Nils Lundkvist – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – DALLAS STARS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:51:49 +0000

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 26: Dallas Stars Right Wing Mikko Rantanen (96) in action in the second period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Dallas Stars on March 26, 2025 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswear)

For three years running, the Stars came up short of returning to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2020, losing in the Western Conference Final. Dallas dueled with the Winnipeg Jets atop the Central Division but came up 10 points short of the Presidents’ Trophy winners. A 106-point season is nothing to sneeze at, although the second-place finish led to a first-round battle with the Colorado Avalanche that went seven incredible games. A second-round battle with Winnipeg saw the Stars come out on top in six games, but by the time they met Edmonton for the second straight year, they were completely out of gas and lost in five. Dallas is an elite team whose five-on-five metrics and power play performance are average but have a top five penalty kill and one of the best goalies in the NHL in Jake Oettinger. Oh yeah, they’ve also got elite scorers like Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and a resurgent Matt Duchene to go with defenders like Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. They’re more than set but getting over the hump in the playoffs is proving to be difficult.

What’s Changed?

After losing in the Western Conference Final for the third straight season, the Stars dismissed coach Pete DeBoer and brought back former head coach Glen Gulutzan. A lot’s changed in Dallas since Gulutzan ran the Stars bench the first time from 2011 to 2013. He spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach in Edmonton and coached the Calgary Flames for two years prior to that. While Jamie Benn is still around, everyone else is a new face for him to coach. The Stars’ offseason saw them send Mason Marchment to Seattle for draft picks and Matt Dumba and a pick to Pittsburgh for defenceman Vladislav Kolyachonok in salary cap moves. Dallas re-signed Matt Duchene to a four-year, $18 million deal and captain Benn for one year, $1 million ($4 million with bonuses). They also brought back Radek Faksa in free agency for three years, $6 million and Colin Blackwell for two years, $1.55 million.

What Would Success Look Like?

Nothing short of a return to the Stanley Cup Final will sit well in Dallas. After getting so close for three straight years, losing to Vegas once and Edmonton in back-to-back years, the time has been right now for the Stars to win their second Stanley Cup. With Robertson, Rantanen, Johnston, Duchene, Heiskanen, Harley and Oettinger as their core, they’re built to win. Their depth is also exceptional all over the ice, albeit slightly thinner after cap moves this summer. Still, Dallas has drafted well for years and has plenty of talent that’s arrived and is on the way up.

What Could Go Wrong?

Making a coaching change with a team that’s already an established winner can be tricky. If Gulutzan can’t hit the same notes or change things for the better with the Stars, it’ll lead to a lot of second guessing about his hiring and DeBoer’s dismissal. There have been rumours abounding about Jason Robertson’s future in Dallas and whether or not the 26-year-old impending RFA will be able to re-sign with the Stars or not given the salary cap situation. Although the cap is going up over the years, Rantanen’s eight-year, $96 million extension set the bar, right or wrong. If Dallas struggles, talk of moving Robertson will no doubt increase, especially since the Stars will also need to re-sign RFA-to-be Thomas Harley as well. If Dallas comes up short of the Stanley Cup, it could set up next summer to be a very difficult one to navigate.

Top Breakout Candidate

Although he wasn’t banked upon in big minutes or situations, we got a glimpse of what Mavrik Bourque can do in the NHL last season. He had 11 goals and 14 assists in 73 games last season while averaging 12:41 in ice time. With Logan Stankoven gone to Carolina and Mason Marchment in Seattle, it’s Bourque’s time to shine for the Stars. Two years ago, Bourque had 77 points in the AHL including 26 goals and was a 20-goal scorer the season prior to that with Texas. He’s learned the way to produce there and now with an increased role with Dallas, it’ll offer him the opportunity to show what he can do.

Forwards

Jason Robertson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	37	40	77	0.94

Those wondering what happened to Jason Robertson since his 109-point season should look no further than his shot and setup rates. He isn’t the same high shot volume player he used to be and while the rate he creates scoring chances at has stayed pretty level, but he isn’t taking shots from all over the zone like he used to and that catches up to you sometimes. He’s also not setting up as many shots and part of that is not having Pavelski hanging out of in front of the net to tip in errant pucks and passes. Robertson still manages to produce at a high level despite that. He is an excellent finisher, making the most out of fewer shooting opportunities and has elite-level hockey sense with knowing where to be an anticipating where the puck is going. His defensive game is probably never going to get the love it deserves either, as the Stars are rarely hemmed in their own zone when he is on the ice. He’s not a fast skater but makes up for it with great positioning and making quick one-touch passes to get through the zone. Robertson’s poor start to the year hurt some of the national media perception, with only nine goals in the first three months of the season, but he finished the season strong to get to the 35-goal mark for the third time in his career. The best players always find a way and Robertson is someone who can take awhile to start heating up. Once he does, the goals start coming in bunches and he can carry Dallas’ offence on his back.

Roope Hintz

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	26	39	65	0.82

There’s being streaky and then there’s Roope Hintz’s 2024-25 season. Almost half of his points came during a 33-game stretch including a torrid month of March where he had 21 points in 13 games. This isn’t suggesting that he had a bad first half of the season because he was one of Dallas’ only consistent goal-scorers to start the year, finding the back of the net 18 times in the first 35 games. The assists were just nowhere to be found. This carried over into the post-season where he had a respectable 12 points in 17 games, with all of them coming over seven games. Similar to Robertson, he set the bar so high for himself a few years ago that his 2021-23 form might be impossible to reach again. With Hintz, the decline in offence happened when the game wasn’t played off the rush, which was a team-wide issue for Dallas last season. He struggled to get pucks back and find ways to get open when he couldn’t play in open ice and it was a little strange to see because he was one of the Stars best players when they were a forecheck-dominant team for years. The rest of the team has also improved at playing off the rush, so Hintz has become less of a go-to guy there, which means fewer puck touches and he can’t quarterback the offence like he might prefer to. He was also attached at the hip to Robertson for most of the year, so their production tends to mirror each other, and Hintz wasn’t getting as many setups while Robertson was going through his slump. The Stars can still make do with Hintz if he’s a 65–70-point guy now with game-breaking skill off the rush, they’re just hoping for more consistency with how he gets those points.

Mikko Rantanen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	40	52	92	1.15

Rantanen’s roller coaster season was well documented. A contract dispute with the Avalanche led to a mid-season trade to Carolina and he ended up in Dallas after letting the Hurricanes know he had no interest in signing there. His brief stint with the Hurricanes was filled with him creating a boatload of chances but struggling to score and this trend continued in Dallas. In the playoffs, they structured their forwards corps around getting him going and it paid off in the Colorado series. They deferred to Rantanen for most of their offence, as he led the team in zone entries, exits and overall shot assists. He exploded late in the Dallas series, essentially winning Game 7 on his own and carried them through the early stages of the Winnipeg series too. Unfortunately, he scored only one goal for the rest of the playoffs after his Game 1 hat trick against the Jets but it wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. This has been the story with Rantanen for most of his career, the goals come in bunches and he is borderline unstoppable when he’s on. It’s then followed by 10-15 game stretches where he can’t score but will have at least four great chances a game. Being the focal point of the offence is what Rantanen wanted after thriving for years as MacKinnon’s wingman and he’s proved that he can carry the ball for stretches. He plays at a slower, deliberate pace which went against how Dallas played most of the season, so it was easy to understand why there was adjustment period with him. A full year with a more stable environment will let us know if he is truly a star player on his own or not.

Wyatt Johnston

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	36	39	75	0.91

Keeping with the theme of the rest of Dallas’ roster, Johnston his second 30-goal season in a row despite scoring only three in his first 21 games. It followed a similar pattern to how his sophomore year went. It’s unclear why Johnston scores in bunches like he plays a more straight-forward game compared to the rest of Dallas’ top forwards. He can create his own shot without needing someone to set him up, goes to the net and has the hands to elevate the puck. He’s also filling the void Pavelski left by becoming excellent at getting chances off deflections, so it’s always frustrating for the Stars to see Johnston start the year so slow when he’s always doing the right things. Sometimes you have to preach patience in situations like this and while it doesn’t always pay off, Johnston eventually finds ways to produce regardless of how the year starts. His reputation in Dallas as a clutch playoff performer also grants him some leeway, scoring another series-clinching goal against Colorado. Becoming more of a driver off the rush is where he can improve next, as that’s the only area where he defers to his linemates more. He’s a good skater, but lanky and doesn’t maneuver around defenders with the puck as smoothly as he does away from the play or in the offensive zone. He’s a very good player right now with room to grow.

Matt Duchene

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	25	42	67	0.86

Probably the most skilled player in the league who will never be considered a superstar, evidenced by the Stars getting him to re-sign at a $4.5 million cap hit despite an 30-goal, 82- point season that would get most players a huge payday in the open market. The only things working against Duchene are his age and his reputation as a poor playoff performer. His performance this past spring didn’t do anything to help that either, as he scored only one goal though 18 playoff games. This is despite him being one of Dallas’ better players at producing scoring chances, so it wasn’t for lack of trying. The offence doesn’t come as easy for Duchene in the post-season, as he’s a player who thrives when he can play with speed and start give-and-gos off the rush. When the game slows down and he has to play in more confined areas, he doesn’t create the same level of chances. He can still get to loose pucks and has the skill to make plays to the front of the net, but the passes are rarely on the tape and the chances are rushed with more defensive pressure. Watching him closely is a good barometer of how thin the margins are in the playoffs. Grade A chances turn into blocked shots or Grade B chances very quickly, and Duchene always seems to struggle to find the space he needs to be a game-breaking player. Still, his regular season play is quietly among the best in the league, and he helped carry the stars through the early part of the season while their top guys were struggling. He might not be a playoff performer, but he’s a player who will at least get you there.

Jamie Benn

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	14	27	41	0.55

Now one of the longest-tenured players in the league, Benn enjoyed a nice career renaissance under Pete Deboer, becoming a fixture on the power play again and producing like a top sixer. This year saw a return back to earth for the Stars captain, scoring only 10 points with the man advantage despite consistent deployment here. He moved all over the lineup at even strength, which is the burden you carry as a center/wing hybrid sometimes. Benn had his issues with playing Dallas’ up-tempo style for most of the year. He can carry the puck in and lead the rush when the play is connected out of the zone, but he had issues making plays out of his own end under pressure. Covering for some of the Stars weaker puck-movers on defence is part of the job description and Benn had his issues getting knocked off pucks with a defence that couldn’t always bail him out. He also had a habit of getting caught flying the zone when Dallas tried to go off the glass and the turnovers were tough to recover from. It wasn’t all bad, though. His line could generate chances, and Benn still plays a strong game fighting for pucks along the goal line. His five-on-five game offensively is still good enough and some of the issues he had defensively can be covered up with more structure. Re-signing in Dallas on a cheap one-year deal, Benn will likely accept whatever role he gets, but he can still play relatively high in the lineup if needed.

Tyler Seguin

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
64	18	26	44	0.69

Limited to only 20 regular season games with yet another hip surgery, Seguin was another player that carried Dallas through the early part of the season. Not only did he score at a point-per-game pace, but he was also producing chances at a rate that was among the league’s elite. It was a true “turn back the clock” moment before he was sideline for essentially the rest of the regular season. He couldn’t match this production in the playoffs, scoring only one goal and seeing his five-on-five scoring chance contribution rate drop from 13 chances per 60 minutes to eight per 60 minutes. Still above the league average but a far cry from what he was doing in the regular season. The effects of the hip surgery wasn’t affecting his ability in terms of getting around on the ice, as he could rely on his linemates to do the puck-carrying and be the trailer. His finesse and execution was just off. There were a lot of passes that were just off the mark and he didn’t have the burst to take the puck to the net when he needed to, instead looking for tips from the perimeter. Seguin’s return to form after numerous hip procedures has been nothing short of spectacular, as there was a brief period where we wondered if he would ever be an effective NHLer again. He was on pace for another 20-goal season before going on injured reserve this year too. While not the same player he used to be, Seguin is a great guy to have in the middle of the roster, and we will see how he does after a full offseason of rest and recovery.

Mavrik Bourque

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	21	25	46	0.60

Expectations are high for Bourque as one of the stars of Dallas’ AHL club, but there wasn’t a need for the rookie to produce immediately with the depth of Dallas’ roster. He could do a little of everything to excel at the pro level. He’s always first to pucks, has a lethal wrister and has the speed to play whatever role you want. Dallas eased the youngster into their lineup, playing him sparingly but giving him linemates who would allow him to play his game in the offensive zone instead of worrying about checking. Bourque’s role was mostly away from the puck, acting as the trailer or the high forward on most of his goals and taking advantage of some great setups from the likes of Duchene and Benn. He scored a few goals into open nets through great anticipation and showed off a nice one-timer on the power play on a few others. As a righty with a heavy shot, it’s a weapon most teams wish they could have. Even after 73 games, we’ve still only seen glimpses of what Bourque can do because he didn’t get a lot of puck touches per game. There weren’t a lot of direct setups from him and this year seemed more about getting his feet wet than cutting him loose. 11 goals with that deployment isn’t nothing, though. Forcing the coaching staff to keep him in the lineup in the post-season is next on the checklist for Bourque.

