Jason Dickinson – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – The aftermath of the trade deadline, including deals for John Carlson, Brayden Schenn, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:44:59 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, the aftermath of the trade deadline, including deals for John Carlson, Brayden Schenn, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, and so much more!

#1 After playing more than 1,100 regular-season games for the Washington Capitals, defenceman John Carlson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old blueliner remains highly productive, ranking 11th among defencemen with 46 points (10 G, 36 A) in 55 games this season. He’s been a prolific force on the power play throughout his career but has been doing more damage at even strength this season, with just nine assists on the power play and 37 points at even strength, which ranks fifth among NHL defencemen. In Anaheim, Carlson should get power play time ahead of Jacob Trouba but maybe not ahead of Jackson LaCombe.

#2 The New York Islanders made a big commitment to acquire St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who has a relatively modest 28 points (12 G, 16A) in 61 games. He may do a little better with an Islanders team that is having more success, but the value for the Islanders could come from Schenn’s ability to play centre which could help to free up Mathew Barzal, who can move to right wing. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Schenn’s departure could open up ice time down the middle of the ice, so rookie Dalibor Dvorsky might be worth keeping tabs on in deeper leagues.

#3 Ever since the Columbus Blue Jackets hired Rick Bowness as head coach, they have been making a concerted push for the playoffs, going 13-2-1 in 16 games under Bowness. Because of that surge, the Blue Jackets were buyers at the deadline and acquired right winger Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. Garland has been a reliable secondary scorer throughout his career and has been a solid defensive contributor, too, though he had been struggling in the midst of the Canucks’ awful season, managing 26 points (7 G, 19 A) in 50 games. He should be a second-line winger in Columbus and with Garland moving on, the Canucks can give ice time to players in need of the experience, including Nils Hoglander, Liam Ohgren, and Linus Karlsson. Karlsson is probably the most appealing of those three.

#4 Veteran winger Michael Bunting was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Dallas Stars, and it should be a good opportunity for him to fill a middle six role on a strong Stars squad. Bunting has scored at least 19 goals in each of the past four seasons and had 31 points (13 G, 18 A) in 61 games for Nashville this season. With Bunting gone, perhaps look to Joakim Kemell in Nashville. The 2022 first-round pick had 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 46 AHL games though he has failed to record a point in five career NHL games.

#5 The Minnesota Wild brought Minnesota native Bobby Brink home via a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Brink, 24, had 26 points (13 G, 13 A) in 55 games for the Flyers this season and should fit into Minnesota’s middle six with some second unit power play time. If he lands on Minnesota’s second line, with Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek, that would be an outstanding opportunity for Brink to elevate his production.

#6 Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been in fine form since returning from the Olympics, putting up six points (2 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal in five games. With Artturi Lehkonen considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Landeskog is even more important for the Avs and is skating on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.

#7 It took some time for Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene to get back up to speed after he missed more than six weeks with an upper-body injury, but he has been cooking lately. In his past 10 games, Duchene has accumulated 17 points (8 G, 9 A) with 19 shots on goal. He is skating with Jamie Benn and Sam Steel on the Stars’ second line but is also getting first unit power play time, which gives him a better shot at sustaining this offensive surge. Steel has elevated his play, too, putting up 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past nine games. He is up to a career-high 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 61 games.

#8 Columbus Blue Jackets centre Charlie Coyle has been on a tear ever since the Blue Jackets hired Bowness. In 16 games under the new bench boss, Coyle has delivered 21 points (9 G, 12 A) with 48 shots on goal. He’s been dominating at even strength, scoring 17 of those 21 points at evens. While he is getting first unit power play time, Coyle’s current linemates are Cole Sillinger and enforcer Mathieu Olivier.

#9 It has not been an easy season in Winnipeg, so the Jets need to take the good news where they can get it. Winger Cole Perfetti is starting to heat up as he takes on a bigger role. In his past eight games, Perfetti has seven points (3 G, 4 A) with 29 shots on goal while averaging 18:32 of ice time per game. That shot rate is very encouraging and he’s not only playing first unit power play time, but Perfetti is skating on a line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi at even strength.

#10 Carolina Hurricanes left winger Taylor Hall has been a solid secondary scorer for the ‘Canes this season and he has six points (2 G, 4 A) in his past four games, but he is also consistently generating shots. In his past seven games, Hall has 19 shots on goal and seems to have a good thing going on a line with younger players Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake.

#11 New York Islanders captain Anders Lee plays more of a supporting role for the team than he did in his prime years, but he can still be a force in front of the net. In his past five games, Lee has scored four goals with 16 shots on goal. He is skating on a line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom at even strength and he’s a second unit power play guy, with only six of his 35 points this season coming via the man advantage.

#12 The Winnipeg Jets have activated defenceman Josh Morrissey so he should be available for Saturday’s game against Vancouver. It isn’t a moment too soon, either, after the Jets traded Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to Buffalo, the Jets were looking rather lean on the blueline. Morrissey has 42 points (10 G, 32 A) in 56 games this season, despite being held off the scoresheet in seven straight games prior to the Olympic break.

#13 The San Jose Sharks have been very prudent in their deployment of rookie centre Michael Misa this season, perhaps even conservative, but it’s starting to look like the freshman pivot is ready to play a bigger role down the stretch as the Sharks push for a playoff spot. In four games since the Olympic break, Misa has contributed five points (2 G, 3 A) with seven shots on goal. He is in a good situation with the Sharks now, skating on a line between William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli, so it should come as no surprise if Misa, the second pick in last summer’s draft, continues to ascend late in the season.

#14 It is practically impossible to trust that Buffalo Sabres centre Josh Norris will stay healthy – he has played more than 56 games in a season once in his career – but when he’s in the lineup, he can make a difference. Norris has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 10 shots on goal in five games since the Olympic break and has 22 points (9 G, 13 A) in 24 games this season. On a strong Sabres team, Norris is getting first unit power play time and skating between Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan at even strength.

#15 It is probably too soon to give out a recommendation for St. Louis Blues rookie defenceman Logan Mailloux, but he’s worth keeping an eye on, especially after Justin Faulk was traded to the Detroit Red wings. Mailloux only has five points (3 G, 2 A) in 46 games this season, but he has goals in back-to-back games and has 13 shots on goal. He has gone over 20 minutes of ice time in each of the past three games, the first times that he has crossed that threshold with the Blues. Faulk figures to be a solid addition in Detroit. The veteran blueliner had nine assists and 20 shots on goal in his last 10 games for St. Louis. In Detroit, he should continue to play 20+ minutes per game and have a role on the second power play.

#16 It shouldn’t move the needle that much when a 40-year-old right winger is traded, but Corey Perry had been having a strong season when the Los Angeles Kings traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perry had zero points and 12 shots on goal in his last eight games for the Kings, but he still has 28 points (11 G, 17 A) in 50 games. If he can continue at that rate, it would be his best points per game since 2017-2018. Perry is likely to have a fourth line role in Tampa Bay, with some second unit power play time sprinkled in for good measure.

#17 This year’s trade deadline was decidedly underwhelming, with few big names moving, there were a bunch of veteran forwards on the move. Nick Foligno joining his brother in Minnesota, David Perron back to Detroit, Warren Foegele to Ottawa, Nicolas Roy to Colorado, Nic Dowd to Vegas, Andrew Mangiapane to Chicago with Colton Dach and Jason Dickinson going to Edmonton. It’s entirely possible that none of those players will have fantasy value for the rest of this season.

#18 It has been a difficult season for defenceman Mackenzie Weegar, who had been one of the league’s most reliable blueliners over the previous five years. The Utah Mammoth acquired Weegar from the Calgary Flames, where he had 21 points (3 g, 18 A) in 60 games, but he had 99 points (28 G, 71 A) in 163 games across the previous two seasons, so he does have more offensive potential than he has shown this year. He’s not a sure thing for power play time in Utah, especially if Mikhail Sergachev and Sean Durzi are healthy, but it will be worth monitoring Weegar in his new home.

#19 One of the more surprising stories of the season is that of Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley. The 28-year-old netminder had played a total of six NHL games prior to this season and it was a couple of years ago when he had a .870 save percentage for the San Jose Sharks, so expectations for Cooley were not high coming into the season. In 22 games, however, Cooley has a sparkling .923 save percentage, and he’s earning more action in the Flames crease. There may not be a lot of wins for Flames goalies over the rest of this season, but Cooley is changing the trajectory of his career and could have some value late in the season, at least when the Flames have more favorable matchups.

#20 As the New York Rangers’ season circles the drain, captain J.T. Miller has landed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. With Vincent Trocheck also out, the Rangers have Mika Zibanejad followed by journeyman Jonny Brodzinski, rookie Noah Laba, and Juuso Parssinen, who was just called up from the AHL. That’s an uphill fight down the middle of the ice every night so the Blueshirts might be in full tank mode. Just something to keep in mind for a rebuilding team that may not be offering a whole lot of support to its best players down the stretch.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Vilardi heating up, Kakko on the move, and much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:53:01 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 13: Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates his goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on December 13, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)}

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Gabriel Vilardi is hot, Pavel Buchnevich is thriving on the wing, Kirill Marchenko leads the surprising Blue Jackets, a fresh start for Kaapo Kakko, and much more!

Here is this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points:

#1 Winnipeg Jets right-winger Gabriel Vilardi is heating up. The 25-year-old forward has tallied 11 points (5 G, 6 A) with 16 shots on goal while averaging 19:26 of ice time per game in his past eight games. He is in a great spot, skating on the Jets’ top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, as well as playing on the top power-play unit. Injuries have been a significant factor in Vilardi’s career, and he has never played more than 63 games in a season, so it is surprising that he has played in all 34 games for the Jets thus far. Vilardi has 28 points already, so if he remains healthy, he should surpass his career high of 41 points set in 2022-2023.

#2 The St. Louis Blues tried to shift Pavel Buchnevich to centre at the start of the season, confident that his all-around game would fit in that role, and it did not bring out the best in the veteran forward. He has been returned to the wing and in 10 games since Jim Montgomery took over behind the Blues bench, Buchnevich has contributed nine points (4 G, 5 A) with 27 shots on goal and has most recently found himself skating on a line with Jake Neighbours and Robert Thomas.

#3 The leading scorer for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season, with 33 points (11 G, 22 A) in 33 games, is third-year right winger Kirill Marchenko. In his past 15 games, he has 17 points (5 G, 12 A) and 46 shots on goal. He plays 18 minutes per game, consistently generates shots and has a good thing going on Columbus’ top line with Dmitri Voronkov and Sean Monahan.

#4 With just 14 points (4 G, 10 A) in 30 games for the New York Rangers, right winger Kaapo Kakko was traded to the Seattle Kraken, an opportunity for a fresh start for the second pick in the 2019 Draft. Kakko, 23, had career highs of 18 goals and 40 points during the 2022-2023 season but has not been able to generate enough offense to meet expectations. While Kakko’s puck possession numbers aren’t great this season, it has typically been a strength of his, so he should be able to hold a regular spot in the Kraken lineup. In his first game for Seattle, Kakko skated on a line with Jared McCann and Matty Beniers, which would be a decent spot for him to find his offensive game.

#5 With the Edmonton Oilers scoring at a high rate, ranking second in the league over the past month, there are secondary sources of offense available on this squad. One worth considering is defenceman Darnell Nurse, who has five assists and 14 shots on goal in his past six games. Nurse has 15 points (3 G, 12 A) in 29 games, with just one point on the power play, but he has been this productive despite an on-ice shooting percentage of 7.1 percent during five-on-five play. That mark should go up, so it would be a reasonable expectation for Nurse to score at least a half-point per game for the rest of the season. For a player who delivers hits and blocked shots as well, Nurse has value in most fantasy formats.

#6 Colorado Avalanche left winger Artturi Lehkonen has thrived with the Avs, where his hard-working industrious style of play complements Colorado’s highly skilled top players. In his past 11 games, Lehkonen has nine points (7 G, 2 A) and 25 shots on goal while averaging more than 22 minutes of ice time per game. He skates on Colorado’s top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, which is obviously a prime position for Lehkonen to continue delivering offensive production.

#7 After a slow start to the season, veteran Utah Hockey Club right winger Nick Schmaltz has started to break out of his slump, scoring at a more typical rate. Through his first 19 games of the season, Schmaltz had zero goals and 13 assists with 38 shots on goal. In a dozen games since then, he has 12 points (5 G, 7 A) with 30 shots on goal. As a key player on Utah’s top line and first power play unit, Schmaltz tends to be a reliable scoring threat and appears to be back on track.

#8 As the Buffalo Sabres are watching their season go down the drain, defenceman Owen Power has quietly been very productive. While Power has 20 points (4 G, 16 A) in 32 games, it’s notable that all 20 points have come at even strength, which puts him third in even-strength scoring among defencemen, behind only Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar. Power’s offensive ceiling would seem to be limited in Buffalo, where Rasmus Dahlin (currently injured) and Bowen Byram have power play priority, but the towering defender is already productive at 22 years old.

#9 Anaheim Ducks right winger Troy Terry has become a consistently productive scorer in recent seasons, even if it sometimes gets overlooked because of where he plays. In his past 11 games, Terry has put up 13 points (3 G, 10 A) with 37 shots on goal while averaging 19:53 of ice time per game. On a Ducks team trying to build around young players, Terry is skating on a line with Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome on Anaheim’s No. 1 line.

#10 The Anaheim Ducks shuffled the deck on their blueline, dealing veteran defenceman Cam Fowler to the St. Louis Blues and part of the reason for the change was to give younger defencemen the opportunity to step into bigger roles. Second-year blueliner Jackson LaCombe is making the most of his chances and, in December, has suddenly produced seven points (4 G, 3 A) with 19 shots on goal in seven games. He is playing nearly 20 minutes per game in that time and is getting first-unit power play time, which makes him a legitimate option for fantasy managers.

#11 Nashville Predators defenceman Roman Josi has been battling a lower-body injury and has landed on the injured list. With Josi out, Brady Skjei takes over as the quarterback on the Nashville power play. Skjei has failed to record a point in each of his past nine games, despite playing nearly 23 minutes per game, leaving him with nine points (2 G, 7 A) in 32 games. That is a long way off the pace that Skjei set in Carolina over the previous three seasons when he produced 124 points (40 G, 84 A) in 243 games for the Hurricanes.

#12 Another former Hurricane, winger Teuvo Teravainen started slowly upon his return to Chicago, managing eight points (4 G, 4 A) in his first 18 games, with half of those goals and points coming in the third game of the season. Since then, Teravainen has 13 points (3 G, 10 A) in 15 games and he is skating on Chicago’s third line, alongside Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev.

#13 It would be too soon to recommend Oilers right winger Connor Brown in anything but the deepest of leagues, but he is worth keeping an eye on because the Oilers are not getting consistent production from their wingers and Brown did contribute more offensively before joining the Oilers last season. Brown managed just a dozen points (4 G, 8 A) in 71 games for Edmonton last season, but is up to 13 points (6 G, 7 A) in 32 games this season after producing eight points (3 G, 5 A) in his past 11 games.

#14 Red Winger centre J.T. Compher has contributed a point per game (1 G, 8 A) in his past nine games, a sudden increase in his offensive output. While his ice time is down by 2:33 per game compared to last season, Compher is still getting first-unit power play time in addition to his time at centre on Detroit’s third line. As a player who had 48 and 52 points, respectively, in the previous two seasons, Compher is behind his previous scoring pace, but if he remains productive, his ice time will likely climb.

