With the NHL All-Star draft set to commence Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, four members of our hockey editorial team tried to get inside the minds of the All-Star captains and take their best guesses about how the draft will play out.

Here are the results:

Team Matthews

Captain: Auston Matthews
Assistant: Morgan Rielly
Celebrity: Justin Bieber
Editor: Kyle Cushman

The Biebs' influence is felt greatly here. As a diehard Maple Leafs fan, it's no surprise that the pop star helped construct a team that will undoubtedly be the crowd favorite in Toronto. With Matthews and Rielly already headlining the leadership group, and the squad's first two picks being used on Nylander and Marner, all four Leafs representatives are on the same team. The hometown boost could prove to be a great advantage.

Team McDavid

Captain: Connor McDavid
Assistant: Leon Draisaitl
Celebrity: Will Arnett
Editor: Josh Gold-Smith

McDavid may or not be aware that he was the centerpiece of the All-Connor team we assembled over the summer. But, given the fact that two other stellar namesakes are in this talent pool, it would only be right to see the Oilers superstar select both Connors from the Jets. Nabbing the players ranked second (Reinhart) and third (Pastrnak) in NHL goal-scoring this season would ensure plenty of lamp-lighting for McDavid's crew, too.

Team MacKinnon

Captain: Nathan MacKinnon
Assistant: Cale Makar
Celebrity: Tate McRae
Editor: Josh Wegman

There's no way MacKinnon would let his friend, offseason training partner, and fellow Nova Scotian Crosby get past pick No. 3 here. While it's a shame Canadian hockey fans are yet to see Nate and Sid star together in a best-on-best international tournament, this All-Star game could provide a fun glimpse of their chemistry. With a slew of other dynamic players on the roster, goal-scoring won't be an issue for Team MacKinnon, either.

Team Hughes

Captain: Quinn Hughes
Assistant: Elias Pettersson
Celebrity: Michael Buble
Editor: Kayla Douglas

Much like Auston Matthews, who won't surprise anyone if he takes the three other Maple Leafs in the pool, Hughes will clearly look to bring his Canucks teammates into the fold. Picking a goalie in the first round would be a mild surprise, but given the way Demko's played this season, it might be necessary to ensure the Vancouver quartet isn't broken up. This result would also be a tough break for Bjorkstrand, as the player taken last won't win a brand-new car as in past All-Star drafts.

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This is the eighth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this edition, we select the biggest All-Star snub from every team.

1. Edmonton Oilers (29-15-1)

Previous rank: 5

Zach Hyman. A third Oilers forward getting into the All-Star Game will always be a tough challenge. If there was any season for it, Hyman getting a nod would've been it. He's on pace for over 50 goals and is still loved by the All-Star hosts in Toronto.

2. Vancouver Canucks (33-11-5)

Previous rank: 2

Filip Hronek. This one's tricky, since, like, every Canuck made it into the All-Star Game (OK, there are five plus head coach Rick Tocchet). So we're choosing Hronek, who ranks fifth in Vancouver with 36 points in 49 games during his first full season as a Canuck.

3. Boston Bruins (31-9-9)

Previous rank: 4

Charlie Coyle. Let's hear a little commotion for the veteran center, who has stepped up following Patrice Bergeron's and David Krejci's retirements. He ranks third on the Bruins in both goals (18) and points (42) in 49 games and is on pace to set career highs in both categories. Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy would also fit the bill, but Coyle has been a quietly vital piece.

4. Florida Panthers (31-14-4)

Previous rank: 3

Matthew Tkachuk. The NHL leader in primary points for January isn't Nikita Kucherov or Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid. It's Tkachuk, who racked up 24 - five more than the second most.

5. Winnipeg Jets (30-12-5)

Previous rank: 1

Mark Scheifele. Sure, the Jets forward will now be using the All-Star break to continue recovering from a lower-body injury, but Scheifele would still fit right in at the festivities, seeing as he leads Winnipeg with 41 points in 41 games.

6. Colorado Avalanche (32-14-3)

Previous rank: 6

Mikko Rantanen. It's truly hilarious that Rantanen isn't at the All-Star Game. He's top 10 in goals and points, and his exclusion is an indictment on the selection process that mandates a rep from every team.

7. Dallas Stars (30-13-6)

Previous rank: 8

Roope Hintz. Yes, we've chosen Hintz over linemate Jason Robertson, who leads the Stars in points but hasn't been as explosive offensively as he was last season. Hintz, meanwhile, is targeting his second straight point-per-game campaign.

8. New York Rangers (30-16-3)

Previous rank: 7

Jonathan Quick. Before you express your outrage in the comments, Artemi Panarin can't go. The Rangers' other goalie, Igor Shesterkin, is attending the All-Star Game, but Quick has had the better season statistically, sporting a .915 save percentage and 10-4-2 record. The veteran hasn't been invited to an All-Star Game since 2018, so it would've been cool if he got the nod, OK?

9. Carolina Hurricanes (28-15-5)

Previous rank: 9

Seth Jarvis. In his third NHL campaign, the 21-year-old is about to absolutely smash his point totals from his last two seasons. Jarvis has racked up 38 points - just two off his previous career high - in 48 games and is on pace to crack the 60-point mark.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (29-15-6)

Previous rank: 12

Jonathan Marchessault. The defending Stanley Cup champions having zero representatives at the All-Star Game after Jack Eichel's injury seems like a major oversight. Nobody would rep the champs better than Conn Smythe winner Marchessault, who's on pace for a career high in goals.

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-14-8)

Previous rank: 13

John Tavares. The Maple Leafs' captain isn't having his best season, but it still would've been fun to see all five of Toronto's top stars at the All-Star Game in their home rink.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (27-18-5)

Previous rank: 19

Victor Hedman. Any concerns over Hedman's offensive production have subsided. The 33-year-old has already passed his point total from a down 2022-23 campaign through just 48 games to rank fourth among all defenders in scoring.

13. Philadelphia Flyers (25-19-6)

Previous rank: 11

John Tortorella. If the All-Star Game coaches were chosen based on Jack Adams odds rather than whichever team is leading each division, Tortorella would be the Metropolitan rep. Send him to the All-Star Game, get him mic'd-up, and put an iso cam on him during the games.

14. Detroit Red Wings (26-18-5)

Previous rank: 20

Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings captain paces his team with 22 goals and 46 points while appearing in six fewer contests than Detroit's sole representative, Alex DeBrincat. Though DeBrincat is certainly worthy of the honor, Larkin should be making his third straight All-Star appearance.

15. New Jersey Devils (24-20-3)

Previous rank: 14

Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes. Look, maybe we're cheating, but this one is a tie. Bratt has been a bona fide star, leading the Devils with 50 points in 47 games, but we're not immune to the lure of having all three Hughes brothers at the All-Star Weekend. It would be fun!

16. Los Angeles Kings (22-15-10)

Previous rank: 15

Trevor Moore. The underrated forward paces the Kings with 21 goals - surpassing his previous career high of 17 - and four game-winners. Moore has carved out quite the role for himself in Los Angeles, and it would've been nice to see him honored with his first All-Star selection.

17. St. Louis Blues (26-20-2)

Previous rank: 24

Pavel Buchnevich. Roll the tapes. Since slamming his slow start to the season as "awful" in early November, Buchnevich has rattled off 16 tallies, 36 points, and a team-leading five game-winning goals in 37 games. Not bad. Not bad at all.

18. Seattle Kraken (21-18-10)

Previous rank: 10

Joey Daccord. Since December, Daccord has been lights out for the Kraken with a 12-5-4 record and a .934 save percentage. Maybe Oliver Bjorkstrand can re-book his vacation, and Daccord can go to Toronto instead.

19. Pittsburgh Penguins (22-17-7)

Previous rank: 17

Jake Guentzel. Who better to join Sidney Crosby at the All-Star Game than his most frequent linemate? Guentzel ranks second on the Penguins with 22 goals, 49 points, and 38 even-strength points in 46 games, trailing only - you guessed it - Crosby.

20. New York Islanders (20-17-12)

Previous rank: 16

Noah Dobson. One of the biggest snubs league-wide, it's baffling that Dobson wasn't chosen as the Islanders' rep. That's no disrespect to Mathew Barzal, but Dobson leads the team in points (52) and plus/minus (plus-21) while ranking third among all defenders in scoring. Not recognizing his Norris-level season is incredibly disappointing.

21. Nashville Predators (26-22-1)

Previous rank: 18

Ryan O'Reilly. Quite frankly, the 32-year-old is killing it in his first season as a Predator. O'Reilly ranks second on the team with 17 goals and 42 points in 49 games. He might crack the 70-point mark for the second time in his career and is on pace for around 28 tallies, which would tie his previous high.

22. Buffalo Sabres (22-23-4)

Previous rank: 25

Casey Mittelstadt. After looking like a bust relative to massive expectations coming out of college, Mittelstadt's found his groove the past season and a half. He paces the Sabres with 41 points and has been a consistent presence in the lineup while Buffalo has dealt with injuries to seemingly every other top-six forward.

