Dante Fabbro – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 19:04:12 +0000

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 01: Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) on the ice during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets on November 1, 2024 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

It was a season spent in agony mourning the sudden loss of Johnny Gaudreau, but that tragedy led to inspiration for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they inserted themselves into the playoff picture out of nowhere in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets went from 66 points in 2023-2024 to 89 and a fourth-place finish in the Metropolitan Division in 2024-25. Two years ago, Columbus had a minus-63 goal differential and flipped that to a plus-5 last year. By scoring more goals and allowing fewer, they were able to take advantage of a weaker-than-usual division and finished two points out of the final wild card. New head coach Dean Evason helped turn things around with his more disciplined system and despite being without captain Boone Jenner for most of the season (28 games played) and going without Sean Monahan and Kent Johnson for long stretches, it was an encouraging season to build on. Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski provided the kind of leadership and play from the blue line they haven’t had before and if that’s a sign of things to come, Columbus is in a good place moving forward.

What’s Changed?

The Blue Jackets improved their forward depth adding Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from Colorado and gave up prospect Gavin Brindley to make it happen. That’s a tough cost, but Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell recognized they’re in a spot to compete for the playoffs now. They also re-signed defencemen Dante Fabbro (four years, $16.5 million) and Ivan Provorov (seven years, $59.5 million) to long-term deals and re-signed Dmitry Voronkov to a two-year, $8.35 million bridge deal. They also added further depth to their forward group signing Isac Lundestrom (two years, $2.6 million) and Hudson Fasching (one year, $775,000). Columbus also traded goalie Daniil Tarasov to Florida which opens up the backup job to Jet Greaves.

What Would Success Look Like?

If the Blue Jackets can build off of what they started last year, they’ll be in position for the playoffs in the Metropolitan Division as well as the wild card. Giving goalie Elvis Merzlikins more of a break with Greaves challenging for more starts is the kind of thing that should work out well, especially since Greaves was outstanding in the AHL and in a handful of NHL starts last season. The emergence of Werenski as an elite No. 1 defenceman is vital to steadying out the defence group but also gives them a high-end power play quarterback. The growth of Kirill Marchenko as a dangerous high-skill scorer, Adam Fantilli as an all-around scoring threat and Kent Johnson’s playmaking and scoring can help their offence take another step. With Sean Monahan’s solid play and leadership and the continued growth of Cole Sillinger and evolution of Mathieu Olivier’s game, the Blue Jackets can beat teams in a lot of ways. Getting to the playoffs would be a massive accomplishment.

What Could Go Wrong?

If classic Columbus fumbling happens, it could quickly become another season in the draft lottery. You could argue the Blue Jackets won games despite the play of Merzlikins last season (.892 save percentage) and if he struggles again, it’ll put more stress on the rest of the team to outscore the tougher nights. The Blue Jackets had five players score 20-or-more goals last season and two of them had 30-plus (Marchenko, Fantilli) and one of them was a defenceman (Werenski, 23). As wide of a swath of offence that is, they only had four other players reach double-figures in goals. Being that top-heavy leads to teams loading up against the top guys to shut them down. If Columbus’ attack doesn’t diversify, it’ll be more of a slog for them and against the best teams in the East, that’ll make for much harder nights.

Top Breakout Candidate

While we’ve seen many of the Blue Jackets’ young forwards have breakout years recently, it’s goalie Jet Greaves who’s worth keeping an eye on. At 24 years old, he’s been heavily tested in the AHL with 158 regular season games played for Cleveland along with 19 playoff appearances. His .909 save percentage in the AHL is skewed by his play in his first two seasons, but the past two years he’s posted .910 and .920 save percentages. He’ll start the season as Elvis Merzlikins’ backup, but with how well he played in Columbus in limited action (11 GP; 7-2-2, .938 save percentage, 1.91 goals-against average, two shutouts), the opportunity to take the starting job is there.

FORWARDS

Sean Monahan

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
60	20	38	58	0.97

Considering all that Sean Monahan went through last season, it’s hard to call his results anything but successful. Monahan stepped into a leadership position with the team after they suffered the loss of a close friend, Johnny Gaudreau, before the start of the year. Despite the circumstances and missing 26 games with a wrist injury, Monahan delivered one of his most productive seasons in years. He rounded out the season with 19 goals and 57 points in 54 games played. His even-strength offensive Wins Above Replacement put him in the 92^nd percentile of NHL forwards. His 1.06 points per game lead Columbus forwards, and he also paced that group in puck-possession share and expected goal share at even-strength. Monahan blended veteran poise with creative playmaking, especially on the power play, where he was a key distributor on the Blue Jackets’ top unit. His leadership on and off the ice was crucial, particularly in the emotional wake of Johnny Gaudreau’s death. For his impact with the team, Monahan won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Entering his age-31 season, Monahan is expected to retain his top six role and continue driving play offensively. He’ll likely continue to log heavy power play minutes and take on a mentorship role as the organization looks to shepherd its young core.

Kirill Marchenko

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	34	42	76	0.93

The 24-year-old Kirill Marchenko burst into stardom during the 2024–25 season, delivering a true breakout campaign. In 79 games, he tallied 31 goals and 43 assists for 74 points. His even-strength goal output put him in the 97^th percentile of NHL forwards. His two-way play was reflected in his team-best +27 ranking that put him in the top 20 of NHL forwards. Marchenko combines a lethal release with excellent off-puck instincts, consistently finding soft areas in coverage to turn passes into scoring chances. Additionally, he ranked in the 90^th percentile of NHL forwards concerning his ability to exit the defensive zone with possession of the puck. Marchenko played with a combination of power and skill that made him a difficult player for NHL defensemen to manage. He was struck with a puck in the face and broke his jaw, missing only three games as he played with his mouth wired shut. Now entering his age‑25 season under a three-year deal signed in July 2024, Marchenko looks poised to take the next step as Columbus’s premier goal threat. Barring injury, a 30–35 goal, 80–85 point projection is realistic. His two-way strengths and high-end upside make him the core building block around which Columbus will continue to shape its offense. Expect him to remain a top six fixture while also seeing time on the power play.

Adam Fantilli

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	34	34	68	0.83

Adam Fantilli emerged as a bona fide offensive force in his first full NHL season. In 82 games, the 20-year-old tallied 31 goals and 23 assists for 54 points, tying for the team lead in goals with Kirill Marchenko. Fantilli was crucial to the Blue Jackets’ postseason push, netting seven goals in his final six games as Columbus sought to make a charge. At 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds, Fantilli blends scoring touch with explosiveness and smart two-way instincts. He excels in traffic with his ability to find soft spots on the ice and deliver quick-release shots from high-danger areas, shows strong edge work on both ends, and projects as a high-IQ forward who can drive play in any situation. His even-strength goals output put him in the 98^th percentile of NHL forwards. There’s an opportunity for him to improve his puck distribution in the coming year and he’ll need to continue to find ways to extend possessions in the offensive zone. Now with a full season under his belt, Fantilli enters the 2025–26 campaign positioned to be a leader for the Blue Jackets’ offense. Expect a target of 35–40 goals and 70–75 points as he continues to gain confidence and experience. The expectation is for continued growth, a more prominent role, and to push Sean Monahan for the top center spot.

Kent Johnson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	27	39	66	0.86

Kent Johnson’s 2023-24 campaign left him with a lot of question marks heading into last season, and he answered almost all of them. In his third full NHL season, Johnson produced his best work yet: 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 68 games, matching Sean Monahan in scoring and landing among the team’s top offensive catalysts. While he can be a streaky scorer, Johnson’s overall finishing ability bucketed him in the 99^th percentile of NHL forwards. While he likely won’t shoot at a 19 percent success rate perennially, Johnson’s ability to create scoring chances from his passing in the offensive zone and off the rush put him in the 77^th and 74^th percentile of NHL forwards, respectively, a testament to his dual-threat nature offensively. Defensively, he had the lowest rate of shot attempts against per hour of any Columbus forward. Now locked into a three-year deal, Johnson enters his age-23 season poised to be a critical piece of the Blue Jackets’ top six forward group. Expect even higher usage in key moments, with a projection of 25–30 goals and 65–70 points, especially as he continues to build chemistry with players like Adam Fantilli, and the continued evolution of his decision-making and consistency could firmly position him as a centerpiece in Columbus’s offensive identity.

Boone Jenner

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
60	18	20	38	0.63

Boone Jenner enters the 2025-26 campaign hoping for good health. Limited to just 26 games last season after being sidelined with shoulder surgery before the season even began, Jenner was still able to pack a lot into a short period. He returned after the Four Nations Faceoff and put together a respectable run down the stretch that aided the Blue Jackets in their push for the postseason. Jenner played a variety of roles with a variety of linemates upon his return, but mainly was found alongside Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson, acting as a space creator for both young forwards. Jenner was his usual, physical self on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle. He registered seven goals and 12 assists for a total of 19 points in 26 games. He finished third among Blue Jacket forwards in puck possession share and was fourth among Blue Jacket forwards in expected goal share at even-strength. A core leader of the team, Jenner will be entering the final year of his team-friendly contract and will be looked upon as an influence on the younger crop of forwards. While he may shift to more of a bottom six role this season, expect him to receive a good number of defensive assignments and plenty of time on the penalty kill. He’ll also feature on the second power play unit in a net-front role. While another 60-point pace might be a stretch, expect Jenner to land around his usual 45 points.

Dmitri Voronkov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	25	27	52	0.67

In his second NHL season (2024–25), the 24-year-old Voronkov made significant strides in stepping into a steady, impactful role offensively. He was featured for a good portion of the season on the top line with Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan, where he played a simple, straightforward role of space creation and effective finishing. Standing at 6-foot-5 and built at 227 pounds, Voronkov brings a physical power-forward element; he’s effective in board battles and in front of the net. He appeared in 73 games, tallying 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points, the best single season scoring effort of his young career. Voronkov finished in the 89^th percentile of forwards in offensive Wins Above Replacement but was in the fourth percentile of NHL forwards in defensive Wins Above Replacement. Now under a freshly signed two-year deal with a $4.175 million cap hit, Voronkov enters a key period in his development where he’ll be expected to solidify his top six forward status. With growing experience and minutes, a projection of 25–28 goals and 50–55 points is realistic. His size, net-front presence, and physical edge make him a natural asset on the power play and in traffic-heavy situations. Continued upward trajectory could see him emerging as a formidable middle six force and a potential building block in Columbus's forward core.

Charlie Coyle

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	15	24	39	0.48

Charlie Coyle is reunited with Head Coach Dean Evason, who is familiar with and a big fan of Coyle’s work from their time together in Minnesota, where Evason served as an assistant coach during Coyle’s time there. Acquired along with Miles Wood in a trade with Colorado for a prospect and two draft picks, Coyle is coming off a 17-goal and 18-assist performance, having split time between Boston and Colorado. Coyle’s strengths lie in his two-way reliability, strong faceoff play, net‑front presence, and physicality in puck battles. His ability to generate shots off of his high danger passes put him in the 94^th percentile of NHL forwards. A reliable penalty killer, his results between both teams put him in the 80^th percentile of NHL forwards in limiting power play shots and scoring chances. Slated to start as Columbus’s third‑line center and see time on the second power play unit, Coyle brings flexibility as he’ll be able to slide up the lineup as needed. Expect a 35–45 point projection, anchored by his role at both ends of the ice and his league-veteran savvy. His presence will be a key glue-piece, bridging the gap between seasoned forwards and emerging talents like Fantilli and Marchenko. This season is the final of Coyle’s six-year contract, making it a critical period for him as he looks to make a strong case for his next deal.

Cole Sillinger

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
76	12	22	34	0.45

Cole Sillinger played up and down the lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024-25. Used in a variety of fashions, head coach Dean Evason did not hesitate to put Sillinger into a blender as far as roles and linemates go, but it didn’t hamper him from finding success. It’s easy to forget that Sillinger is only 22 years old, having already completed four full NHL seasons. Sillinger posted 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 66 games, hitting the 30-point threshold again, marking his third such season to do so despite missing 11 games with a shoulder injury. Sillinger thrives in the battle areas of the ice and is comfortable exiting the defensive zone with the puck, as he finished in the 94^th percentile of NHL forwards. Sillinger has a great work ethic and excels in the battle areas of the ice but lacks critical edge work and agility in his skating, which prevents him from contributing more offensively. Overall, his offensive and defensive Wins Above Replacement were below the 10^th percentile of NHL forwards. Heading into the final year of his contract, expect 10–13 goals and 33–35 points, assuming health and a more regular deployment. Given organizational depth, he may also emerge as a trade candidate should Columbus seek roster flexibility before the 2026 deadline.

Yegor Chinakov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	16	21	37	0.49

Chinakov lands here now but note that a formal trade request was submitted on his behalf earlier this summer. After a promising 2023–24 breakthrough (29 points in 53 games), Chinakhov’s 2024–25 season was derailed by a back injury that sidelined him for 39 games. He returned to tally seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 30 games and spent some time as a healthy scratch after coming back. Over his NHL career, the former first-round pick (2020, 21st overall) has accumulated 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) in 175 games. While he’s shown the ability to impact games with his dynamic hands and size, he lacks consistency. When he isn’t playing with pace and engagement offensively, he doesn’t bring much else to the lineup, and there are certainly gaps in his level of performance. His shot is quick and accurate, and he flashes playmaking flair when fully engaged. He is a handful when he uses his size, but it isn’t a regular part of his game. With one year left on a two-year, $2.1 million AAV deal and arbitration rights looming, Chinakhov enters an important season. If he remains in Columbus and healthy, 15–20 goals with 35–40 points is reasonable, assuming stability in role and minutes. Ongoing tension with coaching staff and limited availability may continue clouding his trajectory.

DEFENCE

Zach Werenski

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	20	55	75	0.93

The 2024-25 campaign was one of Zach Werenski’s best of his career, if not the best. It’s clear head coach Dean Evason’s system is designed to allow Werenski the freedom to impact the game based on reads and hockey IQ. In 81 games, he shattered franchise records for a defenseman with 23 goals, 59 assists, and 82 points, the second-most among NHL blueliners behind only Cale Makar. He led Columbus in assists and total points and logged a remarkable 26:44 average ice time, the highest in the league, while also ranking third in total shots on goal among defensemen. His offensive Wins Above Replacement at even-strength was in the 100^th percentile of NHL defensemen. His total assists on primary scoring chances put him in the 99^th percentile of NHL defensemen. A smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman with exceptional vision, Werenski thrives under pressure and proved he is capable of tilting the ice at both ends. Entering his age-28 season in the fourth season of a six-year deal ($9.58M AAV), Werenski remains Columbus’s most indispensable player. Expect him to continue anchoring the top pairing while serving as the quarterback on the power play. Barring injury, another 75+ point season is realistic, especially if he sustains that workload of elite minutes. The road to Columbus qualifying for the post-season goes directly through the performance of Werenski and it’s clear he has the complete trust of the coaching staff.

Dante Fabbro

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	8	23	31	0.40

Dante Fabbro’s performance was an underrated part of the Blue Jacket’s push for the playoffs last season. Picked up via waivers in November 2024, Fabbro revitalized his career by forming a formidable top pairing with Zach Werenski, playing over 1,000 minutes together at even-strength. That pairing immediately clicked, and the duo maintained a 54.4% expected goals share at even-strength, signaling elite two-way chemistry and control of the game. In 62 games with Columbus, Fabbro posted nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points. His even-strength goals total was in the 92^nd percentile of NHL defensemen. He put up a strong performance defensively as well, evidenced by his even-strength defensive Wins Above Replacement putting him in the 76^th percentile of NHL defenders. Fabbro brings a calm, composed presence on the ice. He makes sound, high-percentage plays under pressure, making him the perfect complement to Werenski’s chance-taking nature. Fabbro solidified his place in Columbus with a four-year, $16.5M extension ($4.125M AAV) signed in June. As Werenski’s long-term defensive partner, he is poised to remain a top-pair fixture and power play contributor. Another season in lockstep with Werenski could translate to 30–35 points, anchored by his positioning and transition play. The continuity and trust in their pairing make Fabbro a quiet but critical building block as Columbus pushes toward competitive relevance.

Ivan Provorov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	6	26	32	0.39

In the 2024–25 season, Ivan Provorov appeared in all 82 games, delivering seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points, a performance good enough to earn him a seven-year contract extension from Columbus in July. Provorov is the definition of reliability, as eight of his nine seasons in the league have seen him play every game on the schedule, a remarkable feat with the rigours of today’s league. His ability to quarterback play from the back end, make smart outlet passes, and maintain strong defensive positioning makes him a true all‑situation defender. Statistically, he was a mixed bag and mostly fell under the “good but not great” category, evidenced by his zone exit success rate being in the 66^th percentile of NHL defenders. He did his best work in the neutral zone, acting as a conduit between the defense and forward groups. Provorov enters his age‑28 season as a cornerstone on the back end, signed through the 2031‑32 season via a seven-year deal with an $8.5 million cap hit. Expect him to continue anchoring the top pairing and power play unit, with another 30–40 point performance within reach. An important piece who steadies the blue line for a club focused on taking the next step. His edge in decision making and puck management makes him a quiet leader, essential for transitioning Columbus from contender to playoff presence.

