NHL Top Players: Nos. 50-41

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 50-41 were revealed Sunday in the fifth of a nine-part series. Here is the list:

50. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils, C
Hughes broke out in his third NHL season, setting NHL career highs in goals (26), assists (30) and points (56) despite being limited to 49 games because of a dislocated left shoulder. The 21-year-old, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, also led the Devils in power-play goals (six) and was first among forwards in time on ice per game (19:34).
"I think, without a doubt, Jack Hughes is a 100-point guy with an 82-game season," NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said. "Maybe it's this year but in the very near future, he's going to be at 100-point pace."

49. Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings, D
Seider won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year last season, leading first-year players in assists (43) and power-play points (21). He led rookie defensemen in points (50), game-winning goals (four) and shots on goal (187) and was second in goals (seven) while playing all 82 games. The 21-year-old led the Red Wings in time on ice per game (23:02), total ice time (1,889:22) and blocked shots (161) and was second in hits (151).
"We knew he was going to be very talented, we knew he was going to be a pillar of a D-core in Detroit, but I didn't know he was going to be this physical." Rupp said. "It's one thing to be able to move the puck the way he can, distribute the puck, but his physicality. You've got to know when No. 53 is on the ice. They got a good one here in Detroit and that's going to be a centerpiece of their team moving forward."

48. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators, G
Saros led the NHL in games played and starts (67 each), finishing 38-25-3 last season. He was third in wins and tied for sixth in shutouts (four). Among goalies to play at least 20 games, Saros was eighth in save percentage (.918) and tied Jack Campbell, then of the Toronto Maple Leafs, for 15th in GAA (2.64). The 27-year-old also faced the second-most shots (2,107), made the second-most saves (1,934) and led the position in time on ice time (3,931:42).
"He has been awesome for the Nashville Predators," Rupp said. "He can steal what could be goals away. ... His positional play is awesome, his explosiveness is out of this world and he can certainly make dramatic saves as well."

47. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators, LW
Forsberg became the leading goal scorer in Predators history (220) when he had 84 points (42 goals, 42 assists) in 69 games last season. He had 10 power-play goals and 27 power-play points and led Nashville with eight game-winning goals while averaging 18:06 of ice time per game. The 28-year-old has scored at least 21 goals seven times and has been one of the most dynamic forwards in the NHL the past decade.
"I think he can be pushing 100 points, he is that kind of player," Rupp said. "... He's [the Predators] most talented forward and that's saying a lot because they have very talented forwards as far as their individual skills. ... The sky is the limit here for Filip Forsberg."

46. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche, LW
The Avalanche captain for the past 10 seasons, Landeskog had 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 51 games to average more than a point per game (1.16) for the second time in his 11 NHL seasons (1.03 in 2018-19). He was plus-27 and had 15 power-play points in 20:19 of ice time per game. The 29-year-old has scored at least 20 goals nine times, and had 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Colorado win the Cup.
"He's never going to get his full due. Why? Because he is on a team with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar," Rupp said. "He has a certain nature to him, he's a leader and you saw that coming alive here in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."

45. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars, D
Heiskanen had 36 points (five goals, 31 assists) in 70 games last season and led the Stars in average ice time per game (24:53). It was his highest point total in his four NHL seasons, and the 23-year-old tied his high with three goals and 11 points on the power play. He had 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 27 games in the 2020 playoffs, the fifth highest total by a defenseman in a single postseason.
"I'm a huge fan of Miro ... for me personally, I'd have him higher (on the list), but I understand maybe where he's at right now, but I think he is about to pop," Rupp said. "And I think this upcoming season, he is going to get some serious, serious consideration for a Norris (Trophy). ... Miro has everything."

44. Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa Senators, LW
DeBrincat, who was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks on July 7, had 78 points in 82 games last season, leading Chicago with 41 goals to tie his NHL career high set in 2018-19. He also was second among Chicago forwards in ice time per game (20:51) behind Patrick Kane (21:49) and played in the NHL All-Star Game. The 24-year-old has scored at least 28 goals in four of his five NHL seasons, and his 160 goals since 2017-18 rank eighth. Of the 160 goals, 52 have come on the power play and 21 were game winners.
"He has knack of finding the back of the net," Rupp said. "If there is such a thing as an under-the-radar 40-something goal scorer, that's this guy. Don't count him out. I guarantee he gets 40 again."

43. Chris Kreider, New York Rangers, LW
The 31-year-old set NHL career highs in goals (52) and points (77) in 81 games, finishing third in goals last season. He led the NHL with 26 power-play goals and tied for the lead with 11 game-winning goals. Kreider topped the Rangers in shots on goal (258) and shooting percentage (20.2, minimum 50 shots), averaging an NHL career-best 18:44 of ice time per game. He has scored at least 20 goals in seven of his eight full NHL seasons.
"He has the ability to take over hockey games with his size (6-foot-3, 223 pounds) and speed ... but I think he's got another level at 5-on-5 to score," Rupp said. "[The Rangers] had an awesome year going to the Eastern Conference Final and Chris Kreider was a huge reason why."

42. John Carlson, Washington Capitals, D
Carlson had 71 points (17 goals, 54 assists) in 78 games last season, the third time in four seasons he's had at least 70 points. The 32-year-old led Washington in average ice time per game (23:49) and was third in blocked shots (112). Carlson's 260 points (55 goals, 205 assists) the past four seasons leads NHL defensemen, and his 99 power-play points are second to Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning (109). A finalist for the Norris Trophy in 2020, Carlson won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.
"He's got a big-time shot," Rupp said. "He's a guy that just jumps in (to the play), he understands. When it's time to go, you don't have to tell him twice. ... He hasn't always gotten the love he probably deserves nationally as far as being a top-end defenseman in this League."

41. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights, C
Eichel had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 34 games last season after he was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4. The 25-year-old didn't make his season debut until Feb. 16 because of artificial disk replacement surgery he had eight days following the trade. Among players selected in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel ranks fourth in assists (227), and fifth in goals (153) and points (380).
"This is a guy that when he is playing and what we have seen in his career, he is a world-class player," Rupp said. "... Superstars want to be known as being the greatest. Him slipping to 41? He might get mad and I think that's a good thing. More motivation for Jack will certainly help the Vegas Golden Knights."