23. Washington Capitals (22-18-7)

Previous rank: 23

Alex Ovechkin. It's called the All-Star Game for a reason. Even amid a career-worst goal-scoring season, Ovechkin leads the Capitals in points, so it's not like he's out of the question for a spot on merit, either. Simply put, the All-Star Game is better when Ovechkin is there.

24. Arizona Coyotes (23-22-3)

Previous rank: 21

Connor Ingram. The goaltender has been simply outstanding, and the Coyotes probably wouldn't be in the playoff hunt without him. He has a better save percentage (.916) than five of the netminders attending this year's All-Star Game.

25. Calgary Flames (22-22-5)

Previous rank: 22

Blake Coleman. The 32-year-old is putting together a stellar campaign with the Flames. He's already notched a career-high 39 points and leads Calgary in scoring. He would've been a worthy selection had he gotten the nod over Elias Lindholm.

26. Ottawa Senators (18-25-2)

Previous rank: 30

Tim Stutzle. This one was a toss-up between the German forward and Claude Giroux, but we went with Stutzle because, well, he hasn't been before. He tops the struggling Senators with 45 points in 45 games and could be a point-per-game player for the second straight season.

27. Montreal Canadiens (20-21-8)

Previous rank: 26

Cole Caufield. Sure, he isn't lighting the lamp as much during his first season back from shoulder surgery, but Caufield still leads the Canadiens with 17 goals in 49 games. He'd probably wreak havoc in an accuracy shooting competition.

28. Minnesota Wild (21-23-5)

Previous rank: 27

Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild's top two-way center is one of the more underrated forwards in the game, and that trend has continued this season. He leads Minnesota with 21 goals in 49 games and is already only six tallies away from setting a new career high. Maybe Eriksson Ek will finally be recognized next year.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-24-10)

Previous rank: 28

Adam Fantilli. Bring back the YoungStars game! Or at least some kind of representation of the next wave of talent. A rookie versus sophomore showcase like back in 2009 would be an excellent way to introduce more fans to the up-and-coming players in the league who aren't quite ready to play their way into the full All-Star Game yet.

30. Anaheim Ducks (17-30-2)

Previous rank: 29

Leo Carlsson. Carlsson featuring opposite fellow top-three pick Fantilli in a potential YoungStars game would've been a fun addition to the weekend lineup.

31. San Jose Sharks (13-32-4)

Previous rank: 32

William Eklund. Apologies to the Sharks, but this one was ... difficult. Eklund, at least, is an exciting young talent who ranks third on San Jose with 21 points in 48 contests. The Sharks haven't won many games, but Eklund has been directly responsible for four of them. No one else on the team has more than one game-winner.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (14-34-2)

Previous rank: 31

Petr Mrazek. The Blackhawks recently rewarded the 31-year-old with a two-year contract extension and a $450,000 raise. He's posted above-average numbers on a bottom-ranked team and would certainly bring some fun to the All-Star Game with his aggressive style.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the seventh in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this edition, we pick each team's MVP at the halfway point of the season.

1. Winnipeg Jets (28-10-4)

Previous rank: 4

Connor Hellebuyck. There's no need to overthink this one. The Jets' No. 1 netminder is amid a brilliant season, owning a .924 save percentage and 18.8 goals saved above average through 31 starts.

2. Vancouver Canucks (29-11-3)

Previous rank: 5

Elias Pettersson. Look, this mantle could have gone to five different Canucks, but we're choosing Pettersson. He paces Vancouver in wins above replacement (2.8) and goals above replacement (17.6) while ranking second on the team with 57 points in 43 games.

3. Florida Panthers (27-13-2)

Previous rank: 8

Sam Reinhart. The Panthers' scoring leader has 31 goals and 54 points in 42 contests this campaign, and no, we're not talking about Matthew Tkachuk here. Those gaudy numbers belong to Reinhart, who has chosen a great time to have a monster season given his pending UFA status.

4. Boston Bruins (25-8-9)

Previous rank: 2

David Pastrnak. The Czech superstar continues to be the Bruins' far and away best offensive piece. Pastrnak's on pace for his fourth 40-goal campaign and looks set to fly past 100 points for the second consecutive season.

5. Edmonton Oilers (23-15-1)

Previous rank: 11

Connor McDavid. The three-time league MVP has erased a slow start and is suddenly pushing for another Art Ross. Since Edmonton's coaching change, McDavid's operating at a 1.8 points-per-game clip.

6. Colorado Avalanche (28-12-3)

Previous rank: 7

Nathan MacKinnon. It's hard to believe MacKinnon has never won a Hart Trophy, but he's doing his best to add one to his resume this season. He's second in the league with 69 points - 14 clear of the next most productive Avalanche skater - and is averaging more than 23 minutes per night.

7. New York Rangers (27-13-2)

Previous rank: 1

Artemi Panarin. He won't be at the All-Star Game in anticipation of the arrival of his second child, but Panarin's amid a career year. The superb playmaker has transformed his game to become a shooting threat, putting him on pace to sail past his previous career high of 32 goals.

8. Dallas Stars (25-12-5)

Previous rank: 3

Roope Hintz. He's not Dallas' leading scorer, but Hintz is doing it all for the Stars this campaign and ranks eighth league-wide in GAR among forwards. His 38 points in 40 games are nothing to sneeze at, either.

9. Carolina Hurricanes (24-13-5)

Previous rank: 9

Sebastian Aho. The Finnish star leads the Hurricanes in scoring by 16, with 48 points through 39 contests. Considering Martin Necas' step back in production and Andrei Svechnikov's early season absence, Carolina would be in a tough spot in the standings if not for Aho's consistent play.

10. Seattle Kraken (19-14-9)

Previous rank: 19

Joey Daccord. The Kraken were a MESS for the campaign's first couple of months, at least until Daccord decided to go full sicko mode in late December. The goalie has won each of his last eight appearances and owns a .956 save percentage over that stretch. Seattle keeps winning, and Daccord has been key to its success.

11. Philadelphia Flyers (23-14-6)

Previous rank: 13

Sean Couturier. It really can't be overstated how impressive Couturier's return this season has been. Coming off a 663-day absence, Couturier has stepped right back into a top-line center role with Selke-calibre results like it's no problem.

12. Vegas Golden Knights (24-14-5)

Previous rank: 10

Alex Pietrangelo. Shea Theodore, Alec Martinez, and Zach Whitecloud have all missed over 15 games this season. Meanwhile, Pietrangelo has been a constant throughout, leading healthy Golden Knights defenders in ice time by nearly four and a half minutes per game.

13. Toronto Maple Leafs (21-12-8)

Previous rank: 15

Martin Jones. The Maple Leafs have no shortage of offensive weapons - and yes, Auston Matthews leads the league in goals - but someone has to keep the puck out of the net. His recent back-to-back losses aside, Jones has done just that with a .924 save percentage. Toronto would be in trouble without him.

14. New Jersey Devils (22-15-3)

Previous rank: 14

Jack Hughes. He's only one point off the team lead despite missing eight contests due to a couple of injury spells. Jesper Bratt has also been impressive, but Hughes is undoubtedly the heartbeat of New Jersey's offense.

15. Los Angeles Kings (20-11-8)

Previous rank: 6

Cam Talbot. Coming into the season, many viewed the Kings as the league's deepest team at forward and defense and one of the weakest in the crease. However, Talbot's turned back the clock to be a workhorse in the net for L.A. and mitigated at least some concerns over the Kings' goaltending.

16. New York Islanders (19-13-10)

Previous rank: 12

Noah Dobson. The 24-year-old has broken out in a huge way this campaign and is one of the league's most glaring All-Star Game snubs. Dobson is third among defensemen in points (43) and GAR (13.1). He might be the NHL's most underappreciated player.

17. Pittsburgh Penguins (20-15-6)

Previous rank: 16

Sidney Crosby. Any other answer at this point would just be a hot take. It's Sid. He has 24 goals in 41 games this season and is on pace for 48 tallies, just three off his career high set in 2009-10. Does Crosby know he's in his 19th NHL campaign?

18. Nashville Predators (24-18-1)

Previous rank: 20

Filip Forsberg. Injuries have held Forsberg back in recent years, but he's healthy and thriving again. The 29-year-old sniper is up to 22 goals and 48 points through 43 contests, galvanizing a mediocre Predators offense.

19. Tampa Bay Lightning (22-17-5)

Previous rank: 21

Nikita Kucherov. We had to go with the league's leader in points for this one. The Lightning superstar has posted an outlandish 72 points in 43 games this campaign, and he's rattled off 22 multi-point outings. Gross, dude.

20. Detroit Red Wings (22-16-5)

Previous rank: 23

Dylan Larkin. Detroit's captain is producing a point per game, averaging 20 minutes a night, and winning 55% of his draws. The Red Wings face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, but Larkin's doing his part.

