Josh Mahura – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (April 8th – April 14th) – Eastern playoff race tightens with Penguins back in the hunt – Favourable matchups and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 21:27:00 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 02: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after scoring a goal during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils on April 2, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

The battle for the second seed in the Eastern Conference wild-card race, along with the third seed in the Metropolitan Division could go down to the wire.

The third spot in the Metro is held by Philadelphia (36-29-11, 83 points), which has seemed destined to make the playoffs for a while. However, the Flyers have fallen on tough times, going 2-5-3 over their last 10 games, which has put them in a vulnerable position. To make matters worse, the Flyers have a 17-13-7 away record, and their next four contests are on the road. That might make it tough for Philadelphia to maintain its playoff hold.

Meanwhile, the Islanders (34-27-15, 83 points) occupy the second wild-card spot. It’s been a weird journey for New York, which seemed to end its playoff push with a six-game losing streak from March 11-21, only to rebound with a 5-2-0 run since. The Islanders do have a somewhat tough schedule for the remainder of the season, including two remaining games against the Rangers, but they’re at least in charge of their destiny.

Washington (36-29-10, 82 points) and Detroit (37-30-8, 82 points) have lost ground to the Islanders, but are still very much in the hunt. The Red Wings have won just four of their last 16 games, but Detroit got a badly needed two points on the road against Tampa Bay on Monday, so that’s something the Red Wings can potentially build off. Kane is doing his best to guide Detroit forward with five goals and 11 points across his past 10 games. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the veteran continue to come up clutch down the final stretch.

Speaking of aging stars trying to push their team into the playoffs, Sidney Crosby has supplied an unreal seven goals and 20 points over his past 12 contests. Pittsburgh (35-10-11, 81 points) was written out of the playoff race a while ago, but after a 5-0-2 stretch, the Penguins are back in the conversation. Importantly, the Penguins have two potential paths between the third Metropolitan Division seed and the second wild-card spot.

Pittsburgh still has an uphill battle, in part due to its difficult schedule. Its remaining games are against Tampa Bay, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Nashville and the Islanders -- all teams either in a playoff spot or in the postseason hunt. Still, what a story it would be if Crosby led the Penguins into the playoffs even after they dealt Jake Guentzel to Carolina at the deadline.

Arizona Coyotes – TUE @ SEA, WED @ VAN (BTB), FRI @ EDM, SUN @ CGY

The Coyotes will be on the road this week, playing in Seattle on Tuesday, Vancouver on Wednesday, Edmonton on Friday and Calgary on Sunday. It’s a difficult schedule, but there aren’t a lot of teams featuring in four contests this week, so Arizona is still worthy of highlighting.

Although Arizona will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, some of the Coyotes’ younger players are giving the fans reason to be optimistic about the future. Josh Doan, son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, made his NHL debut March 26 and has already accumulated two goals and five points across four contests. The 22-year-old Doan also looked good in AHL Tucson this year, providing 26 goals and 46 points in 62 outings. He’ll be a rookie worth watching next season, though, despite his hot start, I wouldn’t peg him as one of the early favorites to compete for the Calder Trophy.

If he ends up having a rookie campaign like Logan Cooley has, I think the Coyotes would be pleased with that. Cooley hasn’t made headlines in his first season, but the 19-year-old has had his moments, providing 17 goals and 39 points through 75 outings. The highlight so far has been his hat trick against Nashville, which he recorded on March 28. He also has six goals and nine points over his past nine appearances.

Matias Maccelli is also part of the Coyotes’ long-term plans. The 23-year-old has 14 goals and 51 points in 75 outings in 2023-24. Not a bad output for a player who will come with a $3,425,000 annual cap hit through 2025-26, especially given that he still has room to grow. Maccelli has looked especially good recently, supplying three goals and five points over his past four outings.

Calgary Flames – TUE @SJS, THU @ LAK, FRI @ ANA (BTB), SUN VS ARI

The Flames will start the week with a game in San Jose on Thursday before visiting Los Angeles on Thursday and Anaheim on Friday. They’ll conclude the week with a home contest versus the Coyotes. Among those adversaries, the Kings are the only ones in a playoff position.

It’s still too early to pass final judgment on the trade that sent Elias Lindholm from Calgary to Vancouver, but so far it’s looking like a potential steal for the Flames. Not only did the Flames get pieces that might help them in the future, including a 2024 first-round pick, but while Lindholm, who presently has a wrist injury, has underwhelmed with Vancouver when healthy, Andrei Kuzmenko has settled in nicely with the Flames.

Kuzmenko’s provided four goals and seven points in his past four outings. He still has just 17 goals and 36 points in 65 outings between Vancouver and Calgary in 2023-24, which is a steep departure from his 74-point showing last season, but clearly, he still has offensive abilities. He’ll make for an interesting late-round gamble in fantasy drafts next season given his high-risk, high-reward status.

Kuzmenko’s not the only Flames player who is red hot. There’s also defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, who has an incredible three goals and eight points in his past five appearances. That brings him up to 19 goals and 48 points along with 47 PIM, 179 hits and 189 blocks in 75 appearances in 2023-24. Calgary traded away defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev before the deadline, but Weegar will remain with the Flames as their headline blueliner after inking an eight-year, $50 million contract back in October of 2022. That deal runs through 2030-31.

Calgary also made a long-term commitment to Nazem Kadri, who is signed through 2028-29 at a $7 million annual cap hit. That contract is questionable, especially because Kadri is already 33 years old, but to his credit, he’s been productive this campaign with 24 goals and 65 points in 75 outings. Based on his recent play -- Kadri has a goal and six points over his last five games -- it wouldn’t be surprising to see him reach the 70-point mark for the second time in his career.

Florida Panthers – TUE VS OTT, THU VS CBJ, SAT VS BUF

The Panthers have just three games scheduled next week, but they’re all home contests and none of their adversaries will be making the playoffs. Florida will host the Senators on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets on Thursday and the Sabres on Saturday.

Florida has an eye toward the playoffs, but in the meantime, the squad will move forward without Aaron Ekblad (undisclosed) and Carter Verhaeghe (upper body), who both might be done for what’s left of the regular season.

Ekblad’s injury resulted in Josh Mahura drawing back into the lineup Thursday. Mahura registered an assist in 15:28 of ice time in that contest, bringing him up to nine assists in 27 outings this season. Mahura will probably play regularly for the remainder of the season. He doesn’t do enough offensively to make him worth using in standard fantasy leagues, but he does have some utility in formats that value PIM, hits and blocks -- the 25-year-old has 18, 36 and 24, respectively, in those categories.

Carter Verhaeghe’s absence has opened the door for Nick Cousins to play alongside Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. Although Cousins isn’t a major offensive contributor -- he has just six goals and 12 points across 64 contests this season -- those are pretty much ideal linemates. Cousins contributed a goal and an assist versus Ottawa on Thursday with Tkachuk and Bennett providing the assists on his marker.

The loss of offense caused by Verhaeghe’s injury might also be partially mitigated by Aleksander Barkov’s amazing play of late. The 28-year-old Barkov dealt with his own health issues recently, missing three straight contests from March 21-24, but he’s supplied four goals and nine points in six outings since returning from that undisclosed injury.

Los Angeles Kings – TUE @ ANA THU VS CGY SAT VS ANA

Like the Panthers, LA has just three games scheduled next week, but the competition is favorable. The Kings will play in Anaheim on Tuesday before hosting the Flames on Thursday and the Ducks on Saturday.

Danault has missed the Kings’ past four games, but the injury doesn’t sound major. Coach Jim Hiller described Danault’s chances of returning last Monday as “50/50,” per Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. He didn’t end up playing in that contest, but perhaps he’ll be available at some point next week. The only X-Factor is that LA has pretty much secured its playoff berth at this point, and while the Kings are still battling for playoff positioning, it might still make more sense to allow Danault to rest and be as close to 100 percent as possible during the playoffs rather than risk rushing him back.

In the meantime, Blake Lizotte is playing a bigger role than normal. He’s averaged 16:31 of ice time during Danault’s absence, compared to just 11:35 overall in 2023-24. Look for Lizotte to shift back to his typical supporting role once Danault does return. The injury has also created an opening for Akil Thomas to get his first taste of NHL action. The 24-year-old has averaged just 6:18 over his first two contests, but he still has managed to record a goal and four points in that span. Thomas has been solid this campaign with AHL Ontario, providing 22 goals and 43 points in 61 outings, and it would be interesting to see what he could do at the NHL level if given a bigger role. If nothing else, Thomas will be someone to keep an eye on during training camp.

The two upcoming games against the Ducks, who rank 30th offensively with 2.45 goals per game, should be a great opportunity to start goaltender Cam Talbot or David Rittich, depending on who is deployed. Talbot, who has a 24-18-6 record, 2.47 GAA and .915 save percentage across 49 contests, seems set to serve as the Kings’ starter in the playoffs. However, Rittich has done well this campaign with a 12-6-3 record, 2.21 GAA and .919 save percentage in 23 games, and both goaltenders are likely to be utilized in the final days of the season as LA looks to keep both of them fresh.

Seattle Kraken – TUE VS ARI, THU VS SJS, SAT @ DAL, SUN @ STL

Seattle will begin the week at home with contests against the Coyotes on Tuesday and the Sharks on Thursday. The Kraken will then visit Dallas on Saturday and St. Louis on Sunday. Dallas is the only team on that list in a playoff position.

The Kraken will miss the postseason, but if there’s a silver lining, it’s that Joey Daccord has proven to be a strong goaltender for them. He’s posted an 18-16-11 record, 2.42 GAA and .918 save percentage in 47 outings in 2023-24. Daccord will remain with the Kraken next year with an affordable $1.2 million cap hit, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he proves to be the clear starter in 2024-25 ahead of Philipp Grubauer, who is in danger of finishing with a save percentage below .900 for the third straight campaign -- he's 12-14-2 with a 2.97 GAA and an .895 save percentage in 32 appearances.

Rather than goaltending, offense has been Seattle’s failing this year. The Kraken rank 29th with 2.61 goals per game. Jared McCann has arguably been part of the problem. Sure, he does lead the team with 28 goals and 60 points in 74 outings, but that still marks a significant decline from his 40-goal showing in 2022-23. For what it’s worth, though, he’s finishing the campaign strong, providing a goal and six points in his last five appearances.

Matty Beniers has seen a much steeper decline. He had 24 goals and 57 points in 80 outings as a rookie but has gone through a sophomore slump, contributing 13 goals and 33 points across 70 appearances. Beniers is partially salvaging the campaign late, collecting three goals and five points across his past five outings.

Tampa Bay Lightning – TUE VS CBJ, THU VS OTT, SAT @ WAS

The Lightning will open the week by hosting the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and the Senators on Thursday. Those are two favorable matchups against teams near the bottom of the league’s standings. Tampa Bay’s road contest against Washington on Saturday might be difficult, though, especially as the Capitals fight to earn a wild-card spot.

Of course, when it comes to the Lightning, the biggest question is if Nikita Kucherov will win the Art Ross Trophy and thus bolster his bid for the Hart. Kucherov has 43 goals and 133 points in 75 outings, giving him a three-point edge over Nathan MacKinnon (48 goals, 82 assists) and a six-point lead over Connor McDavid (29 goals, 97 assists). Kucherov has built that advantage by accumulating an incredible nine points (one goal) over his past four appearances. He’ll likely need a strong finish to maintain his edge over MacKinnon and McDavid, but that’s certainly within his power.

That spectacle might mask a growing injury problem for Tampa Bay. The squad was already missing defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (leg) along with forwards Tanner Jeannot (upper body) and Logan Brown (undisclosed) going into Thursday’s contest against Montreal, and Brandon Hagel (undisclosed) as well as Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) were hurt during the Lightning’s 7-4 victory. It’s not clear yet how long Hagel or Cirelli will be out for, but we might see Conor Sheary draw back into the lineup.

Although Sheary has just three goals and 13 points in 52 games this season, those numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt because he’s averaged just 10:54 of ice time. With mounting injuries, Sheary might be utilized in a top-nine role, which should lead to a meaningful uptick in offensive production. Although Sheary has never been able to replicate his 53-point showing with Pittsburgh in 2016-17, he can at least be a decent middle-six forward when given the chance.

The Lightning might also lean on Nick Paul more going down the stretch. The 29-year-old has provided three goals over his past two games, elevating him to 22 markers and 42 points in 76 outings in 2023-24.

Toronto Maple Leafs – MON VS PIT, TUE @ NJD (BTB), THU VS NJD, SAT VS DET

Toronto has a packed schedule next week, starting with a home contest against Pittsburgh on Monday. The Maple Leafs will then play in New Jersey on Tuesday before hosting the Devils on Thursday and will conclude the week with a home tilt versus the Red Wings.

As is the case with Tampa Bay, a single player’s pursuit of the Hart Trophy, not to mention tremendous milestones, is the center of attention in Toronto. Auston Matthews has managed eight goals and 15 points over his past eight outings, bringing him up to 63 markers and 99 points in 74 contests this season. His 63 goals are tied for 27th on the all-time single-season list, and Matthews has an outside chance of becoming just the 10th player in NHL history and the first since 1992-93 to reach the 70-goal milestone. As it is, Matthews is the first player of the salary cap era to score at least 60 goals on two occasions.

Matthews’ recent success is all the more impressive because he hasn’t had Mitchell Marner (ankle) to work off. Marner hasn’t been in the lineup since March 7, but he might make his return this Saturday versus Montreal. Interestingly, rather than plug Marner back into his typical role alongside Matthews, he’s instead projected to serve alongside Bobby McMann and John Tavares in his return. Matthews would then play alongside Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi while William Nylander would work with Matthew Knies and Pontus Holmberg. There’s some logic in spreading out their talent like that, especially ahead of the playoffs. Teams that can roll out three effective scoring lines tend to go far, but at the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Marner end up back with Matthews before long.

Outside of Matthews, the Leafs’ hottest forward recently has arguably been Knies. While the rookie has left something to be desired with his 13 goals and 33 points in 73 contests this season, he has supplied a goal and five points over his last five outings. Bertuzzi has also been a standout performer lately, scoring four goals over his past five appearances.

Vegas Golden Knights – MON @ VAN, WED @ EDM, FRI VS MIN, SUN VS COL

The Golden Knights will open the week on the road with contests in Vancouver on Monday and Edmonton on Wednesday. The Golden Knights will then return home to host the Wild on Friday and the Avalanche on Sunday. It’s not an easy schedule, but Vegas is getting highlighted anyway because there weren’t that many teams with four games on the docket.

Tomas Hertl (knee) hasn’t made his Golden Knights debut yet, but he seems to be drawing close to it, so perhaps Vegas will get its first game with the 30-year-old this coming week. He had 15 goals and 34 points in 48 games with the lowly Sharks before being dealt to Vegas on March 8. Hertl’s likely to see his playing time go down somewhat with Vegas -- he averaged 20:54 of ice time in San Jose -- but he’ll be working with much better players, so his production might still rise. Keep an eye on how Vegas utilizes him during the final games of the season because he has the potential to do very well in playoff leagues.

While Vegas hasn’t reaped the rewards of acquiring Hertl yet, Anthony Mantha is already having an impact. Acquired from Washington on March 5, Mantha got off to a slow start with just a goal over his first seven Vegas contests, but he’s hit his stride while providing seven points (one marker) over his past six appearances. The 29-year-old is serving in a middle-six capacity and has seen time recently alongside William Karlsson.

Sticking with Karlsson, who has 26 goals and 53 points in 63 games, would be advantageous for Mantha. The 31-year-old Karlsson has also been red hot recently, collecting two tallies and seven points over his last five outings.

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (February 26th to March 3rd) – Matthews at the center of Maple Leafs run – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 15:00:03 +0000

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) chases the play during the regular season NHL game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on April 26, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

The Maple Leafs haven’t just won their last six games, they’ve outscored their competition an incredible 33-14 over that span. At the center of that run has been Auston Matthews, who’s provided 10 goals and 13 points over his past five contests. That gives him 52 goals and 76 points through 55 outings in 2023-24.

There was a time when Sam Reinhart was challenging Matthews for the goal-scoring lead, but Matthews’ edge in that battle has jumped to 13 goals. Not only did Matthews reach the 50-goal milestone before any other player hit 40, but there are still just 10 other skaters with at least 30 tallies this year.

Even after factoring in the Toronto game Matthews was unavailable for, the star forward is on pace for 76 markers. If he could actually do that, it would leave him in a four-way tie for fifth in the all-time single-season goal-scoring list. Along the way, he would also become the first player to reach the 70-goal mark since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93.

