NHL players are participating at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, marking the first time since 2014 in Sochi, Russia. It also marks the first time at the Olympics for many of the current generation of NHL players, including Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.
Speaking of the Oilers star, while the NHL hit the Olympic break, he lead the entire league in points with 96 (34 goals, 62 assists) in 58 games played. Leading the league is nothing new for McDavid who boasts a stacked trophy cabinet, highlighted by five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay awards, three Hart Memorial Trophies, one Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard trophies, and one Conn Smythe trophies.
Despite his endless accolades, and even his current lead on the entire NHL, ESPN released a top 50 NHL player rankings for the 2026 Winter Olympics, placing McDavid shockingly low. Out of all 50 players, McDavid ranked third behind Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
ESPN releases top 50 NHL players list ahead of 2026 Olympics
The list has an interesting methodology, the entire top-50 players are ordered by three-year average Goals Above Replacement (GAR) score. Which for those unaware, GAR is a similar metric to the popular Wins Above Replacement (WAR) popularized in baseball.
In addition to this being the only way that the list slotted players, McDavid’s ranking exposed one of the flaws of using statistics like this with the disclaimer saying “McDavid would be neck-and-neck with MacKinnon for No. 1 if he hadn’t missed 15 games last season,”
Using the GAR model by evolving hockey, McDavid ranks first over the past three seasons combined and is first amongst all forwards this season. This further supports the point that McDavid should be higher than third.
McDavid deserving of top ranking
Given McDavid’s consistent ranking at or near the top of the entire NHL by most polls and given his statistical performance and trophy cabinet, to put him anywhere below one or two is insane. He is slated to be Canada’s number one centre and has been by far the top player of his generation since entering the league in 2015.
There are of course seasons where others win MVP or lead the league, McDavid is still king. The NHL is filled with plenty of high end elite stars; Makar, MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Nikita Kucherov, and his own teammate Leon Draisaitl are all marvelous players who have put together incredible seasons of this generation.
Either way, if asked, McDavid likely would not care about this list as the only thing he wants to do is win gold for Canada at the Olympic stage.