#15 Seattle Kraken right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand has been a consistent contributor but has elevated his level of play in the past month. In 14 games, he has 15 points (7 G, 8 A) and 30 shots on goal. Bjorkstrand gets first unit power play time for the Kraken, but only five of his 23 points this season have come with the man advantage. The recent uptick in his production has come at even strength, where he has more recently been playing with Shane Wright and Eeli Tolvanen. Bjorkstrand tallied a career-high 59 points (20 G, 39 A) last season, with 25 points on the power play, so that would seem to be an area that still has room for further improvement.

#16 Vegas Golden Knights winger Ivan Barbashev has been sidelined with an upper-body injury and it’s worth pointing out what a big hole that leaves in the lineup. Barbarshev has 26 points during five-on-five play and Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov is the only player in the league with more points during five-on-five play. Certainly, playing with Jack Eichel is a big part of Barbashev’s success, and Pavel Dorofeyev has joined Eichel and Stone on Vegas’ top line with Barbashev out of the lineup. Dorofeyev played 19:31 in Thursday’s win against Vancouver, the second-highest ice time of his career.

#17 As the Pittsburgh Penguins may be turning around a season that looked hopelessly lost, defenceman Matt Grzelcyk has turned into a solid contributor, putting up nine points (1 G, 8 A) in his past nine games. Eight of Grzelcyk’s 17 points this season have come on the power play and the Penguins are running a rare power play with two defencemen on the top unit and it’s been Grzelcyk and Kris Letang in those roles, with Erik Karlsson on PP2.

#18 There are ups and downs along the path for Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who has had nine games this season in which he has allowed at least four goals, but he has a .914 save percentage to go along with a 4-3 record in seven starts this month. He has 7.73 Goals Saved Above Expected this season, which ranks eighth in the league, ahead of Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, and Jacob Markstrom. Wins might not come so easily for the Canadiens goaltender, but his performance thus far makes him a legitimate fantasy option and it backs up Team Canada’s choice to include him on the roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

#19 Sticking with all situations Goals Saved Above Expected but looking at the low end of the spectrum, the goaltenders with the fewest Goals Saved Above Expected this season: Boston’s Jeremy Swayman (-14.53), San Jose’s Alexandar Georgiev (-13.56), Columbus’ Daniil Tarasov (-11.39), Utah’s Connor Ingram (-9.61), and Carolina’s Spencer Martin (-9.56). From that group, Swayman obviously stands out, given the strong track record that he had prior to this season, but Ingram had an excellent season in 2023-2024, so his decline before getting hurt is notable, too. The goaltenders at the top of the list might be surprising, too, at least after Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (+22.84). The rest of the top five are: Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal (+17.51), Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz (+13.46), Seattle’s Joey Daccord (+11.39), and Utah’s Karel Vejmelka (+10.94).

#20 There are some popular players with fantasy managers who are running ice cold lately, including New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton, Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson, the Rangers’ Chris Kreider, and Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, among others. Hamilton has gone seven games without a point and his ice time has dropped below 18 minutes in three of his past four games. In his past five games, Pettersson has zero points and eight shots on goal, while averaging 16:50 of ice time per game. Kreider recorded his first (and only) assist of the season on December 6th and has since gone six straight games without a point, though he does have 17 shots on goal in that span. Tuch has one point (1 G, 0 A) and 10 shots on goal in his past six games and played a season-low 14:34 against Montreal on Tuesday.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Team Preview

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:00:10 +0000

_{CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) looks on during a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 21, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)}

After posting a 26-49-7 record in 2022-23, expectations were low for Chicago in 2023-24, but there were still some reasons to believe that the Blackhawks might at least be fun. Connor Bedard was set to play in his first season and was projected to play alongside Taylor Hall. Plus, Chicago had some promising youngsters on the roster outside of Bedard, like Lukas Reichel. In the end, though, not much went right for the Blackhawks last season. Connor Bedard did win the Calder Trophy with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 contests and Philipp Kurashev made strides (18 goals, 54 points), but no one else even reached the 40-point mark. Hall missed almost the entire campaign, contributing to Chicago scoring a league-worst 2.17 goals per game en route to an even worse 23-53-6 record.

WHAT’S CHANGED? Tyler Johnson left as an unrestricted free agent, but that was the Blackhawks’ only major loss. Meanwhile, they signed forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen along with defencemen Alec Martinez and TJ Brodie and goaltender Laurent Brossoit. The Blackhawks also had the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, which they used to take blueliner Artyom Levshunov.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? Between Bedard, Kurashev, a healthy Hall, and newcomers Bertuzzi and Teravainen, Chicago’s offence is starting to look serviceable. If Reichel, who was limited to 16 points in 65 contests last year, can take a meaningful step forward this year, then the Blackhawks’ offence might even start looking like an asset. With the Blackhawks upgrades to defence, Chicago’s rebuild might go a lot quicker than some suspect.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? No one is expecting the Blackhawks to make the playoffs, but they do need to start making some strides towards competitiveness. Goaltending might hold them back from achieving even that modest goal. Chicago will be looking for Petr Mrazek to repeat his largely solid performance from 2023-24, but Mrazek hasn’t shown a lot of season-over-season consistency during his career. Although Brossoit is a potential hedge against that, the 31-year-old netminder’s career high in games is just 24, so it’s unclear if he’d perform as the starter if Mrazek falters. Outside of that, although the Blackhawks have plenty of youngsters with upside, there’s always a risk that inexperienced NHLers will experience growing pains.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Reichel knows a thing or two about growing pains -- as mentioned above, he didn’t do much offensively with Chicago last season. Still, Reichel has looked fantastic at the AHL level, and after a rough campaign, he ended 2023-24 on a high note by scoring three goals and seven points with Germany in the World Championship. Still just 22 years old, the No. 17 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft might hit his stride this campaign.

FORWARD

Connor Bedard

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	42	44	86	1.10

Building a good supporting cast around their superstar was the priority for the Hawks this off-season. At 18-years old, he shouldn’t be expected to turn the franchise around on his own and last year was clear proof of that. The elite skillset showed through most of the time, but there were limitations on how much one guy can carry the load. That was especially true on the power play where he scored only four goals all season. Bedard can create his own shot and score from distance, but even the elites need help getting setup and creating space. His first year wasn’t without his struggles, but he excelled in a lot of things that are hard to do for even seasoned veterans. He was one of the top players in the league at generating controlled zone entries and creating passes from the middle of the ice. His offence and chance production were also very good, but it was heavily based on him setting up Nick Foligno and Phillip Kurashev to score any goals. A better supporting cast around him this year, including additions Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, should yield better all-around play for Bedard and star-level production on the scoresheet. He can threaten 30 goals and 90 points if everything breaks right but point per game production is a more realistic expectation.

Taylor Hall

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
60	18	24	42	0.70

After getting him for essentially nothing last summer, Hall spent almost the entire season on the shelf with both a shoulder injury and a knee injury which required surgery. The former first overall pick is a great complement to Bedard when healthy. Still an excellent puck-carrier, he can take some attention away from their star player and he has enough speed to make the Hawks top line a nightmare to deal with if everyone is on their game. His game has been slightly more one-dimensional as a playmaker as he has gotten older. Hall has never been the best finisher and thrives with setting guys up from along the wall and creating space for them off the rush. There is a lot of potential there for him and Bedard to have great chemistry, with Bedard’s shot and Hall’s strong possession game, it’s just a matter of Hall staying healthy. He’s had plenty of experience playing alongside top picks, so adapting to Bedard’s skillset shouldn’t be a problem. You will have to expect some downtime. He has only surpassed 20 goals once in the last six seasons, so temper your expectations accordingly and draft for 10 -15 goals at most and twice as many assists.

Philipp Kurashev

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	19	28	47	0.60

Now one of the team’s veterans, it might surprise you that Kurashev is the Hawks longest-tenured forward. He was the player who got the “Bedard bump” last season, as life was much easier for him alongside the Hawks star forward and his overall numbers got a major boost. Much of those points were assists where he was around the play rather than setting Bedard up, but his motor and attention to detail is what made him a mainstay on the Hawks top line. Scoring a lot off rebounds and loose pucks early in the season, his confidence grew as time went on and Kurashev became more of a guy other teams had to pay attention to because of how good he was at getting himself open and taking advantage of the space Bedard creates. Still, he is best when he’s doing the simple things and it's tough to say if he can repeat this type of year with the Hawks adding so many other options on the wing. Still, he has taken himself from a tweener to someone who could potentially have a nice career in the NHL. A step back offensively is likely if not on the first line but should still line up on what should be an improved first power play, on which he finished second on the team with 19 points last season. An expectation of producing points in the mid 40’s with 30 assists is within his reach.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	28	24	82	0.69

Bertuzzi was one of the main forwards brought in in free agency to mesh with Bedard and he brings a skillset all teams covet. He’s feisty and loves going to the net to get his chances. Finishing them has been the struggle in the past with last season in Toronto being one of his stronger outputs. He has spent most of his career stapled to a top line or a star player, whether that’s Dylan Larkin or Auston Matthews, so you can likely pencil him in on Bedard’s line along with the top power play unit. His willingness to fight for position in the blue paint and get himself open will make him a popular choice for that role and so will his track record of being a good playmaker. The only downside is that he is prone to scoring slumps because he doesn’t have the best hands around the net, jamming at loose pucks instead of controlling it to finish chances. Might not be the guy driving the bus on his line but can be more than just a passenger even if he’s not riding shotgun with an elite talent. His style of play has contributed to some injury time over the years that should be accounted for when drafting. He should receive increased power play time over his usage in Toronto and should be able to deliver 20 – 25 goals again and push for 50 points as a result.

Teuvo Teravainen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	24	34	58	0.74

Returning to where his NHL career began, Teravainen is one of the best pieces the Hawks added this off-season. He is arguably the most one of the most underappreciated forwards in the league for his defensive play, although that rarely went unnoticed by his coaches in Carolina. He played heavy minutes on the penalty kill while going up-and-down the lineup as both Sebastian Aho’s wingman and a steady presence on a shutdown line with Jordan Staal. As much as the Hawks need scoring, a guy who can calm the waters at five-on-five is just as important, which is where Teravainen should play a key role, whether that’s on a scoring line or a defensive role. He doesn’t need the puck to be effective, although he is coming off a career high in goals, and he’s usually better as the trailer in the play rather than the primary puck-carrier. His boxcar stats got a boost last year thanks to nine power play goals, after catching a lot of penalty killers off-guard in the right circle. His versatility will be a welcomed addition to this Chicago team. His defensive game will carry his value. Offensively he has scored more than 20 goals four times in his career, including 25 last season. He might be hard pressed to hit that number in this environment, but over the last seven seasons he has scored consistently, outside of a slump in 2022-23. He has scored 373 points in 474 games in that time, which represents a 64-point average pace over 82 games, and he is only 29-years old.

Andreas Athanasiou

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
60	9	15	24	0.40

Signed for two years after a 20-goal season in 2022-23, Athanasiou missed all but 23 games with a groin and hip issue last season. He was expected to be more of a roster placeholder while the team’s prospects are still developing, and the Hawks are hoping they can salvage something out of the final year of his contract. His calling card is the same as always, speed, blazing speed. He could challenge for the throne as the fastest player in the NHL if he’s ever lucky enough to be invited to the All-Star Game. Unfortunately, that ship has mostly sailed but he still has something to offer as a depth piece. His skating is always going to make teams interested in what he brings, and he is good enough to go on a hot streak that can give your third or fourth lines some pop. Not too many guys can say they’ve scored 30 goals in the NHL after all. His streakiness and play away from the puck have kept him from finding a long-term home and it will take a major bounce-back season for that to happen in Chicago. Draft accordingly.

Jason Dickinson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	15	18	33	0.40

Dickison was one of the few Hawks players who didn’t take a beating on the stat sheet last year, which is saying a lot on a team with a five-on-five goal differential below 40%. In fact, he was one of two regular players on the team who had an on-ice goal differential above 50%. It might not look like much, but it was enough to earn him some love in the Selke race. He did this while playing the tough matchups along with heavy penalty kill minutes and taking lots of faceoffs in the defensive zone. Oh, and he was also tied for the team lead in goals with 22. Impressive if somewhat inflated by a 17.2 shooting percentage versus a 10.6 career percentage. Adapting to the environment is how you stay in the league, even as an ex-first round pick, and that’s been the story of Dickinson’s career. He carved out a role for himself as a worker bee forward with the Stars and has become one of Hawks most relied upon forwards since arriving in the Windy City. Last year was a borderline impossible task for him with the team still in the rebuild stage and seeing massive injuries on top of that. He should have a little more help next year as he continues to provide a reliable defensive presence in the middle of their lineup. Repeating a 20-goal season will be a challenge. At 29-years old, an offensive breakthrough is not likely.

Nick Foligno

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	13	15	28	0.37

What you get from Foligno is very predictable. Even his counting stats have been all over the place as he plays through his late 30’s. He’s had somewhat of a resurgence after a dismal two goals in 64 games campaign with the Bruins in 2021 and his 37 points last season was his highest total since 2017. Getting the prime spot on Bedard’s wing played a major role in that, but the Hawks got a lot of miles out of the veteran. Playing more minutes per game than he has since his days as Columbus’ captain, Foligno’s heart-and-soul playing style fit with what the Hawks were trying to accomplish last year. They wanted a team that worked hard on the tough nights and Foligno is a guy who will always do that and give you some good defensive results at the very least. The Hawks were impressed enough to keep him around for another two years, likely in a de facto captain type of role. Foligno will slot back into a checking role, where he is more suited, and his offensive results will reflect that. You may expect some downtime as well at his age and style, so expect between 20 and 30 points at most.

Lukas Reichel

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	10	16	26	0.34

To say Reichel had a tough go of it in his first NHL season would be an understatement. The Hawks were patient with bringing him along and allowed him to play himself out of a prolonged scoring slump that lasted until mid-November. His goal-scoring prowess from the AHL hasn’t translated to the big leagues just yet, as he showed that he has the wheels to create his own shot but didn’t have the touch to beat NHL goaltenders. Rushing a lot of his better chances or not challenging the goaltender enough if he got in alone. Quick-strike offence was also his only calling card, as his lines always struggled mightily to drive play when he was on the ice, and it didn’t matter if they had him in the middle or on the wing. With two very strong years in the AHL, the 2020 first rounder doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors, but he hasn’t shown that he is ready to be an everyday NHL player either. He’s also used to being “the guy” on his line, whereas he will need more help around him to succeed in the NHL. With the addition of veteran wingers to fill the top six slots, it will be another year of development and any offensive breakout is down the road.

Ryan Donato

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	12	15	27	0.36

With 14 forwards currently under NHL contracts, the only thing keeping Donato in Chicago’s current mix is that he plays center on a wing-heavy team. He also offers some versatility that you can use up-and-down the lineup, although it’s uncertain if he will get that this year now that the team’s depth has improved. Donato was a nice fit with Bedard early on in the season as a shoot-first type of player, but his one-dimensional game and need for centers lower in the lineup kept him from being a long-term solution there. More of a stabilizer rather than someone who will carry the mail. Still has a soft set of hands that make him a threat around the net, but creating those chances has been the issue for most of his career. It’s the main reason why he’s topped out as a 15-goal guy rather than someone who could get you 20+. Still, what he brings to the table isn’t nothing, especially in the shootout. Seattle had a nice setup for him as a sheltered fourth liner who you could take in-and-out of the lineup when you needed a skill boost. The Hawks didn’t have that luxury last year, but this year might be a different story.

