The vacation season is right here and 2024 is about to come back to an in depth. It’s an ideal time to mirror on the yr that was and rejoice the perfect of the perfect.
Each staff, regardless of how unhealthy, had some shiny spots and we right here at Rankings HQ needed to champion that. We tallied all of the numbers for each participant over the calendar yr and are able to wrap issues up for the yr. Right here’s every staff’s MVP from January-to-December, the perfect of 2024. As at all times, factors share is the tiebreaker.
Final week: 1
Sean’s rating: 1
Dom’s rating: 1
Dylan Strome
2024 stats: 83GP 26-60-86, +14 Internet Ranking
We knew Strome could possibly be a reliable top-six heart on a horrible staff. That’s what he was in his closing season with the Blackhawks — flawed, actually, however productive in spurts, and a man who appeared able to derailing the tanks in 2022. Thus, Chicago dumped him for nothing.
It was a sketchy transfer on the time, and Strome has spent the previous three seasons making it look silly. This season, he appears to have leveled up as soon as extra. He’s not a reliable top-sixer on a horrible staff — he’s a fairly good first-liner on a authentic contender, thanks partially to high-end playmaking and a defensive sport that’s, if nothing else, satisfactory for his function. When Alex Ovechkin breaks the objective file, Strome may have quite a bit to do with it.
Final week: 2
Sean’s rating: 2
Dom’s rating: 2
Jack Eichel
2024 stats: 64GP 27-50-77, +13 Internet Ranking
The totals could seem modest in comparison with different stars on the checklist, however that’s an availability situation, not a ability situation for Eichel. Thanks principally to a torrid begin to this season, Eichel is sitting on a 99-point tempo for the calendar yr — that’s firmly franchise-caliber.
That availability situation is an actual one, although, for Eichel. Over his nine-year profession, Eichel has missed 15 video games or extra six instances. For 2025, we’re hoping these points are lastly put to relaxation. An ideal invoice of well being might make him a Hart Trophy darkish horse.
Final week: 7
Sean’s rating: 3
Dom’s rating: 4
Sam Reinhart
2024 stats: 101GP 63-44-107, +29 Internet Ranking
The Panthers had three legit contenders, and the opposite two would have been positive decisions. With all due respect to Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, although, neither scored 63 objectives. That’s all Reinhart, whose manufacturing within the calendar yr has set him other than … properly, practically everybody.
On high of that, Reinhart carries legit defensive worth. It comes with a little bit of an asterisk, since he’s a winger who performs a big chunk of his minutes alongside Barkov, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a giant a part of Reinhart’s sport, a giant a part of what makes him an elite NHL participant and a giant a part of what makes the Panthers the defending champs.
Final week: 6
Sean’s rating: 6
Dom’s rating: 3
Auston Matthews
2024 stats: 76GP 51-38-89, +25 Internet Ranking
Not even a bafflingly sluggish begin to the 2024-25 season might preserve Matthews away from the highest spot right here — he was that good to shut the 2023-24 season. In 48 video games he scored 40 objectives and 63 factors whereas taking part in Selke-level protection. He completed fourth in MVP voting for good motive after a particular season the place he nearly scored 70.
The place is that man this yr? We’re nonetheless unsure. The huge drop-off (from a Internet Ranking per 82 of plus-34 final yr to plus-17 this yr) is probably going a sign that Matthews remains to be not one hundred pc wholesome. Or perhaps he’s saving it for the playoffs. Both approach, Matthews stays Toronto’s finest participant and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he begins displaying it once more.
Final week: 5
Sean’s rating: 4
Dom’s rating: 4
Sebastian Aho
2024 stats: 86GP 34-58-92, +19 Internet Ranking
We gasoline up the Canes’ method fairly a bit round right here, and for good motive — they’ve develop into one of the vital reliably profitable franchises within the league. That method wouldn’t work, although, with out Aho at 1C. He brings ability and reliability in equal components, and his productiveness offers Carolina the leeway essential to concentrate on different priorities farther down the lineup.