Denton Mateychuk

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	6	26	32	0.41

A first-round pick in 2022, Mateychuk made an immediate impact after his NHL debut on December 23, 2024. He played in 45 of Columbus’s final 48 games, logging the second-most ice time among rookie defensemen over that span and bumping Damon Severson out of the lineup. He recorded four goals and nine assists for 13 points and earned a spot on the NHL All-Rookie team for the year. Mateychuk stands out as a mobile, intelligent two‑way defender with strong positional awareness and smooth transitions through all three zones. He’s a strong puck‑mover with a hard, accurate shot—though he’s still adjusting to the physical rigours of the professional game. Despite needing improvement in board work, he doesn’t turn the puck over under duress. He found immediate success and chemistry with Ivan Provorov on the second defensive pairing. He averaged 18:02 per game, a testament to the staff’s increased trust in him. Entering his age-22 season under a standard entry-level contract (cap hit just under $900,000), Mateychuk is poised to solidify himself as a top four defenseman. Expect continued growth in physical engagement and reliability—projecting a 35–40 point season with steady minutes across all situations. A truly homegrown talent that rose through the Blue Jackets system, a leap forward in development for Mateychuk would be invaluable to the Blue Jacket’s push for the post-season.

Goal

Elvis Merzlikins

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
48	24	19	4	2	.901	3.02

It seems hard to believe that the Columbus Blue Jackets still won't give Elvis Merzlikins any help. But unless things change drastically in the early weeks of the season, expect Columbus to continue making Merzlikins earn every cent of the massive contract extension he inked following his exciting NHL debut - something he's been struggling to live up to ever since.

At this point, it's hard to really know if the Merzlikins who dazzled NHL fans as a surprise standout rookie in 2019 still exists. His game has suffered both rhythmically and from a decision-making standpoint, and while he hasn't struggled nearly as much in the last two years as he did during his 2022-23 campaign, he still sits as one of the league's least reliable starting options overall. And perhaps most surprisingly, the Blue Jackets moved out his tandem partner from last year, Daniil Tarasov - but didn't bring in a voice with veteran experience to help shoulder the workload and potentially bolster locker room culture among the team's goaltending depth chart. He'll be backed up by a highly-promising Jet Greaves, but the Blue Jackets will need to ensure that Greaves - who plays a game that chameleons to mimic what the defence in front of him is doing, but lacks some of the top-tier reaction timing that made Merzlikins such a standout - doesn't get overworked in a way that could cause his regression before the team is ready to make him their clear number one.

NHL: DADOUN – FINAL FANTASY STRETCH – Playoff teams and their schedules to close out the regular season – What to watch for

Ryan Dadoun — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 14:34:50 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin (8) celebrates with Jakob Chychrun (6) and Andrew Mangiapane (88) after scoring his 894th career NHL goal to tie Wayne Gretzky for most NHL career goals with 894 during the Chicago Blackhawks versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on April 4, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

I’m not going to retread my discussion about St. Louis’ success after featuring it last week, but after earning an 11th straight victory Thursday, the Blues have basically secured their playoff berth with a 42-28-7 record (91 points). At the same time, Minnesota, which holds the second wild-card spot, is looking pretty safe with its 41-29-7 record (89 points). Sure, Calgary still has an outside chance at 36-27-12, but the fight for the last two spots in the Western Conference playoffs seems all-but decided.

The battle for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference is still wide open, though, so with the season winding down, I’m going to feature Montreal, the Rangers, Columbus, Detroit and the Islanders in that order to do a deep dive into what remains on each team’s schedule and what needs to happen for any of those squads to squeak into the postseason. So as not to make this final edition of the Look Ahead too skewed towards the east, I’ll also feature Vegas, Los Angeles and Edmonton. All three of those teams are extremely likely to make the playoffs, but there is still meaningful room for movement there in terms of who will end up in what seed.

While those are some of the most interesting teams to watch over the final week and a half of the campaign, there are a few more storylines worth covering before we dive into them, starting, of course, with Alexander Ovechkin. He found the back of the net twice Friday to tie Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goal-scoring record. He’s just one marker away from breaking the record.

When you compare him to Gretzky, the two have had extraordinarily different careers. Gretzky surpassed the 70-goal mark on four occasions and still holds the record for most goals in a single season with 92. With the caveat that we are measuring players from different eras, Ovechkin never came close to enjoying a height equal to Gretzky’s. However, Ovechkin’s longevity has been unreal. At the age of 39, he’s at 41 goals in 60 games this season, putting him third in the NHL’s goal-scoring race this season behind only William Nylander (42) and Leon Draisaitl (52) despite the time Ovechkin has missed due to injury.

Gretzky’s goal-scoring diminished dramatically in the back half of his career. The final time he reached the 40-goal mark was his age-30 season (1990-91), and the last time he collected at least 30 goals was his age-33 campaign (1993-94). We might never see a player who ages as well as Ovechkin has.

At the time of writing, Washington still has six games left on its schedule. Of note, the Capitals’ remaining home games are Thursday vs. Carolina and Sunday vs. Columbus. Ovechkin’s next chance to break the record will come against the Islanders on Sunday. Wherever he breaks it will be special, but it would be particularly remarkable if he does so at home.

Given Ovechkin’s scoring pace, the record probably isn’t going to come down to the final game of the season, but it is worth adding that the Capitals are set to conclude the campaign in Pittsburgh on April 17. To have it happen there with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby would give the event some extra flavor, given that trio’s long and storied history.

That’s by far the biggest event to watch out for, but we might also see some players reach the 400-goal mark soon. Draisaitl and Jamie Benn are both one marker away (Note: Draisaitl is injured. More on that during Edmonton’s section), while Auston Matthews is three shy.

I’m also interested to see how rookie Lane Hutson does over Montreal’s final seven regular-season games. He’s already at 63 points, which is the seventh most ever by a rookie defenseman. He’s just two away from surpassing Chris Chelios and establishing a new rookie record by a Canadiens defenseman. Also within striking range are Ray Bourque (ranked fifth, 65 points), Phil Housley (fourth, 66 points) and maybe even Gary Suter (third, 68). That’s extraordinary company that Hutson has found himself in.

Finally, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Hart Trophy race. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (32 goals, 115 points), Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (33 goals, 112 points) and Draisaitl (52 goals, 106 points) are all making a strong case, and who actually gets the award could be decided based on how these final days go. It doesn’t seem like a stretch to say that Connor Hellebuyck is the heavy favorite for the Vezina Trophy, but he’s also just two wins away from becoming just the eighth goaltender ever to hit 45 wins.

In other words, there are plenty of interesting events to monitor without even getting into the battle for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but speaking about it…

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens earned their fourth straight victory Thursday and currently hold the second wild-card spot with a 37-30-9 record. Still, there is plenty of competition to dethrone them, as we’ll examine soon, so Montreal needs to do well down the stretch. Looking ahead to the final week-and-a-half, the Canadiens have three home games (April 8 versus Detroit, April 14 versus Chicago, April 16 versus Carolina) and two road contests (April 11 in Ottawa, April 12 in Toronto).

That game against Detroit is the only remaining match against a team battling for the second wild-card spot with the Canadiens. Ottawa has a five-point edge on Montreal in the battle for the first wild-card position, with each club still set to play seven games as of Friday. That’s probably too big a gap for Montreal to overcome, but a victory over the Senators would make the leap far more feasible.

As noted above, Hutson has been a major part of the Canadiens’ resurgence into contention this campaign, and he’s continued to perform well down the stretch, supplying eight helpers over his past five appearances. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue to succeed in the final games, especially on the power play, where he’s already collected 25 points.

A recent hero for the Canadiens who is more surprising is Brendan Gallagher. The 32-year-old hasn’t reached the 40-point mark since 2019-20, but that might change this season. He’s just four points shy of the milestone and seems to be racing towards it after collecting five goals and six assists over his past ten outings. He’s one of the oldest members of the young club and has 71 games worth of playoff experience, so his experience is an important asset at this stage of the year.

Though, what might be even more helpful than Gallagher’s experience would be a Patrik Laine hot streak. When Laine starts scoring, it can be near impossible for goaltenders to contain him, but the 26-year-old’s extreme highs tend to be offset by prolonged cold spells. Lately, though, he’s kind of been in between with two goals across his past seven games -- far from his best, but not a disaster either. He’ll be one to monitor, though, to see if he catches fire at this crucial juncture. Keep a particular eye on him during power plays: 15 of Laine’s 19 goals this campaign have been tallied with the man advantage.

If Gallagher and Laine are the X-factors going forward, then Nick Suzuki is the steady hand. He has 27 goals and 83 points through 76 games, and Suzuki will probably continue to contribute over the final stretch. He certainly hasn’t shown any signs of slowing across his past 17 appearances in which he’s supplied eight goals and 31 points, including five goals and nine points in his last four games.

New York Rangers

Where will the Rangers’ roller coaster end? They got off to a 12-4-1 start, followed by a 4-15-0 descent. After numerous ups and downs, not to mention a flurry of trades, New York finds itself two points behind Montreal for the second wild-card spot with a 36-32-7 record. The Rangers will enter the final week-and-a-half with six games remaining, split evenly between three home games (April 7 versus Tampa Bay, April 9 versus Philadelphia, April 17 versus Tampa Bay) and three road matches (April 10 against the Islanders, April 12 in Carolina, April 14 in Florida).

That’s four games against top-tier teams (Tampa Bay x2, Carolina, Florida), one against a team competing with them for a wild-card spot (the Islanders) and one against a team that’s faded out of the playoff picture (Philadelphia). That’s a tough way to finish the campaign, but if you’re fishing for silver linings, Carolina and Florida might be more concerned about resting stars than winning games by the time they play the Rangers, so perhaps the situation isn’t as difficult as it initially seems.

Either way, the ideal for the Rangers would be if they’re able to make life a little easier for Igor Shesterkin. On the surface, it’s looked like he’s been a mixed bag this campaign with a 25-26-5 record, 2.86 GAA and .905 save percentage in 56 appearances. He’s also allowed nine goals over his past two starts against two teams that have underwhelmed offensively this season -- Minnesota and Anaheim. However, the Rangers rank 28th in xGA/60 (3.32), per Moneypuck, which suggests that the defense has made life miserable for Shesterkin. In fact, his goals saved above expected is 21.3, which is the fourth best in the league and suggests he’s been basically as good as Andrei Vasilevskiy (36-20-3, 2.16 GAA, .921 save percentage), with the key difference being the play in front of the respective netminders.

Unfortunately, New York isn’t likely to fix its leaky defense this late into the campaign, so Shesterkin is going to probably continue to give up more goals than commonly associated with an elite netminder, even if he continues to play at a high level. If the Rangers are to squeak into the playoffs, the difference will have to be made up by the team’s offense. The silver lining for the Rangers is that scoring seems to come far more naturally to them than defense.

That’s been especially true since a trade with Vancouver brought J.T. Miller back to New York. Miller has 10 goals and 26 points in 25 outings with the Rangers this season and is doing everything in his power to push the Rangers into the playoffs by contributing three goals and eight points over his past five outings.

New York also has Adam Fox back. The offensive defenseman missed eight straight games due to an upper-body injury, but since returning March 15, he’s provided four goals and eight points in nine outings, giving him nine goals and 56 points across 67 appearances this campaign.

One player they could use more from, though, is Alexis Lafreniere. After breaking out last season with 28 goals and 57 points in 82 appearances, the 23-year-old has suffered a mild regression with 16 goals and 43 points through 75 outings. That’s despite starting 2024-25 with an impressive eight goals and 16 points in 19 games. Lafreniere has been a mixed bag recently, with a goal and five points over his past eight appearances, so he certainly has room for improvement.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets went through a rough 1-7-1 stretch from March 4-21, which severely hindered their playoff chances. They’ve since stabilized by winning three of six from March 24-April 3, but that still leaves them six points behind Montreal in the wild-card race with a 34-31-9 record.. The silver lining is that Columbus has a game in hand against Montreal at the time of writing. The other good news is Columbus will play four of its final six games at home (April 8 versus Ottawa, April 10 versus Buffalo, April 12 versus Washington, April 17 versus the Islanders) over the final week-and-a-half. The Blue Jackets’ other two outings during that stretch will be on the road against Washington on April 13 and Philadelphia on April 15.

The two games against Washington might be of particular difficulty. However, if Ovechkin has established a new all-time goal record by that point -- which seems likely after he scored twice to tie the record Friday -- then the Capitals won’t have anything of consequence left to fight for until the postseason, which might lead to them taking their pedal off the gas a bit.

Columbus also has the benefit of getting healthy at the right time. Sean Monahan has three goals and eight points across six outings since returning from a wrist injury. Meanwhile, Boone Jenner has six goals and nine points in his past seven games as he finds his rhythm after not making his season debut until Feb. 22 due to shoulder surgery.

Add in forwards Kirill Marchenko, who has six goals and eight points over his past six outings, and Dante Fabbro, who has two goals and seven points across his last five appearances, then mix Zach Werenski, who has established a new career high with 74 points in 73 games, and Columbus has an offense that can match up with most teams in the league.

Unfortunately, the goaltending might end up costing them a playoff berth. Elvis Merzlikins has a 25-21-5 record, 3.24 GAA and .890 save percentage in 51 outings this season. He’s also been trending in the wrong direction, allowing 25 goals on 159 shots (.843 save percentage) over his past five appearances. This isn’t a Shesterkin situation either: Columbus actually has an underrated defense, ranking 11th in xGA/60 (2.96). It really is just that Merzlikins hasn’t been holding up his end of the bargain with his minus-8.2 goals saved above expected.

Perhaps he’ll get hot down the stretch. That would give Columbus the final piece of the puzzle.

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit earned a 5-3 victory over Carolina on Friday to improve to 35-33-7 on the season. That puts the Red Wings six points behind Montreal, with one game in hand. Of course, Detroit is competing with more than just the Canadiens, so their margin of error is extremely low going into the final week-and-a-half. To further complicate things, five of Detroit’s final six games are on the road (April 8 in Montreal, April 10 in Florida, April 11 in Tampa Bay, April 16 in New Jersey, April 17 in Toronto) with just one game at home (April 14 versus the Stars).

Detroit has an underwhelming 15-17-4 road record, so the Red Wings are in a tricky position. Perhaps Patrick Kane can guide them to the playoffs regardless. He scored a goal Friday, bringing him up to three goals and seven points across his past seven appearances. Given the 36-year-old’s long history of success in high-stakes situations, it seems appropriate that he’s stepped up when Detroit has needed him the most.

His linemate, Alex DeBrincat, went through a bit of a quiet stretch in which he was limited to one assist across four outings from March 25-April 1, but he broke out of that with a goal and an assist versus Carolina, so perhaps he’s starting a new run. DeBrincat is a crucial part of the offense with 34 goals and 64 points in 75 appearances, so having him at his best in the final stretch is naturally important.

Like Columbus, goaltending might be what holds Detroit back, especially because Petr Mrazek (head) hasn’t played since March 24. To be fair, though, Cam Talbot has looked fine recently, allowing six goals on 91 shots (.934 save percentage) over his past three contests. He still has an underwhelming 2.89 GAA and .903 save percentage through 42 games this year, but a strong stint from Talbot now keeps Detroit’s hope alive.

New York Islanders

The Islanders secured a 3-1 win over Minnesota on Friday, raising to 33-32-10 on the season. That still puts them five points behind Montreal, and the Islanders would also have to climb above the Rangers, Columbus and Detroit, so their chances of actually making the playoffs are slim. Still, they have reason to cling to hope going into the final week-and-a-half. The Islanders are set to play two of their final six games at home (April 10 versus the Rangers, April 15 versus Washington), and four on the road (April 8 in Nashville, April 12 in Philadelphia, April 13 in New Jersey, April 17 in Columbus).

The Islanders’ win over Minnesota ended a six-game skid (0-4-2), so to say the Islanders have been slipping lately would be an understatement. Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 of 28 shots against the Wild, but he had allowed at least three goals in each of his previous five appearances. He’s also had a rough campaign overall with a 28-23-6 record, 2.76 GAA and .905 save percentage in 56 outings. The Islanders have been middling defensively, ranking 19th in xGA/60 (3.10), and Sorokin has done his best to make up the difference with a plus-12.1 goals saved above expected. In other words, he hasn’t been quite as good as Shesterkin, but he also hasn’t been part of the problem like Merzlikins.

Rather than Sorokin, or even the defense, the Islanders’ issue has been scoring. New York ranks 25th in goals per game with 2.72. Anticipating that this wouldn’t be their year, the Islanders further hurt their offense by trading Brock Nelson, who had 20 goals and 43 points in 61 appearances with the Islanders this campaign, to Colorado on March 6.

As a consequence, the Islanders’ forward corps has been underwhelming. Bo Horvat has been their leading scorer among forwards since the Nelson trade, providing just nine points (five goals) across his past 14 appearances. However, there are some silver linings there.

While no forward is carrying the team, there at least has been a decent spread of offense. Six different forwards have provided at least three goals over that 14-game span (Horvat, Anders Lee, Pierre Engvall, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle Palmieri and Marc Gatcomb). The other silver lining is that the defensive duo of Anthony DeAngelo and Noah Dobson have been outperforming the forwards, supplying 11 and 12 points, respectively, over that stretch. Each defenseman has also contributed three goals in that span, bringing the number of Islanders in that category up to eight.

At the end of the day, it might be those defensemen leading the offense rather than any of the forwards, which isn’t optimal, but at this point, the Islanders need to take what they can get.

Vegas Golden Knights

Moving on from the Eastern Conference wild-card race, let’s examine the battle for the top spot in the Pacific Division, which is still up in the air. Vegas does lead the pack with a 46-22-8 record, but the Golden Knights have allowed others to catch up a bit after dropping games to Edmonton and Winnipeg on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. The Golden Knights will play five games over the final week-and-a-half split between two home matches (April 10 versus Seattle, April 12 versus Nashville) and three on the road (April 8 in Colorado, April 15 in Calgary, April 16 in Vancouver).

