According to oddsmakers, forward Clayton Keller and Nico Hischier are listed as the favorites to win the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2017-18, with a pair of Boston Bruins and a Vancouver Canuck coming in close behind.
The Florida Panthers have officially signed defenseman Mike Matheson to an eight-year contract extension, general manager Dale Tallon announced Monday.
The deal, first reported on Oct. 7, is believed to be worth $39 million, thereby carrying an average annual valuation of $4.875 million.
"Mike is an important part of our team's young core and we are thrilled that he has decided to remain a Panther for the long-term," Tallon said. "He is a dynamic and intelligent defenseman with impeccable character and work ethic. Mike has developed into a difference maker on our blue line and will be an important player and leader for the Panthers for many years to come."
Matheson was drafted 23rd overall by the Panthers in 2012. In 81 games last season, he recorded seven goals, 10 assists, and had an even-strength Corsi rating of 49.7.
So far this season, he's recorded two shots on goal and boasts a Corsi rating of 58.1, while averaging 21:05 through two games.
Matheson has also represented Canada at the past two World Championships, and is clearly seen as a key building block in Florida.
The Florida Panthers have officially signed defenseman Mike Matheson to an eight-year contract extension, general manager Dale Tallon announced Monday.
The deal, first reported on Oct. 7, is believed to be worth $39 million, thereby carrying an average annual valuation of $4.875 million.
"Mike is an important part of our team's young core and we are thrilled that he has decided to remain a Panther for the long-term," Tallon said. "He is a dynamic and intelligent defenseman with impeccable character and work ethic. Mike has developed into a difference maker on our blue line and will be an important player and leader for the Panthers for many years to come."
Matheson was drafted 23rd overall by the Panthers in 2012. In 81 games last season, he recorded seven goals, 10 assists, and had an even-strength Corsi rating of 49.7.
So far this season, he's recorded two shots on goal and boasts a Corsi rating of 58.1, while averaging 21:05 through two games.
Matheson has also represented Canada at the past two World Championships, and is clearly seen as a key building block in Florida.
The Washington Capitals superstar winger has scored seven goals in his first two games, and he's the only player since 1917-18 to open the season with two straight hat tricks.
And to what, or whom, does he attribute the early-season success to?
"My wife, her sister is here and every time she's in town I score a hat trick," Ovechkin said Sunday, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "So back-to-back (hat tricks) and she's leaving Monday, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to talk to someone to keep her here."
It also helps Ovechkin is shooting 50 percent, with his seven goals coming on 14 shots. What's encouraging, though, is six have been scored at even strength after he managed only 16 such goals last season.
Head coach Barry Trotz suggests questions about impending decline may have lit a fire under Ovechkin.
"Everybody says he can't score 50 goals, so he might get in his mind that I'm going to score 70 just to prove you wrong," Trotz said. "I think the top athletes in this game and in all sports, when you doubt them they put their back up and hopefully that happened. That would be a bonus for us and a bonus for Alex."
Washington visits Tampa Bay on Monday, where Ovechkin can make NHL history in a couple of ways. He can become the first player to record a hat trick in three consecutive games, or with a mere two goals, he can set the record for most through his team’s first three games of a season.
Maybe his sister-in-law should push her travel plans to Tuesday.
With hockey season underway, so are theScore's NHL power rankings, which will be published every other Monday. Our inaugural rankings have been put together by editors Josh Gold-Smith, Flip Livingstone, and Ian McLaren.
1. Chicago Blackhawks (2-0-0)
If you beat the defending Stanley Cup champions 10-1 right out of the gate, you deserve to jump to the top of the list. A follow-up win over Columbus and a plus-13 goal differential through two games sealed it. - McLaren
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-0-0)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Tied with Chicago in goals for (15), Toronto's offense appears rather unstoppable. If the defense can lock things down, these Leafs will be the ones doing the raking this season. A Monday showdown with the Blackhawks is a must-watch. - McLaren
3. Washington Capitals (2-0-0)
Alex Ovechkin has scored seven goals, and tales of the two-time defending Presidents' Trophy winners demise are proving to be a tad premature. - McLaren
4. St. Louis Blues (2-0-0)
St. Louis spoiled banner-raising night with an overtime win in Pittsburgh, and beat a Stars team coming off another mythical "offseason championship" to start the season on an undefeated note. - McLaren
5. Los Angeles Kings (2-0-0)
Jonathan Quick has allowed one goal in two games and Anze Kopitar is scoring again. That all bodes well for a bounce-back season for the Kings. - McLaren
6. Vegas Golden Knights (2-0-0)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Thanks in large part to James Neal, an expansion hockey franchise based in Las Vegas is undefeated in the regular season. What a time to be alive. - McLaren
7. Detroit Red Wings (2-0-0)
Raise your hand if you had Detroit winning two games to start the season. To their credit, the Red Wings have exceeded expectations by beating Minnesota and Ottawa, two playoff teams from last season. - McLaren
8. Philadelphia Flyers (2-1-0)
Tasked with starting the season on a California road trip, the Flyers escaped with a pair of wins. No easy feat at any point in the season. - McLaren
9. Boston Bruins (1-0-0)
The only team to have played one game to date, the Bruins made good with a win over the Western Conference champions from Nashville. A soft schedule through the first few weeks should help them rise. - McLaren
10. Anaheim Ducks (1-0-1)
Beset by a long list of injuries, Anaheim amassed three points in two games. Until everyone is healthy, it'll be tough to keep flying this high. - McLaren
