His NHL career is uncertain after this season<\/a> as he\u2019s on the last year of his deal. However, he still probably has enough in the tank to reach the 1,000-goal mark. Capitals fans are holding their breath hoping he comes back to do that.<\/p>\n Second-Team Left Wing: Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators<\/p>\n Stamkos falls just one point short of being on the O-35 first team. However, his surprising season cannot be overlooked.<\/p>\n After a forgettable first season with the Nashville Predators, Stamkos showed that he\u2019s still got his goal-scoring chops. He\u2019s potted 38 goals in 76 games, which is a goal every other game. He\u2019s not only the leader of his team, but he\u2019s just one short of being top 10 in the NHL in goals this season.<\/p>\n His amazing play has helped the Nashville Predators make a surprise push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n First-Team Center: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n The center spot goes to Crosby once again. On Sunday, April 6, Crosby clinched his 21st-straight season with over a point per game, and he has 29 goals and 43 assists through 66 games. He also just recently passed Steve Yzerman for seventh in all-time points<\/a> (1,756).<\/p>\n Crosby is the \u201cGOAT\u201d of the 21st century, and he continues to prove it with his insane longevity. Better than that, his play has guided the Pittsburgh Penguins to a playoff spot. They\u2019re currently second in the Metropolitan Division, with a new head coach too in Dan Muse.<\/p>\n Second-Team Center: John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs<\/p>\n Don\u2019t let the Toronto Maple Leafs\u2019 disastrous season overshadow John Tavares\u2019 contributions. The 35-year-old has recorded 30 goals<\/a> and 38 assists through 77 games this season, and he\u2019s had more than 25 goals in 14 of his 17 NHL seasons.<\/p>\n It\u2019s crazy that he is second on the team in points behind William Nylander<\/a>, even considering Auston Matthews had his season end prematurely. Tavares came back to the Maple Leafs on a cheap deal (four-year, $17.56 million) after his contract expired last offseason. He\u2019s proving to be a bargain at the cap hit, and it might be the smartest move of now-formal general manager Brad Treliving\u2019s short tenure with the Maple Leafs.<\/p>\n Related: 3 Surprising GM Candidates for the Maple Leafs<\/a><\/p>\n Crosby\u2019s teammate Evgeni Malkin deserves some love, too. He\u2019s had 59 points through 54 games with a plus-12 rating. However, injuries and a suspension have cut his impact a tad short of Tavares\u2019.<\/p>\n First-Team Right Wing: Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings<\/p>\n If you were to tell a Chicago Blackhawks fan in the 2010s that Patrick Kane would find himself on the Detroit Red Wings at any point, they\u2019d probably jeer at you. Well, that\u2019s exactly where Kane ended up in 2023-24, and while he isn\u2019t prime Kane anymore, he\u2019s still a nasty goal scorer.<\/p>\n This season, he has just 15 goals but also 37 assists through 62 games, so he\u2019s been more of a playmaker. Still, he\u2019s helped the Red Wings to be a near-playoff team.<\/p>\n They were at the top of the Atlantic Division at the beginning of the season, but a rough March (5-7-2) leaves them on the outside of the playoff line leaves them on the outside looking in. A bad Kane penalty hurt them<\/a> in their recent 5-4 loss against the Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n Second-Team Right Wing: Jordan Eberle, Seattle Kraken<\/p>\n The 35-year-old right winger deserves some love for his season, too. He has 24 goals and 28 assists through 73 games, and he is the leading scorer for a disappointing Seattle Kraken offence.<\/p>\n Part of that has to do with Jared McCann\u2019s injury-riddled season, but Eberle\u2019s gotten more out of Matty Beniers this season too. The Kraken were above the playoff line in the Western Conference for a big portion of the season, and while the goaltending was the main reason, Eberle deserves some credit too.<\/p>\n First Team Left Defense: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators<\/p>\n Who would\u2019ve thought the veterans in Nashville would lead them to a potential playoff berth? While Stamkos\u2019 career renaissance has been awesome, Roman Josi has been a consistent force on the blue line.