If Vegas is to secure the first seed, it might need to do so without Tomas Hertl. He’s missed the past five games due to a shoulder injury and still wasn’t taking contact as of Thursday. Hertl hasn’t been ruled out for the remainder of the season, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him return at some point before the playoffs, but I imagine the Golden Knights will be erring on the side of caution when it comes to his return since being healthy at this stage is arguably even more valuable than a good seed.

Ilya Samsonov (upper body) is working his way through an injury too. The timing is particularly unfortunate there because Adin Hill has now appeared in five straight games and seven of Vegas’ last eight, so the Golden Knights probably want to give him some time to rest before the playoffs. If Samsonov isn’t able to return soon, then Akira Schmid will probably get some action in his place.

Even with all this talk of being especially careful with injuries and resting their starter, it needs to be emphasized that these games still have value for the Golden Knights. Seeding might not be the most critical thing in the world, especially when your reward for winning the division might be a first-round matchup against the red-hot Blues, but winning the division does hold value. The Golden Knights are 27-9-3 in Vegas versus 18-13-5 on the road, so that’ll be on their mind as they fight to secure the home-ice advantage through at least the first two rounds.

Jack Eichel will be an important part of that fight for the division title. He’s been Vegas’ best player this campaign, with 27 goals and 93 points in 74 appearances. Eichel also has a chance to do something he hasn’t done since 2015-16: Finish ahead of the player who was taken ahead of him in the 2015 NHL Draft, Connor McDavid, in the scoring race. McDavid is three points shy of Eichel and dealing with a lower-body injury. It might seem like a hollow victory given McDavid’s injury issues, but keep in mind, injuries have held Eichel back substantially for large stretches of his career. So, Eichel staying relatively healthy this campaign is an accomplishment in itself.

Los Angeles Kings

Vegas going through a touch of a slow patch has made its position vulnerable, but only because the Kings (43-23-9) have been keeping the pressure on them. Los Angeles has won 12 of its past 15 games, making the Kings one of the hottest squads in the league. We’ll see if they can continue that during the final stretch, which includes four home games (April 7 versus Seattle, April 10 versus Anaheim, April 12 versus Colorado, April 17 versus Calgary) and two road matches (April 14 in Edmonton, April 15 in Seattle).

Darcy Kuemper has been such a big part of the Kings’ recent success, posting a 10-2-0 record, 1.08 GAA and .953 save percentage across his past 12 appearances, shutting out their potential first round matchup in Edmonton last night. If the difference in the playoffs is which team’s goaltender gets hot at the right time, then Los Angeles is looking like a team to be feared. It doesn’t hurt that Kuemper was the starting goaltender during the Avalanche’s championship run in 2022, so he has experience to fall back on as the stakes get higher.

Los Angeles’ offense shouldn’t be overlooked either. The Kings have averaged 3.56 goals per game over their past 16 showings, which is good enough to rank fifth in that category dating back to March 8. They’ve accomplished that through a balanced attack rather than any one player sticking out. No player has averaged a point per game over that stretch, though Anze Kopitar has come close with 14 points. At the same time, they do have six different players (Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Trevor Moore, Kopitar, Kevin Fiala and Warren Foegele) who have collected at least five goals in that span, which is impressive.

Andrei Kuzmenko has also fit in nicely with the Kings, providing four goals and 10 points across his past 15 appearances. That’s still a far cry from his 39-goal, 74-point showing in 2022-23, but that was a pretty lucky season for him, as evidenced by his unreal 27.3 shooting percentage, and it seems unproductive to expect him to ever hit those highs again. He still has value, though, and Los Angeles deserves credit for finding a way to extract it after Kuzmenko failed to click in Calgary.

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton is weird. At the time of writing, the Oilers are missing superstar forwards Connor McDavid (lower body) and Leon Draisaitl (lower body), top defenseman Mattias Ekholm (undisclosed) and starting goaltender Stuart Skinner (head). That’s in addition to a number of other injuries, including those to Trent Frederic (lower body), John Klingberg (lower body) and the continued absence of Evander Kane (knee).

So, Edmonton’s naturally going through a rough stretch. Except, no, the Oilers have won their past three of their last four games and are 7-3-1 dating back to March 14. That’s kept the Oilers in the running for the top spot in the Pacific Division, though they’re still five points back of Vegas, so it will take a strong finish for them to close the gap. The Oilers are set to play six games in the final week-and-a-half, split between three home showings (April 9 versus the Blues, April 11 versus the Sharks, April 14 versus the Kings) and three road games (April 7 in Anaheim, April 13 in Winnipeg, April 16 in San Jose).

Let’s start with the injury situation because that’s what’s bound to concern Oilers fans even more than the team’s place in the standings. Draisaitl missed four games from March 20-27 because of an undisclosed injury, and while he made his return Saturday, the star forward exited the lineup again Thursday and missed Saturday’s game against the Kings. The good news is Draisaitl’s injury is regarded as short term, and he’s expected to be back before the playoffs, coach Kris Knoblauch told the media Friday. It’s also not a case of him reaggravating his previous injury, this is a new issue, which can be taken as good news depending on how you want to look at it.

McDavid missed his sixth straight game Thursday, but he was on the ice for Friday’s practice, so there seems to be some progress being made. Ideally, this is also an opportunity for him to rest up for the playoffs, which might make this a bit of a blessing in disguise, given that he’s played a ton of hockey recently -- after all, Edmonton did make it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024.

In the case of Ekholm, there hasn’t been much news recently. He’s missed four straight games and 10 of Edmonton’s past 14 contests, and he’s not expected to return before the end of the Oilers’ current road trip, which will conclude Monday in Anaheim. We also haven’t heard much about Stuart Skinner lately, who isn’t expected to return before Monday either.

As noted above, missing all those players hasn’t resulted in Edmonton’s collapse, and part of the reason is that others have stepped up. Jeff Skinner has been a disappointment this campaign with 15 goals and 27 points in 66 outings, but injuries have resulted in him averaging 16:07 of ice time over his past seven games compared to his season average of 12:47, and he’s taken advantage of the opportunity, scoring four goals and six points over that eight-game stretch.

Viktor Arvidsson has similarly underwhelmed this campaign with 13 goals and 25 points across 60 appearances. However, he found the back of the net Thursday to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games. If these absences have been what it’s taken to get Skinner and Arvidsson going right before the playoffs, then perhaps this will actually benefit Edmonton in the long run.

Calvin Pickard has also been solid, posting a 5-1-1 record, 2.32 GAA and .918 save percentage over his previous eight appearances prior to last nights loss to the Kings, despite a solid .929 save percentage. What makes his success particularly interesting is that Stuart Skinner hasn’t done that well this season, posting a 24-18-4 record, 2.91 GAA and .894 save percentage in 49 outings. Skinner is probably still going to be the Oilers’ Game 1 starter in the playoffs so long as he’s healthy, but he might be on a short leash if Pickard continues to impress over the final games of the regular season.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Hot Russian scoring wingers Ovechkin, Kuzmenko to Michkov, plus Jackson LaCombe, Matthew Knies, Nazem Kadri and much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:56:10 +0000

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11: Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Andrei Kuzmenko (96) exchanges words with a Referee during a Los Angeles Kings game versus the New York Islanders on March 11th, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Russian scoring wingers from Alex Ovechkin to Andrei Kuzmenko to Matvei Michkov, plus Jackson LaCombe, Matthew Knies, Nazem Kadri and much more!

#1 While he is obviously rostered in every fantasy league, it’s worth paying respect to Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin as he is on the cusp of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. It’s well worth noting that Ovechkin scored 31 goals in 79 games last season and considering he would be 39 years old this season, it was reasonable to wonder if he might finally be slowing down. Despite averaging a career-low 17:46 of ice time per game, Ovechkin has scored 39 goals in just 59 games. He is scoring on a career-high 18.0 percent of his shots, which plays a big part, but he has also increased his per game shot rate despite his ice time going down by 87 seconds per game. He is skating on a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson at even strength and holds down the same spot in the left-wing faceoff circle on the power play that he has forever. Can he get the three goals he needs in the final seven regular season games? It seems likely.

#2 The Philadelphia Flyers have only played three games under interim head coach Brad Shaw, but it does appear that the change behind the bench has been beneficial for star rookie Matvei Michkov, who has put up seven points (4 G, 3 A) with 13 shots on goal in those three games. He now has 11 points (4 G, 7 A) with 21 shots on goal during a six-game point streak. Michkov’s ice time per game has jumped to 19:10 per game under Shaw, after averaging 16:18 per game under John Tortorella. It’s a small sample, but the early returns are positive.

#3 Sticking with the theme of high-scoring Russian wingers, it looks like the Los Angeles Kings have unlocked the talents of Andrei Kuzmenko, who has 10 points (4 G, 6 A) in his past eight games, thriving on the top line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. Kuzmenko is also getting first unit power play time in Los Angeles, and he scored 39 goals in his first NHL season in 2022-2023, so he has shown that he has the skill, but now it looks like he’s getting a prime opportunity in Los Angeles.

#4 Anaheim Ducks defenceman Jackson LaCombe has emerged as a star this season. It might get overlooked because he is doing it for a young Ducks team that is on the outside looking in at the postseason, but LaCombe has taken on big minutes on the Ducks’ blueline and had eight points (3 G, 5 A) during a six-game point streak that was snapped in Thursday’s 4-1 loss at Calgary. LaCombe has 43 points (14 G, 29 A) in 68 games while averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time per game. It has been a massive leap forward from his rookie season and the 24-year-old blueliner from the University of Minnesota is going to be a fixture on Anaheim’s defence for years to come.

#5 Second year Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies continues to improve and he makes the most of his excellent opportunity to skate on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Knies has seven points (2 G, 5 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past seven games. The sweetener for fantasy managers is that Knies has recognized the impact that he can bring with his physical play, and he has 23 hits in those seven games and 174 hits for the season, which adds to his appeal.

#6 As the Calgary Flames try to stay in the playoff hunt, veteran centre Nazem Kadri is leading the charge. In his past nine games, Kadri has 11 points (8 G, 3 A) with 35 shots on goal. He is skating on a line with Yegor Sharangovich and Martin Pospisil at even strength, but Kadri is a power play threat, producing 20 of his 59 points with the man advantage.

#7 Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe is not known as an offensive defenceman, having scored a career-high 28 points last season, but he has been playing with more confidence recently, and it has led him to record six assists in his past seven games. For a player who has 135 blocked shots and 118 hits, that bit of offensive production suddenly makes McCabe worth considering for fantasy managers.

#8 This has not been a banner season for the Nashville Predators in general, and for right winger Luke Evangelista, specifically. However, he is getting a decent shot to produce late in the season and has eight points (3 G, 5 A) with 13 shots on goal in his past eight games. He is playing on Nashville’s top line with Ryan O’Reilly and Michael Bunting, which is a good position with more ice time for him but also reflects the kind of lineup that the Predators are rolling out down the stretch.

#9 Although this has been yet another disappointing season for the Buffalo Sabres, they have been able to give Ryan McLeod a chance to handle more responsibility, and he has proven that he can handle it. In his past 14 games, McLeod has 17 points (5 G, 12 A) with 25 shots on goal. He has been averaging fewer than 16 minutes per game before seeing his ice time increase to over 20 minutes per game over that 14-game span. His linemates, Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka, are sufficiently skilled to bring out the best in McLeod and Quinn is finding his footing after an otherwise forgettable season. Quinn has nine points (4 G, 5 A) during a five-game point streak. Peterka has 19 points (8 G, 11 A) and 38 shots on goal in 17 games since the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

#10 Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann has not scored quite as much this season, tallying 18 goals for the Kraken after producing 96 goals in his first three seasons with Seattle, but he is picking up points down the stretch. In his past six games, McCann has delivered nine points (1 G, 8 A) with 20 shots on goal. McCann has helped to snap Andre Burakovsky out of a season-long slump. In his past eight games, Burakovsky has nine points (3 G, 6 A), which is a far cry from the 24 points (8 G, 16 A) in 65 games that he had before that point.

#11 When the Carolina Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars, it was somewhat forgotten that the ‘Canes had also acquired veteran winger Taylor Hall, and he would remain in Carolina. In 11 games since the trade deadline, Hall has contributed 12 points (7 G, 5 A) with 24 shots on goal and Hall has been in the position to shoot more on the power play and four of those seven goals have come on the PP. Staying in Carolina, but at the other end of the experience spectrum, rookie right winger Jackson Blake has taken on a bigger role and has eight points (3 G, 8 A) with 21 shots on goal in his past eight games. Blake has landed a spot on Carolina’s top line, skating with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, a real chance for Blake to finish the season strong.

#12 After missing much of the season, Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has long been a productive player, contributing enough to have fantasy appeal even without elite scoring numbers. He had missed more than half of this season while recovering from shoulder surgery, but since returning to action, he has contributed 18 points (6 G, 12 A) with 47 shots on goal in 18 games. He also has 33 hits and 13 blocked shots, providing the peripheral statistical value that goes above and beyond point production.

#13 The story of this season for the Chicago Blackhawks is naturally one of disappointment, as they have 52 points in 75 games, putting them in 31st place. But there have been some silver linings, most notably the breakthrough season for veteran forward Ryan Donato. In his past 30 games, Donato has piled up 35 points (16 G, 19 A). For a player with a previous career high of 31 points, Donato has taken his game to a new level and some of that can be attributed to receiving extra ice time on a team that is lacking skilled forwards, but Donato’s 59-point season (so far) should change expectations for him moving forward.

#14 Veteran Philadelphia Flyers centre Ryan Poehling has established himself as a capable checking centre, but one with relatively low offensive output. He scored a career-high 28 points last season and after missing some time with injuries this year, it did not look like he would surpass that, but suddenly Poehling has 10 points (7 G, 3 A) in his past 10 games, which has lifted him to 25 points (11 G, 14 A) in 62 games. He does not have a significant power-play role but is getting more than 15 minutes of ice time per game now, so he may find his way to a new career high in points.

#15 With J.T. Miller traded and Elias Pettersson injured, the Vancouver Canucks have turned to Pius Suter as their No. 1 centre and even if that seems above and beyond his profile, Suter has stepped into that responsibility. In his past eight games, Suter has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game, producing 10 points (4 G, 6 A) with 16 shots on goal. He has set career highs with 22 goals and 42 points, which shows that he can be a useful source of complementary offense.

#16 Another player making the most of his opportunities in what is otherwise a disappointing season for his team is Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie, who has 10 points (5 G, 5 A) while averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time per game in his past eight games. He is playing on the Bruins’ top line, with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak, as well as getting first unit power play time and has set career highs with 27 goals and 46 points.

#17 As a late-season addition, there might be value in Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Dante Fabbro. He does not have a significant power-play role but is paired with Zach Werenski on the Blue Jackets’ top pair. In his past four games, Fabbro has contributed seven points (2 G, 5 A) with eight shots on goal while playing more than 20 minutes per game. With 23 points (7 G, 16 A), Fabbro is one point away from matching his career high, set in 2021-2022 when he was with Nashville. The move to Columbus this season does seem to have rejuvenated his career.

#18 Every season, there is an influx of players coming out of college hockey and while they obviously provide great hope for the future, some might have an immediate impact down the stretch and into the playoffs. For example, Ryan Leonard has joined the Washington Capitals after accruing 49 points (30 G, 19 A) in 37 games for Boston College. He is starting on the Capitals’ second line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas and has averaged 15 minutes of ice time per game in his first two NHL contests. Some others to keep an eye on: Gabriel Perreault with the New York Rangers, Jimmy Snuggerud with the St. Louis Blues, and Oliver Moore of the Chicago Blackhawks.

#19 The Pittsburgh Penguins have recently called up Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, where he had 39 points (14 G, 25 A) in 60 games. The best part for McGroarty is that he has been slotted in at left wing alongside Sidney Crosby on Pittsburgh’s top line, so it’s hard to ask for a better situation as a 21-year-old winger trying to establish that he can play in a top six role in the NHL. In his first two games since rejoining the Penguins, McGroarty has picked up a couple of points with six shots on goal and six hits all while playing more than 17 minutes per game.

#20 Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord is coming off a 24-save shutout against Vancouver earlier this week, but he has hit a rough patch since the 4 Nations Face-Off. Prior to Wednesdays’ shutout against the Canucks, Daccord had started 13 games since the break, winning five while managing a save percentage of .882, which does not compare too favourably to the .915 save percentage that he had in his first 38 starts of the season. From the files of too little, too late: Philipp Grubauer does have a .925 save percentage for the Kraken in four starts since getting recalled from the AHL.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Zegras scoring again, Sharangovich finding his form, Valeri Nichushkin is a difference maker again, a closer look at some of the top rookies, and much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 15:58:22 +0000

Calgary Flames center Yegor Sharangovich (17) (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I’ll dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Trevor Zegras is scoring again, Yegor Sharangovich is finding his form, Valeri Nichushkin is a difference maker again, a closer look at some of the top rookies, and much more!

#1 Anaheim Ducks centre Trevor Zegras had two 60-point seasons to his credit before managing just 15 points in 31 games last season when his campaign was shortened by injuries including a broken ankle. It wasn’t getting any better early in 2024-2025 either, as Zegras had just three points (1 G, 2 A) through his first 15 games. There have been some recent signs of progress, however, as Zegras has produced seven points (3 G, 4 A) with 16 shots on goal in the past six games. It is still ridiculous that he is skating at centre while winning 39.4 percent of his faceoffs, but if that is the best spot for his playmaking ability to shine, then that is what the Ducks need to do. With Leo Carlsson suffering an upper-body injury earlier this week, the Ducks need Zegras to continue delivering offensive production.

