The following five players have been counted on more than ever before this season, and all five have risen to the occasion. Here's a look at how they've each become invaluable members of their respective teams.

John Carlson, Capitals

Heading into Sunday's games, Carlson was the NHL's average time on ice (ATOI) leader, having played an astounding 27:13 per night - nearly five more minutes than his career average. Washington's offseason departures of defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk, Karl Alzner, and Nate Schmidt have forced Carlson to step up, and he's delivered.

The 27-year-old is on pace for a career-high 62 points and has the second-best giveaway-takeaway ratio of his career. In the midst of a contract season, Carlson is set for a huge payday if he can keep up this pace.

Anze Kopitar, Kings

Kopitar already has a Selke, a Byng, and two Stanley Cups, but this year he's playing like he wants a Hart Trophy. He's also averaging a career-high 22:21 time on ice, second most among NHL forwards.

With the Kings' leading goal-scorer from a year ago, Jeff Carter, having only played six games due to injury, Kopitar has picked up the slack. Despite being a playmaker throughout most of his career, he's on pace for his first 40-goal season.

Sean Couturier, Flyers

Seven years into his NHL career, Couturier is finally showing the offensive side of his game that put him into the discussion to be chosen first overall at the 2011 NHL Draft.

Used primarily as a shutdown center prior to this season, Couturier vaulted to the top of the Flyers' depth chart when Claude Giroux shifted from center to left wing. While playing on a line with Giroux and Jakub Voracek, Couturier has amassed 10 goals and nine assists. He's never scored more than 15 goals or reached 40 points in a season.

Deryk Engelland, Golden Knights

There's late bloomers, and then there's Deryk Engelland. The 35-year-old blue-liner's ATOI of 19:12 is nearly four minutes more than his career average. For the bulk of his career, his hands were primarily used for throwing haymakers, but this year he's used them to collect nine points through 16 games - just eight points shy of his career high.

As a longtime resident of Las Vegas, perhaps Engelland just needed to play a bit closer to home to find his offensive touch. While it's doubtful he maintains this pace, his success has nonetheless been a great story in the early going.

Vladislav Namestnikov, Lightning

Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov have been making all the headlines, but the third member of the NHL's most potent line is quietly enjoying a huge breakout season.

Namestnikov is playing over four more minutes per night than his career average, and has made good use of the extra time, tallying eight goals and 10 assists in 17 games. Surely, he wouldn't have these numbers if not for his stud linemates, but the leaps he's made in his game can't be overlooked.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Finland and Russia came out on top in a pair of tournaments in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

On Sunday, Team Finland defeated Team Canada to secure its third victory in as many games at the Karjala Cup to finish with a 3-0 showing.

Mika Pyorala, who spent the 2009-10 season with the Philadelphia Flyers, was Finland's top scorer, picking up four points.

Mikhail Grigorenko, a former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, laced up for Team Russia and led the tournament with six points. Team Canada's top scorer was Gilbert Brule, who last appeared in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes. Brule finished with two points.

Team Canada's roster included a handful of former NHLers, including Wojtek Wolski and Mason Raymond.

Here's how the final standings shook out:

Meanwhile, Team Russia took the top spot in the four-team Deutschland Cup, posting a perfect record over three games.

Artyom Fyodorov, who suits up for the KHL's Salavat Yulaev Ufa, led the tournament with six points. Mark Arcobello, who previously played for five NHL squads, led the Americans with two points in three games.

Team USA, whose lineup featured former Sabres captain Brian Gionta, went winless in the tournament, losing its final game to Germany on Sunday.

As the Winter Olympics draw nearer, the competing nations will continue to construct their final rosters over the coming months.

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For Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi, the 2017-18 season truly began Friday afternoon.

On the back of the unfortunate news that Anton Slepyshev was placed on injured reserve, the Oilers called up their prized 2016 first-round selection from the Bakersfield Condors.

For Puljujarvi, his promotion to the big club came after a questionable second professional season in North America, one that has seen him post just one goal and five points in 10 AHL games.

Last season, Puljujarvi tallied one goal - scored in the first game of the season - and eight points in 28 games with the Oilers before being sent down to the Condors in January for the remainder of the campaign.

Puljujarvi went the remainder of the year notching a respectable 12 goals and 28 points in 39 games. However, with a dip in production to begin his second stint in the AHL, it's clear there remains some skepticism regarding the 19-year-old's game.

"I think the talent is OK, but you get better by finding open spots, working hard," Mike Griffith of the Bakersfield Californian told theScore. "If he's all everyone wants him to be, I would think he would find a way to be dominant. How much is mental? I don't know. I think last year he probably was a little mentally burnt out and stuff. His numbers were OK last year, but they weren’t 'wow this is the next big thing.'"

