Super 16: Top left wings playing in Stanley Cup Qualifiers

The NHL Return to Play Plan will move into Phase 3, training camps, on July 13. Phase 4, the resumption of play with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, will start Aug. 1, with the top four teams in each conference, based on points percentage, playing a three-game round-robin, and the No. 5-12 seeds playing eight best-of-5 series. The winners of those series will advance to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the four teams from the round-robin.

NHL.com has been previewing the League's return with weekly Super 16 rankings covering positions and teams. This week, the Super 16 covers the top left wings of the 24 teams that are returning to play. Some of the ranked players may play either right wing or center at times, but they all are listed as left wings on NHL.com.

Alex Ovechkin remains the king of left wings in the NHL.

Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals captain, received enough voting points (202) to be ranked No. 1 in the Super 16 this week, the best left wings among the 24 teams that will compete in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Ovechkin was ranked No. 1 by eight of the 13 participating voters from the NHL.com staff. Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins was ranked first by three voters, and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers was ranked No. 1 by the other two.

Marchand finished one voting point ahead of Panarin (192-191) to be ranked No. 2 this week.

To create the Super 16, each of the 13 participating staff members put together his or her version of what it should look like. Those were submitted and a point total assigned to each.

The left wing that was selected first was given 16 points, second got 15, third 14 and so on down to No. 16, who got one point.

Here is the Super 16:

1. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Total points: 202

Season stats:67 points (48 goals, 19 assists) in 68 games

Career playoff stats: 126 points (65 goals, 61 assists) in 128 games

Ovechkin shared the Rocket Richard Trophy this season with Bruins right wing David Pastrnak. It was the ninth season he finished first or tied for first in the NHL in goals. He's scored 706 goals in 1,152 games, eighth in NHL history and two behind former Capitals forward Mike Gartner for seventh. Ovechkin was two goals short of his ninth 50-goal season, which would have tied Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the NHL record, when the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018 and was voted winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after scoring 27 points, including an NHL-high 15 goals, in 24 games.

2. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

Total points: 192

Season stats:87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) in 70 games

Career playoff stats:83 points (30 goals, 53 assists) in 108 games

Marchand was sixth in the NHL in points, fifth in assists and on pace for 102 points when the season was paused. He is fifth in the NHL over the past three seasons with 272 points (98 goals, 174 assists), including 100 points (36 goals, 64 assists) in 2018-19. He scored 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season when the Bruins reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the St. Louis Blues. He won the Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and lost in the Cup Final in 2013.

3. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers

Total points: 191

Season stats:95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 69 games

Career playoff stats: 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 27 games

Panarin was on pace for 112 points when the season was paused. That would have been the second-most points scored by a Rangers player in one season behind Jaromir Jagr's 123 in 2005-06. Instead, Panarin's 95 points were the 12th-most scored in one season in Rangers history. He finished tied for third with Pastrnak in scoring in the first season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract he signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2019.

4. Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers

Total points: 130

Season stats: 78 points (23 goals, 55 assists) in 69 games

Career playoff stats:Three points (one goal, two assists) in six games

Huberdeau was having arguably his best NHL season before the pause. He was on pace for 93 points, one more than his total from last season (30 goals, 62 assists in 82 games), and was plus-5 after he had a minus-14 rating last season. He is ninth in the NHL and third among left wings since the start of last season with 170 points (53 goals, 117 assists) in 151 games. Huberdeau's only NHL playoff appearance was in 2016, when the Panthers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference First Round in six games by the New York Islanders.

5. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights

Total points: 120

Season stats:66 points (32 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games

Career playoff stats:30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 45 games

Pacioretty, like Huberdeau and Panarin before him on this list, was having arguably his best NHL season. He was on pace for what would have been an NHL career-high 76 points. As it is, he was one point away from tying his career high of 67 points, which he scored in 81 games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2014-15 and 2016-17. Pacioretty scored 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven playoff games for the Golden Knights last season.

6. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

Total points: 113

Season stats: 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists) in 70 games

Career playoff stats:12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 20 games

Gaudreau scored 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 20 games after the All-Star break. His production this season (0.83 points per game) was down from his previous two, when he scored 183 points (60 goals, 123 assists) in 162 games (1.13 points per game), second behind Marchand's 185 among left wings. Gaudreau's shooting percentage was a culprit, down to 8.6 percent after it was 14.7 percent last season.

7. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

Total points: 106

Season stats:73 points (38 goals, 35 assists) in 71 games

Career playoff stats:15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 23 games

Connor was red-hot before the pause. He scored 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) in 17 games from Feb. 6-March 11, including eight goals in his last seven games. He's scored 72 goals the past two seasons, 11th in the NHL and second among left wings behind Ovechkin's 99.

8. Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Total points: 101

Season stats: 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 39 games

Career playoff stats:43 points (24 goals, 19 assists) in 41 games

Guentzel led the Penguins in goals (11th in NHL) and points (13th) when he injured his shoulder Dec. 30, requiring surgery the next day. He didn't play again in the regular season but hopes to be back for the qualifier series against the Canadiens. Guentzel scored 76 points (40 goals, 36 assists) in 82 games last season. He won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017.

9. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

Total points: 92

Season stats: 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 54 games

Career playoff stats: 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 25 games

Landeskog was one of the hottest players in the NHL with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 13 games from Feb. 17-March 11. Only Rangers center Mika Zibanejad scored more points (23) during that span. He is third on the Avalanche and 11th among left wings with 181 points (80 goals, 101 assists) the past three seasons. His average of 20:28 of ice time per game is second at the position during that span, behind Ovechkin's 20:34.

10. Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary Flames

Total points: 85

Season stats: 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists) in 69 games

Career playoff stats:Three points (two goals, one assist) in nine games

Tkachuk played a lot of right wing this season, but his position is listed as left wing, so he was included in these rankings. He scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 20 games after the All-Star break. His 138 points (57 goals, 81 assists) the past two seasons are second on the Flames behind Gaudreau's 157.

11. Taylor Hall, Arizona Coyotes

Total points: 82

Season stats:52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 65 games

Career playoff stats:Six points (two goals, four assists) in five games

Hall scored 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 35 games for the Coyotes after they acquired him in a trade from the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 16. He scored 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 30 games with the Devils. Hall won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP after he scored 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) for New Jersey in 2017-18 and made his only appearance in the NHL playoffs.

12. Teuvo Teravainen, Carolina Hurricanes

Total points: 76

Season stats: 63 points (15 goals, 48 assists) in 68 games

Career playoff stats:21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 40 games

Teravainen has scored 203 points (59 goals, 144 assists) in 232 games the past three seasons, second on the Hurricanes behind center Sebastian Aho's 214 and sixth among NHL left wings. Teravainen scored 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 15 playoff games last season and won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015, when he scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 18 postseason games.

13. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

Total points: 68

Season stats: 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games

Career playoff stats: 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) in 61 games

Forsberg has scored 165 goals the past six seasons, first on the Predators and sixth among NHL left wings. He scored three goals in Nashville's last three games before the season was paused after going 16 in a row without one from Feb. 1-March 3.

14. David Perron, St. Louis Blues

Total points: 50

Season stats:60 points (25 goals, 35 assists) in 71 games

Career playoff stats:39 points (11 goals, 28 assists) in 83 games

Perron leads the Blues with 48 goals the past two seasons. He scored seven of his 11 career playoff goals last season, when his 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 26 postseason games helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup for the first time.

15. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

Total points: 31

Season stats: 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games

Career playoff stats:30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 32 games

Benn struggled with consistency this season and went into the pause with one goal on 23 shots in his last 13 games. But he has produced for the Stars in the playoffs in the past, scoring 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 13 games last season and 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 13 games in 2015-16.

16. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets

Total points: 23

Season stats: 58 points (25 goals, 33 assists) in 71 games

Career playoff stats:Seven assists in 21 games

Ehlers scored 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in Winnipeg's final 20 games. He has struggled in the playoffs though. Ehlers did not have a point in six games last season, when the Jets were eliminated in the Western Conference First Round in six games by the Blues. He was limited to seven assists in 15 games in 2018, when Winnipeg reached the Western Conference Final.

Others receiving points:Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild, 18; Mike Hoffman, Florida Panthers, 16; Kevin Fiala, Minnesota Wild, 14; Tomas Tatar, Montreal Canadiens, 12; Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues, 10; Anders Lee, New York Islanders, 7; Jakub Vrana, Washington Capitals, 5; Chris Kreider, New York Rangers, 5; Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning, 5; Dominik Kubalik, Chicago Blackhawks, 4; Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks, 4; James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia Flyers, 3; Alex Killorn, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2; Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets, 1

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Artemi Panarin; 3. Brad Marchand; 4. Jonathan Huberdeau; 5. Kyle Connor; 6. Jake Guentzel; 7. Max Pacioretty; 8. Matthew Tkachuk; 9. Johnny Gaudreau; 10. Gabriel Landeskog; 11. Kevin Fiala; 12. David Perron; 13. Dominik Kubalik; 14. Nikolaj Ehlers; 15. Jakub Vrana; 16. Chris Kreider

TIM CAMPBELL

1. Brad Marchand; 2. Alex Ovechkin; 3. Artemi Panarin; 4. Kyle Connor; 5. Max Pacioretty; 6. Filip Forsberg; 7. Jamie Benn; 8. Jonathan Huberdeau; 9. Matthew Tkachuk; 10. Johnny Gaudreau; 11. Teuvo Teravainen; 12. Taylor Hall; 13. Jaden Schwartz; 14. Zach Parise; 15. Jake Guentzel; 16. David Perron.