Ilya Mikheyev

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	9	17	26	0.34

Mikheyev’s reputation as a poor finisher is a little unfair because he has a couple of strong shooting seasons under his belt. However, this year might have been rock bottom. Playing mostly with Elias Pettersson, he scored only 11 goals and scored only once since December 17^th. You would have to be the best defensive player or penalty killer in the world for fans to not be frustrated with that, especially on a top line. Hence why he was traded to the Hawks in a cap dump deal in the summer. If Mikheyev finds some scoring touch again, he’s a great piece for Chicago. Adds a lot of speed to their wings and is a nuisance while playing shorthanded. Disrupting a lot of plays and always a threat to break shorthanded. The Hawks have a logjam on their wings, but Mikheyev’s speed and strong work ethic gives him an edge over some of the other roster hopefuls. He has also only taken three penalties over the last two seasons, so he will rarely put you on the penalty kill.

DEFENCE

Seth Jones

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	10	27	37	0.49

Taking some of the burden off Seth Jones was one of the Hawks priorities when making the coaching switch before last year. His workload in terms of minutes wasn’t going to change, but there was more of an effort to give him support and keep him away from situations where he’s on an island defending. A consistent partner was a major part of this, and Jones got that last year with Alex Vlasic bursting onto the scene and shining as a guy who could complement Jones’ mobility while having some size. The other was mitigating Jones’ weakness, which is entry defence. This used to be one of his strengths, but he can’t skate guys into the corner to kill plays as well as he used to. An ankle injury in Columbus and forward talent around the league getting faster and more deceptive are the main reasons for that. He also can’t be the workhorse with the puck that he used to be, even though he still has the cardio to log 25-26 minutes a night. He doesn’t have to challenge at the line as often and relies on his partner to move the puck instead of being a one-man breakout like he used to. It’s taken away some of the dynamic aspects of his game, but his defensive game is night and day from where it was when he first arrived in Chicago.

Kevin Korchinski

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	8	21	29	0.37

Thrown into the fire as a rookie, the 19-year-old had no shortage of “welcome to the NHL” moments. The Hawks were content to let one of their first-round picks play through his struggles and Korchinski took his lumps on the scoresheet. No defenceman on the Hawks was on the ice for more five-on-five goals against than him and while some of that is out of his control, most of his time on the ice was spent stuck in his own zone. He showed flashes of what made him such a high pick, especially as a passer and while running the power play. He was a case of how much rookies have to adjust to the speed of the NHL in terms of decision making rather than skating, as he didn’t have an issue skating guys down, but the puck would go through him a lot and he was rarely on the same page as his forwards. Korchinski is the type of player who will benefit from the team around him getting better. So many of his strengths are reliant on forwards making the next play and the Hawks controlling more segments of the game where they can reset and attack. He might benefit the most from the Hawks improved depth.

Alec Martinez

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
65	2	12	14	0.22

The gamble with Chicago adding Alec Martinez is if his body can still hold up at 37 years old and if the team around his good enough for his skillset to matter. Primarily a shot-blocking defenceman, Martinez has more pop than your typical shutdown defender and can be a complement to a strong puck-mover like he was in Vegas with Alex Pietrangelo. He is one of those players that is very good at “taking damage” without giving up a goal, which comes with the territory when blocking shots and spending a lot of time in your own zone. It’s why having a good team around him is important, because Martinez can do a lot to hold the fort down in the defensive zone and that only means so much if his teammates can’t get the puck out of the zone or the guys on the next shift spend more time in their own zone. If anything, he should take some of the load off Connor Murphy with the defensive zone workload.

GOAL

Petr Mrazek

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
48	16	27	5	1	0.906	3.02

Laurent Brossoit

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
34	12	19	3	0	0.908	3.08

No one expects the Chicago Blackhawks to be contenders this year, so their goaltending strategy seems to be similar to the one they opted for last season - get through the year with a consistent veteran voice, avoid rushing prospects too early, and establish good habits for the young skaters in front of the crease to build upon in the years to come. That makes the return of Petr Mrazek a perfect option, even if the sting of Corey Crawford's absence is still lingering at the United Center. Mrazek was a surprising bright spot during a heavy rebuild year for Chicago in 2023, putting up his best complete season since 2019 and serving as one of the few constants on a young, inexperienced roster. He put up roughly league average numbers on a firmly below-average team, and his technical consistency - something not always a given for Mrazek - made it easier to feel confident in his performances night over night in Chicago.

He'll get a new tandem partner for the upcoming season to avoid rushing prospect Drew Commesso, as well, in a move that should make Blackhawks fans everywhere give a round of applause. Laurent Brossoit will depart from Winnipeg with stellar backup numbers behind Connor Hellebuyck, arriving in Chicago as one of the league's most reliable 1B-tandem options heading into the 2024-25 season.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 Fantasy Points – Fresh start for Drysdale – Big opportunity for Harley – Bedard’s injury – Geekie’s emergence – Kadri bouncing back + much, much more

Scott Cullen — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:10:05 +0000

Thomas Harley (55) of the Dallas Stars. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dive into the numbers to help make decisions when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, a fresh start for Jamie Drysdale, a big opportunity for Thomas Harley, Connor Bedard’s injury, Morgan Geekie’s emergence, Nazem Kadri bouncing back from a slow start, and much, much more!

#1 Moving to the Philadelphia Flyers could be just what defenceman Jamie Drysdale needs to get his career on track. The 21-year-old blueliner was the sixth pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 Draft band scored 32 points (4 G, 28 A) during the 2021-2022 season, but has battled injuries since, so the smooth-skating puck-moving defender has not been able to consistently show what he can do. Drysdale had five points (1 G, 4 A) while playing more than 21 minutes per game in 10 games with the Ducks prior to getting traded to Philadelphia for centre Cutter Gauthier, but there were few teams that more desperately needed a player with Drysdale’s particular set of skills. Drysdale started on Philadelphia’s second power play unit, but it would be shocking if he is not given a shot on the top power play and that gives Drysdale the scoring upside that will make him appealing to fantasy managers.

#2 Cutter Gauthier was the fifth pick in the 2022 Draft and has lived up to expectations with his performance since. He tallied 37 points (16 G, 21 A) in 32 games as a freshman at Boston College last season, putting up 10 points (4 G, 6 A) in seven games at the World Juniors, and adding nine points (7 G, 2 A) in 10 games at the World Championships. All of that would suggest that he might have been ready to embark on his pro career, but he did not sign with the Flyers and returned to Boston College, where he has produced 23 points (13 G, 10 A) in 17 games and he was part of the gold-medal winning U.S. team at the World Juniors, contributing a dozen points (2 G, 10 A) in seven games. He will presumably join the Anaheim Ducks following his college season and should be a cornerstone piece for the rebuilding Ducks for years to come.

#3 With Miro Heiskanen vaguely considered week-to-week with an injury after crashing into the net, opportunity is knocking for 22-year-old Stars defenceman Thomas Harley, who has 19 points (9 G, 10 A) in 37 games, but is capable of more. In four games since Heiskanen was injured, Harley has a couple of assists, but has also played more than 23 minutes per game, a significant jump from the 18:44 per game that Harley had played previously.

#4 Chicago’s star rookie, Connor Bedard, is out 6-8 week after suffering a broken jaw from a hit by Devils defenceman Brendan Smith. Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 33 points (15 G, 18 A) in 39 games but only two Chicago skaters have more than 20 points – Philipp Kurashev, who has 23 points (8 G, 15 A) in 35 games, and Jason Dickinson, who has 21 points (14 G, 7 A) in 42 games. Kurashev and Dickinson are manning the top two centre spots for the Blackhawks, with Rem Pitlick and Taylor Raddysh on Kurashev’s wings and Colin Blackwell and Joey Anderson on Dickinson’s wings. This is all to say that Blackhawks players are only offering fantasy value in the deepest of leagues.

#5 It seems I get to talk about Boston’s centres a lot this season, and that was not what I expected in the aftermath of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retiring in the offseason. Signed as a free agent after he did not receive a qualifying offer from Seattle, Morgan Geekie has stepped into a bigger role with Boston and is thriving. Since December 9, he has played nearly 17 minutes per game, putting up 14 points (6 G, 8 A) in 16 games. Geekie had a career high 28 points (9 G, 19 A) for the Kraken last season but he is poised to soar past that total.

#6 After a slow start to the season, veteran centre Nazem Kadri is hitting his stride for the Calgary Flames. Kadri had produced 18 points (8 G, 10 A) and 65 shots on goal in his past 18 games. That shot rate is a very encouraging sign for Kadri to sustain his scoring rate and he continues to thrive with rookies Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil on his wings.

#7 The Winnipeg Jets have been a pleasant surprise this season and part of the reason for their success is quality depth. Second-year forward Cole Perfetti has been a reliable source of offense, putting up 10 points (5 G, 5 A) with 30 shots on goal in his past 12 games. He’s recently been skating at left wing on a line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Iafallo. Namestnikov isn’t shooting as much as Perfetti, but has still managed to chip in 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in his past 13 games.

#8 Taken with the ninth pick in the 2021 Draft, right winger Dylan Guenther had 15 points (6 G, 9 A) in 33 games for the Arizona Coyotes last season before returning to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League to finish the season. He started this season in the American Hockey League and the 20-year-old winger earned his promotion to the big club by putting up 28 points (10 G, 18 A) in 29 games. In three games since getting called up, Guenther has three points (2 G, 1 A) with 10 shots on goal and he is getting first unit power play time, which elevates his appeal for fantasy managers.

#9 A 34-year-old who had provided below average goaltending for five consecutive seasons and started this season in the American Hockey League, Martin Jones was not the most likely candidate to answer a playoff team’s goaltending questions. Nevertheless, that is what has happened in Toronto, where Jones has stepped up with Joseph Woll injured and Ilya Samsonov going through a crisis of confidence. In his past seven starts, Jones has a 5-2 record, with a .953 save percentage. That can’t last, but if Jones is merely adequate until Woll is ready to return, which is expected to be sometime in February, then Jones will have done the job.

#10 Veteran Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin is playing at a high level again. He has battled injuries and it has affected his production in recent seasons, but the 31-year-old is on a four-game goal-scoring streak and has nine points (6 G, 3 A) with 21 shots on goal in his past six games. His line, with Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene, has been excellent, outscoring opponents by a 28-14 count during five-on-five play.

#11 It was looking bleak early in the season for Colorado Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin, who had zero goals and one assist in his first 10 games with his new team, but his performance has improved over the past month. In his past 14 games, Drouin has 14 points (6 G, 8 A) and it has earned him the trust of Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, as Drouin has played more than 21 minutes in six straight games.

#12 There are signs of life from the Calgary Flames’ highest paid player, left winger Jonathan Huberdeau. The 30-year-old winger had just 15 points (4 G, 11 A) through 35 games but is starting to emerge from that long slump, producing eight points (2 G, 6 A) in his past seven games. Huberdeau has returned to Calgary’s top line with Elias Lindholm and Yegor Sharangovich, and Sharangovich’s hat trick at Arizona on Thursday lifted him to 19 points (12 G, 7 A) and 49 shots on goal in his past 17 games.

#13 Claimed on waivers from Nashville last season, Seattle Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen continues to make Seattle look smart. During a four-game point streak, Tolvanen has six points (1 G, 5 A) and he is fitting in nicely alongside Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand, with the trio outscoring opponents 14-11 while getting 56.2% of expected goals during five-on-five play.

#14 Sticking with players who moved on the NHL waiver wire, Florida Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling has contributed eight points (2 G, 6 A) in his past nine games. He is a plus-27 and has recorded 89 shots on goal. Forsling’s 6.26 shot on goal per 60 minutes of five-on-five play ranks 11th out of 133 defencemen that have played at least 500 five-on-five minutes.

#15 Anaheim Ducks right winger Troy Terry has not been producing to his customary level this season, but he does appear to be turning the corner. The 26-year-old winger has 10 points (4 G, 6 A) and 20 shots on goal in his past nine games. Terry is skating on a line with veterans Ryan Strome and Adam Henrique, a trio with enough skill to maintain his point production.

#16 Rumours started swirling this week, following the Drysdale trade, that Anaheim might consider trading centre Trevor Zegras, too. Those plans were put on hold, it seems, when Zegras suffered a broken ankle at Nashville. It would not be a high point in Zegras’ value to move him, even if he was healthy, as he has managed just seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 20 games. For a player who had a career-high 65 points last season and 61 the season before that, it is fair to wonder where Zegras fits with the Ducks long term because Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson both appear to be long-term fixtures in the middle of the ice and Anaheim just added Cutter Gauthier, who can also play centre.

#17 Buffalo Sabres left winger Jeff Skinner is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, which has opened the door for Casey Mittelstadt to join Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the Sabres’ top line. Mittelstadt has produced 13 points (5 G, 8 A) in his past 12 games, so he has already been scoring, but playing with Buffalo’s most dangerous offensive forwards should only elevate his ceiling. One challenge for Mittelstadt is to generate more shots on goal. Even on his current productive run, he has just 19 shots on goal in 12 games, which is not sufficient.

#18 As the New Jersey Devils try to stay afloat with star centre Jack Hughes out of the lineup for weeks with an upper-body injury, they need other players to step up. Erik Haula, for one, is doing his part. In his past four games, Haula has five points (1 G, 4 A) while averaging 20:12 of ice time per game. While Haula often plays centre, he has moved up to left wing with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer, which is the Devils’ top line with Hughes and Timo Meier sidelined.

#19 Not only is goaltending an unpredictable position, as I’ve lamented throughout the season, but injuries have been a growing problem. The list of goaltenders battling injuries includes John Gibson, Linus Ullmark, Pyotr Kochetkov, Jake Oettinger (who may be nearing his return), Ville Husso, Filip Gustavsson, Semyon Varlamov, Philipp Grubauer, Joseph Woll, and Adin Hill. With so many goaltenders hurt, Martin Jones, Joey Daccord, and Alex Lyon are quality alternatives under the circumstances. Also, keep an eye on Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota’s top goaltending prospect who gave up seven goals in his NHL debut against Dallas, but has a .911 save percentage in 58 AHL games across the past two seasons. The 21-year-old is surely the goaltender of the future, but if Gustavsson is out for a while, that could give Wallstedt a longer look in the present.