Of course, his pace has been skewed by his recent hot streak, but part of what makes Matthews impressive is how consistent he is. Dating back to Dec. 2, Matthews hasn’t had a goal drought last longer than two games (Dec. 30-Jan. 2, Jan. 13-14), and he’s provided at least one marker in 12 of his last 15 appearances.

It'll be exciting to see what he can do over the final weeks of the campaign and his pursuit of the 70-goal milestone adds an interesting wrinkle to a Hart Trophy conversation that’s been largely dominated by Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon, who are leading the Art Trophy race with 95 points (36 goals) and 93 points (34), respectively.

Arizona Coyotes - TUE @ MTL, THU @ TOR, FRI @ OTT (BTB), SUN @ WSH

The Coyotes are on the road next week and are set to play in Montreal on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday, Ottawa on Friday and Washington on Sunday. Although an extended road trip is far from ideal, three of those four adversaries are well outside a playoff spot.

Arizona has lost 11 straight games, so it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that there aren’t many Coyotes players who have looked great recently. That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on Dylan Guenther. With the team focused on the future, the 20-year-old is serving on the first line and top power-play unit, leading to him averaging 18:17 of ice time, including 4:39 with the man advantage, over his past four contests. He hasn’t been good, but not great so far, providing six goals and 11 points across 19 outings this season, but given his high-end offensive upside, and the choice minutes he’s been receiving, Guenther has the potential to finish the campaign on a high note.

At the other end of the spectrum, veteran forward Jason Zucker has seen his role fade, to the point where he’s logged just 10:47 per game over his last three appearances, compared to his season average of 14:06. Although the Coyotes are likely to shop him ahead of the deadline, his $5.3 million cap hit might scare off contenders, and even if he does get moved, his new team likely wouldn’t use him as more than a third liner. Zucker has had periods this campaign where he’s performed well enough to be worth utilizing in fantasy, but only managers in particularly deep leagues should be using him at this time.

On the goaltending front, Connor Ingram has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, but based on his original 7-10 day timetable from Feb. 14, he should be about ready to return. The 26-year-old goaltender has been one of the bright spots for Arizona this campaign with a 17-13-2 record, 2.76 GAA and .912 save percentage across 35 outings. He’d be worth starting in fantasy on any night next week except for Thursday versus Toronto.

Dallas Stars - MON VS NYI, TUE @ COL (BTB), THU VS WPG, SAT VS SJS

The Stars will play in Colorado on Tuesday, but outside of that, they’ll be at home, hosting matches against the Islanders on Monday, the Jets on Thursday and the Sharks on Saturday. It’s one of the tougher schedules I’m highlighting, but Stars players will at least get plenty of opportunities to make an impact next week with four games ahead of them.

This hasn’t been a great campaign for Jake Oettinger, who has a 20-10-4 record, 2.98 GAA and .902 save percentage through 35 contests and he’s been particularly rough recently, allowing 10 goals on 65 shots (.846 save percentage) over his past three games. Scott Wedgewood, who has a 13-6-4 record, 2.97 GAA and .899 save percentage in 13 outings, isn’t an ideal alternative, but perhaps the backup goaltender will get some additional work next week so Oettinger can rest and regroup. If nothing else, Wedgewood should start either Monday or Tuesday. If he gets the Avalanche assignment, then it would be best to avoid him, but the Islanders are in a three-way tie for 21st offensively with 2.93 goals per game, so that would be a favorable adversary for the backup goaltender.

Goaltending hasn’t been Dallas’ only problem. The Stars have also been held to just two goals over their last two contests. Joe Pavelski has done alright in that span, providing a goal and an assist. He went through a slump from Jan. 23-Feb. 19 in which he was limited to four assists across 10 games, but the veteran forward seems to be heating up again. Even at the age of 39, he’s one of Dallas’ top performers with 20 goals and 48 points in 58 appearances.

Jamie Benn has also managed to stand out during the Stars’ recent struggles, supplying an assist in each of his last three games. He has just nine goals and 33 points through 58 outings this season, which is a major step down from his 78-point 2022-23 campaign. However, he’s been playing alongside Pavelski at even strength and serves on the top power-play unit, so Benn is in a position to be productive down the stretch.

Edmonton Oilers - MON VS LAK, WED VS STL, SAT @ SEA, SUN @ PIT (BTB)

Edmonton will host the Kings and the Blues on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. After that, the Oilers will travel to Seattle on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Sunday. LA and St. Louis are having decent, but not amazing campaigns while Seattle and Pittsburgh are behind in the battle for a wild-card spot.

The good times for Stuart Skinner appear to be behind him. He’s posted a 2-2-1 record, 4.20 GAA and .863 save percentage over his past five games, making this his worst stretch since his early season struggles. While Skinner still might shake this off and get hot again, this might create an opening for Jack Campbell, who has been paying his dues with AHL Bakersfield, to get a fresh opportunity. The veteran netminder has a .919 save percentage over his last 12 AHL appearances, so he’s settled down and would be worth keeping a close eye on if Edmonton calls him up.

While goaltending is something of a question mark for the Oilers, their offense is as strong as ever. Connor McDavid has been leading the charge as usual, providing an unreal 14 assists over his last five games alone. Meanwhile, Corey Perry seems to be fitting in with the Oilers, supplying three goals and four points over his past four contests. He hasn’t seen much power-play ice time, but he has shared the ice with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at even strength.

Perry should be a good pickup for as long as he’s seeing time on either of the top two lines, but you’ll want to continue to monitor that situation. Edmonton might still add another skilled forward before the March 8 deadline, and if they do, then Perry might shift to serving primarily on the third unit, which would significantly hurt his fantasy value.

Florida Panthers - TUE VS BUF, THU VS MTL, SAT @ DET

The Panthers are one of the rare teams I’m covering with just three scheduled games, but they’re well-positioned to win all three contests. They’ll host the Sabres and the Canadiens on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before heading to Detroit for a match on Saturday. Of those adversaries, the Red Wings are the only ones still with playoff aspirations.

Florida has won 10 of its last 12 games, but the Panthers were dealt a potentially massive blow Thursday when Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk were forced to exit the match due to undisclosed injuries. At the time of writing, it’s not clear how significant those injuries are, but those are two key players for the Panthers.

If Tkachuk, who has 20 goals and 65 points through 57 games, is forced to miss time then William Lockwood will likely draw into the lineup for the first time since Jan. 19 and play regularly. The 25-year-old would serve primarily on the fourth line, so he wouldn’t at all be directly replacing Tkachuk, but Lockwood is a good source of hits when he is in the lineup, so he’s worthy of note in very specific fantasy circumstances.

We might also see Evan Rodrigues shift into a top-six role and move up to the first power-play unit if Tkachuk is unavailable. That would be a meaningful boost for Rodrigues, who has eight goals and 33 points through 57 appearances in 2023-24.

Forsling has eight goals and 27 points in 56 contests this season, but he’s only used sparingly with the man advantage, so his absence wouldn’t meaningfully impact the Panthers in that regard. In terms of even-strength minutes, though, we might see Oliver Ekman-Larsson asked to do significantly more. Josh Mahura would also likely start playing regularly after spending Florida’s past two contests as a healthy scratch.

Minnesota Wild - TUE VS CAR, THU @ NSH, SAT @ STL, SUN VS SJS (BTB)

Minnesota will host the Hurricanes on Tuesday, and then the Wild will have a two-game road trip with games in Nashville on Thursday and St. Louis on Saturday. They’ll conclude the week with a home contest versus the Sharks. Carolina is a tough opponent, but the Predators and the Blues are middle-of-the-road squads while San Jose is near the bottom of the pack.

With a 26-24-6 record, the Wild are running out of time to prove to management that they shouldn’t be sellers at the deadline. If they’re able to convince the front office of that, it will be thanks in large part to the efforts of their top line.

Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy are three of the hottest forwards in the league. Kaprizov is on a six-game scoring streak in which he’s provided five goals and 14 points. Over the same span, Eriksson Ek has supplied seven goals and 13 points while Boldy has contributed four goals and 11 points. Minnesota has gone from 17-20-5 on Jan. 13 to 26-24-6 at the time of writing, which is a significant climb, but the Wild are still on the outside looking in on the wild-card race. The Wild have little margin for error, which might serve to further motivate that star trio.

If Minnesota does start selling, though, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will likely be among those moved. The 39-year-old is having a rough campaign with an 11-10-3 record, 2.96 GAA and .897 save percentage across 27 contests, but contenders will appreciate the added goaltending depth he can provide coupled with the wealth of playoff experience he brings to the table. It’s worth monitoring the situation because, with a strong team playing in front of him, Fleury might have some use down the stretch, although his playing time will likely be limited.

Should the Wild deal Fleury and write off this campaign, it will be interesting to see if they give Jesper Wallstedt another shot. He had a disastrous introduction to the NHL, allowing seven goals on 34 shots to Dallas on Jan. 10, but that’s obviously a small sample size and the 21-year-old is a highly regarded goaltending prospect, so it might be worth it to give him some starts down the stretch to provide him with more NHL experience. Alternatively, if the Wild believe his development is better served remaining with AHL Iowa, then veteran journeyman Zane McIntyre might finish the campaign with Minnesota. In that scenario, Filip Gustavsson would likely be leaned on massively down the stretch, as would McIntyre in Iowa.

New Jersey Devils - TUE @ SJS, FRI @ ARI, SUN @ LAK

The Devils will spend the week on the road, playing against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Coyotes on Friday and the Kings on Sunday. Although they’re playing in just three games, Anaheim and San Jose rank 30th and 31st, respectively, in the standings, which makes Devils players especially appealing next week.

Nico Daws has allowed 11 goals over his past two games, bringing him down to 6-8-0 with a 3.32 GAA and .895 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. Vitek Vanecek (lower body) might return soon, but he has a 17-9-3 record, 3.18 GAA and .890 save percentage in 32 contests, so he’s hardly an ideal alternative.

New Jersey will likely make a strong push to get a goaltender before the deadline. Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom seems like one possibility, provided he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade. If they get him or another netminder, then Daws will likely be sent to the minors while Vanecek, who is in the second season of his three-year, $10.2 million contract, would be relegated to the backup role.

At least the Devils have a strong forward corps. Tyler Toffoli isn’t the headliner of it, but he’s certainly a noteworthy component. The 31-year-old is on a four-game scoring streak (two goals, four points), which brings him up to 24 goals and 39 points in 55 contests this season. Jack Hughes is also dialled in with three goals and six points over his past six appearances.

Ottawa Senators - MON @ WSH, TUE @ NSH (BTB), FRI VS ARI, SAT @ PHI (BTB)

Ottawa will open the week with road contests versus the Capitals on Monday and the Predators on Tuesday. The Senators will then host the Coyotes on Friday before playing in Philadelphia on Saturday. None of those opponents is high-end, though Nashville still has playoff aspirations while Philadelphia is currently in a reasonably secure position in the battle for a postseason berth.

The Senators won’t make the playoffs, but that won’t be for lack of trying on the part of Claude Giroux. The 36-year-old forward is on a seven-game scoring streak in which he’s collected three goals and nine points. That gives him 18 goals and 51 points through 54 outings in 2023-24. Giroux’s three-year, $19.5 million contract runs through 2024-25, and he has a no-movement clause, so he’s unlikely to be traded before the deadline, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s any temptation there for him to reevaluate his plans. He’s never won a Cup, and Ottawa might not be able to provide him with a great shot at a serious playoff run before his contract is up.

Still, that’s a decision Giroux is more likely to make next season. Instead, Vladimir Tarasenko, who is playing through a one-year, $5 million deal, is far more likely to be moved in the coming weeks. It is worth noting that he has a full no-trade clause, so Tarasenko will have a lot of sway over where he goes. The 32-year-old winger has 15 goals and 37 points over 52 contests this season and would be a great middle-six forward for most contenders.

As Ottawa sells and looks toward the future, Ridly Greig might also start playing an expanded role. The 21-year-old has nine goals and 21 points in 44 outings while averaging 14:27 of ice time, including a modest 0:43 with the man advantage. In particular, that power-play time might expand down the stretch, which could aid Greig in finishing the campaign on a positive note.

Washington Capitals - MON VS OTT, TUE @ DET (BTB), FRI VS PHI, SUN VS ARI

The Capitals will spend most of the week at home, hosting Ottawa on Monday, Philadelphia on Friday and Arizona on Sunday. The Capitals will also have a brief excursion to Detroit for a contest Tuesday. The Senators and the Coyotes are set to be sellers at the deadline, making them the more vulnerable of the Capitals’ upcoming adversaries.

Alex Ovechkin was limited to just six goals and 20 points across his first 33 games in 2023-24, but that rough stretch is well behind him. First, he provided an impressive two goals and seven points through six games from Dec. 30-Jan. 11, then the 38-year-old truly caught fire starting on Jan. 24, contributing eight goals and 14 points over his past 10 appearances.

Ovechkin’s resurgence isn’t shocking -- he always seems to find a way to bounce back when people start writing him off -- but Connor McMichael’s recent success is eyebrow-raising. The 23-year-old has supplied four tallies over his last two games and five goals in his past four appearances. That brings him up to 12 goals and 22 points through 53 contests this campaign. It helps that he’s been playing in a somewhat expanded role recently, averaging 16:11 of ice time over his past eight contests compared to 15:07 prior to that point. Keep an eye on him because while McMichael has been somewhat slow to establish himself in the NHL, he does have serious potential.

It's not all good news for Washington, though. T.J. Oshie sustained a lower-body injury Thursday. If he ends up missing time, then Sonny Milano might serve in an expanded role. Milano has five goals and 10 points in 26 contests, including two points over three games since returning from his own injury.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 14:10:09 +0000

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 01: Florida Panthers Right Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) skates down ice during an NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Florida Panthers on November 1, 2022, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire)

Review: A year after the Panthers cruised to a 58-18-6 record with the league’s top offense only to be swept in second round by Tampa Bay, Florida struggled to even make the playoffs in 2022-23. The offense, now led by Matthew Tkachuk instead of Jonathan Huberdeau, was still great, but slightly less dominant, which would have been fine if the goaltending wasn’t such a disaster. Sergei Bobrovsky had a 24-20-3 record, 3.07 GAA and .901 save percentage in 2022-23 and Spencer Knight wasn’t any better, finishing with a 9-8-3 record, 3.18 GAA and .901 save percentage. The Panthers’ five-on-five expected goals against was 173.16, which put them right in the middle of the pack, so the defense was doing Bobrovsky and Knight any favors, but it wasn’t responsible for the goaltending woes either. Still, Florida squeaked into the playoffs and Bobrovsky caught fire at the right time, guiding them into the Stanley Cup Final with a 2.21 GAA and a .935 save percentage through 14 playoffs outings. The Panthers’ magic ultimately ended with the Golden Knights claiming the Cup in a five-game series.

What’s Changed? Florida scooped up two defensemen looking to bounce back after Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mike Reilly were bought out by Vancouver and Boston, respectively. Niko Mikkola also signed with the Panthers to further bolster the blue line. Up front the biggest change will be middle-six forward Evan Rodrigues, who inked a four-year, $12 million contract.

What would success look like? The Panthers’ last two years have had some extreme ups and downs, but the foundation for success is there. The offense is deep and led by a strong playoff performer in Tkachuk. When their defense clicks, it’s solid too, and while Bobrovsky is inconsistent, he’s also a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and served as the backbone of Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The decision to keep this group intact makes a certain amount of sense.

What could go wrong? Goaltending is of course the biggest X-Factor, given the roller coaster that is Bobrovsky. He’s not Florida’s sole concern though. Defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour both underwent shoulder surgery over the summer, so it’s not clear if they’ll be ready for the start of the campaign and even if they are, being denied a proper offseason due to injuries might lead to them underperforming. Ekman-Larsson and Reilly were brought in to help fill the void, but they’re far from safe bets either. The Panthers might once again be a team that scores and concedes a lot of goals in the regular season and given the level of competition in the Atlantic Division, that might not be good enough to make the playoffs this year.

Top Breakout Candidate: With two NHL seasons under his belt, Anton Lundell might be primed for a breakout. He’s got the potential after being selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and is projected to serve in a top-six role, so he’s in a position to succeed. The Lundell had 12 goals and 33 points in 73 contests last season, down from 44 points in 65 outings in 2021-22, but it’s entirely possible that he’ll bounce back and exceed the 50-point milestone.

