# Who is the best NHL player born in 1986?

> One birth year, two dozen careers: Hart and Conn Smythe hardware at the top, Cup-winning grinders and journeyman goalies further down. Some peaked in a single spring, others lasted fifteen seasons in one city.

*By YPB Team · Published November 9, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-nhl-player-born-in-1986*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Evgeni Malkin** — score 1000/1000
   Pittsburgh Penguins center born in July 1986 who won the Calder, Hart and Conn Smythe trophies, two Art Ross titles and three Stanley Cups.
2. **Anton Khudobin** — score 856/1000
   Goaltender born in Kazakhstan who took over the Dallas Stars' net during their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.
3. **Blake Wheeler** — score 750/1000
   Minnesota-born winger who captained the Winnipeg Jets from 2016 to 2022 and tied for the NHL lead with 68 assists in 2017-18.
4. **Ben Bishop** — score 719/1000
   Six-foot-seven goaltender for Tampa Bay and Dallas who was a Vezina Trophy finalist three times.
5. **Brandon Dubinsky** — score 592/1000
   Two-way center who played for the New York Rangers and then the Columbus Blue Jackets.
6. **Keith Yandle** — score 592/1000
   Offensive defenseman for Arizona, the New York Rangers, Florida and Philadelphia who played 989 consecutive games, an NHL record at the time.
7. **Matt Niskanen** — score 592/1000
   Minnesota-born defenseman who played for Dallas, Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadelphia and won the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Capitals.
8. **Andrej Sekera** — score 513/1000
   Slovak defenseman who played more than 800 NHL games for Buffalo, Carolina, Los Angeles, Edmonton and Dallas.
9. **Nikolai Kulemin** — score 513/1000
   Russian winger who scored 30 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010-11 and later played for the New York Islanders.
10. **Anton Strålman** — score 513/1000
   Swedish defenseman who reached the Stanley Cup Final with the New York Rangers in 2014 and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015.
11. **Alexander Radulov** — score 420/1000
   Russian winger who played for Nashville, returned to the NHL with Montreal in 2016-17 and signed with Dallas in 2017.
12. **Alexander Edler** — score 420/1000
   Swedish defenseman who played 15 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks and became the franchise's leader in points by a defenseman.
13. **Thomas Greiss** — score 420/1000
   German goaltender who shared the 2019 Jennings Trophy with Robin Lehner as a member of the New York Islanders.
14. **Cory Schneider** — score 420/1000
   American goaltender who shared the 2011 Jennings Trophy with Roberto Luongo in Vancouver and later became the New Jersey Devils' starter.
15. **Jonathan Quick** — score 420/1000
   American goaltender born in January 1986 who won Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy, and a third Cup with Vegas in 2023.
16. **David Krejčí** — score 420/1000
   Czech center who spent his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, won the 2011 Stanley Cup and led the playoffs in scoring in 2011 and 2013.
17. **Tyler Bozak** — score 420/1000
   Center who spent nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and won the 2019 Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues.
18. **Tyler Kennedy** — score 420/1000
   Forward who won the 2009 Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
19. **Devan Dubnyk** — score 420/1000
   Canadian goaltender who revived his career with the Minnesota Wild, winning the 2015 Bill Masterton Trophy and finishing as a Vezina finalist that season.
20. **T.J. Oshie** — score 308/1000
   American forward who won the 2018 Stanley Cup with Washington and scored four shootout goals against Russia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
21. **Dave Bolland** — score 308/1000
   Chicago Blackhawks center who won Stanley Cups in 2010 and 2013 and scored the Cup-winning goal in Game 6 of the 2013 Final in Boston.
22. **Kris Versteeg** — score 308/1000
   Winger who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and again in 2015.
23. **Bryan Bickell** — score 308/1000
   Power forward whose name is on Chicago's 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cups and who retired in 2017 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
24. **Jannik Hansen** — score 0/1000
   Danish winger who played most of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks, including their run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
25. **Adam McQuaid** — score 0/1000
   Defenseman who played nine seasons for the Boston Bruins and won the 2011 Stanley Cup.

Tags: sports, hockey, players, nhl, 1986