Sam Steel

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	7	20	27	0.34

Becoming part of the penalty kill can take you from a fringe roster player to a regular, just ask Sam Steel. While the former first rounder of Anaheim hasn’t scored like he was projected, he has found a niche in Dallas as a defensive workhorse. Playing more of the possession-oriented style of defence, Steel along with Colin Blackwell did an excellent job of intercepting cycles and turning them into rushes the other way. Scoring on them was a secondary concern while they were on the fourth line. Steel himself plays with a high motor and thrives on the forechecking game, using his speed to disrupt breakouts and he has the skill to capitalize on turnovers when they happen. He was a trusted player for Pete Deboer, playing more minutes than your typical fourth liner while getting some spot duty in the net-front position on the power play. With the new coaching staff and similar players on the roster it’s uncertain if Steel will have the same level of trust but his resume on the penalty kill makes him hard to take out.

DEFENCE

Miro Heiskanen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	9	38	47	0.60

There is nobody happier about Thomas Harley’s emergence as a number one defenceman than Miro Heiskanen (and maybe the Stars coaching staff). They don’t always play together but they are a dominant defence pair when they do. Heiskanen’s late season injury robbed the Stars of seeing more of these two together and Miro himself was putting up excellent numbers at even strength, as Dallas owned 59% of the expected goals with him on the ice. Dallas’ shift to becoming more of a rush team had some effects on Heiskanen. He was less involved with the offence than he was the last few seasons, always helping start exits but not leading many himself. The Stars defence had a tendency to go off the glass more if they didn’t have an outlet and it limited some of what Heiskanen could do offensively. He was still among the league leaders for defencemen in controlled entries but deferred to the forwards after gaining the line since the Stars wanted the puck on their sticks more. Playing alongside Harley also affected some of his offence, as Harley was the more dynamic of the two in the offensive zone and he had no problem handing the reins over in that instance. It’s somewhat of a return to what Heiskanen was early in his career where he did everything you wanted offensively but never got rewarded for it on the scoresheet because he wasn’t one of the last two players to touch the puck. A surprising decline in power play production also hurt him in this department, but Dallas doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to their stud blue liner.

Thomas Harley

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	17	38	55	0.70

There were a lot of things working against Thomas Harley. Dallas didn’t have a consistent partner for him, he was only on the second power play unit early in the season, and his main support guy in Miro Heiskanen was lost to injury. He still thrived and established himself as an undisputed number one defenceman. He is a powerful skater with great range and is elite at anticipating where the play is going. It made him thrive with Dallas’ emphasis on rush play this year because he could quickly turn defence into offence and he’s excellent at acting as the extra forward when leading or joining the rush. His anticipation was a weapon in the offensive zone as well, scoring most of his goals by reading where the puck was going and not needing to call for a pass or set up a shot. This was especially true in overtime where he scored a couple of big goals including the series winner against Winnipeg. He gets from the blue line to the top of the face-off circles without much effort and he was doing this more regularly after Heiskanen’s injury. Some defencemen play more conservatively when tasked with more responsibilities, but Harley went in the opposite direction, playing more aggressive but also with a lot of composure. It earned him a reserve spot on Team Canada’s Four Nations roster and it won’t be a shocker to see him in the Olympics next year.

Esa Lindell

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	5	20	25	0.31

You’ll be hard pressed to find a defenceman with a more rigidly defined role than Esa Lindell. He is out there to block shots; break plays up and just be a general disruption in any way he can. He’s one of the best in the game at using his stick to kill plays and is automatic with clearing the puck out of the zone, which can be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. It is common for him to play the entire two minutes of the penalty kill because of how trusted he is with the coaching staff and how well he conserves his energy. He is on a shortlist of players who fit the “defensive defenceman” role to a T because you can watch him play one shift and figure out what his role is. The problem with how Dallas uses Lindell has always been more about the players around him rather than his own play. Dallas likes using him with other slower shutdown defencemen in the playoffs and it hurts Lindell’s’ game more than it complements. His specialty is putting out fires in the defensive zone and it becomes a prolonged game of chasing the play around with no one to help get the puck out. His pair routinely gets exposed for a high number of chances and goals against in the post-season because of this. It’s a balance the Stars are still trying to figure out.

Nils Lundkvist

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
44	1	7	8	0.18

The hope for Lundkvist is that he can get a fresh start with the new coaching staff. Early in his Stars career, it was common for him to only play a few shifts before getting benched for the rest of the night. His ice time was a little more consistent last year on the third pair, but he was still heavily sheltered. As a smaller, offensive defenceman, it can be difficult to earn the trust of the coaching staff. Every mistake you make gets magnified and Lundkvist never had much confidence to play his own game. A surprising stat with him is that he was one of the worst defencemen on the team at generating controlled zone exits, which is troubling considering he’s a puck mover. The one thing the has going for him is that he brings something different to the table from the other Stars defenders competing for a third pair spot. He could complement a taller defenceman like Liam Bischel nicely and he brings a little more upside than Lyubushkin or Petrovic. The downside is that his calling card is the power play and the two spots are occupied by both Heiskanen and Harley. The league is also moving away from smaller defencemen unless they’re game-breakers and Lundkvist hasn’t shown enough to be in that category.

GOAL

Jake Oettinger

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
62	37	17	6	4	0.911	2.42

For better or for worse, the Dallas Stars are embracing the old-school era of goaltending - and they're sticking with a single de facto starter in net, rising and falling with Jake Oettinger and the contract that's going to pay him $8.25 million every year until 2033. It remains an intriguing strategy for a team that hasn't managed to walk away with a championship since the turn of the century, particularly given that Oettinger, who was nearly a Vezina finalist in 2023, hasn't managed to replicate his league-leading statistical performance in either of the two years since then. Perhaps most frustrating of all is that for Dallas, his middling numbers don't accompany any sort of linear regression that analysts can point to in his game from a read, tracking, or structural proficiency standpoint. Most of his lack of magic looks like fatigue and energy preservation; he still plays the game with some of the best precision in the league, but he doesn't make the daring saves and utilize the kind of explosive energy that he might be able to with even 10-15 fewer starts on the regular season. That could change if Dallas opts to give backup Casey DeSmith a bit more game time action, which they would be well within their right to do; his numbers last season looked great, and he's proven during his tenure in Pittsburgh that he could easily handle those extra 10-15 games to give Oettinger a bit more usage management.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – DALLAS STARS – Team Preview

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:00:58 +0000

_{DALLAS, TX - APRIL 03: Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) catches the puck with his glove hand as Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) looks on during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on April 3, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)}

After reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2023, Dallas entered the 2023-24 campaign as one of the top contenders to capture the Cup. The Stars made their place among the league’s elites clear with their 52-21-9 showing in the regular season, led by a balanced offence featuring eight different 20-plus goal scorers (the average team had 3.8 players with over 20 goals). Jake Oettinger didn’t live up to his previous success in goal, posting a 2.72 GAA and .905 save percentage, but it was more than enough to put Dallas atop in the Central Division. Dallas once again made it to the Western Conference Finals after dispatching Vegas and Colorado, but the offence that served the Stars so well to that point managed just four goals over Games 4-6 of the series, resulting in Dallas’ elimination.

WHAT’S CHANGED? Dallas bought out the final season of Ryan Suter’s four-year, $14.6 million contract and lost Joe Pavelski, who decided it was time to retire despite having scored at least 25 goals in each of his past four campaigns. Dallas didn’t make any big additions over the summer, but it did add backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, and a pair of defensive defencemen in Matt Dumba and Ilya Lyubushkin.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? Losing Pavelski hurts, but Dallas still has a great forward corps. There’s the potential for this group to finish in the top five in the league in scoring, especially if Logan Stankoven shines in his first full NHL campaign. Adding Dumba and Lyubushkin should also make a team that was outstanding defensively -- Dallas finished third in xGA/60 at 2.72 last season -- even better, which will make life easier on Oettinger, who is a strong candidate for a bounce back season. Although back-to-back Western Conference Finals exits hurts, Dallas still has every reason to believe this group can win the Cup.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Of course, a better season out of Oettinger would be an important part of that. He ultimately wasn’t the key reason Edmonton eliminated Dallas, but it is worrying that the 25-year-old netminder struggled with consistency last season, especially when coupled with his lackluster showing during the 2023 playoffs. The offence might be a little overstated too. Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn, and Tyler Seguin are all well into their 30s now, so there’s a risk some of that all-important offensive depth might not be quite as potent going forward.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: It would be overly dramatic to suggest that Dallas is depending on Stankoven to come up big this season, but with Pavelski gone and some other key members of the forward corps moving further from their prime, Dallas is certainly hoping Stankoven can pick up a bit of the slack. He showed a lot of promise last season, scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 47 AHL contests along with six goals and 14 points across 24 regular-season games with Dallas. Stankoven also contributed a respectable three goals and eight points in 19 playoff contests. He’s just barely Calder Trophy eligible (had he played one more regular season contest last year, he wouldn’t be) and might end up as a strong contender for the award.

FORWARD

Jason Robertson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	36	51	87	1.06

It might be unfair to say Robertson took a step back last year, because expecting 100-points consistently is unreasonable. Still, not hitting 30 goals after scoring 40+ two years in a row was a little disappointing and it’s strange that it didn’t come with a massive shooting percentage drop. His line just didn’t generate chances at an elite rate like they had for most of his career. The decline of Joe Pavelski was a factor in this along with Dallas playing a more low-event game in general. What they did was still good, and Robertson’s individual chance production didn’t see much of a dip, but it’s easy to see why getting to 100-points again was a challenge with the environment around him. Robertson is such a meticulous player whose game is more about anticipation and being two steps ahead of the play, so linemate rapport is a big part of what makes him effective. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts this year with Pavelski gone. They got a glimpse of it in the playoffs where they were on different lines for the most part and Robertson struggled to be the instant offence cheat code he’s used to being. Robertson’s cleared a lot of hurdles, breaking into the NHL’s elite class despite not being a great skater or puck-carrier, so adjusting to life without Pavelski will be the next step. Expect 30 – 40 goals plus a similar amount of assists as last season and he can push 90 points.

Roope Hintz

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	33	40	73	0.89

The top of the Stars roster figured out how tough it is to sustain elite-level production and heightened expectations. Hintz was another victim of that, recording his third 30-goal season in a row but seeing a major dip in his five-on-five production from the two previous years despite that. This along with a disappointing playoff run put a sour note on what was objectively another great season. This is what you have to get used to when breaking into the upper echelon of the league and there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about Hintz sustaining this. So much of the Stars offence revolves around him because of his speed and how much he’s relied on for zone entries. Nobody else on the team can match what he brings there and how quickly he can go from 0 to 10 from a standstill which makes him tough to defend against even if teams prepare. He also has an excellent set of breakaway moves and is great at handling the puck even when he’s getting checked. Like Robertson, how he adjusts to the loss of Pavelski will be interesting. Hintz did a lot to drive the bus, but Pavelski’s role of creating space and getting to the net will be missed when the Stars aren’t playing off the rush. Although, the potential he and Wyatt Johnston showed is enough to get you excited about what they can do next year. 30 goals should be a lock next season along with a return to a point per game pace

Jamie Benn

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	19	40	58	0.71

The resurgence of Jamie Benn is one of the more underrated events of the Pete DeBoer era. Ever since the coaching switch, the Stars captain is producing like a top-sixer again and his lines have dominated in terms of controlling goals and chances. Benn functions as somewhat of a Swiss-Army knife on his line, flipping between center and wing while acting as a playmaker for Wyatt Johnston. His hands are still elite, and he can really slow things down with how well he controls the puck below the goal line and along the wall. He is also very effective at prying pucks loose, especially in the neutral zone, which helped Johnston get some easy rush chances off lead-in passes. You would even see him fly the zone at times, which you wouldn’t expect from a player of his size who just turned 35. He will be one of the oldest players in the league next year, so Father Time catching up to him is always a concern, but if anything, Benn has gone in the opposite direction. Sometimes bringing a new puppy in the house can add some youthful years to your old house dog. Wyatt Johnston’s arrival might have done something similar with Jamie Benn, as did the late season call-up of Logan Stankoven. We will see if it continues as the Stars captain gets closer to 40. For next season, there is no reason not to think he can’t repeat those numbers.

