Unsung Heroes From the First Month of the 2020-21 NHL Season

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Another player whose team has struggled at times this season is Patrick Kane. Like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, Kane no longer dominates the league as young superstars draw a great deal of interest, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still steal the show when he wants to. Chicago is certainly not the team it used to be, and I think the fact that we were so used to a perennial contender in the Windy City is the reason that Kane isn’t talked about as much at this point.

That doesn’t seem to work for him, though. Kane is third in the NHL with 22 points, including 15 points in his last eight contests. The Blackhawks are 5-2-1 in that span and had recorded points in the standings in five straight games before losing in regulation to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Patrick Kane probably fits the “unsung hero” title better than anyone else on this list because, not only is he Chicago’s best player, but with players like Jonathan Toews, Corey Crawford, and Brandon Saad all missing from this year’s lineup for one reason or another, he is also the team’s leader. The Blackhawks don’t strike me as a Playoff team, especially if the Florida Panthers continue to find success, but if this team gets there somehow, Kane might find himself in MVP conversations.