Colorado sits atop the NHL power rankings at midseason, with the Avalanche identifying their MVP for the 2025-26 campaign. Each team’s most valuable player reflects different aspects of success across the league standings.
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1. Colorado Avalanche (31-4-7)
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Nathan MacKinnon leads the way for Colorado.
MacKinnon’s on pace for 68 goals and 144 points. He could be the league’s MVP by season’s end.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (26-13-3)
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Nikita Kucherov gets the nod over Andrei Vasilevskiy. Kucherov’s rattled off seven straight multi-point games and ranks in the top five in NHL scoring.
He’s on pace for his fourth season of 120 points. Only seven other players in NHL history have accomplished that.
3. Minnesota Wild (25-11-8)
Previous: 5
Jesper Wallstedt has been a revelation for Minnesota. The rookie netminder has lost only six of 17 starts.
He leads the league in shutouts and save percentage. Wallstedt ranks second in goals saved above average.
4. Dallas Stars (26-10-8)
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Miro Heiskanen edges out Mikko Rantanen for team MVP honors.
Heiskanen ranks fourth league-wide in average time on ice. He’s dominated his minutes and is on pace for nearly 70 points.
5. Carolina Hurricanes (26-14-3)
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Brandon Bussi has saved Carolina’s season. Where would the Hurricanes be if Bussi hadn’t been claimed just before the season?
The 27-year-old is 15-2-1 with a .903 save percentage. Pyotr Kochetkov is likely out for the campaign, and Frederik Andersen has struggled. Without Bussi, Carolina would’ve faced a crisis in net.
6. Edmonton Oilers (21-16-6)
Previous: 19
Connor McDavid bounced back from his early-season struggles. Remember when McDavid had no goals and just seven assists in six games?
McDavid’s been playing out of his mind since then. The NHL’s leader in points is a serious contender for his fourth career Hart Trophy.
7. Montreal Canadiens (24-13-6)
Previous: 16
Nick Suzuki checks all the boxes for an MVP candidate.
Suzuki has the Canadiens in prime playoff position. He leads the club with 47 points in 43 games and is playing stellar two-way hockey.
8. Washington Capitals (22-16-6)
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Tom Wilson has been more than just a physical presence. Everyone knows Wilson’s reputation as a ferocious, physical player.
Wilson’s been scoring at a career-high rate. The 31-year-old is very deserving of his upcoming Olympic debut.
9. Buffalo Sabres (22-15-4)
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Tage Thompson led the charge during Buffalo’s turnaround.
The soon-to-be Olympian has eight goals and 15 points during the Sabres’ 11-1-0 run.
10. Detroit Red Wings (25-15-4)
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Moritz Seider has blossomed into a true No. 1 defenseman this season.
Seider’s collected 31 points so far. He ranks second among all skaters in goals above replacement and is likely to be on plenty of Norris Trophy ballots in the spring.
11. New York Islanders (24-15-4)
Previous: 18
Matthew Schaefer has been an impact top-pairing defenseman from Day 1.
Barely old enough to play in the NHL, Schaefer is must-see TV. He’s sparked an Islanders franchise that appeared to be in no man’s land before winning the draft lottery.
12. Philadelphia Flyers (22-12-7)
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Trevor Zegras leads the team in goals and points. Zegras has been everything and more than the Flyers hoped when they acquired him in the summer.
He’s regained his swagger. Zegras is a huge reason why Philadelphia is overachieving.
13. Vegas Golden Knights (18-11-12)
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Jack Eichel’s value showed during his absence. The Golden Knights went 1-4-2 in the seven games Eichel missed in December due to injury.
He still leads Vegas in points despite missing time.
14. Florida Panthers (22-17-3)
Previous: 14
Brad Marchand has kept Florida in the mix despite major absences.
The 37-year-old’s campaign has been remarkable with Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk out all season. Marchand has already matched his goal total from a year ago in 30 fewer games.
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-15-7)
Previous: 26
Auston Matthews has turned his season around. The Maple Leafs’ recent turnaround coincided with Matthews playing like a dominant, two-way superstar again.
He’s overcome a slow start with seven goals and four assists in his last five games.
16. Ottawa Senators (20-17-5)
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Jake Sanderson is still only 23 years old. He’s playing over 25 minutes a game – only four players league-wide are averaging more.
Sanderson’s a true workhorse defenseman. He’s only gotten better as the Senators have leaned on him more.
17. Pittsburgh Penguins (20-12-9)
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Sidney Crosby continues to prove age is just a number.
He’s sixth in the league in goals and on pace for 48 at 38 years old. Crosby has carried Pittsburgh back into the playoff discussion after three years near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
18. Seattle Kraken (20-14-7)
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Lane Lambert doesn’t have any players who jump off the page statistically. But Seattle’s in a playoff spot halfway through the season under its new head coach.
19. Los Angeles Kings (18-14-10)
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Darcy Kuemper has kept the Kings in the Western Conference playoff picture despite their offense.
The veteran netminder owns a .910 save percentage. Kuemper ranks in the top 10 in goals saved above expected.
20. New Jersey Devils (22-19-2)
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Jesper Bratt stands out in a down year for most of New Jersey’s core.
Bratt leads the team in scoring. He’s posting stronger underlying numbers than Nico Hischier.
21. Utah Mammoth (21-20-3)
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Dylan Guenther continues his trajectory toward becoming one of the elite goal scorers in the league.
The 22-year-old is within reach of what would be his first career 40-goal campaign.
22. New York Rangers (20-18-6)
Previous: 17
Igor Shesterkin leads the league in shots faced behind a porous Rangers defense. He still owns a .913 save percentage and ranks third league-wide in goals saved above expected.
New York’s season could be in real trouble with Shesterkin sidelined for the next few weeks due to a lower-body injury.
23. Boston Bruins (22-19-2)
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David Pastrnak has prevented things from being much worse.
The Bruins have struggled lately. Pastrnak leads the club with 48 points in 41 games.
24. San Jose Sharks (22-18-3)
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Macklin Celebrini is the obvious choice.
If the Sharks make the playoffs, Celebrini could join Crosby and Wayne Gretzky as the only teenagers to win the Hart Trophy.
25. Nashville Predators (19-19-4)
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Ryan O’Reilly is producing at his highest rate since 2021.
He would fetch a haul if the Predators opt to deal him this season.
26. Anaheim Ducks (21-19-3)
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Leo Carlsson has defined the Ducks’ season – both highs and lows.
The budding star has zero goals in his last 11 games amid Anaheim’s struggles. His unbelievable start still gets him the nod here, but he’ll have to turn it around soon.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets (18-17-7)
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Zach Werenski is leaned on as heavily as any player around the league.
He’s on pace for more than 30 goals. Few defensemen have ever accomplished that feat.
28. Calgary Flames (18-21-4)
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Mikael Backlund gets the nod by default in a weak field.
The Flames captain has nearly matched his point total from last season already. He leads the club at plus-17. Calgary doesn’t have many standout performers this year, but the dependable Backlund deserves recognition.
29. Chicago Blackhawks (18-18-7)
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Connor Bedard hasn’t played in almost a full month. He still leads the Blackhawks in scoring by 10 points.
Bedard has blossomed into the offensive dynamo many expected.
30. St. Louis Blues (17-19-8)
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Justin Faulk leading the Blues in goals sums up St. Louis’ season.
A veteran defenseman leading at the midway point reflects the team’s struggles. But Faulk deserves credit for ranking sixth among blue-liners with 11 goals.
31. Vancouver Canucks (16-21-5)
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Kiefer Sherwood provides a bright spot in a disastrous season.
At least the fan favorite has bagged goals and continues to throw an absurd amount of hits.
32. Winnipeg Jets (15-21-5)
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Mark Scheifele is having a great year that the Jets are squandering.
He’s on pace for a career-high 96 points. Scheifele is well within his right to be upset about being left off the Canadian Olympic team.
