Panthers forward Sam Reinhart speaks to the media following Florida's 5-0 win over Ottawa on Nov. 27. It’s nowhere near award season in the NHL, but we’re starting to get a look at some early favorites now that the calendar has flipped into December. On Monday, Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic revealed his latest NHL Awards Watch [https://theathletic.com/5108554/2023/12/04/nhl-awards-watch-cale-makar/]. Luszczyszyn leans on analytics and lets the numbers do the talking. At the end of the day, there is a bit more that goes into selecting NHL Awards winners, with distinctions as individual as each different voter who casts a ballot. As Luszczyszyn writes: “Numbers of course aren’t everything, but they add much-needed context to the awards race and can help shine a light on players deserving of more recognition while adding caveats to other players who may have some warts.” Going through the different awards, there were a couple Florida Panthers that jumped out as potential candidates when all is said and done. We’ll start with the Selke Trophy, where a pair of Panthers made the cut. Florida captain Sasha Barkov, who won the Selke back in 2021, leads the way with some dominant numbers. Here’s what Luszczyszyn had to say: “Whichever way you look at it (best two-way forward or the correct way, best defensive forward), Barkov is the front-runner right now. He’s got 64 percent of the expected goals and 82 percent of the actual goals, allowing 1.93 expected goals against per 60 and just 0.89 goals against per 60. All of those are league-leading marks or close to it — and the best of any forward in a high-usage role. He’s also been an incredible penalty killer, allowing just four goals against per 60 and 5.6 expected goals against per 60. Those are elite marks.” Coming in second on the Selke list was Barkov’s linemate, Sam Reinhart. Reinhart has always been a solid two-way player, but perhaps the combination of playing on Barkov’s win and his high-scoring start to the season have really put the 28-year-old on the map. Entering play Tuesday, led all Panthers players with 16 goals and 29 points, but as THN Florida pointed out earlier this week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/sam-reinhart-has-never-been-an-all-star-but-that-may-change-this-season], his defensive metrics are just as good. That’s why he’s getting consideration on Luszczyszyn’s list as a possible Hart Trophy candidate. Reinhart currently comes in fifth on the list, behind the likes of Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Nikita Kucherov and David Pastrnak. Now, should Reinhart’s impressive start to the season become a full campaign kind of event, it would make sense that he’d be in the Rocket Richard Trophy discussion as well. As it stands, Reinhart’s 16 goals are tied for second-most in the NHL so far this season, one behind Vancouver's Brock Boeser. Florida is just 24 games into the season, which means there are still 58 battles to fight until the playoffs arrive. As Panthers fans got a firsthand taste of last season, a lot can change between December and April. How Barkov and Reinhart continue their respective seasons will certainly be something to keep an eye on as the games go by. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA THN Archive: Ranking Panthers superlatives…in the middle of the dark ages [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/thn-archive-ranking-panthers-superlatives-in-the-middle-of-the-dark-ages] Sam Reinhart has never been an All-Star, but that may change this season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/sam-reinhart-has-never-been-an-all-star-but-that-may-change-this-season] Panthers recall defenseman Uvis Balinskis from AHL Charlotte [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-recall-defenseman-uvis-balinskis-from-ahl-charlotte] Checkers check-up: Balinskis scores in AHL debut, Charlotte struggles against Hershey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/checkers-check-up-balinskis-scores-in-ahl-debut-charlotte-struggles-against-hershey] Three takeaways: Pulling positives from dominant loss, second line on the rise [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/three-takeaways-pulling-positives-from-dominant-loss-second-line-on-the-rise] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
