The 10 Best Canadian Players in the NHL Now

Josip Brajkovic

Published: 21.8.2023.

Considering that the NHL has 445 Canadian players, or that they make 42% of the active roster, the tale about the 10 best Canadian players in the NHL isn't far away from listing out the best overall. Yet it's still very well worth singling out the best ones the hockey country has to offer, even if you don't watch the international games.

Best Canadians in the NHL

Looking at their talent levels, total points scored - goals and assists, as well as the impact on the team, trophy haul, individual and team, we’ve come up with this list bound to be scrutinized.

#10 Canadian player in the NHL: Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights)

A reigning champion with the Vegas Golden Knights, the captain of the squad was drafted in 2010 and is excelling following a move to the Nevada desert in 2018. His regular season numbers count 584 games with 196 goals and 318 assists, while the playoff runs have 94 games, 31 goals and 40 assists. Stone was included in the All-Rookie team in 2015 and participated in the All-Star game in 2022. He might be the most controversial pick on the list, yet the 31-year-old righ-wing talent has earned it with a Stanley Cup triumph.

#9 Canadian player in the NHL: Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins)

Even though he was picked in the third round of the 2006 draft, 71st overall, Brad Marchand made quite the career in the NHL. Representing only Boston Bruins, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2011. The 35-year-old's numbers are staggering with 372 goals and 490 assists in 947 regular season games. While the 146 playoff matches saw him score 53 times and help his teammates do the same 75 times.

#8 Canadian player in the NHL: Alex Pietrangelo (Vegas Golden Knights)

Another member of the current 2023 NHL champions, the defenceman is hard to overlook as he won the Stanley Cup in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues too! The three-time All-Star scored 140 goals in 952 regular season games, with 431 assists! In the playoffs, the King City native has 72 points in 131 games.

#7 Canadian player in the NHL: Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Representing Markham, Ontario due to his birth, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 2015 draft fourth overall pick has made quite the name for himself in the league despite being 26. In seven seasons in the league, the right-wing versatile player made 386 assists, and scored 168 goals in 507 regular season games. Across 50 playoff duels, he has 10 goals and 37 assists.

#6 Canadian player in the NHL: Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Another Markham, Ontario native, Steven Stamkos' inclusion on the list this high can't be denied as he is the 40th overall top goalscorer in the history of the league! He is the third active highest scorer in the NHL as well! Representing only Ligthining throughout his 15 seasons in the league, he has 1,003 regular season games, alongside 515 goals and 541 assists. In the playoffs, the centre has 123 matches with 45 goals and 50 assists. He won the Stanley Cup twice, back-to-back too, in 2020 and 2021.

#5 Canadian player in the NHL: Jonathan Huberdeau (Calgary Flames)

Jonathan Huberdeau is a Canadian ice hockey winger who plays for the Calgary Flames of the NHL. He was drafted third overall by the Florida Panthers in 2011 and won the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year in 2013. The Quebec native was an alternate captain for the Panthers and led them in scoring for four consecutive seasons from 2018 to 2022. . He has 668 points (213 goals and 455 assists) in 750 regular season games and 21 points (5 goals and 16 assists) in 26 playoff games as of August 2023.

#4 Canadian player in the NHL: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)

Makar is one of the most talented and exciting players in the NHL today and certainly one of the very best Canadians in the NHL now. The Stanley Cup champion of 2022 with his Colorado Avalanche, he won the MVP for the playoffs as well, alongside the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the best defenceman of the year. He has a career total of 246 points (65 goals and 181 assists) in 238 regular season games and 65 points (16 goals and 49 assists) in 61 playoff games as of August 2023.

#3 Canadian player in the NHL: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Another player whose inclusion on the list of best active Canadian hockey players is ensured simply because he is the 29th overall highest scorer in the history of the league. Of the active NHL players, only the possibly future number-one scorer Alexander Ovechkin is ahead of him. The 36-year-old from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has scored 550 regular season goals, in 1,190 games played, all of them for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alongside 952 assists. In 180 playoff duels, he has 71 goals and 130 assists too. Crosby also won the Stanley Cup three times, in 2009, 2016, and 2017, winning the MVP award for the playoffs in the two latter triumphs.

#2 Canadian player in the NHL: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)

The centre Nathan MacKinnon is considered by many to be the second-best player in the league overall, period. The 27-year-old centre coming from Springhill, Nova Scotia has already played in 709 regular season games, scoring 284 times and making 475 assists. In the playoffs, he shines with 100 points in 77 games (44G + 56A). Winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 is his crowning achievement, alongside the 2014 individual acknowledgement for the Rookie of the Year.

#1 Canadian player in the NHL: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)

Not only just one of the best Canadian NHL players, Connor McDavid is widely regarded as the best player in the world. Aged 26 and only entering his prime. The first pick of the 2015 draft, the 26-year-old has quickly gained rule over the league. In 569 games of the regular season, he already has 303 goals, with amazing 547 assists. Getting him the four MVP awards for that part of the campaign. In the 49 playoff matches McDavid has 29 goals and 46 assists. McDavid has been in the league for eight seasons and in five of those he has topped the league in points.

The choice for the 10 best Canadian players in the NHL now is a hard task as any sports writer can get, yet this selection is hard to argue against.