Mikhail Sergachev is one of the top defensemen in the NHL in terms of scoring and adding assists. However, a recent top 20 list by the NHL doesn't even have Sergachev in the top 20. In the list for the top 20 wings, Clayton Keller came in at No. 17, while others like Dylan Guenther didn't make it. However, this potential snub of Sergachev might make zero sense compared to Guenther.
Was Mikhail Sergachev snubbed from the Top 20 list?
Sergachev was traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024 to the Mammoth, who have now had three straight seasons with a major trade (Sergachev was the first). Sergachev scored 10 goals in the 2025-26 season, down from 15 the season prior. However, Sergachev still added 49 assists, bringing his total to 59 points. Sergachev also added 21 power-play assists and five power-play goals, showing his undeniable value on the offense. Sergachev isn't exactly a horrible defender either, as the 28-year-old averaged 24:17 time on the ice per game. Sergachev also had a good 2 +/-.
Some of the names at the top of the list are definitely deserving, such as Cale Makar, Zack Werenski, and Quinn Hughes. At the bottom of the list, though, certain names that apparently are better than Sergachev are Devon Toews, Shea Theodore, Victor Hedman, and Jackson Lacombe. Sergachev feels he was disrespected by having some of these older, sometimes injured players ahead of him, like Hedman (only 33 games last season).
There is no doubt that some of those guys are genuinely good defenders. However, Sergachev feels like he deserves more recognition. Sergachev can prove NHL.com wrong, though, by continuing to be an offensive force for Utah.
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