TORONTO -- Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs will provide an interesting sub-plot when their teams meet Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.
They are the two top rookie-of-the-year candidates and both are key players on their respective teams.
Adding to the intrigue is that Matthews was the first pick overall in the 2016 NHL draft and Laine was the second.
"I think they'll be writing about that for 20 years, won't they?" Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said after a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday, when asked if the two rookies will make the game that much more exciting.