#20 Following what has been, for him, a relatively slow start to the season, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk is heating up. He has 16 points (7 G, 9 A) during a seven-game point streak and has recorded nine shots on goal in each of his last two games. Tkachuk ranks third (among players to play at least 50 all-situatiosn minutes) with 2.55 individual expected goals per 60 minutes since January 1, behind crease crashers Chris Kreider and Zach Hyman. Following Tkachuk are William Nylander, Yanni Gourde, Gabriel Vilardi, Elias Pettersson, Valeri Nichushkin, Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, and Warren Foegele. There are many stars on that list who will not be readily available for fantasy managers, but Gourde and Foegele are interesting. Just outside that group, Columbus’ Cole Sillinger is tied with Auston Matthews, so that’s another name to consider in deep leagues. Sillinger has eight points (6 G, 2 A) and 25 shots on goal in his past 10 games.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:30:46 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones (4) controls the puck during overtime during a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 13, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Review: Going into the 2022-23 campaign, the big question surrounding the Blackhawks wasn’t if they’d make the playoffs, it was if they’d win the draft lottery, securing the rights to draft Connor Bedard. That might sound harsh, but it would be hard to make the argument that Chicago was making any effort to compete in 2022-23 after they even traded Alex DeBrincat, who was coming off a 41-goal campaign and still just 24 years old, for nothing more than draft picks. That’s the kind of trade you only make if your goal is to start almost completely from scratch. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Chicago ranked last offensively – they traded Max Domi and Patrick Kane before the deadline, preventing the team from finishing with even a 50-point player – and near the bottom of the pack defensively. The Blackhawks’ 29-49-7 record was just shy of the worst in the league, but they did end up winning the draft lottery.

What’s Changed? As expected, Chicago used the first overall pick to get Bedard, giving them a new headline player as the Blackhawks move past the Kane/Jonathan Toews era. To give Bedard a mentor and potential linemate, Chicago acquired Taylor Hall from Boston. Another veteran leader joining the Blackhawks is Corey Perry, who inked a one-year, $4 million contract.

What would success look like? A good season for Bedard by itself would be a win this year. He’s not the only Chicago prospect who could have a big season though. Lukas Reichel should serve in a top-six capacity and has a lot of potential. Philipp Kurashev doesn’t have the same level of upside as Reichel or Bedard, but Kurashev has 191 career NHL games under his belt now and might get a chance to play on the second line while surpassing his current career-high of 25 points. On defense, rookie Wyatt Kaiser could prove to be a solid top-four option down the road. Make no mistake though: This is a rebuilding season and Chicago is in no way expected to make the playoffs.

What could go wrong? So much depends on Bedard and if he’ll live up to the unreal levels of hype that have been thrust upon him. Early struggles aren’t the end of the world and even a poor rookie campaign from him wouldn’t necessarily be an indication that he’s a bust. After all, 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes recorded just 21 points as a rookie but broke out in his fourth campaign with 43 goals and 99 points in 78 contests. However, so much of the Blackhawks hopes are resting on the idea that Bedard will be the next Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid, so it will be hard to navigate through Chicago’s anxiety if any warning signs crop up.

Top Breakout Candidate: Bedard is the obvious choice, but Reichel shouldn’t be slept on either. Reichel showed a lot of promise last season with 20 goals and 51 points in 55 AHL contests along with seven goals and 15 points in 23 games with Chicago. Reichel should be given every opportunity this year and might even play on the same line as Bedard on both even strength and the power play, further tying their fates together.

Forwards

Taylor Hall - RW

The Blackhawks needed a running mate for Connor Bedard and one fell into their laps with the Bruins trading them Taylor Hall for pennies on the dollar, the only expense for the Hawks being his $6 million AAV cap hit for the next two seasons. Hall is a great player to complement the young star because he can take a lot of pressure off him to “do everything” on his line. He loves carrying the puck and having the play go through him on the wing, which should open up some scoring opportunities for Bedard. Hall’s lines are usually a net positive when it comes to how many shots and goals they create and give up. Hall, himself, however, has been on a bit of the downswing in terms of how many goals he scores himself. His shooting has been on the decline, and he plays at a slower, methodical pace than he used to. This was perfect for the Bruins, as he injected some life into their middle-six and was one of their best forwards in the playoffs. Hall is probably a second liner now, so it will be interesting to see how he does going back to being “the guy” on another team, at least until Bedard emerges. He certainly has plenty of experience playing with first overall picks.

Tyler Johnson - C

The former “Tampa Triplet” had somewhat of a bounce-back season, scoring at his highest rate since the 2020 season, albeit with only 32 points in 56 games. Johnson’s career has been constantly interrupted by injuries over the past four years, so getting 50-something games out of him was nice to see. A good chunk of that production came on the power play, as Johnson can still be dangerous if someone sets him up. He just struggles to create on his own with only six of his goals coming at five-on-five and not having that same finish around the net he used to have. There comes a point where the rigors of the NHL do a number on even the most skilled players, and this appears to be the case for Johnson. His saving grace might be that he could thrive as a forechecker or in a defensive role, but the Hawks needed all the offense they could get and he played most of his minutes on scoring lines. With the roster in dire straits, Johnson will likely be in the Hawks top-six and power play units next season, although there is some help on the way with Bedard and Reichel.

Andreas Athanasiou - LW

Athanasiou’s speed is his one tool and it’s not a bad one to have. Still one of the fastest players in the league and coming off one of his best seasons in a while in terms of boxscore stats. Staying healthy and getting lots of opportunities for offense were the biggest factors, playing a full season after missing almost all of 2022 and potting 20 goals for the first time since he was a Detroit Red Wing. His speed is always going to make him a weapon because he can make space for himself and create quick-strike offense out of nothing plays, which is always going to play its part. Playing on a bad team helps you get more opportunities, but the Hawks need skill to work with their top picks and he formed some decent chemistry with their future star Lukas Reichel down the stretch last year. The downside is offense is pretty much all Athansiou has to offer. His value will be married to his point total and if he isn’t scoring, you’ll often ask yourself “what else is he doing?” This, along with his spotty injury history are the risks he brings.

Taylor Raddysh - RW

How many would guess that the Hawks co-leading goal-scorer was Taylor Raddysh? Granted, that’s only 20 goals but still impressive for a player who was unproven heading into the year. Raddysh was a guy the Hawks liked since they acquired him, giving him minutes with Toews and playing him on the top power play regularly. If you watch him, it’s easy to see why because he loves to shoot the puck and has a great release. Does a lot of the little things you need to do when you’re with great playmakers, always being in motion to get yourself open and recognizing where the play is going. Considering he almost never played on the Patrick Kane line, it’s impressive that he got 12 goals while primarily relying on teammates setting him up. He is an intriguing option to play with Bedard, as he has shown that he won’t get killed defensively in the top-six and the great shot is hard to ignore. Raddysh is also in that awkward spot of being in his mid-20’s on an expiring contract, so it will be interesting to see if he’s part of the Hawks plans going forward.

Nick Foligno - LW

It’s no secret that intangibles were a key factor in Chicago signing Nick Foligno, although his $4 million AAV cap hit to reach the floor also helps. Moving on from most of their leadership core in recent years, the Hawks invested in some older players to help bring some of their prospects along as they navigate their way through the rebuild. The ex-Blue Jacket captain is coming off a nice rebound campaign after a disastrous first year in Boston. He got back to double-digit goals and is always a reliable defensive player. Plays a straight-line game and plays more off the puck than he used to, as he doesn’t have that same burst he once did. Still very effective at getting to the net and capitalize on scoring chances and could see some power play time depending on how the Hawks roster looks come October. He could also play more minutes with the Hawks, as Boston had the luxury to play him in the 12-13 minute range on the deepest forward corps in the league.

Corey Perry - RW

Another veteran signed to a one-year deal, Corey Perry is coming off a couple strong years in Tampa and is still a master at getting under other players’ skin. His body can’t handle the full wear-and-tear of a normal top-sixer, but he’s made the most out of limited minutes in his last two years with the Lightning, going to the net to create chances and being a general menace to play against. This is a different situation than what he’s used to though, as he is usually brought in as a supplementary piece to a contending team. The Hawks aren’t contending this year, so Perry is there to be more of a leader and absorb some of the tougher parts of the game. Tampa rejuvenated his career a little, posting 40 points a couple years ago while giving them solid minutes on their fourth line dubbed “The School Bus Line.” Last year he was more of a power play specialist, scoring 12 of his 25 points with the man advantage and creating most of his five-on-five offense off rebounds.

Ryan Donato - RW

Skilled goal-scorers who don’t fit in the top-six sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Fortunately for Ryan Donato, he played on a Seattle team that played their skilled guys lower in the lineup and formed one of the more efficient scoring lines in the league alongside Daniel Sprong. The Harvard grad scored two points per 60 minutes at five-on-five with the Kraken, comparable with the likes of Trevor Zegras and Alex Iafallo. Possessing a fantastic set of hands, Donato can score some very creative goals out of nothing plays and made Seattle one of the deepest teams in the league last year. Whether it’s off the rush or around the net, he is great at settling down loose pucks and putting defenders in a tough spot if he gets the puck with some speed. The reason why he doesn’t play high in the lineup is that his game is pretty one-dimensional. He is not the best passer in the world and has tunnel-vision to the net most times. He is also a streaky scorer, finding the back of the net only one time in the final two months of the season (including no goals in the playoffs). Gives the Hawks another utility player to work with as they enter the year with a blank canvas.

Philipp Kurashev - LW

Out of all the Hawks forward prospects, nobody was given more of a chance to produce more than Kurashev. Playing almost 18 minutes a night in the Hawks top-six, Kurashev the Hawks wanted to see everything they had in the 23-year-old winger. He has good skills individually; great hands, uses his edges well, decent speed and plays with a high motor. In a game situation, he struggled to put it together, often throwing puck away on cycles and dumping the puck in on most of his entries unless it was off a turnover. There would be moments of greatness once every few games, but that’s just what they were, moments. That said, the Hawks liked him enough to retain him for two years, likely having him play lower in the lineup. He has the skills to be a good checking line player with some pop, as he usually takes smart routes to exit the zone and is effective at skating through traffic. Skills that make him a better fit for a counter-attack offense as opposed to a cycle game that you need from your top line. Last year was probably a good year for him and the Hawks as they know what they have in him and how they can use him better going forward.

Boris Katchouk - LW

The trade deadline opens the door for some players to step up and this was the case for Boris Katchouk. Toiling away as a healthy scratch for most of the year, Katchouk finally got some consistent playing time and linemates once some roster spots opened up. He had a nice month in March alongside Joey Anderson and Jujhar Khaira on what ended up as the Hawks first line on some nights. A high scorer both in junior and the AHL, he could translate that to the pros at times. Katchouk can use his size well to play a more skilled game, as he’s a good puck-handler and is very good at stealing pucks to setup plays from behind the net. He didn’t get much of a chance to do so while playing on the Hawks fourth line and struggled to score even when he got a bump in ice time. At 24, he’s still looking to find his role in the NHL but finds himself in a similar situation to last year where he might get lost in the shuffle.

Defense

Seth Jones - D

One year into his seven-year contract with Chicago, it took some time for Seth Jones to get acclimated to his new team. His point total took a hit, but things were a little calmer when he was on the ice. Having his skillset, it’s easy to think that you need to be the guy that does everything, especially on a bad team, and his workload was scaled back. He still logged more minutes than almost anyone else in the NHL but wasn’t pinching at every opportunity and stepped back more often when defending entries instead of meeting forwards at the red line. Ankle injuries have limited his ability to pivot and skate backwards, so Jones has to pay more attention to where the play is going rather than assuming he can shut it down on his own. It’s a new approach, but it should lead to better results once the players around Jones improve. He is showing that he can reinvent his game and still be a top-pair caliber defenseman, although not the game-breaker the Hawks were hoping for. The return of his shot being a threat was nice to see, mostly because he was likely the team’s best option more times than not. Still very good at getting pucks through traffic and was more opportunistic with creating chances than trying to score from long-distance.

Connor Murphy - D

While his game is mostly in the defensive zone, Murphy (who is now the Hawks longest-tenured player) set a career high in goals last year. He will surprise fans with the times he does jump in because it’s rare to see him outside of the defensive zone. Murphy has the mobility to be more active offensively, but he is mostly about cleaning up messes in his own end. He had his minutes reduced last year but still had big responsibilities on the penalty kill. Also played with a rotating cast of partners, sometimes he would be paired with a rookie, other times he was with Jarred Tinordi, a strictly physical defenseman. Very good at blocking shots without sacrificing his body. Takes a lot of abuse with retrieving pucks and struggles to make the first pass out of the zone, although most of that is from being under constant forecheck pressure. Needs a more mobile partner to succeed and will likely have his hands full this coming year with the Hawks blue line lacking experienced puck movers.

Nikita Zaitsev - D

Zaitsev spent most of last season as a part-time player in Ottawa before being placed on waivers and ultimately getting traded to Chicago in a deal that sent the Blackhawks a draft pick for eating the final year of his contract. Used to playing in the 20–22-minute range in his prime, Zaitsev’s game struggles to translate to the quicker pace of the league now. He plays a thankless role as a shot-blocker and a physical defenseman, but there is a limitation on how effective you can be when your puck skills are as limited as his. He is also a little redundant in Chicago’s lineup with a similar player in Murphy in the top-four and another comparable player in Jarred Tinordi also on the roster. He did score his lone goal of the season after being traded to Chicago but was only used in a depth role with a rotating cast of partners. The influx of younger players could force him out of the Hawks lineup, but it’s tough to say with so many unproven options on Chicago’s blue line.

Jarred Tinordi - D

enseman and Maryland native was claimed off waivers from the Rangers at the start of the year and was a regular in the Hawks lineup. The team likes both his size and the physical brand of hockey he plays. He proved to be effective in certain situations, most notably defending zone entries and limiting chances off the rush. Sometimes you need guys who will just play the system and do the little things to get by and this is exactly what Tinordi did. He won’t complete a lot of passes out of the zone, but he can stop the puck along the wall to free it for his partner or be in position to receive a pass to skate it out. When you’re playing 15-17 minutes a night, that’s all you need to do, and the Hawks were happy with what they got out of him. Eventually they’ll need to upgrade, but Tinordi could be a regular next year if none of the prospects from Rockford impress in training camp. It helps that he set career highs in goals and points, as modest as those totals were.

Goaltending

Petr Mrazek - G

There are few teams as obviously hitting the reset button as the Chicago Blackhawks, and there are few goaltenders entering the 2023-24 season who are as obviously cast as parts of a rebuild as Petr Mrazek. With Chicago GM Kyle Davidson openly stating that the team won’t be chasing additional goaltending depth, it’s likely that Blackhawks fans will see more Mrazek than anything for the upcoming year – whether for better or for worse.

Mrazek came to Chicago as a once-highly-touted veteran who dazzled in his league debut, then never quite lived up to the hype. He has the ability to showcase quick hands and fast skating, sliding out of screens and recovering to make last-second desperation saves when things look dire in front of him. But despite his elite-tier athleticism, his consistency has always been a sticking point – and in Chicago, with a smattering of groin issues and a very clearly deconstructed roster skating out in front of him, the Czech netminder had one of the league’s worst performances last year. The fact that he’s the team’s returnee, and not the surprisingly resilient Alex Stalock, is a testament to just how willing the team is to move away from assets that could prevent them from creating a new empire from the ground up; he’ll tandem with Arvid Söderblom in hopes that Mrazek will remain healthy and Söderblom will be able to hold down the fort when needed. It’s not all doom and gloom in Chicago’s crease, since prospect Drew Commesso is under contract and hopefully going to be ready to take over as the team’s heir apparent in a few years time. But for now, Chicago just has to hope that Mrazek is able to come back fully healthy and able to put up his best performance in nearly three years – if they want to show an ability to take a step forward this upcoming year, he’ll have to be better than he was in 2022-23.