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Artemi Panarin; 3. Brad Marchand; 4. Max Pacioretty; 5. Jonathan Huberdeau; 6. Jake Guentzel; 7. Kyle Connor; 8. Johnny Gaudreau; 9. Taylor Hall; 10. Anders Lee; 11. Teuvo Teravainen; 12. David Perron; 13. Filip Forsberg; 14. Chris Kreider; 15. Matthew Tkachuk; 16. Zach Parise

TOM GULITTI

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Brad Marchand; 3. Artemi Panarin; 4. Johnny Gaudreau; 5. Jonathan Huberdeau; 6. Kyle Connor; 7. Teuvo Teravainen; 8. Gabriel Landeskog; 9. Taylor Hall; 10. Matthew Tkachuk; 11. Mike Hoffman; 12. Filip Forsberg; 13. David Perron; 14. Jake Guentzel; 15. Jamie Benn; 16. Max Pacioretty

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Artemi Panarin; 2. Brad Marchand; 3. Alex Ovechkin; 4. Kyle Connor; 5. Max Pacioretty; 6. Jonathan Huberdeau; 7. Nikolaj Ehlers; 8. Teuvo Teravainen; 9. Jake Guentzel; 10. Matthew Tkachuk; 11. Taylor Hall; 12. David Perron; 13. Tomas Tatar; 14. Kevin Fiala; 15. Jakub Vrana; 16. Johnny Gaudreau

ROBERT LAFLAMME

1. Brad Marchand; 2. Alex Ovechkin; 3. Artemi Panarin; 4. Jake Guentzel; 5. Kyle Connor; 6. Max Pacioretty; 7. Jonathan Huberdeau; 8. Matthew Tkachuk; 9. Teuvo Teravainen; 10. Johnny Gaudreau; 11. David Perron; 12. Gabriel Landeskog; 13. Jaden Schwartz; 14. Tomas Tatar; 15. Alex Killorn; 16. Jakub Vrana

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Brad Marchand; 3. Artemi Panarin; 4. Johnny Gaudreau; 5. Zach Parise; 6. Jamie Benn; 7. Taylor Hall; 8. Gabriel Landeskog; 9. Max Pacioretty; 10. Jonathan Huberdeau; 11. Filip Forsberg; 12. Teuvo Teravainen; 13. Nikolaj Ehlers; 14. James van Riemsdyk; 15. Jaden Schwartz; 16. David Perron

TRACEY MYERS

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Artemi Panarin; 3. Brad Marchand; 4. Max Pacioretty; 5. Gabriel Landeskog; 6. Filip Forsberg; 7. David Perron; 8. Johnny Gaudreau; 9. Jonathan Huberdeau; 10. Matthew Tkachuk; 11. Nikolaj Ehlers; 12. Ondrej Palat; 13. Taylor Hall; 14. Tomas Tatar; 15. Teuvo Teravainen; 16. Alex DeBrincat

BILL PRICE

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Artemi Panarin; 3. Brad Marchand; 4. Taylor Hall; 5. Matthew Tkachuk; 6. Gabriel Landeskog; 7. Max Pacioretty; 8. Johnny Gaudreau; 9. Jake Guentzel; 10. Filip Forsberg; 11. Kyle Connor; 12. Jonathan Huberdeau; 13. Kevin Fiala; 14. Mike Hoffman; 15. Teuvo Teravainen; 16. David Perron

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Brad Marchand; 2. Alex Ovechkin; 3. Artemi Panarin; 4. Jake Guentzel; 5. Gabriel Landeskog; 6. Teuvo Teravainen; 7. Max Pacioretty; 8. Johnny Gaudreau; 9. Kyle Connor; 10. Jonathan Huberdeau; 11. Filip Forsberg; 12. Taylor Hall; 13. David Perron; 14. Matthew Tkachuk; 15. Jamie Benn; 16. Kevin Fiala

DAN ROSEN

1. Artemi Panarin; 2. Alex Ovechkin; 3. Brad Marchand; 4. Jonathan Huberdeau; 5. Kyle Connor; 6. Max Pacioretty; 7. Jake Guentzel; 8. Teuvo Teravainen; 9. Matthew Tkachuk; 10. Taylor Hall; 11. David Perron; 12. Johnny Gaudreau; 13. Gabriel Landeskog; 14. Filip Forsberg; 15. Tomas Tatar; 16. Chris Kreider

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Artemi Panarin; 3 Brad Marchand; 4. Jake Guentzel; 5. Jonathan Huberdeau; 6. Johnny Gaudreau; 7. Gabriel Landeskog; 8. Max Pacioretty; 9. Taylor Hall; 10. Mike Hoffman; 11. Matthew Tkachuk; 12. Filip Forsberg; 13. Teuvo Teravainen; 14. Kyle Connor; 15. Zach Parise; 16. Jamie Benn

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Alex Ovechkin; 2. Brad Marchand; 3. Artemi Panarin; 4. Gabriel Landeskog; 5. Johnny Gaudreau; 6. Jonathan Huberdeau; 7. Filip Forsberg; 8. Jake Guentzel; 9. Taylor Hall; 10. Matthew Tkachuk; 11. Kyle Connor; 12. Jamie Benn; 13. Teuvo Teravainen; 14. Alex DeBrincat; 15. David Perron; 16. Nick Foligno