Lukas Reichel – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:46:45 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 02: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche on April 2, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Despite being Connor Bedard’s second season in the NHL and the grand designs management had for taking a big step towards returning to the playoffs, the 2024-25 season couldn’t have been a bigger disappointment all-around for Chicago. The Blackhawks finished with 61 points, a nine-point improvement over 2023-2024, and had the second worst record in the league to San Jose for the second straight season. General manager Kyle Davidson’s plan to surround Bedard and the rest of their younger players with veterans fell flat and stunted their prospects’ growth in ways. Chicago had the league’s worst metrics at five-on-five regarding CorsiFor percentage (44.1) and expected goals for percentage (43.0) and they allowed the most goals (207). Oddly enough, they had the league’s seventh best power play and were middle of the road (14th) in penalty killing. The Blackhawks must show sizable progress this year or else management changes could be on the horizon at a vital time.

What’s Changed?

The Blackhawks will move ahead with new head coach Jeff Blashill. The former Red Wings bench boss comes in after he was an assistant for Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay for the past three seasons and with such a young team to work with, it’ll be up to him to guide Bedard and company into the next level. Changes were kept to a minimum on the ice, however. Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez retired. They brought back Sam Lafferty in a trade with Buffalo and added forward Andre Burakovsky from Seattle for Joseph Veleno to give their top six more speed and skill. In free agency, their biggest moves were retaining and locking up their own guys. Ryan Donato re-signed for four years, $16 million and they extended young star-to-be Frank Nazar for seven years, $46.13 million. What will make this team look different are their own prospects who will get more run. Forwards like Nazar, Oliver Moore and Lukas Reichel will get more play as will defencemen Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov.

What Would Success Look Like?

If things break right for Chicago, they’ll play fast and exciting hockey and allow their younger players to be creative. Blashill’s arrival as head coach comes with a history of developmental success with USA Hockey as well as the lessons learned from coaching in Detroit and assisting in Tampa Bay. If that translates into Bedard living up to his potential and becoming an elite No. 1 center, it’ll be worth the pain they dealt with last season. But it starts with Bedard and has to trickle down to the other young players to take big steps. From Korchinski to Levshunov to Nazar, all of them must improve noticeably and get Chicago out of the Central Division basement and into the wild card picture.

What Could Go Wrong?

The trouble with youth is that they don’t all break through at the same time and sometimes they don’t break through at all. Although last year’s team was built around veterans playing the role of guiding hands, this season will lean heavily on the cadre of top prospects they’ve added over the years. If we’ve learned anything from other teams going through the same thing in the past it’s that not everyone can keep up. If Bedard struggles again this season, it’ll be a crushing turn of events because everything is built around his eventual rise to the level of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid-like ability. Other young guys can go through the motions, but Bedard cannot this season, especially with a big extension due to him soon.

Top Breakout Candidate

Last season, Frank Nazar had 26 points in 53 games upon being called up from the AHL where he had 24 points in 21 games in Rockford. What we saw out of him was a guy who could give some juice to Bedard and allowed Chicago to have a top line that could have some fun playing hockey. He’ll be counted upon to center his own line this season and if he has the same kind of jump to his game, it’ll make the new contract he signed look like a bargain in no time.

FORWARDS

Connor Bedard

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	35	50	85	1.04

The honeymoon phase is over for the former first overall pick. It’s hard to think of a lot of 19-year-olds with two 60+ point seasons in the NHL where the discussion around them is so negative, but the burden of expectations is weighing heavily on Bedard right now. Touted as a generational talent, it’s easy to see why the world is expected of him. He looks like a threat to score whenever he’s on the ice and has vision that even some of the most talented players in the world can only dream of. It just hasn’t resulted in elite results yet for him. His rookie season was promising enough, albeit derailed from a broken jaw, and the feeling was that he has stagnated since. He has a lethal wrist shot but hasn’t been able to score from distance like he did in junior, his defensive play is heavily scrutinized and he’s not a fast skater, so his flaws started to get noticed more. The one thing Bedard is elite at right now is gaining entry with possession, setting up rush chances for his teammates. This can get overlooked because he doesn’t always get on the scoresheet, but the elite skill is there. The Hawks also didn’t generate chances at an elite rate off Bedard’s entries, which is a combination of him not figuring out how to score from distance yet, knowing when to pass after gaining the line and maybe taking the puck to the net more. His defensive play is something that can get better as he gets older but figuring out how to stop leaving so much offence on the table from their star player should be the first priority for Chicago.

Teuvo Teravainen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	16	37	53	0.68

Teravainen’s reunion with the Hawks went nicely, although maybe a little different than how they anticipated. They started the year with him as the primary linemate and setup guy for Connor Bedard and the two barely saw any time together at even strength after October. After the split, Teravainen spent most of his time on a more defensive-oriented line with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. This played to his strengths, as Teravainen is one of the better two-way wingers in hockey with his awareness in the defensive zone and knack for breaking plays up at the last second. Even strength production is his one concern going forward, as almost half of his points came on the power play last season. This is something that could go either way this coming season because if Bedard and the Hawks power play improves, Teravainen will reap the benefits. He has been a power play mainstay for most of his career, acting as the quarterback from the right wall and that should continue into next season. Not needing a lot of puck touches to be effective makes Teravainen an easy player to move around the lineup, so he is going to be a key piece as the Hawks try to break out of what has been a brutal rebuilding period. His late season chemistry with youngster Frank Nazar was encouraging to see if you’re looking for something to build on for the upcoming season.

Ryan Donato

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	25	28	53	0.65

Having a shoot-first mentality has its benefits and Ryan Donato reaped the reward of it. The 31 goals he scored last season awas a career high at any level he has played at and the first time he has ever scored more than 20 in the NHL. He also more than doubled his career high in points. It’s hard to call it a breakout season since he’s 29 years old with almost 500 games under his belt, but you have to give credit where it's due. Donato has always been blessed with great hands and for years he only got to show it during shootouts or penalty shots. Last year things just fell into place for him, getting lots of ice-time with Bedard or other playmakers like Teravainen and consistently finding ways to get open. His own playmaking game also improved, excelling at the give-and-go game and finding the soft spots in the coverage. He might have been Bedard’s best friend by the end of the season because he gave him some form of linemate consistency after months of trial and error early in the season. The Hawks certainly valued it, opting to re-sign him instead of trading him during a career season. The shooting mindset has always been part of his game, having some moderate success with it during his brief stint with the Kraken, but his results last year were somewhat unprecedented. He’s never had a linemate as good as Bedard, with the closest thing possibly being Adam Fox back in his Harvard days. Repeating this now that teams might have more of a book on him is going to be the challenge.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	24	21	45	0.55

Bringing in Tyler Bertuzzi made a lot of sense on paper. A tough, net-front player with some finesse is who most teams want to pair their stars with. The match didn’t go according to plan, mostly because Bertuzzi spent most of the first half of the season with Taylor Hall and an assortment of centers instead of Bedard. The duo only played together on the power play and even then, there wasn’t much chemistry with Bertuzzi playing a stationary role in front of the net and the Hawks having trouble creating any puck movement. He had scored only five goals in his first 21 games but began to turn a corner after the Hawks made a coaching switch. He started to get more regular minutes with Bedard and had a nice run in the middle of the season which helped Bertuzzi hit the 20-goal mark again. His fit with the Hawks outside of the offensive zone was a little awkward because he’s a smart player who knows where to be, but doesn’t skate or pass the puck well while the play is moving forward. It makes automatically putting him with Bedard a quandary because there might be better, less limited options there, but you also don’t want Bertuzzi to be a drag on your second line, as he was for most of the season. In the second year of a four-year contract, the Hawks have some time to figure this out.

Frank Nazar

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	24	32	56	0.73

If you watched any of Nazar’s games and timed his shifts in the AHL, he would be close to 23-25 minutes a night. The Hawks didn’t give him that level of leeway, but the youngster did get regular second line minutes along with time on both special teams units. Nazar showed a little of everything in his prolonged call-up stint. You saw some of the game-breaking skill, especially off the rush. The deception he showed with some of the goals he scored without a pass was impressive and as his playmaking continues to develop, he should be a great dual threat on the Hawks second line. He slowly got more comfortable in the NHL game as the season went on. He was primarily a rush threat early on and getting better at creating off second chances in the offensive zone. Stealing pucks was one of his trademarks both in college and the NHL and he’s still developing strength to do it effectively at the NHL level. He also protects the puck well in open ice, allowing him to create some dangerous shots in tight spaces, but he did have some plays die when defencemen played the body on him. There is a lot of tenacity in Nazar’s game, he’s always the first to loose pucks and wants the play to run through him. It bodes well for his future because he has a lot of skill and has the will to play more of a grinding game, now it’s all about getting stronger so he can do it more effectively against NHLers.

Andre Burakovsky

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	14	26	40	0.53

As the hunt for more scoring continues, the Hawks are taking a small risk by adding Burakovsky for the final two years of his contract. He was arguably the most disappointing of the Kraken’s free agent signings, struggling to stay healthy and produce during his time there. Last year was his first in which he was mostly healthy and he didn’t come close to what they were expecting out of him. Burakovsky’s calling card is his strength in transition, he’s excellent at creating offence off the rush and the challenge has been becoming less of a perimeter player. His skill level with the puck is borderline elite, as he can anticipate plays from the outside better than almost everyone. It’s what makes him lethal and also very frustrating to watch because he tries a lot of plays that are very difficult to execute, and it doesn’t always workout. He almost never drives play well enough to make up for it either, so it’s really up to the team to decide if the positives outweigh the negatives with him. His skillset in transition meshes well with the style the Hawks want to play, so this is a good spot for Burakovsky to turn his career around. He’s never been a top line guy, playing in the 15-16 minute range even during his best years with the Avalanche, so he might be more of what the Hawks already have if his struggles to find the back of the net continue.

Lukas Reichel

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
67	9	15	24	0.36

As the new prospects come in, old ones will be phased out and Reichel is dangerously close to the line there. Not producing much in his three NHL seasons, he’s been mostly seen as a disappointment as a former first round pick. Transitioning from being the best player on their AHL club for years to a complementary piece isn’t easy, as he’s used to having the puck on his stick all the time and having everything go through him. This could work for him in the NHL, but Reichel has yet to figure out how to score with any consistency or use his teammates well. The only thing he’s really excelled at is carrying the puck through the neutral zone, which is a good skill to have, but it becomes less of a factor when your defensive game isn’t great, and you aren’t scoring either. Last year was all about finding a role for him and the Hawks couldn’t seem to get him going no matter what they tried. He’s proven in international tournaments that he can be a complementary piece and play well away from the puck, but the NHL is a different animal. With a new wave of prospects coming in, this season is likely Reichel’s last chance to prove he can be part of the solution for the Hawks.

Nick Foligno

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	13	18	31	0.42

Shifting Foligno from Bedard’s linemate to more of a defensive role was the best move for both parties. The veteran enjoyed a small renaissance in his point production with the Hawks but feeding him power play time and minutes on the top line wasn’t working and he was more comfortable forming a checking duo with Jason Dickinson. He actually produced at a better rate at even strength this year than he did the previous season when he was featured on the top line. He was mainly acquired by the Hawks to fill a leadership role, but his ability to play any position is nice to have. You can move him up and down the lineup, but his days of playing on the top line are likely done. His legs aren’t what they used to be, and it has been a long time since he was a high-level offensive player. There isn’t a lot that he does in the offensive zone to help on a top line except retrieve pucks and be a netfront presence, which Chicago signed Bertuzzi for and it made Folgino redundant in that spot. There’s still a lot to like about the player. He did well in a checking role, providing a defensive presence on a forward corps that desperately needed it and showed some flash on the penalty kill with a couple shorthanded goals. Foligno still plays a lot for a defensive forward, especially at his age, so he could be moved higher in the lineup again if the Hawks are looking for a spark.

Ilya Mikheyev

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	14	18	32	0.42

Like most of the Hawks, Mikheyev started slow with only two goals in his first 20 games, yet finished the year with his second 20-goal season. It was somewhat surprising to see him get to that mark because the speedy forward had no problem generating chances, he just couldn’t finish. This has been a recurring trend for him over his career, shooting below 10% in his lone full NHL season, but he debunked that trend as the season went on and finished strong. He was one of the Hawks more trusted players, used heavily on the penalty kill and he was one of the more active players in the league at creating shorthanded entries. While the lack of finish was part of his reputation, his defensive game was another. He anticipates plays well in the defensive zone, has a knack for picking off passes and turning them into breakaway opportunities the other way. His speed keeps defences honest even if his finishing has been inconsistent over the year. It’s why he’s played stretches on the top line if they need a spark or someone to stabilize things. A reliable veteran like Mikheyev is nice to have in the lineup and could be an interesting trade piece this season with some prospects knocking on the door for the Hawks.

DEFENCE

Connor Murphy

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	1	14	15	0.21

The one sign of consistency in what has been an abysmal era of hockey for Chicago is Connor Murphy. He is entering his ninth year with the Hawks and has been a steady top four player for almost his entire tenure. Murphy usually starts most of his shifts in the defensive zone and spends a lot of his minutes eating hits from opposing forecheckers. He’s solid enough with the puck to make the connecting plays out of the zone and join the attack if needed, but it’s mostly an afterthought with him. So much that last year he tied a career high in points with only 19. When he does jump in, though, he usually makes it count, as he doesn’t take a lot of empty calorie wristers from 60 feet away and usually waits until he has a good chance if he’s going to shoot. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s nice when your main shutdown D contributes like that. He’s also adjusted his game to fit the Hawks brand of firewagon hockey, learning how to disrupt plays after the entry rather than stepping up at the blue line. This coming year could be his biggest challenge yet with the departure of Seth Jones. Murphy’s always played top minutes, but he had Duncan Keith in front of him previously and then Seth Jones. He got a taste of it last year, but the Hawks opted top play some of their younger defencemen high in the lineup while keeping Murphy in the same role. We will see if new coach Jeff Blashill continues that trend.

Alex Vlasic

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	7	28	35	0.43

Vlasic’s emergence was a revelation to the Hawks blue line. He’s a tall, mobile defenceman that can handle the demands of playing on the top pair. Sometimes you have to let players sink or swim when you’re rebuilding and Vlasic was one of the few players who kept passing every test. Chicago hasn’t been an easy environment for a young defenceman to thrive in the past few years, and Vlasic’s been able to keep his head above water while logging big minutes. He can skate well for a player of his size and uses his long reach to kill plays. The biggest asset to his game is how good he is at retrieving pucks, killing two birds with one stone by nullifying the forecheck and getting the puck moving in the right direction quickly. The Hawks don’t get a lot of controlled breakouts because of the team’s poor defensive structure, but Vlasic is one of the few who can start them consistently. He can also break the puck out himself if he needs to, using those long strides to go coast-to-coast and flip possession. His offence has also come around nicely, especially for someone who starts so many shifts in his own zone. He was a fixture on the power play for most of the season and saw his minutes increase there after the Seth Jones trade. It’s not always the top picks that fill big roster spots when you’re rebuilding and Vlasic is proof of that.