Tyler Seguin

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	22	26	48	0.67

The two members of Dallas’ old guard finding a second wind is a big reason why their Cup window remains wide open. Benn finding it again is a little less surprising than Tyler Seguin, whose career looked over after a post-labral tear surgery caused him to miss a full season. Since then, all he’s done is score 20+ goals three years a row while playing in all situations. He doesn’t have the burst or power that he used to, as he has to work harder to pick up any speed, but he shows flashes of it. He's had to become sneakier and more deceptive as a goal-scorer, relying on deflections and positioning more, but last year saw the return of his shot becoming a weapon. He was a master at getting himself open for one-timers and could be a threat from distance instead of just in front of the net. Getting paired with a strong puck-carrier in Matt Duchene ended up as a great two-way relationship, as they had great chemistry and made Dallas’ middle six a big problem for other teams. Finding ways to stay effective once their body slows down is a challenge for most players even when they don’t have major injuries and Seguin’s managed to break through that wall. 20 goals and 50 points should be the expectation here. Anything more would be a bonus.

Matt Duchene

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	19	33	52	0.70

A surprise buyout by the Nashville Predators ended up as windfall for Dallas as Duchene showed up and delivered in his one-year deal with the Stars. He gave their offence a shot in the arm. His calling card of making things happen off the rush was exactly what the Stars needed. He was a revelation for them for the first half of the season, scoring 23 goals through the month of February and giving the Stars rush game a major jolt. Since he entered the league, Duchene’s been one of the best players in the league at controlled zone entries. Between his speed and knowing which routes to take to get into the zone, it’s the one skill he has teams are going to covet. Translating that to results was a struggle for a couple years in Nashville, but he has mostly figured it out now, learning how to counter-attack more effectively and attacking the net with more focus instead of entering the zone only to cycle the puck. Dallas re-signed him for another year at a surprisingly low $3 million, given he just had a 65-point season. Duchene making his money in Nashville and his cold finish to the season, scoring only two goals in his last 20 games, might have played a factor in that. Regardless, he’s a solid piece for a very deep Stars team and has delivered consistently over the past few seasons. He can be relied on for 20 – 25 goals and 60 plus points.

Evgeny Dadonov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
65	13	18	31	0.48

Evgenii Dadonov’s brief audition with the Stars in 2023 was enough for them to re-sign him for two years and believe it or not, it will be the first time he’s spent more than one year on the same team since leaving the Florida Panthers as a free agent. His patience, playmaking and complementary skillset makes him a valuable piece to have, but a crowded roster could make it tough for him to get the same role that he’s used to. Joe Pavelski’s retirement opens up a spot, but Logan Stankoven likely takes one and it’s possible Dallas likes Mavrik Bourque more in a scoring role. Shipping out Ty Dellandrea, however, also opens a role in the lower lines, which is a spot that Dadonov performed well in during the playoffs. He’s usually brought in for his scoring and playmaking, but he plays a strong game along the wall and is great as a support valve for his defence on zone exits. It gives him some versatility should the Stars use him in a depth role and the threat to score is always there with him. Both with the shot and ability to get lost in front of the net. Given where he lands on the depth chart, projections should be kept modest and 15 goals and 30 points would be a contribution the Stars would welcome.

Wyatt Johnston

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	36	40	76	0.93

If you polled most hockey fans after the playoffs, they would tell you Wyatt Johnston was/is the Stars best player. Scoring 10 goals in 19 games and producing chances at an unprecedented rate, the youngster exploded onto the scene last Spring, making a name for himself after a strong 32-goal campaign. Recency bias goes a long way, but it’s hard not to be impressed with how he performed on the biggest stage, fighting through checks and finding different ways to get himself open for chances. He also wasn’t relying on rebounds and jamming the puck to inflate his chance numbers, showing incredible patience and efficiency with his shot to pick a corner or waiting for the goaltender to make the first move. It’s something you only see from the league’s best scorers, at least at the rate he was producing chances at. Watching him, it’s hard to believe he went the entire month of December without scoring a goal, but he made up the pace in March with 10 goals in 13 games, a torrid pace that carried over into the post-season. Dallas has been on a roll with getting impact players in the draft and Johnston is their latest home run.

Mason Marchment

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	21	30	51	0.64

Marchment had more than just a return to form, he set offensive career highs across the board while decreasing the number of penalties he took. After a tough first year both on and off the ice, Marchment looked worth the $4.5 mil. cap hit Dallas gave him and then some. He’s a player that old school hockey fans will appreciate for his hard-hitting style and those who follow the numbers also love because he has been one of the better play-driving forwards in the league for a few years now. Marchment has the body of a shutdown defenceman from the mid-2000’s, but there is a lot of skill in him, he’s got excellent vision and good instincts that made him a fit on a line with Seguin and Duchene for most of the year. Going to where the defence isn’t and using his strong shot rather than just aimlessly crashing the net to create his offence. He is also a good supporting player in the defensive zone and his size makes it very hard to get the puck away from him if he’s cycling with it. Like a lot of Dallas’ players, he did most of his work in the middle of the season and ended the year on a cold streak with four goals in his last 20 games. Despite that finish he hit career highs in goals, assists and points. Similar results are certainly within reach and if he can find his way into the top six, he could surprise.

Sam Steel

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	9	20	29	0.37

Steel isn’t the only high scorer from juniors that’s had trouble translating it to the NHL. In fact, he’s one of hundreds of players who have the same problem. With Dallas, it was the first time he seemed to find his niche as a spark plug type of forward. He can skate well and be a nuisance away from the puck, which is what the Stars were looking for on Radek Faksa’s line. He’s adapted the worker bee mindset and will accept the role he’s assigned. He didn’t deliver a lot of direct plays that resulted in goals, as he recorded a lot of secondary assists, but did get a few opportunities to show that first round skill. His shot is still pretty dangerous when he gets room and he’s a threat to break out offensively shorthanded. Dallas is a good place for him, even in a checking role, because they roll four lines and the fact that he can play center should keep him in the regular rotation. They liked him enough to keep him around for another year with an increased salary, so that says a lot about how he played even with the modest point totals.

DEFENCE

Miro Heiskanen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	14	57	71	0.92

Heiskanen might finish his career with the most Norris votes without ever winning the award. A combination of never delivering elite level points, while other Hall of Fame worthy defencemen in the league also hitting their primes at the same time could leave him without any hardware in his career. In 2022-23, he finally got the power play time to put up 70 points and he still only finished 7th, mostly because there were two other defencemen who had 100-point seasons. Sometimes individual awards come down to bad luck and wrong place, wrong time. The case for Heiskanen is that he might be the best all-around defenceman in the NHL, when it comes to playing the tough matchups, being excellent at preventing chances and playing with the puck from the defensive zone out. Last year was also the first time he got to play with a more dynamic partner in Thomas Harley rather than a traditional stay-at-home guy. The Stars scored over three goals per 60 minutes with the duo on the ice but gave up almost just as much. Still winning the battle but not stifling offence the same way Miro usually does. Figuring out the balance here will be the challenge this season. He has the talent to break out at any time offensively, but values his defensive role, keeping a ceiling on his numbers for the time being.

Thomas Harley

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	12	40	52	0.65

Harley stuck out like a zebra in a horse pasture when Dallas called him up late in the 2023 season. Aside from Heiskanen, they didn’t have a lot of puck-movers on their blue line, so his combination of size and mobility was really easy to notice when Dallas brought him back into the fold. Last year was his first true NHL season and once again, he filled a major hole on a Stars blue line that was lacking puck-movers. Bursting onto the scene as an offensive force, he played like a true rover given how often he jumped into the play, always looking to create offence. He was one of the top scoring blue-liners in the league and formed a dynamic pair with Miro Heiskanen. The duo were an auto-breakout when they were on the ice and could challenge for the top defence pair in the league if they stay together and clean up some of their play in the defensive zone. The latter is part of Harley’s learning curve in the NHL, as he will chase a lot of pucks down and overpay or miss some assignments as a result. Dallas shouldn’t take away the aggressive nature of his game, but there are steps he can take to become a more complete player. Sophomore seasons can be unforgiving for young defensemen so temper expectations and a repeat of last year’s numbers, with improved defensive play, would be a big step forward for the player and the club.

Matt Dumba

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	5	17	22	0.29

Dallas signing Dumba was a surprising move considering the last time he was on Stars fans radar was when he concussed Joe Pavelski in the 2023 playoffs. It wouldn’t be the first time a team acquired a player who was unpopular with the fans and Dumba’s hyper aggressive playing style could endear him to the Stars faithful. Dallas was in need of right-handed shots even before Jani Hakanpaa and Chris Tanev departed in free agency, so he fills a need and is a minute muncher at the very least. Sometimes that term is used to describe a player whose only redeeming quality is that, which is the point Dumba is getting close to in his career. His mobility, low center of gravity and love for delivering big hits are all assets, but a shoulder injury he suffered years ago destroyed his shot and he still hasn’t recovered from it. Not that every defenceman needs to have the big shot, but it was a key part of his game in his heyday with the Wild, now he’s more one-dimensional and his play in his own zone is very erratic because of his aggressive nature. So much of DeBoer’s offence runs through the point, so it will be interesting to see how he fits.

Nils Lundkvist

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
65	2	15	17	0.26

The trade Dallas made to get Lundkvist in 2022 was one of the more confusing deals in recent years, sending a potential first round pick to the Rangers to acquire the young blue liner who had only 25 NHL games under his belt at that point. Since then, he’s had some flashes of greatness and he’s a very unique player with how creative he is with the puck and how he can control play from the offensive zone down. Unfortunately, he is stuck in NHL purgatory right now. Not good enough to earn the coach’s trust, but too good to just get rid of for nothing, Lundkvist is in a tough spot with the Stars. Next year is a make-or-break chance for him, as Dallas’ blue line is short on righties and puck-movers, but he could easily fall out of favor with all the other veterans in the mix. His playoff performance encapsulates his current situation, where he was in the lineup for 12 out of 19 games but played an average of under four minutes a night. Maybe a new season with a fresh start will be what he needs.

GOAL

Jake Oettinger

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
61	39	16	6	5	0.911	2.54

Dallas, Texas is Jake Oettinger's world, and we're all just living in it. Even in the face of a mild statistical regression, it seemed like nothing the 25-year-old Oettinger did last year could keep the Stars from winning when he was in net. He put up a whopping 35 wins and three shutouts in 54 games, and the team's final numbers made it all but impossible to even remember that he posted ten fewer quality starts and two additional 'stinker' games than he had the year prior. That can be partially attributed to Dallas sitting firmly within their prime window from a roster standpoint but can also be credited in no small part to Oettinger's elite-tier read of the game. Even when he looked fatigued or rusty, his decision-making remained among the best in the league - and Dallas reaped the benefits. Add in a stellar instinct that elevates Oettinger's game to another tier when the game is coming to a close, and he remains one of the league's least stressful goaltenders to watch play; barring any major unforeseen regression, that shouldn't change any time soon. The biggest question mark in net for Dallas, frankly, is the team's somewhat lukewarm depth chart. Scott Wedgewood has been replaced by Casey DeSmith, who struggled last season in Vancouver and shouldn't be expected to take on more than 20-25 games next year. And behind their top two, Dallas has very little in the way of elite up-and-coming talent waiting in the wings. They aren't necessarily in want of anyone new, but it feels like a fairly huge gamble to enter the regular season so devoid of any kind of major safety net.

2024 NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche

Jesse Marshall — Tue, 07 May 2024 13:18:34 +0000

DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 18: Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) and Dallas Stars defenseman Ryan Suter (20) set up in front of goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on November 18, 2023 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Traditionally speaking, the last two winners of the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights series have gone on to progress to the Stanley Cup Final. In Dallas’ case, their immediate reward for slaying last years champion and looking to repeat the trend is a well-rested Colorado Avalanche squad that is forechecking as well as anyone remaining in contention right now. This series is one of many second round match-ups that feature two heavy hitters that are right in the mix to win the Stanley Cup from an odds perspective. Whereas you had a lot of dissimilarities between Colorado and Winnipeg in a match-up that featured an offensive powerhouse and a defensive juggernaut, we’re getting something a bit different this time. Recent history would have seen a Stars team that may have presented us with a similar dichotomy, as previous iterations of the Stars featured the same defense-first mantras as Winnipeg. However, make no mistake about it; this is a Dallas team that is good at puck possession, good at scoring, and has the offensive horses to get into a real back-and-forth battle with Colorado.

To that effect, I expect a lot of quick breakouts in this series and both teams to bring heavy forechecks with them into the battle areas of the ice. Colorado’s destruction of Winnipeg was largely driven by an exposure of Winnipeg’s defense and its lack of ability to operate under pressure. Colorado thrives in situations where they can get north in a hurry and create a bit of chaos in the opposition’s breakout. In this matchup, names like Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, and Nils Lundkvist dot a Dallas blueline that is fully capable of skating or passing its way out of danger, despite the fact that Lundkvist’s minutes have been extremely managed and sheltered. Given the tenor of Dallas’ last series, I expect their defense to be up to the task of working around the Colorado forecheck. We saw from the first round that defensive specialists for Colorado were also capable of making these plays. Cale Makar, Josh Manson, and Sean Walker all exhibited calmness in the face of Winnipeg’s forecheck. Both of these teams will be looking to control the tempo of the game and create counter-attacking options from heavy forward presences in the opposition’s breakout.