Forwards

Aleksander Barkov - C

The reputation that precedes Aleksander Barkov as a top defensive forward became quite clear why it was earned during the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. What else was apparent was how good of a two-way player he is as well. Barkov was second on the team in scoring to Matthew Tkachuk (by 31 points) despite playing 11 fewer games. He scored at more than a point-per-game pace and he had the second best 5-on-5 puck possession numbers on the team behind Tkachuk. What’s more impressive is that he spent most of the season playing on a separate line from Tkachuk. Most of his 5-on-5 ice time was played with Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe. Having multiple lines that could own the puck and score goals were both major contributing reasons why the Panthers were able to make the playoffs. Barkov has been a paragon of consistency. In four of the past five seasons, he’s scored at more than a point per game pace, and he’s been above 0.9 points per game in the last six consecutive seasons. For all of those reasons, Barkov remains a steady in Selke Trophy voting and still, somehow, one of the more underrated centers in the NHL. After helping lead the Panthers to the Cup final last year, however, we can probably stop referring to him that way.

Matthew Tkachuk - RW

There wasn’t much question about how well Matthew Tkachuk would play in Florida, the only thing left to be answered was how good he would be and did he ever answer that emphatically. He tied for sixth in the NHL in scoring with Dallas’ Jason Robertson with 109 points and led the Panthers in points and assists and was second to Carter Verhaeghe in goals with 40 (Verhaeghe had 42). He accomplished this in his first season with the Panthers and a year after he put up 104 with Calgary. His back-to-back 40-goal seasons helped him finish third in voting for the Hart Trophy. He also received votes for the Selke Trophy as one of the league’s best defensive forwards and finished 19th in voting. Tkachuk’s style of play provided a new dimension to a Panthers team that wasn’t lacking in talent nor ability after winning the Presidents’ Trophy two years ago. Tkachuk’s physical play and ability to upset opponents in myriad ways gave them an edge in the playoffs in which many Eastern Conference teams don’t necessarily play that way. Given Tkachuk joined a team that did as well as it did last season and was able to be such a difference maker for them come postseason time explained exactly why they acquired him from Calgary. Although he put his body through the wringer in the playoffs and played through a broken sternum, he should be ready to go for the regular season.

Sam Reinhart - RW

Reinhart’s second season with Florida showed even more how valuable of a player he’s become as he’s gotten further into his career. He was fifth on the team in scoring with 67 points including 31 goals. After two straight 30-goal seasons, Reinhart showed well what made him the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft by Buffalo. Reinhart was once again a force on the power play with 16 power play goals for the second straight season and 27 total power play points, fourth most on the team. They didn’t need him to play first line minutes, but he produces at a first line-like level giving Florida the kind of scoring depth that makes them a dangerous all-around team. Reinhart was a strong 5-on-5 possession player and his expected goal numbers were also strong. At 27 years old, Reinhart is headed into the final year of his contract which should make it fascinating to see both how well he plays and what the Panthers will do with him. An extension would make a lot of sense, but they’ll also have to consider what they’ll pay to upcoming UFA Brandon Montour as well. Reinhart could be a trade candidate come deadline time, but if he continues to score the way he has while with the Panthers, a long-term extension might prove to be the wisest move.

Carter Verhaeghe - LW

The evolution Carter Verhaeghe has made to become one of the more dangerous offensive weapons since he joined the Florida Panthers continues to show that sometimes even great franchises can make mistakes. Even since Verhaeghe wasn’t qualified by the Tampa Bay Lightning, his skills and the added earned ice time he’s gotten in Sunrise have allowed him to score 0.81 points per game with the Panthers. Last season, he scored a team-high and career-high 42 goals and was third on the team in points with 73. More vitally, 35 of his goals came at even strength, fourth most in the NHL behind David Pastrnak, Mikko Rantanen, and Connor McDavid. Verhaeghe played most of the season on a line with Matthew Tkachuk and that’s a good way to earn points, but he also saw a lot of time with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett. His ability to fit in well with top talent and then also become the top talent with them showed how vital he’s become to the Panthers and how he can easily fly under the radar of opponents. Last season was his best in the NHL offensively, but he’s consistently played top-six minutes for the Panthers. What made the biggest difference? He started to shoot the puck a lot more. His 275 shots on goal were a career high by more than 100 shots. If it was coach Paul Maurice’s idea to get him to shoot it more, the advice paid off in a big way.

Sam Bennett - C

Since joining Florida, Sam Bennett hasn’t just embraced the role of a grinder, he’s embodied it wholeheartedly. After shaking off the expectations that come with being the No. 3 pick in 2014, Bennett has become a physical force for the Panthers, and it’s helped him unlock more of his offensive game. Bennett had a career high 49 points two seasons ago and followed it up with his second 40-point season. His goal numbers dropped, but he missed 19 games with injury and his shooting percentage was down from the previous year. As it was, he still averaged better than a half-point per game (0.63) and he had a career high 150 hits. Bennett’s value in all facets was obvious from 5-on-5 to power play to shorthanded as well. Bennett anchoring Florida’s second line and providing an added physical element between scoring wingers like Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk makes them the kind of line that can score goals and wear out opponents with the body. It took Bennett almost no time at all to not just fit in with Florida but also embody the spirit the team plays with. He’s relentless on the forecheck and along the boards and corners, he plays with enough skill to keep opponents on their toes, and he can help turn a game on its head with the body or the puck on his stick.

Anton Lundell - C

Since Lundell became a fixture in the Panthers lineup after being a first-round pick in 2020, he’s given them the kind of solid all-around play teams look for in the middle of the forward group. Lundell has been a solid possession player at 5-on-5 as well as an on-the-puck defender. After he debuted in 2021-2022 with 18 goals and 44 points in 65 games, his scoring came down a little with 12 goals and 33 points in 73 games last season. A key factor there was his shooting percentage dropped from 14.4 percent to 7.9. He shot about as much and often as his rookie season, so it will be interesting to see which shooting percentage shakes out as regular in his third season. Given he’s Florida’s third line center, the stress on offense doesn’t need to be so high, but anything more is a big help. Lundell played most of his 5-on-5 minutes with Sam Reinhart on his wing and while they produced strong advanced numbers, Florida scored 19 goals and allowed 28 when they were together. Lundell’s bad luck shooting played a part in that because his defensive numbers were strong otherwise. Lundell has earned a lot of trust from the coaches and he’s a key player in all situations playing on the power play and the penalty kill alike. The way he plays hints that an offensive breakout could come at any moment.

Evan Rodrigues - LW

After making his way around the NHL the past few seasons from Buffalo to Pittsburgh and Colorado, Evan Rodrigues at last landed a multi-year contract with the Panthers this summer. Rodrigues has proven to be a valuable depth player capable of playing up in the lineup as well. He put up 43 points with Pittsburgh two seasons ago and 39 with Colorado last season in 13 fewer games. Those kinds of numbers make him a solid second- or third-line player but it’s possible he could join Aleksander Barkov and former Sabres teammate Sam Reinhart at the top of the lineup. Rodrigues’ skill set leans strongly offensive with good possession stats (only Cale Makar had a better 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage) as well as expected goals. Rodrigues may not be a household name, but he’s shown he can play very well with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Jack Eichel in past years and if he should wind up with Barkov or even Matthew Tkachuk the adjustment period should be relatively short for him. His offensive instincts are strong and any talent he might lack in physical play or foot speed is made up by his intelligence within the game. He’s usually in the right place and that’s what makes him even more valuable to his teammates. The Panthers picking him up relatively inexpensively for a few years will pay off well with victories.

Eetu Luostarinen - LW

After two seasons of being a depth forward in the Panthers lineup, Eetu Luostarinen broke out last year to be one of their secret weapons. Luostarinen posted career highs in goals (17), assists (26), and points (43). His production earned him a boost in ice time as well as power play time to go along with his extensive penalty kill work. Luostarinen evolving into a solid two-way forward has allowed the Panthers to organically deepen their roster. It was unknown what kind of player Luostarinen would turn out to be when Florida acquired him and three other players from Carolina for Vincent Trocheck, but that he’s not only carved his way into the lineup and stuck but also become a player opponents must be wary of speaks volumes to his ability. They’ll need him to continue his upward trajectory to maneuver through the Eastern Conference for a return to the Stanley Cup Final. With 34 of his 43 points coming during 5-on-5 play, it bodes well for him and the team to see continued success.

Nick Cousins - RW

After bouncing around to five other teams during his NHL career, Nick Cousins found a home with the Panthers last season and made the most of it. He posted his best offensive numbers since 2018-2019 with Arizona, matching a career high in points with 27 including nine goals. As solid as he played in a third- and fourth-line role for Florida during the regular season, he was a clutch player in the postseason putting up seven points including scoring the series-clinching goal against Toronto in the second round. Throughout his career he’s had positive numbers regarding puck possession and his performance with Florida, while below his career average (53.2), was still a net positive at more than 51 percent in shots attempted at 5-on-5. Cousins’ aggressive forecheck and willingness to play the body and irritate foes worked well for Florida and he maximized his output while averaging a little more than 11 minutes of ice time per game. Cousins enters the 2023-2024 season in the final year of his contract and if he’s able to continue how he played last season, an extended stay in Sunrise wouldn’t be out of the question. While fourth line players are in abundance, finding ones that work well with the system and the rest of the roster can be a volatile experiment year to year. If Cousins has a repeat performance, Florida will be more than happy to keep him.

Defense

Aaron Ekblad - D

It’s kind of fascinating how Aaron Ekblad was able to fly under the radar for the Panthers last season. He’s perhaps the main name player opponents would zero in on in game planning because they know he’ll play a ton of minutes (averaged 23:24 per game last season) and he has the reputation for being an extremely good player all-around on the blue line. He had 38 points last season including 14 goals, a down year compared to two seasons ago when he had 57 points and 15 goals in 10 fewer games played. He had similar success on the power play with 19 points last season after 20 two years ago and he was paired up almost exclusively with Gustav Forsling at 5-on-5 with more than 910 minutes played together. Ekblad’s possession and expected goal percentages were strong, just not quite as good as a handful of his defensive teammates. That he had the third most points among defensemen says more about how good his teammates were and not so much that he performed poorly. Florida’s top four on defense were outstanding and Ekblad was vital to that end. He’s a leader of this group and because he’s been there the longest that carries a lot of weight. That he’ll miss the early part of the season because of offseason shoulder surgery from injuries sustained in the run to the Cup final will hurt, particularly with Brandon Montour also out.

Brandon Montour - D

Seeing Erik Karlsson put up 100 points as a defenseman was stunning, but that performance overshadowed the legendary work from Brandon Montour during the regular season and playoffs. He had 16 goals and 73 points during the season (tied for fifth with Rasmus Dahlin and Miro Heiskanen) and another eight goals and 13 points in the postseason (tied for second-most among defensemen with Shea Theodore and trailing Evan Bouchard). Montour’s regular season point total nearly doubled his previous career high of 37 set two years ago and his 16 goals set a new personal high mark. Montour’s explosion as an offensive force helped unleash the Panthers offense in full because he provided a consistent threat to score from the blue line. No longer were their blue liners there mostly to maintain possession and occasionally shoot from the point, Montour would drive the net and work all around the attack zone to drive the offense. How he follows up this season will be interesting given that it’s a contract season for him and he’ll miss the early part of the season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. When he’s back in November or December, expect him to pick up right where he left off.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - D

Injuries to Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour created a massive hole in the Panthers defense to start this season and while that will create opportunities for some, it opened the door for Florida to bring Oliver Ekman-Larsson who’s looking to prove he’s still got it. Ekman-Larsson was bought out of his contract by the Vancouver Canucks after another subpar season in which he had two goals and 22 points in 54 games while also posting a minus-24 rating. In each of his two seasons with the Canucks he produced less than a half point per game and maxed out last season with 0.41 points per game. He averaged 0.5 per game throughout his career in Arizona so the downturn he made the moment he turned 30 was alarming to say the least. But he joins the Panthers who are in desperate need of help on a one-year contract. Without Ekblad and Montour, Ekman-Larsson likely slides in on the second pairing where he should get power play time and ample opportunity to show if he’s still got it or not. If he’s unable to find a spark with a talented Florida group, it may prove to be difficult for him to latch on elsewhere in the years to come.

Gustav Forsling - D

The evolution in Gustav Forsling’s game since he arrived in Florida in 2021 off waivers from Carolina has been remarkable. In three seasons with Florida, he’s piled up 95 points (in 196 games) and is coming off a career year in 2022-2023 in which he set personal highs in goals (13) assists (28) and points (41) and this came on the heels of putting up 37 points the previous year. Forsling has become a steady blue liner capable of playing first or second pairing minutes with a responsible defensive game to go with his solid offensive contributions. Forsling has chipped in on the power play but has been more of a fixture on the team’s penalty kill. When you factor in his advanced numbers, he has some of the best on the team in terms of possession and expected goals. All of this coming from a player whom Carolina didn’t have room for, and Chicago traded before that makes Forsling a great example of what it means to take advantage of an opportunity. It will be worth watching to see who Forsling will pair with to start the season as he was almost exclusively Aaron Ekblad’s partner last season. With Ekblad out for the first couple months of the season, he may wind up with any of Josh Mahura, Dmitry Kulikov, Mike Reilly, or a dark horse contender. One thing’s for sure, Florida will need him to be a rock while Ekblad and Montour miss the first part of the regular season.

Goaltending

Sergei Bobrovsky - G

Just when everyone thought Sergei Bobrovsky would be the downfall of the Florida Panthers, he brought them - with a little help from his surprising tandem partner - to the brink of a championship. Long considered a perennial playoff choker, Bobrovsky trotted out his best postseason performance to date during Florida’s darling run to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring, holding steady through a 19-game stretch and helping get his team just three wins from the coveted trophy. That was no small feat, either; Florida ran into a series of Eastern Conference powerhouses en route to their matchup with Las Vegas, all done with Bobrovsky and Alex Lyon as their options while newcomer Spencer Knight was away from the team as a part of the NHL Player Assistance Program.

Bobrovsky, at this point, is entering the years of his contract that were expected to be value lost for the Panthers - which puts both him and the team in a fairly unique position. He underwhelmed during the first half of his contract, trotting out one of his worst seasons in the league his first year with Florida before getting himself back to good – but still never as great as he was in Columbus – form in net. And while the expectation was likely that the team would heavily rely upon him during his ‘strong’ first few years and slowly transition the team over to Spencer Knight’s hands, the former first-round pick put up mediocre numbers during his first NHL appearances and spent the final half of last season away from the team as a part of the league’s assistance program. He’s returned to the team, practicing with their development camp in mid-July, but it remains to be seen just how many starts he’ll get – putting more of the pressure back onto Bobrovsky to spend an extra year at the helm before the transition is able to really get under way. And as always, that comes with an interesting set of hypotheticals. When he was turning away every advance against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, he looked like the goaltender everyone envied on the Blue Jackets a few short years ago. His speed, agility, and game reads were as good as ever, with his ability to utilize a well-above average level of flexibility to reach impossible shots and his ability to remain engaged even after allowing a rebound into traffic both looking like he never saw any game regression. But every year since joining the Panthers, Bobrovksy has been plagued with inconsistency in his form. When he’s off his game, the entire game falls apart - and he’s experienced that for enough stretches over enough seasons (and during the final game against Vegas this June) that it’s impossible to write off the possibility that Florida will get that version of him next year. He remains a frustrating roll of the dice every time he steps out onto the ice, which leaves Florida unable to point to any single part of their goaltending tandem as a sure thing.

Projected starts: 50-55

Spencer Knight - G

Six months away from the game can be tough on any NHLer. For goaltender Spencer Knight, though, it could be especially tough.

The Panthers now have 57 games worth of film footage with Knight in net to evaluate his play, which looked promising but inconsistent over the course of his first two years in the league. The hope, though, is that Knight will see his time in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program – where he spent nearly six months after leaving the team in February of this past campaign – benefit his on-ice play as much as it benefitted him in his everyday life. He wouldn’t be the first player to take time away from the game to receive counseling and stage an easy to root for comeback; goaltenders Robin Lehner and Conor Ingram have both become success stories after their own times stepping away from the game, and the hope is that Knight will also be able to see the benefits of newfound clarity and health.

At the moment, though, Panthers fans likely need to temper their expectations for him – at least at the start of the season. Luckily, it appears the team has prepared for that by bringing in veteran NHL-AHL tweener Anthony Stolarz on a one-year deal. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Stolarz make some appearances during the year as well before Knight finds his stride.

If he’s able to get back to where he was when he was drafted, though, the Panthers could be a formidable option to return the center stage this upcoming June. If they were able to push through the East with Bobrovsky and Alex Lyon, it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t be able to do even better with a healthy and confident Knight.

Projected starts: 25-30

STANLEY CUP FINAL: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS FLORIDA PANTHERS – Goaltending key in a tightly contested series

Scott Cullen — Wed, 31 May 2023 17:14:40 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 07: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) eyes Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) as he attacks with he puck during the game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)

The Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers meet in what may be, by temperature, the hottest Stanley Cup Final in history. Vegas finished the regular season with 111 points, tops in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights have advanced to the Final round of the postseason tournament after defeating the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets.

