The Montreal Canadiens signed forwards William Bitten and Michael Pezzetta to three-year, entry-level contracts, the team announced Wednesday.

Bitten was drafted in the third round in 2016 with the 70th overall selection. In his second season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, he's contributed 19 goals and 61 points in 58 games.

Pezzetta was selected in the sixth round, 160th overall in 2016. The 19-year-old has split this season with the Ontario Hockey League's Sudbury Wolves and Sarnia Sting where he's put up 22 goals and 50 points in 58 contests.

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NHL players have some hot takes.

On Wednesday, the league's players association published the findings of its annual poll, in which more than 500 players answered a slew of hockey-related questions.

Most of the questions elicited unsurprising responses, but there were a handful of interesting results:

Carey Price gets included among all-time greats

There's no denying the Montreal Canadiens goaltender has had a terrific career to this point, or that he's one of - if not the - best active netminders, but Price got a bit too much love in this survey. Here's how 361 players voted when asked who they believe is the best goalie of all time:

Somehow, Roberto Luongo didn't make the top five despite ranking fourth all time in wins and sitting in the top 10 in save percentage. Also, where were Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk, and Ed Belfour?

Chalk it up to recency bias and the respect players around the league have for Price, but it still didn't make much sense.

Overwhelming support for the current point system

When asked whether they like the way points are awarded for a win or a loss in the regular season, the players reached a clear consensus, with 77.7 percent support among the 412 who answered.

That's somewhat surprising, considering the "loser point" (the awarding of a single point for an overtime or shootout loss) has plenty of critics in hockey circles and is arguably a major reason for the increase in parity in the NHL standings.

Somewhere, Stan Bowman is sighing.

Tim Peel is surprisingly well-respected

The fact that Wes McCauley received the most votes when the players were asked to name the best referee wasn't a shock, but Peel somehow garnered 4.4 percent support among 113 players, finishing third behind only McCauley and Kelly Sutherland.

Peel is without a doubt the NHL's most controversial official. He has a lengthy history of blown calls, and who could forget his interview with Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski that was conducted at a bar and got Peel suspended?

Perhaps it's simply a matter of name recognition, but clearly other referees were more deserving.

Ott's coaching prospects better than Ruff's

Steve Ott might be more popular behind the bench than he was as a player.

The former pest and current St. Louis Blues assistant coach got 5.1 percent of the votes among the 216 players who answered when asked which current assistant coach should be the next head coach.

D.J. Smith of the Toronto Maple Leafs (first with 8.3 percent), Todd Reirden of the Washington Capitals (second with 7.4 percent), and Ulf Samuelsson of the Chicago Blackhawks all finished ahead of Ott, but the fact that he got more support than longtime NHL bench boss Lindy Ruff (fifth with 4.2 percent) was a bit of a head-scratcher.

They really, really like Peter Forsberg

NHL players love them some Foppa.

Peter Forsberg got the most votes among the 379 players who replied when they were asked to name their favorite player growing up (8.4 percent, edging out Steve Yzerman at 8.2).

More alarmingly, though, 2.3 percent - or the fifth-highest total - of 388 players responded with Forsberg's name when asked to pick the best forward of all time.

Sure, the Colorado Avalanche legend was a terrific player, albeit in a career cut short by injuries, and yes, most of the players made more reasonable choices (Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Jaromir Jagr rounded out the top four) but the fact that Forsberg was mentioned before the likes of Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, and Mark Messier made it clear that some of the current players could use a history lesson.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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David Backes will appear before the Department of Player Safety.

The Boston Bruins forward is facing supplementary discipline as a result of an interference call on Detroit Red Wings center Frans Nielsen during Tuesday's contest. Backes was whistled for a two-minute minor on the play.

In 47 games this season, Backes has notched 11 goals and 16 assists.

Backes' last suspension came in 2014.

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Nearly every team in the NHL has at least one contract it would like to get rid of. For some teams, that deal is a significantly bigger albatross. Here is every team's worst contract, not including players on LTIR, graded from 1-10 (10 being the worst) based on the following criteria:

• Cap hit
• Years remaining (current season not included)
• Age
• Player's value
• Player's expected value over duration of contract
• Ease with which a team could dispose of contract

The deals are grouped into three tiers, starting with the stuff of general managers' nightmares.

