Ranking the NHL’s five best wingers ahead of 2023-24 season
As the New NHL season dawns, I’m running through my list of the best players in the NHL based upon position. We’ve covered the centres; today we look at the top five wingers.
The skill coming from the wings in the modern game is simply ridiculous. Whilst putting the puck into the net has always been the name of the game for wingers, the all-around capabilities of the wide forwards are so different from eras past.
No matter how talented the player may be at finishing plays, if you don’t backcheck or struggle on your skates (think the Luc Robitaille archetype) you’ll simply not get time on the ice. Jari Kurri’s two-way domination was a marvel in his day. Now it’s the norm.
This list is based on current production, though where I was conflicted, both historic and potential future production was taken into consideration.
5. Jason Robertson – Dallas Stars
Robertson may just sneak into this wingers list but the young Californian is on his way to the top. He broke out with 79 points in 2022 – just his 2nd full season in the NHL – before topping that with 46 goals and 109 points in the season just gone.
The just-turned-24-year-old combines a traditional power forward game with deft stick handling, crafty shooting and excellent vision. He’s also a possession monster, helping the Stars maintain possession of the puck, posting a plus-16.0 Corsi in 2023 at even strength.
The Stars rebuild is ahead of schedule with the team narrowly losing to eventual Stanley Cup champ Vegas Golden Knights in the conference finals. With a young roster (nine of their top 12 scorers, as well as their starting goalie, are all in their 20s) this is a club set up for long-term contention, led by Robertson.
(Apologies to Mark Stone, here. I really agonised over that final spot)
4. Mikko Rantanen – Colorado Avalanche
In what was a somewhat disastrous 2023 for the Avalanche, Mikko Rantanen kept his head above water, posting a career-high 55 goals (19 better than his previous career high!) and 105 points. His three hat tricks were the most by a Colorado player since Peter Forsberg in 1996. Even in the team’s upset 1st round playoff loss to Seattle, Rantanen could hold his head high, scoring seven goals in as many games.
The big Finn played with 16 different line combinations last season yet was able to maintain his almost metronomic and prolific production. Is this the new norm for Rantanen? Or will the return of his skillful running mates reduce his responsibility and with it his output? I’m betting that we see another 100-point season.
3. Mitch Marner – Toronto Maple Leafs
When introducing this piece, I mentioned that two-way wingers with superstar scoring output are a relatively regular event, these days. Mitch Marner is one of the players I had in mind when writing that.
The Leafs winger just missed triple figures last season, scoring 99 points, a career-high, and the 3rd time he’s finished a season in the 90’s. His playmaking remains as elite as ever with wonderful vision aligning with a feathery touch to make life easy for his teammates.
Marner also makes it easy for his colleagues through his work at the defensive end. It’s rare to see a near 100-point winger as an automatic selection on the top penalty kill unit, yet that’s Marner’s lot. He finished the 2023 season tied for 10th in power play points with 36 whilst his five shorthanded points tied him for 6th in the league.
2. Matthew Tkachuk – Florida Panthers
If he wasn’t considered amongst the best handful of players in hockey before last season, Tkachuk’s latest effort cemented his elite status.
Tkachuk backed up his breakout 104-point season in Calgary with a 109-point effort in his first season as a Panther. He further backed up his season by leading the wildcard Panthers to an upset win over Boston, ending their historic season, and onto the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring 24 points in 20 games – including three overtime goals – on the way. Oh, by the way, he did all of that with a broken sternum.
Just how important is the 25-year-old to Florida’s success? With him on the ice at even strength, the Panthers had a plus-39 goal difference. On the bench, that number plummeted to minus-7.
1. David Pastrnak – Boston Bruins
Pastrnak has always been a very good goal scorer, but his 2023 campaign was one for the ages. The 27-year-old lit the lamp on 61 occasions last season, trailing only Connor McDavid (which…fair enough). Goals win games (stay tuned for more expert hockey analysis) and it’s incredibly tough to deny that the winger’s ability to bury the biscuit and set up his teammates – he also led the B’s in assists – was pivotal to their record-breaking regular season.
Pastrnak’s 113 points came dangerously close to doubling the 67 points scored by Brad Marchand, Boston’s 2nd leading scorer on the season. Through the regular season, he was arguably the single most important player to his team’s success in the entire league.
With the significant losses that Boston has experienced this offseason it will be fascinating to see if Pastrnak can a) continue his rabid scoring and b) continue to carry his team. Given those personnel changes, combined with the ascendancy of Tkachuk, Pastrnak’s stay at the top of this list may be a one-season deal.
