*This archive was originally written by Eugene Helfrick
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 in the middle of the season is a tough task because players have their scoring droughts and streaks. Likewise, some groups are dealing with injuries at the halfway point but by the end of the season, they’ll be healthy and looking like a dominant unit. That’s why a lot of factors must be considered in the rankings.
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, RW Philipp Kurashev, W Teuvo Teravainen
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Center
Positions of Weakness: Right Wing, Left Wing, Bottom-Six
The Chicago Blackhawks went crazy this offseason by signing a lot of veteran forwards including Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon, and Craig Smith with hopes that the added experience would take a rebuilding team to the next level. The aggressive push to make the playoffs backfired and it leaves the forward unit a mess. They have Connor Bedard, a generational talent but their plan has done him no favors and slowed his development along with the other young skaters on the team like Lukas Reichel and Frank Nazar. The Blackhawks hope to take a step forward this season and instead, they took a bigger step back.
31. St. Louis Blues
Key Skaters: C Robert Thomas, C/RW Jordan Kyrou, W Pavel Buchnevich, W Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours
Positions of Strength: Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Center, Bottom-Six
Dylan Holloway was a strong addition this summer but this St. Louis Blues forward unit is stuck in mediocrity. The group is top-heavy but the best players, specifically Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jordan Kyrou are far from stars who can compensate for a lack of depth. That leads to the next issue, this forward unit has minimal depth. The unknown is what direction the Blues will head in with their forward and it’s because this team is trying to get the best of both worlds. They want to contend and retool at the same time and the result is a middling team going nowhere.
30. Anaheim Ducks
Key Skaters: C Troy Terry, C/RW Leo Carlsson, C/LW Cutter Gauthier, C Trevor Zegras,
Positions of Strength: Left Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Center, Right Wing
Related: Predicting the Ducks’ Next 100-Point Getter
The Anaheim Ducks are a rebuilding team with multiple young forwards starting to make their mark at the NHL level, notably Leo Carlson, Trevor Zegras, and Cutter Gauthier, all of whom are 23 and younger. Unfortunately, they also have too many veterans well past their primes weighing the unit down with five forwards 30 or older. The combination speaks to the lack of direction this team has and it’s why they remain a bottom feeder in the Western Conference.
29. Calgary Flames
Key Skaters: LW Jonathan Huberdeau, C Nazem Kadri, LW Yegor Sharangovich
Positions of Strength: Left Wing
Positions of Weakness: Center, Right Wing
The Calgary Flames are retooling after trading multiple veterans on the team who don’t have a long-term contract attached to them. It was a difficult process but they are starting to form a young forward group that has a lot of promise. Sure, it all starts with veterans Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Mikael Backlund but they also have some good young players leading the way as well including Yegor Sharangovich and Andrei Kuzmenko.
The Flames still have a lot of question marks throughout the forward unit with noticeable voids at the center position and on the right wing. However, the core pieces are in place to help this team compete in the future. Right now, this is one of the worst forward units in the league but if general manager (GM) Craig Conroy continues adding youth to the lineup and filling out the unit, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
28. San Jose Sharks
Key Skaters: C Macklin Celebrini, C/LW William Eklund, C Will Smith, RW Fabian Zetterlund
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Left Wing
Positions of Weakness: Center, Bottom-Six
Macklin Celebrini provides optimism for a San Jose Sharks team that needs it. He’s also part of a young core the team is starting to build around which includes William Eklund and Will Smith. 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 Sharks team looking to snap one of the longest playoff droughts in the NHL.
27. Seattle Kraken
Key Skaters: C/LW Jared McCann, C Chandler Stephenson, RW Jordan Eberle, C Matthew Beniers
Positions of Strength: Center, Top-Six
Positions of Weakness: Bottom Six Wing, Fourth-Line Center
Since the inaugural season, the Seattle Kraken have struggled to find star players to compete in their division and they’ve notably lacked elite talent in the top six. Jared McCann is a good player but far from a star and the same is true about Jordan Eberle and offseason addition Chandler Stephenson. Otherwise, this is an underwhelming group with underachieving forwards throughout the lineup. It doesn’t help that Matthew Beniers and Shane Wright, two top-five selections from the 2021 and 2022 NHL Entry Draft have yet to make a significant impact at the NHL level.