Worst of the worst

Thirteen-year contracts never seem to end well, and not even halfway through, Parise's deal is already brutal. Injuries have held him back over his entire tenure with the Wild, and seem to have rapidly aged him. He has just five goals this season. Grade: 10/10

Yes, Price plays behind a dreadful Montreal Canadiens team, but it's ignorant to think his game hasn't fallen off too. An injury-prone, declining goaltender heading into the back nine of his career with a $10.5-million AAV would handcuff the smartest GMs in the league, never mind Marc Bergevin. Grade: 9/10

Ryan hasn't been the player he was for Anaheim since coming to Ottawa, but the last two seasons have marked a new low. On the bright side, Ryan's massive salary will help the Sens reach the cap floor if they ultimately deal Erik Karlsson. Grade: 9/10

Eriksson never jelled with the Sedins like Jim Benning hoped he would. Nor has he really jelled with anyone else, for that matter. Grade: 9/10

Lucic is already a caveman in today's NHL. He's too slow to keep up in a game dominated by youth and speed, and with each coming season, he'll fall further behind. Grade: 9/10

Though still serviceable, Seabrook's play declined sharply this year. He's trending in the wrong direction on a team doing the same. Grade: 9/10

Ladd's deal was disastrous from the get-go. He still managed to score 23 goals last year, but had only eight assists. His production has dipped even more this year, and it's hard to imagine he'll ever return to being the player he was in Winnipeg. Grade: 9/10

Nielsen is still a decent two-way center, albeit slightly overpaid. However, as he approaches his mid-30s, this contract could become ugly, fast. Grade: 8/10

Staal never had much offensive flair, but the shutdown defensive ability he was known for has deteriorated over the last few years, and it's unlikely he'll rebound. Grade: 8/10

Dubinsky can still play an in-your-face defensive role, but those types of players generally make a couple million, not $5.85M. Grade: 8/10

Bad, but tolerable

While Okposo was decent in his first season with Buffalo, he's dropped off this year. He's relatively young as far as the players on this list, however, and though it's a long contract, he could have a couple 50-point seasons left in him. Grade: 6/10

Backes is still a strong defensive forward, but can he remain as such while contributing offensively into his mid-30s? Probably not. Grade: 6/10

Brouwer doesn't give the Flames anything, really, but $4.5 million isn't ridiculous money, and this deal can be disposed of fairly easily. Grade: 6/10

Martin has played more AHL games than NHL games this season, and he'll likely be buried in the minors again next year. At least that'll be the end of it. Grade: 6/10

Though Spezza's play has cratered, the Stars only have to deal with it for one more season. Grade: 6/10

MacDonald definitely isn't worth $5 million, but he's still playing top-four minutes on a playoff team, so he must be doing something right. Grade: 5/10

After three sensational seasons as Chicago's backup, Darling's first campaign as a starter has been a nightmare - he lost his job to Cam Ward. He's got lots of term left to bounce back, but it looks unlikely. Grade: 5/10

Callahan still does things to help the Lightning win. Those things shouldn't cost $5.8 million. Grade: 5/10

As the Devils' captain, Greene clearly provides something beyond what he brings on the ice, but $5 million is a hefty price. Grade: 5/10

Though Orpik is as mean as they come on the back end, that shouldn't result in such a high cap hit. However, he should be serviceable for one more year. Grade: 5/10

Brown is having a major bounce-back season after four poor years in a row. Can he do this again? Grade: 4/10

Perry is no longer the $8-million player he once was, but he's still capable of 50-60 points. Grade: 4/10

Best of the worst

Considering the speedy Hagelin is the Penguins' worst contract, it's no surprise they've won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Grade: 3/10

Martin is probably Toronto's 14th-best forward, but this contract could easily be buried in the minors if necessary. Grade: 3/10

Allen hasn't proven he can be a legitimate starting goalie for a full season. While he's shown flashes, at this point he's more of an expensive, quality backup. Grade: 2/10

Goligoski might be miscast as a 23-minute D-man in Arizona, but he still produces offensively despite having few scoring options to move the puck to at forward. Grade: 2/10

The Jets just signed Kulikov this past offseason, and while $4.3 million seems steep for a sixth defenseman, they'll have the former first-rounder through his prime years. Grade: 2/10

Presently, Luongo is one of the most cost-effective goalies in the league. Whether he can maintain his elite play into his 40s remains to be seen. Grade: 2/10

Bonino is one heck of a third-line center, and $4.1 million doesn't hamper David Poile much at all. Grade: 2/10

Unsurprisingly, the best worst contract in the NHL belongs to the team that just became a team this year. Tatar wasn't producing like a $5.3-million player in Detroit, but there's plenty of time to right the ship in Vegas. Grade: 1/10

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
(Salary information courtesy: Cap Friendly)

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If you weren't a big hockey fan before Tuesday night, taking in the madness that ensued in the NHL would have probably been enough to change that.