Wyatt Kaiser

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	5	11	16	0.21

With so many young defencemen battling for roster spots, Kaiser’s seniority might give him an inside edge heading into training camp. He doesn’t have the raw skills that some of their other defencemen possess, but almost 100 games of NHL experience are worth something. He’s smaller but has a complementary skillset with some of their star forwards. He loves joining the attack and activating on the cycle, although he didn’t see much of a reward for it on the scoresheet. He was one of the team’s better defenders at killing the rush, using his low center of gravity well to deliver hits and attack forwards directly. He was also the Hawks best defenceman at carrying the puck into the zone, which is a supplementary skill for someone on the third pair, but something that could give him an edge over the other players competing for his spot. Kaiser’s done enough to warrant more of a look, it’s just a matter of whether the Hawks think they have better options within.

Nolan Allan

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
32	1	4	5	0.16

One of the plethora of high defencemen draft picks in Chicago, Allan got a long look in the NHL before getting sent back to Rockford and it’s tough to say where his future lies right now. He fits the mold of a mobile, defensive defenceman but doesn’t have any real standouts skills. He was good enough as a puck-mover with the Hawks but struggled mightily at defending the rush, playing deep in the zone and struggling to kill the play. He can skate well enough to recover but doing it against NHLers was a big learning curve for the young blue liner. It’s part of his game that he has to fine tune because Allan doesn’t contribute much offensively and it’s hard to see that part of his game changing, whereas he can iron out some of the details in how he defends. It’s going to be a crowded training camp in Chicago this fall, so Allen will need to find some sort of niche to start the year on the big club.

GOAL

Spencer Knight

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
48	16	25	4	1	.901	2.08

At the start of last season, Chicago looked ready to glide through their transition phase on the wings - or rather, the well-worn goalie pads - of veteran journeymen Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit. This time around, in the aftermath of a season-ending surgery for Brossoit last August and a mid-season departure for Petr Mrazek to Detroit (he's now soaking up the sun in Anaheim), Chicago is pawing at the ground in anticipation of finally kicking off the Spencer Knight era. If that's not where we all expected it to be, all's the better for Knight - especially with former USNTDP teammate and fellow American up-and-comer Drew Commesso waiting in the wings.

Knight, who was moved to Chicago in March, fared about as well on paper as any of the other netminders who attempted to stem the bleeding for the Blackhawks last year. No single goaltender finished the year with a .900 save percentage in all situations, including Knight - but hopefully, the fact that he was the only goaltender who managed to produce Quality Starts in more than half of his appearances will bode well for Chicago in the long run. He'll likely partner up with Arvid Söderblom for the time being, waiting for Commesso to fully mature and graduate to full-time NHL action, but all eyes will almost certainly be on Knight himself to see what the formerly unflappable prospect can string together. His ability to chameleon his game to match the defence in front of him had been a huge part of his appeal when he was drafted 13th overall in 2019; it will be intriguing to see if he's able to utilize that behind one of the league's most chaotic rebuilds.

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Dustin Wolf makes strong case for the Calder Trophy – Teams and Players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:57:59 +0000

Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Two months ago, I took a look at the Calder Trophy race, highlighting Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson and Dustin Wolf as the favorites, but I also didn’t go into depth about the Flames goaltender because netminders typically don’t do well in Calder Trophy voting. As noted, Steve Mason was the last goaltender to win it back in 2008-09, and he was so good that campaign -- 33-20-7 record, 2.29 GAA and .916 save percentage -- that he finished in Vezina Trophy voting in addition to winning the Calder Trophy. So, the bar Wolf would have to reach to finish ahead of Celebrini and Hutson, who have been impressive in their own right, is high.

Even if he doesn’t end up getting the Calder, though, Wolf deserves recognition for what he’s doing because it’s not an exaggeration to say that the 23-year-old rookie is the single biggest reason Calgary has a legitimate shot of making the playoffs. Wolf has a 22-12-5 record, 2.53 GAA and .915 save percentage in 39 starts this campaign. He might not be a Vezina Trophy contender like Mason was in his rookie campaign, but Wolf is in a four-way tie for fifth in save percentage (min. 20 games played), so he’s certainly one of the league’s top netminders.

His numbers look even better when you consider that Calgary is tied for 20th in xGA/60 (3.11), per Moneypuck, which suggests that the defense in front of him has been average at best. That’s also reflected in his Goals Saved Above Expected, which stands at 16.5, the sixth best in the league. That puts him just behind Andrei Vasilevskiy (17.1), which is good company to be in.

Meanwhile, the Flames have done nothing to help him offensively. The Flames rank last in goals per game with 2.56. Among teams that have averaged 2.60 goals per game or fewer dating back to 2020-21, Calgary at 30-23-11 is the only team with a points percentage above .500 (.555). The next best is the 2021-22 Sharks, who finished at 32-37-13 for a .470 points percentage. What about finishing last in scoring but still managing a points percentage above .500? The last team to do that were the 2015-16 Devils, who finished 38-36-8 on the strength of Cory Schneider (2.15 GAA, .924 save percentage). Even then, those Devils didn’t come close to making the playoffs, so Calgary might one-up them in that metric.

It’s fair to say what Wolf’s doing is rare: taking a team with a mediocre defense and a rock-bottom offense and guiding the squad toward a potential playoff berth. Is that enough to win the Calder? It’s tough to say because it’s so subjective. Lane Hutson is a rookie defenseman who has already breached the 50-point mark and might reach 60 before the season is over. That almost never happens. Chris Chelios had 64 points back in 1984-85 and would have secured the Calder if that wasn’t also the rookie season of Mario Lemieux (43 goals, 100 points). Meanwhile, Macklin Celebrini’s production isn’t quite as rare if we’re judging him against past rookie forwards, but it’s still worth emphasizing that he’s reached the 20-goal mark despite injury and isn’t too far below a point per game. Comparing them is difficult because they serve completely different roles.

Whatever the case, though, Calgary without Wolf would have been a far different and likely substantially worse team this campaign.

Boston Bruins (Mon vs BUF, Thu @ VGK, Sat @ SJS, Sun @ LAK)

Boston isn’t out of the playoff race yet, but after going 3-7-2 from Feb. 5-March 13, the Bruins’ chances of making the postseason seem increasingly bleak. They need a strong week, and the Bruins will be facing two non-playoff teams in Buffalo, who they host Monday, and San Jose, who they have a road matchup against Saturday. However, the Bruins will also have two difficult road clashes in Vegas on Thursday and Los Angeles on Sunday, so there will be challenges for them to overcome.

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Boston has won two of its past three games since the trade deadline, despite its longer-term struggles and being a deadline day seller. It helps that one of the few NHL-ready assets the Bruins did get back, Casey Mittelstadt, has kicked off his Boston career with a three-game scoring streak (one goal, two assists). He’s centering the second line, which isn’t a glamorous assignment given the state of the Bruins’ depth, but he is on the first power-play unit, which has already led to him collecting an assist on David Pastrnak’s goal Tuesday.

Speaking of, the dismantling of his supporting cast and the team edging toward rebuild mode doesn’t seem to have demoralized David Pastrnak. He has two goals and two assists in Boston’s three games post-deadline, extending his overall scoring streak to five games (two goals, five assists). He also ranks fifth among all players with 82 points and is tied for fourth in goals with 34. If Boston manages to squeak into the playoffs, he’ll be a big part of the reason why.

Maybe Jeremy Swayman can play a role in guiding them down the stretch too, but that’s hard to count on. Although his early campaigns were great, his 2024-25 GAA and save percentage of 2.98 and .897, respectively, are unimpressive, and a big part of that is inconsistency. For example, he earned two straight wins from March 8-11 while saving 51 of 53 shots (.962 save percentage), but he followed that up with a stinker against Ottawa in which he surrendered four goals in the first period, leading to the yank.

Ottawa is a division rival, and the holder of a wild-card spot, which makes the loss all the more painful. Boston is now seven points back of Ottawa. The Bruins are a mere two points behind Columbus, which holds the second wild-card spot, though Boston has played in two more games and is also contending for that spot with the Rangers, Montreal and Detroit -- combine with Boston and Columbus, all five teams are within a two-point range through Thursday’s action.

Chicago Blackhawks (Tue vs SEA, Thu vs LAK, Sat @ STL, Sun vs PHI)

Staring down the barrel of a possible rebuild, what Boston likely fears is going down the path of Chicago. Sure, the Blackhawks have picked up some remarkable young talent along the way, but Chicago is on course to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year and seventh time in eight seasons. Technically it’s even worse than that, because the lone time Chicago made the playoffs in that span in 2019-20 when the COVID lockdown led to the league expanding the postseason system, causing Chicago to participate despite a 32-30-8 record and last-place finish in the Central Division.

Either way, Chicago isn’t just looking at another season without playoff action, the Blackhawks seem no where near being competitive. After losing a third straight game Thursday, Chicago is 20-37-9. Maybe they’ll be able to finish on a high note? Chicago has a busy week ahead of it, mostly against teams that aren’t presently in a playoff spot. The Blackhawks will host Seattle on Tuesday and the Kings on Thursday. They’ll then take to the road to play in St. Louis on Saturday before returning home to host Philadelphia on Sunday.

If you’re looking for good news, it’s that Spencer Knight has looked decent since being acquired from Florida as part of the Seth Jones trade. He’s 2-2-0 with a 2.24 GAA and a .928 save percentage in four starts with Chicago. That’s a small sample size, but he also held his own with Florida this campaign -- he had a 12-8-1 record, 2.40 GAA and .907 save percentage in 23 outings pre-trade -- and his potential has been known for a while. Still just 23 years old, Chicago might have found its long-term answer in net. Chicago dealt Petr Mrazek to Detroit, so Knight is likely to see most of the starts for the rest of the season.

Unfortunately, other parts of the Blackhawks’ young core have been unimpressive recently. Lukas Reichel, 22, hasn’t recorded a point in his past five games and remains at 19 points (six goals) across 57 appearances. Although there have been high expectations put on the No. 17 overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft, he hasn’t been able to consistently perform offensively at the NHL level despite collecting 42 goals and 116 points across 121 career regular-season AHL games.

More importantly, Connor Bedard has struggled to make any progress in his sophomore season, and he’s been especially cold recently, supplying just a goal and three points over his past 11 appearances. That gives him 17 goals and 52 points in 66 outings in 2024-25, which is great stuff for a 19-year-old but puts him behind the 22 goals and 61 points in 68 appearances he recorded as a rookie. Ultimately, growing pains as a sophomore is nothing to panic over, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he still manages to end the season on a positive note.

In the meantime, it’s the veterans who are getting the job done for Chicago. The 28-year-old Ryan Donato has been incredible lately with eight goals and 20 points across his past 15 appearances, while the 30-year-old Teuvo Teravainen has four goals and 17 points in 14 outings. Please note that Donato is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so even if the Blackhawks have no hope of making the playoffs, he is playing for his next contract, which should help keep him going as we enter the final stretch of the campaign.

Los Angeles Kings (Mon @ MIN, Thu @ CHI, Sat vs CAR, Sun vs BOS)

The Kings won their fourth straight game when they shutdown the Capitals 3-0 on Thursday. That streak has elevated them into the second seed in the Pacific Division, though they have just a one-point edge over Edmonton, albeit with a game in hand, so the Kings need to maintain their momentum in order to secure the home-ice advantage in the first round. They’ll start the week on the road with contests in Minnesota on Monday and Chicago on Thursday. The Kings will then host the Hurricanes and the Bruins on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Shutting out the Capitals is no small feat, so Darcy Kuemper, who made 21 saves, deserves recognition for pulling that off against his former team. The goaltender is on a roll, stopping 101 of 105 shots (.962 save percentage) across his past four starts (3-0-1). He’s also been an important part of the Kings’ success overall with a 21-8-7 record, 2.23 GAA and .916 save percentage in 37 outings. What a comeback he’s had after a disastrous 2023-24 campaign with Washington (13-14-3 record, 3.31 GAA, .890 save percentage). It provides a little silver lining to the whole Pierre-Luc Dubois saga, though it has to be said that Dubois has done well in Washington (17 goals, 57 points), so the Kuemper-Dubois swap has ultimately worked out for both sides.

For those who aren’t aware, there was a brief time when Dubois was seen as a possible successor up the middle for the aging Anze Kopitar. That didn’t go as the Kings had hoped, but fortunately Anze Kopitar hasn’t needed a replacement just yet. The 37-year-old has three goals and seven points in his past seven outings, giving him 16 goals and 53 points in 64 appearances in 2024-25. It looks like he’ll finish just below the 70-point mark, but he should still hit 60 for the seventh time in eight seasons.

The 22-year-old Quinton Byfield is also giving the Kings reason for optimism about the future of their center group. Although he’ll likely finish below the 55-points he provided in 2023-24, Byfield has shown flashes of what he’s capable of this campaign, including his active five-game goal-scoring streak. He’s up to 16 markers and 39 points in 64 outings this season.

Nashville Predators (Tue vs STL, Thu vs ANA, Sat vs TOR, Sun @ STL)

The chances of Nashville making the playoffs are near zero, but the Predators would like to at least finish the campaign on a high note. To that end, Nashville has won four straight going into Friday’s action. The Predators will attempt to extend that run of strong play next week, starting with home games against St. Louis on Tuesday, Anaheim on Thursday and Toronto on Saturday. The Predators will finish the week on the road against St. Louis.

Steven Stamkos has been a huge part of the Predators’ recent success, providing five goals and nine points across that four-game winning streak. His 22 goals and 42 points in 64 outings is still disappointing when measured against his 80-plus points in each of his previous three campaigns, but the 35-year-old clearly still has something left in the tank. Don’t dismiss the possibility of 2025-26 being a comeback season for him -- he might provide great value for those who select him in 2025 fantasy drafts.

I’m less confident about Juuse Saros bouncing back. Even while winning his past three starts, Saros hasn’t looked special, stopping just 65 of 73 shots (.890 save percentage). His goals saved above expected is minus-4.1 this season, suggesting that he’s been below average even if you factor out the Predators’ defense, and he was a similarly underwhelming minus-3.0 last season. He’s still just 29 (30 on April 19), so it’s not like a comeback is impossible. You look at a guy like Sergei Bobrovsky, and you can see how a goaltender can be inconsistent on yearly basis but still average out to be a phenomenal netminder. Even still, I’m at the point where I need to see results from Saros before I’ll start to believe in him again. As it stands, I’d be somewhat worried if I was the Predators’ GM given that his eight-year, $61.92 million contract doesn’t even start until next season.

I’m also not big on the idea that Jonathan Marchessault will do better next season. He has 19 goals and 48 points in 64 appearances this campaign, down from 42 goals and 69 points in 82 appearances with Vegas in 2023-24. The issue is that last season was an outlier from him in terms of goal scoring -- other than that, he’s never done better than 30 markers. He accomplished that feat thanks to his 15.8 shooting percentage, well above his career average of 11.5, so his showing in 2024-25 represents a regression toward the norm. It is noteworthy that he’s managed just 9.4 shots per 60 minutes this season -- he recorded between 10.8-12.4 in each campaign from 2017-18 through 2023-24 -- so perhaps he’ll be somewhat more aggressive next season, leading to a handful of additional goals, but that’s about the most you can hope for.

