The first unit people look to on any roster is the forward unit. Before every game, the broadcast looks at those four forward lines as if they are the most important for victory (sometimes they are). That’s what we’re looking at today, the best forward groups in the NHL.
Ranking forward units of course is one of the more difficult tasks because of how many skaters must be evaluated and how many ways a great forward group impacts the game. One team will have a group that can run up the score on anyone, making it easy to think they will be the best in the league. Another team will be ranked higher because the scoring might not be overwhelming but they defend, forecheck, and do anything necessary to win games.
How These Rankings Came Together
Ranking forward groups is a difficult task because they require the evaluation of all aspects of the unit. Some forwards score but don’t defend. Others skate but don’t play physically. So, these rankings look at the entire group with the help of many writers at The Hockey Writers (THW) contributing.
Related: The Best NHL Forwards Ever: A Lineup For the Ages
The star power or core players at the top play a big role but of course, they are not the entire forward unit and can’t do it all. It’s why depth skaters who step up are also pivotal, as they can be the reason one forward unit overpowers another in a given game. Moreover, a good forward unit not only scores but also defends well and contributes in all facets of the game.
Since the rankings are long enough as it is, let’s dive right in.
32. Chicago Blackhawks
Key Skaters: C Connor Bedard, C Frank Nazar & W Teuvo Teravainen
The Chicago Blackhawks are rebuilding, and there isn’t much on the roster as a result. Connor Bedard is an elite talent who can eventually be one of the best in the league. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks haven’t found another skater to play on his line to take the target off his back and help him develop.
The Blackhawks went crazy in the 2024 offseason with the hopes of adding depth, and the skaters they brought in didn’t amount to much (aside from Teuvo Teravainen). With Frank Nazar making his way into the NHL and Anton Frondell on the way, the Blackhawks should be good down the road. Now is when they are going through the growing pains that rebuilding teams go through.
31. Seattle Kraken
Key Skaters: C/LW Jared McCann, C Chandler Stephenson, RW Jordan Eberle, C Matthew Beniers & Shane Wright
The big-picture issue with the Seattle Kraken is that they have a lot of good players who would be middle-six forwards on contending teams but can’t lead or carry an offense. Shane Wright and Matthew Beniers, their two prospects who are starting to find their footing in the NHL, are giving them hope. Until then, the Kraken have a weak forward unit, keeping them at the bottom of the Pacific Division.
30. Nashville Predators
Key Skaters: LW Filip Forsberg, C/LW Steven Stamkos & W Jonathan Marchessault
There’s a saying that the sum of the whole is greater than the parts (showing what great teamwork can do). The Nashville Predators are the opposite. They were the big spenders in the 2024 offseason, signing Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to bolster the forward unit (they scored 48 goals and added 61 assists combined). The problem is that the top six forwards haven’t formed strong chemistry, and it leaves the forward unit a step behind.
On top of that, the depth is awful. The Predators can’t score outside of their top three forwards, and it’s left this team a mess. They finished last season at the bottom of the Central Division with a struggling forward unit that is built to win now. The combination makes it hard to see a good path forward, as they can’t rebuild but are set up to contend this season with a roster that can’t.
29. Pittsburgh Penguins
Key Skaters: C Sidney Crosby, C Evgeni Malkin, W Bryan Rust, W Rickard Rakell
It’s the same old story with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have a top-heavy group that’s declining with age. Yes, Sidney Crosby is playing at a high level while Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell have stepped up but Evgeni Malkin isn’t a dominant skater anymore, and the depth is non-existent. Crosby and the star power will get this team a few wins, and a youth movement could give this team a boost as well. That said, this is a team that might end up as the worst in the NHL next season as the inevitable rebuild awaits them.
28. Anaheim Ducks
Key Skaters: C Troy Terry, C/RW Leo Carlsson, C/LW Cutter Gauthier, & C Mason McTavish
The Anaheim Ducks are a rebuilding team that is starting to make progress. It starts with the young core making strides at the NHL, led by Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. Mason McTavish still needs a new contract, and the Ducks must replace Trevor Zegras, whom they traded this offseason. Likewise, the veteran presence can weigh them down but also add depth (it has weighed them down in the past). It will be interesting to see this forward group in a season where they look to make a push for the playoffs.