Projected starts: 60-65

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 21:57:43 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC - APRIL 03: Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) skates up ice during their NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena on April 3, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

J.T. Miller

It is unusual for a player to have his best season when he is in his late twenties, but 29-year-old J.T. Miller delivered a monster season for the Canucks in 2021-2022, recording 32 goals and 99 points while the Canucks outshot opponents with Miller on the ice and struggled to do so when he was off the ice. Not only does Miller have skill and playmaking ability, but he is a strong physical player who recorded 172 hits, making him the only player in the league to have that many hits while recording more than a point per game. It would be asking a lot for Miller to duplicate the best season of his career, and there is some likelihood of percentages declining, but he also generated a career-best 2.58 shots per game last season and his high percentages, both in terms of his own shooting percentage and 5-on-5 on-ice shooting percentage have been above average every year that he has been in Vancouver. That would seem to indicate that he is still capable of producing in the range of a point per game, maybe a little more.

Elias Pettersson

Following an injury-shortened 2020-2021 season, Pettersson got off to a terrible start and by mid-January had just 17 points in 37 games. He looked lost and his confidence was fading fast. At his low point, he looked nothing like the slick playmaker that he had been for most of his first three seasons in the league, when he earned a reputation for making smart and creative plays in the offensive zone, providing surprisingly effective defensive play, and then ripping wrist shots to the top shelf. That player returned for the second half of last season, as Pettersson finished the season with 26 goals and 51 points in his last 43 games. He moved to left wing to play with Miller and that seemed to bring out the best in both. It also appeared to bring back Pettersson’s confidence and while his finish to the season would suggest that the 23-year-old could go for more than a point per game over a full season, that might be a bit optimistic. He has never scored more than 70 points in a season but that could happen this season.

Bo Horvat

The Canucks captain brings his hard hat to work and scored a career-high 31 goals last season. He does a lot of his damage on the power play. In the past five seasons, Horvat has scored 49 goals with the man advantage, tied with Brayden Point for 13^th in the league over that time. Horvat has played a significant role with the Canucks in those five seasons, averaging 19:54 of ice time per game and winning 54.9% of his faceoffs. In his eight-year NHL career, he has five 20-goal seasons and four seasons with at least 50 points, so he has established a baseline for what he might be able to produce. If he stays reasonably healthy, a point total in the mid-50s would be a fair expectation for a 27-year-old who, barring a new contract, is set to be a free agent at the end of next season.

Brock Boeser

Since scoring 29 goals as a rookie in 2017-2018, Boeser has not been able to get back to that level of production. He has a good shot but could always be more aggressive about using it. While Boeser’s all-around game looks like it could use some improvement, it’s worth observing that he always has better shot differentials relative to the rest of the team. Some of that might be due to more offensive zone starts, but those results have held long enough that he does deserve some credit. Boeser did have his fourth 20-goal campaign last season, so the goal-scoring ought to continue, but he had a low on-ice shooting percentage, which suggests that regression could bring a few more assists his way, which should put him in the 55-to-60-point range.

Conor Garland

An undersized winger who was acquired from Arizona, Garland had a brilliant start to his Canucks career, scoring eight points in his first six games, then finished his first season with 16 points in his last 12 games. In between, the production was a little spotty, but in total, Garland finished with a career-high 52 points to go with excellent puck possession numbers. Even though the 26-year-old is on the smaller side, he has a relentless style of play that earned him a place in the league and coupled with his offensive production, Garland is now a primary scorer. He produced a career-high 52 points last season and should be able to surpass 50 points again this season.

Ilya Mikheyev

In his first couple of seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mikheyev established that he could control play and generate shots, but had trouble finishing, tallying 15 goals in 93 games, scoring on just 7.3% of his shots. Last season, the puck started to find the net and Mikheyev scored 21 goals in 53 games, burying 14.3% of his shots. Tthat helped increase his demand in the free agent market. At 6-foot-3, Mikheyev has the size to cycle the puck in the offensive zone but he is an excellent skater so he can use that both in transition or on the forecheck to create chances. Now that he has shown some touch around the net, he ought to be able to contribute in a middle six role for Vancouver. The question about Mikheyev is whether he can stay healthy – in two of his three seasons he has missed substantial time with injuries – so in terms of projecting his offense going forward, it might be most reasonable to say that Mikheyev could surpass last season’s 32 points, his career high, and potentially by a wide margin if he plays something close to a full schedule.

Nils Hoglander

Although he went through some offensive dry spells and managed just 18 points in 60 games last season, there is still plenty of reason to like Hoglander’s contributions. The 21-year-old winger drives play consistently and can generate shots. It just so happened that pucks were not going in and he went through a horrid slump in the middle of the season. From mid-December through the end of February, Hoglander played in 26 games and managed one goal and four points. He is an easy candidate for a bounce-back season but where he plays in the lineup will have some say in just how big of a bounce-back is possible. Hoglander should be able to score 15 goals and 30 points, as a starting point, but has potential for more depending on how high he fits on the depth chart.

Vasily Podkolzin

The 21-year-old got off to a relatively slow start to his rookie campaign last season, scoring three goals with no assists in his first 15 games, but he got more comfortable as the season progressed and finished the year with nine points in his last 11 games. Podkolzin has good size and has power forward potential. He plays a reliable enough game without the puck so that should help secure a spot in the lineup, but if he is going to grow into possibly become a star quality player, Podkolzin will need to generate more shots but if he can pick up where he left off at the end of last season, Podkolzin’s second season could be exciting. The Canucks are deep on the wings, so optimism around Podkolzin ought to be cautious, but he could challenge for 20 goals if he can get enough ice time.

Tanner Pearson

The 30-year-old winger has two 20-goal and three 40-point seasons to his credit. He has decent size and speed, enough skill to fit in a middle six role but, as noted, the Canucks have a lot of bodies competing for playing time on the wings and it’s possible that Pearson could find it challenging to earn a regular spot in the top nine. Nevertheless, he has been able to produce more than 30 points five times in his career, including last season, and that’s probably a reasonable expectation for what he could score this season.

DEFENSE

Quinn Hughes

Any concern about Hughes’ play without the puck tends to be overblown because he is such an elite creator of offense that he tends to generate more shots and chances than he gives up. He is also not a terrible defender, as some other puck-moving defensemen might get classified. Hughes will turn 23 early in the season and he is a fantastic skater who plays with confidence and creativity. He is every bit the kind of player that a team should seek to build their defense around and, while there is obviously strong competition, a Norris Trophy at some point in his career is not out of the question for Hughes. As for his point production, Hughes finished with a career-high 68 points last season but going for 70-plus points this season would still be a fair expectation.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

While there is little chance that Ekman-Larsson’s production will match his lofty contract, the 31-year-old delivered a solid first season in Vancouver after spending the first 11 years of his career in Arizona. He played more than 22 minutes per game for the 10^th time in the past 11 seasons and his per-game shot rate improved over the previous season. He might be a fringy top-pair defenseman at this stage of his career, but Ekman-Larsson could still be a strong top-four option. His percentages were relatively low last season so a little favorable regression could push him over 30 points this season.

Tyler Myers

Even at 6-foot-8 Myers is a smooth skater and while he will have moments in which his reads or positioning can get him into trouble, he is still a viable top-four defenseman. His relative possession numbers are a small negative and the Canucks have been outscored by 12 goals over three seasons with Myers on the ice during 5-on-5 play. It’s not great, and probably not worth his salary cap hit, but it’s not as terrible as critics would suggest. The 32-year-old is not asked to contribute as much offensively as he did earlier in his career, so he may score 20-25 points but he was also one of 11 defensemen to have at least 140 hits and 140 blocked shots last season so he can fill the stat sheet in other ways.

Luke Schenn

At 32-years-old, the veteran blueliner seemed to find his niche as a partner to Hughes. Schenn’s 17 points last season was his most since 2011-2012, and his average ice time of 17:13 was his highest since 2016-2017. Schenn is not good with the puck on his stick, so he is a good partner for Hughes, in that he Schenn offers complementary skills that Hughes does not typically bring to the game. While his puck skills may be limited, Schenn is not shy about bringing a physical presence to the game. He recorded 273 hits last season, the fifth time in his career that he surpassed 250 hits in a season, and Schenn will drop the gloves when needed. A 15-point season is about all that can be reasonably expected from Schenn offensively.

GOALTENDING

Thatcher Demko

It’s finally looking like Vancouver is ready for the Thatcher Demko show. After a handful of seasons in which the Pacific Division club kept the American-born netminder splitting his net with veteran mentors, Demko made his starter debut in the 2021-22 season with a 64-game campaign. He held his own, too; while the Canucks are still desperately working their way out from under some truly ill-advised contracts and roster transactions, his numbers were good enough to rise up above the Western Conference’s glut of rebuilding rosters and return to the Wild Card chase.

Much of that is thanks to the fact that Demko has continued to fine-tune the more controlled elements of his game without losing the creative spark that made him look so attractive as a prospect; he’s eliminated a lot of unnecessary extra movement as he learns to read shooters and systems at the NHL level, but has kept that wide-ranging toolkit of unexpected stop selections in his arsenal that make him so hard for offensive systems to read in return. Add in some smart depth management to go with intimidating size, and Demko shines as an example of a goaltender who can both close off holes in his net from a sightline perspective and react effectively to the high-danger chances that teams create for themselves when the defense in front of him struggles a bit. Now, the only thing that lacks certainty in Vancouver’s crease is who will emerge as his second-in-command; with both Mikey DiPietro and Spencer Martin hovering at the door to the NHL in the team’s depth chart and Jaroslav Halak departing for the New York Rangers in the off-season, the Canucks will have to determine who provides the club with their best chances for success moving forward.

Projected starts: 60-65

Dallas Stars Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 19:02:12 +0000

With Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and John Klingberg among many other superstar talents, the Dallas Stars are well within their competitive window. However, the Stars have missed the postseason in each of the last two seasons and eight out of ten years. Clearly, something hasn't clicked, be it coaching, injuries, or something harder to define.

Disregarding their other issues, the root of their lack of consistent winning ability has been a poor drafting and development pipeline. We all know of Ivan Vishnevskiy, Scott Glennie, and Jack Campbell, former first-rounders drafted as future stars only to flame out under the weight of the Stars' ghastly expectations. But it has extended into the later half of the decade, with guys like Valeri Nichushkin, Denis Gurianov, and Julius Honka also so far failing to live up to expectations.

Ask us about the early results from the last two drafts, and we say: General Manager Jim Nill is pretty effectively treating this issue, as the 2017 and 2018 drafts are arguably the best of his six-year Dallas tenure. Starting with super prospect Miro Heiskanen, a young Finn so talented and so promising that not even an Erik Karlsson deal could persuade Nill to trade him away, 10 of the top 20 prospects on the list come from the last two draft years.

On the Heiskanen front, the Stars have been stellar in scouting European players, a trend that has continued into this season. Two of their highest three picks this season were relatively obscure Swedish Junior players, which indicates a confidence in their European scouts. They also draft players with immense size frequently, with eight of their top-ten prospects measuring in at 6-3" or taller, which doesn’t even include 12th-ranked Curtis Douglas at 6-8".

With a third head coach in as many seasons, and the lingering concerns over a Tyler Seguin contract extension, the Dallas Stars have issues at hand that are arguably more important than prospect development. But, as this has been the most crippling struggle for Dallas over this window, and the effects of proper drafting and developing will have an instant positive impact on this squad.

Miro Heiskanen

1 Miro Heiskanen, D (3rd overall, 2017. Last year: 1st) Though Rasmus Dahlin has Calder Trophy written all over him, another young European defenseman will be in the running. At third-overall in 2017, Miro Heiskanen became the highest Stars draft pick since Mike Modano in 1988, and the immense hype surrounding the young left-hander is justified. Named the best defenseman in the Finnish Liiga with HIFK Helsinki at just 18 years old, Heiskanen is a brilliant puck-mover with impeccable hockey sense, someone who can control the game with and without the puck. A wonderful skater, Heiskanen can take the game over by asserting himself offensively with his legs and vision. He has tremendous discipline defensively and never allows many dangerous shots on goal from his side, and he is also more mature and mentally developed than basically any 18-year-old blueliner in the game, capable of playing 25+ minutes a night with ease. He dominated a men's league as a teenager last season, and will be an instant top-four defenseman with the Stars in 2018-19.

2 Ty Dellandrea, C (13th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Ty Dellandrea was considered to be somewhat of a stretch at 13th overall this past June, a selection that sent the local Dallas crowd going home from the draft with raised eyebrows. However, what the scrappy, skilled center did with a horrendous Flint Firebirds squad deserves a first-round pick and this spot on the prospect rankings. With a 20-43-0-5 OHL team that had the league's second-worst record, Dellandrea stood out, leading the club with 27 goals in addition to his 32 helpers. He boasts exciting stickhandling abilities that can hang with nearly anyone in this draft, a concrete two-way game, and some fine edgework combined with good top skating speed. His positioning away from the puck is near elite, and most of his goals were scored by him finding open ice with his nifty vision and potting easy net-front set-ups. He is inconsistent, with his best days being spread out in time, but it is hard not to attribute that to his presence on an awful junior team. If he can stick in the pros at a consistent rate, then he looks to be a smart pick for the Stars.

3 Jason Robertson, RW (39th overall, 2017. Last year: 4th) Projected as a first-rounder in 2017, Jason Robertson slipped to the Stars on day two, as a reputation for being lazy and uninterested away from the puck affected his draft stock. Always looking to improve, he took those criticisms to heart and worked on making himself a more complete player over the past season, and early results indicate a new-and-improved Robertson is a year closer to cracking the Stars' NHL roster. With the OHL's Kingston Frotenacs, he posted 41 goals and career-bests in 46 assists and 87 points, leading the team in scoring. He has plus size that gives him a power forward element and makes him hard to push off the puck, a booming set of shots that have equal parts speed and accuracy, and nifty stickhandling moves that make him an elusive forward to cover. His defensive game has taken steps, or more so, leaps and bounds, over the past season, with an increase in d-zone physicality and a decrease in risky plays coming up the ice. Robertson's only issue is a big one, and that's his skating speed, which is well behind NHL caliber without many signs of improvement; he has great edgework and superb acceleration, but without formidable top speed, his offensive game could make him a one-trick pony.

4 Jason Dickinson, C (29th overall, 2013. Last year: 8th) A 2013 draft pick, Jason Dickinson has been around this system for awhile and has not shown any reason, at least with Dallas, for a permanent NHL spot. But, with a new coach in Dallas who encourages creativity and well-roundedness, Dickinson might be in line for the roster spot his AHL numbers indicate he deserves. One of the Texas Stars' leading goal-scorers despite playing only just over half the schedule (18 goals in 42 games), Dickinson has an understated offensive game and goal-scoring touch for a player whose main draw is two-way stability. On that, he's a splendid penalty-killer, strong and tenacious around the boards, and one who will sacrifice himself for the betterment of the team. Offensively, he is crafty and resourceful with the puck, fast enough to make plays for himself, and strong enough to sustain puck possession. He has a bullet for a wrist shot and also boasts calm, effective playmaking skills to be a solid two-way, bottom-six forward who can play all three spots. His biggest problem is a lack of offensive assertiveness. He has a myriad of offensive tools at is disposal, but needs to better utilize them to find success.

