division.
17. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal only missed the playoffs by two points and had incredible underlying numbers throughout the year. An infusion of new young talent in Nick Suzuki and Ryan Poehling combined with healthy seasons from Carey Price and Shea Weber could be enough to get the Habs over the hump this time around.
18. New York Islanders
The Islanders had a relatively quiet summer - aside from losing their best player from a season ago. Is Semyon Varlamov reliable enough to mask New York's deficiencies as effectively as Robin Lehner did? Time will tell.
19. New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko, Jacob Trouba, and Adam Fox. How the Rangers' new players impact their playoff chances remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Things just got way more entertaining on Broadway.
20. Philadelphia Flyers
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It was a busy offseason in Philly. The Flyers hired a new coach, signed Kevin Hayes to one of the summer's most lucrative free-agent contracts, and made a pair of trades to shore up the blue line. Most importantly, though, goaltender Carter Hart had a .982 save percentage in the preseason and remains this squad's best hope for a postseason appearance.
21. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks will be an interesting team to watch this year. Jeremy Colliton has a full season to make his mark and a few new pieces at his disposal. That said, he has his work cut out for him as this aging roster eyes a playoff berth in the stacked Central.
22. Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes came within four points of the playoffs in 2018-19 despite being ravaged by injuries. With a healthy roster and Phil Kessel in the mix, Arizona might be good enough to squeak in this time.
23. Vancouver Canucks
Expectations are high in Vancouver as the Canucks look to take a step forward this season. The young core is talented, and the front office added J.T. Miller, Micheal Ferland, and Tyler Myers to help build a more complete roster. Anything less than a stake in the wild-card race will be a disappointment.
24. Buffalo Sabres
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General manager Jason Botterill has made a series of shrewd moves to bolster the Sabres' blue line, but offensive depth remains a serious concern. It's tough to see how this club makes noise in the Atlantic relying solely on the contributions of Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner.
25. Edmonton Oilers
Speaking of lackluster offensive depth, the Oilers seemed destined to repeat last year's playoff miss unless Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (once again) put together some truly stellar numbers.
26. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is a team stuck in the middle, but with good health, the Wild could be sneaky. The club's veteran forwards are still quietly productive and the blue line remains solid. The lack of star power might be an issue, though, especially in the Central.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
If the Blue Jackets are to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year, they'll have to do so through hard work and grit. Columbus lost too much talent this summer to be considered a true threat, but it'd be unwise to discount John Tortorella's ability to rally his troops.
28. Anaheim Ducks
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The Ducks are in the midst of a retool but still have a handful of quality pieces. If Dallas Eakins is the right fit behind the bench and John Gibson does what John Gibson does in goal, maybe Anaheim can surprise.
29. Los Angeles Kings
Outside of Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, the Kings are running seriously low on talent. Another high draft pick is the best-case scenario in Hollywood this season.
30. Detroit Red Wings
Steve Yzerman's first year back in Motown is likely to be a long one as the Red Wings' rebuild is still in its infancy. At least Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha should be fun to watch.
31. Ottawa Senators
The Senators sold all their veterans last season and enter the 2019-20 campaign in true scorched-earth form. The wins will be few and far between, but there are some nice pieces to develop this year. Brady Tkachuk, Erik Brannstrom, Thomas Chabot, and Drake Batherson comprise a genuinely promising young core in Ottawa.
Leading up to the start of the 2019-20 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled Oct. 2.
Weber remains one of the game's best defensemen, but he needs to be able to stay on the ice. The six-time All-Star has played just 84 games total over the last two seasons, though he still managed 49 points over that span. The Canadiens captain enters this season healthy and will be key to Montreal's playoff hopes.
59. P.K. Subban, Devils
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The player who was traded for Weber was dealt again following a down statistical year, but he's still a very good defenseman who should bounce back with a slew of exciting new teammates. Subban's puck-moving ability and his knack for creating offense is exactly what New Jersey needs to complement Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes, and Co.
58. Phil Kessel, Coyotes
Kessel has been among the league's most consistent producers this decade. The 31-year-old has played in 774 consecutive contests and has contributed 697 points in that span. He's hit the 20-goal mark in 11 straight campaigns, including six 30-goal seasons, and was a pivotal player in helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
57. John Klingberg, Stars
Klingberg is one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. He's averaged 58 points per 82 games in his career and is a possession monster. The Swede struggles to guard his own blue line and is mistake-prone at times, but his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses.