It has been a decidedly different path to the Final for the Florida Panthers, who snuck into the postseason with 92 points, the fewest of any team to qualify for the playoffs.

The Panthers eliminated the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes – the first, fourth, and second-place teams in the league, respectively, during the regular season – on the way to this matchup with the fifth-place Golden Knights.

If Florida is going to win, there will be no doubt that they have earned it, going through such a daunting path.

Forwards

Jack Eichel’s first playoff appearance has been a long time coming, but he is making the most of it. Eichel has 18 points in 17 games to lead the Golden Knights and has formed an outstanding line with Ivan Barbashev and Jonathan Marchessault. The trio has controlled 56.2% of expected goals while outscoring opponents 12-4 during five-on-five play.

Marchessault has nine goals and 17 points, leading the Golden Knights with 62 shots on goal in 17 playoff contests. Barbashev, a pending free agent, is raising his offseason price tag with every game, contributing 15 points and playing a hard game, delivering 51 hits.

Part of what has made the Golden Knights so dangerous in the playoffs is their outstanding depth. Beyond the top line, captain Mark Stone has 15 points and Chandler Stephenson has 14. They skate on a line with Brett Howden, who has six points to go along with 51 hits.

William Karlsson centers the third line for Vegas and, in addition to fulfilling a checking role, also leads the Golden Knights with 10 goals in the playoffs. Reilly Smith chipped in 11 points and that pair of original Golden Knights have been joined by Michael Amadio, who has contributed seven points in 11 playoff games.

Vegas’ fourth line of William Carrier, Nicolas Roy, and Keegan Kolesar can hold their own and bring a physical presence. The Golden Knights have such strong depth that Teddy Blueger and Phil Kessel have been reduced to being part-time players, sitting for more games than they have dressed for in the playoffs.

Coming off his second consecutive 100-point season, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk was already a star, but he has taken his game to a new level for the Panthers in the playoffs, leading the team with nine goals, 21 points, and four game-winning goals in 16 playoff games. He has been the proverbial straw that stirs the drink for the Panthers.

Tkachuk has mostly been skating on a line with Sam Bennett and Nick Cousins. Tkachuk and Bennett are not afraid to turn the game into a street fight, playing with the hard physical edge that is expected in playoff hockey.

Aleksander Barkov was the Panthers’ leader before Tkachuk arrived and has not been a dominant performer in the playoffs. He has 14 points and his line with Carter Verhaeghe and Anthony Duclair has outscored opponents 8-4 during five-on-five play, but that trio has also managed just 43.2% of expected goals, so there is room for improvement. Verhaeghe ranks second on the Panthers with 15 playoff points, while Duclair has contributed nine points.

Sam Reinhart is over-qualified as a third-line player, but he helps to diversify the Panthers’ attack, skating with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. Reinhart ranks second among the Panthers with seven goals in the playoffs.

While forward depth is a clear strength for the Golden Knights, it is a notable weakness for the Panthers. Lundell and Luostarinen have three goals between them and fourth line contributors Eric Staal, Colin White, and either Ryan Lomberg or Zac Dalpe has combined for three goals. That is not a lot of production out of the lower half of the forward depth chart.

If the Panthers are going to compete in this series, they will likely need more contributions further down the lineup because it is asking a lot for Tkachuk to continue carrying the offense to the degree that he has so far in the postseason.

Defense

While all three of Vegas’ defense pairings are outscoring the opposition, only the duo of Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore is also driving play, controlling 54.5% of expected goals with Vegas outscoring opponents 11-8 with McNabb and Theodore on the ice during five-on-five play. Theodore has seven points in 16 playoff games, which is behind his regular-season pace of 41 points in 55 games.

Alex Pietrangelo leads Golden Knights defensemen with nine points in the postseason, and the Golden Knights are outscoring opponents 16-7 with Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez on the ice, despite managing 46.4% of expected goals, during five-on-five play.

Similarly, Vegas has outscored opponents 12-4 with the third pair of Nic Hague and Zach Whitecloud on the ice during five-on-five play, despite managing 45.9% of expected goals. They do tend to play quite a bit to be considered the third pairing, as Hague and Whitecloud have seen the most five-on-five action of any Golden Knights defense tandem in the playoffs.

Florida’s defense is led by Brandon Montour, who has scored six goals in the playoffs, and leads the Panthers with 59 shots on goal. However, he has been paired with Marc Staal and the Panthers have been outscored 10-7 while getting just 41.2% of expected goals during five-on-five play with that duo on the ice. That could be a concern when facing a Vegas team with a lot of forwards capable of taking advantage against suspect defense.

The Panthers are outscoring opponents 10-5 with Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling on the ice even though they have generated 46.1% of expected goals at five-on-five. Montour, Forsling, and Ekblad are all averaging more than 24 minutes of ice time per game in the playoffs, so Florida does tend to lean on their top defenders.

Florida’s third pairing of Radko Gudas and Josh Mahura does not play as much, but they have been relatively effective. The Panthers have pulled nearly 55.0% of expected goals while outscoring opponents 5-4 with Gudas and Mahura on the ice.

Florida’s defensive track record in the playoffs has been subpar. They have allowed 33.3 shots against per 60 minutes in all situations, which is the second highest among all playoff teams. To be fair, Vegas has allowed 31.4 shots against per 60 minutes, which is fourth highest, so neither team has been in shutdown mode on the path to the Final. Of course, Florida has a secret weapon of sorts when the defense has faltered.

Goaltending

After playing at a below average level for three of the past four seasons, and not even starting the playoffs as the Panthers’ No.1 goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky heads into the Cup Final as the odds-on favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. In 14 playoff games, Bobrovsky has a .935 save percentage and leads all goaltenders with 19.45 Goals Saved Above Expected. He is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, so it’s not like this performance is completely out of nowhere, but there has not been a lot in recent seasons to suggest that this level of play was still possible. Can he keep it up for one more round?

If Bobrovsky is an unlikely goalie to backstop a team to the Stanley Cup, what would that say about Vegas’ Adin Hill? The goaltending carousel has been turning all season for the Golden Knights, with injuries forcing the team to start five different goaltenders after presumed No. 1 Robin Lehner was deemed out for the season. In the playoffs Laurent Brossoit started for Vegas, but Hill has stepped in and delivered high quality performance, posting a .937 save percentage with 10.78 Goals Saved Above Expected in 11 games.

The team that gets the better goaltending should have an edge in the series. The challenge is figuring out which one of these surprising goaltending stories will continue.

Special Teams

Vegas’ power play has been a problem area for the entire playoffs and their 4.75 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play is the worst among teams that advanced beyond the first round. The Golden Knights have 10 power play goals in 17 playoff games, with Eichel and Stone both accounting for three.

With 9.30 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four action, Florida’s power play has been a little more dangerous, tallying 12 goals in 16 playoff games, led by Tkachuk with four and Reinhart with three.

This power play edge may not fully materialize for Florida, however, because Vegas has been very disciplined in its approach, spending 4:22 per game shorthanded, compared to 5:29 per game for the Panthers.

It is a good thing that Vegas does not take many penalties, because they have been utterly helpless when trying to kill them, allowing the highest rate of shot attempts, shots, and expected goals against during four-on-five play in the postseason. They get bailed out by goaltending from time to time, but if the Golden Knights take penalties, that would just be asking for trouble.

Florida’s penalty killing has not been terribly effective either, allowing higher than average rates of shot attempts, shots, and expected goals against during four-on-five play. This could be an area of vulnerability for Florida, but only if Vegas can somehow turn their power play into a viable threat.

Conclusion

Vegas has been the more effective team during five-on-five play, but neither team has controlled play with real authority. Both the Panthers and Golden Knights have reached this point thanks in large part to outstanding goaltending and that puts a lot of pressure on Bobrovsky and Hill going into the Final. In a tightly contested series, Vegas’ superior depth gives them a slight edge. Golden Knights in 7.

NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS FLORIDA PANTHERS – A path opens up in the East for fortunate Leafs and surprising Panthers

Scott Cullen — Mon, 01 May 2023 17:28:02 +0000

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) plays the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) in the third period during the NHL regular season game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 29, 2023 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gavin Napier/Icon Sportswire)

TORONTO vs. FLORIDA

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004 and have home ice advantage after the Florida Panthers pulled off a massive upset against the top-seeded Boston Bruins in the first round.

Now that they have broken the first-round seal, are the Maple Leafs ready to go on a Stanley Cup run? Can the Panthers carry their first-round magic forward? Ousting the Lightning and the Bruins, respectively, opens up potential opportunities for the team that can emerge from the Atlantic Division.

Forwards

Toronto’s high-priced forwards have taken plenty of criticism over the years for not rising to the occasion in the playoffs, but Toronto’s big dogs showed up against Tampa Bay. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander produced 13 goals and 34 points against Tampa Bay. The supporting cast matters but getting production from the stars at the top of the depth chart sets the foundation for a team to achieve success.

One of Toronto’s apparent strengths is that they have solid contributors beyond the core four. Ryan O’Reilly contributed seven points in the first round and Calle Jarnkrok moved up to play with Matthews and Marner. Rookie Matthew Knies added three assists and the Leafs controlled 57.4% of expected goals with him on the ice during five-on-five play.

Michael Bunting was suspended for three games in the series against Tampa Bay, then was a healthy scratch for Game 5, so he has more to offer, and it might be further down the depth chart because Toronto’s fourth line of Zach Aston-Reese, David Kampf, and Sam Lafferty managed 35.9% of shot attempts and 32.9% of expected goals during five-on-five play against Tampa Bay.

Matthew Tkachuk had an incredible season for the Panthers and carried that play into the playoffs against Boston. The Panthers’ winger put up 11 points and 22 shots on goal in the first round, with Florida controlling 63.4% of expected goals against Boston when Tkachuk was on the ice during five-on-five play. The Maple Leafs will need to find a solution to the problem that Tkachuk presents as a skilled and physical force.

Sam Bennett got into the Boston series in Game 2 and was an impact performer, with five points and 20 shots on goal in six games. Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, and Anton Lundell all played solid contributing roles against the Bruins.

Maybe the most surprising part for Florida is that Aleksander Barkov had a hard time against Boston. He produced one goal and six points, but the Panthers only held 40.4% of expected goals during five-on-five play with Barkov on the ice. For a Panthers team that tends to lean on their stars, Barkov will need to elevate his game if they are going to advance.

Defense

After an up-and-down regular season, Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly stepped up and delivered an outstanding series against Tampa Bay. Rielly had three goals and eight points against Tampa Bay with Toronto getting 56.7% of expected goals and outscoring the Lightning 9-3 during five-on-five play with Rielly on the ice. Luke Schenn was frequently paired with Rielly and while Schenn struggled late in the regular season, he was excellent against Tampa Bay, with Toronto pulling 61.1% of expected goals with Schenn on the ice.

T.J. Brodie and Jake McCabe are an effective shutdown pair for Toronto, with McCabe providing a necessary physical element. Schenn and McCabe combined for 66 hits in the first round.

The third pairing was a trouble spot for Toronto against Tampa Bay. Justin Holl and Mark Giordano had just 40.0% of expected goals during five-on-five play and the Leafs were out-scored 9-2 during five-on-five play when Holl was on the ice against Tampa Bay. As a result, Timothy Liljegren and Erik Gustafsson were pressed into action in Game 6. It would make sense for Toronto to give Liljegren a chance to upgrade that pairing but it would not be a surprise for Holl to get a fresh start against the Panthers.

Brandon Montour’s breakout season continued in the first round against Boston. The right-shot blueliner put up five goals and eight points with 22 shots on goal. His confidence is soaring, and he is always ready to launch one-timers from the point on the power play. Montour has been paired with Marc Staal so that duo is vulnerable during five-on-five play. They had 40.5% of expected goals and were outscored 6-3 against the Bruins.

Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling formed an effective shutdown pair against Boston, controlling 55.1% of expected goals while the Panthers outscored the Bruins 8-2 with that duo on the ice during five-on-five play.

Josh Mahura was an under-the-radar pleasant surprise for Florida in the first round. Acquired off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks before the start of the season, Mahura averaged less than 11 minutes per game against Boston, but the Panthers earned 54.4% of shot attempts and 63.2% of expected goals during five-on-five play with Mahura on the ice. Radko Gudas stands out as the heavy hitter on this blueline, but he is somewhat vulnerable if he gets caught out there against speedy and skilled forwards.

Toronto’s group is steadier overall, but both teams have some question marks on the back end, which could ultimately cause problems.

Goaltending

Although he experienced some highs and lows against Tampa Bay, Ilya Samsonov ultimately picked up his first career playoff series victory. His save percentage was just .900, and he let in a few soft goals, but he had stellar performances in Game 3 and Game 6. Given his lack of a playoff track record, there is still plenty of uncertainty around Samsonov heading into this series, but he is clearly Toronto’s number one option with Joseph Woll in the backup role.

The Panthers opened the playoffs with Alex Lyon starting in goal against Boston and he had a .902 save percentage in three games, but Florida eventually turned to Sergei Bobrovsky, who is a high-wire act at this point.

Bobrovsky was erratic in games four and six against Boston and was excellent in game five and seven, ultimately backstopping the Panthers to three straight wins to finish the series. Bobrovsky has a .900 save percentage in 56 career playoff games, including .891 in five appearances this spring, so he is not an easy man to trust under these circumstances.

Goaltending is always important in the postseason, but it would be fair to say that both the Maple Leafs and Panthers have some uncertainty at the position heading into Round 2.

Special Teams

Toronto’s power play was among the best during the regular season and that carries over into the playoffs. During five-on-four play, the Leafs scored 12.48 goals per 60 minutes, ranking fifth among 16 playoff teams in the first round. Toronto’s big boys were firing on the power play, with Marner, Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, and O’Reilly all getting on the board against the Lightning.

Florida was closer to the middle of the pack, ranking ninth with 7.60 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play. Tkachuk led the way with five power play points and Montour added a pair of power play goals against the Bruins.

Tampa Bay’s power play posed a problem for the Maple Leafs in the first round, scoring 10.92 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play, which ranked 10^th. However, that was still more successful than the Panthers, who allowed 15.31 goals per 60 minutes, ranking 13^th among playoff teams. A compounding issue for Florida is that they were one of three teams in the first round to spend more than six minutes per game playing four-on-five. By comparison, the Maple Leafs averaged 4:34 per game. That discipline could make a difference.

Conclusion

Toronto had some good fortune against Tampa Bay, picking up three overtime wins, including some in games that they did not necessarily deserve to win. For a team that is now a co-favorite to win the Stanley Cup and had a long drought of not winning a playoff series, they are in good position, but can hardly afford to look past the Panthers.

While Florida’s upset of the Bruins seems monumental because Boston just put up the most regular season points in history, the underlying numbers suggested that Florida was better than their place in the standings and they caught enough breaks to make the difference. If they could do that against Boston, who is to say that is couldn’t happen against Toronto? I’ll side with the Maple Leafs…cautiously. Maple Leafs in 6.

NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: BOSTON BRUINS VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS – Late surging Panthers make interesting underdog despite gap in standings

Scott Cullen — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 16:48:55 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - JANUARY 28: Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) faces off with Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) during the game between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)

The Boston Bruins accrued 135 points, the most ever in a National Hockey League season, and they are the Stanley Cup favorites heading into the postseason. The Florida Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy last season, but it was a much more difficult path to reach the playoffs this year.

Naturally, the Bruins are expected to win their first round series against the Panthers, but it could be closer than the standings might suggest.

Forwards

The Bruins’ attack is paced by right winger David Pastrnak, who led the team with 61 goals and 113 points, but he has a strong supporting cast. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand may be getting older, but they are still dominant two-way players. Bergeron is 37 years old, and the Bruins controlled 63.2% of expected goals and 71.3% of goals during five-on-five play when he was on the ice. It’s preposterous.

Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha, and David Krejci all had at least 50 points. Charlie Coyle, Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Trent Frederic all provide additional scoring depth. This is one of Boston’s big advantages – scoring threats throughout the lineup.

Florida is more top heavy, with Matthew Tkachuk both the scoring and spiritual leader of the group, putting up 40 goals and 109 points with 123 penalty minutes. If the Panthers are going to pull off the upset, they will need Tkachuk to continue his outstanding play. After the trade deadline, he produced 12 goals and 30 points with 85 shots on goal in 19 games. Carter Verhaeghe, with a career-high 42 goals, and Aleksander Barkov, who topped 75 points for the fourth time in his career, are the other top scoring threats for the Panthers.

Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett are quality secondary scoring options and Bennett does have a knack for rising to the occasion in the postseason, putting up 21 points in 30 games over his past four playoff appearances. Bennett has also been out since March 20 with a lower-body injury, leaving his status questionable for the start of the playoffs. A supporting cast that includes Anthony Duclair, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen has some potential but, overall, the Bruins have a deeper forward group.

Defense

Boston brings one of the best bluelines in the league to this series. Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy are both legitimate No. 1 defensemen worthy of Norris Trophy votes and having two players of that calibre is a luxury available to precious few teams. Adding Dmitry Orlov at the trade deadline only made the group stronger as it gives the Bruins another well-rounded blueliner who can move the puck but handle defensive responsibility, too. Matt Grzelcyk adds mobility while Brandon Carlo, Connor Clifton, and Derek Forbort bring more of a physical presence to the game. While the Bruins defense is strong, the defensive results since the trade deadline are relatively mediocre, with Boston ranking 14^th in all-situations shots against and expected goals against per 60 minutes. It’s not egregiously terrible, but it is not as dominant as the Bruins were earlier in the season.

Brandon Montour emerged as a premier offensive defenseman this season, finishing in a tie for fifth among blueliners with 73 points while playing a career-high 24:08 per game. Montour averaged more than three shots on goal per game, a big jump from his previous high of 2.21 shots per game, set in 2018-2019. Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad both logged more than 23 minutes per game, and they form a solid nucleus on the blueline. It’s beyond those three where the questions start to hit. Marc Staal, Radko Gudas, and Josh Mahura round out the top six and that looks like a defense that will eventually get exposed against Boston’s forwards. The Panthers ranked 22^nd in all-situations shots against and 23^rd in expected goals against per 60 minutes, so there is a defensive vulnerability that lingers over this Panthers team.

Goaltending

Maybe the biggest edge that the Bruins hold in this series is the potential goaltending advantage offered by Linus Ullmark, who is favored to win the Vezina Trophy after leading the league in wins (40), goals against average (1.89), and save percentage (.938). Jeremy Swayman gives the Bruins an excellent secondary option in goal, delivering a .920 save percentage for the season, but a .932 mark in 23 games after the calendar flipped to 2023.

While Boston has two strong options between the pipes, the Panthers have more question marks. AHL call-up Alex Lyon played big role in Florida’s late season push to the playoffs. He is a 30-year-old journeyman who had a .912 save percentage in a career-high 15 games but had a .943 save percentage in his last eight starts. Goaltending is unpredictable at the best of times, but just about anything can happen in small samples, and that could include Lyon making a name for himself by stonewalling the top team in the league. If Lyon turns into a kitty cat, a now-healthy Sergei Bobrovsky would be available for the Panthers. The 34-year-old was mediocre during the regular season and has a spotty playoff track record, but it would come as no surprise if Florida’s $10 million goaltender appeared in this series.

Special Teams

Both the Bruins and Panthers are above average with the man advantage. Boston scored 8.21 goals per 60 minutes during five-on-four play, which ranked eighth. Pastrnak led the Bruins with 18 power play goals, followed by Bergeron and Marchand, both with nine. Florida scored 7.92 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play, ranking 10^th. Reinhart tallied 16 power play goals and Tkachuk added 14, while Barkov and Ekblad both contributed eight. The Panthers spent 5:26 per game at five-on-four, tops among all playoff teams.

Penalty killing is a significant advantage for the Bruins, as Boston ranked first in expected goals against and actual goals against per 60 minutes during four-on-five play. Their goaltending has been great, but Boston has allowed the lowest rate of shots against per 60 in those situations, too. Florida had slightly better than average penalty killing results, but that is still operating at a deficit against Boston.

Conclusion

As great as the regular season was for the Bruins, their possession numbers do not quite match their historically dominant place in the standings, so they are probably not as good as 135 points would suggest. At the same time, the Panthers had better possession numbers than their 92-point season would indicate and might be better than their point total. With Tkachuk leading the way, the Panthers could be a lively underdog if they can get quality goaltending. That ‘if’ is a big factor, though, so Boston is still the pick to advance. Bruins in 6.

SEATTLE KRAKEN EXPANSION DRAFT: Prospects to Target – Part One – Goaltenders and Defense

Brock Otten — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:02:06 +0000

It has been four years since the Vegas Golden Knights joined the National Hockey League through expansion. Through the expansion draft process, the Golden Knights balanced their initial lineup by selecting both veterans and youth, with a focus on team speed and competitiveness. Masterfully constructed, Vegas ended up winning the Pacific division and reaching the Stanley Cup finals in their inaugural season (2017-18).

Later this year, the Seattle Kraken will officially become the 32nd NHL franchise when they select their team through their expansion draft. July 17 is the date set for NHL teams to submit their protected lists (with Vegas being exempt) and July 21 is the date set for the expansion draft itself. Of course, these dates could change depending on how the NHL season finishes up in the midst of a global pandemic. However, as of right now, that is when we will find out who will be wearing that Kraken jersey to start the 2021-22 season.

Naturally, Seattle general manager Ron Francis, assistant general manager Jason Botterill, and director of player personnel Norm Maciver will be aiming to replicate the success that Vegas had (and has continued to have). They have to reach the salary floor with their selections, so they will be choosing some veterans (or trading for/signing some) to lead this group. However, much like Vegas, they will be looking to swing for the fences with some selections, by opting for a few young, unestablished players. This article aims to highlight some of the prospects who could be (and are likely to be) left unprotected by their NHL teams come July. The focus is on players who have yet to truly establish themselves as NHL players. The list will be organized by position and published in two parts. Goaltenders and defense in part one and forwards in part two which will be published tomorrow.

GOALTENDERS

Daniel Vladar - Boston Bruins

A massive 6’5 netminder, Vladar has been terrific in the AHL since turning pro. The former third round pick led the AHL in save percentage and goals against average last season. Of course, his only NHL appearance came in last year’s bubble playoffs when he relieved Jaroslav Halak in a blowout loss to the Lightning.

Alex Nedeljkovic - Carolina Hurricanes

A former OHL Goaltender of the Year and AHL Goaltender of the Year, Nedeljkovic is a former highly touted prospect who has yet to break through as a consistent NHL goaltender, struggling in his spot starts for the Hurricanes. He passed through waivers unclaimed this year, to the surprise of many. With Petr Mrazek having thumb surgery recently, Nedeljkovic is getting another run as James Reimer’s back-up and it will serve as a great audition for him (perhaps a final one). He did recently post his first career NHL shutout against the defending Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Michael McNiven - Montreal Canadiens

McNiven, also a former OHL Goaltender of the Year, has been buried under the goaltending depth of the Canadiens the last few seasons. He was terrific in the ECHL last year and has shown glimpses of strong play in the AHL in previous seasons. This year, he will get a chance to truly showcase himself as the platoon partner of Cayden Primeau in Laval.

Filip Gustavsson - Ottawa Senators

Acquired as part of the package for Derrick Brassard, when he was traded to Pittsburgh three years ago, Gustavsson has struggled so far in the Senators organization. A former highly touted prospect, Gustavsson has yet to play this year as Ottawa has kept him on their taxi squad. Depending on if he bounces back this year (when he does play), he could be intriguing to the Kraken.

Joey Daccord - Ottawa Senators

A former seventh round selection, Daccord signed with Ottawa after a standout junior season with Arizona State, where he was a finalist for the Mike Richter Award (top NCAA goaltender). He had a strong rookie season in the AHL last year and will be looking to mimic that with Belleville again this season.

Vitek Vanecek - Washington Capitals

After five seasons in the AHL/ECHL, the former high draft selection is finally getting his chance to be an NHL netminder with the Capitals this season. Initially serving as Ilya Samsonov’s back-up, Vanecek has taken over the reigns as the starter with Samsonov’s lingering covid symptoms. Vanecek already has seven wins on the year. Given that the Capitals are sure to protect the younger Samsonov, Vanecek is likely to be available to Seattle.

Connor Ingram - Nashville Predators

An AHL all star the last two seasons, Ingram had emerged in the conversation as one of the better goaltending prospects in the league. However, the 2020/21 season has been very difficult for the former Kamloops Blazer. He was embroiled in controversy in Sweden earlier this year when he and his teammates were accused (but cleared) of match fixing. Now, he is in the NHL’s player assistance program and has not played this year. Hopefully the talented netminder gets the help he needs and is able to return at some point this season.

Josef Korenar - San Jose Sharks

Two years ago, Korenar burst onto the scene with a strong rookie performance in the AHL, putting himself on the prospect map. However, his sophomore campaign was not as impressive as he struggled with consistency. In his third pro season, Korenar has been part of the San Jose Sharks’ taxi squad thus far.

Ville Husso - St. Louis Blues

Husso has certainly been patient, awaiting his opportunity to play in the NHL. A former highly touted prospect, Husso already has four AHL seasons under his belt and is now finally getting his chance with the Blues as Jordan Binnington’s back-up. His play thus far has been underwhelming, but there is still plenty of season left.

Mikhail Berdin - Winnipeg Jets

Easily one of the league’s most underrated goaltending prospects, Berdin has been terrific in his first two AHL seasons with Manitoba. Blessed with size (6’2), athleticism, and composure, Berdin has what it takes to be an NHL netminder. With Connor Hellebuyck blocking him, his best chance to be an NHL Netminder could be with another organization like Seattle.

DEFENSE

Jake Bean - Carolina Hurricanes

Last year’s AHL Defenseman of the Year, Bean is a legitimate NHL prospect and one of the best young players on this list. However, due to the depth of the Carolina Hurricanes, there is a chance that they won’t be able to protect him from Seattle. The former first round pick is currently in the midst of his rookie NHL season with Carolina and his confidence has been blossoming of late. Do the Canes leave Dougie Hamilton and/or Brady Skjei exposed in order to protect Bean? Do they work out a trade with Seattle to prevent them from selecting any of the high end players they will ultimately have to leave unprotected?

Riley Stillman - Florida Panthers

Stillman did a bang up job last year helping the Panthers cover for injuries, even if he wasn’t quite ready yet to be a fulltime NHL defender. This year, he is back in the AHL where he has gotten off to a strong start in his third pro season. A physically intense defender who can play in any situation, Stillman could be a top target for Seattle if they intend to build the kind of team Vegas did.

Cale Fleury - Montreal Canadiens

Much like Stillman, Fleury finds himself back in the AHL this season after playing much of last year in the NHL. The addition of Alex Romanov has pushed Fleury down the depth chart and it seems unlikely Montreal will be able to protect him at the expansion draft. A right shot defender with size, Fleury could definitely be coveted if he performs well with Laval.

Sebastian Aho - New York Islanders

No, no, not that Aho. This is the defender in the Islanders organization. Undersized, but extremely talented offensively, Aho has been an AHL All-star in all three of his professional seasons in North America. Now waiver eligible, Aho has been on the Isles roster to start this season but has not yet played a game. Would Seattle look at him as a potential powerplay QB for their roster?

Cal Foote - Tampa Bay Lightning

A former high first round pick, Foote has finally received his shot to be an NHL player after two seasons in the AHL. Playing sparingly on the third pair, Foote is proving himself a capable NHL defender thus far. However, the Lightning have an abundance of talented young players to protect and Foote could be a casualty there if Tampa feels that his upside as an NHL player is limited.

Josh Mahura - Anaheim Ducks

The former Regina Pat and Red Deer Rebel standout has bounced between the AHL and NHL during his first two pro seasons and is considered one of Anaheim’s better defensive prospects. There is still hope that he develops into a quality two-way NHL defender. However, like some other teams here, Anaheim has other young defenders they may elect to protect over him.

Ben Gleason - Dallas Stars

A free agent signing by the Stars out of the OHL, Gleason came out gangbusters in his first pro season, even getting in limited NHL action and earning his first NHL point. However, last season was a step backwards. Unlikely to be protected by Dallas due to their defensive depth, Gleason will have a shot to impress Seattle with a strong AHL season this year and he has started off hot with Texas.

Austin Strand - Los Angeles Kings

A free agent signing out of the WHL by the Kings, Strand has made the Kings this season, his third professionally. With a strong season for Los Angeles, he can certainly put himself in the conversation to be protected, but it likely comes down to him or Kale Clague and it seems unlikely that the Kings protect Strand over Clague.

Brogan Rafferty - Vancouver Canucks

Because of his age, the Canucks will have to protect Rafferty after just his second pro season after signing out of Quinnipiac. The slick skating defender was a standout in the AHL with Utica last year, where he was an all star. This season, he has been used sparingly by Vancouver, shuttling between the active roster and taxi squad. There is a chance that Vancouver elects to protect Rafferty over one of their more experienced, more expensive defenders (like Tyler Myers or Nate Schmidt), but at this point, Rafferty looks to be on the bubble.

Logan Stanley - Winnipeg Jets

Stanley, a former first round pick, has cracked the Winnipeg roster this season, playing on the team’s third pairing, and playing well. The behemoth blueliner (6’7, 230lbs) is a physical specimen and would look good as a piece on the Seattle blueline if the Jets are unable to protect him. It will probably come down to him or Dylan DeMelo, depending on how Stanley plays to finish out this NHL season.

Sami Niku - Winnipeg Jets

No longer waivers exempt, the Jets have kept the former AHL defenseman of the year on their roster all season, even if they haven’t played him a ton. Looking like the odd man out, it seems very unlikely that Niku is protected at this point and he could certainly be a target for the Kraken, hoping to unlock his upside as a top four defender.

*Special thanks to the capfriendly expansion draft tool which helped to identify those players who are eligible to be selected.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Anaheim Ducks Top 20 Prospects

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 17:58:17 +0000

This article is our final top 20 ranking of the Anaheim Duck Prospects and will be included in our McKeen's 2020-21 NHL Yearbook releasing on December 4th. For an overview of the Ducks prospect system prior to the NHL Draft please refer to Ryan Wagman's article here You can also read the review of their Draft performance versus the McKeen's final rankings here

Trevor Zegras, C (9^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Trevor Zegras makes everything look effortless. The forward spent two seasons with the USNTDP, winning a gold medal with the U.S. in the U17 WHC and a bronze in the U18 as souvenirs. This season he also played in the WJC, leading the tournament in assists with nine and was named as one of the U.S.’ top three players in the event. He also earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Zegras entered Boston University as a true freshman and led the Terriers’ rookies in scoring. He is almost impossible to contain in the offensive zone and makes everything he does look easy with his excellent vision. One of his best assets is as a playmaker - he is an excellent passer and makes the puck float. He has quick hands and is always in the right place at the right time. On top of his preternatural passing ability, he is also an excellent scorer with a quick release on his shot that can fool goaltenders easily. The Ducks were suitably impressed and coaxed him off campus at the end of this first season. The NHL beckons. – JS

Jamie Drysdale, D (6^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

It was definitely a good year for the 5-11” defender from Toronto. Internationally, he captained Canada to a silver medal at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in the summer, and he played a regular role on route to gold at the WJC. With Erie in the OHL, Drysdale wore an ‘A’ and finished just under the point-per-game mark at 0.98, far and away the best mark by a U18 defender in the league. His skating ability is something to marvel at. Drysdale takes great routes to dump-ins and is able to transition from backward to forward stride so smoothly, rarely getting pinned in his own end. After retrieving, he takes only a few strides to hit full speed, dictating the pace. His mobility is also a huge asset working just inside the blueline, making forwards defending high look silly, allowing him to break down defensive coverage as others scramble to cover him. Drysdale also possesses terrific vision with the puck. In his own end, he always has his head up, looking up ice and can stretch the play with a breakout pass just as well as he can with his feet. – BO

Jacob Perreault, RW (27^th overall, 202. Previous ranking: N/A)

Perreault has hit the 30 goal mark the last two seasons, including scoring 39 this year in only 57 games. A natural center, he has played primarily on the wing during his junior career and is a gifted goal scorer. He projects as a top six goal scorer at the NHL level because of the quality of his shot; easily one of the best in the recent draft class. He loves to work down low, especially with the man advantage. When given an inch, he will take a mile and is aggressive in bringing the puck closer to the slot to create a better shot angle. He routinely beats goaltenders clean up high because of his quick and deceptive release. Perreault also looks to set up on the wing for one-time opportunities, where he can unleash a quick, powerful, and accurate slap shot. His hands and puck skills are very good overall, and he can create his own scoring chances in transition by attacking the middle, beating defenders one on one. He has yet to fully develop an ability to utilize his speed to be a consistent weapon, often slowing down to make cuts or to re-evaluate his options. - BO

