Be it from fans, media, coaches, or themselves, every NHL player enters a given campaign with a certain level of expectations surrounding their performance.
Some exceed their perceived limits to silence critics, while others fail to live up to the hype. For now, let's take a look at the former, and analyze three players who have stepped up early in the 2017-18 season.
Connor Hellebuyck
It appears some internal competition has done wonders for Hellebuyck, as he's become the early answer to the Winnipeg Jets' much-publicized goaltending issues.
In six starts, the 24-year-old is 5-0-1, stopping pucks at a .937 clip, along with a 2.05 goals-against average, while offseason signee Steve Mason looks on from the bench.
It'll be interesting to monitor whether Hellebuyck can prolong his success as the season carries on. If he does, Winnipeg's biggest problem suddenly has a solution.
Claude Giroux
(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)
A position change for any team's captain and highest-paid player is definitely not an ordinary course of action, but bumping Giroux to the wing has paid major dividends for the Philadelphia Flyers out of the gate.
Flanking regular linemate Jakub Voracek and new No. 1 pivot Sean Couturier, Giroux once again looks like his former self, producing six goals and six assists in 11 games. The trio has been one of the most formidable across the NHL, registering a Corsi-for percentage of 55.5 at five-on-five as a unit. (Corsica)
It should be noted Giroux said offseason hip surgery played a big role in his subpar 58-point output in 2016-17, but now that he's healthy and thriving in a new role, he's put an end to those questioning his place with the Flyers.
Anze Kopitar
Similar to Giroux, Kopitar found himself under the microscope after managing just 52 points a season ago, his lowest full-season total since 2008-09. His struggles last year left many wondering if his eight-year, $80-million contract extension was worth it, but he's done his best to prove last season was an anomaly.
Kopitar leads the first-place Kings with 13 points through 11 games, and seems to be getting breaks and bounces that eluded him in 2016-17, helping accelerate the success of an improved offensive-driven game plan by new head coach John Stevens.
The most pressing dilemma the newly run Kings faced was finding a way to spark a dreadful attack, but if Kopitar is leading the charge on offense once again, Los Angeles could be in good shape to find its way back into the playoffs.
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