brendan smith – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:15:27 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 15: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) looks up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on March 15, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Jack Hughes

A rising star, the first pick in the 2019 Draft, has been rapidly improving and busted out for 56 points in 49 games last season. Hughes had started generating chances but could not finish early in his career and as his shot improved, the point production followed. Extraordinary confidence is part of what makes Hughes special and is what should drive him to greater heights, but he also needs to get more durable as he matures. A dislocated shoulder and a knee injury contributed to Hughes missing 33 games last season, but the 21-year-old came out of the Christmas break and produced 48 points in his last 36 games. If the Devils are going to be a competitive team, some of that will come from riding Hughes’ development to stardom. A point-per-game over a full season is an entirely reasonable expectation and Hughes if one of the rare players who has 100-point upside.

Jesper Bratt

A 24-year-old who has provided phenomenal value as a sixth-round pick, busting out offensively last season for 73 points in 76 games. Bratt is a consistent offensive threat, and his results last season were outstanding – his 2.90 points per 60 minutes ranked 17^th and his 1.22 goals per 60 minutes ranked 39^th. This production does not come by accident. Bratt has excellent anticipation and is strong on the puck in the offensive zone, equally adept at setting up plays or burying the puck in the back of the net. Bratt’s shooting percentage has varied significantly (13.0%, 8.8.%, 15.8%, 6.9%, 13.2% in his five NHL seasons) so that will play a role in setting expectations for his 2022-2023 season. The trend would be for it to fall this season so 60 points would be a reasonable low-end but a point per game over a full season is not out of range, either.

Nico Hischier

The Devils’ 23-year-old captain broke through for a career high 60 points last season, but he is known as much for his strong two-way play and that reliability makes him a strong complement to Hughes down the middle of the ice. Hischier could be more aggressive as a shooter, but his overall skill and defensive conscience makes him more valuable than might be widely known and his confidence with the puck is growing, which allows him to control the puck more effectively in traffic. That defensive conscience means that Hischier will get more difficult checking assignments and start more shifts in the defensive zone, so he is not deployed as favorably as Hughes, but that makes sense. Hughes has the higher offensive ceiling and Hischier can play the 200-foot game. Staying healthy has been an issue for Hischier, as he has missed at least a dozen games in each of the past four seasons. He might be able to match or surpass last season’s 60 points but that will be dependent on whether he can stay in the lineup.

Ondrej Palat

Consistent and dependable throughout his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, which included playing a prominent role on two Stanley Cup champions, the 31-year-old winger has finished with at least 40 points in seven of his nine NHL seasons. As a proven performer who has played tough minutes, Palat will be a big help to the Devils’ young forward core. He won’t be fazed by any high-pressure situations and if he plays with Hughes, a 50-point season would be within Palat’s grasp, maybe a little lower if he skates on Hischier’s wing. While Palat was overshadowed at times by the stars in Tampa Bay, he also rose to the occasion in the playoffs, scoring 27 goals in 71 playoff games over the past three seasons. If the Devils can get to the postseason, it would be nice to have someone like Palat, who knows what to do when they get there.

Dawson Mercer

A promising rookie season ended with Mercer tallying 42 points in 82 games, though he managed just one goal in the last 11 games of the season. Mercer played a good portion of his rookie season at center, and won just 35.4% of his faceoffs, but moved to the wing and, despite his late-season slump, that should allow him more offensive freedom because he has good vision and should thrive with skilled linemates. If that means skating on Jack Hughes’ wing, that’s a pretty good place for a second year forward looking to break out offensively. As a young player, Mercer offers a higher degree of potential variance when forecasting his point totals for this season. Some improvement on his rookie season, maybe to around 50 points, would be a quality step forward, but if he is a really good fit in that spot, maybe he could score even more.

Yegor Sharangovich

After a strong finish to his rookie season and a quality sophomore campaign, the 23-year-old winger has put up 31 goals in his past 90 games, and his 1.11 goals per 60 minutes of even-strength ice time last season had him scoring at the same rate as Evgeni Malkin and Tomas Hertl. Sharangovich has a quick release and goes hard to the net, so his opportunities to score are based on positioning, anticipation, and then linemates that do a good job feeding him the puck in scoring position. Sharangovich deserves credit for putting himself in good positions to score and the 24-year-old should be expected to contribute 25 goals and 45-50 points.

Tomas Tatar

A heady veteran winger, Tatar struggled in his first season with the Devils, producing 30 points in 76 games, the lowest per-game scoring rate of his career, thanks in part to an 11-game scoreless drought in the middle of the season. The 31-year-old is still a solid play driving winger, and that can’t be ignored, but for a Devils team that sorely needed contributions from skilled wingers, Tatar’s performance was disappointing. He can still fill a complementary role and the opportunity should still be there for him to produce, maybe not like his best years in Montreal, but better than last season. Taking into account that Tatar has recorded three seasons with more than 55 points, counting on more than 40 points this season would appear to be entirely reasonable.