Philadelphia Flyers (Mon @ PHI, Thu @ WAS, Sat @ DAL, Sun @ CHI)

The Flyers earned a 4-3 shootout win over Tampa Bay on Thursday to end their five-game losing streak, but at 28-31-8, Philadelphia’s chances of making the playoffs seem remote. The task won’t be made any easier next week. The Flyers will be on the road, playing in Tampa Bay on Monday, Washington on Thursday, Dallas on Saturday and Chicago on Sunday.

No Flyers player is particularly hot offensively at the moment, and that includes 20-year-old Matvei Michkov. To be fair, he recorded an impressive six goals and 13 points in nine games from Feb. 6-March 8, but he’s been held off the scoresheet for Philadelphia’s past three outings. The rookie’s talent is without question, but he’s been extremely streaky this season, so be prepared for this cold stretch to potentially last another week or two.

Maybe Bobby Brink is at the beginning of a hot streak, though. He was amazing versus Tampa Bay on Thursday, supplying two goals and an assist. That’s just his fourth multi-point game of the campaign, but don’t get too excited: The previous three times he had a multi-point showing, it didn’t lead to a notable stretch of offensive success. He also has a meh 10 goals and 32 points in 64 appearances overall.

There’s nothing much to jump on in goal either. Ivan Fedotov did have a nice stretch from March 1-9, stopping 75 of 80 shots (.938 save percentage) in three appearances, but even then, the Flyers provided him with just one win in that stretch, and that good run ended Tuesday anyway when he allowed four goals on 23 shots to Ottawa.

If you’re looking for fantasy value, there just isn't much to be found here at this time. However, while I’m pessimistic about Michkov in the short term, the flip side of his streaky nature is that he should rebound eventually -- and likely in a big way.

St. Louis Blues (Tue @ NAS, Thu vs VAN, Sat vs CHI, Sun vs NAS)

St. Louis will start next with in Nashville, capping off an exhausting stretch in which the Blues played seven of eight games from March 2-18 on the road. After that, they’ll get to sleep in their own beds for a while. The Blues will host the Canucks on Thursday, the Blackhawks on Saturday and the Predators on Sunday.

The Blues are 31-28-7 and sit just two points out of a playoff position through Thursday’s action. There’s plenty of competition for that second wild-card spot, but it is fair to say that St. Louis is still playing for something with roughly a month left in the regular-season schedule.

This would certainly be a good time for Jordan Binnington to get hot again. He’s had his moments, especially during the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he’s struggled recently with a 2-2-0 record, 3.49 GAA and .846 save percentage across his past four appearances. Unfortunately, he’s just been too inconsistent to count on, but he’s still appeared in seven of St. Louis’ past nine games, so it seems safe to say the Blues will lean on him over Joel Hofer in the final weeks of the season.

Maybe Binnington will get sufficient goal support to make his occasional struggles moot. Dylan Holloway is certainly doing his best, supplying five goals and eight points across his past nine games. He’s up to 21 goals, 48 points and 138 hits in 66 appearances in 2024-25. This is with the benefit of hindsight, but Edmonton has to be asking itself if declining to match the Blues’ two-year, $4.58 million offer sheet was really the right move, even after factoring in the Oilers’ tricky cap situation.

Zachary Bolduc is another young forward leading the Blues’ push for a playoff spot. The 21-year-old has six goals and seven points across his past eight games, elevating him to 12 goals and 25 points in 56 outings overall. I’m not confident Bolduc will continue to be productive over the final month of the season, but Bolduc is a former No. 17 overall pick (2021 draft), so this kind of offensive outburst isn’t coming out of nowhere.

The veteran Brayden Schenn had been doing his part too, supplying three goals and 10 points in nine games from Feb. 8-March 7. However, he was held off the scoresheet in each of St. Louis’ past two games, so that hot streak might be at its end. The 33-year-old has 14 goals and 40 points in 66 appearances in 2024-25.

Tampa Bay Lightning (Mon vs PHI, Thu @ DAL, Sat @ UTA, Sun @ VGK)

Tampa Bay enjoyed a run of 10 wins in 11 games from Feb. 4-March 6, but the Lightning have stumbled recently, dropping their last three (0-2-1). The Lightning will try to shake that off next week, starting with a home game against Philadelphia. The Lightning will then play in Dallas on Thursday, in Utah on Saturday and in Vegas on Sunday.

Tampa Bay has a 37-23-5 record, which puts the squad two points behind Toronto and six away from the division-leading Panthers. Reaching Florida is unlikely at this point, but the Lightning could still earn home-ice advantage in a probable first-round matchup against Toronto if Tampa Bay finishes the season strong.

A lot of the Lightning’s potential success will be contingent on their main three forwards of Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. That’s typically a good trio to bet on, but Guentzel and Point have each been held off the scoresheet for all of Tampa Bay’s last three games. Kucherov was scoreless in two of those contests and missed the third due to illness. Kucherov did rejoin the Lightning for Friday’s practice, but rather than skate alongside Guentzel and Point, he shared the ice with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, while Yanni Gourde skated on the top unit.

That’s nothing earthshattering. Kucherov has spent 18.5 percent of his even-strength minutes alongside Cirelli and Hagel this season, so while that combination isn’t common, it’s not unheard of. Besides, Cirelli (20 goals, 45 points) and Hagel (30 goals, 72 points) are great forwards in their own right, so they’re good players for the star to work with and might help spark Kucherov.

This is also a good opportunity for Gourde, who has six goals and 19 points between St. Louis and Tampa Bay this season. He has two assists since being acquired by Tampa Bay, but if he shows some chemistry with Guentzel and Point, perhaps Tampa Bay will consider using this combination more regularly, which would likely boost Gourde’s offensive production.

Toronto Maple Leafs (Mon vs CGY, Wed vs COL, Thu @ NYR, Sat @ NAS)

Toronto’s been struggling recently, dropping four of its last five (1-3-1) and failing to win any of those games in regulation or overtime. That’s dropped the Leafs’ record to 39-23-3, which presents them with an uphill battle if they want to overtake the 41-22-3 Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Toronto will look for better results next week, starting with home games against Calgary and Colorado on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. The Leafs will then hit the road, playing against the Rangers on Thursday and Nashville on Saturday.

Goaltending has been part of the Leafs’ recent issues. Anthony Stolarz has a record of 0-2-1 along with a 3.18 GAA and an .876 save percentage across his past four appearances, and Joseph Woll has allowed at least three goals over each of his past three outings -- though he is 2-1-0 over that stretch. Overall, the Maple Leafs’ goaltenders have still been fine this season with Stolarz being particularly good, posting a 2.37 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 25 games, so I don’t think those issues are a source of panic right now.

On the offensive side of things, Auston Matthews is continuing his interesting season. His 11.5 shooting percentage of 2024-25 is the worst of his career, and he might finish with under 30 goals for the first time -- just one season removed from 69 markers. However, he’s managed to adjust by serving as more of a playmaker, resulting in him collecting 56 points (23 goals) in 50 appearances. He has missed time due to upper body issues this campaign, and perhaps he’s still not 100 percent, which would explain his mortal levels of goal scoring, but as long as he’s finding other ways to contribute, Toronto will be fine.

Meanwhile, the Leafs’ pending UFAs, John Tavares and Mitch Marner, continue to make big contributions. Tavares has seven goals and 14 points in 14 appearances this season, giving him 27 goals and 56 points in 58 outings overall, and Marner has five goals and nine points in his last eight games, bringing him up to 21 goals and 80 points in 64 appearances. It will be extremely interesting to see how Toronto navigates those contract situations over the summer. Letting them walk would be immensely painful, but the silver lining is that roughly $22 million would be coming off the books between the two of them.

Ultimately, what happens in the playoffs might be a determining factor. If the Maple Leafs have a deep run, then Toronto might want to stick with what they have, and it might also serve as extra motivation for Marner to bet on the Leafs long term. However, if Toronto ends up with another first-round exit, then the front office might decide its finally time to close the books on the Marner/Matthews/Tavares/William Nylander experiment that, to this point, has resulted in just one playoff series win.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FORWARD

Connor Bedard

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

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

Taylor Hall

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

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

Philipp Kurashev

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

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

Tyler Bertuzzi

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

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

Teuvo Teravainen

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

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

Andreas Athanasiou

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

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

Jason Dickinson

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

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

Nick Foligno

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

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

Lukas Reichel

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

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

Ryan Donato

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

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

Ilya Mikheyev

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

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

DEFENCE

Seth Jones

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

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

Kevin Korchinski

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

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

Alec Martinez

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

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

GOAL

Petr Mrazek

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

Laurent Brossoit

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

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

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

DADOUN: THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Skinner becoming key to Oilers fortunes – Value to be had on the Ducks, Hawks, Avalanche, Wings, Kings, Wild, Penguins, and Leafs

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 15:06:07 +0000

EDMONTON, AB - NOVEMBER 13: Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save in the second period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the New York Islanders on November 13, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)

The Edmonton Oilers saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end Thursday in a 7-4 defeat to Tampa Bay. After their remarkable resurgence, it’s hard to be too critical of the Oilers, though it did underscore the team’s vulnerability: Goaltending.

Not to undersell the importance of Connor McDavid in Edmonton’s 11-3-0 run from Nov. 11-Dec. 12 -- the superstar forward scored eight goals and 28 points over that 14-game stretch, so he clearly did his part -- but Edmonton’s success this year will likely be determined in no small part by Stuart Skinner.

When the sky seemed to be falling in Edmonton early this season, Skinner posted a 1-5-1 record, 3.87 GAA and .854 save percentage in eight appearances. When all seemed to be fixed from Nov. 11-Dec. 12, Skinner went 10-2-0 with a 2.30 GAA and a .914 save percentage. On Thursday, he allowed five goals on 22 shots.

Skinner might bounce right back, and the Oilers need him to. Jack Campbell posted a 4.50 GAA and an .873 save percentage in five contests with Edmonton to start the campaign, leading him to be moved to AHL Bakersfield where he has an uninspiring 3.22 GAA and .894 save percentage in nine outings, so he’s probably not a viable alternative. Maybe Calvin Pickard is. The 31-year-old has done fine in limited play, posting a 1-1-0 record, 2.24 GAA and .917 save percentage in three contests, but he has a career 3.02 GAA and .904 save percentage in 119 outings, so it’s probably best not to bet on him being good for anything more than the occasional start.

Edmonton’s terrible start to the campaign also means that it’s just 13-13-1, even after winning eight straight, so the Oilers still aren’t done digging themselves out of their hole, though they’ve certainly made a lot of positive progress over the last month and, if Skinner plays well, they’re likely to enjoy continued success going forward.

Anaheim Ducks – MON @ DET, THU VS CGY, SAT VS SEA

The Ducks might not have been featured on a busier week, but with no games scheduled Dec. 24 due to the Christmas break, not many teams have four-game schedules. Meanwhile, the Ducks will play in Detroit on Monday before hosting Calgary and Seatle on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Given the Flames and the Kraken’s struggles this year, those are winnable contests, even for a struggling team like Anaheim.

Trevor Zegras (lower body) also appears to be close to returning, so the Ducks might have him for the upcoming week. He had just a goal and two points in 12 contests before being shut down Nov. 12, but the injury was bothering him before he was shelved, so that might be the reason for his slow start, and the 22-year-old could play more like himself upon returning. For that reason, Zegras should be considered a good buy-low candidate.

It remains to be seen how the Ducks will adjust their lines when Zegras returns, but I expect Leo Carlsson to maintain his top-six role. The 18-year-old has earned his spot, providing eight goals and 14 points in 20 contests. I could see Adam Henrique losing some time -- he's also someone the Ducks will likely look to trade closer to the deadline -- but he has three goals over his last five outings, so perhaps Anaheim will at least keep utilizing him while he’s hot.

With that in mind, the hardest hit when Zegras returns could be Ryan Strome. He has three goals and 17 points in 27 contests this season while averaging 16:02 of ice time, but he’s already seen his role slide as of late -- he's logged under 16 minutes in each of his last six contests -- and that slide might continue.

Chicago Blackhawks – TUE VS COL, FRI VS MTL, SAT @ STL (BTB)

The Blackhawks are set to play at home all week, facing the Avalanche on Tuesday, the Canadiens on Friday and the Blues on Saturday. Colorado naturally figures to be a tough matchup, but St. Louis and Montreal are hovering around .500 PTS%.

There unfortunately isn’t a lot of value to be had with the Blackhawks, right now. I’ve been disappointed by Anthony Beauvillier, who has seen his playing time tick up since being acquired by Chicago from Vancouver, but nevertheless has just a goal and an assist in seven games with the Blackhawks. I do still think there’s potential there, so I’d recommend keeping an eye on him, but I’m less optimistic about the trade helping his production than I initially was.

Lukas Reichel has underwhelmed too, recording just two goals and six points in 28 contests this season. He did log 15:18 of ice time Thursday, which was his most this month, but he was also minus-2 with just one shot in Chicago’s 7-1 loss to Seattle. At this point, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the 21-year-old sent to the minors to work on his game and confidence but keep in mind that this rough stretch doesn’t alter the fact that he has tremendous potential.

For now, though, about the only Blackhawks player worthy of significant fantasy consideration in standard leagues outside of Connor Bedard is Philipp Kurashev. The 24-year-old has six goals and 16 points in 23 contests this year while regularly playing alongside Bedard.

Colorado Avalanche – TUE @CHI, THU VS OTT, SAT VS ARI

The Avalanche will begin the week with a road game against the lowly Blackhawks on Tuesday followed by home contests versus the Senators on Thursday and the Coyotes on Saturday. Of those squads, just Arizona is in a playoff position, and even then, only barely.

Nathan MacKinnon is one of the hottest players in the league right now. He’s on an incredible 13-game scoring streak (six goals, 21 points) and has been especially effective over his last five games, scoring four goals and 10 points. That brings the 28-year-old up to 12 goals and 41 points through 29 appearances this season, putting him on track to narrowly surpass the career high of 111 points that he established last year.

In terms of a hot player who has flown a little more under the radar, Sam Malinski has a goal and four points over his last four contests. The 25-year-old defenseman was summoned from AHL Colorado on Nov. 29 and has averaged just 13:39 of ice time with the Avalanche in 2023-24, including almost no work on the power play, which makes his recent production all the more impressive. Malinski might be a decent short-term option, but I don’t expect him to stay noteworthy offensively for much longer. He does have that element of his game, recording three goals and nine points in 17 AHL outings this campaign, but he’s just not going to get many opportunities with the Avalanche as long as their defense is relatively healthy.

Outside of that, keep an eye on Ryan Johansen. He has nine goals and 11 points in 29 contests this season, which makes him a disappointment with Colorado thus far, but after averaging a modest 12:15 over 11 contests from Nov. 18-Dec. 7, he’s logged at least 14 minutes in two of his last three games and seeing time on the second line, so perhaps something will come of that.

