The results of the 2025-26 National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Player Poll were released on Apr. 17, highlighting Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov and veteran forward Brad Marchand.
The annual poll surveys players from all 32 teams across the league anonymously, providing insight into which athletes are most respected by their peers in various categories.
Barkov was chosen as the forward most likely to excel on defense, receiving 18% of the vote. Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner was the only other player to reach double digits with 10.8%. Despite missing the entire season due to a knee injury, Barkov’s defensive abilities remain highly regarded among fellow players. “With three Selke Trophies on his mantle, captain Aleksander Barkov was unsurprisingly chosen by his peers as the forward most likely to excel on defense,” according to the release.
Marchand also received recognition for his presence off the ice, finishing fifth among players noted for their social media skills with 5.4% of votes. He placed just ahead of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and New Jersey’s Jack Hughes, who each earned 4.7%. The release notes that Marchand has built an Instagram following currently at over half a million users.
The full results of this year’s NHLPA Player Poll can be found online.
