Panarin and Sorokin Make NHL Network's Top-50 List
NHL Network ranked Artemi Panarin 39th and Ilya Sorokin 35th among the league's best current players ahead of the season opening on 29 September.
Panarin, 34, moved to the Los Angeles Kings in February 2026 after spells with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks. In 830 regular-season matches he has scored 954 points, 330 goals and 624 assists. Sorokin, 31, has kept goal for the New York Islanders since the 2020/21 season.
Places 40 to 31 also went to Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard, Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle, Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho, Winnipeg Jets pair Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander and Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield.
NHL Network had already published the first section of the list, covering 50th to 41st, and no Russian player featured there. The regular season starts on 29 September.
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