Detroit Red Wings – MON VS ANA, WED @WPG, FRI VS PHI, SAT @ NJD (BTB)

One of the rare teams set to play four games next week, Detroit will host the Ducks on Monday before kicking off a road trip that will send them to Winnipeg on Wednesday, Philadelphia on Friday and New Jersey on Saturday.

Although the Red Wings now have Patrick Kane, Detroit is missing Dylan Larkin (upper body), J.T. Compher (undisclosed) and David Perron (suspension). Perron isn’t eligible to return until next Friday against the Flyers, though he is appealing the suspension so it’s possible he’ll be back sooner. Compher is day-to-day at this point and likely to return Saturday versus Philadelphia, while Larkin skated Thursday, giving fans some hope that he won’t be out for long.

With at least Compher expected to play next week, Andrew Copp, who has logged 19:45 over his last three contests while contributing two assists, might see his playing time reduced. Compher will likely play alongside Michael Rasmussen and Patrick Kane in his return.

Speaking of Rasmussen, the 24-year-old forward has seen his usage rise recently. Although he’s averaging 15:20 this year, he’s jumped to 16:45 over his last four contests. That comes amid a larger hot streak for the 24-year-old, who has five goals and eight points over his past seven appearances.

Los Angeles Kings – TUE@SJS, WED @SEA (BTB), SAT VS CGY

The Kings are scheduled to stay in LA next week, hosting the Sharks on Tuesday, the Kraken on Wednesday and the Flames on Saturday. None of those squads are in a playoff position, so the 16-6-4 Kings have an opportunity to rebound after losing three straight from Dec. 9-13.

Cam Talbot has been dominant with a 12-5-2 record, 2.02 GAA and .927 save percentage in 19 contests this year, but with a back-to-back set upcoming, Pheonix Copley should be penciled in to play in one of the Kings’ next two contests. Copley is 4-1-2 with a 3.17 GAA and an .870 save percentage in eight appearances this season, so he’s left plenty to be desired, but Seattle ranks 29th offensively this year with 2.57 goals per contest, so if he gets the start Wednesday, which is the most probable scenario, then he might still be worth grabbing for the situational start.

Los Angeles has scored just five goals over its last three games, so most of its players haven’t stood out recently, but Alex Laferriere did find the back of the net Wednesday. It was just the rookie’s third goal and fifth point in 25 contests this season, but what’s noteworthy is he also logged 3:13 of power-play ice time, by far his most since October. Monitor the situation to see if Los Angeles continues to give him an opportunity with the man advantage. While Laferriere hasn’t done much this season, he does have offensive upside after scoring 21 goals and 42 points in 34 games with Harvard in 2022-23.

Minnesota Wild - MON @ PIT, TUE @BOS (BTB), THU VS MTL, SAT VS BOS

The Wild have won six of their last eight games after earning a 3-2 shootout victory over Calgary on Thursday, so they’ll look to carry that momentum as they look ahead to a busy week. They’ll play in Pittsburgh on Monday and Buffalo on Tuesday before returning home to host the Canadiens on Thursday and the Bruins on Saturday. Not an easy lineup, but there isn’t much in the way of teams playing four games next week, so Minnesota got highlighted for that alone.

Filip Gustavsson has been a standout performer recently, posting a 5-1-0 record, 1.33 GAA and .950 save percentage over his last six games. He’s likely to get the bulk of the action next week, but the Wild’s busy schedule means Marc-Andre Fleury will probably start in a game. The 39-year-old goaltender has a 4-5-2 record, 3.29 GAA and .886 save percentage in 11 contests this year, but he’s traditionally done well against Buffalo (23-7-4 with a 2.21 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 23 career contests), so it’ll be interesting to see if he gets the nod against the Sabres on Tuesday.

In terms of forwards, Matt Boldy has been fantastic with seven goals and nine points over his last eight contests. Boldy managed just one goal over his first 12 games this year, but after collecting 31 tallies in 81 contests in 2022-23, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Boldy continue to be a solid contributor even after his current hot streak fizzles out.

Another youngster, Marco Rossi, is also having a fun campaign. He’s found the back of the net in each of his last two outings, bringing him up to 10 markers and 17 points in 27 appearances this season. It helps that he’s found a top-six role, although his offensive production isn’t likely to truly take off until he does more with the man advantage. He’s been limited to one power-play point (a goal) this year while serving mostly on the second unit.

Pittsburgh Penguins – MON VS MIN, THU VS CAR, SAT @ OTT

The Penguins have been mediocre this campaign, so every point is important as they attempt to stay in the battle for a playoff spot. They’ll start the week by hosting the Wild on Monday and the Flames on Thursday before visiting Ottawa on Saturday. Carolina is the only one of those adversaries in a playoff position, though Minnesota has made strides since parting ways with coach Dean Evason on Nov. 27.

Rickard Rakell (upper body) hasn’t played since Nov. 19, but he might make his return before next week. In fact, he’s not only projected to play Saturday versus Toronto but skate on the top line alongside Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby. Rakell has just four assists in 17 contests this year, but that assignment might spark him.

Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby is continuing to excel, supplying three goals and six points over his last five contests, which increases his 2023-24 totals to 17 goals and 31 points in 28 contests. The 36-year-old is on pace to flirt with the 50-goal milestone for the first time since 2009-10, which might sound unsustainable, but he is firing 3.75 shots per game, up from 3.11 last season, so as long as he continues to fire the puck at that rate, the goals should continue to come.

One player you shouldn’t get excited about, though, is Jeff Carter. He scored twice Tuesday, but that brings him up to just three goals and four points in 22 contests this campaign. Unlike Crosby, age has caught up to the 38-year-old Carter, who is consequently serving primarily in a fourth-line role. He might not have another night like Tuesday’s again this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs – TUE VS NYR, THU @BUF, SAT @ CBJ

The Maple Leafs will play at home against the Rangers on Tuesday and the Sabres on Thursday before visiting Columbus on Saturday. The contest against the Blue Jackets should be interesting after Toronto overcame a 5-0 deficit against them, only to lose 6-5 in overtime Thursday.

Joseph Woll (ankle) isn’t expected to return next week, so Ilya Samsonov will probably start in all three contests. Samsonov has struggled with a 5-1-5 record, 3.51 GAA and .878 save percentage in 13 contests this season, but the alternative is Martin Jones, who will probably only be used when Toronto is facing a back-to-back set.

Fortunately, Toronto can count on its offense, led by Auston Matthews, who has an insane nine goals and 15 points over his last seven contests. He’s up to 23 markers and 35 points in 27 games this year. William Nylander has been superb too, recording at least a point in seven straight contests as well as multiple points in each of his last four outings.

Calle Jarnkrok has been quietly effective lately, providing two goals and seven points over his last six contests. His success has been overshadowed by the likes of Matthews and Nylander, but Jarnkrok giving the Leafs some secondary scoring certainly has value. With Toronto set to face Buffalo and Columbus, ranked 23rd and 30th in goals allowed per game, respectively, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jarnkrok continue to factor on the scoresheet next week.

FANTASY: The Week Ahead – December 4th to December 10th – Senators Challenges Grow – Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Los Angeles, Montreal among teams to target.

Ryan Dadoun — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:17:11 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 21: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) before a face-off during second period National Hockey League action between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators on October 21, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

The opening for last week’s article was about Minnesota, so that’s twice now that I featured a team right before the coach was fired (the other instance of that was Edmonton). With apologies to D.J. Smith, I do want to discuss the Senators.

Ottawa is in a tricky position. The Senators went through the rebuilding process, having three top-five picks in three years from 2018-20 (Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson) followed by possessing the No. 10 selection in the 2021 NHL Draft (used on Tyler Boucher). Since then, they haven’t had a first-round pick, surrendering the 2022 selection to acquire Alex DeBrincat and their top pick in 2023 to get Jakob Chychrun. While they didn’t spend those picks on older players (and in the case of DeBrincat, they’re getting a first rounder back in the subsequent deal that shipped him to Detroit), it signaled that Ottawa is trying to move past the rebuilding phase.

It hasn’t worked out though. Ottawa was a middlingly 39-35-8 in 2022-23 and rather than take a step forward, the Senators are 9-10-0 this year. With Stutzle and Tkachuk having developed into star forwards while being backed by talented veterans Claude Giroux and Vladimir Tarasenko, Ottawa’s succeeded in troubling opposing goaltenders by scoring 3.32 goals per game, which puts the Senators in a four-way tie for ninth offensively.

Ottawa is also shaping up to be an amazing defensive team. In terms of expected goals against, the Senators rank second with 55.98. The Senators are an example of the reality of the NHL though: Even with a good offense and a strong defense, if your last line of defense is bad, then you’re still in trouble. Anton Forsberg has a 3.03 GAA and an .882 save percentage in eight contests this year. Joonas Korpisalo, who the Senators signed to a five-year, $20 million contract in the hopes that he’d stabilize their goaltending situation, has a 3.41 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 13 contests.

Things might be even worse than they look. Ottawa had 14 of its first 19 contests at home. That skewed schedule in the Senators’ favor will come back to haunt them from Dec. 14-Jan. 11 -- a stretch where they’ll play 11 of 14 contests on the road.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have four games ahead of them this week. They’ll face the Predators on Tuesday, the Ducks on Thursday, the Blues on Saturday and the Capitals on Sunday. The Capitals are the toughest of those teams with a 12-7-2 while the rest of the squads have been middling at best this year.

Chicago acquired Anthony Beauvillier from Vancouver last Tuesday, but he’s missed two of Chicago’s last three games due to visa issues. The exception was Saturday’s contest because it was in Winnipeg. In that game, Beauvillier played on the top line with Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev. If that’s his role going forward, which seems likely, then the trade could provide him with a substantial boost to his fantasy value. As a member of the Canucks, he was averaging just 13:39 of ice time, which is part of the reason why he was limited to two goals and eight points. As a member of Chicago’s first line, Beauvillier could conceivably get 30-40 points over the final 60 contests.

The Blackhawks could certainly use the help that Beauvillier should provided. Over the last three games, Chicago has managed just three goals. Connor Bedard factored on all of them (one goal, two assists), bringing him up to 11 goals and 20 points in 23 contests this campaign. He’s the man Chicago was hoping for, but arguably obtaining a superstar is the easy part. For that, you just need to tank and then win the lottery, which isn’t exactly a high-skill maneuver. Building around that superstar post-tank is the hard part, and it will likely be years before we’ll know if the Blackhawks can succeed in that phase.

It would help if Lukas Reichel, who is a high-end prospect in his own right, got going. The 22-year-old was a healthy scratch Sunday after scoring two goals and six points over his first 22 contests this year. While being scratched obviously isn’t great, the silver lining is that it gives him a chance to reset and view the action from a different perspective. Maybe it will help in the long run.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche have just three games this week, but they’re all home contests. They’ll start with the struggling Ducks on Tuesday (though it is worth noting Anaheim did manage to squeak away with a 4-3 shootout win over Colorado last Saturday) before facing Winnipeg on Thursday and Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Avalanche lost Cale Makar to a lower-body injury Saturday, and he missed Sunday’s game as a result. It remains to be seen how long he’ll be unavailable, but he’s the backbone of Colorado’s offense and defense, so losing him for any meaningful stretch of time would be a huge blow.

Sam Malinski drew into the lineup Sunday, logging 18:09 of ice time. He’s likely to remain in the lineup for as long as Makar is out. Malinski won’t come close to replacing the superstar’s offensive contributions, but Malinski does have three goals and nine points in 17 contests with AHL Colorado in 2023-24, so he might chip in a little. As far as the power play goes, Bowen Byram is likely to see time on the second unit while Devon Toews moves up to the top grouping, so both of their fantasy value will likely see a modest uptick in Makar’s absence.

Interestingly, rather than any of them, it was Josh Manson who factored in Sunday, scoring the Avalanche’s lone goal in a 4-1 loss to LA. Manson also registered an assist Saturday, so he’s at the start of what could be a hot streak, but it’s best to keep expectations low. After all, Manson has just three points in 21 contests this campaign, even after factoring in his recent production. He also has 32 PIM, 40 hits and 33 blocks, so he offers some additional utility if you did want to grab him in the hopes that his offensive run will last a little longer.

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit is set to play in Buffalo on Tuesday before heading home to face the Sharks on Thursday and the Senators on Saturday. All three of those opponents are in the bottom third of the league’s standings, so the Red Wings are in a strong position to go on a winning streak.

Patrick Kane signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Red Wings on Nov. 28, but he’s likely to miss at least the first two contests this week as he looks to get back up to speed after undergoing hip surgery in June. When he does return, Kane will likely play alongside his old Blackhawks linemate, Alex DeBrincat, along with Dylan Larkin on Detroit’s top line. That should be a very effective unit, and while there’s an element of risk to Kane coming off surgery, he has the potential to record 40-50 points over the remainder of the campaign.

Getting Kane into the lineup might push Joe Veleno, who has averaged 15:00 of ice time this year, out of a top-six role. It also could cost David Perron his spot on the first power-play unit and push Robby Fabbri out of a power-play role entirely.

In terms of which Red Wings might benefit from having Kane on the roster, outside of Larkin and DeBrincat, we also might see Michael Rasmussen enjoy an indirect boost. Kane’s addition frees up Lucas Raymond to bolster the second line, which should help Rasmussen.

Detroit’s power play already enjoys a 23.5 conversion rate, which is eighth in the league, but if Kane is able to make the first unit even more successful, then that will also help defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, whose production is closely tied to special teams.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are on the road this week, but their first two contests are against struggling adversaries in Columbus on Tuesday and Montreal on Thursday. The Kings will then travel to New York to face the Islanders on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday.

Los Angeles is also one of the hottest teams in the league, having won six of its last seven contests. Trevor Moore has played a big role in the Kings’ recent success, scoring five goals and eight points in that seven-game span to climb to 12 markers and 20 points in 21 outings this year. Meanwhile, Adrian Kempe has collected four assists over his last four contests, giving him eight goals and 22 points in 21 contests in 2023-24.

In net, Cam Talbot continues to get most of the workload and deservedly so. He has a 1.96 GAA and a .930 save percentage through 16 games. Backup Pheonix Copley has a far uglier 3.04 GAA and .868 save percentage in six outings, but he’s won his last two starts while saving 48 of 49 shots (.980 save percentage) over that span. Copley will likely have an opportunity to extend that run against either the Islanders or the Rangers this weekend.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens will host the Kraken on Monday and the Kings on Thursday. Then the Canadiens will travel to Buffalo on Saturday before returning to Montreal to host the Predators on Sunday. It’s a busy week, and the Kings are a tough opponent, but Nashville, Buffalo and Seattle all have sub-.500 records.

Goaltender Jake Allen has a 3.74 GAA and an .898 save percentage in 10 contests this season, and he’s done particularly bad lately, posting a 4.63 GAA and an .871 save percentage over his last six outings. Cayden Primeau hasn’t done any better with a 4.24 GAA and an .875 save percentage over his last three contests, so there’s an opening here for Sam Montembeault to run away with the starting gig.

