Connor McDavid, NHL Person of the Year

Connor McDavid failed to reach his ultimate goal of carrying the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final last season, but that didn't stop him from making 2017 his own.

The Oilers phenom has been nothing short of sensational over the last 12 months, taking his game to the next level and firmly entrenching himself in the conversation for best player on the planet.

While that debate rages on, the discussion surrounding which hockey player had the best calendar year is much more one-sided.

Team success, stellar offensive numbers, and a mantel full of hardware made 2017 one to remember for No. 97.

Here's a look at why Connor McDavid is our NHL Person of the Year:

Offensive juggernaut

No one has more points than McDavid over the last calendar year, as the Oilers' captain has combined clutch scoring with deft puck distribution to give opposing goalies fits.

Check out his regular-season numbers over the last 365 days:

Games (Season)	Goals	Assists	Points	+/-	GWG
44 (2016-17)	16	41	57	+18	3
37 (2017-18)	14	31	45	+11	3

McDavid was the only player to hit triple digits in points last season, and was on the ice for more goals than any other player (131). He also led the league in points per game at an impressive 1.22 clip. As one of the fastest skaters in the league, with a career Corsi For percentage north of 55, expect those numbers to continue to increase.

Simply put, the kid did it all in 2017. And the scary thing is, he hasn't hit his prime.

Oilers' revival

In McDavid's first full season in the NHL, he took the Oilers from pretenders to contenders seemingly overnight.

The Oilers qualified for the playoffs for the first time in a decade on the back of his unreal regular-season performance. Edmonton's captain also added nine points in 13 postseason games.

McDavid's skill and impact were felt up and down the Oilers' lineup. He made all of his teammates better with his all-world offensive talent and stellar vision. Nowhere was this more evident than with Patrick Maroon, who scored more goals in his one year playing with McDavid (27) than he did in the previous three without him (21).

McDavid has also brought the Battle of Alberta back to life, reviving an Edmonton team whose mediocrity over the past decade diminished the competitiveness of one of the game's best rivalries. With his leadership, the Oilers won five of six against the Flames last season.

Edmonton might not be the team we thought it was going to be this season, and it's far too soon to predict the team is ready to return to the glory years of the '80s. But with McDavid firmly at the helm, the Oilers are once again a force to be reckoned with.

Summer to remember

The spring may not have gone his way, but No. 97's summer sure was sweet.

McDavid kicked off his stellar summertime by cleaning house at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas in June, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point-getter, the Ted Lindsay Award for MVP as voted by the players, and the Hart Trophy for league MVP.

He also signed a whopping eight-year, $100-million contract to remain in Edmonton for the foreseeable future.

However, it was his unselfish decision to take less money on a shorter term that's perhaps his biggest contribution in 2017 to the future success of the team. McDavid's choice to take less loot allowed the club more financial flexibility, helping general manager Peter Chiarelli sign another franchise cornerstone in Leon Draisaitl to a long-term deal of his own.

Face of the game

While gracing the cover of the latest installment of EA Sports' NHL video-game series literally puts his face on the game, McDavid is becoming so much more, as the now-20-year-old talisman is quickly becoming the face of the sport.

CONNOR ON THE COVER! #NHL18 pic.twitter.com/tRShD5eEVq

- Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 22, 2017

Highlights, commercials, social media - you name it. McDavid has dominated the popular streams of the hockey consciousness over the past 12 months, embedding himself in the game's fabric.

He's the complete package - both on and off the ice - fans can't stop talking about, and he's the keystone player the league will build around. The last generation of hockey fanatics grew up rocking No. 99. But this generation will be wearing No. 97, instead.

The uber-fast style seen in rinks around the world is being ushered in on the backs of players like McDavid, which is perhaps the biggest indication of his impact on hockey.

That alone makes him worthy of the title of NHL Person of the Year.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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