With these teams featuring similar penalty-kill structures, I am excited to see which can break through and be a difference-maker in this series. The star power on both sides is going to be very real and I expect both teams to allow a wedge-like player to aggressively pressure the opposition power-play while the remaining group looks to tax any high-leverage passing lanes and converge on their respective goaltenders. The fact that these similarities exist make the special teams aspect of this series even more intriguing. For Dallas, they’ll need to find a way to get Roope Hintz on the scoresheet more than one time and the power-play could be the ticket to accomplishing that.

KEY MATCHUPS

Jake Oettinger vs. Alexandar Georgiev

Fans and pundits were waiting with baited breath to see if Jake Oettinger’s performance in the stretch run of the regular season was an anomaly and turns out, it was not. Oettinger’s flexibility and quick reflexes were on display, especially in the later half of the series, as he rounded out with a 1.95 goals against average against a rather potent Golden Knights offense, the definition of hot hand. On the flip side, Georgiev had a forgettable start to the Jets series that saw Avalanche fans calling for him to be pulled before game two. The result was a complete turnaround of form for the next four games that saw him stabilize and calm down in the net. That will have to continue against a Stars team that features pure snipers up and down the lineup. If Oettinger remains dialed in while Georgiev struggles, this could be a short series. On the flip side, if Colorado can continue to attack in transition and create odd-man breaks, Oettinger will be tested in major way. The easiest way to disturb a dialed-in netminder is to score some garbage-quality goals, and the Avalanche are fully equipped to do just that.

The Mittelstadt Line vs. The Johnston Line

I fully expect to see large swaths of this series where the opposing coaches opt to go power-for-power and directly line match as opposed to looking for specialized deployments. If that is the case, the Dallas Stars will need more out of Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski on their second line. Wyatt Johnston has been a revelation for them and is as good of an off-puck player as you’ll find out there, but Casey Mittelstadt, Artturi Lehkonen, and Zach Parise are coming off of some dominant performances versus Winnipeg. While Benn and Pavelski have struggled to get going, Lehkonen scored in every single game of the Jets series. The Avalanche second line is intimidating and capable of long periods of possession in the offensive zone. Dallas will have to make sure their second line finds its scoring legs in order to keep this series from becoming lopsided.

Jason Robertson vs. Valeri Nichushkin

Both of these plays are phenomenal snipers and game-breakers in their own right. I expect a lot of fireworks between these two in terms of exchanging scoring chances and getting good looks at the net in high quality scoring chances. Robertson had a bit of a slower start with only three goals in his first seven games while Nichushkin blasted out of the game with seven goals in five games. These players are master manipulators with the puck and are cutting edge in terms of their release and snipe-ability. As critical pieces to their respective top lines, a trademark performance from either of these two players could significantly change the scope of this series.

X-FACTOR

Dallas Stars: Wyatt Johnston is your NHL leader in shots through the first round of the playoffs and has showcased why he’s such a 200-foot threat throughout the course of the year. Per NHL edge statistics, Johnston covered the third most distance of any player in the first round, a testament to his motor and off-puck ability to hunt down and pressure puck carriers and passing lanes. The breakout performance has been really fun to watch and if Dallas is going to win this series, they’re going to need more of the same from him moving forward. I expect Johnston would be in line for a promotion if the Stars top line shows signs of disarray and struggles to get going.

Colorado Avalanche: It seems like a cop-out to list Nathan MacKinnon here, but I haven’t mentioned him in this piece yet and he’s simply playing too well for me to not dive into it. MacKinnon showcased his ability to fool even the games best goaltender in round one by keeping his release hidden and posturing his body in unique ways that hide his next action. With Hintz struggling to score for Dallas, getting over the slump and onto the scoresheet becomes a lot harder when you have MacKinnon controlling the puck in the offensive zone for large periods of time. He only scored two in the first round but could have had a handful more.

FANTASY PLAYERS TO TARGET

Jake Oettinger has been downright stellar for Dallas in goal, and I expect him to continue to show fight into the second round. The Golden Knights tested him in transition shooting and crease-to-crease work, but he showed no leaks in either area. His work in high-danger save situations was strong from open to close in the first round. He’ll be under siege from a strong Colorado transition game and in-zone cycle, but he’s playing extremely large in the net and showcasing the mobility that created a buzz about his game in the first place. I have to give a tip of the hat to Jason Robertson here as well. With only two goals in the first round, you have to expect his shot is going to produce some serious scoring chances for Dallas in the round to come.

If you took Artturi Lehkonen as an anytime goal scorer in the first round, you’re probably retired on an island somewhere. The Avalanche forward scored in every game of the first round and is playing on a line that is controlling the game at even-strength with authority. There’s a potential mismatch here with a Dallas second line that hasn’t quite got going yet outside of Johnston’s performance at center. I have to wonder what Peter DeBoer does with Chris Tanev in this series. Has the Avalanche second line been good enough that we potentially see DeBoer throw Tanev at it, or will he take the big minutes against MacKinnon? That will ultimately effect Lehkonen, but it may not matter either way with how well he’s been driving to scoring areas.

PREDICTION

I picked Dallas to win the Cup, so I have to stick with them here. Despite the stabilization we saw from Georgiev in goal, Oettinger is decidedly the better performer right now and gives Dallas a distinct advantage in net. I could see this series being another seven-gamer for Dallas, but I ultimately think they bring the battle-tested attitude they had from the Knights series right into this one. Facing down a 2-0 deficit, we saw Dallas become discernibly better in puck battles and breakouts. Their defensemen can shake their way out of danger and should be able to avoid some of the mistakes we saw Winnipeg make in turnovers in zone exits. I’ll take Dallas in seven games.

DADOUN: THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – January 8th to 14th, 2024 – Race for Hart Trophy a tight one at halfway point + Teams and players to target this week

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 16:28:17 +0000

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire)

We’re approaching the halfway point of the season and if I had to pick who will win the Hart Trophy at this stage, I would have a hard time doing so. There are several major candidates in the running.

Nikita Kucherov was an afterthought in last year’s voting despite finishing with 113 points in 82 contests, but he’s making a strong pitch this season with 27 goals and 64 points through 39 games. Although Tampa Bay has several other stars, Kucherov has also been instrumental to the Lightning’s offense, leading the team’s scoring race by 24 points. However, Tampa Bay with its 18-16-5 record is also not a safe bet to make the playoffs and voters tend to penalize players on teams that fall short of the postseason, so that might end up holding Kucherov back.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) Photo by Andrew Bershaw /Icon_Sportswire)

Instead, Nathan MacKinnon, who has 22 goals and 64 points in 39 appearances, is likely the favorite. MacKinnon is also the hotter of the two with 14 goals and 33 points over his last 15 contests. The 28-year-old has been a Hart Trophy finalist three times before (2018, 2020, 2021) and finished fifth in voting last campaign. After so many close calls, this might finally be his year.

However, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, Connor McDavid, might still challenge him. McDavid’s totals of 14 goals and 53 points in 33 games are a step behind Kucherov and MacKinnon, but the Oilers superstar was held back by a slow, injury-riddled start to the campaign. From Nov. 13 onward, McDavid has 12 goals and 43 points in 22 appearances, so he might still be able to close the gap. Voters might also give him extra credit for the Oilers’ revival following their 2-9-1 start to the campaign, provided Edmonton can keep climbing and make the playoffs.

Auston Matthews might also stay in the conversation. He just has 45 points through 35 games, but he has scored a league-leading 30 goals. His 60 goals in 2021-22 was enough to earn him the Hart Trophy that year and Matthews is a contender to reach that milestone again this year.

One final longer-shot contender is Quinn Hughes. The defenseman has 10 goals and 46 points through 38 contests. He ranks 10th in the scoring race, which is pretty good for a blueliner, but he’d probably need to do even better if he wants to claim the Hart Trophy. Blueliners rarely win the award -- the last was Chris Pronger in 2000.

Dallas Stars – MON @ MIN, WED VS MIN, FRI VS NSH, SAT @ CHI (BTB)

Dallas has a home-and-home series in Minnesota on Monday and versus the Wild on Wednesday. Minnesota had a strong run from Nov. 28-Dec. 27 with an 11-3-0 record, but the Wild have run into injury issues, which has led to them faltering, so Dallas has a chance here to take both contests. Afterward, Dallas will host the Predators on Friday before traveling to face the lowly Blackhawks on Saturday.

Jake Oettinger hasn’t played since Dec. 15 because of a lower-body injury, which has led to the Stars leaning heavily on Scott Wedgewood with mixed results. Wedgewood is 6-2-2 with a 3.01 GAA and an .891 save percentage in 10 contests since Oettinger got hurt. Oettinger is day-to-day, so he might return by the start of the week. If that’s the case, then he’ll likely get into three of Dallas’ four matches with Wedgewood picking up either Friday’s game versus Nashville or Saturday against Chicago.

The status of Miro Heiskanen is murkier. He suffered a lower-body injury Thursday after running into Wedgewood and there was no update on his status at the time of writing. The 24-year-old defenseman averages 25:03 of ice time, including 3:10 with the man advantage, so to say he’s an important part of the Stars’ blue line would be an understatement.

If Heiskanen misses time, then Nils Lundkvist will likely play regularly after being a healthy scratch in five of Dallas’ last eight contests. Lundkvist would likely only be on the third pairing, but he should also see time on the second power-play unit, so he might make some offensive contributions. The 23-year-old defenseman has 10 assists in 27 appearances in 2023-24.

Thomas Harley would likely also see a boost in ice time and might even fill in for Heiskanen on the top power-play unit. Harley has been solid offensively this year with nine goals and 17 points in 34 contests this season.

Regardless of what happens with Heiskanen’s injury, Dallas should continue to stay competitive thanks to its strong forward corps. Lately, Mason Marchment has highlighted that group with three goals and eight points over his last three contests, bringing him up to 13 goals and 29 points in 37 outings.

Minnesota Wild – MON VS DAL, WED @ DAL, FRI VS PHI, SAT VS ARI (BTB)

As noted above, Minnesota will start the week with a game in Dallas on Monday and then versus the Stars on Wednesday. That will likely be a tough series for the Wild, but afterward, they have two home games against more middling adversaries in the Flyers on Friday and the Coyotes on Saturday. It’s still not an easy set for the Wild, but with it being four contests in one week, it’s good enough to highlight.

Dallas’ injury issues are minor in comparison to Minnesota’s. The Wild are missing starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson, a pair of top-four defensemen in Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon and top-six forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. To make matters worse, it wouldn’t be surprising if none of them returned next week.

Marc-Andre Fleury will probably be relied upon in goal, but if Gustavsson doesn’t return in time for the back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday, then Zane McIntyre will likely get into one of those contests. McIntyre has a 3.54 GAA and an .884 save percentage in 12 games with AHL Iowa this season, though, so it’s probably better to avoid him, even if you need extra starts.

A better short-term pickup from Minnesota would be Nicolas Petan, who has two assists in three games since being recalled from Iowa on Sunday. With the Wild missing key players, Petan is serving in a middle-six capacity and seeing some power-play ice time. Although the 28-year-old isn’t likely to remain with Minnesota after the team starts getting its forwards back, Petan is a decent offensive force when given the opportunity, and he’s excelled in the minors with 10 goals and 28 points in 26 contests this campaign.

Montreal Canadiens – WED @ PHI, THU VS SJS (BTB), SAT VS EDM

Montreal will play just three games next week, but they’ll start against the slumping Flyers in Philadelphia on Wednesday and then host the lowly Sharks on Thursday. The Canadiens will conclude the week by hosting the Oilers.

The Canadiens have dropped four of their last five games, but not everyone on the team is struggling. Nick Suzuki has continued to excel, providing two goals and four points over his last four appearances, elevating him to 12 goals and 34 points in 38 contests this season. The 24-year-old hasn’t developed into a superstar, but he’s a solid top-line forward who is likely to surpass the 60-point mark for the third straight season.

By contrast, Juraj Slafkovsky still has lots of growing to do. The 19-year-old has four goals and 14 points in 38 contests this season. On the one hand, that’s at least a mild improvement over his 10 points in 39 games in 2022-23, but that’s a smaller jump than you’d hope for from the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, especially given that he’s averaging 16:24 of ice time this season, up from 12:13 in 2022-23, so he doesn’t even have the excuse of limited opportunities.

However, Slafkovsky has shown life recently, providing two goals and six points over his last seven contests, so perhaps he’s setting the stage for a stronger second half. He’s worth gambling on next week if he’s available in your league, especially given the quality of Montreal’s upcoming competition.

New York Rangers – MON VS VAN, THU @STL, SAT @ WAS, SUN VS WAS (BTB)

The Rangers have a full four-game set next week. They’ll get what should be their toughest matchup out of the way first when they host the Canucks on Monday. Afterward, the Rangers have a two-game road trip with contests in St. Louis on Thursday and Washington on Saturday, and they’ll finish the week with a home game versus the Capitals.