27. Calgary Flames
Key Skaters: LW Jonathan Huberdeau, C Nazem Kadri, LW Yegor Sharangovich, RW Matt Coronato & RW Connor Zary
There are two forward groups on the Calgary Flames. The aging one with good players on the decline, like Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri. Then there’s the young that’s starting to become potent at the NHL with Matt Coronato and Connor Zary scoring 37 goals last season. The young group is what gives the Flames and their overall rebuild some hope.
The Flames still have issues, and it showed with their offense being non-existent for more of last season (one of the reasons they averaged only 2.68 goals per game). That said, the pieces are in place for a bright future with the forward unit, and it could be a great one in a season or two.
26. San Jose Sharks
Key Skaters: C Macklin Celebrini, C/LW William Eklund, C Will Smith, RW Fabian Zetterlund
Macklin Celebrini provides optimism for a San Jose Sharks team that needs it. He’s the game-changing talent to lead the way while William Eklund and Will Smith add to the top six. On top of that, the Sharks added Michael Misa in the recent draft, and he’s another impact center for this team to build around. This team remains far from contention but at least the foundation is down. Now, it’s all about adding depth and players who work well alongside their young stars, a pivotal step for a team looking to snap one of the longest playoff droughts in the NHL.
25. St. Louis Blues
Key Skaters: C Robert Thomas, C/RW Jordan Kyrou, W Pavel Buchnevich, W Dylan Holloway & W Jake Neighbours
Dylan Holloway was a big addition who added 26 goals and 37 assists to turn the St. Louis Blues forward unit into a good one. However, the group as a whole isn’t great. There are a handful of good players like Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich but they lack a true difference-maker. The problem is that the Blues aren’t making a move to add one either. For a team that doesn’t spend big in free agency or make blockbuster trades, they’ve pinned themselves into a corner, and it’s why this forward group will most likely remain stuck in the murky middle.
24. Boston Bruins
Key Skaters: RW David Pastrnak, C Elias Lindholm & W Pavel Zacha
The price the Boston Bruins paid by tearing things down at the 2025 trade deadline is a forward unit with minimal talent on it. David Pastrnak is an elite winger, one of the league’s best, and Elias Lindholm is a bounce-back candidate as the top-line center. Otherwise, the Bruins are hoping for the best from their prospects and unproven skaters, and it’s setting up for a rough season for a team at a crossroads between remaining competitive and leaning into a rebuild.
23. Utah Mammoth
Key Skaters: W Clayton Keller, W Dylan Guenther, C Logan Cooley, & C JJ Peterka
The JJ Peterka addition is a big one since it adds a great player to the top six and, more importantly, fills a void at the center position. Utah’s been rebuilding for quite some time, and they are starting to see it all come together with Clayton Keller in his prime and Logan Cooley starting to enter his. This is a forward unit that can easily progress into one of the best by the end of the season and lead this team to the playoffs.
22. Philadelphia Flyers
Key Skaters: W Travis Konecny, RW Matvei Michkov, C Trevor Zegras
The Philadelphia Flyers have a young rising star in Matvei Michkov, who proved in his rookie season that he has the upside to become the best winger in the game. Travis Konecny, who is one of the league’s most underrated star players, and some intriguing young skaters to build around (plus more in the pipeline). The problem is the Flyers lack depth and struggle up the middle, two issues that not only hurt the offense but their defensive play as well. It’s why Trevor Zegras is the X-factor for a team that needs elite talent at the center position, as he can get the most out of Michkov and take this team to the next level.