21. Arizona Coyotes (21-18-2)

Previous rank: 17

Connor Ingram. It wasn't that long ago when Ingram was a waiver claim backup to a coveted starter in Karel Vejmelka. With a league-leading five shutouts, an impressive 15-8-0 record, and a .919 save percentage, Ingram's play over the past calendar year has made him a legitimate starter in the league.

22. Calgary Flames (20-18-5)

Previous rank: 28

Blake Coleman. He may not be representing Calgary at the 2024 All-Star Game, but Coleman should be an All-Star in every Flames fan's heart. The 32-year-old veteran leads his team with 19 goals - including four game-winners - and 37 points in 43 games this campaign.

23. Washington Capitals (20-15-6)

Previous rank: 22

Charlie Lindgren. Only the Sharks and Blackhawks have scored fewer goals than the Capitals this season. Lindgren's breakout play has helped Washington stay in the wild-card mix despite its lack of offense, as he sports an 8-3-3 record with a .928 save percentage.

24. St. Louis Blues (21-18-2)

Previous rank: 24

Robert Thomas. The talented playmaker has become more of a shooter this campaign. Thomas is on pace for over 30 goals and 170-plus shots on net, compared to career-high marks of just 20 tallies and 115 shots in 2021-22.

25. Buffalo Sabres (18-21-4)

Previous rank: 25

Jeff Skinner. There have been plenty of disappointments in Buffalo this season, but Skinner leads the club with 17 goals. It's slim pickings from a Sabres squad that was supposed to compete for a playoff spot.

26. Montreal Canadiens (17-18-7)

Previous rank: 27

Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens captain leads the team with 35 points, but his two-way play surges him to the midseason MVP label. Suzuki's playing over 21 minutes a night against top competition and is back to putting up elite defensive metrics.

27. Minnesota Wild (17-20-5)

Previous rank: 18

Brock Faber. The Wild are in the throes of an up-and-down season, but Faber has undoubtedly been a bright spot. The rookie defenseman leads all first-year players in average ice time (24:45), and he's shown his potential to be a top NHL rearguard for years to come.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (13-21-9)

Previous rank: 26

Adam Fantilli. Columbus' star rookie is second on the Blue Jackets with 25 points despite averaging only 15:51 per game. His development into a full-time player is one of the few bright spots in Ohio this season.

29. Anaheim Ducks (14-27-1)

Previous rank: 30

Pat Verbeek. The Ducks general manager went against the grain by drafting Leo Carlsson second overall, a move that looks promising early, and recently landed Cutter Gauthier in a stunning trade. Verbeek has a clear vision for Anaheim's future and hasn't been afraid to shake things up to make it a reality.

30. Ottawa Senators (15-23-0)

Previous rank: 29

Michael Andlauer. In another wasted season for the Senators, the fan base has reason for long-term optimism in the team's new owner. His press conference after Pierre Dorion's dismissal was a must-watch and gave fans someone to rally behind during a rough stretch when the team lost a first-round pick and the NHL suspended Shane Pinto.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (12-29-2)

Previous rank: 31

Jason Dickinson. The answer here would obviously be Connor Bedard if he weren't hurt, so we'll use this opportunity to shout out Dickinson. The 28-year-old ranks second on the Blackhawks with 14 goals. His previous career high was nine.

32. San Jose Sharks (10-30-3)

Previous rank: 32

The fans. The fact that people are still showing up to the SAP Center to support this lowly San Jose team is a marvel. Don't worry, Sharks faithful, this season is halfway over.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the sixth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this edition, we pick a New Year's resolution for each team.

1. New York Rangers (25-9-1)

Previous rank: 2

Don't get greedy. The Rangers spent lavishly to acquire veterans Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane before last year's deadline, and the experiment failed. New York's rolling as is, and Chris Drury should give this roster a shot to go all the way.

2. Boston Bruins (22-7-6)

Previous rank: 4

Acquire a center. Boston's group down the middle filled in admirably in the early stages of post-Patrice Bergeron life, but the chasm the future Hall of Famer left on the Bruins' depth chart is starting to show. Elias Lindholm, perhaps?

3. Dallas Stars (22-9-4)

Previous rank: 9

Free Thomas Harley. The 22-year-old blue-liner has impressed so far in his busiest season yet but looks capable of even more. Harley has one less five-on-five points than Miro Heiskanen in significantly fewer minutes and is on the positive side of all important on-ice metrics.

4. Winnipeg Jets (22-9-4)

Previous rank: 8

Use Nikolaj Ehlers more, even after Kyle Connor returns. Prior to Connor's injury, Ehlers had 15 points in 25 appearances while averaging 15:35 of ice time. In the nine games since, including the contest where Connor was hurt, the Dane has 11 points in over 18 minutes per night. Utilizing Ehlers' immense talent more often is a must for Rick Bowness in 2024.

5. Vancouver Canucks (23-10-3)

Previous rank: 5

Lock up Elias Pettersson. The pending RFA, who can become a UFA in 2025, is enjoying another excellent season with 43 points in 36 games and a strong two-way game. He's more than worthy of a long-term extension to place him among the game's highest-paid centers. The sooner that deal gets done, the better.

6. Los Angeles Kings (20-8-5)

Previous rank: 3

Win a round. The last time the Kings won a playoff round was the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. Four first-round exits over nine years since Los Angeles' triumph have left the fan base antsy for another deep run.

7. Colorado Avalanche (23-11-3)

Previous rank: 12

Win the division. There's a clear divide between the top six teams and everyone else in the Western Conference right now, so division winners will be at a huge advantage come playoff time with first-round matchups against wild-card teams. Colorado needs to step on the gas to come out ahead of the Jets and Stars.

8. Florida Panthers (22-12-2)

Previous rank: 7

Save some cash for Sam Reinhart. The Panthers' season would be immensely different if not for Reinhart's huge campaign. The pending unrestricted free agent has 23 goals and 44 points to lead Florida in both stats, setting himself up for a massive payday this summer.

9. Carolina Hurricanes (20-13-4)

Previous rank: 15

Get over the hump. The Hurricanes have made the conference finals twice in five seasons but were swept on both occasions. Should Carolina go all the way to the Eastern Conference Final again, it would be inexcusable to go winless for a third time.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (22-10-5)

Previous rank: 1

Stop the bleeding. The Golden Knights have been great pretty much all season. But the typically dominant defensive team has allowed 38 goals in its last nine games and dropped four straight. Righting the ship quickly in 2024 is a must in the ultracompetitive Pacific Division.

11. Edmonton Oilers (18-15-1)

Previous rank: 11

Find a suitor for Jack Campbell. Even if it requires a significant sweetener, trading the goaltender - who's struggling in the AHL in the second season of a five-year, $25-million contract - should be priority No. 1 for Ken Holland. There's a lot of good Edmonton could do with that cap space, including finding a competent replacement to pair with Stuart Skinner.

12. New York Islanders (17-10-9)

Previous rank: 10

Negotiate with Noah Dobson. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has one more season on his current deal, but it'd be in the Islanders' best interest to learn his asking price as soon as possible. Dobson has been lights out this season, registering 35 points in 36 games while logging nearly 26 minutes per contest.

13. Philadelphia Flyers (19-12-5)

Previous rank: 14

Reassess expectations. Head coach John Tortorella may have said the postseason isn't on his mind yet, but we're calling his bluff. The Flyers are firmly in the mix halfway through the season, and a playoff berth would galvanize a fan base that was searching for hope less than a year ago.

14. New Jersey Devils (19-14-2)

Previous rank: 13

Find reliable goaltending. The Devils boast impressive talent at every position ... except for in the crease. Vitek Vanecek sports an .883 save percentage and Akira Schmid was just sent down. Whether young gun Nico Daws takes the reins or someone is acquired via trade, New Jersey needs a solution here sooner rather than later.

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (17-10-7)

Previous rank: 6

Tighten up defensively. Over the previous three seasons, the Leafs ranked seventh in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. This year, they've regressed to 26th. Some of that is due to personnel changes, but most of it can be attributed to sloppy play. With a likely goalie tandem of Martin Jones and Dennis Hildeby until Joseph Woll returns, stingy defensive play is of the utmost importance.

16. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-13-4)

Previous rank: 22

Make the playoffs. The Panthers in 2023 and the Canadiens in 2021 are two recent examples of low seeds making the Stanley Cup Final. Anything can happen once you get into the postseason. With Sidney Crosby and the rest of Pittsburgh's core still playing at a high level, all they need is a chance.

17. Arizona Coyotes (19-14-2)

Previous rank: 19

Go for it. The Coyotes have spent the last several years acquiring excess draft capital, and they've finally reached a point where spending is justifiable. Arizona is in the wild-card hunt and has 20 combined draft picks in the opening three rounds until 2026. Make this roster stronger and bring the playoffs to the desert.