56. Mathew Barzal, Islanders
While Barzal's production may have taken a step back in 2018-19 following his Calder Trophy-winning season in 2017-18, he remains one of the NHL's brightest young talents. Barzal improved defensively last season under new head coach Barry Trotz and will look to up his totals on the scoresheet to offer the Isles the total package.
55. Ben Bishop, Stars
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Bishop had a resurgent 2018-19 campaign, finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting after leading the league with a career-best .934 save percentage and a 19.88 goals saved above average at five-on-five. The veteran netminder will be 33 in November, but he's showing few signs of slowing down.
54. Sean Couturier, Flyers
The potential Selke Trophy candidate is one of the top two-way players in the game and has recently flourished as an elite point producer. Couturier has racked up back-to-back 76-point seasons while tasked with shutting down the opposition's top talent on most nights.
53. Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues
For as talented as Tarasenko is, it's a bit surprising that he's never exceeded 40 goals or 75 points in a single season, although that could change this year. The Russian sniper might have the best release in all of hockey, outside of Auston Matthews. We're not talking slap shots or one-timers here.
52. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Capitals
It was a bumpy offseason for Kuznetsov, who was suspended for Washington's first three games this season as well as for four years by the IIHF after testing positive for cocaine. But on the ice, he remains key to the Capitals' attack after posting 155 points in 155 games the last two seasons, and he should help Washington contend for another Cup.
51. Anze Kopitar, Kings
Kopitar followed up a 92-point season with a 60-point campaign in 2018-19, but Los Angeles' team-wide struggles don't change the fact that he's still a gifted two-way center. The versatile Kings captain remains a vital cog up front for the retooling club.
Leading up to the start of the 2019-20 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled Oct. 2.
Parayko was a key contributor during the Blues' Stanley Cup run, playing over 25 minutes per game during the postseason, second-most on the team behind only Alex Pietrangelo. At 26 years old, Parayko is set to enter his prime. While he may have registered a career-low 28 points last season, his value as a shutdown defenseman will continue to rise.
79. Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights
Fleury will turn 35 in late November, but he's still quite dependable. The Vegas goaltender started 61 games last season - his most since 2014-15 - and finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting. Fleury will likely shoulder a big workload again this season, but he's proven to be one of the league's most reliable netminders.
78. Timo Meier, Sharks
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Meier had an incredible breakout campaign in his third NHL season in 2018-19. The 2015 first-round pick notched a career-high 30 goals and 66 points and ranked third among Sharks forwards with 99 hits. The 22-year-old is already a savvy two-way forward and will play a significant top-line role in San Jose for years to come.
77. Pekka Rinne, Predators
Even at 36 years old, Rinne remains one of the NHL's most reliable goalies. He's registered a save percentage of .918 or better in four of his last five seasons. Perhaps the most underrated part of his game is his ability to handle the puck, which might only be bested by Mike Smith.
76. Miro Heiskanen, Stars
The former third overall pick made an impressive debut last year during his rookie season, as he finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting and led all rookie defensemen with 12 goals. Heiskanen beefed up during the summer, adding eight pounds of muscle; the added strength should help elevate his play to another level.
75. Brock Boeser, Canucks
With a new contract signed, Boeser can now focus on helping the Canucks continue to progress in what will be his third full campaign with Vancouver. The talented American winger has already shown a knack for scoring, even though we haven't seen him play more than 69 games in a season.
74. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Coyotes
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The Coyotes captain is a premier blue-liner with significant offensive upside. Ekman-Larsson ranks third among defenseman in goals (102) since the 2012-13 campaign and has reached double digits in that department in six straight seasons. The 6-foot Swede has only missed 13 games over his nine-year career and has logged 24:20 of ice time per contest since his sophomore campaign.
73. Filip Forsberg, Predators
Forsberg uses a combination of strength, speed, and skill as one of the league's best players at driving to the net. This ability attracts defensemen's attention, which creates time and space for him and his linemates. He's yet to reach 35 goals or 70 points, but that will change soon. It's still mind-boggling that he was traded for Martin Erat and Michael Latta.
72. Matt Duchene, Predators
Duchene joins his fourth team in three years, though it appears he's found a home in Nashville. The Predators inked Duchene to a seven-year, $56-million contract after he scored a career-high 31 goals last season and are counting on him to spark an offense that was in the bottom half of the league a year ago.
