Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby are widely regarded as two of the best players in the NHL, consistently leading their teams across nearly every statistical category. However, when it came to naming the league’s top playmaker for the 2024-25 campaign, the NHLPA’s annual survey pointed to a different star earning that distinction.
Although McDavid missed several games during the 2024-25 season, his impact remained vital for the Oilers. He recorded an impressive 73 assists in just 66 games. Currently listed as day-to-day, McDavid is expected to sit out the final game of the regular season, leaving him just shy of the 100-point milestone with 99 total points.
Crosby, on the other hand, put on a tremendous campaign, but the Pittsburgh Penguins registered yet another letdown of a season, finishing well behind the playoff teams in the East. Crosby recorded 89 points (32 goals and 57 assists) in 79 games played, with one outing remaining, notching his record-breaking 20th point-per-game season in the NHL.
Despite their individual success, neither Crosby nor McDavid received the distinction for “Best Playmaker in the NHL”, according to the NHLPA ballots.
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins waits for a faceoff in the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Instead, Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was selected the best playmaker, earning 48.25% of the picks. Kucherov is a firm candidate to the Hart Memorial Trophy, as he leads the league with 119 points so far in the season.
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What share of the votes did McDavid and Crosby get?
McDavid finished in second place behind Kucherov, securing 20.16% of the selections. Meanwhile, his teammate and partner in crime, Leon Draisaitl, closed out the podium with a 6.83%. Crosby came up in fifth place, with 2.70%.
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The most complete player in the NHL
Sidney Crosby was named the NHL’s most complete player by the NHLPA survey, etching his name on that title for the sixth consecutive season. McDavid came up just short of the podium, with 6.98%, trailing Nathan MacKinnon and Aleksander Barkov, who received 7.14% and 30.95%, respectively.
