The 2020-21 NHL season was shortened to 56 games due to the Covid-19 pandemic and started in the middle of January 2021. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals in five games, winning their second consecutive and third overall Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Following are the players who had the most impressive season and will also be among the best once in the upcoming one.

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Top 10 NHL Players

10. Brad Marchand

Team: Boston Bruins

The 33-year-old Canadian has made the headlines more for his controversial behavior on the ice but no one can deny that he is a great left winger. He recorded an amazing 100 points in 2018-19 while last year he had 69, with 29 goals and 40 assists. He is entering the later stage of his career and that is the only reason why he is not higher on this list.

9. Mikko Rantanen 

Team: Colorado Avalanche

The 24-year-old right wing is coming off a great season for the Avalanche. As an elite playmaker, Rantanen had 36 assists and 30 goals in 52 appearances for Colorado. It seems like he is entering the prime of his career and he will be one of the key players for the Avalanche that are the top favorite to win the Stanley Cup next season.

8. Kirill Kaprizov

Team: Minnesota Wild

The Russian finally made the jump to the NHL last year after he was drafted back in 2015. As a 24-year-old rookie Kaprizov showed that he is an elite player for the Wing, recording 27 goals and 24 assists in 55 games last season. His role in the team will be even bigger next season and Kaprizov is ready to be even better.

7. Mark Stone

Team: Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights captain has been the key player on the wing in the team’s success in the past three years. Stone is one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL developing his game year in and year out. Last season he recorded 21 goals and 40 assists in 55 games and the same level of brilliance is expected from him in the upcoming season.

6. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

The ‘Big Cat’ is easily the best goalie in the league. He was the NHL’s wins leader in 2018 (tied with Connor Hellebuyck) 2019, 2020 and 2021, and won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in the 2018–19 season. Vasilevskiy led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP in the 2021 playoffs. Nothing less is expected from him next season.

5. Aleksander Barkov

Team: Florida Panthers

Barkov scored 26 goals last season ranking him 4th among the centers. He is entering the last season of his contract with the Panthers and most of the league is already set to try and sign him next summer. Last season he recorded 28 goals and 36 assists for Florida, numbers that will definitely go up in the upcoming season.

4. Nathan MacKinnon

Team: Colorado Avalanche

“Nate the Great” was selected as the top overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft and has proven his value ever since then. He is considered as one of the top athletes in the league who can literally do anything on the ice. He averaged 1.35 points per game last year and he seems ready to lead the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup next season.

3. Sidney Crosby

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

The future Hall of Famer is still on top of the game entering his 17th NHL season with the Penguins at the age of 34. Despite his age he is still far above a point per game and there are no signs of slowing down. As long as he is healthy Pittsburgh will be a contender and Crosby one of the best players in the league.

2. Auston Matthews

Team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Entering the league as a top pick in the 2016 NHL draft, Matthews immediately showed that he is on the way to becoming one of the very best in the league. Last, Matthews won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal scorer with 41 goals in 52 games becoming the first Maple Leafs player to win the award.

1. Connor McDavid

Team: Edmonton Oilers

Undeniably the best player in the league. Last season McDavid was unanimously voted the Hart Trophy winner receiving all 100 first place votes. He recorded 33 goals and an unbelievable 72 assists for 105 points in 56 games for the Oilers last season.

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• Top 10 NHL Season Preview 2021-2022 Team Rankings