Erik Haula

Getting traded to New Jersey lands Haula with the seventh team of his career and comes after he scored 18 goals and 44 points for the Bruins last season, both the second highest totals of his career. He had a strong finish to the season, with 10 goals and 19 points in his last 19 games. Haula also recorded a career-high 129 hits, and the ability to provide secondary scoring as well as play with a bit of an edge makes him a nice fit in a third-line center role for the Devils. Last season was one of Haula’s best seasons so it would be optimistic to count on that production again. If he stays healthy, though, 35 points would be an achievable target for the veteran forward.

Andreas Johnsson

Although the 27-year-old winger contributed 35 points last season and it seems like he is still going to be battling for ice tme, Johnsson has enough speed and skill to play a complementary role on a scoring line. His instincts are decent but his play without the puck needs improvement and that could prevent him from handling a bigger role, especially now that the Devils have improved forward depth. That uncertainty over Johnsson’s role on the team tempers any expectations for his production, so a total around the 35 points that he produced last season should be a fair baseline for expectations, with room for variance in either direction.

DEFENSE

Dougie Hamilton

A prized free agent signing a year ago, Hamilton is a rare talent, a smooth skating 6-foot-6 right shot defenseman. Although he had just nine goals last season, Hamilton averaged more than three shots on goal per game for the fifth straight season. He gets hammered by accusations of being soft and it doesn’t help matters if his defensive performance slips, as it did in his first season with the Devils, but Hamilton is typically an elite offensive defenseman whose puck-moving ability tends to offset anything that he gives back on the defensive end. Injuries have caught up to Hamilton in two of the past three seasons, but he was very durable before that, so if he is relatively healthy this season, he should be relied upon to score at least a dozen goals and 45-50 points, with potential to go significantly higher. In his last two seasons with Carolina, for example, Hamilton put up 82 points in 102 games.

Damon Severson

A 28-year-old right shot defenseman who just put up a career-high 46 points last season, Severson is a potential free agent in the summer of 2023. The Devils typically get better results with Severson on the ice, at least in terms of shots, but he has yet to have a season in the NHL in which his team outscores the opposition during 5-on-5 play. Severson has been very durable, and in a contract year should be poised for significant production, in the range of 40 points, maybe a little more.

Ryan Graves

Even though Graves is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he is not an especially physical option on the blueline, but he is a steady top-four defenseman and that matters a lot for a team that is seeking a path to credibility. His ice time has climbed steadily since he arrived in the league, reaching a career-high 20:43 time on ice per game last season. Graves recorded a career-high 28 points last season and with 135 hits, he did fill the stat sheet a little bit. Scoring is not necessarily going to drive Graves’ value, but he ought to be capable of 25 points and then add to that with hits and blocked shots to make him worth considering in deep leagues.

John Marino

Acquired in a trade that sent Ty Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Marino is a strong skater and capable puck handler who gets the breakout started with a quality first pass but is not much of a factor in terms of physical play. At the same time, he is particularly adept at defending the blueline, and that reliability should make him a valuable contributor in New Jersey. Unless he seizes a bigger role than anticipated, Marino will likely produce 25-30 points this season and without significant peripheral stats, that will serve to limit his fantasy appeal.

GOALTENDING

Mackenzie Blackwood

The New Jersey Devils are growing dangerously close to turning Mackenzie Blackwood into the next John Gibson; after debuting at the NHL level with an impressive game and an admirable confidence level, he’s struggled more and more behind the lottery-dwelling New Jersey lineup each season. This past year was perhaps the worst of all; plagued by a lingering heel injury that left him ginger in the crease and slow to move, Blackwood was limited to just 25 games all year and spent months at a stretch on the team’s long-term injured reserve list.

The club gave very little information regarding what exactly was nagging at Blackwood, so it’s hard to get a read on just what kind of a timetable he’ll need to return to full form. With everything from calcaneal fractures to achilles damage and plantar fasciitis up for grabs as possible problems the goaltender could have faced, the Devils could have Blackwood back at his best as soon as the year begins, or they could be looking at a lengthy return-to-form timeline for the formerly-established number one. The good news is that the team brought Vitek Vanecek in to ease the workload, offering both a younger source of reinforcement (therefore one less likely to get hampered by wear and tear issues) and a goaltender who has more promise to remain a legitimate tandem option than some of the major-minor tweeners the team has tried to deploy in the last few years. There’s less pressure for Blackwood to play through health-related troubles with Vanecek sitting on the bench than there was with backups like Keith Kinkaid and Jon Gillies, which should hopefully ease some of the pressure he faced and allow him to perform at peak capacity. That’s good news for fans – because when he was at full strength, Blackwood’s game forced shooters to show their hands and come to him in a way that made him hard to trick and overthrow.

Projected starts: 55-60

Vitek Vanecek

Washington fans likely hadn’t predicted that they’d spend their 2021-22 season hotly debating whether the team was in better hands with heir apparent Ilya Samsonov or fellow draft-and-developee Vitek Vanecek. And worse, they likely hadn’t predicted that they’d be debating it so hotly not because both goaltenders were doing so well, but because both were continuing to struggle so consistently.