71. Gabriel Landeskog, Avalanche
Playing on arguably the best line in hockey certainly isn't a bad gig, but Landeskog has proven he belongs alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The Avalanche captain set career-highs in goals, assists, and points in 2018-19 while playing more than 21 minutes per contest for the first time in his career.
Leading up to the start of the 2019-20 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled Oct. 2.
Slavin's game isn't very flashy, but it's extremely effective, making the 25-year-old one of the most underrated players in the game. He's led the Hurricanes in blocks in three straight campaigns and ranks 19th among all NHL defensemen in that department since his debut in 2015-16. The 6-foot-3 rearguard has also posted positive possession numbers in each of his four NHL seasons and has hit the 30-point mark three times.
69. Jeff Skinner, Sabres
After eight seasons in Carolina, Skinner finally got his chance to play with an elite playmaking center in Jack Eichel. It resulted in his first 40-goal campaign, and if he sticks with Eichel, it probably won't be his last.
68. Charlie McAvoy, Bruins
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Despite being only 21 years old, McAvoy has already proven himself to be a high-value defenseman, as he led the Bruins in average time on ice with over 22 minutes last season, and then upped that total to over 24 minutes per game in the postseason. He was rewarded with a new deal and should help cement Boston's blue line for a long time.
67. Torey Krug, Bruins
Speaking of Bruins defensemen, Krug is a key member of one of the best defensive corps in the NHL. He topped the 50-point plateau for the third straight campaign in 2018-19 despite being limited to 64 games and proved more than worthy of slotting in on Boston's second pairing.
66. Tuukka Rask, Bruins
Rask showed that he's still one of the elite netminders in the game with another dominant performance in 2018-19. The 32-year-old ranks eighth among active netminders in wins and his career goals-against average of 2.28 is good for 11th all time among goalies with at least 150 NHL starts.
65. Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres
Dahlin didn't receive as much national recognition for his rookie season as he should've. He became just the third defenseman ever to record 40 points or more as an 18-year-old, joining Bobby Orr and Phil Housley. The comparisons to Nicklas Lidstrom and Erik Karlsson are lofty, but the 2019-20 season may show us why he's being measured against two all-time greats.
64. Jamie Benn, Stars
Last year, Benn recorded his lowest point total in a full season since he was a rookie, but there's still plenty left in the tank for the former 40-goal scorer. The Stars captain remains a threat whenever he steps on the ice and should be able to top the 30-goal mark again on a strong Dallas roster.
63. Frederik Andersen, Maple Leafs
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Like many goaltenders, Andersen has endured inconsistency at times, but the Toronto netminder has been steady overall, posting save percentages of .918, .918, and .917 in his three seasons with the Leafs. His 15.86 goals saved above average at five-on-five ranked fifth among all NHL goalies in 2018-19.
62. Matthew Tkachuk, Flames
Tkachuk broke onto the scene last season as one of the toughest yet most effective players in the league. The 6-foot-2 forward finished second among Flames forwards with 104 hits while also chipping in career highs of 34 goals and 77 points. Tkachuk has all the makings of an NHL captain, and with current leader Mark Giordano turning 36 in October, he could be next in line for the role.
61. Patrik Laine, Jets
In terms of playing a complete 200-foot game, Laine is far too high on this list. He may be one of the league's most lethal goal scorers when he's going, but when he's not, he can be virtually useless. The Jets sniper scored 18 goals in November last year, but no more than four in any other month. He has annual 50-goal potential, but he's also a major defensive liability.
Heading into the 2019-20 regular season, theScore's Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, Matt Teague, and Josh Wegman make their picks for division winners, and the Stanley Cup Final.
Atlantic Division
Scott Audette / Getty Images
Editor
Pick
Dickson
Lightning
Gold-Smith
Lightning
Matisz
Lightning
O'Leary
Lightning
Teague
Lightning
Wegman
Lightning
A sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the opening round of the 2019 playoffs doesn't change the fact that the Tampa Bay Lightning remain the class of the Atlantic. The division's theirs to lose, and we don't think they're losing.
Metropolitan Division
Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / Getty
Editor
Pick
Dickson
Devils
Gold-Smith
Capitals
Matisz
Capitals
O'Leary
Hurricanes
Teague
Capitals
Wegman
Hurricanes
The Washington Capitals are looking to make it five straight division titles, but we're anticipating some heavy competition for the Metro crown. A Hurricanes division victory would be Carolina's first since 2006, when it played in what was then the Southeast Division.
