Crosby seen as top coaching candidate, MacKinnon has most intense training regimen: NHLPA poll

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby skates during warm up before an NHL hockey game, against the New Jersey Devils, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

TORONTO — Sidney Crosby is seen by his peers as the NHL player most likely to become a head coach, according to the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s annual player poll released Friday.

The 38-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins captain topped the category with 10.3 per cent of the vote, followed by Minnesota’s Nick Foligno at five per cent and Detroit’s David Perron, Toronto’s John Tavares and Calgary’s Ryan Strome all at 2.6 per cent or lower.

Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon was named the player with the most intense training regimen at 20.7 per cent, followed by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at 5.5 per cent and Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang at four per cent.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander led a pair of off-ice categories, ranking first as the most fashionable player at 32.9 per cent and for the best social media presence at 17.4 per cent.

Nylander also featured among the league’s best nicknames with “Willy Styles,” but trailed Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak, whose “Pasta” nickname topped the list at 13.5 per cent. Other notable entries included Detroit’s Patrick Kane (“Showtime”) and Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly (“Factor”).

Florida’s Aleksander Barkov topped forwards who could also excel as defencemen at 18 per cent, while Colorado’s Cale Makar led defencemen who could also excel as forwards at 36.3 per cent.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was voted the league’s best puck handler at 22.4 per cent, ahead of the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin at 14 per cent.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller was named the league’s best golfer at 15.9 per cent, while Montreal’s Bell Centre was voted to have the league’s best ice at 46.8 per cent. Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena topped the list for best visiting dressing room.

Players also pointed to Houston as the preferred expansion market at 34.3 per cent, followed by Quebec City at 16.9, while 68.1 per cent opposed a switch to white jerseys at home.

The 11th annual poll surveyed 348 players anonymously from all 32 teams during the first half of the season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2026.