11. Pittsburgh Penguins (1-1-1)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
A wacky week for the champs: an OT loss to the Blues, a beating at the hands of the Blackhawks, and a dominating shutout of the Predators. Pittsburgh will be fine. - Gold-Smith
12. Tampa Bay Lightning (1-1-0)
The Lighting split their first two games, both against the Panthers, and the team many are pegging to win the Stanley Cup gets a much tougher test Monday against the Capitals. - Gold-Smith
13. Florida Panthers (1-1-0)
Playing their cross-state rivals tight was an encouraging sign for the Panthers, who'll have to ensure they're not complacent when they face the Blues on Thursday after four days off. - Gold-Smith
14. Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1-0)
The Blue Jackets scored a handful of goals in a shutout of the Islanders, but then gave up five in a loss to the Blackhawks. At least they're consistent. - Gold-Smith
15. Edmonton Oilers (1-1-0)
Connor McDavid scored an insane goal, notched a historic hat trick, and provided all of the offense in a season-opening win over the Flames, but the Oilers didn't look like the same team in a loss to the Canucks. - Gold-Smith
16. Calgary Flames (1-1-0)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Flames couldn't contain McDavid, and who can blame them. Calgary got back on track by doubling up the Jets, and it'll ride that momentum into a two-game California road swing. - Gold-Smith
17. Vancouver Canucks (1-0-0)
It's going to be a painful season for Vancouver. but beating the high-flying Oilers to start things off provided some hope. - Gold-Smith
18. Carolina Hurricanes (1-0-0)
The Hurricanes are a trendy pick to make the playoffs and they took a small but encouraging step toward that long-term goal with a strong showing in a shootout win over the Wild. - Gold-Smith
19. New Jersey Devils (1-0-0)
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
The Devils are undefeated! Plan the parade!
Reality check: New Jersey's lone victory came against lowly Colorado. The Devils have some growing to do, but the future does look bright, as Nico Hischier and Will Butcher impressed in their respective debuts. - Gold-Smith
20. Colorado Avalanche (1-1-0)
Don't get accustomed to seeing the Avalanche ranked this high.
Colorado earned a solid road win over the Rangers in its season opener, but was significantly outplayed by the Devils. - Gold-Smith
21. Ottawa Senators (0-0-2)
Two close Ls for the Sens could easily have been Ws, so keep an eye on this team, especially when Erik Karlsson returns. - Livingstone
22. New York Islanders (1-1-0)
The Islanders may spend most of the year below No. 22, but for now, they've earned their current spot thanks to a big win at home over the Sabres. - Livingstone
23. New York Rangers (1-2-0)
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
The Rangers have the dubious distinction of losing - at home! - to the lowly Avalanche, while also allowing 12 goals in three games. - Livingstone
24. Montreal Canadiens (1-2-0)
If the Canadiens continue to play like they did against the Capitals and Rangers, it's going to be a very long season in La Belle Province. - Livingstone
25. Minnesota Wild (0-1-1)
When you lose to the Red Wings and Hurricanes to start the year, you deserve to be ranked near the bottom. However, the Wild are much better than their start indicates, so look for them to bounce back. - Livingstone
26. Buffalo Sabres (0-1-1)
Eichel-mania may be in full swing in the Nickel City, but that hasn't translated into any wins. A close loss to the Canadiens was promising. Getting blown out by the Islanders was not. - Livingstone
27. Dallas Stars (0-2-0)
A new top-six forward and No. 1 goalie haven't yet been enough to turn around the lackluster Stars. Still, the club has more than enough talent to compete, so expect Dallas to climb up this list. - Livingstone
28. Arizona Coyotes (0-1-1)
Despite two losses, Arizona has shown flashes of being a quality hockey club. Clayton Keller looks like the real deal, and, soon enough, so should the Coyotes. - Livingstone
29. Nashville Predators (0-2-0)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Nashville failed to exact revenge for its Stanley Cup loss by getting blanked at the hands of the Penguins, and has looked lost at times in the offensive zone. - Livingstone
30. San Jose Sharks (0-2-0)
Four goals and two losses in two games is just not going to get the job done, regardless of how early it is. The Sharks will need to be much better if they hope to be contenders in the West. - Livingstone
31. Winnipeg Jets (0-2-0)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
An opening night shellacking at the hands of the high-flying Maple Leafs followed by another six-goals-against loss to the Flames have soured what was supposed to be an exciting start to the campaign for the Jets, a club looking to take the next step. - Livingstone
Walker was credited with a goal in his debut as the Capitals cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
As great as it was to see Walker get some praise from Turnbull, it would have been even better to have the Australian ambassador to the U.S., Joe Hockey, in on the call.
Chabot failed to crack the club out of training camp, and head coach Guy Boucher defended the demotion at the time by insisting the young rearguard hadn't surpassed the team's "regular guys."
The 20-year-old posted a pair of points in two games with Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, before being summoned Sunday.
He racked up 45 points in 34 regular-season games with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs last season - his second straight 45-point campaign with the club - adding another 23 points in 18 playoff contests this past spring.
Chabot was named MVP of the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship and the CHL's Defenseman of the Year last season.
He made the NHL club out of training camp in 2016 before being sent back to junior after a single game.
Ben Bishop wants the world to know he's a tough customer.
The Dallas Stars goaltender shared a rather vivid photo of his face Sunday afternoon after being hit in the forehead with a shot in Friday's loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