Montembeault has a 5-3-1 record, 2.73 GAA and .910 save percentage in 10 contests this campaign and has won his last two starts while saving 56 of 61 shots (.918 save percentage) over that span. The Canadiens also made a three-year, $9.45 million commitment to the 27-year-old goaltender Friday, which further increases the chances of him claiming that top spot.

In terms of hot players offensively, blueliner Gustav Lindstrom has scored two goals over his last three contests. He’s not someone you should expect a lot of productivity from -- over 139 career games, he has just 29 points -- but he’s clicking at the moment. Joel Armia also has two goals over his last three outings and importantly has averaged 15:35 of ice time over that stretch, up from 12:38 over his previous six games with Montreal.

Seattle Kraken

Seattle lost four straight contests to drop to 8-11-6 this campaign. The pressure is on the Kraken to turn things around this week, especially with a slate of home games on the horizon. First, they’ll play in Montreal on Monday, but then the Kraken will host the Devils on Thursday, the Lightning on Saturday and the Wild on Sunday.

The Kraken have scored just seven goals over their last four games, but Tye Kartye has been an outlier over that stretch with two goals and three points. The 22-year-old rookie still has just four goals and eight points through 24 outings this campaign, but he might be getting more comfortable as the year progresses. He certainly showed offensive upside in the 2022-23 campaign, supplying 28 goals and 57 points in 72 AHL outings. You can try taking a chance on him while he’s hot in the hope that his recent success might lead to something more. If nothing else, he’s a decent source of PIM and hits, having 25 and 43, respectively, this year.

Jared McCann has also provided two goals and three points over that four-game stretch, bringing him up to 11 markers and 16 points in 25 outings this year. However, that’s still well behind his pace from 2022-23 when he finished with 40 goals and 70 points. Rather than replicate his production from last year, McCann is more likely to finish with around 50-55 points, falling more in line with his 2021-22 showing.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay was expecting the return of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to bolster the team, but instead, the Lightning have lost four straight games. To be fair, Tampa Bay has provided just five goals during its losing streak, so Vasilevskiy hasn’t gotten sufficient support, but the netminder also has a 3.87 GAA and an .859 save percentage through four starts. Perhaps it’s hard for him to find his rhythm after missing the start of the campaign with a back injury.

The Lightning will attempt to right the ship this week with home games against the Stars on Monday and the Penguins on Wednesday, followed by a road trip taking them to Nashville on Thursday and Seattle on Saturday.

I do expect Vasilevskiy to settle in as the campaign goes on, so this might be a good time to explore the possibility of acquiring him at a discounted price. After missing so much time and struggling so badly out of the gate, some fantasy managers might be frustrated enough to move him.

In terms of hot players, Nikita Kucherov is basically all the Lightning have at the moment. He’s managed to assist on all five of the Lightning’s markers over the last four games, propelling him to 15 goals and 40 points through 24 contests this year.

Victor Hedman has also done well with a goal and three points over his last four outings. If you’re lucky enough to have the blueliner on your fantasy team, you’ve been treated to consistent production – he hasn’t had a scoring drought longer than two outings this year.

Beyond those two, though, no Tampa Bay player has recorded more than a point over the last four games. If there’s a silver lining among that group, it’s Tanner Jeannot, who has at least been productive in other ways. In addition to scoring a power-play goal over that four-contest stretch, he’s also recorded 15 PIM and 18 hits.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights hit a rough patch from Nov. 5-28 in which they posted a 3-5-3 record, but that seems to be behind them after earning back-to-back 4-1 victories against Vancouver and Washington, respectively. They’ll attempt to build on that with their home-and-away series against St. Louis on Monday and Wednesday. Following those contests, the Golden Knights will play in Dallas on Saturday and host the Sharks on Sunday.

We just covered Seattle and Tampa Bay, which had somewhat slim pickings when it came to hot players, but that’s not the case with Vegas. Four Golden Knights forwards have recorded at least three points over the last three contests: Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Michael Amadio and Ivan Barbashev.

Of them, Amadio and Barbashev might be obtainable in fantasy leagues if you’re looking for someone to provide you with a short-term boost. Barbashev would be a particularly interesting option since he spent his first 410 career NHL games with St. Louis before being dealt to Vegas in February, so he might play with a little extra during the upcoming two contests.

It’s also worth noting that Adin Hill sustained a lower-body injury Thursday and missed Saturday’s contest as a result. It’s not clear how long he’ll be out for, but if he doesn’t return by the weekend, then Jiri Patera might get a start, perhaps versus San Jose. Patera isn’t having a great campaign with a 3.17 GAA and a .900 save percentage in 14 appearances with AHL Henderson, but he did post a 2.50 GAA and a .929 save percentage in two outings with Vegas last season, and the Sharks are a favorable opponent, so if it looks like he’ll get the start for that game then you should consider Patera as a situational pickup.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:17:29 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 10: Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) looks on during a game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Top 2o Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

1. Connor Bedard - C

What more can even be said about Bedard at this point that hasn't been said already? In much the same way that Connor McDavid could skate at a level that no prospect before him ever had, Bedard's shot is unlike anything ever seen before. Not just its unparalleled accuracy and velocity, but also his proficiency with all shot styles, his ability to shoot off either foot, how well he disguises his release, his perfect toe drags to move the puck into better shooting lanes, and his unnatural knack for knowing where, when, and how to shoot. He's also unfairly lethal as a playmaker for many of the same reasons, and the harder opponents try to take away his shot, the easier it is for him to pass the puck over to a wide-open teammate. He's still on the smaller side, and always will be. That said, he is elusive with his skating, which reduces the number of times he has to physically engage, and he reads the play at such an advanced level that he can reliably get a step ahead of opponents mentally when otherwise it might be a close race in terms of footspeed alone. The next NHL superstar has arrived.

2. Lukas Reichel - LW

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league, he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, already like a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and the Blackhawks have to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot, or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

3. Kevin Korchinski - D

One of the best offensive defensemen in all of junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous point total last season, with 73. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making, and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for the Thunderbirds ended when coming off his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky's the limit.

4. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season last year after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, as well as opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

5. Oliver Moore

Without a doubt, Moore was one of the most, if not the most, dynamic skaters in the 2023 draft class. It is his quickness and his ability to lead the counterattack with pace that makes him such a dangerous offensive player. The anchor of the USNTDP’s second line this season, Moore saw a ton of different linemates on his flanks in order to try to give the U18 team better secondary scoring. While his production may not have been consistent, his two-way effort and engagement always were. There may be some limitations to his ability to blend his quickness and skill and that could prevent him from being a premier playmaker at the next level. It seems extremely likely that Moore will become a very useful NHL player in some capacity, but after a few years at the University of Minnesota, will he end up as a Dylan Larkin type or more of an Andrew Cogliano type?

6. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, without being spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then on to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in their development. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as how Rinzel helped USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

7. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much more steady and consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who neither has any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average. That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

8. Nick Lardis

A midseason trade to Hamilton lit a fire under Lardis, transforming him into one of the more dynamic offensive players in the OHL. The key for him will be maintaining that high level of play into this season with the Bulldogs, proving that the conclusion to last season wasn’t an anomaly. Lardis’ combination of quickness and goal scoring ability will make him a very intriguing option for the Blackhawks in the future. With a consistent motor, skill, speed, and scoring ability, he projects as a top six complementary player along the lines of a Jake Guentzel at the next level. However, other areas of his game still require further growth; he is a bit of a long-term project in that regard and that is why he fell to the third round compared to where we had him ranked (32nd) going into the draft. There is a need to expand his game with the puck beyond simply being a North/South attacker, varying his approach. Additionally, he will need to be better in puck protection scenarios and improve his strength away from the puck in the other zones. Even with some inconsistencies, his offensive ceiling is quite high.

9. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021 and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over that span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. Del Mastro is a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams last year in Mississauga and later Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top-four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

10. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian centre in the sixth round, 172nd overall, in 2021 and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He has since grown into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL. Perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty, and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as possible.

11. Colton Dach

Injuries really plagued Dach last year, including a high-profile shoulder injury at the WJC’s. But he was able to return for the WHL playoffs and helped Seattle capture a title. The power forward will try to stay healthy as he turns pro this season and could move quickly through the system if he adjusts to the pace well.

12. Alex Vlasic

Defence is the name of the game for Vlasic, who is a unique player because of his combination of size (6’6”) and mobility. Coming off a solid rookie year in the AHL after turning pro, Vlasic has put himself in contention for a roster spot this year.

13. Adam Gajan

The first goalie taken in the 2023 Draft, Gajan is quite the story. He’s gone from having to make his own recruitment videos to being a top NHL prospect thanks to a tremendous World Juniors for Slovakia. The hyper athletic netminder will be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth this year.

14. Nolan Allen

A WHL champion this year with Seattle (along with fellow Blackhawks prospects Colton Dach and Kevin Korchinski), Allen is a steady, stay at home defender. His upside at the NHL level is likely capped, but he could move quickly through the system thanks to a refined game.

15. Roman Kantserov

The 2023 second round pick offers intriguing offensive upside because of his ability to impact the transition game and play with pace. He will be given time to develop slowly in Russia with the hopes that he can improve his play off the puck.

16. Gavin Hayes

An underrated player in both the OHL and in the Blackhawks’ system, Hayes is coming off of a great year with Flint that saw him hit the 40-goal plateau. A tenacious power winger, he will have his sights set on cracking 50 this year.

17. Ryan Greene

Greene is an athletic pivot who had a very good freshman season with Boston University last year. His quickness and tenaciousness make him a potential middle six, two-way center for the Blackhawks in the future.

18. Cole Guttman

The surprise of the 2022-23 season as Guttman was an immediate impact player at both the AHL and NHL levels after turning pro out of Denver. Intelligent and quick, is he a sneaky Calder candidate for the upcoming year?

19. Wyatt Kaiser

Kaiser jumped immediately to the NHL level after signing out of UMD late last year, playing out the stretch run with the Hawks. The highly mobile defender has a shot at a roster spot this year too, but Chicago may opt to give him time at Rockford first to allow him more significant ice time.

20. Paul Ludwinski

Another Hawks prospect who had injury problems last season, Ludwinski did not have the kind of season with Kingston of the OHL that many people expected. This coming season will serve as a restart for him as he looks to emerge as an offensive leader for a young and improving Frontenacs team.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK: FANTASY PROSPECT RANKINGS – Top 30 Forwards – Top 20 Defense – top 10 Goalies

Peter Harling — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:10:17 +0000

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings. The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers that read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players that can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins. In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects that have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside. This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues. To be considered a prospect, skaters must be under 26-years-old, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Not much debate to be had here. If you put Bedard in any other draft class from the past ten years, the only time he does not go first overall is the Connor McDavid Draft. Bedard is simply a generational talent that will kick down the front door of the NHL and take the league by storm. To expect him to be a point per game player as a rookie is not out of the question, he could even push for a 90-point year. The sky is the limit.

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

It was looking like Cooley was returning to the NCAA for his sophomore season, but after scoring 60 points as a freshman (second overall in scoring) and little left to gain from a second season, the Coyotes signed him to his ELC. Now that he is show bound, he locks up second forward rank position as the future of the Coyotes. Cooley is a dynamic offensive and highly skilled player that should flirt with 60 points as a rookie and has the upside to be a 90-point player when he hits his prime.

Adam Fantilli, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Fantilli lead the NCAA in scoring as a freshman which puts him in a class with Jack Eichel and Paul Kariya. He will have the opportunity to center dynamic offensive wingers like Patrik Laine or Johnny Gaudreau or both in Columbus. Fantilli brings the whole package, size, skating, skill, smarts and will deliver in fantasy leagues with points and peripheral stats as well. He could easily have landed second overall on this list.

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

In five years when we revisit this I would not be surprised if Michkov is the second overall player ranked, but the reasons why he is only fourth have more to do with term. Signed in the KHL for three more seasons we will have to wait on Michkov, but when he comes over as a matured 21-year-old on a three-year ELC he will be the best bang for his buck in dynasty capped leagues.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 06: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) skates with the puck during the NHL game between Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins on January 6, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire)

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

Rossi suffered a major setback in his development with a life-threatening bout with COVID. But he now has had two seasons of development in the AHL and after 116 games he has posted 104 points. His NHL production has not materialized through 21 games to date but count on that changing in a big way this year. Rossi is expected to take over the number one spot in Minnesota and if he develops some Chemistry between Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, look out!

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks surprised a lot of people when they selected Carlsson over Fantilli at the second overall selection at the 2023 Draft. The fact of the matter is that Carlsson is a highly skilled and projectable player. The Ducks can be patient with his development, and he could play another year in the SHL before coming to California. With Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson as a one-two punch down the middle, the Ducks have elite center depth for a long time.

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

After two seasons of development in the AHL, Reichel is ready for prime time, and his timing couldn’t be better. While expectations are Taylor Hall will get the first crack at shot gun with Bedard, Reichel could easily win one of the wing roles on the top line and flirt with a 50–60-point season.

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Leaf Nation had some lofty expectations for Knies, and he did not disappoint. He quickly became a key member of the Leafs top six and offense in a playoff series with Tampa. With a cap friendly ELC contract, he is an ideal fit on a top six line in Toronto with their prolific offense. Knies brings some size and physicality in addition to his soft hands and dangerous shot. Knies will be a stud in multi-cat leagues.

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

While it was a struggle in his D+1 year with highs and lows ranging from a regular healthy scratch, to captaining Canada to WJC Gold, and returning to the OHL. When the dust settled, he gained valuable development in the NHL, AHL, OHL and internationally and now Seattle has the option to play Wright full time in the AHL. In time Wright and Beniers will be a formidable one-two punch down the middle for Seattle, but Wright likely needs one more year before he wins a top six role with the Kraken.

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Playing in only 33 NHL games last year barely allows Guenther to remain eligible for this list. His 15 points last year was good, but not enough to stay in the show. He was loaned to Canada for the WJC and posted 10 points before returning to the WHL to help Seattle to a WHL Championship. With Cooley signing it gives an additional boost to Guenther’s value.

SAINT PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 08: Dallas Stars Center Logan Stankoven (57) looks on during the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, on October 8th, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

Stankoven has dominated in the WHL and the international stage alike. He kept pace with Connor Bedard at the WJC showing he can play with elite players and pace. Stankoven will be turning pro this year and could likely skip the AHL on a lot of NHL teams, but Dallas has some depth and can be patient with this stud.

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

It’s has been a long time coming for the 2019 first round pick of the Flames, but after scoring 99 points in 101 career AHL games, the time is now for Pelletier to get a real look at the NHL. The coaching change in Calgary should be another green light for Pelletier to not only make the team but crack the Flames top six.

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

The Boston College commit will likely be a one-and-done player before he signs his ELC. Drawing comparisons to the Tkachuk brothers as he plays a rambunctious game but has high end skill and hockey sense. The Capitals can be patient with their top prospect and slow cook him, but he is more instant noodle than slow cooker and can be an impact player for them next year.

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Eklund nearly cracked the Sharks roster in his D+1 season with a strong nine game showing before he was loaned back to the SHL. Last year he made the move to North America and played mainly in the AHL posting 41 points through 54 games. He could be ready to not only win a roster spot with the Sharks to start the season but will compete for a top six role.

