It’s one month into the 2008-09 NHL season and some players are standing out way above the rest. The player rankings take into account not only points, but how well the team that the skater plays for is doing.

1. Alexander Semin (11 goals, 10 assists) — No one thought Semin would be near the league lead in points a month into the season. But with a +11 rating, Semin is destroying the competition on both ends of the ice. The Capitals are 7-4-2 overall, and 7-2-2 when Semin registers a point. They are 6-1-1 when he scores a goal. There is no doubt that Semin is the MVP of the NHL thus far.

2. Evgeni Malkin (4 G, 18 A) — It’s no surprise that a player from the Pittsburgh Penguins is leading the NHL in points. While Malkin’s goal production is down slightly, his assist total is way up; as of now, he is on pace for over 100 assists. Also, the Penguins are 4-1 when Malkin scores at least two points. He’s going to have to keep up this pace with Sidney Crosby off to a slow start (at least for “Crosby standards”).

3. Ryan Getzlaf (6 G, 13 A) — The Anaheim Ducks started the season 0-4, and a large part of that was because Getzlaf didn’t register a single point in those games. The Ducks are now 9-7-1 and there isn’t a hotter player in the NHL than Getzlaf. He has recorded 18 points in his last 10 games, including five assists in a 5-4 overtime win against the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. The Ducks are 8-1-1 when Getzlaf tallies a point.

4. Thomas Vanek (12 G, 3 A) — Vanek is finally earning his huge contract and has the Buffalo Sabres sitting in a tie for the lead of the Northeast division. Vanek leads the NHL in goals with 12, but what’s more impressive is his balanced attack; he has five even-strength goals, five power-play goals and two shorthanded goals, making him a threat to score whenever he is on the ice.

5. Marian Hossa (8 G, 9 A) — Hossa took less money ($7.4 million for one season) to play for the Detroit Red Wings, the defending Stanley Cup champs. Some say that he is over-performing for what he is getting this season. Hossa has scored a point in all but two games this season and has led the Red Wings past a post-Cup “hangover” into a 9-2-2 record.

6. Patrick Kane (7 G, 11 A) — After an ugly start, 1-2-2, the Blackhawks are one of the hottest teams in the league thanks to Kane’s brilliant play on the ice. Chicago is now 7-3-3 and Kane has 16 points in his last nine games. The 19-year-old teenager has the Hawks sitting just three points behind the first-place Red Wings in the Central division.

7. Marc Savard (6 G, 10 A) — Savard is a crafty veteran who knows how to pass the puck and score goals. Savard started the season with five goals in his first three games, and now has the Bruins off to an 8-3-3 record. Boston is 6-1-0 when Savard has an assist and 7-2-1 when he registers a point.

8. Zach Parise (11 G, 5 A) — With arguably the best goalie of all time, Martin Brodeur, out three to four months, Parise’s job was to step up his scoring; so far he has met expectations. While the New Jersey Devils are just 5-3-2 when Parise scores a goal, he has scored some big goals and salvaged a couple of points which will be big come playoff time.

9. Olli Jokinen (7 G, 9 A) — The Phoenix Coyotes are glad they signed Jokinen in the offseason. Even though the Coyotes are one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, they would be in much worse shape if it wasn’t for Jokinen. Phoenix is 7-6-0 overall, but they are 7-3-0 when Jokinen logs a point.

10. Jarome Iginla (9 G, 10 A) — Iginla has been one of the most consistent players in the NHL over the course of the past few seasons. He is a balanced scorer and passer, and sees the ice very well. There is no doubt that his ability to score has a direct impact on the Flames’ winning ways. This season Calgary is 5-1-0.