Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin have been ranked by NHL Network as part of the league’s Top 50 Players Right Now. Thompson was ranked #27, while Dahlin came in at #28, right behind him.
The rankings are based on player performance over the last few seasons, with emphasis on last season and consideration of future performance. NHL Network researchers, producers, analysts and hosts put together the final rankings.
Here’s what NHL Network’s Mike Johnson had to say about Thompson:
“It’s just not fair that anyone that big can be that smooth with it, and it wasn’t a one-time thing. He is about as good one-on-one as almost anybody in the NHL and so much of it is his hands but is also his hands coupled with the reach and the length. You put all that together and it’s a pretty potent package. …He is just an incredible offensive talent and he shows it in so many different ways.”
NHL Network’s Mike JohnsonHere’s how the rest of the list that’s been announced pans out. The top 20 will be revealed on Sunday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 8.
- Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders
- Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
- Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
- Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins
- Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
- Tage Thompson, C, Buffalo Sabres
- Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
- Erik Karlsson, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Alex Ovechkin, W, Washington Capitals
- Mika Zibanejad, C, New York Rangers
- Artemi Panarin, W, New York Rangers
- Brad Marchand, W, Boston Bruins
- Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
- Roope Hintz, W, Dallas Stars
- Alex Pietrangelo, D, Vegas Golden Knights
- Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils
- Tim Stützle, W, Ottawa Senators
- Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators
- William Nylander, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Kyle Connor, W, Winnipeg Jets
- Brady Tkachuk, W, Ottawa Senators
- Sebastian Aho, C, Carolina Hurricanes
- Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks
- Linus Ullmark, G, Boston Bruins
- Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers
- Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets
- Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils