Panthers Vs Wild: 5 Things To Watch
By Pat McGrath
USA TODAY Sports
2) Jonathan Huberdeau Vs. Jonas Brodin
When the Panthers played the Predators on Tuesday we were treated to a rookie clash between top draft picks Aleksander Barkov and Seth Jones. Tonight its the sophomores that get the spotlight as Panther forward Jonathan Huberdeau, 20, will be going up against Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, also 20. Huberdeau was taken 3rd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft while Brodin was taken 10th. Brodin’s play as a 19-year-old rookie defenseman had his name popping up as a dark horse rookie of the year candidate. Huberdeau won the award. Huberdeau has five points through eight games so far this season (3-2-5) as does Brodin (2-3-5).
Like the Jones-Barkov matchup, Huberdeau-Brodin does not have the proper time and space for a pure rivalry to form due to the two teams playing in separate conferences. Nonetheless, both players will be looking to prove a point tonight and the winner of the Huberdeau-Brodin battle will go a long way in deciding tonight’s game.