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Nazar missed all but 13 games in his freshman year at Michigan due to injury. He had a strong showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase and is a lock for Team USA. He will return to Michigan and be a star player for the Wolverine and could even finish the year in Chicago if he signs his ELC. His fantasy stock is about to get a massive boost.

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

It is too early to do a redraft of the 2022 draft, but if we do, Jimmy Snuggerud would likely be inside the top ten, well above where the Blues selected him 23^rd overall. A massive freshman season with the University of Minnesota where he scored 50 points in 40 games on arguably the top line in the NCAA with Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies. Cooley and Knies are now gone, can Snuggerud produce the same or better without those two?

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

Speaking of redrafting too soon, Benson fell to Buffalo at pick 13 because he is undersized. I think when we redraft the 2023 class, he will be inside the top ten, closer to top five. He has hands, vision and deception in his game that scream NHL ready. He plays a two-way game and is highly competitive. He is a few years away, but the upside is top six.

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

The big winger had an impressive freshman year at Boston College scoring 37 points in 32 games and ten more points at the WJ and then nine points at the World Championship. He will return to B.C. where the Eagles will add the NTDP trio of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Gabe Perreault to the fold. Big things are coming with Gauthier.

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

After posting back-to-back 36-point seasons in the NCAA at Harvard Coronato signed and made his NHL debut last year. He may be short at 5-10, but he is not a small player. He is strong and can play physically but his game is all about scoring goals.

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

The seventh overall pick from the 2020 draft is now starting to trend in the wrong direction. Holtz is a sniper and has had two full seasons of development in North America. It looked like last year was when he would breakout, but he only managed four points in 19 games with the Devils. Still only 21 years old he has time but really needs to address the skating and pace to reach an NHL top six role.

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

Bourque had a good AHL rookie season with 20 goals and 47 points. He has some work to do however before he can compete to crack the Stars roster with their depth.

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

Othmann finished his junior career in the OHL on a playoff run with the Petes that ended with a Championship and a Memorial Cup run. He has size and speed and skill, and scores clutch goals. A year in the AHL is in the cards for Othmann but he has top six upside in a year or two.

Will Smith, C – San Jose Sharks

The slick and skilled center had 127 points in 60 games with the NTDP in his draft year. That was not a typo. Headed to Boston College with the entire NTDP record breaking line with Perreault and Leonard, the trio could have a ridiculous freshman year. Smith has some work to do on his defensive game but should develop into the Sharks number one center with Eklund on his wing.

Jiri Kulich, C – Buffalo Sabres

Kulich scored 24 goals and 46 points as a rookie in the AHL and had nine points for Czechia at the WJC. His game got better as the season went on and in the AHL playoffs he scored 11 points in 12 games. He will have to play another year in the AHL and wait for some contracts to expire on the Sabres roster, but he is very close.

Tyson Foerster, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

His AHL rookie season was a smashing success as he scored 20 goals and 48 points in 66 games. But what was far more impressive was his late season NHL recall where he played eight games with the Flyers and scored seven points. He is NHL ready now.

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 28: Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) skates with the puck during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on March 28, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Luke Evangelista, RW – Nashville Predators

Perhaps one of the players with the biggest rise in stock this year was Evangelista. Sure, he scored 111 points in his final 62 career OHL games, but 41 points in 49 AHL games as a rookie was very impressive. Even more spectacular was he earned an NHL recall and scored there too, 15 points in 24 games. He has arrived.

Ridly Greig, C/LW – Ottawa Senators

His breakout performance at the WJC was cut short due to injury, but he picked up where he left off as a rookie in the AHL scoring 29 points in 39 games in Belleville. His play earned him an NHL recall and he did not look out of place posting nine points in 20 NHL games. He is ready.

Matthew Savoie, C – Buffalo Sabres

Savoie is a prolific scorer as he has back-to-back 90-point seasons in the WHL with Winnipeg and went on a tear in the playoffs last year scoring 11 goals and 29 points in 19 games. He is undersized but he can play.

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries have plagued Robertson, who otherwise may have been playing out his ELC inside the Leafs top six. At 21-years-old he has missed a lot of development playing 82 games over the past three seasons. He needs to have a full, healthy year.

Brendan Brisson, LW/RW – Vegas Golden Knights

The Michigan alumni had a good AHL rookie season scoring 37 points in 58 games for the Silver Knights. He will be back in the AHL and should see marked improvement in his production. He is coming.

Defense

Luke Hughes, LD – New Jersey Devils

The youngest of the Huges brothers but the biggest at 6’ 2”, 183 pounds may have the highest upside. He produced at the NCAA, World Junior, and World Championship. He has two points in his two-game debut to end the year in the NHL and will play his rookie season in the NHL in the coming season. The only thing in his way from being the top offensive player right away is Dougie Hamilton.

Brandt Clarke, RD – Los Angeles Kings

Clark started the year in the NHL and after nine games with the Kings and five in the AHL he was loaned to Canada where he dominated the World Junior. Then he was returned to the OHL, and it was ridiculous as he scored 23 points in 12 playoff games. He is ready for the NHL.

Lane Hutson, LD – Montreal Canadiens

His 48-point freshman season was comparable to Cale Makar’s Hobey Baker winning sophomore year. Hutson also played key roles for the USA at the WJC and World Championships. He will return to Boston University to play with his brother and should sign following his sophomore year. Hutson has elite upside.

David Jiricek, RD – Columbus Blue Jackets

Jiricek had a tremendous D+1 season as an 18-year-old AHL rookie playing key minutes for the Monsters and scoring 38 points. His play at the WJC helped lead Czechia to a Silver Medal and he looks ready for the NHL now. His point upside may not be as elite, but he is 6’ 3”, mobile and great defensively. He is a franchise defenseman.

ELMONT, NY - OCTOBER 06: New Jersey Devils Defenseman Simon Nemec (5) during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders on October 6, 2022, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Simon Nemec, RD – New Jersey Devils

Nemec is every bit as good as Jiricek, he had a superb D+1 year as an AHL rookie scoring 34 points and was a point per game player at the WJC. His path to a number one NHL defender is harder in New Jersey with Hughes and Hamilton blocking him.

Olen Zellweger, LD – Anaheim Ducks

Zellweger has dominated the WHL to the tune of 183 career points in 180 games and was named the CHL Defenseman of the Year. He has dominated the World Junior with two Gold Medals with 17 points in 14 games. He will take his game to the AHL, and chances are he will dominate there as a rookie. He is still a year or two away from being an impact defenseman in the NHL and the Ducks number one on the blueline.

Simon Edvinsson, LD – Detroit Red Wings

After a great AHL rookie campaign Edvinsson moved up to the NHL for a nine-game audition. He was poised to make the Wings roster out of camp to start the season, but an injury will delay that arrival. He may need a short tour in the AHL to get up to speed, but he will compete with Seider for top minutes in Detroit by years end.

Scott Perunovich, LD – St. Louis Blues

By all accounts the 24-year-old should have graduated from this list by now, but three injury plagued seasons and he has been limited to 19 NHL games. His 42 points in 39 career AHL games demands he gets an opportunity to play meaningful minutes in the NHL, he just needs to stay healthy.

Pavel Mintyukov, LD – Anaheim Ducks

The Russian offensive defender saw his production dip slightly after a mid-season trade to the Ottawa 67’s, but his offensive play should translate to the AHL where he will play his rookie season with the Gulls. He has Drysdale and Zellweger ahead of him for now, but his upside is tremendous.

Denton Mateychuk, LD – Columbus Blue Jackets

Mateychuk has similar offensive upside to Mintyukov, but is a little smaller, and has one more year of junior hockey before he turns pro. The 19-year-old should shootout the lights in the WHL and be a key player for Canada at the World Junior.

Kevin Korchinski, LD – Chicago Blackhawks

His stock got a big boost when the Hawks won the Draft lottery and added Connor Bedard. Korchinski is penciled in to be the Hawks powerplay quarterback in three years or so and it is lining up to be elite. The 6’ 3” defender can skate and play a physical game as well.

Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

Perhaps no defense prospect saw their stock rise more last year than Nikishin. His 55-point breakout in 65 games in the KHL commanded the attention of fantasy owners. He has two more years remaining on his contract so we will have to wait a while for the 21-year-old, 6’ 4” Russian stud to come to North America.

Jordan Spence, RD – Los Angeles Kings

The Kings top defensive prospect is Brandt Clarke, but the gap between him and Spence is getting smaller. Spence was a force in the AHL as a rookie posting 42 points in 46 games and played in 24 NHL games. Last year he spent more time developing in the AHL and is looking ready to secure an NHL job out of training camp.

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 17: Thomas Harley (55) of the Dallas Stars skates during the second period of the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens on March 17, 2022, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Thomas Harley, LD – Dallas Stars

The OHL shutdown gave Harley early access to the AHL, and the 21-year-old now has three seasons of professional hockey development under his belt, including 40 NHL career games played. He has NHL ready size, mobility, and offensive acumen. He should be a full-time player in Dallas this year and his role with the team will continue to grow.

Ville Heinola, LD – Winnipeg Jets

The 20^th overall pick from the 2019 draft nearly made the NHL in his D+1 year playing the first eight regular season games with the Jets. Ultimately, he was loaned back to his Liiga club team and since then has split time between the Liiga, AHL, NHL and some international tournaments. His play in the AHL has slowly been improving, but Heinola still has one more year of waiver exemption that likely dictates more AHL time.

Lukas Cormier, LD – Vegas Golden Knights

Cormier was a prolific offensive defenseman in junior and his rookie year in the AHL saw his offensive skill translate to the professional level as he scored 10 goals and 35 points in 62 games for the Silver Knights. Cormier has a rocket of a shot, is a crafty and creative offensive driver but is looking at another year or two in the AHL before he is ready to push for a top pairing role in Vegas.

Henry Thrun, LD – San Jose Sharks

The Ducks 2019 fourth round pick was looking for more opportunity and is assumed was not going to sign in Anaheim as they are loaded with star prospects on defense. He was traded to the Sharks who signed him within a month. The departure of Erik Karlsson has created a massive void on the Sharks roster and Thrun will try to win the job out of training camp as the team’s powerplay quarterback.

Emil Andrae, LD – Philadelphia Flyers

The 5’ 9” defender has been flushing out his resume nicely since his draft leading the J20 in defenseman points and goals, a HockeyAllsvenskan Championship, being named best junior, most goals by a defenseman in the WJC and a Bronze Medal. Last year he had a breakout season in the SHL with 26 points and finished the year in the AHL with a strong showing of six points in 10 games with the Phantoms. He will play a full season in the AHL but is a player on the rise.

Ryker Evans, LD – Seattle Kraken

The Krakens 2021 second round pick had a strong junior career with the Regina Pats, but his stock improved significantly in his rookie AHL season as his role continued to grow all season long. His 44 points in 71 regular season games was great, and it got even better in the playoffs as he produced 26 points in 26 games to help lead Coachella to the finals in their inaugural season. Evans is a prospect on the rise and on the fast track to the NHL.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

ASP is a play-driving offensive defenseman with a high hockey sense that allows him to see plays two steps ahead. He is a strong skater, perhaps not a burner, but his edge work makes him very elusive. He has the ability to be a power play QB but with Seider and Edvinsson ahead of him on the depth chart, power play minutes may be hard to come by.

Goalies.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

The rise of Devon Levi has been spectacular. The seventh-round selection by the Florida Panthers has rocketed up the rankings by cracking the Canadian WJC roster, then winning the starting role. He dominated the NCAA winning the Mike Richter Award as Best Goalie in the NCAA twice. He made his NHL debut after his junior season and posted a 5-2-0 record with a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Eric Comrie and Ukka-Pekka-Luukkonen are both under contract which should force Levi to the AHL as he is waiver exempt, but Levi could outplay them both and win the starting role out of camp. Buffalo is a team on the rise and Levi is on the cusp of becoming an elite goalie.

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

His first season in the AHL showed plenty of promise as he made the adjustment to North America. After a strong rookie season in Iowa with a 18-15-5 record, he closed the year at the World Championship with Sweden winning all three games with a 0.67 GAA against some of the lesser teams. With one more year remaining on M-A Fleury’s contract, Wallstedt likely has another year of AHL time before he is a full-time NHL goalie.

VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 25: Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) in net during their preseason NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on September 25, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

You could easily make the argument that Wolf is the number one on this list. The two-time AHL Goalie of the Year winner has been outstanding as a pro goalie. He lacks some international experience and has both Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar signed for two years ahead of him in Calgary, but his performance speaks for itself. The Flames can be patient with the 22-year-old future franchise goalie as he could be one of the teams’ all-time greats.

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

Askarov has been an elite prospect for years now, but my concern with him has been the low volume of games he was playing in Russia. Last year he came to North America and played 48 games for Milwaukee in the AHL and was outstanding as the undisputed starting goalie. His adjustment to North America and a starting goalie workload erased any potential doubt he can and will be an NHL starting goalie. Look for Askarov to get a few more cups of coffee in the NHL this year and be a full time NHL player in 2024-25.

Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues

Hofer has rather quietly assembled a remarkable resume which includes a WHL Championship, Gold Medals at the World Championship and World Junior where he was the Best Goaltender. In his two seasons of AHL development his record is 49-36-13 with a 2.78 GAA and .912 SV%. Hofer is penciled in to start the year in the NHL as the backup to an aging and declining Jordan Binnington. It is just a matter of time before Hofer usurps him as the starting goalie.

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

Commesso showed good development in his three years as the Boston Terriers starting goalie in the NCAA and posted a strong 24-8-0 record in his final year. His path towards an NHL starting role looks promising as he should be the starting goalie as a rookie in the AHL with Rockford and the Hawks goalie depth is very weak outside Commesso and Arvid Soderblom.

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

The wait time on the Wings 2021 first round pick is a little longer. After a dominant career in the WHL, he spent the majority of his rookie season as a pro in the ECHL with Toledo where he got starting minutes. The 6’ 6” netminder will graduate to the AHL and will be mentored by veteran Alex Lyon.

Justus Annunen, Colorado Avalanche

The 6’ 4” Finnish goalie had strong numbers from the Liiga but stumbled in his rookie season in the AHL. He made adjustments in his sophomore season and saw marked improvements across the board. The 23-year-old will play his third season in the AHL and be the first option for an NHL recall if injuries require relief.

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

This will be a key year for Dostal to establish himself as an NHL goalie. The Ducks likely go with a three-headed-monster in goal with John Gibson, Alex Stalock, and Dostal to allow Calle Clang to get the starting role in the AHL. Injuries will certainly force Gibson to miss some time and Dostal could seize the starting job in Anaheim sooner than later.