#2 A pleasant surprise for the Calgary Flames last season when he hit career highs with 31 goals and 59 points after he was acquired from New Jersey, Yegor Sharangovich suffered a lower-body injury in the preseason and started slowly once he rejoined the lineup. He had just two goals in 12 games, despite playing more than 18 minutes per game, but he has picked up five points (3 G, 2 A) in his past four games while recording 20 shots on goal and averaging 19:50 of ice time per game. Of his seven points on the season, four have come via the power play, so there is room for much improvement during five-on-five play.

#3 Returning to the Colorado Avalanche lineup after serving a six-month suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program policy, Valeri Nichushkin had no points and just four shots on goal in his first three games but appears to be back on track. In the past three games, Nichushkin has contributed five points (2 G, 3 A) with eight shots on goal and he played a season-high 22:47 in Wednesday’s win over Vegas.

#4 Anaheim Ducks rookie winger Cutter Gauthier came into the season with some expectations. He was the fifth pick in the 2022 Draft, scored 102 points (54 G, 48 A) in 73 games in two seasons at Boston College and was productive in international play, too, producing 22 points (6 G, 16 A) in 14 games across two years at the World Juniors, plus he had nine points (7 G, 2 A) in 10 games at the 2023 World Championships. All of this indicated that he should be able to contribute quickly in the NHL. He did not record a point in his first five games, but since then has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 38 shots on goal in 16 games. There is also a stat that is quite encouraging about Gauthier’s potential ability to sustain his production. Among players that have played at least 200 five-on-five minutes, Nashville’s Filip Forsberg (24.82) is the only one with a higher rate of individual shot attempts per 60 minutes, as Gauthier has 21.95, putting him ahead of Owen Tippett, Brady Tkachuk, and Jeff Skinner.

#5 The leading point producer among rookies is Philadelphia Flyers right winger Matvei Michkov, who has 17 points (8 G, 9 A) in 21 games, despite being a healthy scratch for two games. Michkov has an on-ice shooting percentage of 7.0 percent during five-on-five play, which is quite low for an offensive forward, so he should be able to find his way to more assists, but he is also scoring on 20.0 percent of his shots on goal, so there could very well be some regression on that side of the ledger, too.

#6 The first pick in the 2024 Draft, San Jose Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini may very well be the best of the rookie class. He missed some time due to injury, but he has 11 points (7 G, 4 A) in 13 games. He has 43 shots on goal, and is averaging 20:15 of ice time per game, both of which are great indications that his production should continue at a high level. To temper some of the enthusiasm, it should be noted that Celebrini has an individual points percentage of 100.0 percent and that is not likely to last an entire season. To be fair, however, last season’s top rookie, Conor Bedard finished with a league-leading IPP for 91.89 percent (minimum 1000 five-on-five minutes).

#7 Second-year Anaheim Ducks defenceman Olen Zellweger is on the smaller side of things, listed at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, but he is such a nimble skater with a flair for offensive production that there is clearly a role for him in the Ducks’ plans. In his past six games, Zellweger has six points (2 G, 4 A) with 13 shots on goal. Zellweger is quarterbacking the Ducks’ top power play unit and four of his 10 points this season have come with the man advantage.

#8 Dallas Stars centre Tyler Seguin is playing 16:15 per game, his lowest average time on ice since his rookie season 2010-2011. Nevertheless, he is also averaging better than a point per game with 18 points (8 G, 10 A) in 17 games. That is built on some high percentages, including an individual shooting percentage of 19.0 percent and an on-ice shooting percentage of 13.0 percent during five-on-five play. Both of those marks would be career highs for Seguin, so regression is probably coming, but he may offer some short-term value before those percentages start to level out.

#9 The third pick in the 2022 Draft, Utah Hockey Club centre Logan Cooley continues to make progress in his second NHL season. Cooley has six points (2 G, 4 A) and 14 shots on goal, while averaging more than 18 minutes of ice time per game, across his past six games. He is playing on Utah’s top power play unit while centering Jack McBain and Dylan Guenther at even strength.

#10 Vancouver Canucks right winger Kiefer Sherwood has climbed the depth chart and is skating on Vancouver’s top line, alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. Sherwood has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 14 shots on goal in his past six games and is far and away the leading hitter in the NHL, with 137 hits in 21 games. He is 34 hits ahead of Nashville defenceman Jeremy Lauzon and 43 hits ahead of the second-ranked forward, Brady Tkachuk. Sherwood’s outrageous hit totals give him fantasy value anyway, but with an increasing offensive role, his appeal is growing by the game.

#11 Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere is a power play specialist this season, recording 12 of his 17 points (70.6 percent) this season with the man advantage. The only defenceman in the league with a higher ratio of power play points is Ottawa Senators blueliner Jake Sanderson, who has registered 14 points, with 11 (78.6 percent) on the power play. Among defencemen with at least five power play points, the top five gets rounded out by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly and Montreal Canadiens’ Mike Matheson, who both have seven of 13 points on the power play, as well as Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi, who has half of his 18 points on the power play.

#12 While Gostisbehere is pumping up his point totals on the power play, his teammate, Dmitry Orlov, is busy getting his production at even strength. Orlov has recorded an assist in six straight games and has zero power play points among his 14 points this season. The highest scoring defencemen who have yet to record a power play point this season: Buffalo’s Owen Power and Vegas’ Alex Pietrangelo, who both have 15 points, one more than Orlov. Buffalo’s Bowen Byram has 13 and three defencemen – St. Louis’ Colton Parayko, Minnesota’s Jake Middleton and Colorado’s Samuel Girard – have a dozen points without any on the power play.

#13 Shuffled into the background in Nashville, defenceman Dante Fabbro has thrived since he was acquired off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. In seven games since joining Columbus, Fabbro has four points (2 G, 2 A), while playing 21:42 per game as a partner for Zach Werenski. It is probably too soon to go after Fabbro, save for the deepest of leagues, but he is worth keeping tabs on in his new location.

#14 Veteran Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland has been a consistent source of secondary scoring throughout his career, but the Canucks are giving him more responsibility this season and he is responding favorably. He has seven points (2 G, 5 A) with 16 shots on goal in his past six games, giving him 18 points (6 G, 12 A) in 21 games, leading Vancouver’s forwards in scoring. Garland is averaging a career-high 19:13 of ice time per game, which includes time on the first power play unit, and he has six power play points this season surpassing last season’s total of five power play points.

#15 Philadelphia Flyers captain Sean Couturier may not get back to the offensive production that marked the peak of his career, but he is still delivering quality results for his team. Couturier has goals in three straight games, recording 10 shots on goal in the process, lifting him to 13 points (6 G, 7 A) in 22 games, but the Flyers are also controlling 56.9 percent of shot attempts and 55.2 percent of expected goals during five-on-five play with Couturier on the ice. He is also winning 58.0 percent of his faceoffs, which ranks 11th among players that have taken at least 200 faceoffs.

#16 The St. Louis Blues reacted quickly when Jim Montgomery was fired by the Boston Bruins, hiring him to replace Drew Bannister. Dylan Holloway and Zack Bolduc have been early beneficiaries of the change. Holloway has produced four points (2 G, 2 A) and eight shots on goal while playing 16:55 per game since Montgomery took over on the Blues bench. Bolduc does not play as much, but still scored two goals with seven shots on goal in Montgomery’s first game.

#17 Maybe wins don’t come too easily for Chicago Blackhawks netminder Petr Mrazek, but he is giving his team a chance to win most nights. Mrazek was mediocre in his first handful of starts, posting a save percentage of .887, but since then has a .923 save percentage with a 5-5-1 record in 11 starts. His overall save percentage of .912 ranks 12th among goaltenders that have appeared in at least 10 games.

#18 With Lukas Dostal posting a .922 save percentage in 14 games, ranking fourth among goalies to play at least 10 games, it has been challenging for veteran John Gibson to reclaim his role in the crease for the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson has been playing well since returning from injury, though, putting up a 4-0-1 record with a .919 save percentage in five starts. If Gibson is playing at a high level, that could increase his likelihood of finally getting traded and there are teams that might be ready to pull the trigger for a veteran goaltender who could use a fresh start with a team that has better defensive structure.

#19 Speaking of teams that might have goaltending concerns, the Carolina Hurricanes have Pyotr Kochetkov in concussion protocol and Frederik Andersen is out long-term following knee surgery. That leaves Spencer Martin and Yaniv Perets in net for the ‘Canes. Martin has a .856 save percentage in seven games for Carolina this season while Perets has 13 minutes of NHL experience and had a .825 save percentage in three AHL games when he was called up. If Kochetkov recovers quickly, the Hurricanes may be able to survive, because they are the best puck possession team in the league, but if he is out long-term, the Hurricanes may need to look for an external solution to their goaltending problem.

#20 Through 360 games in this season, there is an average of 6.13 goals per game, but there has not been a huge advantage for being the home side, with home teams averaging 3.125 goals per game while road teams have 3.008. For fantasy managers, particularly those making daily roster decisions, this suggests not to be overly discouraged if a player happens to be on the road, because it should not have a significant effect on a player’s likely production.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Team Preview

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:00:57 +0000

_{NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 26: Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) is shown during game three of the Western Conference first round playoff between the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks, held on April 26, 2024, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)}

For much of 2023-24, the Predators were in the mix for a playoff spot, but far from a sure thing to advance. Following a 9-2 loss to Dallas on Feb. 15, Nashville was 27-25-2 and four points back in the wild-card race. Then Nashville’s core caught fire. Juuse Saros, who had a disappointing campaign to that point, went 15-3-3 with a 2.51 GAA and a .916 save percentage in 21 starts the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Filip Forsberg scored 23 goals and 41 points across Nashville’s final 28 outings, while Roman Josi and Gustav Nyquist recorded 36 and 34 points, respectively, over the same stretch. The result was Nashville reaching the postseason on the strength of a 47-30-5 record, but that was ultimately the high point for the Predators, who lost to Vancouver in the first round.

WHAT’S CHANGED? Backup goaltender Kevin Lankinen and offensive defenceman Tyson Barrie exited as unrestricted free agents, and Nashville dealt away 35-year-old blueliner Ryan McDonagh, but the Predators gained far more during the summer than they lost. High-end forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault signed from Tampa Bay and Vegas, respectively, bringing scoring depth and immense playoff experience to the franchise. Nashville also landed top four defenceman Brady Skjei to a seven-year deal. To replace Lankinen, Scott Wedgewood was inked to serve as Saros’ new understudy.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? Nashville’s offence was middle-of-the-road last year, but with Stamkos and Marchessault joining Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Nyquist, and Thomas Novak, the Predators should have two excellent scoring lines this season -- maybe even three depending on how they spread things out, and if 22-year-old Luke Evangelista takes a step up in his second full NHL season. Meanwhile, Saros was a mixed bag last year, but when he’s good, there are few better. Coupled with the intangibles that come from bringing in players who have leadership and winning experience, this might be the best Predators team in a long time.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Age might get in the way. Josi and Stamkos are both already 34, while Marchessault will join them on Dec. 27. O'Reilly is starting to get up there, too, at 33. All of them were excellent last year, and there are certainly plenty of examples of stars who have staved off declines in their mid-30s, so regression is far from certain, but it is a potential concern. Saros’ inconsistent play is as well. So much is riding on him, especially after locking him up to an eight-year, $61.92 million deal over the summer, so if suffers prolonged cold streaks, that would be awfully concerning.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Nashville is expected to rely heavily on veterans this season, but as noted above, Evangelista could be a meaningful part of the Predators’ offence in 2024-25. He had 16 goals and 39 points in 80 regular-season contests in 2023-24, which isn’t bad given that he was limited to an average of 13:57 of ice time. Keep in mind, though, that Nashville’s offseason additions might result in him serving primarily on the third line and second power-play unit, which would in turn limit his contributions.

FORWARD

Ryan O'Reilly

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	24	52	76	0.97

A major part of Nashville’s roster shake-up was buying out Matt Duchene and signing Ryan O’Reilly to a four-year deal. His $4.5 million cap hit looks like a hilarious underpay after how the first year of deal went. As a long-time Selke candidate, his excellent two-way play was expected but his real value came from giving the Preds something they haven’t had in years, an undisputed top line center. He was their go-to guy in every situation, and he shined on the power play. His playmaking and hockey sense provided a great complement to Filip Forsberg, helping him have a career season. He was one of the best in the league on the power play from the hashmarks down, both at working the slot and the net front. Not just as getting to the blue paint, but with timing rebounds, knowing where the loose pucks are and positioning himself so that he can capitalize on open nets. O’Reilly is like having a coach on the ice with how smart of a player he is, always directing traffic from the bumper position on the power play and shouldering the burden on breakouts. A perfect player to shepherd the Preds into their next stage, O’Reilly will give them a ton of value both on and off the scoresheet. The added offseason additions of Stamkos and Marchessault should ensure he maintains or exceeds last season production.

Steven Stamkos

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	37	34	71	0.95

Shockwaves were sent around the hockey world when news broke that Tampa Bay would be walking away from their longtime captain Steven Stamkos. It’s not often you have the chance to sign a future Hall of Famer, so it was a major jolt in the arm to Nashville when he chose them as the place to spend the final years of his career. While the days of him going back-and-forth with Ovechkin for the Richard race are over, the resurgence Stamkos has had after a myriad of injuries is something to behold. Suffering a bloodclot in the 2020 playoffs, he was slow to get back to speed and since then, he’s had two 40+ goal seasons in three years. How does he look like on Nashville as a 33-year-old though? He is still reliant on that deadly one-timer, and he’s had the luxury of Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point setting him up on the power play to get most of those goals. A lot of his value comes and goes with goal-scoring, as his play-driving strengths have gone downhill as he has gotten older. Tampa also had a tough time figuring out a permanent spot for him at even strength last year, yo-yoing between center and wing on scoring lines and checking lines depending on team needs. Nashville has a pretty good setup with a lethal top line and good scoring forwards emerging, so there are some intriguing options on where to slot their new toy. If anything, their power play should get a massive jolt. The adjustment will be real so expecting 35-40 goals and a point a game would be a good season in his new surroundings.

Filip Forsberg

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	54	48	102	1.24

Forsberg was always one of those players whose talent never matched up with his production, topping out as a 60-point guy due to injuries and low-scoring totals. That all changed two years ago when he reached the 40-goal mark and he did it again last season, coming two shy of hitting 50. He is one of the most gifted players in the league at puck-handling and creating his own shot. Strong on the puck with a dazzling set of hands, it’s incredibly difficult to get the puck away from Forsberg and he has that long stride where he can cover a lot of ground without possessing great speed. Combine that with his heavy, deceptive wrist shot, and you have someone who could garner some attention for a Hart Trophy when it all clicks. The problem for Forsberg is that it hasn’t “all clicked” for him except for a couple seasons in his career. The coaching change and his chemistry with Nyquist and O’Reilly helped a lot with this, as the two read off each other well and Nashville plays more of a free-wheeling style that allows Forsberg to get more puck touches and opportunities off the rush. He’s also become much better at forcing his way to the net if no shot is open. He is the engine that powers Nashville. Health allowing he could threaten 50 goals, though will defer to Stamkos at times on the power play in that regard,

Gus Nyquist

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	18	42	60	0.76

Even the biggest fans of Gus Nyquist were surprised with what he did in his 10^th NHL season, not only setting a career high in points but topping his career best by 21 points. He’s a jack of all trades winger who found a home on Nashville’s top line and enjoyed the many scoring opportunities that were set up on a platter for him by Forsberg and O’Reilly. It was also a two-way street because someone has to finish and get to the scoring areas for those chances to become goals and Nyquist did an excellent job of that. He started by scoring a lot by circumstance off rebounds and deflections, but it slowly began to look like a throwback to his Detroit days where the heavy wrist shot was his main weapon. His puck-protection skills, strong defensive stick and love of orbiting the offensive zone also helped him mesh as the third wheel on that Nashville top line. How the acquisition of Stamkos affects him will be interesting, as he plays the simplest game out of the three on the top line and the potential Stamkos brings on the off-wing might be too good to pass up. He’s also the most prone to regression on the scoresheet even if his worker-bee mindset shouldn’t be overlooked. Temper your expectations downward to 55 – 60 points, but meshed too well on the top line to overlook for possibly more.

Tommy Novak

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	19	36	55	0.71

Last season wasn’t so much a “prove it” year for Novak as it was finding out what an average year looks like for him. Not that his scoring surge was purely percentage-driven, because he was excellent at driving offence, but he had never played a full NHL season at that point and his goal-scoring ability came out of nowhere. Novak proved some skeptics wrong because he was one of Nashville’s best players at driving rush offence, creating zone entries and setting up scoring chances, the scoring, however, was a little more evened out. He was streaker and a mid-season injury put him behind the eight-ball a little bit. On the whole, he had a nice year alongside rookie Luke Evangilista and journeyman Mark Jankowski, scoring at a top six rate and allowing them to show some of their skill. Playmaking is Novak’s calling hard and has been for a while. He’s very strong along the wall despite his size and his vision is among the best on Nashville’s roster. The goal-scoring, however, was a major surprise. Not just that it happened, but because most of his goals were pure sniper shots you wouldn’t expect from someone who has never scored 20 goals at any level. He’s getting better every season despite being in his late-20’s and should slide into a nice spot with Nashville’s improved scoring depth. If the top line stays together, he is likely centering Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault on the second line. Equally he will lose power play time to his potential new line mates but should break through the 20-goal level and assists should be in good supply with the two prior 40-goal shooters on his wing.

