NHL Network top player countdown series set to debut

NHL Network™ today announced that the fourth annual installment of its countdown series ranking the best position players in the National Hockey League is set to begin on Sunday, August 4 with Top 20 Centers Right Now at 6:00 p.m. ET. As Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid seeks a third consecutive year atop the ranking, the episode will feature players boasting 11 Stanley Cup® championships, six #1 overall picks in the NHL Draft™, and four Hart Memorial Trophies.

NHL Network's Jamie Hersch, E.J. Hradek and 11-year veteran Mike Johnson will count down the best centers based on player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2018-2019 season. The ranking also weighs players' projected performance in the 2019-2020 season, taking into account those returning from injury and expectant breakout seasons from young players.
Continuing throughout the offseason, NHL Network will also debut its 2019 editions of Top 20 Defensemen Right Now, Top 20 Wings Right Now and Top 10 Goalies Right Now. The player rankings will culminate with NHL Network's five-part series Top 50 Players Right Now, beginning Sunday, September 1, featuring 16 Stanley Cup® champions, 10 #1 overall NHL Draft™ picks, seven Hart Memorial Trophy winners, five James Norris Memorial Trophy winners and four Vezina Trophy winners.
Viewers can visit NHL.com/TopPlayers to take a look back at last year's rankings and following the completion of each show videos on the latest rankings will be available. Fans can also vote for the top player at each position on NHL Network's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages prior to each ranking using #NHLTopPlayers. All #NHLTopPlayers votes will be incorporated into a fan-generated countdown in each episode.
The complete schedule for NHL Network's countdown series is listed below:

Date, Ranking, Time (ET)

Sunday, August 4, Top 20 Centers Right Now, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 11, Top 20 Wings Right Now, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 18, Top 20 Defensemen Right Now, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 25, Top 10 Goalies Right Now, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 1, Top 50 Players Right Now: 50-41, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 8, Top 50 Players Right Now: 40-31, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 15, Top 50 Players Right Now: 30-21, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 22, Top 50 Players Right Now: 20-11, TBA
Sunday, September 29, Top 50 Players Right Now: 10-1, TBA
About NHL Network: As the TV home for the National Hockey League, NHL Network™ gives viewers an all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games and special on-site coverage of NHL events, plus three signature studio shows, interviews, highlights and expert analysis from a variety of hockey insiders and former players. Additional programming includes behind-the-scenes features, player profiles and international and amateur hockey competitions. For more information on NHL Network, log on to nhlnetwork.com or follow @NHLNetwork on Twitter.