Over the last two seasons, Bratt ranks 9th in assists, putting him in the conversation of being one of the league's best playmakers. This is a considerable feat considering the major injuries the Devils have had over the last couple of seasons. Despite that, Bratt's special puck skills have allowed him to continue producing at a high rate. I'd love to see him shoot a little bit more, as I think he has an underrated shot and has the potential to score 30 goals. 

Suzuki's development has been nothing short of remarkable and necessary for the Canadiens. Not only is he one of the better two-way players in the league, with great defensive ability often matched up against other teams' top lines, but he has also become one of the most effective playmakers in the league. Coupled with the chemistry he has with Caufield, they are set to terrorize the league for years to come as part of one of the league's up-and-coming teams. 

There is no better player at suppressing scoring opportunities before they even become scoring opportunities than Jaccob Slavin. He's essentially a one-man fortress when defending his own blue line. Although he is already widely regarded as the best defensive defenseman by most hockey fans, the 4 Nations tournament showcased all his best qualities on the international stage. As a Caps fan, I hate playing Carolina, primarily because of Slavin. 

Oettinger's first 5 seasons have been remarkably consistent, never posting a GAA higher than 2.72 or a SV% lower than .905. His talent speaks for itself. Standing at 6-foot-6, he is on the taller side for goalies, and he is also one of the most athletic, consistently sprawling to make saves that few other goalies can make. At just 25 years old, he will be one of the league's best goalies for years to come. 

It pains me to say this because the trade the Caps made for Martin Erat still haunts me to this day, but Filip Forsberg is one of my favourite players to watch. The Predators were nothing short of awful last year, but it was still steady sailing for Forsberg as he notched the 5th 30-goal season of his career. A daunting combination of skill, speed and power makes Forsberg a force to be reckoned with. 

Tage Thompson has turned into one of the league's most feared snipers. His shot is rivalled only by Auston Matthews, and for a guy that's as tall as he is, his hands are elite. He's able to weave through other teams' defences and create opportunities for himself to let his shot go. He led the league with 33 goals at 5-on-5 (the next highest was 26), and with only 7 goals on the power play, he has the potential to up his overall goal total quite a bit if the Sabres' power play can find him more consistently. 

Aho is the central cog of a well-oiled machine in Carolina. His numbers don't blow you away when it comes to elite first-line centres, but his per-82-game average over the last four seasons is 36 goals and 46 assists, which is nothing to sneeze at. Coupled with his strong defensive play and being exceptional at 5-on-5, Aho is the x-factor for the Canes. 

Everything in me wants to put Josi higher on this list. Skill-wise, there are few better than Josi, from his elegant skating, to the sublime puck skills and sneaky good shot, he has more tools than anyone. But aging, injuries and the general wear and tear of averaging 24:52 time on ice for his career may be catching up to him. He is apparently recovering well from postural tachycardia syndrome, and everyone would love to see him come back to form and play like we all believe he can this season.

Robertson makes up for a lack of foot speed with exceptional hockey IQ. He gets to spots where he knows he can succeed. After a 109-point season three seasons ago, Robertson has now established a solid floor for himself, scoring around 30-40 goals and 80-90 points. He ranks 12th in the league in points since 2022-2023 and is a part of one of the league's most dangerous offensive cores. 

The Utah Mammoth Captain is one of the league's most exciting talents. Over the last 3 seasons, he has become a star producer, notching 252 points in 241 games. Keller is one of the most shifty players in the league and is an elite playmaker. What drags him into the top 30, however, is his sneaky great shooting ability, as he has posted three straight 30+ goal seasons. Keller could take a run at 100 points with an improving supporting cast.