Jonathan Marchessault

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	34	26	60	0.73

There isn’t a situation where Vegas walking away from Marchessault would be received well. He doesn’t have the pedigree of Stamkos, but he was there since the team’s inception, holds most of their records and won the Conn Smythe in their Cup year. This was Nashville’s gain as they pounced on another franchise’s icon to help reshape their forward corps. There are a few reasons why Vegas didn’t keep him despite him coming off a 42-goal season, aside from the fact that he turns 34 in December. Marchessault wasn’t just a goal-scorer in his prime, he was a pure driver of offence and possession. You could play him anywhere in the lineup and get great results. Last year, the goal-scoring didn’t taper off, but the playmaking and possession-driving weren’t up to his usual standards. He’s more of a shoot-first type of a player now rather than someone who will work the give-and-go game and help with carrying the puck into the zone. This could be a sign of him slowing down or just a one-off because every year before this was excellent and the bonus goals more than made up for it. Nashville is flush with pure shooters now between him, Stamkos and Forsberg in their top six with some intriguing setup guys in O’Reilly, Nyquist and Novak. It’s the deepest forward corps they’ve had in years.

Luke Evangelista

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	19	26	45	0.55

Leading their AHL team in scoring when he was called up in early 2023, Evangelista impressed Nashville enough to make him a permanent fixture in their lineup. The rewards weren’t immediate, as he scored in only two games in his first 20 of the season. The slump kept him from being a regular top six member, but he still finished the year strong with 16 goals and he was a very good playmaker all season. He was one of the more skilled forwards on the roster outside of their top line and Nashville allowed him to play through some of his growing pains. An effective puck-carrier with a low center of gravity, Evangelista can make quick-strike offence happen and has a lethal shot when he gets space. He just doesn’t use it much and will look to pass instead, which resulted in him setting up a lot of point shots to probe the defence instead of making a high-risk play. Part of the reason why his play-driving stats were inconsistent up until the end of the season was when he, Mark Jankowski and Tommy Novak formed a red hot third line for the Preds to close the season. He still hasn’t put it together, but Evangelista does a lot of things that should keep him a contributing player in the league for a long time. He will have more of a fight for prime offensive minutes this year, although he could also see a linemate boost if his play improves.

Colton Sissons

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	14	20	34	0.41

The less-celebrated Nashville forward who reached a career high in goals and points under Andrew Brunette, Sissons’ game is all about defence and penalty killing. We live in an age where almost every forward was a high-scorer in juniors or another level and can burn you if given the opportunity. Sissons wasn’t necessarily one of those guys, but he isn’t a slouch when it comes to finishing opportunities put on a tee for him. This was the case last year, scoring most of his goals off deflections, rebounds and surprising goalies with the occasional snipe. Sissons has been a fixture in Nashville for years, one of their more relied on penalty killers and their most aggressive to break shorthanded. Has a good first stride to get a step on defenders and takes a lot of the burden with defensive zone draws, setting the table for the next lines to play more in the offensive zone. The one lower-scoring forward who doesn’t need to worry about his ice-time because of his role in the defensive zone, but he will have to adjust to life without longtime linemate Yakov Trenin, who was the forechecking presence on this line.

Philip Tomasino

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
58	7	14	21	0.36

In what appears to be a “make-or-break” year for the former first round pick, Tomasino’s had a lot of NHL time for someone who can technically still be considered a prospect. Making the team out of camp, he didn’t get consistent playing time until the middle of the season and was sent back down to Milwaukee in February, where he spent the rest of the year. Tomasino’s drawback is that he hasn’t figured out how to score at the same rate he did at other levels, although he has never gotten prime offensive minutes and last year was an uphill battle for him in terms of linemates and situational deployment. He still ended up scoring at a 39-point pace, which is comparable to rookie Luke Evangelista and other young players who are slotted as productive top nine forwards. This might just be the burden of expectations and Nashville not having a deep enough roster to put him in a position to succeed, the latter of which could change this year. He is a dynamic skater who can weave through traffic and can create chances from inside the dots on his own. It will take an injury to break into the top six, but he could see some secondary power play time. There’s some major boom-or-bust potential with him, as he can be someone that lights it up on their third line or ends up back in roster purgatory. At 23, this is usually the year where it goes one way or another.

DEFENCE

Roman Josi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	24	66	90	1.13

It’s easy to take excellence for granted. It’s doubtful anyone who follows Nashville does this with Roman Josi. He’s been the face of the team since the departure of PK Subban and has done nothing but casually break the mold for how a defenceman should play. There were times when you would be shocked to see a blueliner leading the rush or flying the zone, but it’s a regular occurrence for him in Nashville. A change in strategy to decrease his workload on puck retrievals and zone exits helped take his offensive production to another level in 2021-22 and we saw a repeat of that this year. With Ryan McDonagh or Dante Fabbro handling most of the forecheck pressure, Josi was free to roam up the ice and find all the open space in the neutral zone. He’s still the best skater and passer on the Preds, so good things usually happen when the puck is on his stick. His defensive game has also rounded out the past year, getting burned on rushes less frequently and giving forwards less of a gap when he does have to defend one-on-one. He still has that riverboat gambler mindset but is less of a pure one-way threat now than he was earlier in his career. Forsberg is the engine powering Nashville, but Josi is the one driving the bus. Do not underestimate and could take a step yet offensively.

Brady Skjei

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	13	39	52	0.64

Needing a minute-eater, Nashville found a good one in Brady Skjei in free agency, although it did cost them a pretty penny at over seven million AAV for seven years. Skjei is a great case of a player’s development not stagnating when they hit their early 20’s. He was a player with a lot of flaws in his game when Carolina got him at the 2020 trade deadline, with not much to his game except his size, skating and cardio. With some time under their coaching staff and playing regular minutes, he formed one of the league’s best shutdown pairs with Brett Pesce. Skjei’s main contributions were his shot blocking, his mobility and his ever-improving offensive instincts. He scored double-digit goals in each of his last two seasons, Carolina’s love of point shots fueling that, and should be in a position to contribute offensively in Nashville with how involved their defencemen usually are. The question is where he slots, as he can be Josi’s puck retrieval guy and another big shot to worry about from the point, or a guy who can carry their second pair. One would think it’s the latter, as he has no issues playing the tough matchups if he needs to. He was also used on the power play sparingly with the Hurricanes, although he will probably be limited to second unit duty at most with Josi in Nashville. He should be closer to 35 – 40 points and 10 goals or more in his new surroundings.

Alex Carrier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	5	18	23	0.29

Seemingly on the trade block every year, Nashville went the other way and elected to re-sign the undersized defenceman to a three-year deal. Watching him play, it’s easy to see why most teams wanted him and why Nashville wanted to keep him. He can play the big minutes and is a mobile defenceman who can do all the little things. Carrier’s a great skater who can take a lot of hits despite his size, making him a great outlet in the defensive zone and he uses his low center gravity to time hits and break up plays at the blue line. His offence is also underrated, as he will jump into the play given the opportunity. Only has modest point totals to show for it, but he makes lives so much easier for the forwards in front of him with the work he does on the blue line. Great at walking the blue line and getting pucks through traffic as well. He’s a bit on the older side for someone who doesn’t have much NHL experience but can still hold the fort down on a second pair.

Dante Fabbro

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
66	2	12	14	0.21

Sometimes a player is “first pair” or “top line” in the lineup card only, that’s the case for Dante Fabbro. Usually paired with Roman Josi, Fabbro doesn’t always play every shift alongside him, usually subbed out late in the game for Ryan McDonagh or in long offensive zone shifts for someone with a little more pop. Fabbro gets the minutes with Josi because he can accept the role as the “retrieval guy” on the pair, taking a lot of hits and deferring most of the exits to someone else. He might not log major minutes, but they’re not easy to play and his role is one of the more underappreciated on the team. He hasn’t gotten to show some of the high-end offence he had in college because of his energy is burned in the defensive zone and you’re not going to get a lot of puck touches alongside Josi. Fabbro can still lean into a wrist shot from distance when he gets the room, but his relied upon to be a stabilizer more than a driver. Healthy scratch at times last year but has more of a clear roster spot now with Tyson Barrie leaving.

GOAL

Juuse Saros

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
61	36	19	6	4	0.910	2.61

If the Nashville Predators were especially lucky to transition seamlessly from perennially-elite starter Pekka Rinne to similarly-reliable Juuse Saros a handful of years ago, it seems their luck may have finally started to run out. The Central Division club, who were potentially poised to enter a new tandem era with Saros and top-tier prospect Yaroslav Askarov, found their hands forced by Askarov’s desire to start the year in the NHL instead of with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. His move to the San Jose Sharks at the end of August put Nashville’s goaltending situation into a very different perspective; things still aren’t as bleak as they could be, but this isn’t an obstacle they’ll be able to look back on and shrug off.

Saros has continued to be a commanding presence in the blue paint for Nashville. His ability to box opponents out of his crease and eliminate screens help him overcome any deficit he might incur as one of the league's shortest goaltenders. Even as Nashville has started to exit their contention window, Saros has looked like an almost seamless transition for the club from former star Pekka Rinne - and the hope was that Askarov would replicate the cycle all over again, coming in alongside Saros until he was ready to shoulder the larger bulk of the workload in the next few years. The Predators added veteran Scott Wedgewood on a multi-year deal to presumably serve as Saros' backup this year - which likely left Askarov convinced he’d spend the bulk of the year in the minors, prompting the discontent that led to his trade request. Now, Nashville will have to hope that Saros can continue to be their star without guaranteed help on the horizon; it's not an impossible feat, but it's far from the bright future Nashville fans have been eagerly awaiting since the 2020 NHL Draft.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:58:08 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Nashville Predators center Thomas Novak (82) is shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers, held on December 19, 2022, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

Review: The Predators have rarely been listed among the main contenders for the Stanley Cup in any given year, but they have managed to stay consistently competitive, making the playoffs for eight straight campaigns from 2014-15 through 2021-22. They nearly reached nine consecutive seasons but came just short with their 42-32-8 record last year. Juuse Saros deserves most of the credit for keeping Nashville close. He’s one of the most reliable goaltenders in the world, and he stayed strong in 2022-23, posting a 33-23-7 record, 2.69 GAA and .919 save percentage in 64 contests. Consider that Nashville ranked 28th in 5-on-5 expected goals against (199.01), suggesting the Predators were among the league’s worst teams defensively and would have consequently been easy to score against if not for some stellar netminding. Saros’ role was even more important because Nashville didn’t do much offensively. None of the Predators reached the 60-point mark, though it didn’t help that Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and especially Roman Josi missed meaningful chunks of the season. The silver lining is Saros is just 28, and the Predators have two more seasons left at a team-friendly $5 million cap hit, so there’s still time to build around him.

What’s Changed? Deciding major turnover was necessary, Predators GM Barry Trotz bought out Matt Duchene’s contract and traded Ryan Johansen to Colorado. Nashville leveraged that freed cap space to ink top-six forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist. They also added defensive defenseman Luke Schenn, which might make life a little easier on Saros.

What would success look like? The Predators could absolutely make it back into the playoffs, but their push needs to start with another great campaign from Saros. Assuming they have that, an injury-free year out of Josi would do a lot to make up the rest of the gap. Meanwhile, it will be the first full NHL campaign for forwards Thomas Novak, Luke Evangelista and Juuso Parssinen, who could combine to make Nashville a significantly better team offensively than they were in 2022-23.

What could go wrong? Whenever a team relies so much on a single player, as Nashville does with Saros, the nightmare scenario is always an injury to said player. Although Nashville does have a sufficient backup in Kevin Lankinen, but being forced to rely on him for an extended period would be far from ideal. It’s also not clear how much offensive help O’Reilly and Nyquist will be. Both had up-and-down campaigns last year, so if Nashville was hoping to swap Duchene and Johansen for safer bets, they may end up disappointed.

Top Breakout Candidate: After scoring 17 goals and 43 points in 51 games last season, Novak is perhaps too easy of a choice, so instead let’s focus on one of his projected linemates, Evangelista. The 21-year-old also had an encouraging, albeit much shorter, stint with Nashville in 2022-23, contributing seven goals and 15 points in 24 contests. Evangelista also excelled in the AHL with 41 points in 49 outings and turned pro with plenty of offensive upside. He’s a big part of why Nashville has reason for optimism about the long-term outlook of its forward core.

Forwards

Filip Forsberg - LW

Looking to follow up a fantastic 42-goal season, Forsberg started off a little slow with only two goals in the first month of the season. He hit his stride over the winter, scoring at a point-per-game pace in November and December before a concussion in early February sidelined him for the rest of the season. Streaky scoring isn’t out of the ordinary for Forsberg, as he is the type of player who will run hot, and he was on-pace to match his typical season totals before getting hurt. Talent eventually shows through with most players, and he is the type you can always count on to go on a scoring tear at some point. Terrific at generating offense on his own, Forsberg is one of the most creative shooters in the league. He can test goalies despite being covered or tricking defenders by passing at the very last second to set up a breakaway or a lay-up goal for his linemates. He had fantastic chemistry with Matt Duchene in 2022 for this reason and while they struggled to repeat that last year, Forsberg still found a way to get on the scoresheet with a revolving door of linemates. His 42-goal campaign might have been an aberration, but at the end of the day the Preds will be happy with what they get out of Forsberg.

Ryan O’Reilly - C

Nashville shook up their forward corps this summer, shipping off veterans Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen and bringing in Ryan O’Reilly as their new centerpiece. Whether you’re a contending team or navigating a rebuild, O’Reilly is a good player to build your forward group around. He can handle the big minutes and the tougher matchups, which will make life easier for the Tommy Novaks of the roster. Nashville’s blue line will also benefit from him, as he acts like a third defenseman with how deep he plays in the zone and how good he is at starting breakouts. This along with his strength in making plays on his backhand are his calling cards. He has also made the most out of playing with some of the scraps in the St. Louis’ forward corps, as the more talented players were moved to more scoring lines. Last year he formed an excellent checking line with Josh Leivo and Brandon Saad. O’Reilly is the type of player whose line will usually dominate territorially even if they aren’t scoring a lot of goals, so this bodes well for what he can do in Nashville. Very high floor, but a lower ceiling than there used to be with him.

Tommy Novak - C

The former Minnesota Gopher might have been the best player in the second half of the season that you’ve never heard of (unless you’re a Nashville fan or a fantasy hockey player). Known primarily as a playmaker and a pass-first player, the 17 goals in 50 games Novak scored last year was one fewer than his career total in four years at college and more than he scored in any season in the AHL. It wasn’t the “playing out of the string” type of production either, as Nashville was fighting for a playoff spot in the second half and three of Novak’s goals were scored in overtime. He showed signs that he could be a good player during his first cup of coffee with the Preds. He has excellent hands and was very good at making safe plays to keep offensive zone shifts going. What changed last year was that he really started poaching for more offense and began shooting more. Some of that is from getting endless breakaway opportunities but he also worked his way into the slot to create his own shot instead of reverting to the point or passing it off to someone else. At 26, this was probably Novak’s last chance to prove he belongs in the NHL and to say he proved that is an understatement.

Gustav Nyquist - LW

Every team needs a player or two like Nyquist, a decent scoring forward who isn’t a top-liner but can keep up with your big dogs if you need someone to fill-in. Nyquist has that Swiss-Army Knife toolset where he can do just enough to help everyone his line without being the main driver of it, not being the first one on pucks, but usually being in the right spot to receive a pass or setup a give-and-go. Uses his stick well in the defensive zone and was a regular on Columbus’ aggressive penalty kill for years, scoring seven shorthanded goals in three years with Columbus. Had no real consistent linemates with the Jackets last year and didn’t see any action with Minnesota until the playoffs where he played on a line with Ryan Hartman. Doesn’t have the shot or the game-breaking skill to be the driver on his line, or a consistent offensive threat, but will pitch-in enough to help any line that he is on. Modern day utility player and a nice placeholder for the Preds.

Cody Glass - C

Spending all of 2021-22 in the AHL, Nashville made it a priority to fix Cody Glass’ development after getting him from Vegas. The former third overall pick had a rocky start in the NHL and his first full season with the Predators was a major step forward. Finding his way as a middle-six center, Glass seemed to find his niche as a goal-scorer and a net-front guy on the power play. Scoring six of his goals with the man advantage, Glass is more of the “goal/point vulture” mold right now, he hangs around the net most of his shifts and has slowly figured out the ins-and-outs of scoring a lot of dirty goals. He has terrific hands but slow feet, so this is a good way for him to make an NHL career. It makes him more of a secondary player on his line, as he doesn’t play with a lot of pace, or handle the puck much, but it’s also something you can work around since he will do the little things away from the puck. His defensive game was especially encouraging, always in the right spot in coverage to help generate easy exits. Great things were expected for Glass when Vegas took him with their first ever pick and a detour to Nashville seems to be just what he needed to get his career back on track.

Yakov Trenin - LW

Appropriately nicknamed “The Yak,” the Nashville winger is probably most known for being one of the only players to fight Zdeno Chara twice. What they might not know is that he’s become one of Nashville’s more reliable players since then. Scoring double-digit goals in back-to-back seasons, he found a home on what was dubbed “The Herd Line” by Preds fans. He was one of the straws that stirred the drink on that line because he is very direct in how he plays. He shoots the puck at every opportunity and will lay a shoulder into any player that is along the boards. The more skilled parts of his game showed out a little last year, carrying the puck into the zone more and surprising defenders with his puck-handling. He still doesn’t drift too far from his bread and butter, always hanging around or behind the net to set up shop in the offensive zone and being a nuisance to play against. Also, a fixture on Nashville’s penalty kill alongside Colton Sissons. Trenin should continue to be a regular middle-sixer for Nashville even with The Herd Line disassembled.