New York has continued to be led by Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, who have 11 and 12 points, respectively, over the Rangers’ last eight games. Panarin is having an especially remarkable season with 24 goals and 53 points in 37 outings. For all the 32-year-old’s accomplishments, he’s never reached the century mark in a single season, but that’s set to change this year if he stays healthy.

Alexis Lafreniere is a less consistent contributor but has done well lately, providing two goals and seven points over his last eight contests. That’s pushed him up to 10 goals and 23 points in 37 appearances in 2023-24 as he also chases career highs -- albeit less impressive ones than Panarin. Lafreniere’s 39 points in 81 contests from 2022-23 presently stand as his personal best.

Fantasy managers should also keep an eye on Kaapo Kakko (lower body), who started practicing in a non-contact capacity Thursday. He might not return next week, but he’s making progress. It’ll be interesting to see how he performs once healthy. Kakko had a respectable 18 goals and 40 points in 82 contests last year. However, he was off to a rough start in 2023-24 with two goals and three points in 20 outings. While getting hurt is never a good thing, the silver lining is it will allow him to start fresh once he’s healthy.

Philadelphia Flyers – MON VS PIT, WED VS MTL, FRI @ MIN, SAT @ WPG (BTB)

Philadelphia will host the rival Penguins on Monday and remain at home for the Penguins on Wednesday. The Flyers will then travel to Minnesota on Friday and Winnipeg on Saturday. Of that set, the Jets are the only adversary occupying a playoff position.

Cam Atkinson and Morgan Frost were both healthy scratches Thursday. Atkinson is a particularly interesting case. He started the campaign with eight goals and 12 points in 15 appearances, but he has just six points (all assists) over his last 22 outings. Maybe having a game to reset is what he needs. Atkinson is likely to draw back into the lineup soon and will probably serve in a top-six capacity while also being on the first power-play unit.

One player who doesn’t need time off is Travis Konecny. The 26-year-old forward is on a six-game scoring streak in which he’s contributed four goals and nine points. Konecny is up to 20 goals and 35 points in 38 outings this year and that’s despite getting just three points with the man advantage. He has a spot on the top power-play unit, so his offense on special teams might increase in the second half of the year.

Toronto Maple Leafs – TUE VS SJS, THU @ NYI, SAT VS COL, SUN VS DET

The Maple Leafs will have three home games next week against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Avalanche on Saturday and the Red Wings on Sunday. They also have a one-game road trip against the Islanders on Thursday.

With Joseph Woll (ankle) still hurt and Ilya Samsonov struggling to the point where he’s been sent to AHL Toronto, 22-year-old rookie Dennis Hildeby is with the team. Rather than allow him to make his NHL debut Wednesday versus Anaheim, the Maple Leafs opted to use Martin Jones in both halves of their back-to-back. That paid off, though, with Jones saving 58 of 59 shots over those two outings.

Jones has been stunning with Toronto, posting a 6-3-0 record, 2.21 GAA and .930 save percentage in 10 contests. I’m hesitant to get too excited about him, though. Jones has had an interesting career, but it’s involved a lot of rough patches -- there's a reason he went unclaimed on waivers back in October, allowing him to start the season in the minors -- and what we’re seeing now might be more of a hot streak than a resurgence. Regardless, Jones is expected to continue to be leaned on heavily during Woll’s absence.

I would still expect Hildeby to make at least one start next week, likely against Colorado on Saturday or Detroit on Sunday. It seems like a waste to summon the prospect if all he’s going to do is practice with the team and warm the bench. If that was the extent of the assignment, the Maple Leafs could have brought up Keith Petruzzelli from the Marlies instead, allowing Hildeby to continue to get work uninterrupted.

That aside, this might be another good week for Max Domi, who has four assists over his last four games. He’s been a steady presence lately, supplying three goals and 11 points over his last 15 contests to provide the Maple Leafs with some scoring depth.

Vancouver Canucks – MON @ NYR, TUE @ NYI (BTB), THU @ PIT, SAT @ BUF

Vancouver arguably has the most borderline schedule to be highlighted on this list. On the one hand, the Canucks will play four games, which is always desirable for getting the most out of players in fantasy formats, but the downside is they’ll be traveling for the full duration with games against the Rangers on Monday, the Islanders on Tuesday, the Penguins on Thursday and the Sabres on Saturday.

If Pius Suter is still available in your league, he’s worthy of selection. The 27-year-old has just 11 points in 24 contests this season, but over his last seven appearances, he’s supplied four goals and seven points. He has a position on Vancouver’s second line and second power-play unit, so while he’s not going to continue to produce at a point per game in the long run, he might be good for 25-30 points over Vancouver’s final 45 contests if he maintains his current role.

Teddy Blueger is another red-hot member of the Canucks, providing three goals and 10 points over his last nine outings. I don’t expect the 29-year-old’s offensive run to last much longer, though. He’s never recorded more than 28 points in a single season and doesn’t have a stable role on the power play, so if you’ve been enjoying Blueger’s recent success, just be prepared to move on without much hesitation when he shows signs of faltering.

Similarly, I’m not confident the good times will last much longer for Dakota Joshua, who has five goals and nine points over his last nine contests. The silver lining with Joshua is he’s a great source of hits with 113 in 37 appearances this season, and he should continue to help in that regard even after his offense fizzles out.

Winnipeg Jets – TUE VS CBJ, THU VS CHI, SAT VS PHI

In contrast to Vancouver, the Jets will play in just three games, but they’re all home games and feature weak to middling adversaries. Winnipeg will host the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the Blackhawks on Thursday and the Flyers on Saturday.

The quality of Winnipeg’s opponents might allow Morgan Barron to continue his hot stretch after providing three goals and five points over his last five contests. Just keep in mind that Barron is serving primarily as a fourth liner, so he’s worth considering only as a short-term pickup.

Vladislav Namestnikov has a substantially bigger role with the Jets, averaging 15:10 of ice time, including 1:24 with the man advantage. He’s up to four goals and 20 points in 34 contests this season and has been especially effective recently, supplying a goal and five points over his last four outings.

Of course, the Jets’ MVP is still goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He’s won his last three starts while saving 93 of 98 shots (.949 save percentage), giving him a 19-6-3 record, 2.28 GAA and .921 save percentage in 28 outings this year. Hellebuyck might start in all three games this week, and he should continue to excel.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – DALLAS STARS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:44:59 +0000

CALGARY, AB - APRIL 21: Dallas Stars Left Wing Jason Robertson (21) tries to take a shot as Calgary Flames Center Elias Lindholm (28) backchecks during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Dallas Stars on April 21, 2022, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire)

Review: The Stars made the playoffs in three of four years from 2018-19 through 2021-22, but last season was their most dominant since 2005-06 in terms of points percentage, courtesy of their 47-21-14 record. Dallas achieved that level of success in no small part thanks to Jake Oettinger, who played a career-high 62 contests and finished with a 37-11-11 record, 2.37 GAA and .919 save percentage. Dallas did have the second best five-on-five expected goals against (158.23), so he got considerable support from the Stars’ blue line, but Oettinger was still the backbone of the team. The Stars were also able to roll two great forward lines, led by Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz, who each provided over 25 goals and 70 points. Complement that with defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s 73-point campaign, and the Stars were the envy of many offensively. Dallas’ success carried into the playoffs, besting Minnesota and Seattle in the first two rounds, but the run ultimately ended at the hands of the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals.

What’s Changed? After being bought out by Nashville, Matt Duchene inked a one-year, $3 million contract with Dallas, bolstering an already deep offense. Evgenii Dadonov also agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Stars after a successful stint with the team as a Feb. 26 acquisition from Montreal, though fellow midseason acquisition Max Domi left for Toronto.

What would success look like? While it might be unfair to say that it’s Cup-or-bust for Dallas, the expectations are about as high as they could be. There’s some minor cause for urgency too given that Pavelski is 39 years old, and Oettinger has just two seasons left at $4 million before he’ll command a big raise. Fortunately, with their goaltending and defense intact from last year, combined with an embarrassment of riches up front – Duchene and Tyler Seguin might headline an overqualified third line – the Stars really do look like one of the best teams in the league.

What could go wrong? Speaking of Pavelski’s age, you have to wonder how much longer he can really defy Father Time. Benn is coming off a fantastic season too, but he’s been up-and-down in recent years and is 34 years old at this point. If Pavelski and Benn do regress significantly, then suddenly Dallas’ offense isn’t nearly as deep as it currently appears. Then there’s Oettinger, who was amazing during the regular season, but struggled in the 2023 playoffs with a 10-9 record, 3.06 GAA and .895 save percentage in 19 starts. Will he bounce right back and even if he does, will he rise to the occasion when it matters the most? The hopes of the Stars are largely resting on his shoulders.

Top Breakout Candidate: On a team with plenty of veteran talent, Wyatt Johnston was the lone teenager last year, but he didn’t look out of place, contributing 24 goals and 41 points in 82 contests. Now 20 years old, Johnston is likely to center the Stars’ second line and be a regular presence on the second power-play unit. Those opportunities could lead to him surpassing the 50-point milestone as a sophomore.

Forwards

Jason Robertson - LW

Already a star after only three years in the league, Robertson usually finds a way onto the scoresheet by the end of the night. Not a quick skater and makes up for it by always getting to the right spot and knowing what he is going to do with the puck before he gets it. He has incredible hands and can carry the puck on a string without being impeded. Deadly accurate with his shot and can score from almost anywhere in the offensive zone because of how well he chttps://www.mckeenshockey.com/players/roope-hintz/reates space for himself. Usually recognizes the defender’s tendencies when playing one-on-one or finds the soft spot that gives him the time and space to pick a corner. One of the best players in the league at slowing the game down and creating almost power play like situations at even strength, allowing the Stars to run more creative offensive setups and make the details of the game count. All of these are why Robertson became the first Star player to score 100 points since Dino Ciccarelli in 1987. Capped off by a ridiculous month of November where he tallied 26 points in 14 games. He has only gotten better with each season in the league so the only question left with Robertson is how much better can he get?

Roope Hintz - C

It can be argued that while Robertson is the best player on the Stars, Hintz is the most important because he leads most of the rush offense and does most of the legwork while carrying the puck. Very strong on his skates and a terrific shooter, he is the total package when you hear someone referred to as a “200-foot player.” He can start rushes on his own from a dead stop and put defenders in a bind with his combo of speed and puck handling. It makes him a threat alone, but when you combine it with how good his linemates are, it’s even better. Hintz can draw defenders away from Robertson to give him even more space and allow Dallas to connect on some of the precision, tic-tac-toe plays you saw from them perform so often last year. Hintz himself also has quite the lethal wrist shot, scoring on almost 20% of his shots and consistently shooting above the league average for most of his career. He can be a little high-risk at times from how much of a workload he takes on, but he is always a threat when he is on the ice. He was the team’s best forward in the playoffs and is always a threat when on the ice.

Joe Pavelski - RW

The long-time San Jose Shark is having the best seasons of his career in Dallas, following up a career high season in 2021 with 77 points and posting a career high in assists. Playing on one of the best lines in the league helps, but Pavelski is a big part of what makes the line work. All three players are natural centers and can rotate playing all three forward positions when needed. Not that Pavelski ever moves from his usual place in front of the goal. When he’s not deflecting pucks, he is fighting hard to create space in front of the net, lifting sticks or getting body position on a defender. He makes a lot of goals happen even if he’s not the one scoring or setting them up, which is exactly what you want from the veteran on a highly skilled line. This is also why 13 of his goals came on the power play last year, as this skillset helps you more when you’re on the man advantage. His five-on-five play was still solid, though and he is a big reason why Robertson has been so productive. We also can’t forget about his playoff performance, scoring eight goals in seven games in the Seattle series (four of which came in one game).

Jamie Benn - LW

High tide raises all ships and that was the story behind the Stars captain’s massive return to form. Looking like a third liner for most of the last few years, he had a career renaissance season with 33 goals and 78 points. This was his highest point total since 2018 and more goals than he scored in the previous two seasons combined. He was also tied for the team lead in power play goals with 13. Sometimes a player thrives when the environment around him is better, and Benn is the best case for that. Dallas played a more offensive-friendly system last year and Benn created plenty of odd-man rushes because of that. His newfound chemistry with rookie Wyatt Johnson also proved to be a two-way street, as Benn provided the defensive support, and they created plenty of open shots for each other off the rush. Benn also benefitted from being the goal vulture on the power play, taking advantage of plenty of rebounds and loose pucks. It’s tough to sustain this level of production because you’re not always going to get these high-percentage chances every year, but Benn had also had his best season in terms of driving offense, so it bodes well for him being a positive player in the final year of his contract.

Matt Duchene - RW

The free agent class had a late windfall when Nashville opted to buyout the remainder of Matt Duchene’s contract. It was a little surprising because the speedy forward is still owed a lot of money and is only two years removed from a career season. Dallas was quick to sign him on July 1st and they are hoping he can give their second line some scoring punch. Getting two productive seasons out of Benn and Seguin was nice, but scoring is usually tough to come by for the middle of Dallas’ lineup and Duchene provides a fix for that. He has an excellent shot if he gets space and has reinvented himself as a scoring winger the last couple of seasons. The risk with Duchene is that he has been two different players since leaving Colorado. The high-octane scoring winger who will play more of a riverboat gambler style of hockey off the rush and the center who will play keep away with the puck in the offensive zone forever but not score many goals. What version Dallas gets remains to be seen and could ultimately come down to who his linemates are.

Tyler Seguin - C

Dallas getting back-to-back 20-goal seasons out of Seguin seems like a miracle when you consider he lost an entire season to hip surgery. Playing a lower line role and contributing on both special teams’ units, this is a different Tyler Seguin than Stars fans are used to seeing. Playing more of an off-puck role and providing a defensive presence alongside some of the team’s younger players. You see glimpses of his old self at times. He is still dangerous when he gets space and loves that patented toe-drag move to pick a corner. Expectations have changed for him now because a 50-point season would be seen as a disappointment for him a few years ago, but the emergence of Dallas’ younger core has allowed Seguin to play more of a lower line role and a team leader. Last year was good progress for him, thriving as a forechecker and getting some spot duty on the top line with Robertson and Pavelski. The explosive offense is there in bursts for Seguin, so he should give a boost to the Stars depth if he keeps this up for the rest of his contract.

Wyatt Johnston - C

It’s rare for a late first-round pick to make the NHL before he turns 20 let alone have a 24-goal season. The Stars should be thrilled out of what they got out of Wyatt Johnston last year because it looks like he is only scratching the surface of what he can do. Placed in the top-six immediately, he formed a great chemistry with Jamie Benn and eventually Evgenii Dadonov, mostly as the triggerman while the other two handled the zone entries and cycling. He had a nose for the net and a knack for getting himself wide open for scoring opportunities. It’s different than what you see from most rookies who usually want the puck all the time, Johnston was more patient and waited for his opportunities while staying active in the offensive zone. He also showed some ability to make defenders miss in the neutral zone, but usually took a backseat to his linemates until the puck got in the offensive zone. He isn’t always going to have Benn and others setting him up, so this is where Johnston can take a step forward next year. What he is now is good, now it’s about figuring out how good he can become.

Mason Marchment - LW

Signed to a four-year contract last off-season, Marchment’s first year with the Stars didn’t go as well as they hoped after dominating on Florida’s third line for a couple of years. He was one of the few Dallas forwards who struggled to finish his chances highlighted by a prolonged cold stretch in the middle of the year where he went 35 games without a goal. His lanky frame and awkward skating style made him a tough fit for an up-tempo system, but not only did he work in Florida, he thrived. Unfortunately, this is the chance you take with players that have a short track record, Marchment had only 91 NHL games to his credit before last year, and his results have been at the opposite end of the spectrum. Changing systems can be tough and Marchment also missed most of March with a lower body injury, so he had a lot of things out of his control working against him. Scoring at almost a 40-point pace despite this, there’s some promise with Marchment, especially as someone who can do the dirty work below the goal line, it’s just a matter of who he slots with and if it’s a good match.

Evgenii Dadonov - RW

A “third wheel” on a top line, Dadonov’s short stint in Dallas was enough for them to re-sign him for two years. The Stars got to see the best of him, as his 15 points in 23 games almost matched his season total in 50 games with Montreal. He isn’t the type of player who can drive a line, but he complements elite players well. He is deceptive with his decision-making in the offensive zone, tricking defenders into thinking he’s going to shoot even though he’s a playmaker at heart. This is why he racks up assists every year. The downside is someone usually needs to be the one driving the bus on his line, as he’s the type who will finish a play rather than start it. He had that in Dallas, especially in the playoffs, but not in Montreal and his overall production suffered. That said, he could be one of the best bargains in the league with the contract Dallas signed him to, as he can move all over the lineup and be a great weapon on the power play. Dallas’ top players are excellent at creating space for himself and Dadonov is at his most dangerous when other guys set the table for him. For under $3 million AAV, this was an excellent signing.

Defense

Miro Heiskanen - D

The departure of John Klingberg opened the door for Heiskanen to quarterback Dallas’ power play and the results were fantastic. He finally had that elusive 70+ point season, breaking Sergei Zubov’s record for most points in a season by a Stars defenseman. The ability was always there, the opportunities weren’t as he was saddled in more of a defensive role for most of his career. He still played the tough matchups but could be more of a real two-way threat playing behind better forwards. Dallas running a lot of their offense through the point also opened more chances for him to be creative on long-sustained possessions compared to previous years. He is a perfect secondary puck-carrier to Hintz and someone who can act as a true complement to the forwards to play that brand of “total hockey” the game is moving towards. The only trade-off here was that his defensive play wasn’t as lockdown as it was in previous years. It’s something the Stars will gladly take, though. The drop-off after Heiskanen on the Stars blue-line is stark and he remains their best option for all situations because of how much energy he conserves and how well he thinks the game even when fatigued. That said, every player has a limit on how much they can do, and the Stars put that to the test with Heiskanen last year.

Esa Lindell - D

While the Stars blue line lacks puck movers, they had plenty of guys who can get in the way and block shots. None of them are better at it than Esa Lindell, who finally got more help with handling some of the tougher matchups this year. His minutes were reduced at five-on-five with him playing more regularly on the second pair and he had one of his better seasons at driving play. The coaching change benefitted him in some ways, as his pair with Jani Hakanpaa soaked up most of the defensive minutes and playing with leads. Lindell’s best skills are denying entries and clearing the puck out of the zone, so he was very helpful in these situations where he wasn’t expected to create offense. Playing only 20-21 minutes a game instead of 23-24 also benefited him, as he was more refreshed on the penalty kill and not as worn down at the end of the year. The limitations are that he struggles to make any play with the puck that isn’t just clearing it out of the zone and that showed at times in the post-season. Relies a little too much on his reach to negate plays, which results in penalties and gives up more space to forwards than he takes away. Still one of the league’s underappreciated players.

Ryan Suter - D

It was a tale of two seasons for Suter, playing most of the year alongside Nils Lundkvist and Colin Miller, his role increased in the playoffs to becoming Miro Heiskanen’s partner on the top-pair. The Stars scrapping their by-committee approach to defense for most of the year and wanting Suter to play higher because he still has the cardio to play minutes. The legs were still there for him, but his decision-making in the playoffs proved costly at times, especially without the puck. His average ice time per game was in the 20-21 minute range, which was the lowest since his rookie year, and that jumped up to 23-24 minutes once the Seattle series rolled around. At 38-years old, Suter still does a lot in the doldrums of the game, decent at avoiding pressure to retrieve the puck and skates well enough to protect the middle on zone entries. The game-breaking mistakes just happen more often than you’d like to see out of your longest-tenured defenseman, and it became more of a problem when his role increased in the playoffs. His deteriorating puck skills also make him just another guy who can play big minutes on Dallas’ blue line rather than a difference maker, so it will be interesting to see how he is used next year.

Nils Lundkvist - D

In some ways Lundkvist had a good first season with Dallas. Six goals are nothing to sneeze at for a young defenseman and he got regular playing time for most of the year. The season didn’t end on a strong note, though. In fact, it ended in the press box after Thomas Harley was called up. Playing a similar game to Harley, Lundkvist was seen as expendable as veterans like Jani Hakanpaa, Colin Miller and Joel Hanely got in the lineup over him. He was acquired for a first-round pick from the Rangers just before the season started, filling a void for a secondary puck-mover to complement Heiskanen and he was given a pretty long rope in the early part of the season. Dallas used him on the power play and in a situational top-four role alongside Ryan Suter. The results at the end of the day were okay. He did what he was supposed to in providing some offense from the back end but didn’t have the trust from the coaching staff once April rolled around. Thomas Harley’s emergence could make it tough for Lundkvist to make his mark, but the Stars invested a lot to acquire him, and he still fills a need on Dallas’ mostly immobile blue line.

Goaltender

Jake Oettinger - G

An alarming number of teams are heading into the 2023-24 NHL season with huge question marks in net; between underperforming prospects and the lack of a good, strong transition class to fill in the gap between the Quick-Lundqvist-Rask era and the upcoming Wolf-Shestyorkin-Askarov era, more than a few franchises are stuck scrambling to find good starters to get them into the postseason and beyond.

Luckily for Stars fans, though, they don’t have to worry about that. While the number of elite-tier goaltenders in the mid-twenties age group is alarmingly small, Jake Oettinger – who has become the de facto number one in Dallas and easily one of their most valuable players – sits near the top of the pack. He’s heading into the second of the three-year deal he signed at the last minute last summer, leaving the Stars net situation as worry-free as Texas fans have seen in years.

Oettinger entered the NHL as a big, technical goaltender who shooters have trouble drawing away from his angles or positioning and who doesn’t like taking big risks. While some of the league’s more by-the-book prospects in the last few years found themselves bleeding shots almost as fast as the game had been coached into over-predictability, though, Oettinger’s powerful recovery speed and upper-tier read of the game – which leaves him able to afford some ‘fun’ saves in there – blend with a level of creativity that doesn’t make him easy to predict, but inspires plenty of confidence when it’s time to make routine saves. His decision-making skills should continue to help bring heart rates down across Dallas in the aftermath of an extended era of excitement for the Central Division team; while Anton Khudobin and Kari Lehtonen were exciting starters to watch during their respective eras, there’s something to be said for the comfortable reliability of what Oettinger has to offer.

Projected starts: 60-65

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Players Making Noise in Training Camp

Scott Cullen — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:29:37 +0000

20 FANTASY POINTS

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

Before the puck drops on the regular season, a look at some players that have made noise in training camp and preseason and might be able to contribute this season. In most cases, these players would have more appeal in deep leagues but, at the very least, it is worth keeping an eye on how they develop during the season.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 26: Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) skates during the Florida Panthers versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on November 26, 2021 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

#1. Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell had a strong rookie season, putting up 44 points in 65 games, and it would be natural to expect continued improvement from the 21-year-old pivot. There is the possibility, though, that he moves up the depth chart and is not centering the third line but possibly centering the second line or even skating on the wing alongside Aleksander Barkov on Florida’s top line. That creates the possibility of Lundell’s production spiking in his second season if the circumstances play out in his favor.

#2. The ninth pick in the 2020 Draft by the Minnesota Wild, center Marco Rossi had his 2020-2021 season undone by COVID-19 then put up 53 points in 63 AHL games last season. With the Wild needing players on entry level deals to contribute, the opportunity is there for Rossi, and he is making the most of it. Not only does he have eight points in four preseason games, but he has recently been given a shot to play on the top line between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello.

#3. After missing most of the 2021-2022 season, Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto is healthy and looking like he could be a contributor to an improved Sens attack this season. Pinto has eight points in 17 career games and looks like he will start the season as Ottawa’s third-line center, but he will also get power play time and has the skill to move up in the lineup, if needed.

#4. Right winger Luke Kunin contributed 13 goals and 22 points for the Nashville Predators last season, adding 223 hits in 82 games. Those hit totals moved Kunin into the realm of fantasy relevance but, after a trade to the Sharks, it looks like he could have even more appeal to start the 2022-2023 season. Kunin is starting the season skating on the right wing of San Jose’s top line, alongside Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl, a legitimate opportunity to increase his offensive output.

#5. Drafted 14^th overall in 2020 by the Edmonton Oilers, Dylan Holloway is doing his best to force the Oilers to keep him on the roster. The University of Wisconsin product had 22 points in 33 AHL games last season as a rookie pro and appeared in one playoff game for Edmonton. He has put up four goals and six points in four preseason games in his bid to make Edmonton’s opening night lineup.

#6. Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens has produced 51 points in 120 games through his first two seasons, but developed his game last season, with better possession results leading to improved scoring. The next step for Cozens is to have his shooting percentage pick up. It was 7.7% last season, on his way to 13 goals, but if the 21-year-old continues to improve and that shooting percentage improves, 20 goals should be within his grasp.

#7. The Boston Bruins were already facing a potentially difficult start to the season with injuries to Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelcyk, but Taylor Hall has joined them in the infirmary with an upper-body injury. That will open up more of an opportunity for Pavel Zacha, who was acquired from New Jersey in the offseason. Zacha scored a career-high 36 points in 70 games for the Devils last season but is now looking at a chance to start the season playing on a line with David Krejci and David Pastrnak, two gifted offensive players, and that raises Zacha’s offensive ceiling.

#8. The sixth pick in the 2018 Draft, Filip Zadina has been mostly underwhelming to this point in his career, managing 61 points in 160 games for the Detroit Red Wings. He has scored on just 7.6% of his shots, which is quite low for a scoring winger. With Derek Lalonde taking over behind the Red Wings bench, Zadina gets something of a fresh start and with Detroit upgrading their roster in the offseason, there is a better chance for Zadina to contribute secondary offense.