21. Buffalo Sabres
Key Skaters: C Tage Thompson, C/RW Alex Tuch & Josh Norris
What’s frustrating about the Buffalo Sabres and their continued playoff drought is that they have the elite top-end talent to turn things around (or so it seems). Tage Thompson is a great scorer, one of the best in the league. Alex Tuch is a well-rounded top-six forward to build around. The problem is the depth, which isn’t great. Plus, Josh Norris is an unknown at center as an elite player but someone who hasn’t been the same in recent seasons because of injuries. The Sabres have plenty of intriguing prospects who can change the dynamics of their roster but otherwise, this isn’t a great group, and it’s why this team might miss the playoffs again and extend the longest drought in the NHL.
20. New York Islanders
Key Skaters: RW/C Mathew Barzal, C Bo Horvat, LW Anders Lee & RW Kyle Palmieri
It’s a new era on Long Island. With GM Mathieu Darche taking over, the New York Islanders spent big this summer to address some of the issues in their forward unit. At the very last, they added depth to it with the Jonathan Drouin, Emil Heineman, and Maxim Shabanov additions. The three forwards can take an otherwise top-heavy group and make it tough to stop. The Islanders still have problems with their forwards, and until the prospects join the team, they lack a much-needed youth movement. That said, for the first time in a while, there’s optimism surrounding this team.
19. Los Angeles Kings
Key Skaters: C Quinton Byfield, C Anze Kopitar, C/W Kevin Fiala, C/W Adrian Kempe, C Phillip Danault
The Los Angeles Kings have the definition of a good but not great forward unit. They have some playmakers and skilled skaters that allow them to dominate in the regular season. However, they don’t have enough star power to go on a deep playoff run, which often explains why they get eliminated in the First Round. The solution was to bring in Corey Perry, who, even at 40, is known for helping teams reach the Final (so, that should do the trick).
18. Columbus Blue Jackets
Key Skaters: C Sean Monahan, C Adam Fantilli, C Kent Johnson & W Kirill Marchenko
The Columbus Blue Jackets came just short of the playoffs last season. It was a credit to the job the team did from the roster, overcoming the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau, to the coaching staff and front office, changing the culture. It also came from a forward group that is starting to turn a corner.
Adam Fantilli was great in his second season in the NHL, and after a 31-goal season, proved he can be an elite center to build around. Additionally, Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko have become reliable top-six contributors as well. With Sean Monahan stepping up as the other top-six center and becoming the key veteran on this team, the Blue Jackets have become one of the teams to watch heading into the new season, and the forward unit is playing a big part in that.
17. Detroit Red Wings
Key Skaters: W Alex DeBrincat, C Dylan Larkin, LW Lucas Raymond
The Detroit Red Wings, under GM Steve Yzerman, despite a promising rebuild and one of the top prospect pools, have a surprisingly underwhelming forward unit. Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat are all good skaters who give the team a high floor. They are not the stars who can compensate for the issues on this roster elsewhere, and this team doesn’t have a lot of depth to make up for that. It’s why the Yzerplan is still coming up short while the other teams are passing them by.
16. Vancouver Canucks
Key Skaters: C Elias Pettersson, RW Brock Boeser, W Conor Garland
Everything unraveled for the Vancouver Canucks last season. It led to a JT Miller trade before the trade deadline and a coaching change at the end of the season. Now, all the pressure is on Elias Pettersson to prove he can be that elite center the team is betting on him becoming. The other plus is that Brock Boeser, their top scorer on the wing, is around for the long haul, as he signed an extension this offseason when all signs pointed to him playing elsewhere. So, there’s a good chance this group bounces back and looks like the 2023-24 one that dominates the competition. At the same time, there are plenty of question marks as the forward unit looks to replace a lot of the talent they’ve lost over the years.
