NHL Scoring Leaders as of Dec. 26, 2025

What the Numbers Tell Us (and What They Don’t)

At first glance, the NHL scoring leaderboard looks familiar at the very top — Connor McDavid doing Connor McDavid things — but once you slow down, there are a few surprises baked into these lines.

Fact One: McDavid Is Still the Standard — but He’s Working for It

Connor McDavid sits at 67 points in 38 games, which comfortably leads the group. That’s not surprising. What is worth noting is how he’s getting there.

His shot total (128) is not runaway-high compared to others.
His shooting percentage (18.0%) is substantial but not inflated.
His average ice time (22:37) is the highest among this group.

This isn’t McDavid feasting on weak stretches — this is Edmonton leaning on him hard, and him responding nightly. The encouraging part, if you’re an Oilers watcher, is that this production doesn’t look fragile. It’s built on volume, responsibility, and usage, not luck.

Fact Two: MacKinnon Is Scoring More, But Driving Less Than You’d Think

Nathan MacKinnon’s line jumps out immediately: 30 goals in 36 games. That’s elite finishing. But here’s the quieter detail:

Only 31 assists, well below McDavid’s playmaking pace.
A massive 162 shots, by far the highest on this list.
A shooting percentage (18.5%) that suggests sustainability, not a heater.

MacKinnon is carrying Colorado offensively in a straightforward way — less orchestration, more force. That’s not a criticism. It’s a signal. The Avalanche attack right now runs through his engine, not a five-lane highway of puck movement.

Fact Three: Macklin Celebrini Is Not Just Keeping Up — He’s Driving Play

This is the line that should make people stop scrolling.

For a player this young, 55 points in 37 games is impressive. He’s also on a San Jose team that isn’t exactly built to shelter anyone. What stands out isn’t just the points — it’s the balance.

19 goals, 36 assists — not a one-note scorer.
113 shots with a reasonable 16.8% shooting rate.
20:35 average ice time — coaches already trust him.

This isn’t a kid surviving by the minute. This is a kid running shifts. The encouraging sign here is that his production isn’t spiky or gimmick-based. It looks like a foundation player arriving earlier than expected.

Fact Four: Draisaitl’s Value Is Hiding in Plain Sight

Leon Draisaitl’s 55 points in 38 games don’t scream dominance — until you notice the details.

11 power-play goals — best situational weapon in this group.
19.0% shooting, steady and repeatable.
Nearly 22 minutes a night, often against top matchups.

Draisaitl isn’t chasing the scoring lead. He’s doing the heavy lifting that keeps Edmonton’s offence from collapsing when McDavid breathes. Quietly, this looks like one of his more mature stretches.

Fact Five: Rantanen’s Role Has Changed — and the Numbers Show It

Mikko Rantanen’s move to Dallas shows up clearly in his stat line.

51 points in 37 games — still excellent.
Only 14 goals, but 37 assists.
A startling 71 penalty minutes, by far the most here.

This is a different Rantanen: more distributor, more edge, more confrontational minutes. Dallas isn’t asking him to be the finisher — they’re asking him to tilt ice, absorb attention, and stir discomfort. The encouraging sign? He’s still producing while doing the dirty work.

What’s Encouraging Overall on the NHL Scoreboard

Three things stand out across the board:

None of these lines looks inflated by luck — shooting percentages are reasonable.
Ice time matches production, which suggests trust, not desperation.
Young talent (Celebrini) is contributing without being protected, which is rare and meaningful.

If there’s a takeaway here, it’s this: elite players are still elite, but how they’re being used — and what their teams need from them — is shifting. And the numbers, quietly, are telling us precisely that.