26. Nashville Predators
Key Skaters: LW Filip Forsberg, C Ryan O’Reilly, C/LW Steven Stamkos, W Jonathan Marchessault
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Wing
Positions of Weakness: Middle-Six Center, Bottom Six
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 offseason, signing Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to bolster the forward unit. The problem is 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 are 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 and possibly next season as well.
25. Utah Hockey Club
Key Skaters: W Clayton Keller, W Nick Schmaltz, W Dylan Guenther, C Logan Cooley, LW Matias Maccelli
Positions of Strength: Wing
Positions of Weakness: Center
In their first season in Utah, the Hockey Club has proven that a few things are true. For starters, the future is bright in the new location. Second, the forward unit is still young and improving with some good skaters who aren’t there yet. If Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Shane Doan keep developing, this group will be on the rise and a tough one to stop.
24. Philadelphia Flyers
Key Skaters: W Travis Konecny, RW Matvei Michkov, W Owen Tippett, LW Joel Farabee
Positions of Strength: Right Wing, Top-Six Left Wing
Positions of Weakness: Center, Bottom Six
This forward unit has lots of similarities to the Sharks group mentioned earlier. The Philadelphia Flyers have a young rising star in Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny who is one of the league’s most underrated star players, and some intriguing young skaters to build around. 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. This group is moving in the right direction but it will take time before this unit is one of the best in the NHL.
23. Boston Bruins
Key Skaters: RW David Pastrnak, C Elias Lindholm, LW Brad Marchand
Positions of Strength: Top-Six
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six
For the first time in a while, the Boston Bruins don’t have a great forward unit. It’s one with glaring concerns on every line and aside from Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Elias Lindholm, they’ve played poorly all season. It’s why the Bruins are a borderline playoff team instead of the usual force at the top of the Atlantic Division.
22. New York Islanders
Key Skaters: RW Mathew Barzal, C Bo Horvat, C Brock Nelson, RW Kyle Palmieri
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Center, Top-Six Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six, Left Wing
The New York Islanders had a top-heavy forward unit last season and aside from the Anthony Duclair addition, it’s more or less the same group. The Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat connection is good, Brock Nelson leads the second line as a scoring center, and Anders Lee is having a resurgence at 34 years old. Then the bottom falls out. If the Islanders fail to improve down the stretch, they might move Nelson and Kyle Palmieri at the trade deadline which will only make the forward unit worse in the short term.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
Key Skaters: C Sidney Crosby, C Evgeni Malkin, W Bryan Rust, W Rickard Rakell
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Center
Positions of Weakness: Left Wing, Bottom-Six
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 Malkin doesn’t look like a dominant skater anymore and the depth is non-existent. Crosby and the star power will get this team a few wins but won’t get them to the playoffs and it creates a murky future ahead for the Penguins.
20. Los Angeles Kings
Key Skaters: C Quinton Byfield, C Anze Kopitar, C/W Kevin Fiala, C/W Adrian Kempe, C Phillip Danault
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Center, Top-Six Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Right Wing, Fourth-Line
This is the definition of a good not great unit. The Los Angeles Kings have some playmakers and skill but not nearly enough star power to allow this team to make a playoff run. They can defend and win low-scoring games with two-way players like Phillip Danault and Adrian Kempe stepping up in the neutral zone and defensive zone but they won’t blow anyone away on the offensive end of the ice. The Kings have a good enough forward unit to get this team to the playoff but that’s about where it ends.
19. Columbus Blue Jackets
Key Skaters: C Boone Jenner, C Sean Monahan, C Adam Fantilli, W Kirill Marchenko, C Cole Sillinger, C Luca Del Bel Belluz
Positions of Strength: Center, Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six, Left Wing
The Columbus Blue Jackets are becoming one of the best stories in the NHL and possibly all of sports, this season. They’ve overcome an unimaginable tragedy this summer with Johnny Gaudreau’s passing, losing a star both on and off the ice, to remain in the playoff mix. The Blue Jackets have been successful in part from a great forward unit from the top down.
Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan are great centers. They’ve been out of the lineup with injuries and the young players, notably Adam Fantilli and Luca Del Bel Belluz, have stepped up in their absence. The Blue Jackets lack star power and the expectation was for a rebuild to take some time. Yet, they are ahead of schedule and have a great young forward group to build around for years to come.