Jake Oettinger

5 Jake Oettinger, G (26th overall, 2017. Last year: 5th) The first goaltender taken in the 2017 draft, Dallas actually traded up to take the American netminder, and his stats at the NCAA level suggest that the move will eventually pay off for the Stars. Backstopping a loaded, prestigious Boston University program over the past two seasons, Oettinger has been one of college hockey's best in the crease, going 21-13-4 with a .915 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average last season, earning an NCAA tournament appearance. The denoted goaltender of the future for the Stars, he has a massive physical frame (6-4", 212 lbs), excellent play-reading abilities, and a certain maturity in the crease that allows him to make all the easy saves and rarely get beaten on inside scoring chances. His lateral movement is insanely refined, and his technical game oozes intelligence and peace of mind. His biggest issue right now is transitioning from a standing position to a low butterfly, but he is athletic enough to make ends meet in that regard over time. The Team USA World Junior starter is already a workhorse for the Terriers, and the Stars will let him marinate in the lower levels with Ben Bishop signed for five more seasons. He projects to be an upper-to-mid-tier starter at the NHL level.

6 Colton Point, G (128th overall, 2016. Last year: Unranked) The thing about Oettinger's development is this: after a huge 2017-18 season, former fifth-rounder Colton Point -- a 2018 WJC gold medalist -- is not far away from where Oettinger stands as the franchise's goalie of the future. The 6-4" goaltender went ballistic with Colgate this past season, earning a Hobey Baker Award top-ten finish with a 16-12-5 record, .944 SV%, and 1.74 GAA with an undermanned, overwhelmed Raiders squad that finished at .500 on the season. In 16 of his 33 starts, Point made more than 30 saves, including a 51-save shutout over Harvard. The ECAC Player of the Year finalist has a big upper-body that is supplemented by his good positioning, and the lateral movement to track pucks all around him. He is a battler in the crease who loves to compete, and will stay at a 100% intensity level for the entirety of a game. After signing an ELC with the Stars, he is making the jump to their AHL affiliate where he will compete with Landon Bow for the job as the starter. For success in 2018-19, the 20-year-old needs to prove in the pros that his monstrous 2017-18 campaign was not a blip on the radar and was more a preview of what's to come.

7 Riley Tufte, LW (25th overall, 2016. Last year: 6th) Yet another humongous, physical NCAA star, 6-6" Riley Tufte is becoming the lethal power forward prospect he was drafted to become. He has become accustomed to the speed and skill of NCAA hockey, and with Minnesota-Duluth, scored a team-high 16 goals in his sophomore season in 2017-18. With unmatched size and physical toughness, he plays a dangerous offensive game that combines his plus playmaking and stickhandling with natural corporeal competitiveness. He can drive right to the net with his strong upper-body or draw opposing players to him against the boards to set up a teammate. With improvements in comfort and skating ability (he can move for a big guy, but can not exactly fly out there), Tufte can play the ideal power forward game, one that consists of constant pressure and physical imposition that forces defenders to react and move. Like most college players, he is a long-term project, but he has skills no coach can teach and a size advantage no common defender can come around. He will return to Duluth in 2018-19.

8 Denis Gurianov, RW (12th overall, 2015. Last year: 3rd) Everyone will agree: Denis Gurianov, at 12th overall in 2015, was the wrong pick. With Mat Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Brock Boeser among others still waiting, the Stars stretched out and grabbed a Russian minor-leaguer. Nonetheless, it's still too early to label Gurianov as a bust, even if his prospect ranking took a major hit. The 21-year-old has incredible straight-line speed, coupled with near elite acceleration and a never-give-up, high-energy motor; his frame (6-3", 200 lbs) is also at an NHL level, so at the very least, he could be a useful forechecker. His wrist shot is superb, with a quick release and the ability to fire from anywhere. Gurianov's defensive efforts are underappreciated, as he uses his speed and size to get into passing and shooting lanes well. His main problem is perhaps the biggest one you can have: a lack of hockey sense. Often looking lost out there, his positioning is terrible, his playmaking vision lags, and, as a healthy scratch for many Texas Stars playoff games in their Calder Cup Finals run, his coaches do not trust him in big moments. Without a major improvement in that aisle, he has bust potential.

9 Roope Hintz, C/LW (49th overall, 2015. Last year: 7th) Another example of quality scouting in Europe, the Stars grabbed Roope Hintz in what was considered an off-the-board second-round pick in 2015. Very mature and experienced at 21 years old - having played three full seasons in Liiga and winning the World Junior gold - he could be an NHL forward now and hold his own. His rookie AHL season was an instant success, as he led all Stars prospects in points with Texas, playing both center and wing over the year and becoming increasingly comfortable on the smaller North American ice. Hintz has insane top speed, and though his acceleration lags, he can blow right past opposing defenders with enough time and space to generate speed. His hands are swift and stellar, and though he is mostly a playmaker rather than a shooter, his wrist shot is fantastic. With one of the most well-rounded gameplay arsenals in the Dallas system, Hintz will be a useful NHL player for a while once he is ready.

Adam Mascherin

10 Adam Mascherin, LW (100th overall, 2018. Last year: 10th [Florida]) Adam Mascherin is not your typical prospect. Drafted as an early second-rounder by the Florida Panthers in 2015, the Kitchener Rangers star opted to re-enter the draft three years later after never signing with his draft team. At 100th overall, Dallas nabbed the 20-year-old in what can be called a reclamation project, and with his OHL eligibility used up, he will immediately report to AHL Texas. A former 100-point OHL player, it is clear that he has offensive skills, and he will probably transition to the pros as more of a goal-scorer than a playmaker with the high-power, tricky wrist shot he possesses. A very hard worker, he is short and stocky and uses his upper body strength well to get into dangerous scoring positions. He has sneakily good speed and great rink senses, although his two-way game is still developing. If he can be a prolific offensive force for Texas and Dallas, he will find a place high on the depth chart. If not, he was still worth the risk as a mid-round overager.

11 Oskar Back, C (75th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) A young Swedish forward who has been playing above his age level for years, Oskar Back has long had top-nine NHL potential, and the Stars grabbed the 18-year-old forward with a third-round selection in last summer's draft. With a very versatile skillset, he will soon find success at the SHL level, after tallying 32 points in 38 games in the Swedish Junior ranks. He has deadly speed that allows him to push the pace of the game, and deft hand-eye coordination and stickhandling skills that help him put the puck where it belongs, be it on a teammate's stick blade for a shot or his own. He tends to look for a pass over taking a shot, but his vision and quick decision-making lets him drop beautiful assists with ease. His plus size and strength allow his two-way game to flourish, really helping his game come to complete fruition. He isn't very strong away from the puck, and on account of that, he projects to play the wing rather than center at higher levels, but his game is otherwise formidable in most other facets.

12 Curtis Douglas, C (106th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) There is no secret as to why the Stars took a chance on Curtis Douglas with the 106th pick last summer. A 6-8" center with respectable wheels and some underappreciated playmaking skill, he is a very unique prospect whose uncommon physique is something to build upon. A decent OHL player, between the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires last season, he tapped home 22 goals and assisted on 25 in his second full junior season. Obviously, his main selling point is his size, which he uses extremely well, shoving off defenders, getting inside/net-front position, and shielding the puck off well, but he can skate pretty well too. His top speed is what you would imagine at his size, but his cuts, acceleration, and backward-to-forward transitioning is reminiscent of a player a foot shorter. He also has splendid offensive vision that allows him to thread difficult passes through the slot for goals, and the attentiveness to be an effective forechecker. What Douglas will become is nearly impossible to project, but between his size and skills, Dallas might as well see where this goes.

13 Gavin Bayreuther, D (Free Agent Signing: Mar. 17, 2017. Last year: 11th) Not really an organization for big free agent prospect signings, the Stars inked undrafted NCAA defenseman Gavin Bayreuther last season and had the young lefthander anchor the AHL blueline this past year, with mixed results. The St. Lawrence University standout paced all Texas defensemen with 32 points, but displayed some growing pains, specifically in his own zone, where he looked lost with the pace and skill of the pro game. Otherwise, Bayreuther exhibited the assets that made him a hot commodity as a free agent, showing off his mobility, playmaking skills, and reliability defending zone entries. Mostly an offensive-defenseman, he has excellent foot speed, good hands, and loves to pass up the ice. A fixture on the Stars' power play, he has the prototypical offensive patience and vision of a defenseman like him. He is still a season away from an NHL roster spot, but the potential is there so long as he works on his defensive game.

14 Riley Damiani, C (137th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) An undersized center, Riley Diamiani is one of those guys that remains an offensive threat even without any single dynamic skill, just by virtue of his hockey sense and general intelligence. The Kitchener forward, who occasionally centered a line with fellow 2018 Stars pick Adam Mascherin this past season, netted 19 goals and 18 assists in 2017-18. With strong acceleration and decent top speed, he was a central part of both the defensive and offensive efforts of the OHL's Rangers when on the ice. He can join or push the offensive rush with ease, but he appears more comfortable without the puck, and he mostly camps out somewhere near the net to fire off one of his blazing wrist shots directly off a pass. His positioning is solid in all three zones and his non-stop, energetic motor is another point in his favor. As a center, Diamiani needs to become more assertive with the puck and be a more effective set-up man, especially with his swift, elusive stickhandling skills; he does not really have a winger's skillset or the size to make something happen against the boards, so it looks like his future will be down the middle, but there will be no long-term future for the 18-year-old without an improvement in that aisle.

Albin Eriksson

15 Albin Eriksson, RW (44th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Albin Eriksson compares his game to that of future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin, and from a purely stylistic standpoint, it is hard to disagree. Eriksson is a menacing power forward with a deadly mix of size (6-4", 207 lbs) and intensity, using that combo to score at over a point-per-game in the Swedish Junior levels (22-18-40 in 38 games). He skates well for a guy of his stature, has crazy quick hands and elusiveness to fly past defenders, and has above-average play-reading abilities. He truly is like Malkin from a style perspective: a power forward with an unpredictable, skilled, complete offensive game. So why is he ranked so low in the prospect rundown, especially as a mid second-rounder? Eriksson is a square peg in the round hole of hockey, being mostly a dud in his time in the SHL, and not often being called upon to represent Sweden in international play. He lacks the dynamic skill to be a top-six forward at high levels, but plays too fast and unstructured of a style to be a depth scoring option. He has middle-six NHL potential with the Stars if he can harness his skill into something more readily useful down the road.

16 Joseph Cecconi, D (133rd overall, 2015. Last year: 13th) When you play alongside Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes on the Michigan blueline, the spotlight will, understandably, not be on you. Joseph Cecconi, in his senior year, will now step into the glare for the Wolverines after being named the program's captain. The former World Junior gold medalist had his best offensive season last year, scoring five goals in addition to 17 assists, helping Michigan reach the Frozen Four for the first time in seven seasons. A big and strong stay-at-home defenseman with a developing offensive game, he has great gap control and quick enough feet to mark his man throughout the defensive zone. He does not carry the puck much, but instead utilizes his fast and accurate stretch passes to spark a transition game. He projects to be a well-rounded bottom-pairing defenseman with minimal offensive upside, but his game has many facets to like.

17 Dillon Heatherington, D (Trade: Mar. 1, 2017 [Columbus]. Last year: 17th) A former second-rounder, Dillon Heatherington would have been an NHL All-Star 20 years ago, but as the game trends toward faster and smaller defensemen, keeping a major-league roster spot has been a challenge for him. One of the AHL's best and most physical d-men last season, the 6-4" lefty also made a mark with his nastiness and intensity in the Dallas locker room, accruing 26 penalty minutes and a point in his six top-flight games last season. His size and strength permits him to shove opposing forwards around and force them to the outside to limit high-danger shots; when they do get by him, he has decent enough foot speed to track them back down and cut a pass or shot off. After the 2017-18 campaign, it looked like Heatherington would have the seventh defenseman job locked down with Dallas, but it became clear that the Stars brass lacks confidence in the former Calder Cup champ after signing Roman Polak for that role.

18 Nicholas Caamano, C/RW (146th overall, 2016. Last year: 16th) One of the last cuts from the Stars' 2017 training camp roster, Nicholas Caamano has made a great first impressions on Dallas' front office personnel. After a mid-season trade from Ty Dellandrea's Flint Firebirds to the Hamilton Bulldogs, the offensive dynamo erupted for 36 points in 41 games, followed by 22 in 21 postseason matches as Hamilton took home the OHL Championship. He plays a goal-scoring offense-first game, but has made major strides in his playmaking over the past few seasons, as his smarts have let him evolve into a more complete player. His shot is electric, he can skate with the best of them, plays both sides of the special teams equation, and has some strong power forward moves despite average size. A young 20-year-old, Caamano will join the AHL Stars in 2018-19 as Dallas tries to develop him into another fifth-round steal.

19 Ondrej Vala, D (Free Agent Signing: Sep. 29, 2016. Last year: 20th) Undrafted out of the 2016 draft, Ondrej Vala joined the Stars' prospect club at the annual Traverse City tournament and signed a three-year ELC directly after. Something impressed the Stars then, and the exceptional two-way WHL defender has shown us all what he showed the Dallas brass back then. A mid-season acquisition by the Everett Silvertips, Vala was like a rock on the blueline during a stretch run, and playoff run, that concluded in a berth in the WHL Finals. He is massive (6-4", 210 lbs), with a frame that he uses well in his own zone to dislodge opposing forwards' position and scoop pucks out from the boards by using his body as a shield. He also has a cannon from the blueline, one he utilizes at every opportunity, and can skate well for a big man, covering a lot of ground in all three zones. The 20-year-old will likely transition to the AHL, where he will continue to fine-tune his raw defensive zone coverage.

20 Dawson Barteaux, D (168th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) The only defenseman the Stars drafted in 2018 and the first Stars' defensive selection since Miro Heiskanen, highly-mobile puck-moving defenseman Dawson Barteaux has all the makings of a late-round draft steal. He made huge strides in 2017-18 with the Red Deer Rebels while playing alongside Capitals first-rounder Alexander Alexeyev, recording three goals and 29 assists in 64 regular-season games. He played in all situations for Red Deer, including both special teams sides, eating up a lot of minutes as a cool, calm presence on their blue line. A possession machine and a driver of offense, Barteaux mixes riskiness with safe play, a trait that should translate well to the pros. He is a great skater and has exciting stickhandling abilities, but needs to work on his point shot a little, as well as the intricacies of defensive zone play.

Dallas – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:01:53 +0000

Jim Nill was hired as General Manager of the Dallas Stars in April, 2013. Coming off a long apprenticeship in the Detroit front office, Nill brought with him significant experience in the scouting and development realm, an area of noted strength over the years in Detroit. Four years and five draft classes into his leadership in Dallas, it seems as fair a time as any to assess which methods of the “Red Wings Way” he took to Texas.

The three most prominent traits in the Red Wings draft and development plan over that period were the heavy drafting of Europeans, the long AHL development times, and the regular selection of goalies, often in the later rounds, having selected 15 in 20 years.

Starting with the third point first. In five drafts as Stars GM, Nill has overseen the drafting of six goalies, including one first rounder. In fairness, one of them was traded away during draft weekend, but it is clear that the Nill Stars are not shy about selecting goaltenders.