Lukas Dostal, G (85^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Dostal’s first full season with Ilves was a huge success story. He started the season somewhat slowly, but eventually performed at a very high level. The Czech netminder was given the Urpo Ylonen award as the league’s best goalie. He gave Ilves a chance to win every night. He is athletic with quick reactions and the ability to make the occasional desperation save. He moves quickly and effectively post to post and can make extension pad saves. He uses his stick and blocker well to deflect rebounds into the corner. He also traps pucks well into his body. He gets set quickly for initial shot attempts and reads shooters well. On high danger shots, he is often able to even anticipate shooters’ intentions and make the saves as needed. When the puck is dumped in, Dostal will go behind the net to stop the puck. He moves the puck to his teammates with firm and simple passes. Dostal is known as a hard worker who takes time off the ice to study opposing players. In the past season, he solidified his position as one of the top European goalie prospects. - MB

Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C (54^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

The best compliment to Groulx’s game is his attention to detail. He does all the little things necessary to win. A mid-season trade highlighted his value, as he took a top line role in every situation right away for the contending Moncton Wildcats. Groulx was recognized as the best defensive forward in the league, while also putting up over one point-a-game. He is an excellent face-off man, great positionally in the offensive and defensive zones, a great passer and playmaker who involves his linemates expertly. The downside for Team Canada’s last cut for the WJC roster is his skating, which is just okay, and could hold him back at the highest level, especially as a center. Even so, his smarts could carry him to a very good professional career. No matter where Groulx tops out, he will be an impactful player. He will figure in the Ducks plans going forward regardless, as he has already inked his entry-level contract. The AHL is his next challenge, a test for his pro-ready game. What is certain is that he will work hard for the opportunity. If his skating improves, he should be a strong two-way center at the NHL level. - MS

Isac Lundestrom, C/LW (23^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

While he does not possess the scoring prowess of Rickard Rakell or the polished stability of Hampus Lindholm, both previous Anaheim first rounders from Sweden, Lundestrom is the prototypical auxiliary player, providing immense value as a compliment to a more offensive forward. Responsible and smart, he is becoming just what the Ducks envisioned when they took the centerman out of the SHL. With quiet self-confidence, Lundestrom excels in a two-way role. His skating is serviceable with plus acceleration, which plays up his swift and deceptive hands and passing game. Though he could be more of a high-octane offensive forward, he has shown a great wrist shot and a desire to have the puck in transition. The high-IQ 20-year-old shines brightest on defense, where he is willing to take - and initiate - contact to keep the puck out of danger, and leads backchecks with ferocity. He was trusted with some significant time against the opposition’s primary scoring lines with AHL San Diego, earning a 15-game trial run playing the same role. He can absolutely become a second-line two-way force alongside a more offensively-oriented player in the near future. - TD

Brayden Tracey, LW (29^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Tracey had an excellent camp in Anaheim last season, where he was one of the last players cut, which typically leads to a drop off in play when returning to Junior. Despite that, he jumped out of the gate, potting an impressive eight goals and eight assists in his first eight games back, including back-to-back hat tricks. Where Tracey showed the most growth was in driving play. Where he was often a passenger in his draft year, he was carrying his line last season, especially impressive from the wing. His ability to carry the puck and to back defenders off opened up time and space for his linemates to attack, enabled his young center to find his legs. His skating allowed for zone exits, zone entries and a high pace of play through the neutral zone. When his line was on the ice he was able to handle the extra defensive attention. His playmaking skills are underrated as he has great touch on his passes and above average vision. Tracey is still a shooter at his core and has an excellent release that enables him to score from distance, off the rush, or from a deadly one-timer. – VG

Sam Colangelo, RW (36^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Colangelo has NHL size and strength and is a solid skater who demonstrates the ability to make sharp cuts and looks downright deadly curling off the wall to attack the slot. He has soft hands that work well in tight spots. He was integral to the Chicago Steel’s team-wide offensive dominance, but he was not necessarily the driver. He had points in 35 of his 44 games and only once was he held off the scoresheet twice in a row, but was on a team was so deep, the opposition often focused their shutdown defenders against the a different scoring line. Furthermore, even when Colangelo would get on the scoresheet, it was not always due to his own strong work as he could go for games at a time without doing much of notice. When he is noticed, it is because he is dominating. His North-South game is still in demand in the modern speed-skill NHL, and his game meshes well with speed-skill players. He might only need two seasons at Northeastern to prove his readiness for the pros. - RW

Jackson Lacombe, D (39^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Among the biggest risers one year out from the 2019 draft class, Lacombe made a very intriguing jump from playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s to the University of Minnesota, finishing the year on the Big 10 All Rookie team. The thing that sticks out most for Lacombe is his composure, on or off the puck. He is a very smooth skater and has a plan when exiting his own zone. By the end of his freshman season, he had surpassed the standing of 2019 first rounder Ryan Johnson on the roster and was also receiving special teams work. I expect him to take another big step forward as a sophomore while his timeline to making an impact at the professional level has seemingly moved up from 2024 to 2023 or even 2022. Between his skating, play reading, and diverse offensive tools, Lacombe is projecting as a potential second pairing defender sooner than later. - RW

Axel Andersson, D (Trade” Feb. 21, 2020. Originally: 57^th overall, 2018 [Boston]. Previous ranking: 7)

The slick-skating defender did not see his offensive potential translate into a ton of points in his first season in North America, but it did not stop the Ducks from acquiring him from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline this season. The Bruins dealt Andersson as they are loaded on the blueline in the pipeline, and the Ducks could use another defender in the coffers. The strong Swede is a confident puck-mover and plays with an aura of control in his game. He does a great job at keeping attackers in front of him and steering them away from his goal. He hung on as an extra defenseman in the American league to start the season, which proves how his game will translate to the pros. Andersson projects as a solid positional blueliner who can chip in offensively, but more as a no-nonsense, middle-pairing, all-situations defenseman rather than a flashy star. He will be a jack-of-all-trades defender at the top level, with no true outstanding skills, but no glaring weaknesses, either. - MS

Blake McLaughlin, LW (79^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Although McLaughlin has yet to fully live up to the potential he showed in his draft year, his first two collegiate campaigns at Minnesota have been strong, if not dominant, and his sophomore season was a small step in the right direction. The play driving winger still needs to bulk up before he can be ready for the professional game, and additional consistency will also only be to his benefit. On the other hand, his play off the puck has grown more reliable, and his agility and puck handling ability have worked to make him a legit weapon offensively. He reads the play well, draws defenders to himself, and can keep opponents on their toes, dancing around them, or drawing a penalty in the attempt. There is another level that I think McLaughlin can get to as a playmaking winger, and if and when he does, he could fight for a top nine role at the highest level. Until then, we have to admit that he could be a boom-or-bust prospect. - RW

Henry Thrun, D (101^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Thrun, an alumnus of the U.S. NTDP, joined the program after playing prep hockey. He is an offensive defenseman who held his own in his freshman year of collegiate hockey and was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. He also earned a gold medal at the U17 WHC and bronze at the U18 WJC. Harvard’s trust in Thrun’s abilities were evident by his appearance on the team’s first penalty kill unit - a big vote of confidence for a rookie. He also runs point on the power play, another big responsibility for a rookie. He has a big frame and is physical, but he needs to pump his legs to move, but he can still join in on the rush. His speed and his laser passes help him set up his teammates and are part of what makes an offensive defenseman. Thrun is a also good stickhandler but he needs to work on staying on his feet in his own zone as he continues in his development. - JS

Ian Moore, D (67^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Right off the bat, we know that Moore will require a great deal of patience as he develops and refines his game. Four years (one in the USHL, three in college) is the likely minimum before he turns pro, much less proves ready to play in the NHL. He is a tall defender who skates very well, both in terms of speed and agility. He likes to push the pace to get the puck into the offensive end, and he shoots from the right side as well. Also of note is that his big offensive numbers notwithstanding, his game may actually be more refined off the puck. Moore positions himself well in his own end and uses a tight gap and a good stick to wedge opposing forwards towards the boards. As much as he likes to play an offensive game, he can be prone to forcing plays and playing impatiently. The bad habits from play against lesser prep school competition will have to be ironed out of his game sooner than later. This diamond is still very much in the rough. - RW

Josh Mahura, D (85^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

One of the most lethal offensive defensemen during his WHL heyday, Mahura has started to find a groove with that style in the AHL. A plus skater and a high-end puck mover, he was heating up as a top-pair defender with San Diego (seven points in the last eight games) before the AHL cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 season. Mahura has shown some promise in transition for Anaheim in his 28 career NHL appearances over two seasons, displaying some fearlessness with the puck. What is most important in his development is just that faith and confidence, because the skill is there. In addition to his puck-moving and skating prowess, the 22-year-old plays tight gaps with more strength in man-to-man battles than his lighter frame suggests, and he has become better at shutting down passing lanes in the defensive zone. Anaheim is likely holding him back until he can play with consistency in all three zones, and if that day comes, the 2016 third rounder would make a solid bottom-four defender with offensive upside. - TD

Chase De Leo, C (Trade: Jun. 30, 2018. Originally: 99^th overall, 2014 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: 11)

Growing up less than 20 miles from Anaheim’s Honda Center, De Leo cheered for the Ducks as a kid. He has suited up for his childhood team twice and led their AHL team over the past two seasons. Surely, he has some satisfaction with where he has gone in his career, but at 24, his story is not quite over. One of the most complete offensive players in the system, De Leo has very quick feet and a rapid shot that is particularly effective from in tight. The lefty is not limited in strength in spite of his 5-10” frame and can effectively run a cycle or drive the net without issue. However, De Leo is not much of an option on defense and seems to play with more energy and puck-play on the wing compared to center. He has essentially been the same player for three years and, while not impossible, is unlikely to stick in the NHL long-term as much more than an injury replacement. He can be an elite quad-A player for the next ten years, but not much else. - TD

Antoine Morand, C (60^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

After captaining the Halifax Mooseheads to a Memorial Cup appearance in his final QMJHL season, Morand struggled in his first pro campaign. His lack of size was a glaring issue and he shied away from competing physically for that reason, which is fairly concerning. But otherwise, the 21-year-old showed some offensive skill and decent potential as a middle-six center with AHL San Diego. Fast and smart, his agility and passing skill stand out most. Capable of carrying the puck and eluding defenders with it at top speed, he displays soft hands and excellent foot quickness to get a step on his opposition. He has been trusted with late faceoffs and protecting a lead in the final minutes of a game, which speaks to his quiet, mature demeanor. Admittedly, Morand is a very tough player to project; in certain games he will exhibit top-six scoring ability but then look invisible on the next five shifts. Finding some consistency in his raw, talented package could allow him to sneak into a top-nine role in the future with Anaheim, but his performance must first improve. - TD

Jack Badini, C/LW (91^st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

A former third round pick, Badini recently signed with the Ducks after three years at Harvard. The Connecticut native also spent two and a half years in the USHL, where he won a championship with the Chicago Steel. A center, Badini’s scoring statistics might not look so impressive, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from seeing his value. A former member of the ECAC All-Rookie team, he has seen playing time on both Harvard’s power play and penalty kill. His skating requires power strides, but he is a really quick skater. When he is on his game, his passes are powerful and crisp and he can thread them in difficult situations. His speed, plus his quick, direct passes make him a shorthanded scoring threat. He also moves around well in the defensive zone. At the next level, Badini projects as a defensive, power forward. - JS

Trevor Janicke, C (132^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Janicke would not have made the top 15 with many other organizations, but the Ducks thin out quickly, leaving us room to talk about one of the smaller players in the system. He has a period early in the season where he looked like a potential steal, with seven points over a four game stretch, including three games against Big 10 opponents, but could not maintain that momentum as the season dragged on and he had streaks of nine and six games without points later in the year. I fact, in the 18 games he played for the Fighting Irish after 2020 kicked in, Janicke was limited to three points. Some of the cold spell was luck-related, and he still flashed the skills that saw him drafted in the first place. He is a triggerman who can also dish and has soft hands. With half of Notre Dame’s top six turning pro, he will have a bigger chance to make an impact as a sophomore. – RW

Artyom Galimov, LW (129^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

The fourth time was the charm for Galimov, who was neglected over three consecutive drafts before the Ducks finally selected him in the fifth round this year. A hard-working, two-way winger who landed on the Russian national team radar last year, making the WJC roster, lost none of his admittedly meager scoring touch moving from the junior league (MHL) to the KHL and was named KHL rookie of the month in October. His follow up KHL campaign, now underway, is showing more of the same two-way, complimentary offense style game. Galimov is a fine skater with an impressive East-West game and good edges. His mature game, particularly his reliability on the other side of the puck and on the PK could translate well to a depth role in North America as soon as his contract expires at the end of next season. His ceiling and floor are both in bottom six roles. - RW

Bryce Kindopp, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Kindopp has a lot to like about his game. In Everett the total buy-in to team defense is the best in the WHL and Kindopp has been a big part of that. He is effective along the wall, both breaking up the opponent’s cycle and generating his own. He has a good release on his shot but is an effective scorer mainly because of how he positions himself and drives to the net. He is willing to pay the price to get to the net and has the size to stay there as the play progresses. He has a knack for sliding off pressure to give himself space to elevate and finish from in close. On the rush he can score but he isn’t a speedster. His skating has improved enough to get a look, but it is part of why he wasn’t drafted. The most impressive thing with Kindopp has been his steady progression, with minutes, goals per game, shots per game, and points per game having improved year over year. - VG

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – ANAHEIM DUCKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 18

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 18:00:18 +0000

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks’ current NHL roster is not in a great way. Like the other California-based teams, the Ducks were pretty bad this year, finishing out of even the Play-in round, a fate reserved for only the bottom seven teams in the NHL.

For their efforts, they will pick sixth in the upcoming NHL draft, as well as whichever pick Boston ends up earning, a residual from the trade deadline maneuver that saw the Ducks acquire David Backes, prospect Axel Andersson (7^th on this list) and a 2020 first rounder in exchange for Ondrej Kase.

Fellow bottom dwellers like Los Angeles, New Jersey, Ottawa, and Buffalo had all already been knee deep in their own rebuilds, and iced rosters among the youngest in the NHL. Detroit was unique among the seven in that their own teardown was still in the early stages, with too many bad contracts playing out the string and very few players considered among the next group of competing Red Wings not yet on the active roster. Anaheim could thus be lumped in with San Jose. Neither the Ducks nor the Sharks anticipated a losing season, both hoping, if not expecting, to compete for the postseason on the backs of their respective aging cores.

In addition to rostering one of the ten most experienced rosters in the league, the Ducks were also top ten size-wise, something which one might expect to go hand-in-hand with age.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. Lining up alongside the greybeards like Getzlaf, the aforementioned Backes, Ryan Miler, and four other 30-somethings, there is a new young core emerging in Orange County. Former first round pick Jacob Larsson has seemingly stuck on the blueline, and the team graduated three of our preseason top five prospects – and four from the top ten, among the forwards, in Sam Steel, Maxime Comtois, Troy Terry, and Max Jones. Perhaps trade pickups Sonny Milano and Brendan Guhle, once top prospects with Columbus and Buffalo respectively, and could regain some of his old sheen and stick with the Ducks as well.

All of the above paragraph is well and good, and a testament to the scouting and development of the organization in recent years. On the other hand, with the prominent exception of the team’s top prospect, Trevor Zegras, the system is presently quite thin. In fact, Zegras alone may be the difference between where the team is currently ranked organizationally, and a spot ten or more slots further down the list.

Another notable aspect of Anaheim’s player acquisition strategy has already been hinted at above, in noting the team’s rankings in height and weight. Of the five recent graduates listed above, three are plus sized. Of the 28 prospect-eligible players currently in the system, only four are listed as under 6-0” in height. The presence of Steel (5-11”) and Zegras (a skinny 6-0”) indicate that the team is not strictly targeting height at the draft, especially not with their early picks, but with a game trending more towards speed than ever, it may also be correct to state that the Ducks may have fallen behind.

There are some pieces here who could be instrumental to the Ducks returning to contention, but without re-focusing on drafting players who can play fast – skating and puck movement – they will likely continue to flounder.

I could also go on a mini-rant about the state of the blueline organizationally – old in the NHL and little coming up the ladder with only four of the top 15 being defensemen, but that is another topic for another essay.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 03: Boston University Terriers forward Trevor Zegras (13) takes a shot on goal during the game between Boston College and Boston University on February 03, 2020, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mark Box/Icon Sportswire)

Trevor Zegras, C (9^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Trevor Zegras is one of the best — if not the best — prospects to come out of the East region in recent years. A No. 9 overall draft pick, Zegras is living up to his draft status and then some. He makes everything look effortless.

