What happened: Lane Hutson drew Norris consideration for his early play. Mark Scheifele drew superstar-level praise for his production. Ottawa was credited with steadying after early stumbles.

Why it matters: National award attention raises the bar for young defensemen. Early-season steadiness shapes direction for a team finding its footing. Star-level production sets the standard teammates must match.

What to watch: Ottawa looks to tighten defensively in its next outing. Hutson and Scheifele remain central to coming performances.