Denis Gurianov - RW

Dallas finally decided to cut bait with their former first round pick, sending him to Montreal in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov. Far removed from his 20-goal rookie campaign, Gurianov struggled to find the scoring touch after that and hasn’t found a niche in the other parts of the game. His last year in Dallas was his low point, with only two goals in 43 games. If you tuned into their games, you know it wasn’t for a lack of trying, as he averaged more shots per 60 minutes than almost any of their other forwards and the blistering one-timer is still there. Being able to get it on the net has been the issue and his game went from one-dimensional to zero-dimensional as a high-shot volume player who couldn’t score. A fresh start in Montreal helped for a pinch, scoring four goals in five games after the trade but they ultimately let him become a free agent. He brings some qualities that Nashville could use, especially as a triggerman for their second power play unit and someone who plays with a high-motor and will at least work hard in his minutes. It’s tough to say if he will get regular playing time with so many players from Milwaukee looking for full-time jobs too.

Colton Sissons - C

A hero from their 2017 Stanley Cup run, Sissons has been a mainstay in Nashville’s bottom-six for years, centering The Herd Line with Trenin and Jeannot. He was one of a few players that had their role increased last year due to injury, playing close to 19 minutes some nights and even getting some prolonged time with Filip Forsberg in the top-six at times. Sissons is typically the “next man up” for Nashville in these situations because of how reliable his game is as a defensive player and that he has the stamina to play bigger minutes if needed. Most of the time he has a pretty thankless role as the center who takes most of the defensive zone faceoffs and the main job is surviving the shift before even thinking about making a play with the puck. It’s a tough, but necessary role on most teams and you can do worse than Sissons. He usually finds a way to get to the 25–30-point range despite that, though. Last year was his highest goal total since 2019, as the extra ice-time allowed him to poach for more offense at times. He can also play the wing if needed, so should continue to be a fixture in Nashville’s lineup next year.

Phillip Tomasino - RW

After spending all of 2021-22 in the NHL, the former first round pick wasn’t called up to Nashville until February. This decision was met with the refrain of “it’s about time,” as he was a sleeper pick for some people last year. Not setting the world on fire but showing some flash as a playmaker and looking like he belonged in the NHL at the very least. His play down the stretch was more of the same, Tomasino getting more of a run in the top-six and showing some of that creativity that got him drafted so high. Why he was in the AHL for so long is tough to say. Either Nashville didn’t want to have one of their top prospects stuck as a checker or they felt his overall game needed more work. Regardless, it looks like he did enough to be on the opening night roster this year. He was a decent weapon on the second power play unit, setting up a lot of plays from the right faceoff circle and scoring a few “surprise” goals off deflections. The lack of goal-scoring and his spotty play-driving are legitimate concerns, but hopefully he will get a full-season to iron those out this time around.

Defense

Roman Josi - D

Following up a record-setting season is tough. Perhaps it’s even more difficult when someone on another team breaks your own record, which was the case for Nashville’s star defenseman. He was the first defenseman to top 90 points, something that hasn’t been done post-lockout, until Erik Karlsson scored 101-points this year. There wasn’t a lot that changed about his overall game this year except the puck went into the net less often, mainly on the power play where he had 13 fewer points. Josi was the same, roaming player he has always been, always looking to push for offense. Nashville’s forwards not scoring as many goals as they used to is what hurt his point total more than anything. The same passing plays he created in 2022 weren’t as freely available last year, so the points didn’t come as easily for him. The main difference for the Nashville captain this year was adjusting to a new partner in Ryan McDonagh, pairing him with another lefty for the first time in a while and someone who is a little tougher around the edges than Dante Fabbro. It made breakouts a little easier, as Josi didn’t have to go the full 200 feet to create offense and could get up in the play more with a steady partner back. Still projects to be the team’s best player for the upcoming season.

Tyson Barrie - D

Some players are a product of the situations they’re in and Tyson Barrie has been living his best life running the top of the umbrella of the Oilers power play. His vision and deception from the point made him a good fit for that spot, as he can do more than just distribute from the point and find the soft spots in the penalty kill. Nashville got to see glimpses of that during his audition with the team after the trade deadline. He’s also a decent goal-scoring threat for a defenseman, tallying 10 last season. He has some utility at 5-on-5 but was used primarily on the third pair during his final year with Edmonton, as he doesn’t handle forecheck pressure well and has trouble translating his strong puck-skills when the game gets quicker. Most of his value is attached to what he does on the power play, which was a lot with the Oilers. 54-percent of his points with Edmonton were with the man advantage. He could see a bigger role in Nashville but will have a tough time unseating Roman Josi as the team’s power play quarter back.

Ryan McDonagh - D

Few players deserved the “underrated” tag more than Ryan McDonagh in his prime. He did everything you want out of a top-pairing defenseman and could control 5-on-5 play better than almost anyone. As he has gotten older, he’s gotten less concerned with putting up points and more with taking care of his own zone first. He’s a strong skater still and will jump in for a splash play occasionally, but he’s not the one-man breakout he used to be. Pairing him with Josi made sense on paper, as McDonagh can still be effective with taking hits and killing the play along the boards so Josi can scoop the puck up, but there is only so much you can do as a defenseman playing this style. You’re making the first play, but everything else is out of your control, so the downside is you might have a season like McDonagh where you spend most of the time blocking shots and preventing damage in your own zone. There’s a role for these players, but it’s a taxing style on their bodies and McDonagh already has a lot of miles on his tires at 33-years old. His skating is still strong enough to keep him a viable option on the penalty kill and the top-four.

Alex Carrier - D

The young defenseman suffered two setbacks, first was having his season derailed by an injury, second was losing Mattias Ekholm, Carrier’s defense partner for most of his brief career. His game isn’t too different from top-pairing defensemen around the AHL or in other leagues, just needing a chance to finally get a chance in the AHL. He’s a good skater that uses his stick to disrupt plays without taking penalties and was a great fit for John Hynes’ system where the right defensemen step up in the neutral zone regularly. Very good with the puck even if it doesn’t translate to a lot of points, as exiting the zone with control is a strength of his. Could be in a tough roster situation this year with Nashville having four right-handed defensemen under contract and his regular partner now playing for another team. Mobility and willingness to play anywhere in the lineup should be enough to keep him a regular, although maybe with a different role depending on how the roster shakes out.

Goaltending

Juuse Saros - G

The Nashville Predators missing out on the postseason last year was hardly goaltender Juuse Saros’ fault. The undersized – but remarkably well-positioned and hard-to-shake – number one put up one of the league’s best performances last year, despite the raw numbers showcasing nothing more than an overworked (but better than average) starter on an underperforming team. No goaltender in the NHL made more saves above expected last year than he did, with the 28-year-old keeping his team not just in games, but close to the playoff hunt quite literally down to the bitter end. The Predators missed the postseason by a mere three points last year, and it’s hard to believe they would have been anywhere but the league basement without Saros’ steady presence in more than two-thirds of their games.

Of course, there’s only so long that the team can continue to trot out Saros for over sixty games a year. It’s hard to imagine they don’t want to split the workload more evenly, and there’s a chance that he’ll be able to take some breaths of relief with prospect Yaroslav Askarov looking more and more ready for regular NHL action. But ultimately. Saros is a smaller goaltender who has to rely on picture-perfect precision in his game to keep the team from backsliding; if they keep playing him with the kind of workload they’ve asked of him for the last few years, it’s hard to imagine it won’t start to show up in the form of fatigue errors before they’re ready to get Askarov into regular game action. The Predators have to find the balance between treating their current starter right and avoiding any kind of rush job for their goaltender of the future – and right now, they’re toeing that line a little too closely for comfort.

Projected starts: 60-65

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – NHL Player Profiles

Corey Sznajder – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:09:35 +0000

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 05: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates during a timeout during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators on March 5, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Filip Forsberg

It might surprise some folks that last year was only the third time Filip Forsberg eclipsed the 30-goal mark and the only season where he was a point-per-game player. Widely considered one of the league’s stars, it was always a struggle for him to have the point production that matched his talent. That changed in 2021. Forsberg had the golden touch, scoring on almost 20% of his shots, benefitting from Nashville playing more off the rush than in past years. For years, the Preds were a team that created off long, sustained possessions with Forsberg pulling the puck off the wall, using his great hands to create chances with minimal space. This was still part of Nashville’s game, but there was more of a direct approach with Forsberg this year. He attacked the net more frequently after entering the zone, taking more shots instead of looking and being selective. It made a lethal combination with Matt Duchene, as the two frequently set each other up on give-and-go plays. Forsberg is such a gifted player that he can play any style and be effective, but the rush-based approach did a lot for making him more of a game-breaker, giving Nashville a huge spark in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. His playmaking also came a long way, ranking as one of the best players in the league in assists on scoring chances. With goal-scoring on the rise, Forsberg is set to have another good year. Will it be the heights he reached last year when everything went right, or will he settle back into being the 25-30 goal guy he’s been for most of his career?

Nino Niederreiter

A player like Niederreiter is always going to be useful because even if he’s in a scoring drought, he is going to do something to help his line. He has the top-six skill with a fourth line mentality. He’s very smart with how he forechecks and disrupts plays without taking penalties and can keep pucks pinned below the goal-line for an entire shift. It made him a vital member of Carolina’s shutdown line with Jordan Staal last year, as he was the “skill guy” on the line, creating looks off the rush and being the first one on pucks to wear down defenders. The interesting thing about him is that while he’s productive, a lot of the goals he scores are of the “odd” variety. You’ll see a lot of bank shots off the goaltender or goals from impossible angles. Not many players will have back-to-back 20-goal seasons scoring goals like this, but that’s been the case for him. There’s a lot of different things Nashville can do with him. He would fit right in with Tanner Jeannot on the checking line, but he was moved around in Carolina before settling in on Staal’s wing, so he brings some versatility there. Special teams’ ice-time is the one thing to look for with him, as he produced with limited usage on the Carolina power play and didn’t kill penalties either. He could be more of a fixture on both in Nashville.

Matt Duchene

One year removed from being available in the expansion draft, Matt Duchene had the type of season Nashville fans were waiting for. It was his most productive season in his long NHL career and the first time he reached the 40-goal mark. Nashville changing their approach to more of a transition team and pairing him with Filip Forsberg was the main cause. He always created a lot of shots but would often find himself too close to the goaltender or at too weird of an angle to make any moves or use his great shot. Most of that is from the Preds expecting Duchene to drive his own line with other checkers instead of pairing him with another elite talent like Forsberg. Skill works with skill and the duo were unstoppable for the Preds, Duchene getting the full benefit of playing more off the rush and using his speed as a weapon more. He created less offense in volume, but the chance quality was at another level because of how much time and space he would have to shoot. This also applies to the power play because while he still played the net-front role, the Preds set him up with more diagonal passing plays, giving him space for one-timers at the side of the net instead of looking for rebounds and deflections. There is some concern on if Duchene can produce without Forsberg by his side, but the Preds likely won’t mess with a duo that gave them such great results last year. They figured out how to cater to their best players strengths, which is an encouraging sign for the team going forward.

Ryan Johansen

Johansen was another player who had a renaissance season in Nashville, reaching the 20-goal mark for the first time since his Columbus days, although his rebound season wasn’t talked about as much. His game isn’t as flashy as it used to be. Hips surgeries have impacted how much power he can get behind his stride and while his strength is still there, he isn’t the same player who can setup shop in the offensive zone like in the heyday of the JOFA Line. His hands, however, are still as strong as ever and you saw that with how great he was as a goal-scorer. Nashville set him up in a lot of ways from the bumper position on the power play, he might have been Josi’s favorite passing target with his precision on tip plays and how he could get himself open for one-timers. It’s a different look from his old days of quarterbacking the power play from the wall, but goal-scoring is where he was the most effective and it caught some teams off-guard. He still had more of a pass-first mindset, especially after getting bumped up to the Forsberg line, it just wasn’t as extreme as it was in previous season, and it was rare for him to be the one driving a line. Someone else had to set the table for Johansen to get into the zone or create a chance and it was up to him to make the final play. It worked last year, but it’s clear that he is more of a specialist than he was in previous years. Most players have to adapt and change their games as they get older, and Johansen is going through that right now.

Tanner Jeannot

It’s hard not to love watching Tanner Jeannot play. He is very easy to notice anytime Nashville is on because of how aggressive he is anytime the puck is in the offensive zone. He’s always the first one to deliver a big hit or get in on the forecheck, which is always going to be part of Nashville’s DNA. His 24 goals were a bonus with everything else he brought to the table, leading all rookies in that department. He scored a lot of “dirty” goals off deflections and rebounds where the puck took an odd bounce, or he found himself behind the defense. Jeannot had some very good offensive seasons in Moose Jaw, but not many had him pegged as a 20+ goal-scorer, especially in the role Nashville had him in. His line with Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin played in more high-leverage situations as the season went on and Jeannot’s penchant for going to the net for tip plays made them more of a dual threat than just a line that forechecks. Repeating that next year might be tough, as his line didn’t create a lot of shots unless it was coming off Trenin’s stick and Jeannot was more of an opportunistic scorer than someone who drove play. Although Nashville will be happy if they got even half of what Jeannot produced last year with how good he is at being an agitator.

Mikael Granlund

Granlund is one of the tougher players to project on Nashville’s roster. He plays a lot of important minutes, which includes killing penalties and centering Forsberg/Duchene, but when you look at what he does on his own, it’s not much. He had another good season in terms of points, with 25% of them coming off secondary assists and was a mainstay on their top power play unit. It’s just that he’s more of a support player now and his production will mirror whoever his linemates are. If that’s Forsberg and Duchene again, he’s in for a good season. If he’s centering another line, he might go back to the 40–45-point player he was before. That’s not to say he’s a bad player, because he wears a lot of hats for Nashville and helps facilitate the rush offense for Duchene and Forsberg by doing most of the work away from the puck. His endurance and lower body strength make him a key part of the Preds but he kind of struggled against quicker opponents and made him more of a power play specialist than in years past. That said, he should be the 1C for Nashville unless someone else dethrones him.

Phillip Tomasino

The young winger had a solid rookie season in Nashville despite not having a clear role. His linemates were inconsistent with Nashville not trusting him on the second line just yet and the Jeannot line playing more third line minutes. Tomasino ended up getting the leftovers and he did surprisingly well with a rotating cast of linemates, producing more primary assists per 60 minutes than any other Nashville forward. He has the tools to make the jump to a top-six role, as he’s more of a shoot-first player despite the boxcar stats and has a deceptive release. He’s also a smooth skater and showed some ability to create off the rush, although it didn’t lead to many goals. Tomasino was pigeon-holed into more of a shoot-first role last year because of who his linemates were (Johansen, Cousins, Novak) and while he did fine, he was better as a playmaker in junior and the long stick he uses made it awkward for him to get the shot he wanted even if he was in good position. His passing was still a threat, but Nashville has a lot of similar forwards that they needed a finisher on his line. This will likely be the next step in his development. He had a good season with limited minutes and should be in line for a bigger role next year.

Eeli Tolvanen

While Tolvanen has struggled to be the force he was in junior, he has found a niche as a defensive-forward for Nashville, although it’s not always obvious when watching him play. He still has the bomb of a one-timer and shows flashes of high-end skill, but it’s been tough for him to produce at the NHL level even with decent minutes. However, he made himself an everyday NHLer by finding other ways to be productive. He was an excellent forechecker and was very good at using his stick to force turnovers, setting the table for the Jeannot line to follow it up with offensive zone shifts. Sometimes this is what you have to do if you’re skill isn’t producing results like you’d hope, and it showed some maturity in Tolvanen’s game. It could make him a nice fit with Nino Niederreiter in the middle-six or on the penalty kill if they want to use him there. That said, Nashville is hoping for more offense out of him if they’re going to continue to give him power play time. We’ve seen how good of a shooter he is in spurts and making his shot more of a threat is one thing the Preds can do to take Tolvanen’s game to the next level.

Yakov Trenin

You can take one look at the monstrous Yakov Trenin and have a good idea of how he plays. He is there to crash bodies, shoot the puck and be a general pain to play against. He was the catalyst of Nashville’s “Herd Line” with Jeannot and Sissons, usually the one taking most of the shots or hitting Jeannot for a deflection. It’s easy to forget that Trenin was a good goal-scorer at other levels, including fairly recently in the AHL, so his 17 goals weren’t totally out of left field. He shoots from everywhere in the offensive zone and isn’t a one-trick pony with taking empty calorie shots off the rush. He will go to the net and is skilled with getting deflections off point shots. It was just a perfect marriage of playing styles with him and Jeannot, as the duo spent a lot of time in the offensive zone and Trenin could play to his strengths more with playing a straight-line game and getting ga lot of shots on goal. He is the most likely member of The Herd Line to repeat his production from the past season.

DEFENSE

Roman Josi

The biggest catalyst of Nashville’s newfound offense was their best player, Roman Josi. The Norris runner-up was a few goalposts and mishits from being the first defenseman to reach 100 points since Brian Leetch. Better scoring from the forwards was part of it, but something else was a change in approach in how they used their star. Nashville tried to keep Josi out of the defensive zone as much as possible, sending him on the ice off opposing line-changes and having his partners retrieve the puck more, allowing Josi to get up in the play and create off the rush without expending as much energy. It also allowed him to play longer shifts in the offensive zone, which already catered to his strengths. He could treat five-on-five play like a power play and attack off the rush on more “re-load” type of plays against tired defenders rather than going the full-200 feet. Nashville already knows what they have in Josi, now they wanted to maximize how gifted he is with the puck rather than have him carry the entire defense on his back. Safe to say they got the result they wanted. It didn’t matter which forwards he was paired with because he can make anyone dangerous with how much attention he draws from defenders. Someone usually gets open and Josi is one of the best passing defensemen in the league. It was showcased even more on the power play, where he set career highs with 37 points and scored 11 goals, more than he has had in the past three years combined. Josi will get his offense, but it will be tough to replicate the gaudy point total he had this year, as so few defensemen have been able to replicate the type of season he had.