To looks at development lead times, we need to expand our analysis beyond his five draft classes to also include all players already in the system when Nill was hired. Among players who were good enough to become regular NHLers with Dallas in the past four seasons, we have Colton Sceviour (348 AHL games), Alex Chiasson (66), John Klingberg (150 AHL/ European men’s hockey), Patrik Nemeth (104), Jyrki Jokipakka (199 AHL + Liiga), Jamie Oleksiak (171), Brett Ritchie (141), Esa Lindell (198 AHL + Liiga), Devin Shore (23), Radek Faksa (68), Valeri Nichushkin (0), Julius Honka, assuming he makes the team this year (191).

So there are exceptions to this rule, but Nill leans towards making sure his prospects have proven themselves at the AHL level before making the Stars for good. Of the exceptions, Chaisson and Shore were older prospects, starting their professional careers after spending a few years in college. Nichushkin going right from the draft to the NHL may have been a function of wanting to ensure the first rounder stayed in North America instead of returning to Russia, which he eventually did anyway. Faksa is the odd one out here, but he came into the AHL with a mature game, was excelling in his first full season on the farm and the Stars had a definite use for him in the lineup. I would say that he prefers long development times, but is not religious about it. Also, it would not surprise many people at all if this year’s first rounder, Miro Heiskanen, made the team right away.

Finally, a look at European drafting. In five draft classes with Nill at the helm, the Stars drafted 14 European players out 36 total picks, 13 of whom were scouted in Europe. That includes four of their seven first round selections. It seems that Nill is definitely not a subscriber to Don Cherry’s belief in down-home hockey. While the Stars have not yet built dynasty like the Red Wings had in the late 90s-early 00s, their GM is following some of the strategies that helped those teams flourish.

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 2: Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

1 Miro Heiskanen – One of the fastest rising prospects of the 2017 draft class, Heiskanen is the epitome of the 200 foot, modern day defenseman. An exemplary skater, his puck skills and hockey IQ are also already at levels rarely seen in 18 year old blueliners. Given big minutes in Liiga for HIFK, his game matured to a great degree this year. He was also a regular for Finland’s WJC squad and a star for his country at the WU18 where he was named Best Defenseman. He needs to bulk up, but is otherwise ready.

2 Julius Honka – A precursor to Heiskanen, Honka is an undersized blueliner who combines well above average skating ability with exceptional puck play. After close to three years in the AHL, the former first round pick finally received an NHL call up last year and showed well in limited duty in the second half of the season. He will need to be sheltered for the near future, but should be a strong contributor to the Dallas power play in the mold of Sami Vatanen.

3 Denis Gurianov – Gurianov followed Honka’s path as a teenager playing in the AHL with his age 19 debut season last year, a season punctuated by a star turn for Team Russia at the WJC. Strong in all three zones, and a force on the rush thanks to plus skating and impressive stick handling ability. Has an NHL ready frame, so while a call up should not be expected too soon, he will not need to be protected once he is up. He should be able to ease into NHL duty on a bottom six role and gradually climb the ranks.

Jason Robertson of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

4 Jason Robertson – One of the better pure goal scorers available in the 2017 draft class, Robertson was too often derided for what he could not or did not do. That being, he was too often uninterested in play away from the puck and was seen as soft and possibly lazy. Since being drafted, many reports have emerged that he has taken those criticisms to heart and is dedicating himself to being stronger. He already grades as plus with his shooting, skating and close to plus with his puck skills.

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 17: The puck beats Boston University Terriers goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

5 Jake Oettinger – The first goaltender selected in the first round since Washington chose Ilya Samsonov 22nd overall in 2015, Oettinger is a very big netminder with quick limbs, excellent play reading capabilities and a reputation for calm, unflappable play between the pipes, no matter the occasion. Already a workhorse for Boston University, he will not be rushed by Dallas as he works on smoothening out his butterfly transition and puck handling. Projects as a mid-tier starter if developed right.

6 Riley Tufte – Physically imposing at 6-5”, Tufte had a very slow start to his NCAA career with Minnesota-Duluth, as the jump in competition from a season mostly spent in high school was difficult to overcome at first. By mid-year, he became accustomed to the speed of the game and begin to flash his plus puck skills and was more often able to force defenders to react instead of letting them dictate the play. With improved comfort, he can be an ideal power forward, but much more development is ahead.

7 Roope Hintz – Another player who played above his age, Hintz was already past his rookie season in Liiga, Finland’s top men’s league, and had experienced a WJC competition, when the Stars made him a second round choice. He has since spent two more seasons in Liiga, converting his excellent skating and puck handling into a scoring role. A smart player who shows good anticipation, he might not need more than a year or so in the AHL (starting now) before he is ready for the NHL.

8 Jason Dickinson – A strong two-way forward, Dickinson is nearing the point where he has done all he can in the AHL and is ready for a prolonged NHL opportunity. A strong skater and patient puck handler, his best attribute is actually his hockey sense as the former first round pick is a reliable penalty killer and back checker. He also uses his pro sized frame to advantage. He should be able to step into any role – and any forward position - and perform effectively.

9 Gemel Smith – A grinder with some skill and offensive sense, Smith excels with his puck protection abilities, using his fast hands and surprising upper body strength to keep defender away. His vision and patience make him more of an offensive asset than his middling point totals across three AHL seasons would otherwise suggest. A perfect example of Nill’s patience with prospects, Smith is ready to perform in a bottom six role in the NHL.

10 Remi Elie – Another player nearing put-up-or-shut-up time, Elie is a somewhat limited, but near NHL ready forward in the Stars’ system. A strong skater with nominal puck skills, he plays with energy and responsibility in all zones. Strong on both forecheck and backcheck, he even received ample PK time in his NHL opportunities last season. Most likely a bottom six forward, he could play higher in a puck retrieval/mule role.

11 Gavin Bayreuther – An offensive defenseman signed by the Stars as a free agent out of St. Lawrence, Bayreuther likes to pinch in deep and plays a central role on all offensive zone possessions. Although he shows effort in his own zone, with a tight gap on zone entries against and tight coverage in the corners, he can be prone to bouts of puck watching. He needs more time in the AHL to round out his game, but he has the mobility and puck handling ability to play in a bottom pairing role in the NHL.

12 Fredrik Karlstrom – An under the radar pick in the third round in 2016, Karlstrom took solid strides in his development in his first pro-draft season. Moving up from the Swedish junior ranks to play for AIK in Allsvenskan, he showed flashed of offensive talent coupled with a solid overall skill set including positive skating ability and the type of shot that suggests more goals in his future. Strong reads also bode well for his future.

13 Joseph Cecconi – A beefy defensive defenseman, Cecconi was a mild surprise as a selection for the American entry at last year’s WJC. A solid skater who can carry the puck up the ice and into the offensive zone, his offensive contributions usually end around there. Generally not very comfortable on the puck if he is being pressured, he has shown marked improvement in his own zone and puts his strong frame to good use.

14 Tyler Pitlick – Pitlick is about four weeks too young and was hurt four games too soon to lose his prospect eligibility. After years of stalled development due to injuries, he seemed to finally be ready to make good on the promise he showed as a teenager at the NCAA and then WHL levels. Before the injury that ended last year early, Pitlick showed enough as a skater, with plus hand-eye coordination and a very good shot to earn a three year contract with the Stars. If he can stay healthy, he can still have a decent NHL career.

15 Mark McNeill – A former first round pick who spent four seasons in the AHL with the Blackhawks before they finally gave up on him as part of the Johnny Oduya deal, McNeill has proven to be a strong two-way forward at the AHL level, with strong hockey IQ and solid playmaking chops before his numbers took a hit due to poor shooting percentage luck last year. If he ever gets a chance, he could be a decent bottom line center somewhere. If…

16 Nicholas Caamano – Dallas’ fifth round pick in 2016, Caamano made big strides in his first post-draft season, nearly doubling his production (37 points to 64) for a mediocre Flint team in the OHL. While he can show a decent passing touch, his top attribute is his shot, as his wrister was behind a great deal of his 35 goals this season. He still needs to bulk up and improve his game away from the puck, but stands a good chance of providing great value for his draft slot.

17 Dillon Heatherington – Acquired last season from Columbus in exchange for Lauri Korpikoski, Heatherington has about the same upside as the player going the other way, in that he projects as a bottom pairing player with more value off the puck than on. He is a subpar skater, who can sometimes make up for that lack with a strong physical game and a sharp point shot. For a team light on the blueline, he could see some NHL time this year.

18 Philippe Desrosiers – A second round pick in 2013, Desrosiers’ pro career has advanced in fits and starts since then. He still has youth, but has struggled to stay in the AHL in two seasons as a pro, spending most of his time in the ECHL. His lateral movement is very good and he can show poise between the pipes, but can be undone by a bad goal. Somewhat small by today’s standards, he has the quickness to make it work, but needs to step it up this year.

19 John Nyberg – The 2014 sixth round pick made solid strides in his second SHL season with Frolunda. Nyberg is a plus-sized defender who plays a quiet game. While not an exciting player, he is reliable and limits mistakes. His numbers (15 points in 49 games) are better than they appear as he had very little power play time. His skating has improved enough that his NHL chances are less remote than they were on draft day.

20 Ondrej Vala – Undrafted after his first season in North America with Kamloops of the WHL, Vala nonetheless impressed Dallas enough in rookie camp that he was offered an ELC on the spot. His WHL production rate improved slightly, but he projects more as a defensive defenseman anyway, a role he displayed more prominently with the Czech squad at the WJC. His specialty is retrieving the puck from behind his own net and making the first pass to begin the transition.

The Stars under Jim Nill have made solid strides in strengthening their system, from drafting underrated Europeans (particularly from Finland and Sweden) to avoiding the temptation to rush prospects out of desperation. They still tend to value size over skill more than most teams, but the system is now well-rounded with players for every type of need and every reasonable timeframe.

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Depth and Prospects

Peter Harling — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 19:48:57 +0000

The NHL trade deadline is a little over a week from now and the clock is ticking on many leagues roster freeze deadline. With that in mind, here are some depth players who may contribute some short term help if you have a hole in your roster.

Brad Boyes, RW – Toronto Maple Leafs 10% Owned

Boyes has been a scratch from the lowly Leafs roster, but they have been showcasing him lately and he has responded with a four game point streak. Boyes is fighting for a contract next season, and for an opportunity to be traded to a contender. He is highly motivated.

Mark Arcobello, RW – Toronto Maple Leafs 8% Owned

Like Boyes, Arcobello is fighting for his NHL career and is being showcased by the Leafs who would love to trade players for picks. Arcobello had a terrible start to the season and in 16 games, has only four points. However, he has three points in the last four games and is currently on a hot streak. In his time in the AHL this season he has been good scoring 44 points in 34 games.

Erik Haula, Centre – Minnesota Wild 10% Owned

The speedy centre has been a bright light lately for the slumping Wild. Haula had back-to-back two point nights with six points in his last six games. He has also been dominating on the draw going 10-5, 7-4, and 11-2 in his past three games.

Charlie Coyle, Centre – Minnesota Wild 56% Owned

Currently riding a three game goal scoring streak, and eight in his last 12 Coyle has been heating up in the second half of the season. Coyle is poised for a career year with 31 points in 58 games, four points shy of his career high of 35 and he has played in 24 fewer games.

Riley Nash, Centre – Carolina Hurricanes 8% Owned

Nash has been playing some of his best hockey of the season lately and has five points in his last four games. Despite playing on the fourth line with Jay McClement and Chris Terry, Nash is producing points and has seven shots and nine hits in his last four games as well with a shoot-out goal and a game winner to boot.

***

For those of you in deeper keeper leagues, here are some prospects tearing it up in the AHL who may be relevant next year if you are looking to the future and can add prospects via waiver wire or free agent claims.

Jason Dickinson, Centre – Dallas Stars (Texas) 16% Owned

Dickinson scored 231 career points in 253 games with Guelph in the OHL, and won the Gold with Canada at the 2013 U18 WJC. In his rookie AHL season he has 40 points in 54 games. He will push for a roster spot in Dallas next year.

Brandon Montour, Defence – Anaheim Ducks (San Diego) 17% Owned

The Ducks are stacked with young defencemen, so don’t be surprised if they trade one by the deadline for forward depth. If Montour is moved, he could debut with his new team at the NHL, or if a roster player is moved from the Ducks back end he could be recalled as a replacement. As an AHL rookie, he is second overall in defencemen scoring with 38 points in 46 games. The Ducks second round pick in 2014 was a point per game player in junior and college and has transitioned that offence to the pro level. He is a fantasy hockey sleeper bluechip prospect.

Matt Lorito, Left Wing – New Jersey Devils ( Albany) 1% Owned

The former Brown University forward made his AHL debut last year following a 106 point career in 118 games with 12 points in 11 games for the River Rats. In his first full season he has scored 38 points in 45 games in an impressive rookie campaign.

Daniel Altshuller, Goal – Carolina Hurricanes (Charlotte) 8% Owned

His first pro year was bumpy, spending most of his time in the ECHL and battling injury, his sophomore season has been resurgence. He has played in 19 games I the AHL so far and is 9-6-1 with a 2.55 GAA and a .913 save %. With Cam Ward heading into UFA status this summer, Altshuller will try to crack the NHL as Eddie Lack’s backup.

Youngblood: Top 20 OHLers Primed for a Breakout

Brendan Ross — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 22:18:04 +0000

Mere hours remain until the puck drops on the long anticipated 2014-15 Ontario Hockey League season and like every other season start, the league’s young players are eager to prove that an off-season of hard work and dedication will pay off on the ice. The following outlines several players who could see a substantial rise in production and be considered potential OHL breakout candidates. While it’s expected that high-scoring OHLers from last season (Connor McDavid, Michael Dal Colle, Sam Bennett, etc.) take the next step offensively, this list is reserved for some of the less obvious names.

*All players have skated in the OHL leaving no rookies or first-year imports eligible for this list*

**Players are not ranked based on offensive output but rather a combination of their projected production and overall expected game impact**

20. Ryan Moore, LC (Windsor Spitfires; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

American Ryan Moore netted only five goals and 10 points in his first season with the Spitfires but his impact was felt in many other ways last season. The tenacious forward is an exceptional competitor and with his combination of speed, puck skills and playmaking ability, it won’t be shocking to see this 5-foot-7 dynamo surge up the draft rankings in his second season. With Islanders pick Josh Ho-Sang and rookies Luke Kirwan, Logan Brown and Markus Soberg expected to take up offensive minutes, Moore will need to prove that he’s worthy of top-six minutes. He’s a player I wouldn’t bet against breaking out this season…and if not, 2015 might be his coming out party.

2014-15 Projection: 65-19-20-49

19. Pius Suter, LC (Guelph Storm)

The Swiss import was used mostly in a defensive role with the Storm during their Championship season but with Scott Kosmachuk, Brock McGinn and Zack Mitchell moving on, Suter will adopt more offensive minutes and could thrive in a secondary scoring role.

2014-15 Projection: 66-18-33-51

18. Brycen Cianfrone, LC (Mississauga Steelheads)

Undersized centre, Bryson Cianfrone, looked great in pre-season action and it’s expected that he will elevate his play and set new careers as the Steelheads look to improve their offensive outputs. Under the right circumstances, Cianfrone could certainly flirt with 75 points.