Final week: 11
Sean’s rating: 5
Dom’s rating: 5
Nikita Kucherov
2024 stats: 76GP 32-105-137, +26 Internet Ranking
Kucherov in all probability had this one locked up again in April, with the Artwork Ross Trophy win and whatnot, however he’s mainly carried his scoring tempo over to this season; his factors per 60 has fallen from 4.93 to 4.9. Solely Kirill Kaprizov has the next common Sport Rating in 2024-25 than Kucherov’s 2.13. On the subject of carrying the offensive load, he has just a little extra assist this season than final, however he stays the Lightning’s engine at five-on-five and on the facility play.
Final week: 3
Sean’s rating: 8
Dom’s rating: 7
Kirill Kaprizov
2024 stats: 72GP 55-55-110, +29 Internet Ranking
Was there any name simpler than this one? Most likely not. What Kaprizov does on a night-to-night foundation — producing fixed offense from the wing on a fringey contender that’s dangerously brief on impression forwards — deserves some kind of award. This season, he’s again on the Hart Trophy shortlist, and it’s well-deserved. He’s gone pointless in simply six of Minnesota’s video games.
Final week: 8
Sean’s rating: 7
Dom’s rating: 8
Nico Hischier
2024 stats: 81GP 35-44-79, +18 Internet Ranking
There was a little bit of uproar earlier than the season once we listed Nico Hischier as a franchise player for our Player Tiers project after a down yr. After a powerful begin to the 2024-25 season, we’re feeling fairly good about that call. Hischier ranks twelfth in Internet Ranking on the season and has firmly planted himself within the Selke dialog incomes 60 p.c of the anticipated objectives this season. A degree-per-game heart who is among the sport’s finest with out the puck? Signal us up.
Final week: 4
Sean’s rating: 9
Dom’s rating: 10
Connor Hellebuyck
2024 stats: .918 SV%, 41 GSAx
There are solely two guys on this checklist who contributed over 40 objectives of worth over the calendar yr: The perfect skater on this planet and the perfect goalie on this planet. Hellebuyck’s work over the past yr has been sensational, with league-best numbers to finish final season and league-best numbers to start out this season. There was no query that he can be Winnipeg’s 2024 MVP. Not even a weak playoff displaying might cease him from being the league’s Most worthy goalie in 2024.
Final week: 10
Sean’s rating: 11
Dom’s rating: 9
Connor McDavid
2024 stats: 97GP 41-129-170, +42 Internet Ranking
Who else?
Everyone knows McDavid is the perfect participant on this planet, and his 2024 statline is proof of that. Scoring 170 factors over 97 video games is totally absurd, contemplating that features 25 playoff video games, the place he nonetheless scored at a 137-point tempo in opposition to the perfect the league has to supply. The Oilers performed 4 elite defensive groups en path to the Stanley Cup Closing, and McDavid nonetheless managed to place up numbers solely matched by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
McDavid is on one other planet and it reveals with a league-leading plus-42 Internet Ranking in 2024. As standard, it’s McDavid after which everybody else.
Final week: 9
Sean’s rating: 9
Dom’s rating: 10
Anze Kopitar
2024 stats: 84GP 21-53-74, +11 Internet Ranking
No heart born in August 1987 is having a 2024-25 season pretty much as good as Kopitar’s. Take into consideration that for a second. Actually, Kopitar is producing factors on the highest price of his profession (3.51 per 60, practically 0.5 greater than second place). Exceptional stuff from a no-doubt Corridor of Famer.
Final week: 12
Sean’s rating: 12
Dom’s rating: 12
Miro Heiskanen
2024 stats: 86GP 15-44-59, +21 Internet Ranking
Enjoyable truth: Miro Heiskanen has by no means completed increased than seventh in Norris voting. Ask anybody in hockey to call seven defensemen higher than Heiskanen, although, and they’d all wrestle. Heiskanen deserves extra shine — he simply doesn’t produce sufficient to get it. We’re giving him some flowers right here although as Dallas’ MVP. The Stars don’t make the convention finals final yr with out him they usually’re not a perennial contender with out him both. Heiskanen is their most vital participant.
Final week: 13
Sean’s rating: 13
Dom’s rating: 13
Quinn Hughes
2024 stats: 90GP 14-80-94, +29 Internet Ranking
The primary half of 2024 was about Hughes sealing the deal on the primary Norris Trophy of his profession. Mission completed. The second half has been about laying the muse for a second Norris — and perhaps extra. Hughes, as we’ve mentioned a couple of instances since October, needs to be within the MVP dialog.
He’s main the league’s defensemen in Internet Ranking for a second straight season at plus-10.7, a hair forward of Cale Makar, and has closed the hole on Makar within the scoring race, too. He performs large minutes and Vancouver wins them decisively. What extra are you able to need?
Is that this the yr Brady Tkachuk drags the Senators to the playoffs? (Steph Chambers / Getty Photos)
Final week: 24
Sean’s rating: 14
Dom’s rating: 15
Brady Tkachuk
2024 stats: 80GP 36-43-79, +18 Internet Ranking
Amazon’s docuseries “FACEOFF: Contained in the NHL” is returning for a second season and Tkachuk was the primary participant revealed to be a part of it. Thrilling stuff and fully deserved given how he’s establishing himself. He’s following proper in his brother’s footsteps as a premier energy ahead and this could be the yr the youthful Tlachuk lastly drags the Senators to the playoffs.
Final week: 15
Sean’s rating: 16
Dom’s rating: 14
David Pastrnak
2024 stats: 93GP 41-60-101, +32 Internet Ranking
Pastrnak is one other man who locked this one up someday within the spring. Has he been at his finest since October? Current manufacturing apart, not likely. He turned in an MVP-caliber season in 2023-24, although, displaying that he might be The Man on his personal Patrice Bergeron-less line. Exterior of Kucherov and Kaprizov, you gained’t discover a winger who’s extra able to working the present.
Final week: 14
Sean’s rating: 15
Dom’s rating: 16
Nathan MacKinnon
2024 stats: 89GP 49-97-146, +32 Internet Ranking
Final yr’s MVP is at the moment main the league in scoring and making a fairly respectable case for a repeat efficiency this season. The one factor stopping him? He is probably not the staff’s MVP this season — that might be Cale Makar. MacKinnon takes the cake for the calendar yr on the again of his Hart Trophy-winning effort in 2023-24, however Makar is making issues attention-grabbing this yr.
Final week: 19
Sean’s rating: 17
Dom’s rating: 17
Clayton Keller
2024 stats: 74GP 31-44-75, +9 Internet Ranking
Keller won’t be on this spot for much longer — Dylan Guenther is an offensive dynamo and Mikhail Sergachev positive seems like a No. 1 defenseman in his first season with Utah — however he nonetheless deserves some credit score for turning right into a well-rounded, dependable producer on the wing. He’s helped Utah keep within the thick of the wild-card race.
Final week: 18
Sean’s rating: 18
Dom’s rating: 19
MacKenzie Weegar
2024 stats: 78GP 16-32-48, +8 Internet Ranking
Weegar has at all times been an ideal defenseman, however the second half of final season felt just like the second he actually blossomed right into a No. 1. Weegar turned an all-situations stud with a job on the highest energy play and began to place up some massive offensive numbers. Mix that together with his stable work defensively and there aren’t many defenders forward of him. Calgary’s obtained an excellent one.
Final week: 17
Sean’s rating: 20
Dom’s rating: 18
Travis Konecny
2024 stats: 72GP 32-42-74, +8 Internet Ranking
If the Flyers wish to take the subsequent step of their rebuild, Matvei Michkov will in all probability need to be their finest participant. For now, that honor belongs to Konecny — and whereas he’s not a franchise expertise, he’s nonetheless fairly good. In the meanwhile, he’s within the midst of his best offensive season within the NHL (3.28 factors per 60) and displaying that his spot on Group Canada isn’t a fluke. Any roster can be fortunate to have his offensive toolkit within the combine.
