If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the third year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first two.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will be doing updates every Monday. (note, with it being Christmas on Monday, and no games scheduled, we waited a day!)

Here is the fourth current top ten in Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 66 Cup Points:  32 Games, 20 G, 24 A, 44 P, +6, 5.5 PS. (#1 Last Week)

The Boston Bruins (like last year) have been the best team early in the season, and it is David Pastrnak who has led their offensive threat.  He is the league-leader in Shots (163), is fourth in Goals (20), fifth in Points (44), and is Boston’s leading scorer, and is in the top ten in most essential offensive categories.  Could he win his first Hart?

2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning.  61 Cup Points, 34 Games, 23 G, 34 A, 57 P, +2, 6.5 PS.  (#2 Last Week)

Kucherov is in his tenth season in Tampa, and is putting forth a season that could gain him another Hart or Art Ross.  He is leading the NHL in Points (57) and is second in Assists (34) and third in Goals (23).  It is a minor surprise that he is not first in Cup Points, but he is getting close.

3.  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 46 Cup Points:  27 Games, 23 G, 12 A, 35 P, +4, 4.5 PS. ($7 Last Week)

The American sniper is back as the league’s top sniper the leadership in Goals (28) and Even-Strength Goals (20).  If he holds that, Matthews will win his third Rocket Richard Trophy.

4. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators, 53 Cup Points:  34 Games, 16 G, 22 A, 38 P, +4, 4.3 PS (#5 Last Week)

Forsberg is off to the best start of his career and should make his second All-Star Game, though other than Even Strength Goals (6^th with 14) and Game-Winning Goals (4^th with 4), he is not in the top ten in any major offensive category. 

5. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators.  52 Cup Points:  27 Games, 15-12-0 Record, .909 Save Percentage, 2.82 GAA, 4.5 GPS. (#3 Last Week)

Saros is a shock to be the highest ranked Goalie and to be in the top five in general.  How he got here is by being a workhorse.  Saros is leading the NHL in Saves (708), is second in Minutes (1,510), and is fourth in Wins (15) and Goalie Point Shares (5.0).  Saros’ rank means that it is the Predators that are the first squad with two ranked players.

6 (TIE).  Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche, 50 Cup Points:  34 Games, 17 G, 25 A, 42 P, +7, 4.6 PS. (#7 Last Week)

Rantanen, he currently tenth in both Goals (17) and Points (42), and is second in Game-Winning Goals (5).

6 (TIE). Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils, 50 Cup Points:  27 Games, 14 G, 25 A, 39 P, -4, 4.2 PS.  (#6 Last Week)

Hughes is currently fifth in Points per Game (1.54) and is on pace for a third straight All-Star selection.

8. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 48 Cup Points:  35 Games, 10 G, 34 A, 44 P, +28, 7.3 PS.  (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

The Hughes family have two representatives in the top ten (reminds of us last year when the Tkachuks once did the same), and this particular brother is the lone Defenseman ranked in the top ten) and he should be.  He is leading the NHL in Point Shares (7.3), Defensive Point Shares (3.3), and Plus/Minus (+28), and astoundingly is sixth in Offensive Point Shares (4.0).

9. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks.  47 Cup Points:  25 Games, 17-7-1 Record, .917 Save Percentage, 2.46 GAA, 5.4 GPS. (#6 Last Week)

Demko, who was an All-Star last year, is the current league-leader in Wins (17), Goalie Point Shares (5.3), Shutouts (3) and is eighth in GAA (2.46) and ninth in Save Percentage (.917).

10. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche.  46 Cup Points, 34 Games, 18 G, 36 A, 54 P, +10, 6.0 PS. (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

MacKinnon is in the top ten where he belongs and is currently the NHL leader in Assists (36) and is second in Points (54).  The Avs superstar is also eighth in Goals (18), and second in the Even Strength category (15).

