# Who is the best NHL player born in 1997?

> Generational scorers headline this 1997 class, yet a few grinders wearing championship rings could steal some votes.

*By YPB Team · Published November 11, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-nhl-player-born-in-1997*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Connor McDavid** — score 1000/1000
   Edmonton Oilers captain born in 1997 who has won the Hart Trophy three times and the 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy.
2. **Auston Matthews** — score 661/1000
   American centre born in 1997, the 2016 first overall pick, who won the 2022 Hart Trophy with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
3. **Ilya Samsonov** — score 535/1000
   Russian goaltender born in 1997 who played for Washington and backstopped Toronto's 2023 first-round playoff series win.
4. **Troy Terry** — score 535/1000
   Anaheim Ducks winger born in 1997 who scored 37 goals in 2021-22.
5. **Jack Roslovic** — score 535/1000
   American centre born in 1997, a 2015 first-round pick, who played for Winnipeg and his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets.
6. **Travis Konecny** — score 480/1000
   Philadelphia Flyers winger born in 1997, a 2015 first-round pick, who has spent his whole NHL career in Philadelphia.
7. **Ivan Provorov** — score 480/1000
   Russian defenceman born in 1997, the 2015 seventh overall pick, who logged seven seasons with Philadelphia before moving to Columbus.
8. **Dylan Strome** — score 480/1000
   Centre born in 1997, the 2015 third overall pick, who found his scoring touch with Chicago and Washington.
9. **Erik Černák** — score 480/1000
   Slovak defenceman born in 1997 who won Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
10. **Mitch Marner** — score 416/1000
   Winger born in 1997 who spent nine seasons with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs before joining Vegas in 2025.
11. **Kirill Kaprizov** — score 416/1000
   Russian winger born in 1997 who won the 2021 Calder Trophy and has scored 40 or more goals for the Minnesota Wild.
12. **Joel Eriksson Ek** — score 416/1000
   Swedish centre born in 1997 a 2015 first-round pick who has spent his whole NHL career with the Minnesota Wild.
13. **Anthony Beauvillier** — score 416/1000
   Winger born in 1997 who scored the overtime winner for the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinal.
14. **Zach Werenski** — score 341/1000
   Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman born in 1997 who won the 2026 Norris Trophy a year after an 82-point season.
15. **Sebastian Aho** — score 341/1000
   Finnish centre born in 1997 who has led the Carolina Hurricanes in scoring in several seasons since his 2016 debut.
16. **Lawson Crouse** — score 341/1000
   Power forward born in 1997, the 2015 eleventh overall pick, who has spent most of his career with the Arizona Coyotes and Utah.
17. **Nicolas Roy** — score 341/1000
   Centre born in 1997 who won the 2023 Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
18. **Pavel Zacha** — score 341/1000
   Czech centre born in 1997, the 2015 sixth overall pick, who played for New Jersey before joining Boston in 2022.
19. **Logan Thompson** — score 341/1000
   Goaltender born in 1997 who was a 2023 All-Star with Vegas and became the Washington Capitals' starter in 2024.
20. **Thomas Chabot** — score 250/1000
   Ottawa Senators defenceman born in 1997 who was a 2015 first-round pick and has played over 500 games for Ottawa.
21. **Matthew Tkachuk** — score 250/1000
   American winger born in 1997 who won Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025 after starting his career in Calgary.
22. **Mathew Barzal** — score 250/1000
   New York Islanders centre born in 1997 who won the 2018 Calder Trophy after an 85-point rookie season.
23. **Charlie McAvoy** — score 250/1000
   Boston Bruins defenceman born in 1997, the 14th overall pick in 2016, who has played his whole NHL career in Boston.
24. **Alex DeBrincat** — score 250/1000
   American winger born in 1997 who scored 41 goals for Chicago in both 2018-19 and 2021-22.
25. **Tage Thompson** — score 250/1000
   Buffalo Sabres centre born in 1997 who scored 47 goals in 2022-23 and five goals in one game in December 2022.
26. **Anthony Cirelli** — score 250/1000
   Tampa Bay Lightning centre born in 1997 who won Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
27. **Brock Boeser** — score 0/1000
   Vancouver Canucks winger born in 1997 who was MVP of the 2018 All-Star Game as a rookie and scored 40 goals in 2023-24.
28. **Noah Hanifin** — score 0/1000
   American defenceman born in 1997, the 2015 fifth overall pick, who played for Carolina and Calgary before joining Vegas.
29. **Filip Hronek** — score 0/1000
   Czech defenceman born in 1997 who played for Detroit before a 2023 trade to Vancouver.

Tags: sports, hockey, players, nhl, 1997