My top-20 (22) as of today (all based on the last two years only).
Although it might not be popular, I rate it based on PPG, P60, PPP60, rel.CF%, rel.xGF%, comp, and zone starts. I come up with one "WAR"-like number to take it into account, while also using personal opinion of their situations as well as other fun things. Enjoy:
1. McDavid - Elite, all around, best player in hockey not close. Medium zone starts, and tough comp.
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2. Crosby - Normally would be the best player, but McDavid is literally a god. Only weakness is his easy af zone starts.
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3. Backstrom - Underrated star. Sterling underlying stats, hard comp, and puts up points as well as the rest of them.
4. Bergeron - Best defensive forward in the NHL that is also producing.
5. Malkin - superstar at scoring, meh underlying stats, and arguably the easiest comp/zone starts of any player on the list.
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6. Barkov - Some of the best underlying stats, great at scoring (/60's took a hit because he plays soooo many minutes), medium comp, hard zone starts.
7. Tavares - Excellent scorer (worse than Matthews), great underlying stats, but easy AF comp/zone starts.
8. Getzlaf - 5v5 scoring for days, above average on the PP, great underlying stats, easyish comp, but medium zone starts.
9. Matthews - One of the best scorers on the list/60, both 5v5 (5th) and PP (7th). decent (not great) underlying stats, relatively easy comp/zone starts but not charmin soft.
10. Scheifele - Great 5v5 scorer, meh PP scorer. Decent rel.CF%, good rel.xGF%, and above average comp & zone starts.
11. MacKinnon - Great 5v5, very good PP, and great underlying stats. Tough comp/zone starts. Guy probably should be in the tier above, or at least higher, but I need to see him do 2 seasons first.
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12. Kopitar - Same as MacK, terrible 2 seasons ago, great this past season. Basically Barkov level last year, and not on this list 2 years ago.
13. Stamkos - Stats say 3rd best /60 5v5 scorer, and best /60 PP scorer. decent underlying stats, and charmin soft comp/ZS. Probably is in tier above, but I think he's riding Kuch's coattails.
14. Eichel - Matthews, except scores much less 5v5, and a little less on the PP.
15. Barzal - Toughest placement for me. Guy's season last year had him ranked #2 on my "model". He's essentially McDavid, with better underlying stats, but much easier comp. I need to see a 2nd year of his without Tavares and him getting real minutes.
16. Kuznetsov - Malkin-lite. Great at scoring (not as good as Malkin), bad underlying stats, and arguably the easiest comp/zone starts of anyone on the list.
17. Couturier - Arguably the best defensive forward in the NHL, that found out he can score. If he does what he did last season again, he's a top-10 C very easily.
18. Seguin - Weak 5v5 numbers, great on the PP, underwhelming underlying stats, tough comp/zone starts.
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19. Kadri - Honestly, he should probably be higher. Same P60 (5v5) as Tavares, only behind Stamkos, Malkin, Backstrom, Seguin, Crosby at PPP60. meh underlying stats, but faces the hardest comp/zone starts of anyone on this list.
20. O'Reilly - Bad 5v5 scorer, above average PP scorer. Some of the best underlying numbers and toughest comp. Aka great defensively, good offensively.
21. Johansen - Not the greatest scorer 5v5 or the PP. Great underlying numbers, and tough comp/zone starts.
22. Trochek - He really should be higher, but has only had one season. He also plays ridiculous minutes like Barkov, so it hurts his /60. Good underlying stats, decent comp, and hard zone starts. I expect him to move up.
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HM: Toews, Staal, Draisaitl, Carter, Point, Zibby, Duchene, Couture, Monahan