The lukewarm outcome of their year left the Capitals opting to cut ties with both of their starters this summer, though, and New Jersey was one of the two teams that decided to step in and offer their services to attempt a reclamation project. They’ll enter their 2022-23 campaign hoping that Vanecek, who fell shy of recording quality starts in over half his games last year, can bounce back and offer some consistent support behind MacKenzie Blackwood. There’s a hope that the addition of some experience in Blackwood will give Vanecek some direction, and that taking some of the pressure off should enable him to take a step back and tighten back up some of his game moving forward. But it’s hard to really figure out just how much of Vanecek’s game was growing pains, and how much was struggles to read the plays happening in front of him; while he didn’t get quite as goaded into oversliding and shifting out of the net as Samsonov did behind the Washington defense, his issues in coverage had more to do with missed positioning and inconsistent work with his hands. His missed goals came in inches, which make it harder to discern how many were mistakes and how many were simply the result of getting set and positioned off-angle from where he really needed to be.

Projected starts: 25-30

Quinn-Tessential – New York Rangers 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:54:47 +0000

OVERVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - It has been a remarkable run for the franchise, but all things must pass. The Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. A run that included appearance in two conference finals and a Stanley Cup final through 2011-12 to 2014-15. From that peak signs of decline have been evident in recent seasons, but great goaltending and a competitive squad has kept them competitive with three 100-point seasons in a row up until 2017-18.

In February management released a statement announcing a transition to a younger group. Prior to the draft they reaffirmed they are planning a rebuild. They laid the foundation at the draft with three first round picks, following upon two first rounders in 2017 (promising Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil who almost made the team as an 18-year-old last year). Given the Rangers had not had a first round pick since 2012 it is a significant shift in direction for the team. In addition to the three first rounders they also had three picks over the second and third round significantly stocking the cupboard, notably adding six defensemen.

REBUILD UNDERWAY - The rebuild also began behind the bench with the hiring of David Quinn, who coached at Boston University, after parting ways with Alain Vigneault after five seasons. He will have a different mandate in molding a group of promising young prospects into a contender in three of four seasons. The market of New York has not been known for patience nor has management in the past but GM Jeff Gorton managed to resist temptation in free agency with almost $20 million dollars in cap space.

They began acquiring assets close the trade deadline trading Rick Nash and acquiring 20-year-old Ryan Lindgren, the Bruins first round pick and Ryan Spooner (26-years-old and an RFA this offseason). They also shipped defensive stalwart Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller to Tampa for Vladimir Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, both of whom could make the squad this year along with a first round pick (used to acquire defenseman Nils Lundqvist) and a conditional second for 2019.

Henrik Lundqvist

There is no doubt the decline of Henrik Lundqvist has accelerated the rebuild after a second subpar season. After posting a 0.910 save percentage in 2016-17, he climbed slightly back up to 0.915, but struggled from February on posting a 0.908 save percentage in the fourth quarter.

The core forward group has both Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes who fired 25 goals at center, the first time a pair of 25-year-olds have done that for the franchise in 17 years, and the first two centers since Gretzky and Messier did it for the club in 1996-97. Zibanejad was dominating through the first part of the season until sidelined by a concussion. They anchored the top two lines and were second and third behind 30-year-old Mats Zuccarello in team scoring. The undersized but remarkably consistent (five seasons between 49 and 61 points in a row), healthy and effective winger. He led the forward group in ice time. All signs point towards being moved for assets prior to the deadline.

TALENTED YOUTH CHALLENGE ON WING - Hayes may find his spot in the top six challenged by either Filip Chytil or Lias Andersson, both first round draft picks from 2017. They were both on the roster to end the season after spending time in the AHL and will make their case in camp.

On the wing Chris Kreider brings size and speed and after a breakout 2016-17 and he started 2017-18 with a solid first half before being diagnosed with blood clots in his arm and forced to miss two months, returning 15 pounds lighter and needing time to adjust. Signs of a full return to form came when he had an outstanding tournament for Team USA at the World Championships.

The Rangers have been patient with Pavel Buchnevich and he will be provided with every opportunity to break out this season. After scoring at a point a game as a rookie, he endured an up and down sophomore season, not unusual and providing some learning. He has exciting upside and dynamic skills so joining the top line with Kreider and Zibanejad would provide a potentially explosive line all over 6’2”.

The defence is anchored by already mentioned Shattenkirk, Staal and Smith. Staal and Smith pose a challenge for the incoming coach to turn their game around and provide veteran presence on the blueline. Vigneault had lost confidence in Brendan Smith and was clearly not part of his plans.

Brady Skej brings 6’3” with a large wingspan, owns exceptional mobility and situational awareness. Very strong defensively he is also a superb skater. He posted 39 points in his rookie season and took a step back last season, but all the tools and opportunity are there to excel. Led the Rangers in ice time last season. He signed a six-year extension at $5.25 million AAV in July cementing his role as part of the future of the Rangers.