15. New York Rangers
Key Skaters: LW Artemi Panarin, C JT Miller, C Mika Zibanejad, C Vincent Trochek & W Will Cuylle
The New York Rangers went from winning the Presidents’ Trophy with a roster that had minimal weaknesses to the middle of the Metropolitan Division and having question marks across the board. It was a symptom of a team that got stale, and trading away Chris Kreider helps with that. There’s some elite talent, and the hope is there’s a bounce back from those top six players but otherwise, it’s a similar group, and the clock is ticking on Artemi Panarin, who can head to free agency after this season.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning
Key Skaters: RW Nikita Kucherov, C Brayden Point, LW Jake Guentzel & LW Brandon Hagel
The Tampa Bay Lightning lack depth, and it’s a problem that hurts them in the long haul. That said, they have the elite talent that can take over games, and with Nikita Kucherov leading the way, they are usually bailed out by their stars. With Kucherov, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, and Brandon Hagel, they have a great top six keeping the contending window open. With minimal depth, they will inevitably run into an elite team in the playoffs and not make it far either.
13. Minnesota Wild
Key Skaters: LW Kirill Kaprizov, W Mats Zuccarello, C Joel Eriksson Ek, W Matt Boldy & C Marco Rossi
Marco Rossi is still in limbo with his contract, and Kirill Kaprizov is due for an extension. Other than that, this group is expected to be great and carried by the star power. Kaprizov is one of the best wingers in the game who can dominate on any shift, and he makes the other skaters around him better. The Minnesota Wild are still questionable up the middle, and it’s an issue in the playoffs but this is still a great unit that has the firepower to run up the score on anyone.
12. Montreal Canadiens
Key Skaters: LW Juraj Slafkovsky, C Nick Suzuki, RW Cole Caufield & W Ivan Demidov
The youth movement is taking place, and the Montreal Canadiens have a lot of great young stars in their top six. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki are entering their primes and becoming a great duo that can skate well and score on anyone. Juraj Slafkovsky is emerging as the best player from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (remember when people thought Shane Wright was the clear-cut top prospect). Then there’s Ivan Demidov, who enters his rookie season with the upside to be a top-of-the-league forward.
On top of that, the depth is starting to come into form with Jake Evans and Patrik Laine rounding out the top six, while Samuel Bolduc, who they got this offseason, is a young middle-six winger who provides another layer of scoring. This team is not only expected to return to the playoffs but they look like a sleeping giant in the Eastern Conference.
11. Toronto Maple Leafs
Key Skaters: C Auston Matthews, W William Nylander, C John Tavares & LW Matthew Knies
Losing Mitch Marner will sting as the best playmaker on the Toronto Maple Leafs and a core part of the roster will be playing away from his hometown team for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, this is still a great group led by Auston Matthews, arguably the best scorer in the game, William Nylander, a complete and versatile forward, and John Tavares, who took a team-friendly deal in the offseason to stay with the team.
The bet is that Matthew Knies progresses into a star player. He’s taken significant strides and is coming off a season where he scored 29 goals and added 29 assists. He signed an extension this summer and allowed the Maple Leafs to retain a great group even without Marner. On top of that, the Maple Leafs have depth in their forward unit and, with Craig Berube as the head coach, are playing two-way hockey throughout the lineup, making the forward group a great one.
10. Winnipeg Jets
Key Skaters: LW Kyle Connor, C Mark Scheifele & C Gabriel Vilardi
The Winnipeg Jets are led by their defense and elite goaltending. However, they wouldn’t have been a dominant team last season without their forward unit stepping up and leading a great offense. It’s what happened with the group they have, which not only has played well on the top six but on all four lines. Yes, they must replace Nikolaj Ehlers and his playmaking on the wing but they have Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi (big thanks to the Kings for giving him up in a trade in the 2023 offseason) leading the way. They also have Cole Perfetti, Mason Appleton, and Alex Iaffalo (once again, big thanks to the Kings for giving him up in a trade in the 2023 offseason), rounding out the forward unit while Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL with his hometown team, looking to win one more Cup before retiring. All in all, it has the Jets heading into the trade deadline and the playoffs with little to no weaknesses.
9. Ottawa Senators
Key Skaters: LW Brady Tkachuk, C/LW Tim Stutzle, C/W Claude Giroux & RW Drake Batherson
The Ottawa Senators finally broke through and made the playoffs last season, snapping one of the league’s longest droughts. Their strong season was fueled in part by their forward unit. Brady Tkachuk proved he’s a big-game player who can defeat an opponent in multiple ways, something he showcased at the Four Nations Faceoff and in the playoffs. Tim Stutzle is a top-line center who makes everyone around him better. Then there’s Drake Batherson, Claude Giroux, and Dylan Cozens, who give the top six plenty of firepower.