18. Minnesota Wild (16-15-4)

Previous rank: 18

Stay out of the box. The Wild have taken the second-most penalties in the NHL and own the league's 30th-ranked penalty kill. That's a recipe for missing the playoffs.

19. Seattle Kraken (14-14-9)

Previous rank: 29

Find their five-on-five groove. The Kraken led the NHL in five-on-five goals last season. This campaign, Seattle's scoring almost a full goal fewer at five-on-five per game to rank in the bottom 10 league-wide. The Kraken's prowess at even strength made them successful last year and has been among the biggest reasons for their drop-off this time around.

20. Nashville Predators (20-16-1)

Previous rank: 16

Practice the penalty kill. The Predators, as always, are hanging around in the playoff race, but it will be difficult to qualify without improving their 25th-ranked kill. Nashville is operating at 76.9% while down a man.

21. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-15-5)

Previous rank: 20

Reduce Victor Hedman's minutes. The former Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, but we may be witnessing his decline. He's been abysmal defensively, ranking last among all blue-liners in defensive goals above replacement. There's no reason he should lead the team in minutes over Mikhail Sergachev.

22. Washington Capitals (17-11-6)

Previous rank: 21

Get Alex Ovechkin rolling again. Ovi snapped an unthinkable goal drought before Christmas but still only has two tallies in his past 19 games. Playoff hopes are beginning to slip away in D.C., so at least let the captain's pursuit of Gretzky's goal record entertain the home fans down the stretch.

23. Detroit Red Wings (17-16-4)

Previous rank: 17

Ride Alex Lyon. Ville Husso ain't it. Even when Husso returns from injury, Lyon should be Detroit's No. 1 goalie. He dragged the Panthers to the 2023 playoffs, and there's a chance he could do the same with the Red Wings in 2024. He's been excellent, posting a .920 save percentage in nine games.

24. St. Louis Blues (18-17-1)

Previous rank: 23

Hire a new head coach. General Manager Doug Armstrong decided it was time to move on from Craig Berube in December. With Drew Bannister manning the bench on an interim basis, Armstrong needs to identify the right person to maximize the next stage of the Jordan Kyrou-Robert Thomas era.

25. Buffalo Sabres (15-19-4)

Previous rank: 27

Take the next step. One of the offseason's most hyped teams fell flat in the first half of the campaign. With an array of exciting, young offensive talent, the Sabres need to finally start making good on their potential in 2024.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-18-8)

Previous rank: 30

Give Adam Fantilli more ice time. The Blue Jackets' star rookie is second on the team in goals and third in points but ranks 14th among skaters in average playing time. He's the main building block for the franchise's future, so there's no harm in letting him show what he's made of.

27. Montreal Canadiens (15-16-5)

Previous rank: 24

Trade a goalie. Carrying three netminders on the active roster for an entire season is far from ideal. With several goalie-needy teams out there, finding a new home for Jake Allen - the oldest of the trio at 33 - could work well for everyone involved.

28. Calgary Flames (15-16-5)

Previous rank: 25

Nail the impending trades. It looks like rookie GM Craig Conroy will be one of the league's busiest executives this winter, and he has to get it right. After surprisingly modest returns for both Tyler Toffoli and Nikita Zadorov, Conroy has a chance to recoup a king's ransom for pending UFAs Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin.

29. Ottawa Senators (14-18-0)

Previous rank: 28

Keep the puck out of their net. The Senators rank second league-wide with 3.07 goals per 60 at five-on-five. The issue: Ottawa's also allowing 2.95 goals against per 60 at five-on-five - the fourth-most. New head coach Jacques Martin needs to find a way to shut things down at their own end in 2024.

30. Anaheim Ducks (13-23-0)

Previous rank: 31

Win the draft lottery. After finishing dead last and still missing the chance to land Connor Bedard, the Ducks find themselves in the mix for the top pick again this year. Winning the tank battle for Macklin Celebrini wouldn't be an awful consolation prize.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (11-23-2)

Previous rank: 32

Lose as many games as possible. Winning only decreases Chicago's chances of picking first overall. Giving Bedard a running mate like Celebrini would go a long way in getting the rebuild headed in the right direction.

32. San Jose Sharks (9-25-3)

Previous rank: 26

Get Logan Couture back. San Jose's captain hasn't played all season due to a mysterious lower-body injury that had him contemplating whether his career was over. Couture returning to the lineup and succeeding would be an important victory for the Sharks in a year when wins have been hard to come by.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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This year in sports was defined by inspiring stories, historic achievements, and surreal events that not even Hollywood could script. We loved them all. With 2023 drawing to a close, theScore is looking back on 50 moments that resonated most with us over the past 12 months. The five-part series wraps up below with our 10 favorite moments from our latest trip around the sun.

10. All aboard the Bedard hype train 🚂

Connor Bedard solidified his superstar status in our earliest highlight of the year. Tied 3-3 in overtime against Slovakia in the World Junior Championship quarterfinal, Bedard deked three defensemen and the goalie to score the game-winning goal. The crucial tally only added to his already impressive stats, finishing the tournament with nine goals and 14 assists.

The hype was through the roof. The subsequent NHL draft was considered the Bedard lottery, and the 17-year-old was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. He lived up to the praise, scoring his first NHL goal in just his second game, and has over 30 points in under three months of play. Almost exactly one year from that pivotal goal at the world juniors, Bedard has all but exceeded the mounting expectations. - Sarah Wallace

9. Biles destroys the field in return 🥇

The GOAT of gymnastics returned with a bang in 2023. Two years after her infamous case of the "twisties" at the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles started her comeback at the U.S. Classic, winning gold in the all-around, beam, and floor events. She didn't just win; she steamrolled her competition, finishing five points clear of second place in apparatuses usually separated by tenths or hundredths.

On vault, she completed an incredibly difficult ​​Yurchenko double pike, the only female gymnast to ever land the skill successfully in competition. She later went on to win gold in all-around, beam, floor, and team at the World Championships in October. - Wallace

8. Wild finish to Canadian Open 🍁

Nick Taylor became the first Canadian golfer to win the RBC Canadian Open since 1954 when he drained a 72-foot eagle putt to defeat Tommy Fleetwood on the fourth hole of a playoff. The celebration was one for the ages, with the crowd going wild before fellow Canadian TOUR member Adam Hadwin tried to join the festivities on the 18th green. Security, not recognizing Hadwin, proceeded to tackle him to the ground, thinking he was a threat.

Cooler heads eventually prevailed, and Taylor received a celebration fit for such a momentous occasion. - Josh Goldberg

7. Darts?? Darts!! 🎯

A nine-darter is, in sports terms, rarer than a no-hitter. It has only been caught on television a few times. But it happened again in January 2023, in the World Darts Championship, no less. Michael Smith was trailing famous Dutch player Michael van Gerwen when he duly reeled off the mystical nine-darter, scoring 501 points, the maximum available on the board, in an incredible 61-second flurry of action at Alexandra Palace in London.

Van Gerwen was on a similar pace, matching Smith dart for dart as the 3,200 people in attendance lost their minds. Van Gerwen narrowly missed his ninth shot, going just wide of double 12 and allowing Smith to produce the finish of a lifetime. "That is the most amazing leg of darts you will ever see in your entire life," Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle shouted to the world. - Anthony Lopopolo

6. Alcaraz dethrones Nole at Wimbledon 🍿

Carlos Alcaraz was staring down the barrel in the Wimbledon final. The Spaniard, anointed as tennis' next icon, already had one Grand Slam title in his pocket, but this was another level of adversity and tension. After being blown away in the opening set of the championship match, the 20-year-old found himself just one point away from a demoralizing two-set deficit. That would've been daunting against anyone, let alone Novak Djokovic, who hadn't lost on Centre Court in a decade. The Serbian was chasing his fifth consecutive crown at the All England Club - and record-tying eighth overall - while also pursuing a rare calendar slam. On this surface, on this stage, he was nearly unbeatable. Nearly.

Alcaraz, unlike the many others who've been dispatched by Djokovic over the years, didn't cower. He kept going for big, bold shots. The end result was an epic five-set victory that took nearly five hours and included an unforgettable 26-minute game in the third set that helped propel Alcaraz to victory and make good on the promise that he's the next dominant force in men's tennis. "I haven't played a player like him. Ever," said Djokovic, who's spent the bulk of his career battling fellow GOAT candidates Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Praise doesn't come any higher. - Gianluca Nesci

5. Welcome to Wemby's world 🤩

Players like Victor Wembanyama, a 19-year-old, 7-foot-4 rookie from France, are an anomaly. His playmaking abilities are far beyond what's expected for someone his size - he's tied for tallest active NBA player - making him a generational talent. In his time in the French pro league, he was the youngest to win MVP after leading in rebounds and blocks per game. During his first two friendlies on U.S. soil with his French club, he dropped a combined 73 points on the G League Ignite, a team full of NBA prospects.

His performances attracted global attention - and the San Antonio Spurs struck gold by winning the NBA lottery and the right to draft him first overall. Arguably the best prospect since LeBron James, the rookie's been tres bien despite the Spurs struggling this season. He punctuated his arrival with a 38-point performance against the Phoenix Suns in his fifth career start, joining James and Kevin Durant as the only teenagers to score at least 38 points in a game. - Wallace

4. Ohtani's dream matchup vs. Trout 🦄

Before the greatest free-agent chase of all time and winning the second MLB MVP of his already illustrious career, Shohei Ohtani made waves at the 2023 World Baseball Classic when he helped "Samurai Japan" take down a stacked Team USA in the gold-medal final to capture the nation's third event title.

With Japan holding a slim 3-2 lead and two outs in the ninth, "ShoTime" squared off against (now former) Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout with the game on the line. As fans stood on their feet and sweat beaded the faces of the two legendary baseball combatants, Ohtani proved victorious, firing 100-mph fastballs past Trout before ending their showdown with a filthy slider in a 3-2 count to clinch the win and secure tournament MVP honors in the process. The storybook moment felt like a passing of the torch, with Trout's strikeout signaling that Ohtani had become the world's best player. - Bryan Mcwilliam

3. Messi's magical Miami debut 🐐

Some of the biggest sports stars and celebrities had gathered in Fort Lauderdale to witness Lionel Messi's debut for Inter Miami. LeBron James and Serena Williams, two of the greatest in their own disciplines, came with entourages in tow, and Kim Kardashian brought one of her sons. "He's so excited to see Messi," Kardashian said at the time. Fans had paid thousands of dollars just to catch a glimpse of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, and everyone got their wish when he trotted onto the pitch midway through the second half.

What followed was classic Messi: Standing in front of a free-kick deep into second-half stoppage time, the Argentine arrowed a magnificent left-footed shot into the top left corner to win the game. Inter Miami agreed to pay Messi upwards of $100 million over the next two-and-a-half seasons precisely for moments like these. - Lopopolo

2. LeBron is crowned 👑

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA scoring record had long been considered unbreakable until a kid from Akron began to exceed every expectation placed on him. On Feb. 7, with Abdul-Jabbar in attendance at Crypto.com Arena, James swished a fadeaway from the top of the key for his 38,388th career point to pass his fellow Lakers great as the NBA's scoring king.

LeBron pointing to the heavens immediately became an iconic basketball image and one that should stand the test of time - just like his scoring record. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

1. Bills do it for Damar 🫶

Can a moment precipitated by an NFL player's heart stopping be considered great?

Six days after safety Damar Hamlin's brush with death, the Buffalo Bills stepped onto the field with the eyes of the sports world on them - including a stadium vibrating with Bills Mafia members ready to explode with pride and love for Hamlin, gratitude for the heroism of the first responders who saved his life, and a desire to return to normal and play some late-season football. It took only 14 seconds from the opening kickoff for all that pent-up emotion to be released. The swell as Nyheim Hines raced down the sideline, past every New England Patriot, and into the arms of the deafening crowd was pure football catharsis.

Hines did it again in the second half because why not?

Hamlin's remarkable resilience and eventual return to the field help make this a moment that'll endure far beyond 2023. But it's also the sort of moment we all hope never to see again. - David P. Woods

What was your favorite sports moment of 2023? Let us know in the comments!

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Sweden 🇸🇪/Finland 🇫🇮 | Canada 🇨🇦 | United States 🇺🇸

With a four-team, NHL-sanctioned international hockey tournament expected to take place in February 2025, theScore is choosing rosters for all nations set to partake.

For Canada and the United States, there are a lot of quality players to choose from. Opinions on who should make the rosters vary depending on who you ask, so we tasked five members of our hockey editorial team - Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman - with selecting their own squads.

Below, we dive into each editor's Team USA and the most pressing question surrounding their roster:

Kayla Douglas 👇

Biggest question: You're the only one who didn't tap Hellebuyck as the starter. USA is loaded in net, but can you explain your lack of faith in the experienced, three-time Vezina finalist?

The United States can't go wrong with any of these three options in the crease. It's an embarrassment of riches and, as a Canadian, I'm jealous.

I don't have a lack of faith in Hellebuyck. He's outstanding. It's just that he's currently 30 and is constantly one of the most overworked goalies in the league (he paced all netminders in shots faced for four straight seasons from 2018-22). With this event expected to be held in February 2025, Hellebuyck has one more year to get through. Wear and tear starts to add up.

Demko, meanwhile, is two years younger and excelling after a down year. By the time this tournament rolls around, he might have the same number of Vezina Trophies (one) as Hellebuyck. - Douglas

Josh Gold-Smith 👇

Biggest question: You're the only editor to omit Tage Thompson. Why do you feel the 47-goal scorer from a season ago isn't worthy of a spot on the team?

It's not that Thompson isn't gifted or hasn't proven himself in the past. That 47-goal, 94-point campaign was remarkable. But this season has been a different story. Yes, he missed nine games with an injury but, even when healthy, he hasn't consistently been that dominant player we saw in 2022-23.

Let's start with the counting stats. Thompson's per-game offensive output is down to about half of what it was last campaign. Sure, the Sabres have disappointed as a team, but Thompson's also been underwhelming individually.

The 26-year-old's underlying numbers have been pedestrian this season. His five-on-five expected goals for percentage is hovering around 50%, and his individual expected goals per 60 minutes rate ranks about 200th in the league. He still possesses a rare combination of size, speed, and skill, but he hasn't been the dynamic game-changer he was over the last two campaigns. - Gold-Smith

John Matisz 👇

Biggest question: Caufield made only two of the five teams, and you're the only one to have him in your top-12 forwards. Amid a disappointing season, what makes you believe the diminutive sniper should make it?

For this exercise, I put a huge emphasis on filling the lineup with different player archetypes. After all, we're building a real team, not picking favorites for the All-Star Game. I placed value on growth potential, too, since younger players can level up multiple times between Dec. 2023 and Feb. 2025.

That brings us to Caufield.

He may not be producing at a high rate right now, but the 22-year-old is an elite finisher, full stop. I tabbed Caufield over fellow shooters Brock Boeser and Alex DeBrincat largely because of his history with Jack Hughes. The duo was electric for two years at the U.S. National Team Development Program. Their skill sets complement each other perfectly, while the third member of my "second" USA line, J.T. Miller, can do the dirty work. - Matisz

Sean O'Leary 👇

Biggest question: You took only two right-handed defensemen and have them playing together on the top pair. Are you worried that having three blue-liners playing their off side could pose issues against some of the world's best players?

To quote Billy Beane's character in "Moneyball," I don't care about righty-lefty. Short tournaments force players out of their usual positions all the time, and these are some of the most talented players in the world. They're fully capable of making adjustments.

I also think Fox and McAvoy are USA's top two horses, and their history of being international teammates dates back to the 2017 world juniors. Both players have the mobility and puck-moving prowess to be effective on either side of the ice and, on the off chance it goes terribly, management can shake up the pairings before elimination games begin. Placing these stalwarts on the same unit also created the opportunity for an all-Hughes pairing which, for the sake of fun, factored into my decision. - O'Leary

Josh Wegman 👇

Biggest question: You're the only one who took both Tuch and Kreider. What makes them deserving of roster spots over the likes of Boeser, Caufield, DeBrincat, Keller and others?

Tuch and Kreider are big, fast, north-south wingers who can get in on the forecheck and wreak havoc. While both players can put the puck in the net, they can affect the game positively in other ways - and in limited minutes - even if they're not contributing offensively. That's important in a bottom-six role on a star-studded team. To me, the same can't be said for Boeser, Caufield, DeBrincat, and Keller. - Wegman

(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)

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Sweden 🇸🇪/Finland 🇫🇮 | Canada 🇨🇦 | United States 🇺🇸 (Dec. 26)

With a four-team, NHL-sanctioned international hockey tournament expected to take place in February 2025, theScore is choosing rosters for all of the nations set to partake.

For Canada and the USA, there are a lot of quality players to choose from. Opinions on who should make the rosters vary depending on who you ask, so we tasked five members of our hockey editorial team - Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman - with selecting their own squads.

Below, we dive into each editor's Team Canada and the most pressing question surrounding their roster:

Kayla Douglas 👇

Biggest question: Why take Huberdeau and have him so high in the lineup given his struggles since leaving Florida?

Let's talk about the underwhelming elephant in the room.

Look, everyone is aware of how bad Huberdeau has been since joining the Calgary Flames. There have been zero flashes of the guy who put up 115 points in 2021-22. But there's no way that skilled, talented player is just … gone. A Team Canada nod could be exactly what Huberdeau needs to revive his career. Or, maybe it'd be crazy to continue expecting a different result from the slumping winger.

Team Canada's brass would owe Zach Hyman a handwritten apology if Huberdeau falls flat on his face, though. - Douglas

Josh Gold-Smith 👇

Biggest question: As the only editor who didn't have Bedard on the top line, why isn't he among your top-12 forwards?