Neal Pionk was signed out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth before the season and played most of the year in the AHL, but when he joined the big club he averaged 22:23 minutes per game, behind only Ryan McDonagh on the team and slightly ahead of Skej. He added 14 point in 28 games and appeared to play his way on to the roster.

OUTLOOK – Red lights flashing warning include a defense that allowed 3.27 goals against per game for 28^th in the league, and the worst Corsi For percentage with 45.9. They had decent special teams with a 12^th ranked power play (21.2%) and a 10^th ranked penalty kill (81.4%). A return to form for their veteran defenders will make a difference and if Lundqvist has another season in him but little was done to address this need.

While in a rebuild they already have a core roster of relatively young skaters so could transition quickly. No dominant stars but they can compete but won’t run the corner this season.

BROKEN WINGS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:13:49 +0000

Many thought the move to the Eastern Conference would translate into more wins for the Wings, but they were only able to squeak into the playoffs to keep their playoff streak alive with their 23rd straight post season appearance.

The reason for their struggles had nothing to do with geography or alignment, rather the 418 man games lost to injury they endured. Key injuries to star players Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and more allowed the team to get a good long look at the quality of their young players. Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan, and Tomas Tatar were standouts for the Wings. All three proved to be NHL ready and fantasy worthy but will still need to compete for roster spots with a healthier veteran squad of Johan Franzen, Justin Abdelkadar, Darren Helm, and Daniel Alfredsson should he decide not to retire.

Further roster competition will come from other young future stars Anthony Mantha and Tomas Jurco who will push veterans like Drew Miller, Joakim Andersson, Dan Cleary and even Stephen Weiss who suffered a miserable season managing only four points in 26 games played.

Detroit has a brilliant history of good drafting and player development and we may be on the cusp of the next wave of great players to graduate within the organization.

The competition exists on defence as well as Xavier Ouellet, Ryan Sproul and Mattias Backman will push Brian Lashoff and Kyle Quincey for ice time joining a blueline anchored by Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson and youngsters Danny DeKeyser Jakub Kindl, and Brendan Smith.

With youth on the rise in Detroit, the offense should improve, returning the winged wheel to the freewheeling offense fantasy GMs covet. After top guns Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Kronwall look to youngsters like Nyquist and Tatar in fantasy drafts.

We have posted profiles for the following players: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Gustav Nyquist, Johan Franzen, Tomas Tatar, Darren Helm, Stephen Weiss, Niklas Kronwall, Brendan Smith, Jimmy Howard and for good measure Daniel Alfredsson should he resign with the team.

Finding Value in Fantasy Hockey Drafts

Carl Lemelin — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:00:01 +0000

Finding Value in Fantasy Hockey Drafts

My colleague Peter Harling wrote a very helpful article for you fantasy hockey players. As he mentions, league championships are rarely won early in the draft. It is with the mid to late picks that you can make or break your whole season.

Some call them sleepers, but the players you are looking for deeper into your league draft are simply underrated by your peers for a variety of reasons (Peter does a good job of enumerating most of them in his piece). Trying to identify breakout or comeback candidates is never an exact science, but there is a convergence of factors that eventual surprise performers have invariably benefitted from and that you should therefore be prioritizing in your pre-season preparation: a track record for scoring and potential offensive opportunity within their respective organizations.

Here are some of the candidates that I feel present the best later rounds value based on this premise (note that I completely agree with Peter on Ottawa’s Patrick Wiercioch and Washington’s Mikhail Grabovski).

1- Kyle Palmieri (LW-RW), ANA: Has scored goals at every level. Improved from 29 G in 62 GP in his rookie AHL season to 33 G in only 51 GP the following year. Managed to produce a point every 2 games in his rookie NHL season at 22, despite a meager 12:19 TOI (1:21 on the PP). Contrary to popular belief, Teemu Selanne’s recent signing for one more season should enhance Palmieri’s value: 1- he should qualify for two positions, playing RW when Selanne is given the inevitable game off for rest and; 2- he will have a top-line quality winger to play with (as Jacob Silfverberg is expected to play LW on the top line). Impressed in a thrilling first round playoff series (7-3-2-5, +5).

2- Cody Hodgson (C), BUF: The former junior scoring star finally seems to have put his health issues (back pain) behind him after a full 48-game showing in 2013. We may have just seen the tip of the iceberg of Hodgson’s offensive potential at only 23. A full season playing on a line with dynamo Thomas Vanek may grant him the point-a-game status. Only 5 of his 34 points were PP markers last season. Expect a noticeable improvement in that area.

3- Mikkel Boedker (LW), PHO: Still only 23, Boedker has been viewed as a potential breakout player for the past two seasons now, but one element of the equation has been missing: an elite playmaking centerman to play give-and-go with. That piece of the puzzle is now in place with the arrival of Mike Ribeiro, who along with Shane Doan and Boedker will finally complete a legitimate top line in the desert. Boedker has already displayed his smarts, producing 19 assists in 2013 on a mediocre offensive team. Look for Ribeiro’s wizardry to push the young winger’s goal totals to new heights (25-35 range is realistic).