Mattias Ekholm

The workhorse of the Preds defense, Ekholm played more of a pure shutdown role than he ever has before. He started the bulk of his shifts in the defensive zone against top lines and did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to limiting damage. There were few defensemen in the league who had more successful puck retrievals in the defensive zone, both to kickstart breakouts and to clear the zone. It was a bit of a thankless role, as Ekholm didn’t get to be up in the play much at all and his offense took a small hit. They were also very taxing minutes, and he doesn’t get enough credit for avoiding as many hits as he does because he’s so quick to make the first play after going back to get the puck. Killing other team’s forechecks is an underrated skill for a shutdown defenseman, as most are concerned with blocking shots and delivering hits. He fits the mold of a modern defenseman but doesn’t have the flashy plays that a Jaccob Slavin or Devon Toews, so he gets overlooked in that discussion. It also shouldn’t be overlooked that he took on these minutes alongside a rookie partner in Alex Carrier, who slowly picked up on some of Ekholm’s traits with protecting the puck from forecheckers to move it out of the zone. The downside is that this type of workload eventually catches up. Always playing on your heels, clearing pucks and swimming upstream has a trickle-down effect on the rest of your shifts if you’re not creating any offense. Ekholm managed to do well but it’s a tough role to play every year.

Dante Fabbro

Ending the previous year as a healthy scratch in the playoffs, Fabbro got his career back on track by solidifying himself as Roman Josi’s right-hand man. He had the less desirable job of the duo, going back to get most of the pucks and being the safety value while Josi did his usual roaming in the offensive zone. It had its perks. Fabbro got to play a little more on offense, utilizing the more skilled part of his game we saw at Boston U. Before then, he looked like a player who could eat a lot of minutes but not really do anything to shift the tides of the game. While that’s still somewhat true, Fabbro did show he can hang with the stars on the team, being a productive member of their top defense pair isn’t anything to scoff at. Especially since you’re going to deal with a lot of unpredictability with Josi as your partner. The most encouraging thing is that Fabbro translated some of his skills to the defensive side of the game, using some of his finesse to help start breakouts and using his skating to help get back to cover for Josi or defend entries. It’s exactly the type of thing you want to see with your young defensemen. Can he do it with a partner that isn’t a Norris runner-up? That remains to be seen.

GOALTENDING

Juuse Saros

In a perfect world, it’s hard to believe that the Nashville Predators would want to leave starter Juuse Saros to shoulder such a large chunk of the workload during the regular season. But thanks to the covid-19 league-wide hiccups and a slew of start-and-stops that left some of the league’s most storied veterans struggling to get themselves into top game shape, the 2022-23 season features a few too many open spots for tandem jobs and a few too many established names to fill them – which has left teams like Nashville to take gambles on available reclamation projects while hoping that starters like Saros can handle heavier volumes of work without fizzling out around the postseason.

The good news for Nashville is that Saros has been exactly what they hoped he would be, without suffering much in the way of growing pains as he adjusted to life without mentor Pekka Rinne sharing his crease. A structurally precise goaltender who tricks teams with his smaller stature and keeps them on their toes with surprisingly fast footwork and good pad reach, Saros has kept Nashville from plummeting once their giants hit a decline and left them facing down a likely-closed Stanley Cup window. What they might need to worry about, though, is just how healthy Saros can remain when holding down the fort every night – especially with a fairly unknown quantity behind him in fellow Finnish netminder Kevin Lankinen, who arrives fresh off a tumultuous handful of years with the Chicago Blackhawks. Lankinen’s speed and enthusiasm don’t necessarily compensate fully for the technical gaps in his game, particularly when it comes to his ability to adapt his play hinging out from the blue line – and Chicago’s complete lack of defensive structure left him with few good examples in the way of effective reading and reacting in the way of blue line systems. He has a lot of promise to his game, but a lot of bad habits that he’ll need to unlearn if Nashville hopes to utilize him as a quality backup option to tandem with Saros beyond this year.

Projected starts: 60-65

Nashville Predators 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:11:52 +0000

As a perennial contender, the Nashville Predators rarely have access to the top prospects in any given draft class. They are, in fact, more likely to not have a first round pick as they are to pick in the top ten. Since 2008, they picked in the top ten once (getting Seth Jones fourth overall in 2013), and did not have a first round ick in any of 2011, 2012, 2015, or 2018. In fact, in 2018, the team didn’t announce a pick until late in the fourth round.

Not being a team that traditionally spends to the cap, or one that is generally seen as a prime destination for unrestricted free agents (Matt Duchene notwithstanding), they need to make the picks they do have count. With that in mind, the way the 2017 draft’s first round unfolded was beyond anything they could have expected as they sat at the draft table in Chicago. It was a solid draft class, so they knew they would be getting a good player, but after Dallas drafted Jake Oettinger at pick 25 an then Ottawa reached (at least a bit) for Shane Bowers at 28, the Predators knew they had a chance to pick up a special player at pick 30.

When they called out the name of Eeli Tolvanen a few minutes after Bowers was picked, most pundits, including yours truly, commented about how the rich just got markedly richer. Here was a winger with perhaps the best shot in the draft class. He had warts (small, decent, but not great skater, inconsistent effort in his own end), but his upside was unmistakable. He was a potential first line, goal scoring winger and the Predators were gifted him at the end of the first round.

He was slated to move from the USHL to college, but a problem with high school credits from his native Finland scuppered those plans, news which only came out in the days before the draft. With his new team’s blessing, he went back to Finland, to play for his homeland’s sole KHL team, Jokerit. His 19 goals and 36 points both established new KHL scoring records for U19 players, edging out Washington star Evgeni Kuznetsov. The excitement in Music City was palpable. While the Predators didn’t quite roll out the red carpet for Tolvanen, the expectation was clearly that he would force his way on to the roster and give the team a much needed goal scorer.

Unfortunately, he found the transition back to North America tougher than the KHL. His season in Milwaukee saw him get one fewer point than he had the previous year with Jokerit, but in nine more games. He demonstrated a common young sniper tendency to disappear for multiple shifts, if not games, at a time. In a word, Tolvanen was disappointing.

But let’s look at it in another way. He just turned 20, has played seven games in the NHL and has scored his first goal. Of the 29 players taken ahead of him, 11 have yet to appear in a single regular season NHL game. Four more have played less than his seven games. In other words, Tolvanen is still very young and Nashville should still be excited by his potential.

-Ryan Wagman

Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) (Photo by Jerome Davis/Icon Sportswire)

1 Philip Tomasino, C (24^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Tomasino is a player designed to play in today’s fast-paced NHL. He does everything at top speed and possesses some of the best first few steps in the Ontario Hockey League. This explosiveness makes him such a dynamic offensive threat, especially when you combine it with his aggressiveness in attacking the offensive zone. He is going to need to get stronger on the puck to improve his consistency and make him more of a factor when he is not able to use his speed. But with good vision, the versatility to play multiple positions, and the ability to push the pace, Tomasino looks like a future second or third line forward for Nashville. He had some of the best even strength production of any draft eligible this year and that always bodes well for future improvement. - BO

2 Dante Fabbro, D (17^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) Start with the full package of skills necessary to play as a potential top pairing blueliner in the NHL. He is a strong skater. He has a big shot from the point, if not quite a power play quarterback shot. He handles the puck nicely, creating chances for linemates regularly. He is not especially physical, but he has enough strength to hold his own in positional battles in front of his net or in the corners. What ties it all together, making the tools play up and giving him the full package is his internal computer. Fabbro processes the game at an exceptional level, giving him the ability to shut down most rushes on his side of the ice. After steadily increasing his offensive impact over three years at Boston University, the NHL beckons. - RW

3 Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Tolvanen was considered a major steal for the Predators when David Poile and crew used their 2017 first-round pick on the undersized Finnish scoring machine, and though he has struggled to adjust in the AHL, he still flashes the world-class scoring potential that put him on the map. His shot is mesmerizing, with speed, a wicked and deceptive release, and insane accuracy, while his skating has improved to compliment has lethal shooting. His excellent touch for the puck gives him an underrated playmaking game as well, as his hands can create space for himself and teammates while his elite stick skills enable him to dish passes over with ease. It might be fair to label Tolvanen a disappointment so far due to the expectations placed upon him, but he is still 20 years old and his biggest flaws (defensive positioning and discipline, rink awareness, shot assertiveness) are things he can improve with time. He can be a yearly 50-point scorer at the NHL level. - TD

4 Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) - A plus-sized Russian import who had been playing in North America for three years by the time the draft rolled around, Afanasyev had a big season with Muskegon to help showcase his wares. He starts his package off with a monster shot which is deadly from the circles on in. He is a commanding presence from the half-wall, especially on the power play, where the aforementioned shot helps set up his understated playmaking ability. He is not especially aggressive, but he is very strong. He also gets to a solid top speed, even though his first few steps are below average. He will work on that acceleration with Windsor in the OHL, after walking away from a college commitment with Michigan State. If he can gain just a touch of quickness, his chances of staying as a top six forward will leap forward. - RW

5 Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3) On the short and stout side, Pitlick has blazing speed when his skates are on. His wrist shot is similarly hard to handle. He likes to go to the net, skating in straight lines and is not afraid of playing in the greasy areas of the ice. As solid as his shot is, Pitlick is also a clever playmaker, with good vision as he flies down the wing towards the net. While he will take risks to create offense, he is responsible in his own end, and has been a trusted penalty college for the University of Minnesota. A late bloomer, his skills have born more and more fruit over the years since he was first draft eligible. He is now ready for the AHL and the NHL and a middle six role there, are not too far away. - RW

6 Jeremy Davies, D (192^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 15 [New Jersey]) One of the pieces returned to Nashville in the big P.K. Subban trade, Davies has had remarkably little press for a blueliner who has just missed putting up a point per game in each of the last two seasons at Northeastern. Undersized without giving up an inch physically, he tries to stay engaged with the play at both ends. His accurate point shot helps to create rebounds for his linemates when they don’t result in direct goals. There is room for skepticism as well, though, as he played on a very up-tempo offensive team in college and players of his size (not just short, but slight as well) will always have to prove that they can withstand the more physically mature professional ranks. If he can pass that test, Davies has second pairing upside, with power play utility. - RW

7 Semyon Chistyakov, D (117^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Chistyakov is a shutdown defenseman who had a good season with Tolpar Ufa of the Russian junior league last year, representing his country at various international tournament, including the main ones. He isn’t very big, but he plays and works very hard, and exhibits great resilience and poise. He has a decent shot from the point which he should use more often, although his main weapon is his reliable defensive game. A good skater, Chistyakov can contain offensive players and is often the first player to get back on defense. Right now he is a long ways away from the NHL and he needs to gather some pro hockey experience first before we know what his ceiling really is. - ASR

8 David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) A teammate of Fabbro’s for the past two season at Boston University, Farrance was able to get his excellent speed more of a workout as a sophomore, allowing him to contribute more regularly to the offensive attack. His game is not nearly as well-rounded as Fabbro’s is – at least not yet – with most of the shortfall coming in his own end, where his lack of size is still a hindrance. With the graduations and early defections from BU this offseason, Farrance will have his first chance in a long while to take on a top pairing role for his club. Being given added responsibilities (a good recruiting class means that he will have competition) will go a long way to determine if his upside is as a number five, or higher. - RW

9 Anthony Richard, C (100^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 9) A versatile playmaking forward, Richard is perhaps the most underappreciated prospect in the Nashville system. A fourth-round pick in 2015 based almost solely on his raw offensive output from his QMJHL days with Val d’Or, he was not really expected to carry that kind of offensive firepower to the pro ranks, but he has been a dynamic top-six force in the Milwaukee lineup for two seasons now. Possessing high-end hockey sense and a very hard shot, he is someone who can beat you with his skill and his smarts. His peskiness and deployment on both power play and penalty kill speaks to the development of his defensive game, and his ability to contribute in a multitude of ways. He is not, and will never be, a big-time skater, but he can be a quality depth scorer in a Nashville jersey as soon as this season. - TD

10 Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Today’s NHL is more open to smaller players than ever. There are small players, and then there is Patrick Harper, currently listed at 5-7”, 150 lbs. Thankfully, he is very fast, plays a responsible 200 foot game, and has a history of strong offensive production, which included both underclass years, prompting Team USA to include him on the WJC roster twice. He has a quick stick and isn’t afraid to play near the crease, despite his obvious size concerns. More a playmaker than a finisher, Harper’s point production dropped off drastically last season, likely preventing him from turning pro. A return to his point-per-game roots will see him turn himself into a late season option for the Predators. He will have to continue proving himself at every level though as his size gives him some boom or bust potential. - RW

11 Niclas Westerholm, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 3, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Westerholm literally came out of nowhere to emerge as an NHL prospect. The Predators in the spring of 2018 after the 6-4” goalie impressed with SaiPa’s U20 team. He reads the shooters well and is positionally sound. He cuts down angles effectively and is very difficult to beat low His rebound control is also pretty good most of the time and he has the reaction speed to make the second save, in case he doesn’t manage to direct the puck out of danger. Westerholm is very unexperienced at the men’s level though, only appearing in 19 Liiga games over the past two seasons. He needs to prove himself in the Liiga and will get more opportunities to do so this season back on loan with SaiPa. - MB

12 Marc Del Gaizo, D (109^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) After being passed over as an offensive defenseman with Muskegon in his draft year (where he played with Afanasyev), Del Gaizo followed his older brother to UMass (Amherst), where he was able to play behind established stars Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro and turn in a great freshman season as the Minutemen made it to their first NCAA final, which Del Gaizo helped along scoring the Frozen Four semifinal overtime winner against Denver. He is a heads-up, patient puck holder from the blueline whose best attributes are his skating and his vision. He is still raw and will have to prove he can continue to contribute at a high level without the protection afforded by his two former teammates, but he is trending towards a future as a number five or six. - RW

13 Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 8) Last season, Carrier’s offensive game looked as deadly as ever before. He was a menacing puck-rusher with relentless speed through the neutral zone, making plays out of pure nothingness with his hockey sense and tape-to-tape passing skills, but as has been the case throughout his career, he lagged defensively, did not trust his legs enough in his own zone, and failed to engage much physically. He fell down in the rankings here due to his relative stagnation as a prospect, showing little improvement in his third full year as a pro player. All of what plagues his defensive game is teachable and he will only need to adapt to it all to become an impact player in the NHL, where the 2015 fourth-rounder can be a depth puck-mover with some power play potential. - TD

14 Juuso Parssinen, LW (210^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Parssinen is a sizeable and versatile center who plays a strong three-zone game. He has good defensive awareness and breaks up a lot of plays with his stick. He has a very good overall understanding of the game. Offensively, he lacks flash and dash, but has smooth hands, is smart in possession, and can score in a variety of ways. He can cycle the puck effectively. He is a good skater with decent top speed and strong balance, but his first few strides could be quicker. He has been excellent at face-offs at the junior level. In addition to club play, Parssinen has consistently performed well at the international level. He may not have the offensive skills to produce a ton of points in the NHL, but due to his versatility, I could see him develop into a reliable third-line center. - MB

15 Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) Nashville’s top pick in the 2018 draft, he is starting to look like a steal in the fourth round after a very impressive freshman season at UConn. He was held back by an injury in his draft year (another former Muskegon Lumberjack) which may have also been the cause for his seeming lackadaisical play at times. This year, Kondelik played with greater urgency, putting his exception size (6-7”, 218) to good use. He has decent puck skills, which show up on faceoffs and when he is protecting the puck and his playmaking ability has played up at the college level. He still plays without much aggression, the addition of which would help his stock soar. He also needs to show that he can finish once in a while. With improvements in those areas, he could play a bottom six role in the future. - RW

16 Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 4) Even keeping the injuries which caused him to miss close to half the year in mind, Mismash had a very disappointing sophomore season for North Dakota. The sparks of above average offensive potential that he showed with regularity both with the USNTDP as well as during his freshman season, were rare to appear last year. He is still a fine skater, which gives his game some power appeal. He still plays hard, furthering that power label. Je just lost that offensive touch that made him an exciting prospect. It’s not too late to regain it, and he will to have an NHL future. We reserve the right to revise him back upwards if the touch returns with a full season of good health. - RW

17 Alexander Campbell, C (65^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Campbell is an undersized forward with good vision and offensive skills. He is a good skater who plays with a lot of speed, is shifty, and distributes the puck nicely. He had a good season for the Grizzlies as he scored 21 goals and 67 points in 53 games, and has put up good offensive numbers all throughout his career, enticing Nashville to call his name in the middle rounds this June. He took home the Rookie of the year honors in the BCHL, garnering attention from scouts who were already in the stands to view Alex Newhook, and put himself on the draft boards. He is committed to take his talents to Clarkson University, where he will be able work on his size and strength. He projects out to a middle six role, but needs to add to his small frame first. - KO

18 Josh Wilkins, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 18, 2019. Last Year: IE) Wilkins was fine as an underclassman for Providence. He was awesome as a junior, leading the Predators to offer him an Entry Level Contract after Providence were knocked out of the Frozen Four tournament. More quick than fast, he wins more than his share of puck races and battles, and he has the hands to do something with the puck when he gets it, whether that is finding a way to beat the goalie, or finding a linemate in a better position to turn that trick. I would be more confident in his future prospects if he were either bigger or faster, but there is enough in his package including defensive utility, to keep a bottom six role a possibility. - RW

19 Frederic Allard, D (78^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14) As with most undersized defensemen (this system is not short on them), Allard has a highly-developed offensive game but struggles in his own zone. A former point-per-game blueliner in the QMJHL, his speed, shot, and offensive vision all grade out as average or better. He sees the ice and anticipates plays at a very mature level, despite only two full seasons played at the pro ranks. His problems are a unique issue however, as Allard has a serviceable frame but fails to implement it correctly as a physical deterrent for opposing scoring chances, relying more on shot-blocking and stick-checks. He has legitimate top-four potential if he can work on his defensive game, with his puck-moving and skating playing big roles in his projected big-league value. - TD

20 Brandon Fortunato, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Last Year: IE) A member of the USNTDP squad that included the likes of Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthws, and others, Fortunato was actually the highest scoring defenseman, but he was never drafted. He spent two years at Boston University, getting selected to represent his county at the WJC after his sophomore season, but still couldn’t get a pro sniff. He is small and none of his tools pop. But he left BU after the 2015-16 season, sat out a year and finished his collegiate eligibility with Quinnipiac, saving his best for his senior year. He is sneaky good offensively and plays well at both ends. The Predators finally gave him a chance, and while he remains a long shot, I wouldn’t count him out yet. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2019-20 YEARBOOK: Top 25 Rookies

Ryan Wagman — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 19:01:27 +0000

Projected Top 25 NHL rookies for the 2019-20 season. The top ten are ranked and the final 15 are listed alphabetically.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire)

Cale Makar, D, Col

As a freshman, Makar was very good for UMass and excellent for Team Canada at the WJC, making the tournament All Star team. As a sophomore, he more than doubled his offensive output, winning the Hobey Baker Award on his way to taking the Minutemen to their first ever Frozen Four. He joined Colorado for the postseason and played a key role in getting the Avalanche to the second round. He could be on the first pairing by Canadian Thanksgiving.

