Five NHL Players Who Could Fall From The Top 100 In 2026-27
Being one of the NHL's current top 100 players is no easy task.
Just because they make the top 100 in one year doesn't mean they'll stay there in the next. In fact, one of the criteria in The Hockey News' top 100 NHLers list is that career achievements aren't considered, and what matters most is what a player has done this year.
Whether it's Father Time chipping away at elite players' effectiveness, a tough playoffs or competing against other talents on the rise, the five NHL players we're focusing on below could be in danger of sliding down and out of the best player ranks.
Top 100 NHL Players In 2026: 1 To 10
The best of the best made our top 100 NHL players list. The top 10 are on yet another level.
Ivan Provorov, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Provorov ranked 95th among The Hockey News' top 100 NHLers, and though the Blue Jackets got what they usually get out of Provorov – 20-odd assists, 30-odd points and heavy minutes – it's tough to see him being a Grade-A defensive talent for much longer.
Provorov, 29, deserved credit for the Blue Jackets outscoring opponents at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice this season. That hasn't happened often in his career, which raises doubts about whether he can keep up his play next year.
Nick Schmaltz, C, Utah Mammoth
Schmaltz had a terrific season for the Mammoth, posting career highs in goals (33) and points (74). That's why he finished 93rd in this year's top-100 list.
But is this past season an anomaly? Is Schmaltz, at age 30, going to be a depreciating asset for Utah?
We probably wouldn't go that far, but Schmaltz will have to work hard to stay in the top 100 next season. He's going to get first-line minutes for the Mammoth, but if he doesn't get back into the 30-goal, 70-point area, Schmaltz could find himself outside of the top-100 picture looking in.
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The Hockey News
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 3:22 PM.