What separates this forward unit from most is that there’s plenty of depth as well. David Perron, Ridly Greig, and Shane Pinto give the unit three forward lines that can come at teams in layers. It’s why the Senators are one of the teams to watch this season, as they can go from borderline playoff team to Cup contender if they stay on track.
8. Colorado Avalanche
Key Skaters: C Nathan MacKinnon, LW Artturi Lehkonen, C/RW Martin Necas & Brock Nelson
The Colorado Avalanche decided that they couldn’t win a roster that was too top-heavy, and it explains their blockbuster trade. Mikko Rantanen needed a new contract, and paying him would mean that they’d have three skaters taking up most of their salary cap, so they traded him to the Hurricanes and got Martin Necas and Jack Drury in the return. The move backfired in the immediate aftermath as the Avalanche were defeated by Rantanen and the Stars in the First Round. Regardless, the trade sets them up for success in the long run.
Nathan MacKinnon is one of the elite centers in the game, who is constantly in the Hart Trophy discussion. He leads the top line and will have either Necas and Artturi Lehkonen playing alongside him or have those two skaters playing on the second line to give the Avalanche a deeper forward group. With Brock Nelson, whom they added at the 2025 trade deadline, centering the second line, this forward group is suddenly one of the more balanced ones in the NHL.
7. Vegas Golden Knights
Key Skaters: C Jack Eichel, RW Mitch Marner, RW Mark Stone, C/LW Tomas Hertl & C William Karlsson
The Vegas Golden Knights were the winners of the offseason (although that’s not something to brag about, as the Predators will be quick to tell you). They won the Mitch Marner sweepstakes, adding a playmaker and complete winger to become one of the core players of their roster. The best part about Marner playing on the Golden Knights is that he doesn’t have the pressure of carrying them, even in the playoffs, with Jack Eichel centering the top line and the rest of the top six possessing plenty of talent. The Golden Knights don’t have depth but their star power will overwhelm most, if not all, of the teams in the Western Conference.
6. Washington Capitals
Key Skaters: LW Alexander Ovechkin, LW Alexei Protas, C Pierre-Luc Dubois, C Dylan Strome & RW Tom Wilson
The Washington Capitals were one of the surprises in the NHL last season. They were a great team with the best record in the Eastern Conference, and it started with their forward unit. Pierre-Luc Dubois was acquired last offseason and has revitalized his career in his fourth stop in five seasons, playing a key role in the top six. Alexander Ovechkin, meanwhile, turned back the clock and proved he can still score at a high level, passing Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record and playing some of the best hockey of his career.
Related: Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin and the Goalies They Scored On
What truly turned this forward unit into a strength was Dylan Strome, who emerged as a star player. He bounced around in his career but finally hit his stride with the Capitals and is doing it all for the team. He’s been the leader for the offense, and with the help of a youth movement, the forward group has depth as well. It’s why the Capitals are expected to be one of the best teams in the NHL once again.
5. New Jersey Devils
Key Skaters: C Jack Hughes, C Nico Hischier, W Jesper Bratt & RW Timo Meier
Injuries caused the New Jersey Devils to unravel last season, and it’s why they were easily eliminated in the First Round. However, this forward unit is one of the most talented in the NHL and can run up the score on anybody. Jack Hughes is an electric skater who can gash teams with his speed and take over games on any shift, especially when Jesper Bratt, another fast skater, is on his line. With Nico Hischier centering the second line, Timo Meier adding a power forward presence on the wing, and plenty of depth (helped by the Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov additions), the Devils have a remarkable forward group.
The one big picture question is whether the Devils can play physical hockey. Their forwards are talented but when the playoffs roll around, their stars get taken out of the games. It’s why the Devils, at some point, must make a splash and add another power forward to put this team over the top. That said, they still have one of the best and most complete forward units, one that will be dominant throughout the regular season.