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tarasov has struggled with injuries since coming to North America but put 28 games on the board last year between the AHL and NHL. Both teams were bottom dwellers in the standings, so his numbers were not overly impressive. Tarasov will share the NHL crease this year with Elvis Merzlikins as his backup but could see a healthy number of starts if he plays well.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Chicago Blackhawks

Josh Bell — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:04:38 +0000

If tanking doesn’t exist in the NHL, nobody told Chicago. Kyle Davidson took over as GM in October 2021 after Stan Bowman was suspended. He has been actively emptying the roster since, moving veterans and even younger players such as Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat for draft picks. Patrick Kane finally moved on for yet more picks. It worked. The depleted roster gave it their best, but still lost a lot of games and won the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. Once the next draft is complete, they will have a robust and deep pipeline of talent to build around. They currently have eight picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 draft. They have six first round picks, and a whopping 21 picks in the first three rounds, over the next three drafts through 2025.

In his first draft, Davidson eight picks in the first three rounds, including three firsts which he used to add Kevin Korchinksi (ranked #23 by McKeen’s), Frank Nazar (#29), and Sam Rinzel (#85). They represent the 2^nd through fourth ranked Chicago prospects on our list. The #14 ranked prospect, Lukas Reichel, produced 15 points in 23 games in his NHL call up and looks to have earned a roster spot for next season. The most likely scenario is to continue to accumulate young talent. In addition to the first overall pick, they also have the #19, #35, #44, #51 and #55 picks in the first two rounds alone. They have the opportunity to package some picks to move in the order and add another premium prospect. The addition of Bedard immediately changes the trajectory of the timeline and Davidson may want to use those pieces to add younger roster players.

Lukas Reichel

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, like he was already a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and Chicago has to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

2. Kevin Korchinski

One of the best offensive defensemen in all junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous amount of points this season, and isn't slowing down. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for Seattle end when coming off of his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, though, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky is the limit.

3. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, or opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

4. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, though not spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25^th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in developing them. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as helping the USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

5. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much steadier and more consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who has neither any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

6. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021, and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over than span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. He's a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too, though. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams this year, Mississauga, and Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

7. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian center in the 6^th round, 172^nd overall, in 2021, and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He really grew into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL, and perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as they can.

8. Colton Dach

Just how good is Dach, really? It's a difficult question to answer. As a big center with plus hands and an older brother, Kirby, who is succeeding in the NHL, the profile is very exciting. However, COVID precautions limited his games in 2020-21, his Kelowna Rockets were eliminated in the opening postseason round in 2021-22, and injuries have sidelined his current season, including knocking him out of the World Juniors just three games in. He's back on the ice now, going deep into the playoffs with Seattle, but he doesn't look 100% yet and his team is deep enough and talented enough at forward to not need to rush him. Chicago might be a little concerned about whether or not all those missed games, and resultant opportunities for growth in such crucial years of his development, will hinder his long-term potential.

9. Alex Vlasic

Vlasic jumped straight into the NHL after leaving Boston University and turning pro in the spring of 2022, dressing for 15 games for a Blackhawks team that was out of the playoff hunt and wanted a closer look at one of their top prospects. While he wasn't necessarily bad in that tryout, and even scored his first career NHL goal, Chicago elected to take the safe route with his development and let him refine his game down in the AHL for most of this year, which made total sense. As expected, he used his gargantuan reach and fleet feet to provide a stout defensive presence, while also getting to work on his offensive contributions a bit, or at least more than he would have in the NHL. Whether in 2023-24 or later, Vlasic will almost certainly end up on the Hawks as a shutdown defender.

10. Nolan Allan

It should be clear by now that the Blackhawks put a premium on defensive defensemen, and Allan is the one they paid the highest price for, using the last pick of the first round in 2021 to go a little off the board and secure his rights. They undoubtedly would have had high expectations for him to grow his game in the proceeding years, though the gains so far are relatively modest. Sure, Hockey Canada brought him along for the World Juniors, and the powerhouse Seattle Thunderbirds paid a pretty penny to bring him in for their full-throttle quest for a WHL title, but he hasn't fully reached a point yet where he has been a truly top-tier player. His skating and puck movement remain a little limited, and he could stand to be more of a physical presence. That said, growth in those areas is still achievable.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Key trade deadline moves with fantasy impact

Scott Cullen — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 23:17:52 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 02: New York Rangers Left Wing Artemi Panarin (10) and New York Rangers Right Wing Patrick Kane (88) talk during the National Hockey League game between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers on March 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week brought a flurry of trades even before Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline and then not so much on deadline day. Nevertheless, here is a look at the potential impact of the most significant moves, including Patrick Kane, Timo Meier, Jakob Chychrun, Shayne Gostisbehere, Tyler Bertuzzi and many more.

#1 When the New York Rangers traded for Vladimir Tarasenko, it looked like Patrick Kane might not get his wish to end up on Broadway. Kane re-ignited trade interest by putting up 10 points (7 G, 3 A) in his last four games with the Blackhawks and he should be productive in New York, where he will have a stronger supporting cast and is re-united with former Blackhawks linemate Artemi Panarin. Overall, this probably improves Kane’s value down the stretch but his strong finish in Chicago ensures that he won’t be any kind of buy-low bargain for fantasy managers.

#2 A shot generating beast, Timo Meier was acquired by the New Jersey Devils from the San Jose Sharks and while he is recovering from an upper-body injury, there is an excellent opportunity awaiting him with the Devils. Whether he ends up with either Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes as his center, Meier is going to be in position to keep producing at an elite level. He had 31 goals in 57 games with San Jose, averaging a career-high 4.47 shots on goal per game. As for the Sharks, they will offer a bigger role for Fabian Zetterlund, who had 20 points (6 G, 14 A) in 46 games for New Jersey and Andreas Johnsson, who has been stuck in the minors for most of the season and had 30 points (9 G, 21 A) in 36 AHL games, but they would only hold appeal in the deepest of leagues.

#3 The Ottawa Senators landed one of the most sought-after defensemen with the addition of Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes. Chychrun has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career but has also been very productive when he is on the ice. Since 2018-2019, among defensemen that have played at least 200 games, Chychrun ranks sixth with 0.19 goals per game (49 goals in 256 games) and seventh with 2.73 shots on goal per game. The question is whether Chychrun has a chance to supplant Thomas Chabot on Ottawa’s top power play unit. In Arizona, Juuso Valimaki is set to take over as the full-time quarterback on the Coyotes power play. He has 10 assists, including five with the man advantage, in the past 11 games.

#4 One of the reasons that Valimaki is the new No. 1 option on the Arizona blueline is that, in addition to trading Chychrun, the Coyotes dealt puck-moving defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to Carolina. Gostisbehere will get regular power play time with the Hurricanes and given Carolina’s five-on-five dominance, he should see an uptick in production at even strength, too. The Hurricanes also acquired right winger Jesse Puljujarvi from Edmonton. While Puljujarvi is probably more of a long-term project, who arrives with 14 points (5 G, 9 A) in 58 games, he did score 29 goals in 120 games over the previous two seasons. He has been a strong play-driving winger, which fits in Carolina, but Puljujarvi may also have some untapped offensive potential, too.

#5 With long-term injuries hitting wingers Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno, the Boston Bruins wasted no time in dealing for Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings. Bertuzzi was an attractive commodity on the trade market even though he had just 14 points (4 G, 10 A) in 29 games for Detroit. He was scoring on a career-low 6.5% of his shots, with a 7.8% on-ice shooting percentage, so he is probably due for some positive regression when it comes to his percentages. With Bertuzzi departing Detroit, Dominik Kubalik moved back up to the Wings’ top line.

#6 Power forward Nino Niederreiter landed with the Winnipeg Jets after scoring 28 points (18 G, 10 A) in 56 games for the Nashville Predators. Niederreiter is a six-time 20-goal scorer and should have a good opportunity to produce down the stretch for Winnipeg. He played more than 18 minutes in his first game for the Jets, something Niederreiter did in 11 of 56 games for the Predators. While Nashville has made several changes, one of the more notable moves was to call John Leonard up from the AHL, where he had 32 points (11 G, 21 A) in 52 games for Milwaukee. Leonard scored in his first game for the Preds, skating on a line with Cody Glass and Matt Duchene.

#7 After scoring 24 goals as a rookie last season, Tanner Jeannot was snakebit for most of this season in Nashville, scoring just five goals and 14 points in 56 games. He also had 213 hits and can drop the gloves, if need be, so he can have an impact without scoring, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will try to rekindle Jeannot’s touch around the net. He is skating on the third line with Ross Colton and Nick Paul, a line that should be tough to play against. With Jeannot gone, Cole Smith has joined Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin on Nashville’s checking line.

#8 One more deal for Nashville, as they sent Mikael Granlund to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Granlund had 36 points (9 G, 27 A) in 58 games for the Preds, and has three seasons in his career with more than 60 points, so he has the skill to be a productive contributor. At the same time, it is not like he is stepping into a big role with the Penguins. In his first game for Pittsburgh, Granlund played mostly with Jeff Carter and Danton Heinen, which is not the best spot for putting up points. Granlund’s departure from Nashville does open up room for a scoring winger and recently called up right winger Philip Tomasino has a chance to take advantage of that situation. Tomasino had 32 points (12 G, 20 A) in 38 AHL games before getting called up and has five points (1 G, 4 A) in nine games since his promotion.

#9 The Vancouver Canucks made one trade with an eye to the future and one that is more geared to the present. First, they sent checking winger William Lockwood to the New York Rangers for Vitali Kravtsov, a 23-year-old winger who had fallen out of favor with the Blueshirts after managing six points (3 G, 3 A) in 28 games. Kravtsov might have some long-term upside but is not likely to offer fantasy value this season. Vancouver’s other major deal involved the addition of Filip Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings. Hronek is a 25-year-old right shot defenseman who has already tied his career high with 38 points (9 G, 29 A) in 60 games. However, 16 of those 38 points have come on the power play and it would seem unlikely that Hronek would get first unit power play time ahead of Quinn Hughes in Vancouver. Hronek’s departure does open up more of an opportunity on the power play for Detroit’s sophomore blueliner Moritz Seider, who started slowly, but has 18 points (2 G, 16 A) in his past 23 games.

#10 The St. Louis Blues continued to sell off veteran talent, dealing versatile forward Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights. Barbashev had a career-high 60 points in 2021-2022 and is not likely to get to that level again, but had 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 59 games for St. Louis before the trade. Barbashev is getting an excellent opportunity in Vegas, skating on the top line with Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault, so Barbashev is worth tracking in his new location. St. Louis has overhauled a lot of their forward group, but waiver pickup Kasperi Kapanen is looking at a better role than he had in Pittsburgh. Kapanen had 20 points (7 G, 13 A) in 43 games for the Penguins, but was playing just 12 minutes per game. He will play more than that in St. Louis and is getting a look alongside Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich.

The Blues picked up a winger desperately in need of a fresh start. Jakub Vrana was traded from Detroit to St. Louis and the 27-year-old winger spent some time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program this season. He had just two points (1 G, 1 A) in five games for the Red Wings as well as 11 points (6 G, 5 A) in 17 AHL games. However, when he was not injured or otherwise out of the lineup Vrana did score 22 goals in 42 games with Detroit, so there is obvious upside for a team like St. Louis, that is not looking for a full rebuild, but a quick turnaround instead. Tread cautiously with adding Vrana for this season but see what kind of opportunity he gets with the Blues and expect that he will have sleeper value next season.

#11 The Edmonton Oilers bolstered their roster with the additions of defenseman Mattias Ekholm from Nashville and center Nick Bjugstad from Arizona. Ekholm is a defensive standout, but is a capable puck mover, too, and has recorded more than 30 points in five different NHL seasons. Tyson Barrie went to Nashville in the Ekholm deal and going from Edmonton’s power play to Nashville’s power play is going to be a shock to the system. Edmonton has scored 12.50 goals per 60 during five-on-four play, easily the best in the league, while Nashville has scored 6.34 goals per 60, ranking 24^th. Barrie scored 28 of his 43 points with the man advantage and will be replaced on the Oilers power play by Evan Bouchard, who has been able to generate points at evens, but has 14 of his 70 career points on the power play. Since the Oilers’ power play is driven more by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Bouchard should benefit from the new role. Bjugstad had 13 goals and 23 points in 59 games for Arizona, but he is likely to fill a bottom six role with the Oilers, so should not bring much fantasy value.

#12 The Los Angeles Kings, feeling like contenders, upgraded their defense and goaltending in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, acquiring blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov and netminder Joonas Korpisalo, while sending goalie Jonathan Quick to Columbus. Gavrikov tallied a career-high 33 points last season but has just 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in 52 games this season, so he does not offer much fantasy appeal. Korpisalo, however, is looking at the opportunity to start for a team that is headed to the playoffs. Over the course of his career, Korpisalo has mostly been a below average goaltender, but he had a .919 save percentage in his last 17 games for Columbus and that is good enough for him to count as an upgrade for a Kings team that needed AHL call-up Pheonix Copley to save their season. Quick was reportedly not happy about the deal to Columbus and was then flipped to the Vegas Golden Knights. With Logan Thompson and Laurent Brossoit injured, Vegas could use someone to back up behind Adin Hill. Quick had a .876 save percentage in 31 games for the Kings, which would be a career-low mark for the 37-year-old goaltender. All of this is to say that Quick does not offer much for fantasy managers at this stage of his career.

#13 The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their active ways, dealing defenseman Rasmus Sandin to the Washington Capitals for Erik Gustafsson and a first-round pick. Sandin has a chance to play a substantial role in Washington for the rest of this season and beyond. With John Carlson injured, and Gustafsson heading to Toronto, Sandin is looking at a prime situation in which he can quarterback Washington’s first power play unit. Gustafsson, who had scored 11 of his 38 points with Washington while on the man advantage, is tied for 15^th among defensemen with 27 even-strength points. However, Toronto’s blueline looks awfully crowded so, barring a sudden change, Gustafsson is likely to fall into a depth role, virtually eliminating his fantasy appeal. Toronto also added defensemen Jake McCabe and Luke Schenn, as well as center Sam Lafferty, any of whom might help Toronto’s plans to add grit for the postseason, but none of them look like fantasy contributors.

#14 The Dallas Stars acquired Evgeni Dadonov from the Montreal Canadiens, sending Denis Gurianov the other way. The Stars also brought in center Max Domi from the Chicago Blackhawks. Dadonov is a skilled veteran winger who had a shooting percentage of 5.6% and on-ice shooting percentage of 6.6% for the Habs, both of which are likely to get a natural lift – he’s due! Dadonov has three points (1 G, 2 A) and eight shots on goal in three games for the Stars, skating on a line with Jamie Benn and Wyatt Johnston. Gurianov had just two goals in 43 games for Dallas, but he scored 20 goals in 2019-2020, so there is some upside there and the Habs have the time to draw it out of him. Gurianov scored a goal in his second game for Montreal and played more than 17 minutes in his first two games for the Canadiens, a threshold he had not hit this season in Dallas. Domi wrapped up his tenure with the Blackhawks by scoring 14 points (4 G, 10 A) with 29 shots on goal in his last eight games. He has 49 points, his most in a season since scoring 72 points in 2018-2019. He will be in more of a supporting role with Dallas, so while he may contribute in Dallas, his fantasy value has probably peaked already. With Domi gone, 2020 first-round pick Lukas Reichel has been promoted from the AHL, where he had 46 points (17 G, 29 A) in 51 games for Rockford. Reichel has stepped into Domi’s spot, centering Chicago’s top line between Andreas Athanasiou and Philipp Kurashev.