Slotting Bedard in as the 13th forward wasn't an indictment of him as a player. There's no doubt the Chicago Blackhawks phenom belongs on this team now and when it's actually constructed. He's been a quick study in the NHL, and he may ascend to true superstardom by 2025. Plus, the idea of Bedard playing alongside McDavid is admittedly tantalizing.

The concern here is mainly not wanting to play him - or any of Canada's more experienced centers - out of position. Bedard might be just fine playing on the right wing, especially with McDavid down the middle. But it seems more prudent to have the natural wingers remain in those spots.

It's entirely conceivable Bedard will leapfrog many of his Canadian peers in terms of impact by the time this tournament rolls around. But until that happens, he should be willing to accept that others have simply earned more prominent roles for the time being. - Gold-Smith

John Matisz 👇

Biggest question: This team is significantly younger than the others. What makes you confident players like Byfield, Fantilli, and Power will be ready for this stage?

I find we generally underestimate how quickly players in their early 20s can level up from impact NHLer to fringe star, fringe star to legitimate star, etc.

Byfield, currently 21, will be in the middle of his fourth season when the tournament rolls around. Power, 21, will be in the middle of his third. Fantilli, 19 but exceptionally mature physically and mentally, will be a sophomore.

Let's face it, top-three NHL picks are a special breed. Byfield, Power, and Fantilli are all poised on and off the ice. Each of them plays a modern style mixing power (no pun intended) with finesse. They're developing by the day.

Plus, it's not as if I picked an entirely youthful team: Crosby will be 37 in February 2025. Marchand will be 36, Doughty 35, Stamkos 34, and so on. - Matisz

Sean O'Leary 👇

Biggest question: As the only editor to take Nugent-Hopkins, why is he featured in a prominent role but not on a line with either of his Oiler teammates?

Left wing was the most difficult position to find world-class talent when constructing Canada's hypothetical roster, so I dipped into their pool of centers. I felt Nugent-Hopkins deserved a look based on his production over the past couple of seasons. However, Hyman is a better fit with McDavid, and likewise for the rest of the left wing-center combinations I chose. I think Nugent-Hopkins is the most dispensable forward on my roster, but his smarts and versatility made him pretty easy to plug in.

An all-Oilers top line certainly crossed my mind, but I couldn't pass up a McDavid-Bedard pairing. - O'Leary

Josh Wegman 👇

Biggest question: With five sets of teammates playing together, was familiarity prioritized over taking the best players available?

Everyone on this team is deserving as individuals (there's no Chris Kunitz here). However, relying on familiarity is logical if the fit is right. In a short tournament with little preparation time, instant chemistry will be key.

Up front, Hyman is the ultimate workhorse to complement star players. Cirelli doesn't dazzle offensively, but the perennial Selke candidate has a knack for delivering in big moments and will help the penalty kill. Konecny and Couturier are a great two-way combo, too. Even though they aren't NHL teammates, MacKinnon, Crosby, and Marchand all train together during the summers (and the latter two have shined on the international stage together before). That Nova Scotian trio could be the tournament's best line.

On defense, Toews and Makar have been arguably the NHL's best pairing over the last few seasons. Theodore and Pietrangelo aren't regular partners in Vegas, but placing them together still made sense. - Wegman

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This year in sports was defined by inspiring stories, historic achievements, and surreal events that not even Hollywood could script. We loved them all. With 2023 drawing to a close, theScore is looking back on 50 moments that resonated most with us over the past 12 months. Our five-part series, which counts down every Friday in December, continues below with moments 20-11.

20. Germany stuns U.S. at FIBA World Cup 🇩🇪

Germany had quite the summer at the FIBA World Cup in Manila. After topping its group and beating Latvia in the quarterfinals, Die Mannschaft matched up against the mighty United States. Franz Wagner and Daniel Theis held their own, leading Germany to a close upset win over the perennial powerhouse. They eked out another tight victory over Serbia to take home their first FIBA title, with Dennis Schroder making two key offensive plays at the end to secure the victory. The Americans fell again in the bronze-medal matchup, losing to Canada. - Donald Higney

19. Mom goes berserk after wrestling upset 🤬

Players, naturally, are emotionally invested in their own success (and that of their teams). Fans, too. But no group experiences the highs and lows of sporting events more viscerally than the parents of the athletes. Just ask Cathy Lee. Her son Spencer, a three-time national champion at Iowa and one of the most dominant wrestlers in the country, was heavily favored to capture his fourth successive title in 2023. Instead, his 58-match winning streak was snapped by Purdue's Matt Ramos in one of the most shocking upsets in Division I wrestling history. The crowd was stunned. The commentators were in disbelief. But their reactions paled in comparison to Lee's enraged mother, who took her frustration out on her glasses. Parenthood. What a wild ride. - Gianluca Nesci

18. Pat Bev gets creative to rip refs 😆

You can always depend on Patrick Beverley to deliver a memorable moment. After a missed foul call against the Boston Celtics that would've sent LeBron James to the free-throw line to potentially win the game, the then-Lakers guard grabbed a courtside media member's camera to show referee Eric Lewis that James had been hit on the drive. Lewis served Beverley with a technical foul as the outspoken guard walked off the court, repeatedly pointing to the camera. The Lakers lost the game, and Beverley was traded away a few weeks later. - Higney

17. A.J. Brown's catch of the year 🔥

The Philadelphia Eagles, down 11 points on the road against the Washington Commanders, needed a spark heading into the half. Washington played single-coverage against A.J. Brown on a sideline fade route inside the red zone and surrendered that spark. Brown got just enough of an outside release to give himself a chance before spinning mid-air, stabbing the ball with one hand, and displaying elite body control to get both feet in as he reached the end zone for one of the best catches of the year. Philly rode that momentum to an eventual 38-31 victory to improve to 7-1 on the season. - Andrew Dixon

16. Coach Prime backs up the talk 😎

Deion Sanders was coming off three wildly successful seasons at Jackson State when he jumped to Colorado to take over a one-win program. At his introductory press conference, the eternally confident icon told naysayers and loyalists alike, "We coming." After an offseason of hype, Colorado went to TCU to open the season against the 2022 national runner-up. That's where Sanders told his team in the locker room, "We ain't coming no more - we here." A few hours later, Sanders and the Buffaloes were celebrating a momentous road victory as 21-point underdogs. - Alex Chippin

15. McDavid hits 60 in style 💫

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. After Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid nearly combined for a highlight-reel overtime goal, the pair linked up again, this time finding the back of the net for the game-winner and McDavid's 60th goal of the season. The play merely emphasized McDavid's generational campaign: his unparalleled speed, stick control, and game knowledge helped him finish the regular season with 153 points, the 15th-highest single-season total ever. His points total is only bested by Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, and Wayne Gretzky, all products of an era where scoring was much easier. The OT winner wasn't McDavid's last regular-season goal, either; his final tally of 64 goals and 89 assists notched him the Hart, Ted Lindsay, Art Ross, and Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies. - Sarah Wallace

14. De La Cruz electrifies baseball ⚡️

Elly De La Cruz took baseball by storm when the Cincinnati Reds called him up in June, and one of the highlights of his electric rookie campaign came against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 8 when he stole second, third, and home in the span of two pitches. The 21-year-old began his triumphant feat by easily stealing second thanks to the slow delivery of Brewers hurler Elvis Peguero, then followed by swiping third without a throw from Milwaukee backstop William Contreras. Seconds later, De La Cruz went for broke, sprinting home and swiping the toughest of the three bases as Peguero's throw sailed wide to the backstop. It was the first time a Reds player stole second, third, and home in a single game since 1919. - Bryan Mcwilliam

13. The greatest curling shot ever 🥌

Swedish Olympic gold medalist Niklas Edin is no stranger to high-pressure curling shots. Needing to score two to force an extra end in the round robin of the 2023 World Men's Curling Championship against Norway, the six-time world champion had to throw an extremely rare "spinner" to move a frozen Norwegian stone and still keep his shooter. He somehow managed to just nudge Norway's stone - without touching his own - and stop as shot rock. Edin's stone spun an incredible 53.5 times - 10 times the average shot. While the Swedish rink ended up losing the extra end, it has since been dubbed "a shot heard around the curling world." - Wallace

12. Taylor Swift takes over the NFL 🌟

What happens when a pop culture icon interlocks with one of the NFL's biggest names? Absolute pandemonium. And that's exactly what happened on Sept. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium when, maybe for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, all eyes weren't on the superstars on the field. Instead, they were all glued to one superstar in a box suite. That suite contained none other than Taylor Swift, whose presence announced to the world that the rumors of her new romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce were indeed real. Since then, Swift has continued to show up to Chiefs games to support her new partner. Now, that's a perfect love story. - Daniel Valente

11. Ohtani inspires internet sleuthing 🕵️

Twitter effectively died in 2023, not only in name but also in functionality, cultural importance, and spirit. As many users migrate to other platforms, the collective of fans, journalists, and extreme weirdos known as "sports Twitter" seems intent on hanging on until the bitter end. And amid the mushroom clouds of spambots and fleeing advertisers, sports Twitter had one last glorious day in the sun with the absurd saga linking superstar free agent Shohei Ohtani to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The morning started from the dubious place of amateur flight tracking, then the day devolved into even more suspect rumors of a large reservation at a Toronto sushi restaurant, a questionably sourced report that Ohtani had decided on the Jays but apparently didn't decide to tell anyone, a seemingly solid report that Ohtani was indeed en route to Toronto that the elite tier of MLB insiders (and Bob Nightengale) later shot down, and finally concluded with the grand reveal that it was the "Shark Tank" guy on the plane all along. The "Shark Tank" guy! We're going to miss you, sports Twitter.

