NHL Top Players: Nos. 20-11

NHL Network is getting ready for this season by ranking the top 50 players in the League. Researchers, producers and on-air personalities compiled the list, and players 20-11 were revealed Sunday in the eighth of a nine-part series. Here is the list:

Related: NHL Top Players [Nos. 50-41 | Nos. 40-31 | Nos. 30 -21]
20. Johnny Gaudreau, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
Gaudreau left the Calgary Flames as a free agent to sign a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets on July 13. The 29-year-old left wing was tied for second in the NHL last season with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) in 82 games. He led the League with a plus-64 rating, scored nine game-winning goals and averaged 18:34 of ice time per game. Gaudreau has 609 points (210 goals, 399 assists) in 602 NHL games.
"We knew 'Johnny Hockey' was great, but I don't think I'm the only one that thought maybe we saw the best of Johnny Hockey behind him and then there came this past season," NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said. "Had a monster season and he changes this (Blue Jackets) lineup for me."

19. Mikko Rantanen, F, Colorado Avalanche
The 25-year-old right wing led Colorado in goals (36) and points (92) in 75 games last season and was second among forwards in average time on ice (20:59). He has scored at least 30 goals in three of his past four seasons and is a big reason the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. Rantanen had 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games, second on the Avalanche behind defenseman Cale Makar (29). He has 408 points in 408 NHL games (165 goals, 243 assists).
"Gabe Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen are just never simply going to get the love they deserve. Why? Because they are on a team with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar," Rupp said. "[Rantanen] was huge piece in the playoffs for the Colorado Avalanche, I think everybody on that team would tell you that."

18. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
In his 14th NHL season, Stamkos topped 100 points for the first time with 106 (42 goals, 64 assists) in 81 games. The 32-year-old led Tampa Bay in power-play goals (16), game-winning goals (11, tied for first in NHL) and shots on goal (241). He was second in power-play points (36) and tied for third with a plus-24 rating. A six-time 40-goal scorer, Stamkos is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning (2020, 2021).
"He's a great passer, he's got a fantastic shot, world-class shot," Rupp said. "… He does all the little things too. … This guy is a leader through and through. I love that he cracked the list this year at No. 18."

17. Jonathan Huberdeau, F, Calgary Flames
Huberdeau was traded to the Flames on July 22 after he had an NHL career-high 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) and averaged 19.25 of ice time in 80 games last season, when he led the League in assists and tied Gaudreau for second in scoring. The 29-year-old left wing helped the Panthers win the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in their history as the team with the best record in the NHL. Florida's leader in points (613) and games played (671), Huberdeau has had at least 20 goals and 61 points in five straight seasons.
"Career year, tied for second in the League in points with Johnny Gaudreau, and I just don't feel like he gets the respect he deserves," Rupp said. "… I'm excited to see his season here for Calgary. … He's got that desire to get better and if you have desire and skill like Jonathan Huberdeau has, he's going to produce."

16. Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers
Fox won the Norris Trophy voted as best defenseman in 2020-21, when he was second at the position with 47 points (five goals, 42 assists) in 55 games. He was fourth among defensemen last season with 74 points (11 goals, 63 assists) in 78 games. He had 33 power-play points to lead Rangers defensemen, was second with 158 shots on goal and tied for third with a plus-18 rating. The 24-year-old was second on the Rangers during the playoffs with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 20 games to help them advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
"When you see Adam Fox if you never saw him play hockey you'd look at him and say he doesn't have size (5-foot-11, 182 pounds), he's not really that fast of a skater," Rupp said. "But when you watch him on the ice, he's all over the place. … I just find him to be a very smart offensive player from the backend."

15. Mitch Marner, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marner had NHL career highs of 35 goals and 97 points and averaged 20:53 of ice time in 72 games. The 25-year-old right wing scored three shorthanded goals and five game-winners and had 12 games with at least three points, four with at least four, and was one of four players to get at least six points in a game last season (Nick Schmaltz, seven; Mason Marchment, six; Patrick Kane, six). Marner has had at least 61 points in each of his six NHL seasons and at least 21 power-play points in five.
"He competes, he's on both special teams, he blocks shots, he has a willingness to do certain things," Rupp said. "… He is a student of the game as far as the way he sees it, he is a hockey player. He just finds ways to be crafty… he's a crafty, crafty player and he generates a lot of offense for the Toronto Maple Leafs."

14. Kirill Kaprizov, F, Minnesota Wild
The 2020-21 Calder Trophy winner voted as top rookie, Kaprizov took it to another level last season when he was fifth in points (108), tied for fifth in goals (47) and 13th in assists (61). He led Minnesota in virtually every offensive category (goals, assists, points, 14 power-play goals, 31 power-play points, 289 shots on goal). The 25-year-old left wing was plus-27 and led Wild forwards in ice time per game (19:06). Kaprizov scored seven goals in six playoff games, including the first postseason hat trick in Wild history. He has an NHL career shooting percentage of 16.6 percent (74 goals on 446 shots).
"I'm really high on this player, I would probably put him top 7, top 8 in my list," Rupp said. "Two years in the League, and what he's doing right now. … He's driving offense from the wing, that's hard to do, not many guys can do that."

13. Nikita Kucherov, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
A two-time Stanley Cup winner (2020, 2021), Kucherov led the playoffs in scoring in each season (34 points in 2020, 32 in 2021). The 29-year-old right wing was limited to 47 games last season because of injury but had 69 points (25 goals, 44 assists), 30 on the power play, and averaged 19:59 of ice time to lead Lightning forwards. Despite missing the entire 2020-21 season because of injury, Kucherov is tied for 12th in the NHL with 382 points since the 2017-18 season. He won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in 2018-19, when he had 128 points (41 goals, 87 assists) in 82 games.
"He's an explosive player," Rupp said. "He's got a little bite, so when you get hounding on him … He's a piece that you want to shut down. … I just love his swagger, I love what he brings to the Lightning."

12. Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
Josi led NHL defensemen with 96 points (23 goals, 73 assists) in 80 games, the most in one season at the position since Phil Housley had 97 in 1992-93. He also led defensemen in power-play goals (11) and shots on goal (281), was runner-up for the Norris Trophy and a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award as NHL most valuable player voted by the NHL Players' Association. The 32-year-old was eighth in average time on ice per game (25:33) and he's had at least 50 points in six of the past eight seasons. He won the Norris Trophy in 2019-20.
"So good on both sides of the puck," Rupp said. "… He does it in all three zones. … He is all over the ice, he is all over the place. You don't know where he is. He is a nightmare to defend in the defensive zone for the opposing team. … He is so good and so smart."

11. Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers
Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy voted as best goalie last season and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy. He was 36-13-4 in 53 games (52 starts) and led goalies who played at least 20 games in goals-against average (2.07) and save percentage (.935). Shesterkin was third in shutouts (six) and sixth in wins, and had a save percentage of at least .940 in 27 games. His .929 save percentage against opposing power plays was second in the NHL behind James Reimer (.930) of the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old was 10-9 with a 2.59 GAA and .929 save percentage in 20 postseason games and is 62-29-7 with a 2.31 GAA, .928 save percentage and eight shutouts in 100 regular-season games.
"Igor steals games, he steals goals away from the opponent," Rupp said. "… If it wasn't for Igor's first half of the season, and he was great all the way through, this team would not have made the playoffs. … Igor was lights out."