Top NHL franchise players ranked, McDavid placed second behind Celebrini
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 13, 2026, 12:27 PM
Last updated Aug 13, 2026

A discussion on the top players to start an NHL franchise took place today, outlining an interesting ranking. Macklin Celebrini from the San Jose Sharks, aged 20, tops the list after a breakout season of 115 points in his second year. Following him is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers in second, noted for his exceptional skill but emphasized the need for team depth. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche ranks third for his leadership and dual offensive-defensive ability. The list features Connor Bedard and Matthew Schaefer at fifth and fourth, respectively, highlighting their young talent and contributions to their teams.
- •Macklin Celebrini is ranked first after a stellar season.
- •Connor McDavid is ranked second despite his remarkable talent.
- •Nathan MacKinnon is noted for his leadership qualities at third.
- •Connor Bedard and Matthew Schaefer round out the top five.
- •The talent in the NHL continues to improve annually.
- 12:27 PMYahoo Sports — Top 5 NHL players to start a franchise with, & Connor McDavid isn’t ranked first
"You can't go wrong with any of the top 3 ranked players.
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