2025-26 NHLPA Player Poll Results

2025-26 NHLPA Player Poll Results Unveiled The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) released the results of its annual player poll on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, offering a unique peer-voted perspective on the league’s top performers across multiple categories. More than 650 NHL players from all 32 clubs participated in the survey, which has become a trusted barometer of player opinion within the sport. Sidney Crosby continues to dominate peer recognition, securing his sixth consecutive title as the ‘Most Complete Player’ with 33.8% of the vote. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain as well led in two other key categories: ‘Smartest Overall Player’ (27.0%) and ‘If you need to win a faceoff, who would you pick?’ (20.4%). His consistent presence at the top of these rankings underscores the enduring respect he commands among fellow players for his all-around game, hockey intelligence and faceoff prowess. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers emerged as the clear choice for ‘Best Overall Forward,’ capturing 73.9% of the vote—a significant margin over his peers. McDavid also topped the rankings for ‘Best Overall Skater’ with 66.4% of the vote, reinforcing his reputation as the league’s most dynamic and explosive talent. On the defensive finish, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche was voted ‘Best Overall Defenceman,’ receiving 71.8% of the vote. His selection reflects widespread acknowledgment of his elite two-way play, offensive contributions from the blue line, and overall impact on the game. In specialized categories, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning was named the ‘Best Playmaker’ by 48.25% of respondents, highlighting his vision and passing ability. Andrei Vasilevskiy, also of the Lightning, was chosen as the ‘Best Overall Goalie’ with 31.1% of the vote. The poll also revealed lighter-hearted insights, with David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins earning recognition for having the ‘Best Fashion Sense’ at 15.8%, and Kevin Hayes of the Pittsburgh Penguins leading the category for ‘Who would be a good broadcaster once they retire?’ with 4.9% of the vote. Notably, the 2024-25 edition of the poll included a first-ever fan-submitted question, though the specific query and results were not detailed in the available reports. The NHLPA continues to use this annual survey to foster transparency and provide fans with authentic insights into how players view one another’s skills and contributions to the sport. The full results of the 2025-26 NHLPA Player Poll are available on the NHLPA’s official website, where players and fans alike can explore the complete breakdown of voting across all categories. This peer-driven assessment remains one of the most telling indicators of respect and excellence within the NHL, reflecting not just statistical performance but the intangible qualities that define elite hockey players.