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

The call-up also comes at an interesting time for the Oilers. After a dreadful start to the season, the team had raddled off three wins in their last four games prior to Saturday, but had only averaged two goals per game over that span.

It's the lack of offense that explains the decision, and head coach Todd McLellan insists Puljujarvi will be given a chance to make an impact. Playing alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Milan Lucic, the hope is he can aid the team with what historically has been his biggest strength - creating offense.

"We'll likely play him in the top six and we look for his shot and ability to score," McLellan said Friday, according to Paul Gazzola and Chris Wescott of EdmontonOilers.com. "We'll see if he's been able to work on some of the things we asked him to defensively and his checking skills."

Through the first month and a half of the season, all signs suggest Puljujarvi has taken the Oilers' constructive criticism to heart, making improvements to his overall game.

"I think his wall play has improved, but from last year it almost had to, there was nothing but going up," said Griffith. "He's a big guy, but I don't think he ever battled that hard on the wall last year. I think his wall play has certainly improved this year."

This was also quite evident Saturday afternoon in Puljujarvi's first game since being called up. He tallied one of the Oilers' two goals in a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers, finishing with five shots and two hits, recording 15:37 of ice time.

So, while his offensive numbers in the AHL may not have been great to begin the year, it is evident that Puljujarvi has developed his overall skill set. Griffith notes that Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli has also been impressed with what he's seen out of the Fin this season.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that a certain Oilers star faced similar hardships before becoming a mainstay in the lineup.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

After being plucked third overall in 2014, Leon Draisaitl was sent down to the Western Hockey League after recording just two goals and nine points in 37 games with the Oilers.

The following season he started with the Condors, tallying just one goal and one assist in six games before being recalled by the club after an injury to Jordan Eberle. He made an immediate impact - remaining with the club - finishing the year with 19 goals and 51 points in 72 games. The rest is history.

"If I can make a comparison, he's (Puljujarvi) been here a lot longer than Draisiatl's six or seven games," said Griffith. "He (Draisaitl) had a definite 'wow' factor and he only got called up because of injuries. They weren’t planning to call him or (Darnell) Nurse up then. That was the pre-change of all the hierarchy there in Edmonton too and those guys were supposed to be down there probably until December or something, but there was injuries and whatnot and boom, never to come back."

For Puljujarvi, it's now time for him to follow in the footsteps of Draisaitl. On a team many have coined potential Stanley Cup favorites, there will only be so much time allotted for players to get up to speed and get the hang of things.

Puljujarvi has been gifted a rare and sizable opportunity to show he can still be the same dynamic player that turned heads during the 2016 World Junior Championship. On Saturday he made a great first impression in his return, but as coaches will tell you, you're only as good as your next game. It will be up to Puljujarvi to maintain his strong play if he plans to permanently cement his spot with the big club.

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What was once a weakness might now be one of the Nashville Predators' most lethal aspects of their lineup.

Prior to the blockbuster trade that saw Matt Duchene shipped to the Ottawa Senators and Kyle Turris dealt to the Predators, Nashville had been a club incredibly thin down the middle of the ice.

While the club boasts Ryan Johansen - who oddly enough is still searching for his first goal of the season - the Predators have been missing a second centerman who can entice fear into the opposition.

That is until now. With Turris now in the fold, the Predators can ice one of the better one-two punches at center in the league and can now dress a more well-balanced forwards corps.

Prior to the Turris deal - and due to the injury of Nick Bonino that has limited him to just five games - the Predators had been forced to roll with Calle Jarnkrok, Colton Sissons, and Frederick Gaudreau down the middle. And while the three are surely serviceable options, they don't compare to Turris.

Here is how the four have fared since the start of last season:

Suggesting that Turris is the more lethal offensive option between the three is quite obvious even without looking at the numbers, but the stats illustrate just how much better he is. In fact, Turris has tallied more goals and points than the other three combined.

On Saturday night Turris played his first game with the Predators and made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal with the team and adding an assist while playing 21:38 of ice time - the second-most of any Predators forward.

Turris' inclusion into the lineup allowed head coach Peter Laviollette to - on top of dressing a stronger top-six forward group - ice a better second power-play unit. Turris centered the club's second unit along with Kevin Fiala, Craig Smith, Viktor Arvidsson, and Mattias Ekholm.

Additionally, Bonino has been skating with the club and appears to be close to making his return to the lineup. When he finally returns, the Predators will have even more strength down the middle.

And as general manager David Poile suggested following the Turris trade, Bonino could be slotted on the wing of the Predators' second or third line when he returns, according to Thomas Willis of NashvillePredators.com. It's another sign of the versatility Turris gives the team. Meanwhile, it gives the potential to house a mighty top-nine with Johansen, Turris, and Bonino at center.