#9. Highly touted defenseman Nils Lundkvist did not have the kind of North American debut that he had hoped for last season, producing four points in 25 games for the New York Rangers and 15 points in 34 games for Hartford of the American Hockey League. Traded to the Dallas Stars, Lundkvist has a new opportunity to make his mark in the NHL and he has put 13 shots on goal in four preseason contests. While he is not worthy of widespread fantasy interest now, it is worth tracking Lundkvist’s progress with his new team.

#10. Landing on a rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks squad, Max Domi is seeking a new opportunity after he had 39 points in 72 games last season, playing a career-low 13:02 per game in a season that started with the Columbus Blue Jackets and ended with the Carolina Hurricanes. With Chicago, Domi has the chance to skate on a line with Patrick Kane and possibly Andreas Athanasiou. While that line has its flaws, they may be able to generate some offense and Domi should see an uptick in ice time because there just are not that many good options available in Chicago.

#11. After scoring a career-high 19 goals and 43 points for Pittsburgh last season, Evan Rodrigues could not secure a free agent contract until he signed with Colorado in September. That could turn out to be a nice fit for Rodrigues and the Avalanche because with Gabriel Landeskog out at the start of the season, Rodrigues could open the season in Colorado’s top six. Rodrigues played a career-high 15:50 per game last season and his shot rate jumped to 2.96 shots per game. If he has a regular role in Colorado, there will be opportunities for him to score.

#12. Veteran winger Tomas Tatar had just 30 points in 76 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, tying his career-low, set in just 50 games the season before. His 5v5 on-ice shooting percentage last season was 6.8%, the lowest of his career, so Tatar should be able to count on some positive regression in that sense. He is a six-time 20-goal scorer who has scored more than 55 points three times in his career. With the Devils’ forward group improving, Tatar could either get bumped down the depth chart or he could thrive with more talent around him.

#13. He is 39 years old and will not be quarterbacking the first power play unit in Toronto, but defenseman Mark Giordano had 12 points in 20 games for the Maple Leafs after he was acquired from Seattle before the trade deadline last season. He also had 41 blocked shots and 29 hits in those 20 games, so he can still be a considerable factor for a Maple Leafs team that should still be one of the best in the league this season.

#14. The Tampa Bay Lightning can move their forwards around the lineup, but it is worth tracking Vladislav Namestnikov, the 29-year-old who is returning to where his NHL career began. Namestnikov has recently been getting a look on Tampa Bay’s top line, with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov and while Namestnikov has only had one season in his career with more than 35 points, anyone getting the chance to play with Stamkos and Kucherov is deserving of fantasy consideration.

#15. Acquired by the Vancouver Canucks in the trade that sent Jonathan Dahlen to San Jose, right winger Linus Karlsson produced 26 goals and 46 points in 52 games for Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League last season. The 22-year-old may not be NHL ready yet, but he has finishing skill and if the Canucks have forward openings – Brock Boeser and Ilya Mikheyev are currently dealing with injuries – maybe Karlsson gets a longer look in Vancouver.

#16. Just last week, I was writing about the potential of Nashville Predators right winger Philip Tomasino, the second year forward who has the potential to move into a scoring role with the Preds. That might take some time, however, since he is going to be a healthy scratch to start the season, with Kiefer Sherwood earning a spot in the opening game lineup ahead of Tomasino. Sherwood is a 27-year-old who has scored 18 points and recorded 155 hits in 87 career NHL games, but he has the right-wing job on Nashville’s second line to start the season.

#17. The Florida Panthers signed goaltender Spencer Knight to a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension, an indication that the Panthers see Knight as their starting goaltender of the future, but he could become the goaltender of the present, too. The 13^th pick in the 2019 Draft, Knight has a .909 save percentage in 36 NHL games, so he is just getting started, but if Sergei Bobrovsky falters, the Panthers should have little hesitation about giving Knight a bigger share of the starts this season.

#18. A potential backup goaltender on what will likely be a bad team is hardly the stuff of fantasy championships but have an eye on Samuel Ersson of the Philadelphia Flyers. A fifth-round pick in 2018, Ersson has impressed in training camp and preseason action. He had a .904 save percentage in 78 SHL games before getting into a handful of AHL games last season. His development might be better suited to the AHL, where he can play a lot, but it is possible that Ersson wins the job backing up Carter Hart in Philadelphia.

#19. A first-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020, Yegor Chinakhov produced a modest 14 points in 62 games as a rookie last season. The Blue Jackets have some talent on the wings, which could make it difficult for Chinakhov to move into a scoring role, but he does have five goals in five preseason games, production that could help him secure a better spot on the depth chart for his sophomore season.

#20. Looking for a chance to resurrect his career, Sam Steel is getting that opportunity with the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old, who was a first-round pick in 2016, had 65 points in 197 games with the Anaheim Ducks, but they did not give him a qualifying offer following last season, casting him into the free agent waters. Steel has five points in four preseason games and has recently been getting a chance to skate on a line with Fredrick Gaudreau and Matt Boldy, which is a solid opportunity for a player who scored a ton in junior but has yet to take that junior production and see it translate to the NHL.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 19:45:27 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MAY 08: New York Rangers left wing Vitali Kravtsov (74) looks to pass during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers on May 8, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Vitali Kravtsov RW

It has now been four years since Vitaly Kravtsov was drafted 9th overall by the Rangers, but despite the elite skills and skating talent that he possesses, he is still mostly thought of as the player who has gone back and forth between the KHL and the Rangers organization. Last season was no exception, as after Kravtsov was sent down to the AHL and refused to report, he was once again loaned back to his KHL home team of Traktor. When he finally arrived back in Russia, he needed some time to shake off the rust and start performing consistently, but once he did, he enjoyed a fine season. That said, considering Kravtsov’s elite skill and skating ability, being just good and not great on this level in his draft+4 season is underwhelming, even keeping in mind that players of his ilk often take a bit longer to develop. He has not yet convinced anyone that he is ready for a full-time job in the NHL and his frequent friction with the Rangers’ organization actually left many surprised that he extended his NHL contract with the club. While we still believe in the player and his talent, and hope that he will finally arrive in the NHL, ascending to the top six attacking role his talent demands, we are less willing to put our money down on the proposition. Tread carefully. - VF

2 - Brennan Othmann LW

The 16th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Brennan Othmann is looking like he is going to become a fan favourite for the Rangers, consistently being a pest to play against while still being an offensive threat with his dangerous shot. There aren’t many players that have the ability to get under the skin of opponents as much as Othmann does. He plays an aggressive style game, consistently having a high motor and using great physicality, making it very difficult to play against. The former 2nd overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had a successful rookie year, finishing with 33 points (17G,16A) in 55 games. During the 2020-2021 season while the OHL was shutdown due to Covid-19, Othmann made the trip to Europe like some others and played in the Swiss League, producing 16 points (7G,9A) in 34 games. Othmann also got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship. In the 2021-2022 season, Othmann had a breakout season, producing 97 points (50G,47A) in 66 games, which was 7th in the league in points, 2nd in the league in goals, and 1st on the team in points and goals. That same year, he also played in the U20 World Junior Championship. Othman’s best assets are his shooting and competitiveness. His shot is a threat from almost anywhere in the offensive zone. The release is quick and deceptive, and the shot is hard and accurate, able to find small holes that others can’t. Not only is Othmann very effective offensively, but he’s also strong defensively and punishes opponents with physicality, never taking a shift off. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Othmann will once again be a premier player and be among the top goal scorers in the league. - DK

3 - Nils Lundkvist D

The hype surrounding Lundkvist as he started his North American pro career last year had reached astronomical levels. He was coming off two terrific years in the SHL, including being named the top Swedish defender in Sweden. The expectation was that he would walk right into a prominent NHL role. While he did split time between the Rangers and Hartford (AHL), there were more struggles than standout moments. Part of that had to do with usage, especially at the NHL level. Part of it had to do with Lundkvist struggling to adapt to the size and strength of NHL forwards. Someone who consistently activated offensively and took chances with the puck in Sweden, looked to be lacking in confidence to do so in the NHL. The great news is that Lundkvist finished the year on a very bright note in the AHL, finally showing off his ability to impact the game offensively. He has a wicked point shot, moves the puck quickly and effectively, is skilled enough to create time and space, and, as mentioned, is aggressive when jumping up into the play to create scoring chances. So, what happens this coming season? The Rangers could appear to prefer Zac Jones and Braden Schneider over Lundkvist at this point, based on usage, but training camp will settle that. As far as we’re concerned, the battle is on even ground and it would be shocking to see Lundkvist held out of the NHL this year, given his higher upside compared to Jones and Schneider. One lukewarm year is not enough to sour us on his potential to be a prominent offensive defender at the NHL level. - BO

4 - Zac Jones D

In 2021, Jones went right from winning a National Championship with UMass (NCAA) to the New York Rangers and it looked like he could never spend a minute in the AHL after a strong debut. However, Jones spent more time in the AHL last year than he did in the NHL thanks to the depth of the Rangers blueline. Even this coming season, he is not guaranteed to be an NHL player as he competes with New York’s other talented young defenders for playing time. Jones is a natural offensive defender who can use his strong four-way mobility and puck skill to create offense. He walks the offensive blueline with confidence and his quick feet really help him to break down coverage. Jones also makes a strong exit pass, clearing his own zone quickly and efficiently. His quickness is an asset in the defensive end too, although he could undoubtedly stand to bulk up to be more effective defending traffic and to help him win more puck battles. He has the potential to be a top four powerplay quarterback and could realize that potential as early as next season. With so many talented young defenders ready to take spots, at some point something will have to give and one of them may be used as a trade chip to help the Rangers improve during this season. - BO

5 - Matthew Robertson D

Yes, you guessed it, another potentially NHL-ready defender for the New York Rangers. A former second round pick, Robertson is coming off of his first pro season with Hartford. The 6’4 defender is far from an offensive standout, but his combination of size, mobility, and physicality makes him a likely bet to be an NHL defender in some capacity. His ability to shut down transitional attacks and defend pace are standout qualities, in a similar way to Braden Schneider who has already carved out a niche with the Rangers. Robertson also can also use his length and quickness to disrupt space in the defensive zone, closing quickly to prevent opposing forwards from sustaining pressure. There is room for improvement in his decision making with the puck and he probably has more offensive potential than he showed as a first-year pro, but he could still move quickly through the system given his profile. Depending on the kind of role available on New York’s blueline (especially given a potential injury), Robertson may even be given a look earlier than some of the puck movers they have in the system. From an upside standpoint, Robertson could be viewed as a potential partner for the likes of Lundkvist and/or Jones in the future and he could slot in anywhere from #4-6 in the lineup. - BO

6 -Will Cuylle LW

Returning to the OHL this year, after playing out the pandemic in the AHL, Cuylle was fantastic for the Windsor Spitfires. He captained them to a Western Conference championship and finished tied for sixth in the OHL with 43 goals. He developed great chemistry with Dallas Stars prospect and Red Tilson winner Wyatt Johnston. The power forward’s game has come a long way since being drafted. His skating has improved, especially his explosiveness. His engagement level without the puck has become more consistent as he has become a quality defensive forward. His finishing ability has become more refined as his release has improved to match his already heavy wrist shot. In a lot of ways, Cuylle is the perfect complementary player for the middle six given his well-rounded game, ability to clear space, and finishing touch. He will play out his “real” first season in the AHL this coming season and should be able to make an immediate impact as a middle six player and powerplay option. After continuing to improve his skating, Cuylle could be ready for a full-time role with the Rangers within a few seasons. - BO

7 - Adam Sykora RW

Sýkora made probably the biggest step forward out of all Slovak prospects in his draft year. Before the season, he wasn´t even a lock to be drafted, yet he worked his way up to the second round. His performance at the 2022 Men’s World Championship was particularly impressive. As the youngest player in the tournament, he scored twice and added an assist, playing a key role for the Slovak team. On the contrary, his World Juniors performance was by no means as impressive, which included a late ejection during the final match against Finland. The World Juniors displayed the main weaknesses of the Rangers´ first selection in the 2022 Entry Draft. Sýkora isn´t a guy who can create a lot of offense. He is a fast skater, a fantastic forechecker who makes the defense´s life miserable, and his compete level is great, but he will never be a primary offensive threat. He likes to play aggressively and finishes his checks despite his smallish figure. The Slovak two-way winger is a great penalty kill option. He enjoys blocking shots and fighting for the puck, which makes him a unique prospect. All in all, he won´t be a top-six option in the NHL, but he is the kind of a bottom-six player who is extremely valuable for his team. He will spend the next season with Nitra in Slovak top tier league. - MD

