NHL Western Conference's Top 5 Players So Far This Season

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NHL Western Conference: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller (30) stops a shot on net by Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Edmonton Oilers won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

After two weeks of the hockey season, the standings – and points tallies – are starting to take shape. While there have been some surprises it’s important not to overreact just eight games in. Of course, overreact is exactly what I’m going to do.

Starting with the NHL Western Conference, we will look at the top five players so far. The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks have been the main surprises at the top of the standings. At the bottom, potential conference winners Chicago and Nashville have been sluggish.

Unsurprisingly, Connor McDavid leads the scoring race, while Richard Panik has surprised most with six goals in seven games.

Injuries have already started to blight teams, and players (Anthony Duclair and Jonathan Toews spring to mind) will be looking to bounce back from slow starts.

So let’s look at those who have been lightning rods to start the season.

Oct 13, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) in action during the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Ducks 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks – 7 points in 9 games

The Anaheim Ducks were one of the more divisive teams to predict this season. They still have a number of star players. Albeit the star players on the forward lines are in the latter years of their prime. At head coach, it was unanimous that they had downgraded from Bruce Boudreau to Randy Carlyle.

Defensively they have a number of young stars, and with Hampus Lindholm missing the first games due to a contract dispute, Cam Fowler was the one to step up. His 7 points in 9 games puts Fowler joint third in points from defensemen.

He clearly feels he has something to prove, and perhaps realizes he is currently in the shop window. With Lindholm now signed up, the Ducks are over the salary cap. Before any deal was even in place many were touting Fowler as the player the Ducks would try to move.

With the way he is playing at the minute, Anaheim could receive a large package in return.

Oct 12, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) controls the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Artem Anisimov, Chicago Blackhawks – 10 points in 8 games

The Blackhawks haven’t got off to a good start – with a 3/3/1 record so far. Leading to lots of line juggling from head coach Joel Quenneville. This hasn’t stopped Anisimov from posting an impressive 1.25 points per game.

Anisimov centered one of the best lines in hockey last season. Calder trophy winner Artemi Panarin and The Hart Memorial Trophy winner Patrick Kane were Anisimov’s wingers. While Kane has 9 points in 8 games, and Panarin has 7 in 8 – reasonable numbers – they have yet to spur the rest of the Blackhawks into consistent players. Jonathan Toews only has three points so far and Anisimov will be expected to continue carrying the offensive load until the captain finds his rhythm.

The Russian’s highest points tally in 82 games is 44 points – he will reach that in just 34 games if he keeps this rate of scoring up.

A big area of weakness for Anisimov is his faceoffs. So far this season he has just a 35% faceoff win record. While he has started this season on fire, Anisimov, at the very least, should be aiming for 50 points and get the faceoff win % nearer 50.

Oct 26, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot (33) makes a save against warm-up against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers – 6/1/0 record

*Update: List was written prior to Oilers 2-0 win on Friday, stats now read 7-1-0 with two shutouts, 2.17GAA and .934 save percentage – enough to garner a higher ranking after another impressive performance.

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Talbot may not be an elite goaltender on the level of Corey Crawford and Carey Price (among other), but he is giving the Oilers a chance to win. After 8 games no one could’ve predicted the Oilers would sit with seven wins and atop the Western Conference.

Of course, they have a star (or two) up front, but Talbot has been as important to the team as the other players. His 0.934 save percentage puts him third amongst goalies in the West, and his 2.17 goals against has him 5th. But he has the most wins, two more than the next best.

What’s most impressive is that Talbot has faced 259 shots – most in the NHL. Talbot has the third best power play save percentage and the 7th best even strength save percentage.

An area of weakness so far this season is when the Oilers are on the power play, conceding the short-handed goals against with two. This shouldn’t be too much of a concern, though.

Talbot gives the Oilers a chance to win, that’s not something they’ve had from a goaltender in a long, long time. They would be wise to ease the amount of shots taken on him.

Oct 27, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) during the skate around before the start of the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks – 9 points in 8 games

The best part of Burns playing so well is the excitement of what he will come up with at this year’s All-star game. His Chewbacca sequence last year was hilarious.

Burns is the joint top scoring defensemen so far, along with Ryan Suter. He is also tied with Joe Pavelski as the top scoring Shark. Burns has continued his remarkable form from last season – when he had 75 points in the regular season and 24 points in 24 games during the playoffs.

Arguably only one other defenseman in the league offers as much offensive threat from the blue line; Erik Karlsson. The jury is still out on who is more capable in their own zone. At 6’5″, 230 lb Burns loves to throw his body around and can put that weight behind his shots. So far with 40 shots he is tied with Vladimir Tarasenko atop the West, 12 shots more than third.

San Jose is running out of time for their core superstars, Burns amongst them, to win the Cup. Having lost out in the final last season, their strong start to the year shows they mean business.

Oct 14, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the face off against Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers – 12 points in 8 games

When you look at players points totals and the points per game averages after just seven/eight games, you rarely expect them to keep that pace up. McDavid current accumulates 1.57 points per game. It’s fair to say people would be more surprised to see that substantially drop than to stay the same level, such is the ability of the Oilers new captain.