Final week: 23
Sean’s rating: 19
Dom’s rating: 22
Sidney Crosby
2024 stats: 80GP 30-59-89, +13 Internet Ranking
He’s 37 years previous. He simply went 10 video games with out scoring a objective. He’s been in some extent of defensive decline for a couple of seasons. And nonetheless, no person on the Penguins’ roster comes near touching Crosby when it comes to 2024 impression. Does that assist clarify why Pittsburgh has hovered round mediocrity? For positive. Crosby, although, bears not one of the blame.
Final week: 16
Sean’s rating: 22
Dom’s rating: 20
Igor Shesterkin
2024 stats: .913 SV%, 35 GSAx
Earlier than the Rangers fully imploded, they have been a staff to be feared. That’s nearly solely due to Shesterkin, a top-two goalie with loads of good arguments to not be No. 2 on that checklist.
His work within the playoffs is the perfect instance: 15.6 GSAx in simply 16 video games because of a .926 save share. Shesterkin’s big-game potential is what separates him from the pack and is what helped give him the second-best GSAx of any goalie over the past yr.
With a purpose to present that off, although, the Rangers should truly get there first and that’s trying shockingly precarious proper now. It’s time for Shesterkin to lock in and drag them to the playoffs.
Final week: 20
Sean’s rating: 21
Dom’s rating: 21
Jordan Binnington
2024 stats: .913 SV%, 33 GSAx
Fortunate for Binnington, voting for MVP closed Thursday afternoon earlier than he allowed three objectives on 10 pictures. Woof.
Kidding apart, it wouldn’t have mattered as a result of it wasn’t even shut. Final season Binnington completed second in GSAx at plus-29.7 and that was nearly solely pushed by a second half the place he saved 28.5 in 31 video games. Binnington has predictably regressed to start out this season, however hey, perhaps he’s only a second-half man. If final season was any indication, the perfect is but to come back.
Lucas Raymond could be the Pink Wings’ finest ahead for a second straight season. (Timothy T. Ludwig / Imagn Photos)
Final week: 27
Sean’s rating: 23
Dom’s rating: 25
Lucas Raymond
2024 stats: 76GP 33-44-77, +11 Internet Ranking
On one hand, Detroit certainly obtained shafted by the lottery gods again in 2020. On the opposite, they nonetheless walked away from that draft with Raymond, who simply could be their finest ahead for a second straight season. Detroit’s roster is a large number total, however they’re set at Raymond’s spot.
Final week: 22
Sean’s rating: 24
Dom’s rating: 24
Bo Horvat
2024 stats: 83GP 28-30-58, +10 Internet Ranking
Choosing an MVP from the Islanders over the past yr isn’t simple. Mathew Barzal is their finest participant, however has missed quite a lot of time and hasn’t regarded nice this yr even when he has performed. Noah Dobson has introduced in essentially the most worth, however many Islanders followers appear to not maintain him in excessive favor. So we’re going with Horvat, who has persistently been a powerful five-on-five driver for the staff. This yr he’s earned 57 p.c of the anticipated objectives whereas outscoring opponents 24-10. Great things. Perhaps with Barzal’s return and an truly competent energy play, Horvat can get again as much as his standard 70-point tempo.
Final week: 21
Sean’s rating: 26
Dom’s rating: 23
Joey Daccord
2024 stats: .914 SV%, 23 GSAx
Daccord saved the Kraken afloat for large chunks of final season, and he’s maintained that degree of play to date in 2024-25. Seattle’s lack of offensive firepower appears to be a characteristic, not a bug, however Daccord at the least offers them a puncher’s chase to beat it. If nothing else, they’ll cease crossing their fingers and hoping that Philipp Grubauer figures issues out.
