At the beginning of the 2023-24 season, we here at THW put together a list of the top 10 current right wingers in the NHL. These lists are highly subjective, as there are several big-name players left off for ones who are playing better through the first half of this season.
As you can imagine, compiling this certainly wasn’t easy, but it is a fun thing to discuss regardless. With that said, here are the current top 10 right wingers in the NHL.
10. Mitch Marner
While he isn’t having the most outstanding season of his career, Mitch Marner continues to remain one of the games most productive wingers. The 26-year-old, who fell one point shy of hitting 100 points for the first time last season, has 22 goals and 62 points through 52 games.
As impressive as Marner’s production is, he doesn’t tend to have as big an impact in other areas of the game as others who you will find ahead of him on this list. Until he can improve some deficiencies in his game, he will continue to have his detractors, many of which are Toronto Maple Leafs fans.
9. Mark Stone
After it looked like his career could be in jeopardy due to two separate back surgeries, Mark Stone is continuing to look as good as he ever has. What makes the 31-year-old so special is that he doesn’t have any specific talents that stand out when watching him. He is a choppy skater, he doesn’t have much for hands, and his shot leaves plenty to be desired. Despite all of that, he continues to be one of the game’s best wingers.
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What Stone has over so many of his peers is work ethic. There is nobody on the ice who is going to work harder to give his team success, and that comes at both ends of the ice. He can produce offensively, as shown by his 16 goals and 52 points through 54 games, but he is even better in his own zone. The Vegas Golden Knights have a heck of a player in him.
8. Matthew Tkachuk
He’s begun picking things up as of late, but Matthew Tkachuk has been far from the dominant point producer we saw him be in each of the past two seasons. After scoring 40 goals and a career-high 109 points in 2022-23, he has 20 goals and 64 points through 55 games this season.
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To Tkachuk’s credit, he helped carry the Panthers on an expected run to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, and was very banged up by the time it was all said and done. Perhaps the lack of time to rest and begin training when he usually would has had an impact on his offence. Nonetheless, his physical presence and ability to get under opponent’s skin continues to make him extremely valuable.
7. Zach Hyman
Like a fine wine, Zach Hyman is getting better with age. Last season at 30, he had career highs with 36 goals and 83 points. Those numbers were quite something given that he had never reached the 30 goal, nor 60-point mark in his NHL career. While it seemed like a regression may be in store for 2023-24, that hasn’t been the case.
Hyman has been even better this season, with 32 goals and 50 points through 50 games. Playing on a line with Connor McDavid has certainly helped, but he has turned into a star talent himself, thanks in large part to his relentless style of play.
6. Brock Boeser
When Brock Boeser first entered the NHL, he looked like he was well on his way to becoming a star talent. Unfortunately, injuries and some personal matters saw his play diminish in recent seasons, to the point he was involved in several trade rumours. The Vancouver Canucks must be thanking their lucky stars that it didn’t come to that.
The 26-year-old Boeser is back and better than ever. His 30 goals through 56 games not only lead the Canucks, but are also tied for ninth amongst all NHLers. He is a big reason as to why the Canucks look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season.
5. Mikko Rantanen
Mikko Rantanen is quickly making up for what was a slow start to the season. Despite virtually nobody talking about him, he is up to 29 goals and 70 points through 56 games his season, putting him on pace to record north of 100 points for the second straight year.
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Because he plays on a team with two of the world’s greatest in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, Rantanen doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. That is a shame because there is little doubt to those who watch him regularly that he is also one of the game’s most elite talents.
4. William Nylander
Oftentimes, it seemed as though fans considered William Nylander to be a tier below some of the other Leafs stars such as Marner and Auston Matthews. Over the past few seasons, however, the dynamic Swedish winger is proving he is every bit as talented.
Nylander’s 71 points through 53 games currently lead the Leafs, and put him well above pace to crack the 100-point barrier for the first time in his career. While his recent eight-year, $92 million extension raised some eyebrows, he will quickly prove to everybody he is well worth the money should this production continue.
3. David Pastrnak
Many expected that the Boston Bruins would slide down the standings this season due to the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, but David Pastrnak hasn’t allowed that to happen. The Czechia superstar is having another phenomenal year with 34 goals and 79 points through 55 games.
Thanks in large part to the play of Pastrnak, the Bruins are second in the Atlantic Division with a 32-12-11 record. You can expect to see the 27-year-old continue to light the lamp with regularity for the remainder of the season, and perhaps even be in the race for his second Rocket Richard Trophy.
2. Sam Reinhart
Sam Reinhart couldn’t have picked a better time to have a career year. Set to become a UFA at season’s end, the 28-year-old has a ridiculous 39 goals along with 66 points through 55 games. His goal tally is tied for a career-high which he set back in 2021-22.
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Reinhart is setting himself up for a very nice paycheck in the near future, whether it come via extension with the Florida Panthers or another team in free agency. While his play may begin to regress as the season carries on, there is no question that through the first half he has been one of the game’s best right wingers.
1. Nikita Kucherov
What else is there to say about Nikita Kucherov at this point? The 30-year-old has been a top-five NHL player for several years, and is showing absolutely zero signs of slowing down. While the Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t having a great season team wise, he has been his usual elite self with 36 goals and 94 points through 55 games.
Kucherov currently sits three points ahead of MacKinnon in the scoring race, putting him in line to win his second Art Ross Trophy. While it remains to be seen whether or not he can hold the lead, there is zero doubt that he already has more than enough accolades to ensure he will be a Hall-of-Famer when is career is said and done.