18. Buffalo Sabres
Key Skaters: C Tage Thompson, C/RW Alex Tuch, C Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka
Positions of Strength: Center, Top-Six Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Center, Left Wing, Bottom-Six
A difficult December essentially derailed the season for the Buffalo Sabres and more importantly, showed the flaws with how the roster is constructed. They have a few great skaters but they don’t play well alongside each other and don’t defend either. While the Sabres will extend the longest playoff drought in the NHL, the bright side is that there are stars to build around. Tage Thompson is an elite scorer while Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka are dynamic forwards in the top six. This team has great prospects on top of great prospects so if they want to let the kids play at some point, they have a good starting point.
17. Detroit Red Wings
Key Skaters: W Alex DeBrincat, C Dylan Larkin, LW Lucas Raymond
Positions of Strength: Top-Six
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six
The Detroit Red Wings, 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 but not the stars who can compensate for the issues on this roster elsewhere. Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko are hit or miss at this point in their careers and can’t consistently produce like they used to. While JT Compher has been a solid addition to the middle six, for a team that has been rebuilding for years, they still don’t have a youth movement to add depth and round out the roster.
16. Vancouver Canucks
Key Skaters: C JT Miller, C Elias Pettersson, RW Brock Boeser, W Conor Garland
Positions of Strength: Center, Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Left Wing
The Vancouver Canucks have seen their forward unit fall apart both on and off the ice. The JT Miller and Elias Pettersson rift is well documented and at this point, it’s only a matter of time before one of them is traded. When stars are paid like stars but don’t play that way, this is the result. To make matters worse, the Canucks don’t have much depth either aside from Jake DeBrusk, who they added this offseason, and Pius Suter. It’s a team that is underachieving one season after everything went right and it could result in a big trade deadline for them where they move on from the core skaters.
15. Montreal Canadiens
Key Skaters: LW Juraj Slafkovsky, C Nick Suzuki, RW Cole Caufield, C Kirby Dach, W Patrik Laine
Positions of Strength: Top-Six
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Left Wing, Middle-Six Right Wing
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 heating up in his second season as an NHL regular and looks like the best player from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (remember when people thought Shane Wright was the clear-cut top prospect).
On top of that, the depth is starting to come into form with Jake Evans and Joel Armia having strong seasons. And to top it all off, the Canadiens struck gold with their Patrik Laine addition as they have a shooter on the wing to take the top six and the power play to the next level. This team is in the mix for a playoff spot and if they sneak in, the great forward unit will be the reason why.
14. New York Rangers
Key Skaters: LW Artemi Panarin, C Mika Zibanejad, LW Chris Kreider, C Vincent Trochek
Positions of Strength: Middle Six, Fourth-Line
Positions of Weakness: Top Line
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. The forwards are still great but this group got old and stale to the point where it doesn’t overwhelm opponents. Artemi Panarin is great and still putting together a great season while Chris Kreider has tailed off as he’s well into his 30s. The good news for the Rangers is that the depth has stepped up from Alexis Lafreniere becoming a top-six winger to the handful of prospects from the American Hockey League (AHL) team stepping up to round out the bottom six. It’s a good forward unit but far from the dominant one they had last season.
13. Ottawa Senators
Key Skaters: LW Brady Tkachuk, C/LW Tim Stutzle, C/W Claude Giroux
Positions of Strength: Top-Six, Left-Wing
Positions of Weakness: Fourth-Line
Is the talent there to make this forward unit great? Absolutely! Will all the players mesh together and form strong chemistry? That’s a different story. The Ottawa Senators are hoping a lot goes right to make this forward unit great. They have one of the best forward units if the stars align. Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle dominate in the top six while Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson are constant contributors. The depth has struggled and it’s caused the offense to struggle but when this forward unit finds a rhythm, it’s a tough one to stop.
12. Colorado Avalanche
Key Skaters: C Nathan MacKinnon, LW Artturi Lehkonen, C Casey Middlestadt, C/RW Martin Necas
Positions of Strength: Top-Line
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six
The Colorado Avalanche decided that they couldn’t win a roster that was too top-heavy and it explains their blockbuster trade. Mikko Rantanen’s contract was up after the season and paying him would mean that they’d have three skaters taking up most of their salary cap so they traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes and got Martin Necas and Jack Drury in the return. Now, they have a roster with stars and depth as well.
Nathan MacKinnon won the Hart Trophy last season and is on track to win the award again. 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 Casey Middlestadt, who they added at the 2024 trade deadline, centering a line as well, this forward group is suddenly one of the more balanced ones in the NHL.