<\/p>\n This season, he has 12 goals and 39 assists through 64 games, more points than Adam Fox (50) and Noah Dobson (46) have this season. Josi might be the best player in team history, and it\u2019s great that Predators fans will get to see him for a few more years.<\/p>\n Second-Team Left Defense: Matthias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers<\/p>\n Josi\u2019s former teammate, Matthias Ekholm, makes this list as well. Admittedly, there are slim pickings for left-shot defenseman 35 or older, but Ekholm is another extremely consistent player. He\u2019s had more than 30 points in all but one (2020-21) of the past eight seasons, and he\u2019s had a positive plus\/minus in all but one (2019-20) of the past eight seasons.<\/p>\n With Edmonton, he\u2019s still the number-one left-shot defenseman on a quietly-stacked defensive core. It says something that after the Oilers acquired Ekholm at the 2023 Trade Deadline, they have made the Stanley Cup Final two seasons in a row.<\/p>\n First-Team Right Defense: Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n The Penguins are being carried to the playoffs by old men. Crosby and Malkin are playing to their standard, but Karlsson reaching his prime form<\/a> again was a surprise.<\/p>\n Karlsson has 14 goals and 50 points through 73 games. Outside of his Norris Trophy 2022-23, Karlsson hadn\u2019t even reached over 60 points since 2017-18. He did this season while reaching the highest plus\/minus (plus-10) he\u2019s had since the 2016-17 season.<\/p>\n His Penguins will more than likely make the playoffs, so Karlsson will get his first chance at postseason hockey since 2019.<\/p>\n Second-Team Right Defense: John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n Rounding out the skaters is another right-shot defenseman from the Pacific Division named \u201cCarlson\u201d. John Carlson was the best player traded in the 2026 Trade Deadline, and he\u2019s shined with the Anaheim Ducks.<\/p>\n Between the Capitals and Ducks, he\u2019s had 11 goals and 44 assists this season. Carlson has been a much-needed veteran presence in a young defensive core that includes Oren Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, and he and Jacob Trouba have stabilized the Ducks\u2019 right side.<\/p>\n First-Team Goalie: Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n There are slim pickings for the goalie spot, so Jake Allen gets the nod. That\u2019s not to discredit Allen\u2019s 2025-26 season; he\u2019s been a quality goaltender for the Devils while his teammate Jacob Markstrom has floundered.<\/p>\n Allen has maintained a .905 save percentage (SV%) and 2.70 goals against average (GAA). Advanced analytics show him in a good light, with Allen boasting a plus-8.5 Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA). However, he has a 16-16-2 record, showing that the Devils could support him a tad more in his starts.<\/p>\n Second-Team Goalie: Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings<\/p>\n Kuemper has been a below-average goaltender this season. With the Kings, he has just a .892 SV% and 2.76 GAA, while his GSAA is a minus-4.0.<\/p>\n His record is a rough 19-14-14 on the season, too, and his 14 overtime losses are the most in the league by three, with Connor Hellebuyck having the second-most at 11. However, he\u2019s done enough in regulation to keep the Kings in the playoff race. The Kings are full of grizzled veteran stars, with Drew Doughty, Artemi Panarin, and Anze Kopitar, who\u2019s on his retirement tour this season.<\/p>\n Full First and Second Teams<\/p>\n First-Team:<\/p>\n Forwards:<\/p>\n Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby-Patrick Kane<\/p>\n Defensemen:<\/p>\n Roman Josi-Erik Karlsson<\/p>\n Goaltender:<\/p>\n Jake Allen<\/p>\n Second-Team:<\/p>\n Forwards:<\/p>\n Steven Stamkos-John Tavares-Jordan Eberle<\/p>\n Defenseman:<\/p>\n Matthias Ekholm-John Carlson<\/p>\n Goaltender:<\/p>\n Darcy Kuemper<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-Sidney-Crosby-Penguins-1200x765.jpg\")
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"Substack](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/THW_Substack_Banner4-e1693132124550-1200x148.jpg\")
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