Permanently.

You name it, the nine-game slate had it: fights, natural hat tricks, overtime winners, historic winning and point streaks extended. It really was one of the wildest and most exciting nights of the 2017-18 season.

After such a prestigious night, we've taken the opportunity to compile a ranking of most notable highlights for your viewing and reading pleasure.

Here's a look at the five best performances from Tuesday:

5. Steve Mason, 34-save shutout, win

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

In his first start in almost two months, Mason was simply sensational for the Winnipeg Jets, stopping all 31 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the year and 34 of his career.

Mason's tenure in Winnipeg hasn't exactly gone to plan, but if can he can string together a few performances like Tuesday night's, the Jets' investment of $8.2 million over two years won't seem like the complete waste it has for most the season.

Nevertheless, without Mason between the pipes Tuesday, Winnipeg's neat-and-tidy shutout win could have looked a whole lot different.

4. Torey Krug, 4-point night

While a player a little farther down this list stole the show for the Boston Bruins, Krug had an unreal game of his own. Two goals, two assists, and three shots on net in just over 20 minutes of ice time is more than good enough for the Boston blue-liner to make the list.

Here's a look at Krug's first-period rocket, which he scored only 37 seconds into the game:

Krug is heating up at just the right time for the surging Bruins, racking up nine points (three goals, six assists) over his last four games.

3. Patrik Laine, natural hat trick

Laine's teammates might want to be weary of how close they get to the 19-year-old, as his hands and stick are surely red-hot from his torrid scoring pace over the last few games.

In addition to registering his team's only three goals against the New York Rangers on Tuesday, Laine is now riding a nine-game point streak in which he's tallied 13 goals and six assists over that span.

Check out Laine's laser from the first period, his 36th goal of the campaign:

The Finnish sensation would go on to score two more on the night, setting a new career high in goals with 38. Quite the night, indeed.

2. Nick Bjugstad, hat trick

Speaking of hot, Florida Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad is on a pretty decent run of his own, registering five goals and seven assists over his last 11 games, including a hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Here's Bjugstad's first goal of the night:

Sure, Laine's hatty was also impressive, but he played in less minutes, took less shots, and scored his third on an empty netter. So the edge, performance-wise, goes to Bjugstad and his three-goal night.

1. Brad Marchand, 5-point night, hat trick, OT winner

As much as opposing Atlantic Division teams won't like to admit it, Bruins forward Brad Marchand really can do it all. A point he hammered home Tuesday with a performance for the ages.

If five points, a natural hat trick, and game-winning overtime goal wasn't enough of an evening, Marchand's OT goal was the 11th of his career, moving him into first on Boston's all-time OT winners list.

Boston has been one of the hottest teams in the league all season long, and after a look at Marchand's Tuesday night showing, you can start to understand why.

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What's wrong with Braden Holtby?

The Washington Capitals netminder was yanked from Tuesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks after allowing three goals on nine shots.

Heading into Tuesday's game, Holtby had a .908 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average on the season, but those numbers will surely take a hit after his most recent outing.

Unfortunately for Holtby and the Caps, this kind of performance hasn't been an irregular occurrence these days. He's been especially shaky as of late, going 5-5-4 with a .886 save percentage in his last 14 games.

Holtby is a year removed from taking home the William M. Jennings Trophy, and two years on from winning the Vezina Trophy. However, if he doesn't regain his past form come springtime, it could be another early playoff exit for the Capitals.

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The Nashville Predators set a franchise record with their ninth straight victory by defeating the Dallas Stars 2-0 Tuesday night, the team announced.

The Preds now lead the Western Conference with 95 points - just one back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for first in the NHL.

Here's a closer look at their win streak:

In total, the Predators have outscored their opponents 39-18 over the last nine games. While there is still lots of regular-season hockey to be played, Nashville is red hot and seems primed for another deep playoff run this spring.

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Have yourself a night, Brad Marchand. Wow.

The Boston Bruins super pest everyone loves to hate was out to silence his critics Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, notching five points, a natural hat trick, and the game-winning overtime goal.

Not too shabby, especially given Marchand's overtime goal was the 11th of his career, a mark which stands as the most OT winners by a player in Bruins' history.

Marchand now has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his last six games.

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