Where did Stars’ Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson land on NHL Network’s position rankings?

The Dallas Stars are heading into the 2023-24 season with momentum.

While they failed to reach the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup last season, losing to eventual champion Vegas in the conference finals, there was still plenty to be excited about, including some youthful exuberance on offense.

Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson anchor the Stars’ top forward line alongside veteran Joe Pavelski, and their prowess with the puck has been recognized this offseason by NHL.com, who is in the process of releasing its weekly rankings of top players in the game at each position.

NHL Network producers and analysts combined to put together the top 20 wings and centers in the league right now, and Robertson and Hintz were both (unsurprisingly) among them.

Robertson was ranked as the fifth-best winger in the NHL.

The 24-year-old led the Stars in goals (46), assists (63) and points (109) last season, and was named the left wing on the NHL First All-Star Team. It was the most goals by a Dallas or Minnesota North Stars player since Mike Modano scored 50 for the Stars in 1993-94. Robertson also became the first player with consecutive 40-goal seasons since the team moved to Texas.

The only wingers ranked higher were Mikko Rantanen, Nikita Kucherov, Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak.

Hintz came in at No. 13 on the list of top centers in the game.

Analysts said it was “just a matter of time” for Hintz to make the countdown as a player who “jumps off the page” with his size and speed.

Hintz, 26, has posted back to back 37-goal seasons, and had a career-high 75 points in 73 games in 2022-23. In the postseason, he was able to shine his brightest on a national stage, posting 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in the Stars’ 19 playoff matchups.

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