4- Tyson Barrie (D), COL: Junior standout produced well over a point-a-game in his final two seasons in Kelowna. Had a seamless transition to the pro ranks in 2011-12 (49-5-27-32, -1) down in Lake Erie (AHL). Proved his worth as an NHL PP quarterback in 2013 with 5 of 13 points on the man advantage. With Erik Johnson’s complete failure to produce, Barrie will be given the reins at the point on a talented and improving young squad in Denver. Uncanny poise has been the key to his meteoric rise atop the Colorado defensive depth chart.

5- Jaden Schwartz (LW-C), STL: The only reason he was taken as late as 14^th overall is that 2010 was a very deep draft year (look it up). A dominant point producer in college, Schwartz will be playing on one of the two interchangeable top lines in St-Louis. This team is expected to be a Cup contender because of its unmatched overall depth and you can expect this guy to be a big part of this developing powerhouse. A must-get for you keeper-leaguers out there.

6- Matt Frattin (LW), LAK: This guy found twine almost once a game in his final year in college (36 times in 44 GP). Went 4-2-6 in his first 4 games with the Leafs last season, but ultra-conservative coach Randy Carlisle’s strange refusal to use him on the PP (0:34 TOI) made that pace unsustainable for the rest of the year. The natural sniper will get to play on Mike Richards’ left wing and finally get top six minutes and second unit PP time as well. Position scarcity on LW adds bonus value here.

7- Aleksander Barkov (C), FLO: Lead Tappara to a second place finish in the Finnish League as an 18 y/o (53-21-27-48). At 6’ 3”, 209 lbs, definitely the most NHL-ready among the 2013 draft class. Nathan McKinnon was 1^st overall and Jonathan Drouin may well play on a line with Steven Stamkos and Martin St-Louis, but Barkov will step in as a top-line center right away this season. The fact that the Panthers let Stephen Weiss leave via free agency and picked this guy second in the draft instead of Drouin and blue-chip D-man Seth Jones is a testament to their faith in the Finnish prodigy. GM Dave Tallon hasn’t swung and missed on many high draft picks has he?

8- Lubomir Visnovsky (D), NYI: Only veteran comeback candidate on this list at 37. There usually is only one point-man through which most PP units funnel the majority of plays. Last year, that guy was Mark Streit on the Island. Now that he has moved on, Visnovsky inherits the role on a very potent PP (ranked 11^th in 2013). He is only 2 seasons removed from a career-high 68 point season and has now bought into the rebuild in Long Island, signing a two-year extension in March. Strong comeback player-of-the-year candidate.

9- Brendan Smith (D), DET: Even the Wings’ commitment to bringing youngsters along slowly couldn’t keep this guy down in Grand Rapids for too long. Steady gains in decision-making and on-ice discipline had him secure a regular spot in Detroit’s 6-man unit last year. Impressed in the playoffs, gaining Mike Babcock’s confidence with every solid shift. Focused on improving his defense the past couple of seasons. Now that that’s out of the way, his natural offensive instincts (57-10-24-34 in AHL in 2011-12) should kick in as he gets more prominent PP minutes (only 1:09 last year).

Grand Rapids Griffins Scouting Reports

Gus Katsaros — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 18:06:03 +0000

Grand Rapids rolled into the Ricoh Coliseum for the first time in 2012-13, escaping with a 4-3 shootout win, in a game that featured them coming back from a 3-1 deficit to force extra time, and winning on the shootout, scoring three straight goals on Marlies goalie, Jussi Rynnas.

I was at the game and filed these player reports on the Griffins players.

Gustav Nyquist (RW) – Likely would have graduated full time with the Red Wings if the lockout had not intervened .. more in tune defensively, improved deep zone positioning, covering up for center when he’s been engaged along the boards or in corners, but not far away from his point man – as a winger covering the space up top .. involved and always close to the play and the puck .. seems to have moved away from stealth and weak side plays, being more proactive and accessible to teammates .. drawn into more individual scrums and often pressuring opponents into creating turnovers .. slippery as an eel with fluid skating and creative stutter steps when trying to get past defenders along the boards to maximize his space .. found all alone in front and with a quick one-timer scored the first Griffins goal .. the puck spends very little time on the blade of his stick when in a scoring area .. no dawdling with the puck, just gets it on net and scoots to the front .. two goals including game-tying third goal that sent the game to extra time .. dynamic offensively and adding a steady defensive presence to his resume.

Tomas Tatar (LW) – Sleek Slovak struggles with a size disadvantage but bravely fights to get positioning on the inside and challenges .. solid vision and slick passing ability, through legs, or in contorted shapes .. patient and doesn't panic under pressure .. always moving and involved, very rarely static .. cross crease pass to Nyquist on the first Grand Rapids goal .. quick release with surprising velocity on a short wind up .. cerebral player draws men over to him and slows down the play to a desired pace, only to open up with quick feet .. the size factor aside, there’s a slew of players on the left side to compete with and an apparent roster spot on Detroit isn’t clear.