The forward spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development program, playing with the U-17 and U-18 teams. He won a gold medal with the U.S. in the U17 WHC and a bronze in the U18 World Junior Championship as souvenirs. This season he also played in the World Junior Championship, leading the tournament in assists with nine in five games and was named as one of the U.S.’ top three players in the event. He also earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

Zegras entered Boston University as a true freshman and led the Terriers in scoring amongst rookies. He is almost impossible to contain in the offensive zone and makes everything he does look easy with his excellent vision. One of Zegras’ best assets is as a playmaker - he is an excellent passer and makes his passes float. He has quick hands and is always in the right place at the right time.

On top of his preternatural passing ability, he is also an excellent scorer himself with a quick release on his shot and can fool goaltenders easily. It is no surprise that Zegras was on BU’s first power play unit. The Ducks were suitably impressed and coaxed him off campus at the end of this first season. The NHL beckons. - JS

Lukas Dostal, G (85^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 14)

He is athletic with quick reactions and the ability to make the occasional desperation save. He is a very good skater with strong edge work. He moves quickly and effectively post to post and can make extension pad saves. His rebound control is another asset. He uses his stick and blocker well to deflect pucks into the corner. He also traps pucks well into his body. He gets set quickly for initial shot attempts and reads shooters well. On high danger shots, he is often able to even anticipate shooters’ intentions and make the saves as needed. When the puck is dumped in, Dostal will go behind the net to stop the puck. He moves the puck to his teammates with firm and simple passes; nothing flashy though.

Dostal is known as a hard worker who takes time off the ice to study opposing players in order to know them inside and out. In the past season, he solidified his position as one of the top European goalie prospects. As of this writing, it is possible that Dostal will remain with Ilves for 2020-21, even though he is more than ready to bring his talents to North America. - MB

IRVINE, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Benoit-Olivier Groulx #50 of the Anaheim Ducks (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C (54^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

The best compliment to Groulx’s game is his attention to detail. He does all the little things necessary to win. A mid-season trade to Moncton highlighted his value in the QMJHL as he took a top line role in every situation right away for the contending Wildcats, after taking up the captaincy for the Mooseheads in the first half of the year. Groulx won the Guy Carbonneau trophy as the best defensive forward in the league, while also putting up over a point-a-game, and it was well deserved.

Groulx is an excellent face-off man, great positionally in the offensive and defensive zones, a great passer and playmaker who involves his linemates expertly. He was perhaps the smartest player in all of junior hockey last season. The downside for Team Canada’s last cut at the World Juniors is his skating, which is just okay. His skating could hold him back, especially as a center at the highest level. Even so, his smarts, much like Carbonneau’s game, could carry him to a very good professional career.

No matter where Groulx tops out, he will be an impactful player. He will figure in the Ducks plans going forward regardless, as he has already inked his entry-level contract. The AHL is his next challenge, where he will have instant success with his pro-ready game. What is certain is that Groulx, the son of Syracuse coach Benoît, will work hard for the opportunity. If his skating improves, he will be a strong two-way center at the NHL level. - MS

Isac Lundestrom, C/LW (23^rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

In 2018, the Ducks continued their trend of selecting Swedish players with their top pick in the NHL Draft. Following Rickard Rakell (2011), Hampus Lindholm (2012), Marcus Pettersson (2014), and Jacob Larsson (2015), Isac Lundestrom joined the fray. While he does not possess the scoring prowess of Rakell or the polished stability of Lindholm, Lundestrom is the prototypical auxiliary player; never will he be the most talented or most dangerous player on a team, but he will provide immense value as a complement to a more offensive forward.

Responsible and smart, he is becoming just what the Ducks envisioned when they took the centerman out of the SHL. With quiet self-confidence, Lundestrom excels in a two-way role. His skating is serviceable with plus acceleration, which plays up his swift and deceptive hands and passing game. Though he could be more of a high-octane offensive forward, he has shown a great wrist shot and a desire to have the puck in transition.

The high-IQ 20-year-old shines brightest on defense, where he is willing to take - and initiate - contact to keep the puck out of danger and leads backchecks with ferocity. He was trusted with some significant time against the opposition’s primary scoring lines with AHL San Diego and began a transition to the NHL in a 15-game trial run playing the same role. While his offensive ceiling is not of a top-line center, he can absolutely become a second-line two-way force alongside a more offensively oriented player in the Ducks system in the near future. - TD

IRVINE, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Brayden Tracey #56 of the Anaheim Ducks (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brayden Tracey, LW (29^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

If you look at Tracey’s numbers, we could understand concern. His +33 from the year before dropped to a combined -16 this season between Moose Jaw and Victoria. Both his goals per game and his points per game have regressed from his draft season as well. While this is all factual it does not provide anywhere close to the full picture of Tracey as a prospect.

In his draft year with Moose Jaw he was part of an elite group of five that all produced at an impressive rate, one of the most impressive in recent memory. Secondly, Tracey had an excellent camp in Anaheim where he was one of the last players cut which typically leads to a drop off in play when returning to Junior. Despite all of those things, he jumped out of the gate scoring an impressive eight goals with eight assists in his first eight games back, including back to back hat tricks.

Where Tracey showed the most growth was in driving play. Where he was oft a passenger in his draft year, he was carrying his line this season, especially impressive from the wing. His ability to carry the puck and to back defenders off opened up time and space for his linemates to attack and enabled his young center to find his legs. His skating allowed for zone exits, zone entries and a high pace of play through the neutral zone. When his line was on the ice, he was able to handle the extra defensive attention.

His playmaking skills are underrated as he has great touch on his passes and above average vision. Tracey is still a shooter at the core and has an excellent release that enables him to score from distance, off the rush, or from a deadly one-timer. - VG

Jackson Lacombe, D (39^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)

The thing that sticks out most for Lacombe is his composure, on or off the puck. He is a very smooth skater and has a plan when exiting his own zone. By the end of his freshman season, he had surpassed the standing of 2019 first rounder Ryan Johnson on the roster and was also receiving special teams work.

I expect him to take another big step forward as a sophomore while his timeline to making an impact at the professional level has seemingly moved up from 2024 to 2023 or even 2022. Between his skating, play reading, and diverse offensive tools, Lacombe is projecting as a potential second pairing defender sooner than later. - RW

Axel Andersson, D (Trade” Feb. 21, 2020. Originally: 57^th overall, 2018 [Boston]. 2019 Rank: 13 [Boston])

The strong Swede is a confident puck-mover and plays with an aura of control in his game. He does a great job at keeping attackers in front of him and steering them away from his goal. He hung on as an extra defenseman in the American league to start the season, which proves how his game will translate to the pros. Andersson projects as a solid positional blueliner who can chip in offensively, but more as a no-nonsense, middle-pairing, all-situations defenseman rather than a flashy star. He will be a jack-of-all-trades defender at the top level, with no true outstanding skills, but no glaring weaknesses, either. - MS

Blake McLaughlin, LW (79^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 10)

On the other hand, his play off the puck has grown more reliable, and his agility and puck handling ability have worked to make him a legit weapon offensively. He reads the play well, draws defenders to himself, and can keep opponents on their toes, dancing around them, or drawing a penalty in the attempt.

There is another level that we think McLaughlin can get to as a playmaking winger, and if and when he does, he could fight for a top nine role at the highest level. Until then, we have to admit that he could be a boom-or-bust prospect. - RW

Henry Thrun, D (101^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Harvard’s trust in Thrun’s abilities were evident by his appearance on the team’s first penalty kill unit - a big vote of confidence for a rookie. He also runs point on the power play, another big responsibility for a rookie.

He has a big frame and is physical, but he needs to pump his legs to move, but he can still join in on the rush. His speed and his laser passes help him set up his teammates and are part of what makes an offensive defenseman. Thrun is also a good stickhandler but he needs to work on staying on his feet in his own zone as he continues in his development. - JS

Josh Mahura, D (85^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 9)

Mahura has shown some promise in transition for Anaheim in his 28 career NHL appearances over two seasons, displaying some fearlessness with the puck. What is most important in his development is just that faith and confidence, because the skill is there. In addition to his puck-moving and skating prowess, the 22-year-old plays tight gaps with more strength in man-to-man battles than his lighter frame suggests, and he has become better at shutting down passing lanes in the defensive zone.

Anaheim is likely holding him back until he can play with consistency in all three zones, and if that day comes, the 2016 third rounder would make a solid bottom-four defender with offensive upside. - TD

Chase De Leo, C (Trade: Jun. 30, 2018. Originally: 99^th overall, 2014 [Winnipeg]. 2019 Rank: 16)

One of the most complete offensive players in the system, De Leo has very quick feet and a rapid shot that is particularly effective from in tight. The lefty is not limited in strength in spite of his 5-10” frame and can effectively run a cycle or drive the net without issue. However, De Leo is not much of an option on defense and seems to play with more energy and puck-play on the wing compared to center.

He has essentially been the same player for three years and, while not impossible, is unlikely to stick in the NHL long-term as much more than an injury replacement. He can be an elite quad-A player for the next ten years, but not much else. - TD

Antoine Morand, C (60^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

Fast and smart, his agility and passing skill stand out most. Capable of carrying the puck and eluding defenders with it at top speed, he displays soft hands and excellent foot quickness to get a step on his opposition. He has been trusted with late faceoffs and protecting a lead in the final minutes of a game, which speaks to his quiet, mature demeanor.

Admittedly, Morand is a very tough player to project; in certain games he will exhibit top-six scoring ability but then look invisible on the next five shifts. Finding some consistency in his raw, talented package could allow him to sneak into a top-nine role in the future with Anaheim, but his performance must first improve. - TD

Jack Badini, C/LW (91^st overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

A center, Badini’s scoring statistics might not look so impressive, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from seeing his value. A former member of the ECAC All-Rookie team, he has seen playing time on both Harvard’s power play and penalty kill. His skating requires power strides, but he is a really quick skater.

When he is on his game, his passes are powerful and crisp, and he can thread them in difficult situations. His speed, plus his quick, direct passes make him a shorthanded scoring threat. He also moves around well in the defensive zone. At the next level, Badini projects as a defensive, power forward. - JS

Trevor Janicke, C (132^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 11)

Janicke would not have made the top 15 with many other organizations, but the Ducks thin out quickly, leaving us room to talk about one of the smaller players in the system. He had a period early in the season where he looked like a potential steal, with seven points over a four game stretch, including three games against Big 10 opponents, but could not maintain that momentum as the season dragged on and he had streaks of nine and six games without points later in the year.

In fact, in the 18 games he played for the Fighting Irish after 2020 kicked in, Janicke was limited to three points. Some of the cold spell was luck-related, and he still flashed the skills that saw him drafted in the first place. He is a triggerman who can also dish and has soft hands. With half of Notre Dame’s top six turning pro, he will have a bigger chance to make an impact as a sophomore. - RW

Bryce Kindopp, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Kindopp has a lot to like about his game. In Everett the total buy-in to team defense is the best in the WHL and Kindopp has been a big part of that.

He is effective along the wall, both breaking up the opponent’s cycle and generating his own. He has a good release on his shot but is an effective scorer mainly because of how he positions himself and drives to the net. He is willing to pay the price to get to the net and has the size to stay there as the play progresses. He has a knack for sliding off pressure to give himself space to elevate and finish from in close.

On the rush he can score but he isn’t a speedster. His skating has improved enough to get a look, but it is part of why he wasn’t drafted. The most impressive thing with Kindopp has been his steady progression, with minutes, goals per game, shots per game, and points per game having improved year over year. - VG

Anaheim Ducks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:32:11 +0000

I have long been fascinated by the player development system in place in Anaheim. Actually, that isn’t quite fair, as I have long been fascinated by the entirety of hockey operations in Anaheim, what with the Ducks being possibly the last public holdout to the analytics revolution.

It would be easy to attribute their recent fall from grace to their insistence on playing checkers while the rest of the league plays chess, but that isn’t wholly accurate either. You see, if they were so far behind the times, the Ducks would not have been consistent contenders for so long. Not only did last year’s playoff miss signify the first early vacation for the Ducks since 2011-12, but it was just their third playoff miss since winning the Stanley Cup in 2007.

It would be pretty easy to look at last year as not only a result of anti-analytics, but doubling down on the anti-analytics style, what with Randy Carlyle spending the bulk of the season behind the bench before GM Bo Murray finally pulled the plug and installed himself as the interim bench boss over the last few months of the season.

While the above was a contributing factor, the Ducks fell from their regular postseason perch due to a combination of an aging core (with the associated injuries that also come in tandem) with a young next wave that was not quite ready.

One of the things that has most fascinated me about the Ducks player development system (including their scouting/drafting) is how they see to consistently find skilled forwards at the draft, which they had supplemented with just enough of a blueline corps to maintain their edge. Trades and the expansion draft (Sami Vaatanen and Marcus Pettersen for the former and Shea Theodore for the latter) made that blueline weaker than they had hoped and they team simply lacked the horses to replace them.

We can see that below, as the Ducks current top 20 has only four defensemen, two of whom were just brought into the system at this year’s draft. None of those four defenders are ranked higher than ninth in the system. That top defender, Josh Mahura, was given a change last year, in his first professional season, and held his own in a 17 game NHL trial, but did not do enough at either the AHL or NHL levels to indicate that he was ready for a full time NHL role.

The same is not true for the team’s forwards. With the Anaheim forward unit aging, and in some case, excised from the roster, there will be a few chances for one or more of the team’s top prospects to step up. The Ducks are expected to offer extended opportunities to Sam Steel, Troy Terry, and Max Jones to make the NHL roster on a full-time basis, especially now that former AHL San Diego coach Dallas Eakins has been named the Anaheim head coach. All will be given a chance to become part of the new Anaheim core.

-Ryan Wagman

Anaheim Ducks Center Sam Steel (34) . (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire)

1 Trevor Zegras, C (9^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) With all of the hoopla surrounding teammate and occasional linemate Jack Hughes, it was relatively easy to miss the fact that Trevor Zegras was also among the handful of the most dynamic forwards available in the 2019 draft class. Part of his ability to fly under the radar was due to not being a natural goalscorer, preferring, like current Anaheim legend Ryan Getzlaf, to create opportunities for others. The other part of it is the fact that near elite hockey IQ is one of the driving factors in his game, as opposed to say skating ability (although he is a tremendous skater) or puck skills (he has fantastic hands). With Hughes clearly the number one center for the USNTDP last year, Zegras alternated between playing as the second line center, or on either of the two wings. He can do it all and may not need to do it all at Boston University for more than a single season before he is ready for the pro game. - RW

2 Sam Steel, C (30^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 1) Steel’s first pro season was a solid one, as his dependable smarts and diverse offensive skill set were all on display in a season split between Anaheim and AHL San Diego. A playmaker at heart, he possesses incredible patience and natural hockey sense, but can beat you with a wicked wrist shot from the slot as well. He took on some tough defensive matchups in his rookie season in the pro ranks, showing exemplary maturity and discipline at a young age. Though his playmaking traits revolve around slowing the game down, he could stand to play with more pace. The door is wide open for the former first-rounder to secure a full-time spot on the center depth chart in the NHL. Expect him to play a top-six role with the Ducks in the future. - TD

3 Maxime Comtois, C/LW (50^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 4) Comtois secured a taste of the NHL level this season with seven points in 10 games, and later spent another four games at the AHL level. This experience is a sign pointing to how close he is to making the show. Comtois added the captaincy along with six points in five games for Team Canada at the World Juniors while playing through a separated shoulder. He also had an impressive second half of 48 points in 25 games with Drummondville showing great resiliency in returning strong after receiving unwarranted criticism from some fans after his Team Canada performance. Comtois is NHL ready; he has the size, the skills, the smarts and the drive. His skating is not special but it should be enough, and his game evolved from pure offensive power forward to a two-way force at the junior level. His 2018-19 was a big step towards reaching his potential as a responsible and dependable physical top-six winger with offensive upside. -MS

4 Isac Lundestrom, C/LW (23^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) Lundestrom has already seen NHL action as a teenager and will be an NHLer in the long run as well. He has a chance to emerge as a good center for Anaheim as soon as this upcoming season. His potential is not top line elite but as a middle six center he could thrive. He has strong foundations when it comes to his skating, skills, smarts and physicality. He could show more of an attack mentality in the offensive end though. His wrist shot is good, but he doesn’t use it enough. He is a strong puck carrier and excels at zone entries. He can be used in various roles, offensively as well as defensively, and do well at both ends, but isn’t all-in-all good enough to become the best player for your team. Lundestrom plays a balanced game and takes responsibility in all three zones. He can also support the offensive game and has puck skills to become a 40/50-point player in the NHL at his peak. - JH