4. Carolina Hurricanes
Key Skaters: C/W Sebastian Aho, RW Seth Jarvis, W Andrei Svechnikov, Logan Stankoven & Nikolaj Ehlers
The Carolina Hurricanes entered this offseason with plenty of cap space and the intention of using it. With the forward unit looking for that missing piece to get them over the hump and beat a team like the Panthers, they extended Logan Stankoven, one of their best young forwards, and signed Nikolaj Ehlers, arguably the best winger available.
Now the top six has Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov in their primes, Seth Jarvis continuing to improve as an elite young talent, plus Stankoven and Ehlers. To take the forward unit up a notch, they have plenty of depth as well, with Jordan Staal centering a line and the rest of the third and fourth lines providing defense and just enough scoring to make this a complete unit.
3. Edmonton Oilers
Key Skaters: C Connor McDavid, C Leon Draisaitl, W Zach Hyman & W Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
The Edmonton Oilers have two of the best skaters in the game with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl fueling the offense and playing great on the defensive end of the ice as well. They were the leaders of the previous two playoff runs and took the Oilers to the Cup Final. However, as the last two seasons showed, this forward unit is more than just McDavid and Draisaitl.
Zach Hyman is one of the best scorers in the game, and there’s a great case to be made that if he’s healthy for the Final, the Oilers win the Cup. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins continues to create offense in the top six, even as one of the veterans on this team. The question is how the depth will hold up, especially after losing Connor Brown in free agency. This isn’t the first time they’ve had to answer this question in the McDavid and Draisaitl era, and it’s why the Oilers are expected to remain one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference (now only if they could get that McDavid extension done to ease some tension in Alberta).
2. Dallas Stars
Key Skaters: LW Jason Robertson, C Wyatt Johnston, C/LW Roope Hintz, C/RW Matt Duchene
The Dallas Stars were always known for having a forward unit with great players but not enough elite talent to take over playoff games. Then they acquired Mikko Rantanen, who proved capable of taking over playoff games as an elite scorer who could also find the dirty-area goals. Along with Rantanen, the Stars have Wyatt Johnston, who is quietly becoming one of the best scorers in the NHL, Jason Robertson, a complete forward who can create scoring chances and find the back of the net, and plenty of depth. They are always the trendy pick to win the Western Conference, and after three consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Final, they might get over the hump this time around.
1. Florida Panthers
Key Skaters: LW Matthew Tkachuk, C Aleksander Barkov, C/RW Sam Reinhart, C/LW Carter Verhaeghe, C/LW Sam Bennett
Positions of Strength: Top-Six, Third-Line
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Right Wing
The Florida Panthers have the best forward unit in the NHL, and it’s not particularly close. They are the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and essentially have the same group that got them over the hump last season, thanks to Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand taking team-friendly deals this summer. Matthew Tkachuk changed the dynamics of this team, while Aleksander Barkov is arguably the best two-way center in the NHL, and certainly the best defensive forward in the game. Bennett stepped up as the two-way center who could play the physical game, and it’s why he was the Conn Smythe winner last season. Sam Reinhart is a great scorer while and Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues round out the top six with great play.
Those skaters don’t even include the third line, which would be a top line on most teams around the league. Anton Lundell centers the third line while Eetu Luostarinen and Marchand are on the wings (the trio scored 21 goals in the playoffs). It’s why the Panthers come at teams in waves and overwhelm them with their forward unit. With a group that runs up the score, plays physical forechecking hockey, and defends, they can dominate the competition on the way to the Cup and look like the favorites to once again win it for a third time in a row.
What Do You Think?
Halfway through the 2025-26 season, these rankings are sure to age poorly. That’s how these things work. So, now is the time to look at a specific team and point out why they are too low or too high on the rankings. There are a lot of teams that are bunched up in the middle, and the smallest differences separate them, so things are easily subject to being scrutinized.
Do you think your team is ranked fairly? Let us know in the comments section below!
Statistics were obtained from Hockey Reference.
