Sportsnet Insiders Slot Hellebuyck, Bouchard, Hutson Into Top 50 Tier
The network's forward-looking ranking of the NHL's top 50 players for 2026-27 continues with Nos. 30 through 21, and three defencemen and two goaltenders headline the group.
Sportsnet released the next block of its Insiders' top 50 player ranking for 2026-27 on Wednesday, with Nos. 30 through 21 leaning heavily on blue-liners and goaltenders.
The methodology matters here. Contributors from across the network each submitted an individual top 50 covering all positions, with points awarded based on where a player landed on each list. The instruction was to ignore legacy and past performance entirely and rank purely on expected production in 2026-27.
Martin Necas makes the group after the biggest leap of his career. The 27-year-old winger, now with Colorado, posted career highs of 38 goals and 100 points in 2025-26, a jump of nearly 20 points on his previous best, and also enters the season after signing a new contract.
Lane Hutson climbs from the final spot on last year's list into the top 30. The 2025 Calder winner put up 78 points from Montreal's back end in his sophomore season, the fourth-highest total among NHL defencemen, and he is still only 22.
Evan Bouchard led all NHL defencemen in scoring with 95 points and a career-best 21 goals for Edmonton, though he was not a Norris finalist.
Connor Hellebuyck's inclusion comes with the most uncertainty attached. The 33-year-old goaltender publicly requested a trade out of Winnipeg last month and no move has been made. He is coming off a down 2025-26 season, one year after a Hart, Jennings and second consecutive Vezina.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, the reigning Vezina winner, led the league with 39 wins for Tampa Bay and drew Hart votes.
William Nylander led Toronto in scoring with 79 points in 65 games through a difficult year for the Maple Leafs. Connor Bedard also lands in the range. The 21-year-old Chicago center sat third in the Art Ross race in mid-December before injuries interrupted his season, and an off-season shoulder injury will keep him out of the start of 2026-27.
