Who are the top three best players in the NHL today?

3. Artemi Panarin — New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin made his rookie debut in the NHL as a 24-year-old during the 2015-16 NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks after signing with the team as a free agent at the conclusion of his season with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL.

In his final KHL season, he scored 26 goals and 36 assists (62 total points) in 54 games while netting another 5 goals and 15 assists (20 points) in 20 games during St. Petersburg’s championship run.

Wowing the team in his first preseason in North America, he played well enough to earn a spot as the complementary winger with Kane during his rookie year, where he would remain for the entirety of the season and tally 30 goals and 47 assists in 80 games played, winning rookie of the year. In a playoff run only lasting to a Game 7 in the first round, Panarin would score two goals and five assists against the St. Louis Blues.

Panarin would go on to have similar production during the 2016-17 season as he scored 31 goals 43 assists in 82 games played. In their postseason run, he would tally just one assist in their 4-0 series loss to the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Many believed he would drop off significantly as a result of not having Patrick Kane on his line, but he would silence all of the doubters forever, as he looked better without Kane than when he was with him.

Artemi Panarin is not only one of the most skilled playmakers in the league, but his shooting accuracy and precision are second to none, as he can pick the smallest opening on the net from any spot on the ice.

As the face of the New York Rangers, he is now able to display his incredible skills in one of the largest markets in all of sports. The only other players in the NHL who can best his influence over a game are ranked above him on this list.