(Oh yeah, and Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers like we all predicted all along.) - David P. Woods

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This is the fifth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.

In this edition, we've invited Santa Claus to drop off a gift for each team in celebration of the holiday season.

1. Vegas Golden Knights (21-6-5)

Previous rank: 3

🎁 A new itinerary for their second parade. Look, this is Vegas. There's no question the city will want to outdo last summer's celebration on the Strip with the Golden Knights in prime position to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Better start planning now.

2. New York Rangers (21-7-1)

Previous rank: 1

🎁 A state-of-the-art shaver for Artemi Panarin. When the Rangers' Russian pulled up with a clean, bald head to begin the season, many mourned the loss of his curly locks. However, shaved-head Panarin is a beast and on pace to hit the 100-point mark for the first time. Go ahead and keep a close cut, Panarin, Rangers fans won't mind.

3. Los Angeles Kings (17-6-4)

Previous rank: 4

🎁 Another lengthy road winning streak. The Kings set a new NHL record by going 11-0 away from home to start the campaign, but that run was snapped by the Islanders on Dec. 9. Los Angeles just beat the Kraken in Seattle on Saturday to, perhaps, begin a new streak. The Kings will need to win 11 more to match the record for longest road winning streak at any point in a season.

4. Boston Bruins (19-5-5)

Previous rank: 2

🎁 Patrice Bergeron. We know, he retired and won't lace 'em up again, but can't we wish for a Christmas miracle? The return of the Selke Trophy king would be the best gift of them all. The Bruins are already a wagon (again), but come on, everyone misses Bergeron.

5. Vancouver Canucks (21-9-2)

Previous rank: 6

🎁 Everything on Brock Boeser's wish list. The Canucks forward has had to contend with more than his fair share of hardships over the past few seasons, but he's come out the other side with a renewed love of hockey. Armed with a new mindset, Boeser has erupted for 23 goals in 32 games. You love to see it.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (16-6-6)

Previous rank: 10

🎁 A vacation for their defensemen. The Maple Leafs have strung together victories with a blue line held together mostly by duct tape and willpower. Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, Jake McCabe, Conor Timmins, Simon Benoit, and William Lagesson should all be sipping Mai Tais on a beach somewhere.

7. Florida Panthers (18-10-2)

Previous rank: 9

🎁 Some luck. The Panthers rank third in the NHL in shots per game (33.9), but they own the seventh-lowest shooting percentage (8.9) and are tied for 20th in goals for per contest (3.00). The puck's gotta start going in at some point, right?

8. Winnipeg Jets (18-9-2)

Previous rank: 12

🎁 A speedy recovery for Kyle Connor. He's expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with a knee injury, interrupting what has been an incredible season for the Jets sniper. As Winnipeg's leading scorer with 17 goals in 26 games, Connor's absence will make it harder for the Jets to hold on to the top spot in the Central Division.

9. Dallas Stars (17-8-4)

Previous rank: 5

🎁 Good news on Jake Oettinger. The Stars goaltender exited Friday's win against the Senators after an awkward save and didn't travel to St. Louis. Any positive update on Oettinger's status will make the holidays slightly less stressful for Dallas and their fans.

10. New York Islanders (14-8-8)

Previous rank: 18

🎁 Friendship bracelets for Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. The Islanders' top-line duo has been as good as Lou Lamoriello expected when he made the splash to acquire Horvat before last year's trade deadline. Barzal's back to averaging over a point per game and Horvat's tallied a point in 10 straight contests.

11. Edmonton Oilers (13-14-1)

Previous rank: 23

🎁 A giant bottle of Kris Knoblauch's favorite beverage. The Oilers have gone 10-5-0 under their new head coach's direction (including an eight-game winning streak) while improving in virtually every category. Edmonton is now only five points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference thanks to its miraculous turnaround under Knoblauch. He's earned a drink.

12. Colorado Avalanche (19-10-2)

Previous rank: 7

🎁 Last season's Alexandar Georgiev. His first season in Denver couldn't have gone much better, posting a .919 save percentage as the team's workhorse starter. That hasn't been the case this time around, with Georgiev struggling to an .884 SV% in his last 20 games since a hot start.

13. New Jersey Devils (16-12-1)

Previous rank: 14

🎁 More recognition for Jesper Bratt. Someone give him his flowers, already! The 25-year-old Swede ranks second on the Devils with 36 points in 29 games but remains criminally underrated. If Santa gifts Bratt a brighter spotlight, maybe more people outside of New Jersey will notice.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (17-10-3)

Previous rank: 19

🎁 A gift basket for Torey Krug. The Flyers' minute-munching Travis Sanheim would be enjoying his resurgent campaign in St. Louis if not for Krug's no-trade clause.

15. Carolina Hurricanes (16-12-3)

Previous rank: 8

🎁 A competent goaltender. It's been a rough season in the crease for the Hurricanes given Frederik Andersen's health issues combined with Pyotr Kochetkov's and Antti Raanta's struggles. Whether the solution is Kochetkov - who has back-to-back quality starts - or someone else, Carolina needs a useable netminder, and soon.

16. Nashville Predators (18-13-0)

Previous rank: 22

🎁 A day off for Juuse Saros. The Predators netminder has appeared in a league-high 24 contests and has faced the third-most shots (690) out of all goaltenders. He also led the NHL in games played in each of the past two seasons. He must be tired. Saros, turn off your phone and tuck into a nice book for a hot minute.

17. Detroit Red Wings (15-11-4)

Previous rank: 11

🎁 A do-over on Patrick Kane. Look, reuniting Kane with Alex DeBrincat wasn't a bad idea on paper. But it just looks like Kane isn't a difference-maker at the NHL level anymore. He's been outchanced at five-on-five and has yet to contribute to a goal at even strength. The Red Wings are 1-4-1 with him in the lineup. Yikes.

18. Minnesota Wild (12-12-4)

Previous rank: 24

🎁 Whatever Brock Faber wants. The rookie defenseman has been a dream for the Wild and has come up particularly clutch as Minnesota deals with injuries to both Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. Faber has seen more than 30 minutes of ice time in each of the last two games. His wish should be the Wild's command.

19. Arizona Coyotes (15-13-2)

Previous rank: 17

🎁 More minutes for Michael Carcone. The Coyotes winger is tied for the NHL lead in five-on-five goals with 12, and he's done it while playing just 11:09 per game. If there's any depth player who's earned more opportunity this season, it's Carcone.

20. Tampa Bay Lightning (14-13-5)

Previous rank: 15

🎁 A breather for Andrei Vasilevskiy. It's no secret that the Lightning goaltender is a workhorse, but he's started all but two games since his return from back surgery Nov. 24. He's posted an .897 save percentage across 10 games while facing the second-most shots (282) in that span. Vasilevskiy was thrown right into the fire, and it's been a lot to ask.

21. Washington Capitals (15-9-4)

Previous rank: 13

🎁 More goals for Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals icon's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky has hit a snag with just five goals in 28 games. That puts Ovechkin on pace for fewer than 20 tallies for the first time. A bounce-back in the back half is necessary to get him back on track to reach 894.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-13-3)

Previous rank: 16

🎁 A therapy session for the Big Three. Once again, the Penguins are mid. Once again, it isn't Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Kris Letang's fault. The three legends are probably in need of a good venting session. Actually, sign up general manager Kyle Dubas for this one, too.

23. St. Louis Blues (15-14-1)

Previous rank: 20

🎁 More cheers for Jordan Kyrou. It's been quite a roller-coaster week for Kyrou. After being booed by Blues fans for his comments (or lack thereof) about ex-coach Craig Berube, he received a much warmer reception after enjoying a three-point night Saturday against the Stars. If Kyrou is garnering more cheers, it'll translate into good things for St. Louis.

24. Montreal Canadiens (13-13-4)

Previous rank: 27

🎁 A Jake Allen trade. The three-man rotation of Sam Montembeault, Cayden Primeau, and Allen can only last so long. Montembeault signed a deserving extension and Primeau is starting to make good on his potential. Freeing up more starts for both younger goaltenders would benefit everyone involved.

