As the NHL season unfolds, three players stand at the center of the league's most compelling narratives. Connor Hellebuyck's ability to maintain his elite goaltending into his mid-30s remains one of the sport's great questions, while Quinn Hughes continues to push the Vancouver Canucks toward their first Stanley Cup in over two decades. Detroit's Dylan Larkin anchors a franchise still searching for its identity, making his production and leadership a barometer for the Red Wings' progress. Together, these three players embody the tension between established excellence and the pursuit of something new that defines the current NHL landscape.

Connor Hellebuyck, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin anchor NHL’s 5 biggest unanswered questions  nytimes.com