Central Division
John Russell / National Hockey League / Getty
Editor
Pick
Dickson
Avalanche
Gold-Smith
Predators
Matisz
Stars
O'Leary
Predators
Teague
Predators
Wegman
Predators
The Nashville Predators remain the division favorites, and it's important to note that there's little Central love for the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.
Pacific Division
Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty
Editor
Pick
Dickson
Sharks
Gold-Smith
Flames
Matisz
Golden Knights
O'Leary
Golden Knights
Teague
Sharks
Wegman
Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights slipped to third in the Pacific after their dream rookie season, but we're bullish on a rebound in 2019-20.
Stanley Cup Final
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Editor
Pick
Dickson
Predators over Capitals
Gold-Smith
Lightning over Predators
Matisz
Lightning over Stars
O'Leary
Golden Knights over Lightning
Teague
Lightning over Predators
Wegman
Lightning over Avalanche
We have Jon Cooper's Lightning headed back to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 (for the most part), and believe that the club has learned all of its requisite lessons from losing. It's Tampa Bay's time.
Leading up to the start of the 2019-20 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled Oct. 2.
As the No. 1 pick in 2017, expectations are high for Hischier, and he's demonstrated flashes of brilliance over his first two seasons in New Jersey. The 20-year-old notched 47 points in 69 games last season, and with the Devils now loaded up following new additions, he should be poised for a breakout campaign.
99. David Krejci, Bruins
Krejci showed last season that he's anything but over the hill, posting a career-high 53 assists and matching his career-best with 73 points. He also added 16 more points in 24 contests during the Bruins' Stanley Cup Final run. Not bad for a 33-year-old.
98. Matt Dumba, Wild
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Dumba was on pace for a career-high 30 goals and 56 points in 2018-19 before a torn right pectoralis muscle ended his season in late December. The 25-year-old is an incredible two-way defenseman and could even be considered a dark horse candidate for the Norris Trophy.
97. Robin Lehner, Blackhawks
Those under the impression that Lehner's remarkable 2018-19 season was a product of Barry Trotz's defensive system are wrong. The Islanders were actually a middle-of-the-pack team in scoring-chance prevention, but Lehner still finished second in the league with a .930 save percentage and third with a 2.13 goals-against average.
96. Cam Atkinson, Blue Jackets
Atkinson has become the face of the Blue Jackets during the post-Rick Nash era. He led Columbus with a career-high 41 goals last season, good enough to tie for sixth league-wide. After several high-profile departures during the offseason, the Jackets will lean heavily on Atkinson's offensive production in 2019-20.
95. Dougie Hamilton, Hurricanes
Don't put too much stock in Hamilton's declining point production over the last couple of seasons. The Carolina blue-liner posted a sublime 57.61 Corsi For percentage and a solid 52.17 Goals For percentage in 2018-19 while solidifying his role in one of the NHL's best defensive pairings.
94. William Karlsson, Golden Knights
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Karlsson burst onto the scene with an incredible 43-goal campaign in 2017-18, but he potted only 24 goals last season. Realistically, the 26-year-old Swede will probably finish closer to the latter mark in 2019-20, but he's still a very skilled player who fills an important role up the middle for an elite team.
93. Braden Holtby, Capitals
Holtby is coming off the two worst regular seasons of his career, but he remains one of the league's most accomplished goalies. In his trophy case, there's a Vezina Trophy, a Jennings Trophy, and most importantly, a Stanley Cup.
92. Alexander Radulov, Stars
Radulov may have found a home in Dallas after spending time in Nashville, Montreal, and the KHL throughout his career. He scored a career-high 29 goals last season (topping his previous best of 27 from the season prior), and the veteran also matched his best campaign with 72 points despite playing in only 70 games.
91. Kyle Connor, Jets
The unsigned restricted free agent took another step forward during his second full season with Winnipeg, although a shooting percentage of 15 helped during his 34-goal, 66-point campaign, following a 16.1 percent clip in 2017-18. Regardless, the skilled 22-year-old winger complements his linemates perfectly.
From pop culture references and family shoutouts to logos and skylines, every goalie mask is a true original. theScore recently visited designer David Arrigo in his Orangeville, Ontario studio to learn about the artistic process:
The Art of the Mask series also includes sit-downs with a handful of goalies who are passionate about their headgear:
To prepare for the 2019-20 NHL season, theScore will be rolling out all the fantasy hockey advice you'll need to dominate your draft and win your league. Make sure to check back for updates right up until the regular season begins.