Florida’s Sam Reinhart, New York’s Artemi Panarin and Vancouver’s J.T. Miller fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be next Monday.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the third year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first two.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving, and tell all of you the top ten.  We were going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward, but now that we are in the home stretch, this will be the last update until season’s end.

Here is the current top ten in Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 45 Cup Points:  18 Games, 12 G, 17 A, 29 P, +11, 3.8 PS.

The Boston Bruins (like last year) have been the best team early in the season, and it is David Pastrnak who has led their offensive threat.  He is not currently leading the league in any category, but is third in Points (29), is Boston’s leading scorer, and is in the top ten in most essential scoring categories.  Could he win his first Hart?

2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 35 Cup Points:  20 Games, 8 G, 23 A, 31 P, +15, 4.8 PS

The Canucks are shocking the hockey world with their unexpected start to the season and at the forefront is Norris Trophy contender, Quinn Hughes, who is currently leading the NHL in Points (31), and has already tied his best mark in Goals (8).  Can he, and for that matter, Vancouver, possibly keep this up?  Probably not, but it has been a fun ride thus far!

3. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche. 34 Cup Points:  18 Games, 5 G, 24 A, 29 P, +16, 4.6 PS.

Never before have we had two defensemen in the top ten, let alone in the top three!  The former Norris Trophy winner is off to a blistering is topping start, and is topping the NHL in Assists (24), Plus/Minus (+16) and Defensive Point Shares (1.9).

4. Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers, 33 Cup Points:  19 Games, 13 G, 12 A, 25 P, +10, 3.3 PS.

It is a surprise to see Reinhart as the top Florida Panther, and he is on pace to have the best season of his career.  He is currently third in Goals (13), ninth in Points (25) and fifth in Point Shares (3.3).

5.  Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets, 32 Cup Points:  18 Games, 14 G, 8 A, 22 P, -6, 2.4 PS.

Connor is leading the surprising Jets, who as of this writing are in a playoff spot.  The Left Wing is leading the NHL in Goals (14), Even Strength Goals (11) and Game-Winning Goals (5).  Connor has yet to light the lamp 50 times in a season (his peak is 47), but he is on pace to do it this year.

6 TIE. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche, 31 Cup Points:  18 Games, 12 G, 13 A, 25 P, +7, 3.1 PS. 

The potent Avalanche are blessed with an assortment of riches, with Rantanen leading the team in Cup Standings.  He is currently eighth in Goals (12) and ninth in Points (25).

6 TIE. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers.  31 Cup Points, 17 Games, 10 G, 16 A, 26 P, +2, 3.0 PS.

The Russian veteran scored over 90 Points the last two seasons, and should be able to do so again if he maintains his current production.  He is tenth in Assists (16) and eighth in Points (26).

6 TIE. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning.  31 Cup Points, 19 Games, 13 G, 16 A, 29 P, -2, 3.2 PS.

Kucherov is in his tenth season in Tampa, and is putting forth a season that could gain him another Hart or Art Ross.  He is leading the NHL in Shots (89), and is third in Goals (13) and Points (29) and tenth in Assists (16).

9.. J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks.  30 Cup Points, 19 Games, 13 G, 17 A, 30 P, +10, 3.5 PS.

The Canucks are the second team (after Colorado) to boast two players in the top ten, and if you look at the statistical Points table, they should!  Miller is second in Points (30), and is first in Power Play Goals (6) and Shot Percentage (28.9).  He is also third in Goals (13).

10. Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights.  29 Cup Points:  12 Games, 9-2-1 Record, .932 Save Percentage, 1.97 GAA, 3.1 GPS.

Adin Hill took over as Vegas’ starting Goalie in last year’s playoffs, and the decision landed the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.  Hill began this year as the primary Goalie, a first for him, and he is second in Wins (9), Shutouts (2) and GAA (1,97) and is third in Save Percentage (.932).  He is a bona fide Vezina contender.

Our next update will be next Friday.