2014-15 Projection: 68-26-43-69

17. Mitchell Vande Sompel, LD (Oshawa Generals; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Few rookie defensemen had the impact that Generals’ blueliner Mitch Vande Sompel had last season after the offensive rearguard forced his way up the lineup with his stellar play. His coaches trust him in all situations and he should vastly improve on his 20 points in his draft year, approaching 40-50 points.

2014-15 Projection: 65-13-32-45

16. Dante Salituro, RC (Ottawa 67’s; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

All eyes were on OHL Rookie of the Year, Travis Konecny , last season but Salituro quietly enjoyed an outstanding sophomore year potting 22 goals and 59 points. The undersized offensive catalyst is an underrated prospect for the 2015 draft but he can change that quickly with another offensive surge. Look for Salituro to land in the 70-plus territory this season.

2014-15 Projection: 68-29-47-76

15. Kevin Lebanc, RW (Barrie Colts)

Zach Hall and Andreas Athanasiou are no longer with the club and that leaves an opportunity for Kevin Lebanc to assume a more prominent scoring role after posting 11 goals and 35 points as a mature rookie. Passed over in his first go-round with the NHL Draft, Lebanc will attempt to draw interest with his gritty yet rather skilled two-way game. He’s a very good defensive forward who could find himself as a serviceable bottom six checker at the next level.

2014-15 Projection: 67-20-33-53

14. Mitchell Stephens, RC (Saginaw Spirit; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

It’s been a good year for Mitchell Stephens after the young scoring pivot got his feet wet at the OHL level (57-9-12-21) and also represented Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Challenge registering a pair of assists. Stephens will adopt a larger role with Saginaw and his blazing speed and natural scoring instincts are surely to become a dangerous elements of the Spirits’ offense.

2014-15 Projection: 65-27-32-59

13. Graham Knott, LW (Niagara IceDogs; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Selected in the 3^rd round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Graham Knott flashed his promising upside as soon as he took the ice in last year’s rookie season. Lined up alongside Leafs’ Carter Verhaeghe and Anthony DiFruscia, Knott scored in his first OHL game and didn’t look back adding another 22 points in his first campaign. After winning gold at the recent Ivan Hlinka Tournament, where he picked up four assists in five games, Knott enters his NHL draft year full of confidence as a potential first round selection. The 6-foot-3 winger owns a fluid skating stride that features great length but also possesses some slick puck skills for a big man.

2014-15 Projection: 67-23-37-60

12. Hayden Hodgson, RW (Sarnia Sting)

It was a trade that sent Hayden Hodgson to the Sarnia Sting that has opened up an opportunity for the former Erie Otters’ fourth liner. Slated to become a key fixture on Sarnia’s offensive lines, Hodgson is could experience one of the more notable breakout seasons after a modest nine goal, 18-point season has many unaware of his potential talents. In Sarnia, Hodgson stands a good chance to lineup alongside one of (or both) Nikita Korostelev or import stud Pavel Zacha and the points should begin to add up flanked by these talented youngsters. Hodgson recently attended the Detroit Red Wings’ prospect tournament in Traverse City and impressed them enough to earn a spot on their main camp roster. When he returns to Sarnia he will be full of confidence and should help spark the Sting’s frontlines.

2014-15 Projection: 68-30-30-60

11. Nick Paul, LW (North Bay Battalion; Dallas Stars, 2013 - 101^st overall)

Credit the Dallas Stars for stepping up and selecting power winger, Nick Paul, in the 2013 draft after the young forward posted a dozen goals and 28 points in his rookie season. The Stars invested in Paul’s raw potential knowing that he may take few years to fully blossom but all indications are pointing towards it being a shrewd investment. Unfortunately for Dallas, Nick Paul is now turning heads in the Ottawa Senators organization after he was dealt to Canada’s Capital in the Jason Spezza trade on the nation’s birthday. After doubling his goal production and nearly posting a point-per-game in the Battalion’s long playoff run to the OHL Championship series, Paul is ready to launch himself onto the OHL’s scoring race leaderboard.

2014-15 Projection: 68-36-36-72

10. Nikita Korostelev, RW (Sarnia Sting; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

It’s a bit of an understatement but the Sarnia Sting have a youth movement emerging and it’s likely going to benefit Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia’s 2013 1^st round selection. Pencilled in for top line duties in his sophomore season, Korostelev is ready for the added responsibility and will be looking to use the youthful enthusiasm that surrounds the Sting to his advantage. Known for his scoring prowess and ability to strike quickly, Korostelev put up four points (two goals, two assists) against the London Knights in preseason action on September 6^th and looked to be developing dangerous chemistry with 1^st overall import pick, Pavel Zacha. Both Korostelev and Zacha are preparing for their draft seasons and if Nikolay Goldobin doesn’t return from San Jose Sharks, these two offensive talents will be counted on to carry the Sting’s offense.

2014-15 Projection: 64-34-28-62

9. Jesse Barwell, LC (Mississauga Steelheads; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Dating back to his Oakville Rangers minor midget days, Jesse Barwell has always been a player who has caught my eye. Blessed with an intelligent hockey mind and slick offensive hands, Barwell is a player who can make teams pay if allowed too much time or space. He was a bit inconsistent in his rookie campaign but with the Steelheads looking to add offense, Barwell should earn more offensive minutes, specifically on the powerplay where he thrives, and that should inflate his totals. Mississauga is a squad that I expect to surprise as they ride the electrifying talent of 1st round pick Mikey McLeod and sneaky-good sophomore Jesse Barwell. It’s bold but I could see Barwell experience a similar breakout as Robby Fabbri experienced last year, when he quadrupled his goal totals and nearly tripled his point production.

2014-15 Projection: 66-21-42-63

8. Lawson Crouse, LW (Kingston Frontenacs; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Under the watchful eye of NHL scouts, potential top 10 candidate, Lawson Crouse, will certainly be playing under pressure but his industrious work ethic will help him persevere through the demands of his draft season. Not only did Crouse step into an OHL lineup as a rookie and pot 15 goals and 27 points but he also accomplished this while taking on more responsibility in the defensive zone. As the season progressed, Crouse flourished and actually finished the regular season on a three game point streak (which included a four-point game) before helping Canada to Hlinka gold with a pair of goals and assists in August. Crouse may not “explode” offensively but I do expect him to approach point-per-game production and continue to garner more defensive responsibilities. Those added duties along with his bourgeoning offensive game should make him an irreplaceable member of the contending Kingston Frontenacs.

2014-15 Projection: 68-31-33-64

7. Andrew Mangiapane, LW/C (Barrie Colts; re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft)

Despite being passed over at the 2014 NHL Draft, Colts’ buzz-saw forward Andrew Mangiapane was still invited to the Arizona Coyotes camp and that experience will serve him well as he prepares for a huge sophomore season. The undersized Mangiapane was a shrewd free agent signing by the Colts and on most nights last season, he was the team’s best player. He’s an ultra-competitive two-way forward with the speed and puck skills to create offensive chances at ease. Like the other two Colts who made this list, this member of the 2013-14 OHL First All-Rookie Team (along with Lebanc and Lemieux) will be looking to carry the offense in Barrie this season and he should see his numbers rise considerably.

2014-15 Projection: 68-35-40-75

7. Brendan Lemieux, LW (Barrie Colts; Buffalo Sabres, 2014 – 31^st overall)

After graduating the talents of Andreas Athanasiou, Zach Hall and defenseman Aaron Ekblad, it’s safe to say that the times are changing in Barrie and opportunity knocks for Brendan Lemieux, who finished tied for third in team scoring with Ekblad (65-27-26-53). Competing in a competitive Eastern Conference will require the third year forward to ramp up his offensive output and lead the charge for the Colts. His aggressive in-your-face game will need to be balanced perfectly in order to stay out of the box and on the ice scoring goals. That might mean that Lemieux will need to pull back his desire to play like his super-pest father Claude Lemieux at times. Expect Lemieux to draw top powerplay duties where he has the opportunity to thrive as a net-front presence and a combatant in the cycle game.

2014-15 Projection: 65-35-40-75

6. Justin Bailey, RW (Kitchener Rangers; Buffalo Sabres, 2013 – 52^nd overall)

Coming off an outstanding Sabres training camp, Rangers winger Justin Bailey is starting to fill out his enviable 6-foot-3 frame and his scoring game appears to have reached the next level as well. In two years of injury riddled seasons, Bailey has yet to find the consistency and momentum needed to crack the point-per-game mark but assuming he can avoid landing on the sidelines, expect this sharp shooter to approach 40 goals and clear 75 points. With the Kitchener Rangers icing a young squad, Bailey will be expected to assume a leadership role and could become a viable trade target for OHL contenders looking to add some scoring punch for a playoff run.

2014-15 Projection: 62-42-33-75

5. Ryan Kujawinski, LC (Kingston Frontenacs; New Jersey Devils – 2013, 73^rd overall)

Hampered by hand and knee injuries in 2013-14, Ryan Kujawinski is looking to rebound onto the scene in a similar fashion as he did in his rookie season following a trade to Kingston from Sarnia. Due to the limited games he played, many forget that Kujawinski posted nearly a point-per-game last season scoring 23 times and gathering 41 points in 45 games. Armed with a good shooting arsenal and savvy playmaking skills, look for Kujawinski to approach 80 points in his fourth OHL campaign.

Projection: 64-34-43-77

4. Jason Dickinson, LW (Guelph Storm; Dallas Stars, 2013 - 29^th overall)

Some might contend that Guelph’s Jason Dickinson actually broke out last year with his 26-goal, 78-point outburst and to some extent, he did. However, as Jason Dickinson enters the 2014-15 season without the likes of Scott Kosmachuk, Brock McGinn and Zack Mitchell ahead of him on the depth chart, I fully expect Dickinson to solidify himself as a standout individual talent. The big skilled winger has been somewhat underrated playing alongside a star-studded cast but his soft hands and offensive creativity will surely take him to another level as the Dallas 1^st rounder chases a 100-point OHL campaign.

2014-15 Projection: 68-35-57-92

3. Vince Dunn, LD (Niagara IceDogs; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Peterborough native, Vince Dunn, had a remarkable rookie campaign posting 33 points to finishing as the top scoring first year defenseman. Heading into his draft season, Vince Dunn is set up to explode in his encore performance as he looks to lead his IceDogs in defensive scoring, alongside fellow draft eligible blueliner Luke Mercer. Expectations are high in Niagara as the ‘Dogs look to become a contender in the East and much of that success will depend on how much offense can be generated from the backend. Dunn is an exceptional skater with an ability to jump into the rush and create offensive scoring chances as well as any forward. His rare offensive skillset isn’t compromised by a poor defensive game either as he shows to be more than capable in his own zone. Vince Dunn is my pick to have a huge breakout season and be one of Anthony DeAngelo’s lead challengers for the OHL’s defensive scoring title.

2014-15 Projection: 67-13-43-56

2. Mitch Marner, LC (London Knights; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Playing in the shadows of a slew of NHL-draftees, Mitch Marner put in his time and excelled on a London Knights squad loaded with veterans. With Marner slated to receive more offensive minutes and increased responsibility it is expected that this dynamic pivot take over as the face of the rebuilding Knights. Several potential key returnees await their fate at NHL camps but even if Bo Horvat, Max Domi or Ryan Rupert return to London, Marner proved last year that he’s ready for top-line action and he won’t be held back. Entering his NHL draft season, Marner will be hungry to prove that he belongs as a Top 10 skater and should explode onto the OHL scene in a big way after leading Team Canada in scoring at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

2014-15 Projection: 66-26-65-91

1. Dylan Strome, LC (Erie Otters; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

Sophomore players aren’t normally expected to take on a huge offensive workload but Otters’ forward Dylan Strome isn’t your “normal” sophomore. Drafted 2^nd overall in the strong 2013 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Strome will be looking to solidify a Top 10 slot and unseat other top ranked OHL eligibles in Travis Konecny and Lawson Crouse. Riding shut-gun alongside expected 1^st overall pick Connor McDavid certainly won’t hurt Strome’s offensive production but he will be attempting to show scouts that his own individual talent isn’t reliant on his superstar linemate. Primed with elite playmaking sense, Strome should experience a substantial improvement on his 10 goals and 39 points from his rookie season.

2014-15 Projection: 65-27-55-82

Honourable Mentions:

CJ Garcia, D (Barrie Colts)

A hole has been left on the Colts blueline by 2014 top NHL pick, Aaron Ekblad, and CJ Garcia may have the pedigree to help fill that void. He's a smooth skating two-way defenseman capable of spearheading the rush with a great first pass and he has shown that he can be a trusted defender.

Nick Betz, RW (Erie Otters)

The Mount Clemens native has improved slightly on his production in each of his first two seasons but coming into year three, Nick Betz could be playing alongside superstar Connor McDavid and that will expedite his offensive production.

Adam Craievich, RW (Guelph Storm; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

As a member of the OHL Champion Storm squad, Adam Craievich didn’t see a whole lot of action but he will certainly be provided with more chances to improve upon his six goals and 10 points.

Francesco Vilardi, LC (Plymouth Whalers)

Another prospect who will re-enter the draft, Franky Vilardi could find himself playing alongside incoming winger Sonny Milano and if that’s the case, his totals will rise significantly as the two build chemistry.

Blake Siebenaler, RD (Niagara IceDogs; Columbus Blue Jackets, 2014 – 77^th overall)

Siebenaler was a standout at his position last year considering the first year defender transitioned into a new league but he’s capable of more points and that should come as early as this season.

Matt Mistele, LW (Plymouth Whalers; Los Angeles Kings, 2014 – 180^th overall)

After a disappointing sophomore campaign that witnessed Mistele regress from his 34 goals and 60 points as a rookie to 18 goals and 37 points last season, he will be looking to rebound to his freshman self and he’s shown an extra jump in preseason action.

Jordan Subban, RD (Belleville Bulls; Vancouver Canucks, 2013 – 115^th overall)

There’s nothing wrong with Subban’s 42-point campaign last season but the smooth puck rushing defenseman has another level and he will be looking to launch himself into the defensive scoring charts in his fourth season with Belleville.

Zach Bratina, LW (North Bay Battalion)

Arriving midseason in the Blake Clarke trade, Zach Bratina maintained his 0.50 points-per-game pace with the Battalion. After an invite to the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect camp, it’s time for Bratina to use the positive momentum and emerge as a consistent scoring threat in North Bay.

Thomas Schemitsch, RD (Owen Sound Attack; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

The Owen Sound Attack don’t have a ton of high-end scoring punch but second year 6-foot-3 defenseman Thomas Schemitsch will become a well-known name in the league and rise up the draft boards with his evolving offensive potential.

Kyle Capobianco, LD (Sudbury Wolves; eligible for 2015 NHL Draft)

The Wolves 7^th overall pick in 2013 wasn’t able to find the back of the net in his first year of action but he did add 11 assists and, most recently, was a standout in preseason action tallying one goal and six points in preseason action. Yup, he looks ready to breakout.

Trevor Murphy, LD (Windsor Spitfires)

Far from a polished defender, the slick skating offensive defenseman will look to improve on his eight goals and 29 points as the Spitfires main PP quarterback after the graduation of Lightning prospect Slater Koekkoek.

The 2014-15 OHL season commences on Wednesday, September 24th. Be sure to follow the McKeen’s Hockey Youngblood series as Brendan Ross (@RossyYoungblood) continues to break down the happenings inside the hockey prospect world.