The acquisition of Turris has completely changed the complexion of the Predators' offense, and should instill a fear in opponents going forward that simply didn't exist a week ago.

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On Monday, the Hockey Hall of Fame will officially enshrine Dave Andreychuk, Paul Kariya, Mark Recchi, and Teemu Selanne into hockey history.

While this year's class is made up of worthy recipients, it's never too early to consider who could follow their lead in 2018:

Martin Brodeur

A slam dunk for induction into the Hall in his first year of eligibility, the iconic New Jersey Devils netminder brings a host of accolades to the table.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Devils, Brodeur ranks first all-time in NHL wins with an astonishing 691 victories to his credit, and also tops the charts with 125 shutouts. He was a winner on the international stage as well, guiding Team Canada to its first Olympic gold in 50 years in 2002.

The Calder Trophy winner in 1994, a mantle full of awards followed over the course of Brodeur's career, including four Vezinas and five Jennings.

Alexander Mogilny

In 1989, Mogilny became the first Soviet player to defect to the NHL, blazing the trail for the many Russians who followed in his footsteps, including Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Bure, and Sergei Zubov.

Mogilny made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres that same season, finishing his freshman year with 43 points in 65 games. Three years later, he potted 76 goals in a single campaign, a total that had only been seen by four players in league history.

Mogilny won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2002, and retired as a member of the Devils four years later. He sits third all-time in NHL scoring among Russians, trailing only Fedorov and Alex Ovechkin.

Jeremy Roenick

Making his NHL debut with Chicago in 1988, Roenick brought a different brand of hockey to the Blackhawks, mixing an exciting combination of skill and grit.

It was an early preview of the career that followed for the budding power forward, one that included stops with the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks.

In 2007, while with the Sharks, Roenick became only the third American-born player to score 500 NHL goals, potting his 500th against his former club, the Coyotes. Roenick, who announced his retirement in 2009, racked up 1,216 points over his career, good for third among U.S.-born NHLers.

Martin St. Louis

Never drafted into the NHL, the pint-sized St. Louis was determined to make the most of his career in an era that favored size over skill.

The early goings were tough. St. Louis struggled through his first two years with the Calgary Flames. But, after joining the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000, not only did St. Louis turn around his own career, but the franchise as well, as he led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004.

St. Louis wrapped that campaign with a league-leading 94 points, as he was recognized as the Hart Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award (now known as the Ted Lindsay Award) winner. He won his second Art Ross as a member of the Lightning in 2012-13, finishing the lockout-shortened season with 60 points in 48 games.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Another Saturday, another wildly busy night across the NHL.

With 12 games spread across the schedule, there's plenty to unpack, so let's get started and take a look at five takeaways from Saturday's action.

Leafs ace huge test without Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs played their third consecutive game without their best player, taking a 4-1 decision over the Boston Bruins.

The victory was Toronto's fourth in a row overall, concluding a massive bounceback week after a disastrous road trip through California and St. Louis. With six points in the bank without Matthews, and an additional four days off until their next game, it appears the Maple Leafs have averted disaster in grand fashion.

Karlsson in a class of his own

(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)

Perhaps it was because he was playing in his home country, or maybe it's just because he's superhuman, but Erik Karlsson continues to dazzle early in his 2017-18 season.

Karlsson recorded two assists in Saturday's win over Colorado in Sweden, and now paces all blue-liners with 16 assists - and now sits second in points for a defenseman - despite missing the first five games of the season.

DeBrincat shows he's worthy of a bigger role

The Chicago Blackhawks snapped two-game skid Saturday with an overtime victory in Carolina, thanks in large part to rookie Alex DeBrincat, who scored two goals and set up the game-winner.

DeBrincat now has 10 points in his first 17 NHL games, though is averaging more ice time than only four Blackhawks forwards. For a team that's been struggling to produce goals, maybe it's time to give the kid a chance.

Turris shines in Predators debut

(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)

If his debut was any indicator, it appears Kyle Turris will fit in just fine with the Nashville Predators.

In a Stanley Cup rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Preds' new addition scored his first goal in his new digs and later added a primary assist. It was clear head coach Peter Laviolette trusts him as well, as Turris ranked second among all Nashville forwards with 21:38 time played.

Lindgren has yet another huge night

If it weren't for Charlie Lindgren, the loss of Carey Price would be a lot tougher to handle for Montreal Canadiens fans.

That's not to say there's a goalie controversy brewing once Price returns, but the rookie netminder has filled in more than admirably in his absence. Saturday's 34-save effort brought Lindgren to 3-1 in four starts with a save precentage of .964 and a 1.24 GAA.

Lindgren stole two points on a night where the Canadiens were outplayed by the basement-dwelling Sabres, so if it weren't for him, things could be a lot worse in Montreal.

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