The 27-year-old has all the requisite hardware needed for the Hall of Fame (except a Stanley Cup) and has consistently shown his improvement across the board. He's blossomed into a reliable, two-way center and the captain of Team USA. So, why would Matthews fall in this year's NHL Network rankings for centers? In an August 24 appearance on NHL Network, analyst Mike Rupp unveiled his list of the NHL's top-10 centers. Topping the list are Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Leon Draisaitl.
New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said early on in the offseason that re-signing RFA defenseman Luke Hughes was his top priority. As we approach the beginning of September, that deal has still not come to fruition, and the reason why is becoming more clear. NJ.com's Ryan Novozisnsky described that there have been disagreements about the finer details of the new contract. The main point of contention seems to be the contract length.