11. Vegas Golden Knights
Key Skaters: C Jack Eichel, RW Mark Stone, C/LW Tomas Hertl, C William Karlsson
Positions of Strength: Center, Right Wing, Bottom-Six
Positions of Weakness: Left Wing
The Vegas Golden Knights lost a lot of firepower in the offseason with both Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson leaving in free agency. It’s unfazed them as they remain a great team with a remarkable forward unit. It speaks to the star power and depth they have that makes this group a special one. Jack Eichel is an elite talent who often gets overlooked because of the great players around the league while Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl have been great contributors throughout this season as well. Throw in reliable depth forwards who can score and defend on the third and fourth line and the Golden Knights are near the top of the Pacific Division and poised to compete for the Stanley Cup.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
Key Skaters: RW Nikita Kucherov, C Brayden Point, LW Jake Guentzel, LW Brandon Hagel
Positions of Strength: Top-Six, Left Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Center, Bottom-Six Right Wing
The Jake Guentzel addition went a long way for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He fits with everything this forward unit does and it took this offense to the next level. Nikita Kucherov is still a Hart Trophy candidate while Brandon Hagel is one of the best players in the league who nobody talks about (an under-the-radar star). With Nikita Kucherov doing it all on the wing, Brayden Point and Guentzel scoring when they have open looks in the offensive zone, plus a handful of depth skaters stepping up, this forward unit is a special one.
9. Washington Capitals
Key Skaters: LW Alexander Ovechkin, LW Alexei Protas, C Pierre-Luc Dubois, C Dylan Strome, RW Tom Wilson
Positions of Strength: Top Six, Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom Six Center, Bottom Six Left Wing
The Washington Capitals are one of the surprises in the NHL this season. They are a great team with the best record in the Metropolitan Division and it starts with their forward unit. Pierre-Luc Dubois was acquired this offseason and has revitalized his career in his fourth stop in his NHL career, playing a key role in the top six. Alexander Ovechkin has turned back the clock and at this point, it’s only a matter of time before he passes Wayne Gretzky for most goals of all time.
Related: Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin and the Goalies They Scored On
What truly turned this forward unit into a strength is Dylan Strome’s emergence as a star player. He’s bounced around in his career but has finally hit his stride with the Capitals and is doing 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 playing great hockey across the board.
8. Minnesota Wild
Key Skaters: LW Kirill Kaprizov, W Mats Zuccarello, C Joel Eriksson Ek, W Matt Boldy, C Marco Rossi
Positions of Strength: Top-Six Center, Right Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six
It’s safe to say last season was a bump in the road for an otherwise great Minnesota Wild team. This forward unit is tough to stop, especially when Kirill Kaprizov gets going and leads the top line from the wing. Kaprizov is one of the few wingers in the NHL who can singlehandedly take over games with his speed and shot. The Wild also have Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Mats Zuccarello rounding out the top six to make this offense a great one. The depth is a question mark but this team has enough firepower in the top two lines to make this forward unit one of the best in the NHL.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
Key Skaters: C Auston Matthews, RW Mitch Marner, W William Nylander, C John Tavares
Positions of Strength: Top-Six, Center, Fourth-Line
Positions of Weakness: Middle-Six Left Wing
Auston Matthews missed significant time with an injury and his health is a concern as he can reaggravate the injury to set him further back. Otherwise, this forward unit is similar to previous seasons with the core four leading the way and a few depth players stepping up as well. Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner lead the top two lines and make the offense tough to stop.
This season, the Maple Leafs have seen their depth skaters step up as well. Matthew Knies is a young skater who is becoming a key part of the middle six while Max Domi, who bounced around in his career, has carved out a role on the wing. Moreover, this forward unit also defends, something that head coach Craig Berube has enforced since the start of the season and it’s made this team look capable of making a Cup run.
6. Winnipeg Jets
Key Skaters: LW Kyle Connor, LW Nikolaj Ehlers, C Mark Scheifele, C Gabriel Vilardi
Positions of Strength: Left Wing, Top-Six Center
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Center
The Winnipeg Jets are led by their defense and elite goaltending. However, they wouldn’t be a dominant team 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, the stars are putting together great seasons with Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Gabriel Vilardi (big thanks to the Kings for giving him up in a trade in the 2023 offseason) leading the way. Yet, 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. All in all, it has the Jets heading into the trade deadline and the playoffs with little to no weaknesses.
