TORONTO (April 15, 2025) – As hockey fans’ excitement builds for the upcoming playoffs, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) today unveiled its 2024-25 Player Poll results on NHLPA.com. This year marks the 10th edition of the NHLPA Player Poll, with a total of 663 NHLPA members participating to provide their insights on 12 hockey-related topics.
In this poll, players from all 32 NHL clubs were surveyed anonymously during the first half of the regular season. The questions ranged from identifying the league's best players to preferences regarding potential rule changes. Notably, the poll included a first-ever fan-submitted question, asking which player is considered the smartest overall by their peers.
With the Stanley Cup Playoffs set to begin on April 19, the results of the poll provide an interesting snapshot of player opinions as the league gears up for its most competitive time of the year. Here’s a breakdown of the key findings from the poll:
Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning was voted the best overall goalie, receiving 31.1% of the votes. Connor McDavid, the star forward of the Edmonton Oilers, dominated the forward category with a staggering 73.9% of the vote, reinforcing his status as one of the league's top talents.
Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche was recognized as the best overall defenceman, earning 71.8% of the votes. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins was celebrated as the most complete player, garnering 33.8% of the vote.
In the playmaking department, Nikita Kucherov, also from the Tampa Bay Lightning, was named the best playmaker with 48.25% of the votes. Crosby further shined in the poll, being selected as the player to choose if you need to win a faceoff, with 20.4% voting in his favor. Additionally, he was recognized as the smartest overall player, receiving 27.0% of the votes.
Connor McDavid continued to impress, being voted the best overall skater with an impressive 66.4% of the votes. When it came to fashion, David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins took the title for having the best fashion sense, with 15.8% of the votes.
As players look toward the future, they expressed interest in the potential implementation of a PWHL rule change known as the jailbreak goal, which received 29.7% of the votes for the rule they would like to see adopted in the NHL. This change would allow a minor penalty to end if the shorthanded team scores, a concept that could alter the dynamics of power plays.
The poll also highlighted the NHL arena with the best ice, with the Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens, receiving 45.0% of the votes in this category.
Kevin Hayes of the Pittsburgh Penguins was noted as a player who would make a good broadcaster after retirement, with 4.9% of the votes supporting this idea.
As the playoffs approach, the NHLPA Player Poll results not only reflect the players’ opinions but also serve as a conversation starter for fans and analysts alike. The insights gathered from this poll can lead to lively debates about the league's top talents and the future direction of the game.
Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #NHLPAPlayerPoll and follow @NHLPA on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok for more updates and insights.
With the playoffs just around the corner, these player insights add an exciting layer to the anticipation of the Stanley Cup chase. Fans will be watching closely to see if the players' picks reflect the outcomes on the ice as the battle for the coveted trophy begins.
