While the 2021-2022 NHL season is just beginning, some players have already proved to be promising based on their skills, records, and overall talent, putting them in the running for being the best players of the season. Star players like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, and Artemi Panarin are dominating the ice and league in their young careers. Here’s who I think are the top three players in the league right now:

• Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers 

The unanimous decision for the best player in the league is Connor McDavid–and he may even be the best player in all of the professional sports. He has dominated the league since entering in 2015, breaking record after record. Since 2019 he has played in 132 games, scoring 76 goals and adding 150 assists for 226 points–which is more than any other player in the league. No other teams have figured out how to stop McDavid, who is currently on pace for an outstanding 164 points in the 2021-2022 season.

• Nathan Mackinnon – Colorado Avalanche

A close second to McDavid is forward for the Avalanche, Nathan Mackinnon, who turned a bottom-of-the-league franchise into a Stanley Cup contender.  His skill is unmatched by any defender and, I believe he is the only player in the NHL comparable to McDavid. He’s played 125 games over the past three seasons, scoring 56 goals adding 112 assists for 168 points. Although the team has come close in the past three years, Mackinnon and the Avalanche continue to fall short of their ultimate goal: winning the Stanley Cup. 

• Brad Marchand – Boston Bruins

Lastly, the Boston Bruins leading scorer in 2021, Brad Marchand comes in at the third-best in the NHL. Although he has a small frame, he’s a physical and phenomenally skilled player.  Playing in 134 games in his past 3 seasons, Marchand scored 63 goals and completed 109 assists for 172 points.  Unlike a lot of top-ranked forwards in the NHL, Marchand excels on all 200 feet of the ice. His defensive ability may be one of the most prominent traits of his game. Finally, his ability to be at an all-star level on all aspects of the game puts him at the top of the game.