25. Calgary Flames (12-14-5)

Previous rank: 21

🎁 A haul for their rentals. The Flames are expected to be among the league's most active teams leading up to the trade deadline given their abundance of pending free agents. After the underwhelming returns for Tyler Toffoli and Nikita Zadorov, adding significant picks and/or prospects in the next crop of trades would be a massive boost for the team's future.

26. San Jose Sharks (9-19-3)

Previous rank: 32

🎁 A ridiculously expensive steak dinner for MacKenzie Blackwood. Since the Sharks won their first game of the season on Nov. 7, the goaltender owns a remarkable .907 save percentage and modest 4-6-1 record. His teammates owe him a nice meal. Blackwood should be allowed to order two appetizers and a dessert, too.

27. Buffalo Sabres (13-16-3)

Previous rank: 26

🎁 A trip to Dave & Buster's. The Sabres aren't having any fun. Buffalo was one of the league's most exciting teams to watch last season because they were having fun. Maybe the Sabres just need to blow off some steam on some arcade games to shake themselves out of their miserable funk. We recommend Whac-A-Mole.

28. Ottawa Senators (11-15-0)

Previous rank: 25

🎁 A new head coach. Simply put, it's time for the D.J. Smith era to end. Once again, the Senators are toiling through a lackluster campaign. Young players are performing, but the team has failed to take a step toward legitimate playoff contention.

29. Seattle Kraken (10-14-8)

Previous rank: 28

🎁 A time machine. The Kraken are in sore need of a do-over, man. After making the playoffs for the first time, Seattle mostly kept its team intact in the offseason. That hasn't translated into a similar level of success this year. We're getting flashbacks to the Kraken's nightmarish inaugural campaign. Someone please let them start this season over.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets (10-17-5)

Previous rank: 31

🎁 A stress ball for Patrik Laine. To sum up Laine's 2023-24 season so far in one word: Oof. The Finn was made a healthy scratch (which he didn't enjoy) and finally started to catch fire with three goals in his last five games, but now he's out six weeks with a clavicle fracture. Maybe he needs a pillow to scream into instead.

31. Anaheim Ducks (11-19-0)

Previous rank: 29

🎁 A healthy Jamie Drysdale. The Ducks' 2020 sixth overall pick has played just 10 games since October 2022. Drysdale's talent is evident - there's no denying his electrifying offensive skills and skating. Anaheim needs him to stay available and get his development back on track.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (9-20-1)

Previous rank: 31

🎁 A spa day for Connor Bedard. The 2023 first overall pick leads all rookies in goals (12) and points (26) while pacing all Blackhawks forwards in average ice time (19:28). On top of all that, Bedard has to face a daily media circus and tune out some ridiculous off-ice drama. Go get a massage, kid.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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This year in sports was defined by inspiring stories, historic achievements, and surreal events that not even Hollywood could script. We loved them all. With 2023 drawing to a close, theScore is looking back on 50 moments that resonated most with us over the past 12 months. Our five-part series, which counts down every Friday in December, continues below with moments 30-21.

30. Bellingham takes down Barca 💪

Jude Bellingham was already hailed as the second coming of Cristiano Ronaldo before he led Real Madrid to victory in his first Clasico. The English midfielder morphed into one of the best finishers in the world after joining the club from Borussia Dortmund. His 13 goals in his first 10 games - including various winning strikes - were two more than Ronaldo scored to start his iconic career in Madrid. But nothing compared to Bellingham's heroics against Madrid's bitter rivals, Barcelona. After scoring a spectacular equalizing goal from 30 yards out, the 20-year-old further endeared himself to fans with an opportunistic winner in the dying minutes. - Gordon Brunt

29. Etienne's Pyrrhic performance 🙃

Everyone loves a big fantasy football performance - unless you're on the wrong side of it. Imagine how Travis Etienne felt after posting one of the best games of his career while playing against himself in fantasy football. The running back exploded for 136 rushing yards, four receptions, 48 receiving yards, a pair of touchdowns, and a two-point conversion against the Bills in Week 5. His opponent surely appreciated the 30+ fantasy points, but Etienne was likely happier winning the game in real life on the back of his dominant outing. - Andrew Dixon

28. PGA TOUR, LIV Golf join forces 😱

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. After more than a year of legal battles, the PGA announced a surprise merger with Saudi Arabia's LIV Golf, shocking just about everyone. While LIV golfers like Phil Mickelson rejoiced, many PGA golfers found out about the merger through a leaked press release on social media, and members of Netflix's docuseries "Full Swing" found out on camera. Those who refused LIV Golf’s massive payouts were angered by the PGA's lack of loyalty, and Tiger Woods was "frustrated" with the lack of player involvement. The tours have until Dec. 31 to finalize the agreement but, regardless of the outcome, June 6 will go down in golf history as a day stranger than fiction. - Sarah Wallace

27. FDU stuns No. 1 Purdue 😲

Five years after No. 1 Virginia lost to No. 16 UMBC, New Jersey's Fairleigh Dickinson handed Purdue an opening-round loss in the same setup. The Knights had to win in the First Four to qualify, while the Boilermakers lost four games to end the regular season before winning the Big Ten title. FDU held off No. 1 Purdue with two clutch blocks in the final minute of play to advance the Knights to the second round. Meanwhile, No. 4 Virginia lost to No. 13 Furman, marking the second time in three years the Cavaliers lost in the first round. - Donald Higney

26. Aces breathe rarefied air ✨

The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty were on a collision course to meet in the WNBA Finals all season long. Both teams were loaded with stars and dominated in the regular season to earn the top seeds in their respective conferences. The Aces took the first two games at home before the Liberty responded with a victory in Game 3. Las Vegas lost starting point guard Chelsea Gray and starting center Kiah Stokes to injuries before Game 4 but withstood their absences to claim a 70-69 victory. The win made them just the third repeat champion in WNBA history, and the first since 2002. - Josh Goldberg

25. José Ramírez decks Tim Anderson 🤜

It was a bad, bad year for Tim Anderson. The former batting champ struggled through injuries and underperformed in the most disappointing campaign of his career. But the worst night of his dreadful season came on Aug. 5 when he picked a fight with the wrong guy. The White Sox shortstop hurled his glove to the ground and put his dukes up after getting into a verbal dispute with Guardians slugger José Ramírez - which turned out to be a poor decision. Anderson hit the dirt like a ton of bricks after catching a wild overhand right from Ramírez. The fight led to a bench-clearing brawl and Eloy Jiménez even got stepped on as Anderson was sidelined recovering from embarrassment. - Bryan Mcwilliam

24. Nuggets, Jokic claim 1st title 🏔

For the fifth straight season, the NBA got a new champion. The Denver Nuggets won their first championship after taking down the Miami Heat in June. Nikola Jokic dominated the playoffs, averaging 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game - elevating his game as the competition and stakes increased every round. Denver got a boost from Jamal Murray, who put up 26.1 points and 7.1 assists in the postseason as he played in his first campaign after an ACL tear. With this tandem, the Nuggets look to be a formidable championship contender for the foreseeable future. - Higney

23. Coco conquers US Open 🎾

Greatness was expected of Coco Gauff ever since she made her professional debut at 14 years old. But those expectations quickly became a burden, weighing her down even as she spent her high school years winning various 500- and 1,000-level tournaments. So when she came back from a set down against Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open in September - clinching her first major title at the grand old age of 19 - Coco had a few things to say. "To those who thought they were putting water on my fire, you were really adding gas to it, and now I'm really burning so bright right now," she said as the 28,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted in support. Now it's no longer about whether Coco can win majors, but how many victories she'll collect. - Anthony Lopopolo

22. You come at the king ... 😤

LeBron proved that you can't count him out, even during his 20th NBA season. After then-Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks sent him numerous taunts and a hit in the groin, LeBron got his revenge. Leading by three points in overtime of Game 4 in their opening-round playoff series, the dueling players found themselves matched up - with LeBron driving past Brooks and drawing a timely foul to help put the lower-seeded Lakers up 3-1 in the series. In a cathartic moment, King James burst into emotion as the Lakers crowd went crazy. L.A. went on to win the series, while the Grizzlies declined to re-sign Brooks, allowing him to join the Houston Rockets. - Higney

21. Wild Bill's legendary parade speech 🤣

Warning: Video contains coarse language

There have been some incredible Stanley Cup parade speeches over the years, but Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson gave one for the ages in June. The moment he took the mic shirtless and drenched in sweat, it was clear he was about to deliver an all-timer. It's two minutes of absolute gold: Karlsson initially censoring himself but dropping an actual F-bomb 22 seconds later. The Arizona Coyotes catching a stray. That poor woman trying in vain to get him to wrap it up with a tap on the back, the hand-across-the-throat gesture, a plea of "let's go," and finally dragging him across the stage. Perfection. - Josh Gold-Smith

Let us know what your favorite sports moments were in the comments!

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