5. New Jersey Devils
Key Skaters: C Jack Hughes, C Nico Hischier, W Jesper Bratt, RW Timo Meier
Positions of Strength: Center, Left Wing
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Right Wing
It’s easy to look back at last season as an outlier where everything went wrong, especially since the forward unit looks like a remarkable one this season. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are leading the way with speed and skill that can gash any defense on the rush or with quick movement in the offensive zone. Nico Hischier is great on both ends of the ice and Timo Meier adds size as a power forward on the wing to provide balance to the top six.
Along with the stars, the Devils have a lot of depth and added more physicality to the bottom six to make it even better. Whether this forward unit holds up in the playoffs where teams have top six skaters who can do it all and control the pace of the game is another story. In the meantime, the Devils have shown they can check off a lot of boxes in their forward unit and it makes them a team to watch down the stretch.
4. Edmonton Oilers
Key Skaters: C Connor McDavid, C Leon Draisaitl, W Zach Hyman, W Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Positions of Strength: Top-Six
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six
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, a key part of their Stanley Cup run. However, as last season showed, this forward unit is more than just McDavid and Draisaitl.
Zach Hyman is one of the best scorers in the game and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins continues to create offense in the top six even as one of the veterans on this team. The question is if the depth will hold up for a playoff run, especially with Ryan McLeod and Dylan Holloway two key skaters from last season, no longer on the roster. The good news is that Jeff Skinner and Vasily Podkolzin have stepped up as offseason additions. The Oilers stumbled out of the gate but once again looks like they have a forward unit capable of getting them to the Cup.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Key Skaters: C/W Sebastian Aho, RW Seth Jarvis, W Andrei Svechnikov, RW Mikko Rantanen
Positions of Strength: Top-Line, Top-Six Center, Third Line
Positions of Weakness: Middle-Six Left Wing, Fourth Line
Everyone through the Carolina Hurricanes would take a step back in their forward unit after losing Jake Guentzel, Stefan Noesen, and Teuvo Teräväinen in the offseason. They’ve remained a top team in the Metropolitan Division and only got stronger with the splash move of the season, acquiring star forward Mikko Rantanen in a blockbuster trade. Rantanen will join a top six that is led by Sebastian Aho with Andrei Svechnikov and rising star Seth Jarvis in the mix as well.
What makes this forward unit special is not only the elite talent but their depth and great defensive play. Jordan Staal as a middle-six center embodies that with his great play on both ends of the ice while Jack Roslovic adds that scoring touch. Usually, the Hurricanes are known for having the best defense in the league but their forward unit deserves just as much spotlight if not more.
2. 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
It’s hard to find any issues with the Florida Panthers forward unit, understandably so. They are the reigning Stanley Cup champions and essentially have the same group that got them over the hump last season. 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. Sam Reinhart is a great scorer while Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe round out the top six with great play.
Then there’s the depth which takes this forward unit to the next level. Anton Lundell plays the middle six-center role and is having a remarkable season while Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist add a scoring touch to the later lines. The Panthers’ forward unit is running up the score on everyone this season but it’s proven time and time again that it can also forecheck and defend with Tkachuk setting the tone and the rest of the team following suit. It’s why this team might win the Cup again.
1. Dallas Stars
Key Skaters: LW Jason Robertson, C Wyatt Johnston, C/LW Roope Hintz, C/RW Matt Duchene
Positions of Strength: Right Wing, Left Wing, Top-Six Center
Positions of Weakness: Bottom-Six Center
The Dallas Stars lost Tyler Seguin to injury, who is a veteran presence and a key part of the forward unit. Other than that, they have all the pieces in place that have once again made this group a dominant one. Jason Robertson is one of the elite players in the game who can do it all. Matt Duchene is turning back the clock at 33 years old and still scoring at a high level. Wyatt Johnston is heating up and looks like one of the best young forwards in the game while Logan Stankoven is another young skater who is starting to become a regular.
The Stars won’t have eight 20-goal scorers like they did last season but this forward unit remains the best in the NHL. They can score throughout the lineup and overwhelm any defense in the NHL. It’s a credit to GM Jim Nill who not only builds through the farm system with skaters like Johnston and Stankoven in the lineup but also knows when to bring in a veteran to take the team to the next level. The Stars might once again end up as the top seed in the Western Conference and the forward unit will be the primary reason why.
What Do You Think?
By the end of the 2024-25 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 be scrutinized.
Do you think your team is ranked fairly? Let us know in the comments section below!
Statistics were obtained from Hockey Reference and lineups from PuckPedia.
