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Introduction

2024-25 NHLPA Player Poll

663 NHL players were asked 12 hockey-related questions for the 2024-25 NHLPA Player Poll. They selected their top choices for various topics around the game, from rating their peers on skill and fashion sense to best ice around the league and more.

Intro Image
2Results

Who is the Best Overall Goalie?

With two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and a Vezina Trophy under this goaltender’s belt, there’s no denying that Andrei Vasilevskiy is consistently the players’ top choice for a reason.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
%
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Igor Shesterkin
%
Igor Shesterkin
New York Rangers
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Connor Hellebuyck
%
Connor Hellebuyck
Winnipeg Jets
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Sergei Bobrovsky
%
Sergei Bobrovsky
Florida Panthers
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Juuse Saros
%
Juuse Saros
Nashville Predators
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
3Results

Who is the best overall forward?

Taking the category by a whopping 73.89% leaves no doubt that Connor McDavid is considered the best forward in the league by many of his peers.

Connor McDavid
%
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
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Nathan MacKinnon
%
Nathan MacKinnon
Colorado Avalanche
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Nikita Kucherov
%
Nikita Kucherov
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Sidney Crosby
%
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Kirill Kaprizov
%
Kirill Kaprizov
Minnesota Wild
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
4Results

Who is the best overall defenceman?

All hail Cale! With a hearty 71.78% of the vote for this 26-year-old Stanley Cup champion, who also boasts a Conn Smythe Trophy and Norris Trophy, it's no wonder players continue to praise the d-man.

Cale Makar
%
Cale Makar
Colorado Avalanche
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Quinn Hughes
%
Quinn Hughes
Vancouver Canucks
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Victor Hedman
%
Victor Hedman
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Roman Josi
%
Roman Josi
Nashville Predators
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Adam Fox
%
Adam Fox
New York Rangers
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
5Results

Who is the most complete player?

No. 87 continues to check all the boxes with 213 votes for Sidney Crosby to take this category for a sixth consecutive season. Watch out though, Aleksander Barkov finished second in the category for a second straight season, just 18 votes behind Sid after finishing 140 votes behind him in the 2023-24 NHLPA Player Poll.

Sidney Crosby
%
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Aleksander Barkov
%
Aleksander Barkov
Florida Panthers
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Nathan MacKinnon
%
Nathan MacKinnon
Colorado Avalanche
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Connor McDavid
%
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
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Auston Matthews
%
Auston Matthews
Toronto Maple Leafs
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Anze Kopitar
%
Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles Kings
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
6Results

Who is the best playmaker?

Nikita Kucherov’s ability to see the game is like no other. The 2023-24 Art Ross Trophy winner takes the best playmaker category for yet another year, raking in 304 votes with just under half of all players selecting him in the category.

Nikita Kucherov
%
Nikita Kucherov
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Connor McDavid
%
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
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Leon Draisaitl
%
Leon Draisaitl
Edmonton Oilers
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Artemi Panarin
%
Artemi Panarin
New York Rangers
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Sidney Crosby
%
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
7Results

If you need to win a faceoff, who would you pick?

With 20.39% of player votes, Sidney Crosby wins the faceoff category cleanly this season after overtaking Ryan O’Reilly, who was voted number one ahead of Crosby in the 2023-24 NHLPA Player Poll. Los Angeles Kings captain, Anze Kopitar, is newly emerged in the top five as a player trusted by his peers to successfully step up at the faceoff dot.

Sidney Crosby
%
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Ryan O'Reilly
%
Ryan O'Reilly
Nashville Predators
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Anze Kopitar
%
Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles Kings
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Jordan Staal
%
Jordan Staal
Carolina Hurricanes
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Aleksander Barkov
%
Aleksander Barkov
Florida Panthers
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
8Results

Who is the smartest overall player?

Using the noggin is second nature to veteran Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain has been voted to the top of his class with 164 of his fellow players selecting him as the smartest player in the game, with Nikita Kucherov not too far behind with 150 votes.

Sidney Crosby
%
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Nikita Kucherov
%
Nikita Kucherov
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Connor McDavid
%
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
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Aleksander Barkov
%
Aleksander Barkov
Florida Panthers
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Adam Fox
%
Adam Fox
New York Rangers
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
9Results

Who is the best overall skater?

His speed is no secret and his footwork is consistently praised by his peers. An overwhelming 425 players chose Connor McDavid as the best skater in the game.

Connor McDavid
%
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
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Cale Makar
%
Cale Makar
Colorado Avalanche
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Nathan MacKinnon
%
Nathan MacKinnon
Colorado Avalanche
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Quinn Hughes
%
Quinn Hughes
Vancouver Canucks
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Jesper Bratt
%
Jesper Bratt
New Jersey Devils
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
10Results

Which player has the best fashion sense?

The players have spoken, and they’re divided. Consistently ranking high in the category between their flashy suits and unique footwear, David Pastrnak and Auston Matthews share the crown when it comes to who has the best fashion sense.

David Pastrnak
%
David Pastrnak
Boston Bruins
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Auston Matthews
%
Auston Matthews
Toronto Maple Leafs
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William Nylander
%
William Nylander
Toronto Maple Leafs
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Patrik Laine
%
Patrik Laine
Montréal Canadiens
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Roope Hintz
%
Roope Hintz
Dallas Stars
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
11Results

Who would be a good broadcaster once they retire?

Kevin Hayes reigned supreme as the player his peers think would do the best job broadcasting upon hanging up the skates.

Kevin Hayes
%
Kevin Hayes
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Ryan Strome
%
Ryan Strome
Anaheim Ducks
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Brad Marchand
%
Brad Marchand
Florida Panthers
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Patrick Maroon
%
Patrick Maroon
Free Agent
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Eric Comrie
%
Eric Comrie
Winnipeg Jets
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Erik Johnson
%
Erik Johnson
Free Agent
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Marcus Foligno
%
Marcus Foligno
Minnesota Wild
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Other Players:
%
Total Votes:
12Results

Which PWHL rulebook change would you like to see in the NHL?

The Professional Women’s Hockey League structures the game a little differently, and some NHL players wouldn’t mind seeing some of their rules incorporated into the NHL. A total of 150 players voted that they would like to see a minor penalty end should the shorthanded team score, while 123 players would like to adopt the PWHL’s point system.

Jailbreak Goal
%
Jailbreak Goal

Minor penalty ends if shorthanded team scores.

3-2-1-0 Point System
%
3-2-1-0 Point System

Regulation win = 3 points;

OT/shootout win = 2 points;

OT/shootout loss = 1 point

First Place Finisher Chooses Playoff Opponent
%
First Place Finisher Chooses Playoff Opponent

Top seed picks opponent in playoffs.

86.4 (Shootout)
%
86.4 (Shootout)

A player is eligible at any time to take any number of shots and as often as that shooting team chooses.

1.8 (Goalkeeper's Area)
%
1.8 (Goalkeeper's Area)

No restricted Goalkeeper’s Area, which will be known as a “trapezoid” will be enforced.

Total Votes:
13Results

Which NHL arena has the best ice?

Ideal ice conditions may be different for everyone, but Montreal’s Bell Centre is a popular choice. For a seventh season, players have voted its rink as having the best ice in the NHL with 44.96% of the total vote.

Montreal
%
Montreal

Bell Centre

Edmonton
%
Edmonton

Rogers Place

Winnipeg
%
Winnipeg

Canada Life Centre

Minnesota
%
Minnesota

Xcel Energy Center

Las Vegas
%
Las Vegas

T-Mobile Arena

Other Players:
%
Total Votes: