2. Shea Theodore
We are running out of superlatives to describe Shea Theodore this year.
The defenseman is rapidly morphing into one of the best young blueliners in the NHL, and this season really has been his coming out party.
With a few weeks of the regular season remaining, Theodore has already achieved career-highs in goals (13), assists (33), points (46) and power play points (16).
In short, Theodore has been lights out all year and he’s on the cusp of taking that next step towards becoming a dominant two-way defenseman in this league.
He is a joy to watch and he also achieved a rather unique and special slice of history on Monday night in Edmonton.
Because, in unleashing an absolute bomb past Mikko Koskinen in overtime, Theodore became only the 11th defensemen over the last 21 years of the National Hockey League to record a game-winner in consecutive games.
Dustin Byfuglien, John Carlson, Seth Jones and Drew Doughty are just some of the others to have done it, and that isn’t bad company to be in at all.
It was also yet another example of just how big a weapon Theodore’s lethal shot is, while he also led all Golden Knight skaters in total with a whopping 24:15.
The Golden Knights claimed two huge wins on consecutive nights and they have their stud defenseman to thank for that.