Landon Ferraro (C) - solid acceleration albeit with a slushy stride .. finishes checks with authority, but knows when to just impede the players progress, being able to stay active and adapt to the play .. uses an active stick to block passing lanes .. first unit PK .. uses quickness and acceleration while in motion to move the puck .. lacks natural skilled hands and limited imagination with the puck, more utilitarian .. solid defensive awareness .. covered up for pinching defenseman and saved a scoring chance .. missed a glorious chance all alone midway through the third period with the game tied to put the Griffins ahead when Grant sent the puck in the middle here he picked it up .. solid compete and consistent efforts.

Joakim Andersson (C) - Red Wings 2nd selection in 2007 (88th overall) still shows deficiency in his skating mechanics .. slow off the mark and wild in top speed .. former Swedish junior star had a good day in the faceoff circle, winning the majority of draws, and tying up his man when he lost it .. stands in front of the net on the PP .. rubbed out his forward along the boards, forcing an early play that led to a turnover .. very aggressive - led to a penalty, which the Griffins killed off - and then called once again for a check where he jumped up at the Marlie player along the boards and called for contact to the head .. broke a plane of glass finishing a check, albeit after the whistle .. aggressive nature with good defensive instincts and solid positioning in the defensive zone .. uses his frame to both protect the puck and aggressively initiate contact.

Riley Sheahan (C) – Detroit 2010 first round selection (21st overall) displayed a wide horseshoe stance and wide stride though not the nimblest of feet .. lateral movement is average and he showed more straight ahead speed and acceleration and burgeoning lateral movement .. used in virtually every situation, but saw his ice time reduced during a second period flurry of penalties that had others starting ahead of him .. smartly covered up for his pinching defenseman and showed a good sense as the high center supporting a defensive position .. seemed less engaged at times during the second period where he was chasing a Marlie player from the offensive zone, back through the neutral zone and then for some strange reason let up when he hit the Griffins blueline, even though he was there, stride for stride .. faded into the background slowly after that .. mixed outing with a teaser of two-way skills with hints of inconsistency shift to shift.

Louis Marc Aubry (C) – Tall and lanky – listed at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds .. used a defensive foil as a pivot on a checking unit .. follows the puck on the ice almost to the point of fixation yet remains in the game flow .. makes relatively safe decisions on the forecheck and effective defense in his own zone .. skating and balance remain a concern which affects his mobility .. strong with his stick and persistent in engaging opponents and forcing defensemen to hurry their plays .. physical at times along the boards, and fighting in front, but doesn’t consistently initiate contact .. relies more on long reach and positioning .. shaping into a defensive pivot, with a good sense and size, with an upgrade in skating as a work in progress.

Brendan Smith (D) – Another draft pick that would have graduated to the NHL .. played man first, puck second .. strong on his feet and in physical confrontations .. gaps are loose and uses his stick to cover distance, a dangerous circumstance if he loses a step and player flies be on the outside.. joined the rush late in the first period and the play broke down, recovered the puck in the neutral zone and slid down the right wing, making a horrific drop pass that Nyqvist couldn't hang on to ending up in a turnover rush the other way and ended up in a goal .. has to be more mindful of where the play is and the risk involved in dropping a pass without support .. didn't make as many individual rushes, but jumped into the rush and supported offensively .. kept himself restrained, making good, hard outlets and long stretch passes .. has a tendency of playing high in the defensive zone, a detriment when the play breaks down and gets back in deep .. still some learning on the defensive side.

Top 20 Calder Candidates

Iain Morrell — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:12:59 +0000

1. MIKAEL GRANLUND, C, MIN - Finnish dynamo is a special player and sure to be among the Calder frontrunners. Should make a seamless transition given his smarts and maturity.

2. CHRIS KREIDER, LW, NYR - Meshed impressively into New York's attack in a flashy NHL playoff debut. Among the Calder favourites and certain to cause fits with his blistering pace.

3. NAIL YAKUPOV, RW, EDM - This summer's first-overall pick should enjoy instant success. But there are concerns as to how well his undersized body will stand up to NHL warfare.

4. BRENDAN SMITH, D, DET - Will inject some youth and pizzazz to Detroit's blueline as he demonstrated in a 14-game NHL debut. Gets a prime opportunity with Nicklas Lidstrom retired.

5. JAKOB SILFVERBERG, RW, OTT - Should line up alongside fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson, whose Elitserien playoff goal record he just broke. Brings a heavy wristshot and strong defense.

6. MARCUS FOLIGNO, LW, BUF - Hard-hitting winger supercharged the Sabres upon a March call-up, firing five goals in his first six NHL games. Gains in skating triggered last season's leap.

7. GUSTAV NYQUIST, RW, DET - Made an impressive transition to the pros, earning a promotion in March. Must continue to develop his physical play and effectiveness in traffic.

8. JACOB MARKSTROM, G, FLA - Top-rated goalie prospect continues to develop his game and wait for an opportunity. Could force Florida's hand with another standout camp.

9. JUSTIN SCHULTZ, D, EDM - Coveted free agent caused a feeding frenzy among NHL teams - with the Oilers pulling biggest straw. May find defending NHL bodies challenging.

10. VLADIMIR TARASENKO, RW, STL - Russian 'Tank' turns 21 in December and already boasting four years of KHL experience. St. Louis gets a unique talent to enhance their attack arsenal.

11. JON HUBERDEAU, LW-C, FLA - Slick multi-dimensional forward led Florida in preseason goals last fall. Promises to be an emerging force as his body matures and reaches full strength.

12. RYAN STROME, RW-C, NYI - Quality scorer with soft hands and sharp instincts. Isles could use another weapon, but expect insulated minutes given age and 'in-progress' defense.

13. ALEX GALCHENYUK, LW-C, MTL - Taken third overall despite minimal appearances in `11-12 due to major knee surgery. Will get every chance to bolster the Habs with his NHL-caliber skills.

14. DOUGIE HAMILTON, D, BOS - CHL 'Defenceman of the Year' appears set to step directly into the B's starting six. Will benefit from pro influences as strength and defense need maturing.

15. BRANDON SAAD, LW, CHI - Pittsburgh native exploded into a star during his second OHL term. Developing power winger could be the answer to fill left-wing void on Hawks' top line.

16. JADEN SCHWARTZ, LW-C, STL - Did not look at all overwhelmed during a seven-game NHL debut. Blessed with an intuitive feel for the game and a rare ability to control the tempo.

17. J.T. BROWN, RW, TB - Burnsville, Minnesota native and son of former NFL (Minnesota Vikings) running back Ted Brown. Speedy power winger and a suffocating forechecker.

18. SVEN BARTSCHI, LW, CGY - Swiss-born winger filled WHL nets after a standout camp with Calgary. Fired goals in three straight games in a head-turning NHL debut in March.

19. RYAN MURRAY, D, CBJ - Intelligent, polished prospect succeeds on substance rather than flash and dash. Moves the puck with maturity and precision - plays within the system.

20. CORY CONACHER, RW, TB - Undrafted Canisius College star led the AHL in goals as a rookie and also won a Calder Cup. Marty St. Louis clone given size and tenacious style.

Under the Radar Fantasy All Stars

James Mirtle — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:12:33 +0000

Comeback players, rebound candidates, up-and-coming rookies and sophomores - these are the sorts of fantasy all-stars you want to be taking in your pools. And it just so happens we've assembled an entire roster of them.

The basis for making the "under the radar" fantasy all-star team is that, quite simply, these players will likely fall further than they should in your draft because they are either (a) unproven, (b) playing for poor teams or (c) coming off bad seasons. But those kinds of gambles are exactly what can win your pool (assuming your competitors aren't also holding this list, of course).

FORWARDS

Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado

Big Swede simply got better and better as his rookie season wore on, emerging as a dominant forward at 18 years old late in the year and showing every indication he’ll be a perennial star. There’s always the danger of a sophomore slump but with that comes the upside he continues his great second half and hits 65 points or more.

Mikko Koivu, Minnesota

Still one of the more underrated two-way players in the entire league, Koivu is a 75-point talent stuck in an organization that has always struggled to produce a lot of goals. The additions of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter should help immensely there, shining the spotlight on the man in the middle.

Cody Hodgson, Buffalo

Shipped to the Sabres after not getting the playing time he craved in Vancouver, Hodgson’s debut with his new team wasn’t overwhelmingly impressive. It was, however, good enough that they shipped out Derek Roy to create a hole in the middle, and Hodgson has the talent to put up big numbers with quality wingers.

Eric Staal, Carolina

Granted an odd candidate for an under the radar list, but consider the following: Here’s a player who has had seven consecutive 70-point seasons and was absolutely dominant in the second half last year after having some brutal luck in the early going. Staal will be rejuvenated with brother Jordan in the fold and could get even more offensive help as GM Jim Rutherford continues to add. Bet on a point a game and hope for more - because he’s done it before.

Tomas Plekanec, Montreal

Last season was a disaster for pretty much everyone in Montreal, but the good news there is that there’ll be plenty of rebound candidates on the roster. Plekanec’s going to continue to get big minutes and last year’s 52 points should be the low water mark.

Antoine Vermette, Phoenix

Languished in Columbus (along with many others) but looked reborn upon jumping to the Coyotes and will continue to be a favourite of coach Dave Tippett. Vermette could easily slip to the later rounds but is a safe bet for 45 points and has hit 65 in the past. It’s not like he’ll have much competition for playing time, either.

Mike Ribeiro, Washington

Not really a fan favourite around the league given some of his high profile flops, Ribeiro nonetheless has averaged more than 65 points a season the last four years. The Capitals will also not be nearly as defensive as they were under Dale Hunter, meaning Ribeiro will be freelancing out there with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green at times.

