The case for Atkinson:Let's start with the 12-game point streak the Blue Jackets winger put together from November into December. The 12 Games of Camsmas from Nov. 10 to Dec. 6 was certainly worth celebrating, with Atkinson scoring 13 goals and seven assists in that span.
There was nothing cheap about Atkinson's streak, no bushel of second assists keeping it alive. He scored a goal in nine of the 12 games, including each of the first seven. His two hat tricks in the streak gave him six in his career, a Blue Jackets record, and he tallied about every way he could with four power-play goals, two shorthanded goals and two game winners in that span.
With 19 goals on the year in the first 31 games, Atkinson is among the league's top 10 goal scorers and is on pace for more than 50 on the season, which would shatter his career high of 35 in 2016-17. In addition, with 15 helpers so far on the year, he's on pace for a career high in assists as well, and he's tied with Artemi Panarin for the team lead with 34 points.
