Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens voted as NHL’s top rivalry in 2026 NHLPA Player Poll

This year, the NHL introduced a new relaxed dress code for game day walk-ins, and William Nylander has fully embraced it. Known for his unique and creative outfits, Nylander was named the NHL’s most fashionable player by 32.9 percent of players. It’s only fitting (no pun intended), given his nickname is Willy Styles, which earned 3 percent of votes for the league’s best nickname.

In last year’s survey, Nylander finished third in the category of league’s most fashionable with 12.9 percent of votes. David Pastrnak and Auston Matthews tied for first, both earning 15.8 percent of votes. Matthews has also embraced the opportunity to show off his personality with the new relaxed dress code this year, and earned 7.1 percent of votes this year in the category.

Beyond just their fashion, it’s clear from the survey that NHLers love following the Maple Leafs online. This year, Nylander earned recognition as the league’s best social media presence, with 17.4 percent of votes, while Matthews and Max Domi tied for third in the category, with 6 percent each.

Meanwhile, John Tavares also received some love from his peers. Asked who would make a great coach once they retire, Tavares finished fourth with 2.3 percent of votes. Considering his long-time role as part of the captaincy group of both Toronto and the New York Islanders, it’s not hard to imagine a move behind the bench when his playing days are over. Canadian captain Sidney Crosby earned the plurality of votes in that one with 10.3 percent  Tavares also received 3.7 percent of votes for being the player with the most intense training regimen.

Also of note, 68.1 percent of players voted that teams should continue to wear white jerseys on the road. On the question of expansion, 34.3 percent of players voted they’d want to go to Houston, while 16.9 percent said they’d move to Quebec City. And for what it’s worth, no Maple Leafs ended up in the league’s top-five best golfers!

PRESENTED BY TABLE FARE + SOCIAL