James Van Riemsdyk, Toronto

Let’s try this again. The man known as 'JVR' is the only player to make this list both last year and this one, but given the injuries, it’s worth giving him a mulligan. Toronto wasn’t very good last season, but they did score plenty of goals and won’t lose a single piece from that cast up front. Van Riemsdyk will also get plenty of opportunities to prove he can centre the top line, and any time with Phil Kessel is 'pucks in net' time.

Kyle Turris, Ottawa

He may not ever be a huge scorer, but he is also in little danger of losing his second line spot and will benefit from playing a full season with the Sens. Turris’s totals of a year ago prorate to 43 points so that’s a good starting point for where he’ll land in a full season. And you always hope for more.

Derek Stepan, NY Rangers

There is a reason Glen Sather considered him an untouchable in summer trade talks: There’s great potential in Stepan, even if he remains far from a household name. Right now, you’re guaranteed at least 45 or 50 points, but you never know when he’ll break out and hit 60 or higher. Hopefully it’s after you’ve picked him.

Mikael Granlund, Minnesota

The first of two wild cards. Granlund is a prospect first and foremost, but on a Wild team hoping to make a huge splash and score far more goals, he could get a first line role. Is he ready for that? Impossible to say for sure, but one of the reasons Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed on with Minnesota was their prospect depth and Granlund is at the top of that list. Could surprise.

Marcus Foligno, Buffalo

Made a phenomenal jump from junior in having an excellent AHL season and then netted 13 points in 14 NHL games. The Sabres forward lines are crowded and he’s probably stuck in the bottom six, but the team’s brass loves him and will give him plenty of opportunities to succeed. Anywhere from 25 to 55 points is possible so bid accordingly.

Ales Hemsky, Edmonton

A forgotten man given all of the Oilers blossoming young talent, Hemsky could surprise everyone with a big bounce back year if he can just stay healthy. That, of course, is a big if, but he was close to a point a game guy the previous few seasons and should come extra cheap given he had only 36 points while playing through injury. Still not that old, either.

DEFENSEMEN

Alex Goligoski, Dallas

Took a step back last season to just 30 points from 46 the year before but should be the beneficiary of the added firepower Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk added in Derek Roy, Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney. Sure, this an old crew, but that’s a good power play crew and Goligoski can get 30-plus points there alone.

Dmitry Kulikov, Florida

No more Jason Garrison with the Panthers should mean a bigger role for young blueliner who everyone continues to wait for a breakout from. The only question is will it come now or will Filip Kuba take a lot of those minutes?

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Phoenix

Unquestionably a future star, he has the misfortune for playing for the super stingy Coyotes, which may hurt his offensive production for the next few years. Still, if you want to grab the next horse on the blueline in a keeper league, here’s a prime opportunity.

Nikita Nikitin, Columbus

Quietly had a terrific breakout season last year on a terrible team and will be entrusted with top four minutes from the get-go this time around. They’re going to load him up with tough minutes, so don’t expect a good plus-minus figure, but Nikitin is one of the better defencemen in the league that no one has heard about.

Jamie McBain, Carolina

Took a small step back as the ‘Canes struggled mightily out of the gate but has plenty of potential and at 24 will continue to take on more and more of a role. Carolina’s offence should improve with the addition of Jordan Staal alone and at some point McBain will hit that 40-point mark and get on poolies’ radar.

Slava Voynov, Los Angeles

So long Jack Johnson. Voynov’s emergence last season was one of the underrated aspects of the Kings championship, as the young Russian went from the minors to playing a regular role in the top four and chipped in offensively, too. He’s a bit buried behind Drew Doughty, but his totals last season prorate to 30 points and that’s with limited power play time. Trending up.

Brendan Smith, Detroit

It’s always very difficult to project young defencemen who have limited NHL experience, but the Red Wings always seem to do an excellent job of working their rookies in slowly and Smith has been apprenticing for this role for ages. Big time potential here - and there’s a hole to fill with Nick Lidstrom’s retirement - but how soon will we see it?

GOALTENDERS

Braden Holtby, Washington

After a star turn in last year’s playoffs, the Capitals are putting their faith in the rookie this season and indications are he should be able to deliver. While Michal Neuvirth is capable of beating him out for a lot of starts, Holtby has the inside track and could end up starting a lot of games for one of the Eastern Conference’s stronger teams.

James Reimer, Toronto

How dangerously do you like to live? If the Leafs go in with Reimer and Ben Scrivens as their tandem, any number of possibilities could unfold, including Reimer regaining his 2010-11 form and excelling as a No. 1 over a prolonged stretch. He won’t get much help from his defence, so buyer beware. (And if you want to really go nuts, take a flier on Scrivens.)

A long-time member of the McKeen’s Hockey team, James Mirtle covers the NHL for The Globe and Mail and is based in Toronto.

You can read more of his work at globesports.com