Final week: 29
Sean’s rating: 25
Dom’s rating: 27
Lukas Dostal
2024 stats: .912 SV%, 23 GSAx
Not a lot has gone proper in Anaheim outdoors of Dostal. Perhaps most impressively, he appears to have greased the wheels for a John Gibson commerce.
Final week: 25
Sean’s rating: 27
Dom’s rating: 26
Zach Werenski
2024 stats: 68GP 20-43-63, +10 Internet Ranking
It’s been enjoyable to observe Werenski cook dinner for a second straight season; the toolbox at all times appeared full, however accidents had been a problem. Now, although, he’s taking part in at a persistently excessive degree — and he’s by some means nonetheless simply 27. Columbus has loads of points, however Werenski isn’t one in every of them. Get him some assist.
Final week: 30
Sean’s rating: 28
Dom’s rating: 29
Sam Montembeault
2024 stats: .902 SV%, 24 GSAx
The Canadiens have been one of many league’s worst defensive groups in 2024. That was true final season and it’s true once more this season. Thank goodness for Sam Montembeault papering over these points and saving 24 objectives above anticipated, one of many highest marks for any goalie. If not for him, the Canadiens can be an on-ice catastrophe. Nicely… extra so.
Final week: 28
Sean’s rating: 30
Dom’s rating: 28
MacKenzie Blackwood
2024 stats: .910 SV%, 19 GSAx
Farewell, MacKenzie Blackwood: you have been the one motive the Sharks didn’t lose 7-1 most nights. A .910 save share in San Jose is a miracle.
By the best way, the highest two skaters over the past yr are two guys who weren’t even on the Sharks final season: Jake Walman and Macklin Celebrini. That’s fairly humorous.
30. Chicago Blackhawks, 12-19-2
Final week: 32
Sean’s rating: 29
Dom’s rating: 31
Jason Dickinson
2024 stats: 78GP 16-12-28, +1 Internet Ranking
It’s a particularly telling signal in regards to the state of Chicago’s rebuild that the highest man for Internet Ranking on the Blackhawks is their shutdown heart.
To Dickinson’s credit score, he has legitimately blossomed right into a Selke-caliber participant. His modest plus-1 Internet Ranking hides the truth that he had a plus-6.2 Defensive Ranking over the calendar yr, one of many highest amongst all forwards. Dickinson is the true deal.
This time subsequent yr, it’ll probably be Connor Bedard on this spot — not weighed down by a sluggish begin to 2024-25 or genuinely poor protection to shut 2023-24. However the motive he’s not right here has one thing to do with the staff’s next-best participant being Dickinson. This child wants some severe assist.
Final week: 31
Sean’s rating: 31
Dom’s rating: 30
Roman Josi
2024 stats: 80GP 23-59-82, +20 Internet Ranking
The Predators are such a catastrophe that even Josi is getting squeezed; he’s scoring practically a half level per 60 lower than final season, and he’s posting his worst defensive impacts in a while. On high of that, he’s missed a couple of video games on account of harm.
None of that erases simply how good he’s been total, after all; it’s simply a kind of seasons in Nashville. Flush it, transfer on and hope these 30-something stars reverse course.
Final week: 26
Sean’s rating: 32
Dom’s rating: 32
Rasmus Dahlin
2024 stats: 69GP 16-33-49, +13 Internet Ranking
The Sabres have been with out Dahlin since Dec. 3 — they’re 0-5-2 in these video games and have been outscored 32-17 in these video games. Had been they already on a four-game dropping streak when he was injured? Sure. However with Dahlin, there’s no approach that stretches to 11 video games. Dahlin is with out query Buffalo’s most vital participant and the Sabres have nowhere to go however down with out him.
Dahlin’s offense could have declined a bit over the past yr, however his defensive progress has been exemplary. He’s a two-way drive and the Sabres desperately want him again.
(Prime photograph of Dylan Strome: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Photos)