5 Troy Terry, C (148^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 3) Terry is not the best or most complete prospect in the Anaheim system, but he might be the one with the most raw, unadulterated skill. The center is yet another pro rookie who dazzled in 2018-19, as the former World Junior Championship hero put up a point per game with AHL San Diego and 13 points in 32 games with Anaheim last year. His quick hands, whippy, dangerous wrist shot, offensive vision, and deceptive skating give him a neat package to build on, as long as he can remain confident and start to help out on defense more than he currently does. Has a solid chance to break the Ducks’ Opening Night roster, if his health (broken leg late last season) coincides with his gameplay. - TD

6 Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C (54^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 5) Coaches love smart players, and Groulx is certainly that. He showed a lot of growth on a deep Halifax team this season, with a 25-point improvement from the previous year. He was injured and missed some time in the playoffs, and was not himself until the Memorial Cup, where he contributed at a point-per-game pace. Groulx’s skating is only so-so, and could make him a better winger than center in the pros, but he has the hockey sense and the intelligence to overcome average skating speed and succeed. He can play all situations and has been one of the smartest players in the Q. Pair that with a greatly improved shot, and Groulx has a solid opportunity to move along in the pro ranks. He is shaping up to be a solid middle-six option who can play all situations, and can hang around with his hockey sense above all of his other well-rounded skills. - MS

7 Brayden Tracey, LW (29^th overall, 2019) What will get Tracey to the NHL is his ability to shoot the puck. He has a great wrist shot as well as a lethal one-timer that he can get off in limited space. He has the ability to find soft spaces in the defensive zone coverage that enable him good shooting opportunities. He was fortunate this year to be the fifth player in one of the top 5 man units in the WHL and I remain a bit skeptical about his ability to drive offense without such a dominant supporting cast around him. His skating is above average and he moves around the ice well with and without the puck, including some nice feigns and dekes that allow him to beat guys one on one. He projects as a middle six winger who is a viable offensive option on a second power play unit. - VG

8 Max Jones, LW (24^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) Another former first-rounder who made his pro debut last season, Jones boasts a menacing power-forward repertoire and the intense, mature game to grow into it. He struggled to establish himself in limited NHL minutes last season (30-2-3-5), but looked dominant at times with AHL San Diego, using his elite skating, combining balance and stride power to finesse by defenders and make something happen. His skating speed is at a high level for someone of his size and playing style, and his sturdiness with the puck on his stick makes him a difficult player to wrap up. His feisty, angry demeanor on the ice can backfire (penalty minute accumulation, lack of focus on defense), but will be a factor if he can harness it for good. Even if he does not live up to his draft billing, he should establish himself on a bottom six slot in short order. - TD

9 Josh Mahura, D (85^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) As part of a long line of high-end defensemen drafted in later rounds and developed by the Ducks, Mahura shows top-four upside and the potential to be a lethal power-play quarterback in the future. A crisp, accurate, and heads-up passer, the 2016 third-rounder is a beast in transitional play, and is never afraid to start -- or join -- an offensive rush. Solid vision of up-ice development is aided by his tight gaps, which can force turnovers at the blue line and spark a chance the other way. An average skater, Mahura needs to work on his technical footwork (pivots, start/stops, acceleration) to command a lot of minutes in his NHL future. He could also be a shooter, but his game is more tailored to his skill at facilitating chances for others. - TD

10 Blake McLaughlin, LW (79^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 7) After a strong performance in his draft year with USHL Chicago, McLaughlin was one of several high end newcomers at the University of Minnesota. In a disappointing season for the Golden Gophers, the former third rounder was part of the general malaise around the program during the first half of the season, but he made the necessary adjustments from the Junior A level and performed at an admirable NCAA level in the second half of his freshman year. By year’s end, he was showcasing a promising two-way game, using his skilled hands to force turnovers in his own end and then to create chances for his linemates in the offensive end. His solid first few steps also help him be a disruptive force throughout the rink. If his trajectory continues, he still has a good chance of fulfilling his middle six NHL upside. - RW

11 Trevor Janicke, C (132^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Like Trevor Zegras above, this Trevor is also experienced at being overshadowed by Jack Hughes. A USNTDP member during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, he was never draft eligible as a late birthday, but even so, Hughes helped keep him in the bottom six during his second year with the program. Spending his draft year with lowly, and now defunct Central Illinois of the USHL, Janicke was easy to forget, but he has often the only real offensive driver for the Flying Aces. Heading to Notre Dame next year, Janicke has refined hockey sense and is a strong skater (two endemic traits among USNTDP alums) but his shot is a separator. The wrist shot, in particular, can beat good goalies (at the USHL level) from a distance. While he may not score as often from the blueline, he will still be deadly from the circles on in. With continued development with the Fighting Irish, he has middle six upside, although more likely as a winger than up the middle. -RW

12 Henry Thrun, D (101^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Lacking the flair of fellow USNTDP blueliners Cam York and Domenick Fensore, or the size and brawn of teammates like Alex Vlasic or Case McCarthy, Thrun did a little bit of everything for the program. He plays a quiet, hyper-efficient game at both ends. He was a regular on the penalty kill and shows the type of on-ice IQ that you could expect from someone heading to Harvard. He is not a blazer, but has enough mobility to move the puck out of his own zone. His work in the offensive end lacks panache, but he is an excellent passer, particularly with his backhand. He has good size, but he wins battles defensively through positioning instead of brute force. His upside is not likely to be better than a solid number four, but in this system, that makes him one of the best defenders.

13 Antoine Morand, C (60^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9) A teammate of Groulx’s and a close friend of Comtois, Antoine Morand is well connected with his fellow Anaheim-drafted Q prospect teammates. Much like them, Morand knows where to be on the ice. He is a creator who distributes very well and can run an offence. For the third year in a row, he broke the 70-point barrier, this time with the Halifax Mooseheads, where he was named captain. In his second Memorial Cup appearance, he doubled his point output at the tournament from two to four. He is a solid skater with great agility and strong edgework, but his size is a question mark going forward. Morand will have to bulk up to have extended success at the NHL level, as he is a top-6 offensive player or bust prospect as an undersized forward. - MS

14 Lukas Dostal, G (85^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 12) Although small by modern goaltending standards, Czech netminder Lukas Dostal is blessed with high end athleticism. Along with his glove hand and his ability to track the puck, he can keep his team in games, as he demonstrated time and again at the junior level, and against men at various European stops. In addition to a star turn with the Czech U20 team at the WJC (he was named one of the three best players on the team and led all netminders at the tournament with a stellar .957 save percentage), he also more than held his own at the Czech second division and in Finland’s top level with Ilves. He likes to challenge shooters and shows a plus ability to prevent second chances. His limbs move quickly, and he can cover more of the net than his bulk would suggest. Heading back to Ilves for another year, he profiles as a future backup at the highest level. - RW

15 Brendan Guhle, D (51^st overall, 2015 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 3 [Buffalo]) Packaged in the February trade that sent Brandon Montour to Buffalo, Guhle wasted no time getting acclimated to the Ducks system and showing his NHL potential in the process. The former second-rounder has the size and fundamental defensive smarts to be reliable in his own zone, as well as the speed and playmaking abilities to carry the puck out and make some noise. At the tail end of the 2018-19 campaign, the former second-round pick was quarterbacking the Ducks’ second power-play unit, as his fantastic technical skating ability and shot made for a nifty man-advantage package at the top of the zone. Mature and physical, there are no real, debilitating flaws to his game, and he could be on the Ducks’ blueline come to the start of the 2019-20 season although his true upside is more number four or five than defensive linchpin. - TD

16 Chase De Leo, C (99^th overall, 2014 [Winnipeg]. Last Year: Unranked) An undersized forward, De Leo has absolutely dominated in the AHL over the past few seasons, including a career-best 66-20-35-55 stat line with San Diego last year, adding five playoff goals in the process. His combination of energy, skill, playmaking, and shooting prowess make him one of the most intriguing presences in a prospect system -- one De Leo joined following a trade from Winnipeg in June 2018 -- deep in scoring centers. So why hasn’t he seen an extended shot in the NHL? His 5-9” stature doesn’t help, and his inability to help much on defense -- even in his draft +4 year -- is not a step in the right direction. Jumping into a re-tooling organization like the Ducks could help his case for an NHL spot, however, although he would need to prove he can take on a bottom six role. - TD

17 Jackson Lacombe, D (39^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) As Lacombe spent the overwhelming majority of his draft year playing with the Shattuck St. Mary’s Midget Prep program, kicking butt and taking names, it was fairly clear that he was too good for the level he was at. His outrageous point totals (89 points in 54 games as a defenseman) need to be taken with a few shakers of salt. That said, when he did play in the USHL for a few scattered games with the Chicago Steel, he showed a different side of his game, one seemingly more indicative of what he could develop into. Tall and lanky, with room to gain mass, he is a plus skater and shows the ability to move the ability at a solid level, similar to what he demonstrated in the pre-season at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Most notable to these eyes, he was able to read the play at a higher level than was necessary in the prep ranks. He has higher upside than some ranked above him on this list, but is further from reaching that level. -RW

18 Jack Badini, C/LW (91^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 13) Along with Blake McLaughlin and Jackson Lacombe, Jack Badini is one of three former Chicago Steel players in the Anaheim system. Drafted in his second year of eligibility after leading the Steel to a USHL crown in 2017, his first two years at Harvard have been solid, but not spectacular. He is still fleet of foot and a dangerous penalty killer. Since being drafted, Badini has grown more into his frame over two years at Harvard and can be a tougher player to get past in his own end. He has not been given an extended opportunity playing special teams, but has still managed to contribute at a nice secondary pace. Badini still has the makings of a solid bottom six forward, possibly at center, but it would be good to see him gain additional responsibilities with the Crimson before turning pro. - RW

19 Anthony Stolarz, G (45^th overall, 2012 [Philadelphia]. Last Year: 13 [Philadelphia]) As an injury-prone netminder who has been through multiple NHL systems, you might be asking what Stolarz is even doing on a prospects rundown. Keep in mind that the massive, surprisingly athletic American still has quite a bit of upside and has even showed it in his brief NHL stints to this point. A deep-playing netminder, Stolarz is calm, shuts down the posts well, moves from side to side efficiently, and has a very composed game that limits scrambling. With John Gibson atop the goaltending totem pole, what the Ducks will do with the 25-year-old is an open question, but he projects to be a high-end backup goalie at the NHL level if given the role over an extended trial. - TD

20 Andrew Poturalski, C (UFA: Mar. 8, 2016 [Carolina]. Last Year: 14 [Carolina]) Everywhere he has gone in his career, Poturalski has scored at incredible rates. A star at the USHL and NCAA levels, the undrafted forward has torn up the AHL as well, most recently with a 72-23-47-70 regular season, Calder Cup title, and the Butterfield Trophy (AHL postseason MVP) with Charlotte in 2018-19. A decisive, speedy playmaker with quick hands and high-end vision, the 25-year-old possesses a ceiling of a depth scoring forward with potential to have a ton of success on the power play. The lack of a quick first step has limited his ability to attack on the fly, while his undersized frame makes him nearly non-existent around the boards and might be the primary reason why he only received a two game NHL cameo across his three full season in the Carolina organization. With a rebuilding Anaheim team, he may finally get his chance. - TD

Josh Mahura – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (April 8th – April 14th) – Eastern playoff race tightens with Penguins back in the hunt – Favourable matchups and players to target

Arizona Coyotes – TUE @ SEA, WED @ VAN (BTB), FRI @ EDM, SUN @ CGY

Calgary Flames – TUE @SJS, THU @ LAK, FRI @ ANA (BTB), SUN VS ARI

Florida Panthers – TUE VS OTT, THU VS CBJ, SAT VS BUF

Los Angeles Kings – TUE @ ANA THU VS CGY SAT VS ANA

Seattle Kraken – TUE VS ARI, THU VS SJS, SAT @ DAL, SUN @ STL

Tampa Bay Lightning – TUE VS CBJ, THU VS OTT, SAT @ WAS

Toronto Maple Leafs – MON VS PIT, TUE @ NJD (BTB), THU VS NJD, SAT VS DET

Vegas Golden Knights – MON @ VAN, WED @ EDM, FRI VS MIN, SUN VS COL

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (February 26th to March 3rd) – Matthews at the center of Maple Leafs run – Favourable schedules and players to target

Arizona Coyotes - TUE @ MTL, THU @ TOR, FRI @ OTT (BTB), SUN @ WSH

Dallas Stars - MON VS NYI, TUE @ COL (BTB), THU VS WPG, SAT VS SJS

Edmonton Oilers - MON VS LAK, WED VS STL, SAT @ SEA, SUN @ PIT (BTB)

Florida Panthers - TUE VS BUF, THU VS MTL, SAT @ DET

Minnesota Wild - TUE VS CAR, THU @ NSH, SAT @ STL, SUN VS SJS (BTB)

New Jersey Devils - TUE @ SJS, FRI @ ARI, SUN @ LAK

Ottawa Senators - MON @ WSH, TUE @ NSH (BTB), FRI VS ARI, SAT @ PHI (BTB)

Washington Capitals - MON VS OTT, TUE @ DET (BTB), FRI VS PHI, SUN VS ARI

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Forwards

Aleksander Barkov - C

Matthew Tkachuk - RW

Sam Reinhart - RW

Carter Verhaeghe - LW

Sam Bennett - C

Anton Lundell - C

Evan Rodrigues - LW

Eetu Luostarinen - LW

Nick Cousins - RW

Defense

Aaron Ekblad - D

Brandon Montour - D

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - D

Gustav Forsling - D

Goaltending

Sergei Bobrovsky - G

STANLEY CUP FINAL: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS FLORIDA PANTHERS – Goaltending key in a tightly contested series

Forwards

Defense

Goaltending

Special Teams

Conclusion

NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS FLORIDA PANTHERS – A path opens up in the East for fortunate Leafs and surprising Panthers

Forwards

Defense

Goaltending

Special Teams

Conclusion

NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: BOSTON BRUINS VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS – Late surging Panthers make interesting underdog despite gap in standings

Forwards

Defense

Goaltending

Special Teams

Conclusion

SEATTLE KRAKEN EXPANSION DRAFT: Prospects to Target – Part One – Goaltenders and Defense

Daniel Vladar - Boston Bruins

Alex Nedeljkovic - Carolina Hurricanes

Michael McNiven - Montreal Canadiens

Filip Gustavsson - Ottawa Senators

Joey Daccord - Ottawa Senators

Vitek Vanecek - Washington Capitals

Connor Ingram - Nashville Predators

Josef Korenar - San Jose Sharks

Ville Husso - St. Louis Blues

Mikhail Berdin - Winnipeg Jets

Jake Bean - Carolina Hurricanes

Riley Stillman - Florida Panthers

Cale Fleury - Montreal Canadiens

Sebastian Aho - New York Islanders

Cal Foote - Tampa Bay Lightning

Josh Mahura - Anaheim Ducks

Ben Gleason - Dallas Stars

Austin Strand - Los Angeles Kings

Brogan Rafferty - Vancouver Canucks

Logan Stanley - Winnipeg Jets

Sami Niku - Winnipeg Jets

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Anaheim Ducks Top 20 Prospects

Trevor Zegras, C (9th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Jamie Drysdale, D (6th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Trevor Zegras, C (9^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Jamie Drysdale, D (6^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Jacob Perreault, RW (27^th overall, 202. Previous ranking: N/A)

Lukas Dostal, G (85^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C (54^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Isac Lundestrom, C/LW (23^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Brayden Tracey, LW (29^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Sam Colangelo, RW (36^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Jackson Lacombe, D (39^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Axel Andersson, D (Trade” Feb. 21, 2020. Originally: 57^th overall, 2018 [Boston]. Previous ranking: 7)

Blake McLaughlin, LW (79^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Henry Thrun, D (101^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Ian Moore, D (67^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Josh Mahura, D (85^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

Chase De Leo, C (Trade: Jun. 30, 2018. Originally: 99^th overall, 2014 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: 11)

Antoine Morand, C (60^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Jack Badini, C/LW (91^st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Trevor Janicke, C (132^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Artyom Galimov, LW (129^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: N/A)

Trevor Zegras, C (9^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Lukas Dostal, G (85^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 14)

Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C (54^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Isac Lundestrom, C/LW (23^rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Brayden Tracey, LW (29^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Jackson Lacombe, D (39^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)

Axel Andersson, D (Trade” Feb. 21, 2020. Originally: 57^th overall, 2018 [Boston]. 2019 Rank: 13 [Boston])

Blake McLaughlin, LW (79^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 10)

Henry Thrun, D (101^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Josh Mahura, D (85^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 9)

Chase De Leo, C (Trade: Jun. 30, 2018. Originally: 99^th overall, 2014 [Winnipeg]. 2019 Rank: 16)

Antoine Morand, C (60^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

Jack Badini, C/LW (91^st overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Trevor Janicke, C (132^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 11)