Quinn Hughes, D, Van

Like Makar, Hughes got his toenails wet in the NHL at the conclusion of an excellent sophomore season in the NCAA, in his case with Michigan. He may be more protected this year in the NHL but will have every opportunity to play big offensive minutes and quarterback the Vancouver power play.

Kaapo Kakko, RW, NYR

In the big picture, we prefer the player ranked next, but Kakko is readier right now to impact the Rangers’ fortunes. He has already excelled against men in the Liiga and in the World Championships, scoring six times on the way to a Gold Medal in the latter. He will be competing with Vitali Kravtsov for a top six job right away.

Jack Hughes, C, NJ

One of the most offensively dynamic players ever to play for the USNTDP, Hughes also played in the World Championships, but in a more muted role than Kakko. Older brother Quinn is more likely to play a critical NHL role this year, with Jack slated for third line duties in New Jersey, but Jack is also a superstar in the making.

Sam Steel, C, Ana

We thought Steel would earn an NHL job last year, but Anaheim let him spend most of his first season as a pro in the AHL, where he excelled in both the regular season and the playoffs. He also held his own in limited NHL duty, with 11 points in 22 games. The Ducks are ready to turn to the youth now, and Steel is first in line.

Joel Farabee, LW, Phi

There is a tangible risk that Farabee spends the season, or the bulk of it, in the AHL, but there is also the greater likelihood that his high-end hockey sense, well-rounded skill set and non-stop motor convince the Flyers’ brass that he makes them a better team right now and that playing in the NHL even before he has reached full physical maturity will not harm him long term.

Erik Brannstrom, D, Ott

A WJC All Star for the Silver Medal winning Sweden side, Brannstrom also excelled as a teenaged blueliner with Chicago in the AHL, before being shipped to Ottawa as the prime return in the Mark Stone trade. He will have experienced competition to make the NHL roster out of camp, but the Senators have only one blueliner (Chabot) who is clearly better right now.

Martin Necas, C/RW, Car

Like Brannstrom above, Necas excelled in the AHL as a teenager both before and after a strong WJC performance for his homeland. The winger was also a rock in the AHL playoffs and was one of Charlotte’s leading performers in their run to a Calder Cup. Necas has a good shot to play top six minutes for the Hurricanes from day one and has the tools to stick in the role.

Elvis Merzlikins, G, Clb

Twice named the Goalie of the Year (Jacques Plante Trophy) in Switzerland, Elvis is finally coming to Columbus. His primary competition for the Blue Jackets’ starting job is Joonas Korpisalo, so there is a good chance he finishes much higher in the Calder voting once the season is over. He has more professional experience than anyone here and the tools to succeed are in his pocket as well.

Adam Fox, D, NYR

Traded twice in the last year, Fox steadily was a top offensive blueliner in the college ranks. Drafted by Calgary before moving to Carolina in the Dougie Hamilton trade, he was traded to the Rangers for two early-ish picks. His quarterbacking skills are NHL ready, but he has to prove that the rest of his game will hold up. There is a third pairing spot with his name on it.

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes (86) (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

The Next 15 Candidates are Listed Alphabetically

Drake Batherson, C/RW, Ott

After impressing mightily as a rookie pro last year, including a strong 20 game stint in the NHL, former WJC hero Batherson has a good chance to spend the full season with the torn down Senators. Not the most physically gifted, he is a pure play driver with potentially high-end offensive instincts.

Mackenzie Blackwood, G, NJ

After struggling for two seasons as a pro, Blackwood turned the corner in his third go-round, holding his own for a volatile Binghamton squad and then showing well in New Jersey while Corey Schneider was out. Goalies sometimes take longer, but he has shown all of the tools since his days as a workhorse for OHL Barrie. Playing time will again be dependent on Schneider’s health.

Evan Bouchard, D, Edm

Excelling again with the London Knights is not news for Bouchard. A point per game postseason performance for AHL Bakersfield was. His pace may keep him from reaching the ceilings expected from the blueliners ranked in the top 10, but the rest of his game grades out very well and will give him a long NHL career, likely starting this year.

Maxime Comtois, LW, Ana

Comtois was stunning in an early season job in the NHL, before an injury allowed the team to reevaluate what would be best for his future and returned him to the QMJHL where he scored 31 times in 25 games. He has an NHL frame, and should be in line to compete for a bottom six role out of camp, and better equipped to keep it this time.

Thatcher Demko, G, Van

The Canucks have moved slow with Demko, giving him most of three seasons in the AHL as they cycled through numerous guys in the NHL. He may have received a longer look with the Canucks last year were it not for injury. Jacob Markstrom is ahead of him on the NHL depth chart, but that shouldn’t be for too long.

Noah Dobson, D, NYI

Unlike the defensemen listed in the top ten, Dobson has a traditionally big frame. He is also not a pure, new-age blazing fast puck mover. But he is a future defensive lynchpin. After two consecutive Memorial Cup titles with different teams, he is ready for the NHL. His challenge for now is forcing the Islanders’ hands, as there are seven NHL vets in front of him on the depth chart.

Dante Fabbro, D, Nsh

Like Cale Makar, Fabbro moved to the NHL at the conclusion of his collegiate year and the former first rounder had a regular shift in the postseason as well. Fabbro’s game is less exciting than Makar’s, but his all-around skills and hockey sense made it easier for David Poile and company to trade P.K. Subban to New Jersey and clear room on the roster for the talented rookie.

Cody Glass, C, Vgk

The last remaining member of the Vegas Golden Knight’s inaugural first round of drafting, Glass was several levels too good for the WHL last year and jumped with both feet into the AHL at the end of his junior eligibility, helping take the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup final. His frame has filled out since the draft and he has enough hockey sense to play in any role.

Carl Grundstrom, LW/RW, LA

After a strong 15 game cameo late in the year with the Kings, after moving over from Toronto as part of the return for Jake Muzzin, Grundstrom is expected to make the NHL roster out of training camp this year. He plays a heavy, but clean, game and will help prolong offensive zone time for LA, even if he is not going to be a primary play driver.

Denis Gurianov, RW/LA, Dal

Former first rounder Gurianov was looking for all intents and purposes like a bust after two middling years in the AHL. He upped everything by two or three notches last year, becoming an offensive force at times, although his NHL time (21 games) was less impressive. He should have another prolonged chance to prove he is ready for the big time.

Taro Hirose, LW, Det

Most of the players on this list were high-end draft picks. Hirose is the only one who was never drafted. Three years as one of the top offensive threats in the NCAA have a way of changing things. Quicker than he is fast, he plays a dynamic offensive-oriented game. The seven points in his first 10 NHL games is unlikely to be sustainable, but his tools are NHL ready.

Victor Olofsson, LW, Buf

After four years of steadily improving play in the SHL, Olofsson fit right in as an AHL rookie, with nearly a point per game with Rochester. His brief stint with Buffalo also left a positive taste in the mouth, putting him in line to fight for a bottom six role this year as long as he demonstrates that he can play inside the dots consistently.

Ryan Poehling, C, Mtl

Poehling was already accomplished as a two-way player when Montreal used a first-round pick on him, but over the last two seasons, his offensive game has taken positive steps as well, suggestive of a higher upside than was once imagined. He won’t score three goals every game as he did in his NHL debut, but he can contribute in a middle six role and his defensive play is strong enough to keep him on the roster even if he doesn’t produce.

Alexandre Texier, C/LW, Clb

A great skater, there was risk involved when Columbus used a second-round pick on the Frenchman, particularly as he was playing in the French league. He has spent the past two seasons playing in the Liiga, and his offensive game flourished last year, culminating with him playing for the Blue Jackets in their postseason run, scoring twice. After so many free agents left the team, the path is clear for him to spend the full season in the NHL.

Eeli Tolvanen, LW/RW, Nsh

Consider this a bet on the tools. After a fantastic teenage season in the KHL, Tolvanen came back to North America and was only OK in a season spent mostly in the AHL. He was not as consistently assertive as he is at his best. There is a pathway to a bottom six role in the NHL to start for the Finnish sniper, but it will not be handed to him. He will have to work.

NCAA: Hockey East Playoff Preview – Plenty of intrigue, top prospects, proud seniors and anything possible with slumping perennial powerhouses

Russ Cohen — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 13:36:55 +0000

This tournament started in 1984 when most of the current teams left the ECAC. For a time, the Hockey East Conference was a veritable powerhouse, particularly with Boston University and Boston College winning six titles between them between 1995-2012. Unfortunately for the teams here, the only national title out of Hockey East since that time was when Providence went the distance as an unlikely fourth seed in 2015.

In fact, the so-called powerhouses of BU and BC have both slumped horribly this year, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in the conference. Neither would be likely to make the nationwide tournament without winning the HE tournament.

Last year in this tournament Boston University pulled off that trick, beating Providence to take it all. That outcome seems unlikely this season but that’s why they play the games and TD Garden will provide a great atmosphere for the tournament finale.

The first round runs this weekend, with the top eight teams playing in best-of-three rounds, all at the home rink of the higher ranked team. The conference bottom feeders (Connecticut, Vermont, and Merrimack), have already ended their respective seasons.

1 UMass (Amherst) vs. 8 New Hampshire

UMass is the top team in the tournament for a few good reasons, namely all -world defenseman Cale Makar everywhere and goaltender Matt Murray in the net to stymie the opposition. Makar, the fourth overall pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2017 is “the man” for this team. He has 13 goals and 42 points in 34 games. He is the leading scorer on the team while undrafted sophomore right wing Mitchell Chaffee is second on the squad with 40 points while potting 16 goals. Murray has played in 26 games to the tune of a 2.04 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

The University of New Hampshire features goaltender Mike Robinson, who is a draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. This season he played in 29 games and posted a 2.32 GAA and a .920 save percentage, after barely getting ice time as a freshman. His last game of the season was a 4-0 loss but hopefully, that was just a tune-up. They may struggle for goals. Only senior forward Ara Nazarin and junior Liam Blackburn reached double-digits in goals. Sophomore defenseman Max Gildon could chip in some much-needed offense as well. This should be his last postseason with the team as he is expected to turn pro after his season ends.

The Minutemen swept the two games played between these teams in season and dominated all comers throughout the year, generally ranking in the top three nationally for much of the season. They were better at even strength and on both special teams, most notably the power play, with a success rate that was more than double that of UNH. The all due respect to the Wildcats, this series is a mismatch.

Prediction: UMass with the sweep.

2 Providence vs. 7 Boston College

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 17: Boston University Terriers forward Shane Bowers (15) stopped by Providence Friars goaltender Hayden Hawkey (31) on the doorstep during the Hockey East championship game between the Boston University Terriers and the Providence College Friars on March 18, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers defeated the Friars 2-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

The Providence Friars, led by senior goalie Hayden Hawkey, beat BC for the regular season finale. Hawkey only gave up one goal and that could give him extra confidence rolling into this series. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick played in 35 games and posted a .923 save percentage. Penguins draft pick Kasper Bjorkqvist, a junior, led the team with 15 goals and he should pace the team. Edmonton Oilers senior prospect defenseman Vincent Desharnais could provide some surprising additional offense.

BC has the kind of defense that gives up too many shots. Junior goalie and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, Joseph Woll, has to be near perfect to win this. He had 32 starts this year with a .917 save percentage. Carolina prospect David Cotton led this team in goals with 20 and points 31. Oliver Wahlstrom (New York Islanders) and Logan Hutsko (Florida) could provide the offense they need but they have sputtered over much of the season. Minnesota Wild draftee Jack McBain could provide some extra offense, but that is a lot to ask of a freshman center. This may be too big of a task for BC this season, even though they won the season series 2-1.

Both teams have reasonably strong power plays, but BC had a porous PK, whereas Providence had easily the best shutdown penalty kill in the conference. Further, the Friars have the much deeper offense attack, even if BC’s top players have greater NHL pedigree. Providence had seven skaters end the year with over 20 points to their credit, while only Cotton surpassed that bar for the Eagles. BC’s hope require its top players to play for one weekend how they had been unable to play with any consistency throughout the year.

Prediction: Providence in a sweep.

3 Northeastern vs. 6 Maine

The Northeastern Huskies won their last six in a row including their second consecutive Beanpot. They are a well-coached, dangerous team starring sophomore, all-world goalie Cayden Primeau, crushing dreams on a regular basis. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick had a 2.12 GAA and .932 save percentage in 31 games on the season. Jeremy Davies, a New Jersey Devils draft pick, is an excellent offensive defenseman who led the team in scoring with eight goals and 33 points in 32 games.

Undrafted right winger Zach Solow has been hot and ended the season with 14 goals. Freshman center Tyler Madden (Vancouver), has been excellent all season with 10 goals and 26 points in 31 games. He will also be a factor for sure. Of course, those were only three of the seven Huskies to eclipse 20 points on the year.

The Maine Black Bears coasted into the postseason with a 6-0 blanking of BU. Jeremy Swayman, the Boston Bruins draft pick, will be the man to beat between the pipes. In 33 games he had a .919 save percentage and he will need to play his best hockey of the season to send Northeastern packing. Red Wings prospect Chase Pearson was among the leaders of the UM offense with 16 goals and 29 points in 32 games. He trailed only junior left winger Mitchell Fossier, while sophomore defenseman Brady Keeper supports the attack from the blueline.

Although this series should not be as lopsided as the two profiled above, but Northeastern won both games between these two during the season and we see no reason for that streak to end now.

Prediction: Northeastern won’t need a third game to win.

4 UMass Lowell vs. 5 Boston University

The River Hawks tied Vermont in the season finale. Christoffer Hernberg, an undrafted Finn, has played well but Tyler Wall, the New York Rangers draft pick, has playoff experience too, meaning coach Norm Bazin has a tough call to see who gets the nod between the pipes. Wall is the likely favorite though, as he had a nice 2.06 GAA with a .922 save percentage on the year. This team has reached the Hockey East Championship game in five of the last six years, winning three of them.

Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Ryan Lohin led the team with 26 points and was tied for the team lead in goals with 12. The junior center is hugely important to their offensive attack. Senior Ryan Dmowski had 12 goals as well. Sophomore forward Connor Sodergren has also been an offensive catalyst for them while blueliner Chase Blackmun could provide some clutch offense. This is a solid team. A terrific unit that will continue to be hard to beat once the playoffs begin.

Jake Oettinger, a former Dallas Stars first round pick, should get the nod in net for the Terriers. He started 32 games this year with a .927 save percentage but he hasn’t been the savior this team needs to have any hopes of moving on. The junior goalie has a lot of pressure on him. Patrick Harper (Nashville) has been disappointing, and the same goes for Shane Bowers (Colorado). David Farrance and Dante Fabbro, both Nashville prospects, with the latter being a former first rounder, will have to have great offensive games and Fabbro in particular will have to be a two-way beast, logging heavy minutes once again. Flyers first-round pick, freshman Joel Farabee, had 13 goals and 31 points in 32 games thanks to a strong second half but after him and Fabbro, the offense attack was pretty dry this year for the usual powerhouse squad.

Although BU has a number of players that are inherently more talented than any one player with UMass-Lowell, the River Hawks play a much more cohesive team game, especially as it concerns the back end.

Prediction: UMass Lowell wins and it may take three to do it.

This is one of the best tournaments in college hockey. There are a lot of top prospects and proud seniors who will lay it all on the line knowing they may not be back next season. Fans will see a lot of these players leave it all out on the ice and that makes for some very exciting games. If the first round goes according to our predictions, we can expect UMass (Amherst) to win the Massachusetts state battle in the semifinals, while Providence’s possession game will knock out Northeastern in the other semi. Look for the favorites to finish off Providence in the Conference final as well.

Dante Fabbro – McKeen's Hockey

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NCAA: Hockey East Playoff Preview – Plenty of intrigue, top prospects, proud seniors and anything possible with slumping perennial powerhouses

1 UMass (Amherst) vs. 8 New Hampshire

2 Providence vs. 7 Boston College

3 Northeastern vs. 6 Maine

4 UMass Lowell vs. 5 Boston University