#15 The Minnesota Wild made some modest deals to improve their forward depth before making bigger deals at the deadine. First, they added Gustav Nyquist from the Columbus Blue Jackets and Marcus Johansson from the Washington Capitals. Nyquist is injured, but should be healthy by the time the playoffs roll around and he is a competent scoring middle six winger. Johansson could have a little fantasy sleeper value. He had 28 points (13 G, 15 A) in 60 games for Washington, but started his second stint with the Wild by playing more than 16 minutes while skating on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy.

The Wild then added defenseman John Klingberg from Anaheim, where he had 24 points (8 G, 16 A) in 50 games, and just going to a better team ought to help Klingberg’s production. Will he step into the Wild’s top power play unit? The Wild rank 10^th with 8.18 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play, but rookie defenseman Calen Addison is the top-scoring power play defenseman for the Wild and he has been a healthy scratch recently.

Minnesota also shipped winger Jordan Greenway to Buffalo, but he had just seven points (2 G, 5 A) in 45 games. Greenway produced a career-high 32 points (6 G, 26 A) in 56 games in 2020-2021, but has typically not scored enough to matter for fantasy purposes. The Wild replaced Greenway on the roster with Oskar Sundqvist, who had 21 points (7 G, 14 A) in 52 games for Detroit. Of all these additions by the Wild, Klingberg is the only one with widespread fantasy appeal.

#16 Although he played just 13 minutes per game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, lanky winger Pierre Engvall could have a better situation waiting for him with the New York Islanders, at least in the short term. With injuries up front, the Isles have Engvall starting out with Anders Lee and Bo Horvat on the top line. It’s worth giving him a look. In 21 games this season in which Engvall played more than 14 minutes, he contributed seven goals and four assists.

#17 With the deals covered, there are still some players that are heating up and worth adding, starting with the Devils’ Dawson Mercer. The second year forward has scored a goal in seven straight games, putting up 14 points (9 G, 5 A) with 22 shots on goal. He has a good thing going on a line with Nico Hischier and Tomas Tatar.

#18 Carolina’s second year right winger Seth Jarvis has returned to the top line, alongside Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. He has seven points (5 G, 2 A) and 20 shots on goal in his past six games and his increased shot rate makes it easier to buy him as a scoring threat down the stretch.

#19 Trying to recapture last season’s magic, when Ryan Hartman had a career high 34 goals and 65 points the Minnesota Wild have re-united Hartman with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello on the top line. Hartman has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 20 shots on goal in his past seven games.

#20 Scoring Buffalo’s only goal in Thursday’s 7-1 loss at Boston, Casey Mittelstadt is on a tear, with 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past 10 games. That shot rate is concerning when it comes to sustaining his offensive production, but Mittelstadt is up to a career high 38 points (10 G, 28 A) in 60 games and that warrants consideration in deeper leagues.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Konecny is the Hottest Player in the League – The Good and the Bad of Nashville Predators Prospects, The High-scoring Seattle Kraken – Kevin Hayes bounces back and much more.

Scott Cullen — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:51:27 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 05: Philadelphia Flyers Right Wing Travis Konecny (11) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators on November 5, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers is the hottest player in the league; the good and the bad of Nashville Predators prospects, the high-scoring Seattle Kraken, Kevin Hayes bounces back and much more.

#1 Philadelphia Flyers right winger Travis Konecny is busting out with the best season of his career. He has already tied his career high with 24 goals but has done so in just 36 games. Konecny scored a hat trick in Wednesday’s win over Washington, extending his point streak to 10 games, during which he has piled up 20 points (12 G, 8 A) and 32 shots on goal. For a Flyers team that is starting to show improvement since, especially since the holiday break, Konecny has emerged as a bona fide star.

#2 Nashville has done some remodeling to their forward group on the fly, and it has included calling up Thomas Novak and Juuso Parssinen from the American Hockey League. The two centers are also getting first unit power play time. Novak, 25, had 26 points (11 G, 15 A) in 25 AHL games and has been able to produce for the Preds too. He has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 25 shots on goal in 12 games for Nashville. Parssinen, 21, was called up sooner. He had a goal and an assist in Thursday’s loss at Montreal and now has seven points (1 G, 6 A) during a five-game point streak.

#3 Nashville’s handling of forward prospects has taken some heat, however, after they lost winger Eeli Tolvanen to Seattle on waivers. Tolvanen, 23, was a first-round pick in 2017. He scored a goal in Thursday’s win at Boston, giving him six points (4 G, 2 A) in seven games since he was grabbed off waivers by Seattle. Tolvanen has 14 shots on goal and 16 hits in those seven games, making an immediate impact in a depth role with the Kraken.

#4 Although he is not used in the role of a prime playmaking center, as might have been anticipated when he joined the Kraken via the expansion draft, Yanni Gourde is contributing. In his past 15 games, Gourde has put up 13 points (3 G, 10 A) and 27 shots on goal, and all of those points have come at even strength. The Kraken have scored 3.63 goals per 60 minutes, which ranks third, behind only the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins.

#5 One more to watch for the Kraken: defenseman Vince Dunn recorded an assist at Boston on Thursday, giving him 30 points (7 G, 23 A) in just 41 games. He is on a tear lately, producing 12 points (3 G, 9 A) and 16 shots on goal in the past eight games. Dunn tied his career high with 35 points last season, but it appears that he is well on his way to a new career high in point production this season.

#6 Although he was a healthy scratch recently, Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes has still been a productive playmaker. In the past five games, Hayes has six points (1 G, 5 A) and 17 shots on goal. The elevated shot rate is relatively new for Hayes. He has a career high 2.78 shots on goal per game, though he is scoring on just 8.8% of his shots, the second lowest shooting percentage of his career.

#7 While there are rumors about the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring a forward to play in their top six, versatile veteran Calle Jarnkrok is making the most of his chance to play up in the lineup. Jarnkrok has 14 points (5 G, 9 A) in his past 15 games, and is skating on the left side with John Tavares and Mitch Marner, a line that is effectively Toronto’s top line while Auston Matthews remains out of the lineup. Jarnkrok, who scored a career high 35 points in 68 games in 2017-2018, has 20 points (9 G, 11 A) in 36 games for the Maple Leafs.

#8 Second year New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer scored a pair of goals in Tuesday’s big comeback win at Carolina, giving him seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past six games. Consistency has been a little more challenging for Mercer, as this production followed a seven-game drought, during which he had zero points and 14 shots on goal. His role is suspect, too. He is most appealing when he ends up on the wing with emerging superstar Jack Hughes, but Mercer has moved to right wing on the third line, without a regular spot on the Devils power play now that Ondrej Palat has returned from injury.

#9 The Arizona Coyotes have been giving 22-year-old center Barrett Hayton, the fifth pick in the 2018 Draft, ample opportunity to prove that he belongs in the National Hockey League. With little competition in the middle of the ice, Hayton has recently been centering Arizona’s top line, with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on the wings. Hayton has produced nine points (4 G, 5 A) with 21 shots on goal in the past eight games, which is taking his game to a new level and might offer some hope for his role in the future.

#10 Scoring the tying goal against Dallas in the final second of regulation on Thursday, New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller has seven points (3 G, 4 A) in the past five games, and has a career high 23 points (5 G, 18 A) in 43 games. The smooth-skating 6-foot-5 blueliner has just two points on the power play, so his 19 even-strength points puts him in a tie with Quinn Hughes, Darnell Nurse, Erik Gustafsson, and Hampus Lindholm for ninth among defensemen. His offensive ceiling is going to remain limited because Adam Fox is going to be the No. 1 power play option for the Rangers, but Miller is improving dramatically in just his third NHL season.

#11 With injuries hitting the St. Louis Blues hard, veteran left winger Brandon Saad has stepped up. Although he was held off the scoresheet in two games against the Calgary Flames, he still has eight points (6 G, 2 A) and 18 shots on goal in the past eight games and is skating on a line with Brayden Schenn and Ivan Barbashev. That is a veteran trio that plays hard and in straight lines.

#12 He is not playing enough to get a standard fantasy recommendation just yet, but Columbus Blue Jackets rookie winger Kirill Marchenko had a hat trick against Carolina last Saturday and has scored nine goals in his first 18 NHL games. Of course, he is still seeking his first assist so there is room for improvement, but the 22-year-old also had 19 points (8 G, 11 A) in 16 AHL games to earn his promotion to Columbus. The Blue Jackets are obviously rebuilding so expect Marchenko and fellow rookie Kent Johnson to see plenty of ice time in the second half of the season.

#13 Injuries in Philadelphia prompted the call-up of 23-year-old goaltender Samuel Ersson from the AHL. He had a .910 save percentage in 18 AHL games, which is solid, but he has delivered a .924 save percentage in his first five NHL games, flashing talent that might make him a legitimate long-term asset for the Flyers. For fantasy purposes, Ersson has little value when Carter Hart is healthy, but is well worth a look in long-term dynasty leagues.

#14 Los Angeles Kings right winger Gabriel Vilardi got off to a great start to the season, staying healthy for once and showing the kind of offensive chops that made him the 11^th pick in the 2017 Draft. He then went through a dry spell, a 17-game span during which he had four points (3 G, 1 A) with three of those points coming on the power play. Vilardi has rebounded, however, and has 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in his past 12 games, making the most of his opportunity to skate on a line with Kevin Fiala and Blake Lizotte, in addition to getting first unit power play time for the Kings.

#15 With No. 1 center Roope Hintz out of the lineup, veteran Tyler Seguin has moved up the depth chart in Dallas to play with Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski on the Stars’ top line. Seguin has a goal and an assist in two games since making the move and is worth adding while Hintz is out. Really, anyone getting a chance to play with Robertson and Pavelski will have some value, and Seguin is the lucky one right now.

#16 The Chicago Blackhawks have placed Patrick Kane on the injured list due to a lower-body injury. While this season has been far from vintage Kane, the Blackhawks will have to find new sources of offense. Rookie Lukas Reichel has displayed some potential with three points (1 G, 2 A) and eight shots on goal in four games since getting called up from the American Hockey League. Taylor Raddysh might have more immediate appeal, as the 24-year-old tallied his 11th goal of the season in Thursday’s win over Colorado.

#17 An injury to Jake Allen could give Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault some regular starts, at least in the short term. Montembeault has a .902 save percentage in 15 games for the Habs this season, and while that might sound mediocre, he had a .892 save percentage in 63 NHL games prior to this season, so this is progress. Of course, wins are not coming easily in Montreal, but if Montembeault can continue to play at this level, he will solidify his spot in the league.

#18 New York Rangers left winger Chris Kreider is out of the lineup, dealing with an upper-body injury and that has opened the door for Alexis Lafreniere. The 2020 first overall pick was a healthy scratch recently and last scored a goal on December 7, but he played a career-high 21:21 in Thursday’s 2-1 overtime win against Dallas. He also recorded three shots on goal, something he had done just once in his previous 12 games.

#19 It is looking like 38-year-old Florida Panthers center Eric Staal still has some gas left in the tank. Since the beginning of December, Staal has contributed 13 points (6 G, 7 A) and 38 shots on goal in 20 games. He played more than 15 minutes in 13 of those 20 games, a significant role for a guy who did not play in the NHL last season. With Anton Lundell moving up the depth chart to play left wing on Aleksander Barkov’s line, Staal has stepped in to handle the third-line center role for the Panthers.

#20 Since the holiday break, Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers leads in all-situations points per 60 minutes (minimum 50 minutes played), followed by Travis Konecny, Kyle Connor, Filip Forsberg, Lucas Raymond, Matthew Tkachuk, Viktor Arvidsson, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, and Kevin Fiala. Since returning from injury, Ehlers has changed the dynamic in Winnipeg, which is not unexpected – he is an elite play-driving winger who can create a ton of scoring chances. While most of those players are rostered already, Lucas Raymond and Viktor Arvidsson are more readily available to help your fantasy team.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

Lukas Reichel – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

FORWARDS

DEFENCE

GOAL

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Dustin Wolf makes strong case for the Calder Trophy – Teams and Players to target

Boston Bruins (Mon vs BUF, Thu @ VGK, Sat @ SJS, Sun @ LAK)

Chicago Blackhawks (Tue vs SEA, Thu vs LAK, Sat @ STL, Sun vs PHI)

Los Angeles Kings (Mon @ MIN, Thu @ CHI, Sat vs CAR, Sun vs BOS)

Nashville Predators (Tue vs STL, Thu vs ANA, Sat vs TOR, Sun @ STL)

Philadelphia Flyers (Mon @ PHI, Thu @ WAS, Sat @ DAL, Sun @ CHI)

St. Louis Blues (Tue @ NAS, Thu vs VAN, Sat vs CHI, Sun vs NAS)

Tampa Bay Lightning (Mon vs PHI, Thu @ DAL, Sat @ UTA, Sun @ VGK)

Toronto Maple Leafs (Mon vs CGY, Wed vs COL, Thu @ NYR, Sat @ NAS)

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

FORWARD

DEFENCE

GOAL

DADOUN: THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Skinner becoming key to Oilers fortunes – Value to be had on the Ducks, Hawks, Avalanche, Wings, Kings, Wild, Penguins, and Leafs

Anaheim Ducks – MON @ DET, THU VS CGY, SAT VS SEA

Chicago Blackhawks – TUE VS COL, FRI VS MTL, SAT @ STL (BTB)

Colorado Avalanche – TUE @CHI, THU VS OTT, SAT VS ARI

Detroit Red Wings – MON VS ANA, WED @WPG, FRI VS PHI, SAT @ NJD (BTB)

Los Angeles Kings – TUE@SJS, WED @SEA (BTB), SAT VS CGY

Minnesota Wild - MON @ PIT, TUE @BOS (BTB), THU VS MTL, SAT VS BOS

Pittsburgh Penguins – MON VS MIN, THU VS CAR, SAT @ OTT

Toronto Maple Leafs – TUE VS NYR, THU @BUF, SAT @ CBJ

FANTASY: The Week Ahead – December 4th to December 10th – Senators Challenges Grow – Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Los Angeles, Montreal among teams to target.

Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche

Detroit Red Wings

Los Angeles Kings

Montreal Canadiens

Seattle Kraken

Tampa Bay Lightning

Vegas Golden Knights

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Top 2o Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

1. Connor Bedard - C

2. Lukas Reichel - LW

3. Kevin Korchinski - D

4. Frank Nazar

5. Oliver Moore

6. Sam Rinzel

7. Drew Commesso

8. Nick Lardis

9. Ethan Del Mastro

10. Ilya Safonov

11. Colton Dach

12. Alex Vlasic

13. Adam Gajan

14. Nolan Allen

15. Roman Kantserov

16. Gavin Hayes

17. Ryan Greene

18. Cole Guttman

19. Wyatt Kaiser

20. Paul Ludwinski

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK: FANTASY PROSPECT RANKINGS – Top 30 Forwards – Top 20 Defense – top 10 Goalies

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers