Texas A&M University • Tennessee Volunteers

 After 18 seasons, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is still one of the top 10 wingers in the NHL, according to ESPN's 2023 positional ranking surveys -- but just barely.

"The record he is chasing, getting ready to pass [Wayne] Gretzky, you have to tip your cap," a Western Conference team executive said of the 37-year-old Ovechkin. "But there are players who are taking the mantle as top winger, who are at different ages and who impact games more than just being a goal scorer."

ESPN's NHL position-by-position

ranking collected 20 surveys representing those on the ice and behind the scenes.

Here's how it worked: Surveys were conducted over the past two months. Respondents were asked to rank their current top 10 players at center, winger, defenseman and goaltender based on a predetermined list of the top 25-35 players at each position. Players ranked on each ballot were given a numerical score -- No. 1 earned 10 points, No. 2 got 9 points and so on.

Ten NHL players were surveyed -- six from the Eastern Conference, four from the Western Conference. They range from NHL award nominees to veteran role players. To balance that perspective, we surveyed 10 people from the hockey operations departments of NHL teams, including three coaches and three general managers.

Combined, their insights led to rankings that go behind fan conjecture and media narratives to reveal the best of the best, at least according to those inside the NHl

Here are the top 10 wingers, according to our surveys, with additional reporting from yours truly, Kristen Shilton and Ryan S. Clark to add context to the choices. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey.

1. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
161 Points | Age: 26

Over the past five seasons, no right winger has scored more goals than Pastrnak's 185. He's a strong and fast skater with great hands and an uncanny ability to get his shot off quickly. Pastrnak is an elite power-play performer. He led the league in power-play goals in 2019-20 and ranked behind only Leon  (91) in goals with the man advantage (72) over the past five season

Pastrnak is a heck of a player," a veteran skater said. "I think [Brad] Marchand and [Patrice] Bergeron have helped him so much."

From 2016-17 to 2020-21, Pastrnak was a mainstay on the Bruins' top line with Marchand and Bergeron, forming the NHL's best trio with an unparalleled ability to dominate in both ends of the rink. But over the past two 

Pastrnak got six votes for first place and six for second place, the latter leading all players in the ranking. He appeared on every ballot.

"His one-on-one ability. His shot. This guy is just an elite scorer and can create," a Western Conference executive said. "For so many years, it was Bergeron and Marchand with him. You are seeing even without those guys, he has the ability to create offense on his own. That is such a unique attribute and a player like that even at his age continues to develop."

2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
141 Points | Age: 29

While Pastrnak has him beat in goals over the past five seasons, Kucherov is the most productive right wing overall in the NHL during that span with a 1.43 points-per-game average.

He had an incredible 361 points in 252 games, having missed the 56-game 2020-21 season because of injury -- and in the process had "pulling a Kucherov" join the NHL lexicon, thanks to the Lightning's use of long-term injured reserve cap exemptions in his absence, which ended when the playoffs began.

The Lightning have played for the Stanley Cup four times in his career, winning it twice. Since he appeared in the playoffs for the first time in 2014, no player has more postseason points than Kucherov's 154 in 136 games -- including a league-best 52 goals.

This season, Kucherov is third in the NHL in points (79) through 55 games. The 2018-19 Hart Trophy winner has 19 more points than anyone else on the Lightning roster this season.

Kucherov creates so much room for himself to make others better," one veteran skater said.

The Lightning winger actually had more first-place votes (seven) than Pastrnak did. However, Kucherov was left off of two ballots completely by two current NHL players.

3. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
128 Points | Age: 25

Not since the arrival of Alex Ovechkin in Washington had the NHL seen a left winger dominate offensively while helping to transform the reputation of his franchise. Gone were the days when the Wild were a defensive-minded team without a superstar player. Begun, the "Kirill the Thrill" era had.

"I just personally love watching Kaprizov play," a Western Conference exec said. "With no disrespect to the centermen in Minnesota, but he creates all on 

4. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
128 Points | Age 25

Marner's offensive production took a significant leap last season, when he tallied 97 points in 72 games. But the right wing didn't receive a single Hart Trophy vote thanks to the guy on the Maple Leafs who had 106 points (and 60 goals) in 73 games.

In other words, it's hard for Marner to receive proper credit for being one of the NHL's best two-way players when Auston Matthews casts such a long 

5. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
96 Points | Age: 26

Rantanen had 66 points in 55 games this season, keeping the defending Stanley Cup champions in the hunt as they played through a seemingly unending collection of injuries. A right wing who can also play in the middle, he has that rare combination of size (6-4) and brilliant playmaking ability.

While the Avalanche forward didn't receive a first-place vote, he had one second-place tally and led all wingers with six third-place votes. Those 

6. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
83 Points | Age: 34

Marchand's journey from "Little Ball of Hate" pest to arguably the second best left wing of his generation has been a remarkable one. The Bruins veteran has played to a 30-goal pace for seven straight seasons while growing into one of the better defensive forwards in the NHL, which is what playing with Patrice Bergeron will do for a guy.

     

7. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
76 Points | Age: 31

The One True Breadman (sorry, Andrew Mangiapane) is an electrifying playmaker whose 161 points in his last 131 games ranks him ninth in the NHL over the last two seasons. Only Connor McDavid (139) had more assists than Panarin (121) in that span.

"Panarin makes everyone around him better," an NHL veteran player said. "I

8. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
62 Points | Age: 25

The Panthers traded their leading scorer Jonathan Huberdeau and top defensive defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames to acquire Tkachuk last summer. That was quite the price to pay, as was the eight-year, $76 million contract extension he received. All Tkachuk has done this season is justify all of it and then some: 78 points in 57 games, including 28 goals.

That effort built off his career-best 42

9. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
56 points | Age: 23

One of the breakout stars of the past two seasons, the Dallas left wing has 75 goals in 131 games in that span, ranking him eighth overall. His puck-handling, quick shot and feel for the game blend together to make Robertson a dynamic talent. He's also one of the best at creating scoring chances in tight quarters around the opponents' net.

"He's so committed to getting himself

10. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
36 Points | Age: 37

The Russian Machine passed Gordie Howe this season for second all-time in career goals, currently sitting on 812 with Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals in sight. Ovechkin has 33 goals in 54 games. The next highest Capitals player has 13.

..