8 - Bryce McConnell-Barker C

The 97th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Bryce McConnell-Barker was able to make the most while adapting into a 3rd line role on a stacked Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds team. The former 4th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft previously had won the 2019-2020 Alliance Hockey player of the year, but like many others, he wasn’t able to showcase himself right away, being forced to wait due to the Covid-19 shutdown. During the 2020-2021 season, McConnell-Barker was able to produce 49 points (23G,26A) in 68 games, which was 5th on his team in points, 4th on his team in goals, and also 7th in the leagues for points by a rookie. McConnell-Barker’s best assets are his competitiveness and hockey sense. There weren’t many times when watching McConnell-Barker that you questioned his competitiveness. Every single battle for the puck, even if he didn’t win, he was consistently giving his all. He’s very aggressive and uses his active stick and strength to quickly retrieve the puck and protect it from opponents, being able to do the dirty work on his line, making it easy to play with. McConnell-Barker also displays smart hockey sense consistently, being able to adapt to different roles while still being effective. One thing that stood out for him was how well he compliments a line. Not needing to have the puck and still find ways to contribute. He makes smart decisions without the puck and seems to always be in the right spot at the right time. Going into the 2022-2023 season, McConnell-Barker will most likely be elevated up in the lineup, giving him more ice time and opportunities on special teams. You could expect a rise in point production as well. - DK

9 - Brett Berard LW

As a fifth-round pick at the 2020 draft, many would be forgiven for not knowing much about Brett Berard. As a five-foot-nine winger without an easily identifiable standout offensive tool, many would be forgiven for believing that Berard is a long shot to make the NHL. But Berard has as good of a chance to make the NHL as any Rangers prospect, and after a point-per-game sophomore NCAA season, more and more people are taking notice. Speaking conventionally, Berard does not have a standout offensive tool, a weapon he can lean on when all else fails in order to create offense. He’s a good skater, and he’s fast enough to survive at his five-foot-nine size, but he’s not a burner and his speed won’t be what carries him to NHL success. Similarly, Berard’s shot is good, but he won’t be a long-distance scorer at higher levels. The thing that separates Berard more than anything else isn’t something that many would typically call a valuable offensive tool, but it is something that could carry Berard to professional success nonetheless: it’s his bravery. Berard isn’t a big player, but any player who has the misfortune of holding onto a puck along the boards that Berard wants won’t be able to tell. Berard willingly and frequently engages in the physical side of the game and can even go a bit too far in his attempts to attack the opposition. Berard is relentless in how he approaches the game, always looking to find any possible way to gain an upper hand on opponents. Berard’s size and skill combination puts a damper on his upside, but he still has a strong chance to rise through the pro ranks and find his way onto an NHL roster as the sort of “heart-and-soul” bottom-six player who brings work ethic, physicality, and some flashes of offensive skill to the table. - EH

10 - Dylan Garand G

If you could describe Garand in just one word it would have to be "steady." The 2020 New York Rangers 4th-rounder (103rd overall) isn't the biggest, fastest or most naturally athletic goaltender, but what he does possess is superb mental makeup. Named the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year in 2020, his intelligence is on display on a nightly basis, as his technique, positioning, and play-tracking are all quite advanced for a goalie of his age. He is also a very consistent and focused netminder, having won the starting job in Kamloops as a 17-year-old and comfortably locking it down for the following two seasons, maintaining a high save percentage and racking up wins the entire time. His ability to handle pressure is additionally impressive, as evidenced by his stellar run to the semifinals in the 2022 WHL playoffs and then by backstopping Canada to a gold medal at this past summer's World Juniors, winning the crease ahead of Detroit Red Wings 1st-rounder Sebastian Cossa and never relinquishing it. That hard-fought gold medal capped off a memorable calendar year that also saw him named as the CHL Goaltender of the Year. He has already signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers and could turn pro with the Hartford Wolf Pack for 2022-23 but will surely also feel the draw to stay in junior for his overage season as his Blazers club will be hosting the 2023 Memorial Cup. At his current trajectory he seems likely to become at least an NHL backup in due time. - DN

11 - Ryder Korczak

The Rangers have some options with Korczak this year. He could play in the AHL with Hartford or return to Moose Jaw for an overage year in the WHL. Korczak is a skilled and agile playmaker, but he will need to prove that he can compete against men physically.

12 - Bobby Trivigno

Trivigno, a recent free agent signing by the Rangers, was a four-year standout at UMass. He may not be big, but he is skilled and pesky, a combination which gives him a wide range of outcomes as a pro.

13 - Karl Henriksson

How the former second rounder handles the transition to Hartford this season remains to be seen. The undersized center is a strong two-way presence, but he had yet to find confidence in his ability to create while playing in the SHL.

14 - Lauri Pajuniemi

A former standout in Liiga, Pajuniemi was only OK in his first year in the AHL. His best quality is his shot, but he needs to work consistently to get himself opportunities to utilize it. Adding strength and quickness this offseason was a must.

15 - Patrick Khodorenko

Khodorenko was a four-year standout at Michigan State before turning pro two seasons ago. His upside may not be significant, but there is a path for him to become a quality bottom six center who can kill penalties.

16 - Hunter Skinner

What the Rangers have in Skinner remains to be seen. The big defender’s athletic tools are improving and he can play physical and blast the puck. How it all comes together is still a mystery.

17 - Jayden Grubbe

Returning from a knee injury suffered in his draft year, Grubbe was pushed down the depth chart in Red Deer. The physical two-way power center should be in line for more responsibility on a stronger Rebels team this season. If his skating can show growth, he could be a potential shutdown, third line center.

18 - Hugo Ollas

Ollas swallows up the crease with his 6’7 frame and was fantastic in his freshman year at Merrimack. He will look to follow that up this season by stealing away the starter’s job and establishing himself as one of the better netminders in the NCAA.

19 - Austin Rueschhoff

The 6’7, 230lbs winger can be a load to handle down low for opposing defenders and he shows great potential as an impactful bottom six player for the Rangers.

20 - Tim Gettinger

This year might be the final kick at the can for Gettinger in the Rangers system. The big winger still struggles with his consistency but was given another contract by New York to see if he can crack the Rangers roster full time in a fourth line role.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – NHL Player Profiles

Ryan Dadoun – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:35:35 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 09: New York Rangers Goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) in action during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on January 9, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Artemi Panarin

Panarin is one of the best playmakers in the league and among the most reliable. The 2021-22 campaign marked the fifth straight season where he averaged over a point-per-game. More specifically, he’s averaged 1.21 points-per-game over that span, which is good for sixth place in the NHL. While the 2021-22 campaign was yet another amazing season for Panarin though, it wasn’t without its drawbacks. Moreso than in past seasons, his offensive production was driven by his work on the power play. He had 37 power-play points, shattering his previous career-high of 24. By contrast, at even strength he had 59 points, which is still obviously great, but he’s done better. In fact, in terms of 5v5 points/60 minutes, he averaged 2.5 last season, which is a drop from 3.0 in 2020-21 and his worst pace since 2017-18. For a player who does as well offensive as Panarin, his puck possession numbers also aren’t spectacular. He had a 49.1% 5v5 Corsi and 48.6% 5v5 Fenwick, which was marginally better than the Rangers overall. His defensive game isn’t impressive either and while Panarin averaged 19:13 minutes overall, he got almost no time shorthanded. Similarly, at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, he’s not a particularly big player and he won’t deliver many hits and rarely blocks shots. Even still, there aren’t many players in the league who can create scoring chances like Panarin, and he excels so much at that aspect of the game that all his shortcomings feel like nitpicks. The Rangers signed him to a seven-year, $81.5 million contract back in July 2019 and he’s delivered on his end of the bargain. There’s every reason to believe he will continue to do so in 2022-23.

Mika Zibanejad

You wouldn’t think a player who surpassed the 70-point milestone in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and then recorded 24 goals and 50 points in 56 contests in 2020-21 would enter the season as a significant question mark, but that was the case for Zibanejad. He’s clearly a high-end center, that part wasn’t in doubt. He’s got a great scoring touch, he’s smart on the ice, he’s a big body, and he’s strong defensively. The thing is, the 2020-21 campaign was bizarre. He got off to such a poor start, scoring three goals and nine points in 25 games before catching fire and providing 21 goals and 41 points in 31 contests the rest of the way. Zibanejad wasn’t a stranger to streaky play before that, but not to that extreme, so the question was what the 2021-22 campaign would bring and the answer was a consistently dominant season. He had 29 goals and 81 points in 81 games without ever enduring a point drought of longer than two games. He continued to deliver in the playoffs too, contributing another 10 goals and 24 points in 20 contests. Zibanejad is great in 5v5 play, but a major part of his game is special teams. He helps kill penalties and his shot is a huge asset to the Rangers on the power play. Of his 29 regular season goals, 15 of them were scored on the power play, which wasn’t an anomaly for him. Over the last five seasons, he’s ranked fifth in the NHL with 65 power-play goals. The Rangers signed Zibanejad to an eight-year, $68 million contract that’s set to start this season and while he might struggle by the end of that deal, he should at least live up to his cap hit for much of it.

Chris Kreider

If you’re going to pick a player to send to the front of the net, you can’t do much better than Kreider. At 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, he’s a strong presence with tremendous finishing ability. In 2021-22 he took his game to another level though. After never scoring more than 28 goals before, he recorded 52 goals and 77 points in 81 games. His work on the power play was a huge part of that, courtesy of his NHL best 26 power-play goals. Only Ilya Kovalchuk in 2005-06 has netted more power-play goals in a single season since the salary cap era began. While many goal scorers can be streaky, that wasn’t the case for Kreider last season. His only cold stretches of note were from Dec. 3-14 when he recorded a goal and an assist in seven contests and a spell from Feb. 15-27 where he had a goal and no assists in six games. Beyond that, he basically powered forward the entire campaign. Kreider was more than just great at cleaning up in front of the net though. He’s also good defensively. He’ll throw his weight around, contributing 141 hits last season, and he’s responsible enough to warrant some shorthanded ice time. Even before he found another level last season, his combination of finishing ability, and hardworking, gritty play made him a compelling package. He stayed strong in the playoffs with 10 goals and 16 points in 20 games, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be quite as good this season. The skill set that led to his amazing 2021-22 campaign is still there, but will he be as consistently dominant, especially on the power play, going forward? Perhaps things won’t play out quite as ideally, but even then, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him reach the 40-goal milestone.

Vincent Trocheck

Although he’s undergone some highs-and-lows in his career, when you average out what Trocheck has done thus far, he’s been a good second-line center, which is exactly what the Rangers were after when they inked him to a seven-year, $39.375 million contract over the summer. Trocheck recorded 21 goals and 51 points in 81 contests last season while playing for Carolina. That was an average season for him offensively when compared to his career overall and it’s about what the Rangers should expect out of him in 2022-23. However, his contributions go well beyond his work with the puck. He’s not big at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds, but that hasn’t prevented Trocheck from playing a gritty game. He ranked third on the Hurricanes last season with 185 hits. Although his brand of play does lead to him taking a lot of penalties – he accumulated 78 PIM last season – he manages to draw a ton of penalties too, which goes a long way towards mitigating that burden. When he’s not the one serving the penalty, he’s also someone who can be reliably deployed shorthanded. The draw is another area where he’s an asset. He won 54.6% of his faceoffs last season and has averaged a 52.9% success rate over his last six campaigns. Given that the Rangers ranked 24th in the NHL last season with a 48.1 faceoff winning percentage, he’ll be a welcome help in that regard. The fact that he’s a 29-year-old who plays a very physical game makes the seven-year deal that he signed a risk in the long run, but at very least he should help the Rangers in an array of areas in the short term.

Barclay Goodrow

Goodrow’s six-year, $21.85 million contract with the Rangers looked like a bit of an overpayment as soon as he signed it in the summer of 2021 and his first season with the Rangers didn’t do much to justify that deal. It wasn’t that he was bad, but he wasn’t great either. His 13 goals and 33 points in 79 games were career-highs for him but aren’t that good when you consider he was also averaging a career-high 16:43 minutes. His puck possession numbers were similarly unimpressive with him recording 44.4% and 44.7% 5v5 Corsi and Fenwick For’s respectively. That said, it’s not as if he lacks purpose, he was just perhaps being used more on even strength than was justified. At 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Goodrow is happy to smash into his opponents and he’s willing to drop the gloves when the situation calls for it. He got into three fights last season and four the season prior. For a team that was light on grit in 2020-21, Goodrow helps fill that niche. He’ll also help kill penalties and he even led all Rangers forwards with 54 blocked shots last season. He played an understated, but still important role in the Lightning’s two Stanley Cup championships, so there are reasons why the Rangers were drawn to Goodrow in the first place and to be sure, he’s a nice role player to have on a team looking to win now. He’s never going to be a complete package and in particular, he’s not likely to ever put up great offensive numbers even if he gets significant minutes. For those reasons locking him up to a six-year deal was perhaps a stretch, but he will continue to work hard for the Rangers and play a worthwhile role.

Filip Chytil

Chytil had another underwhelming season overall, but there was a silver lining. Taken with the 21st overall pick in the 2017 draft, Chytil is a big forward at 6-foot-2, 206 pounds who is a great skater and is skilled offensively. He’s struggled to translate that to the NHL though and after playing with the Rangers for most of the last four seasons, he still hasn’t even reached the 25-point milestone. Injuries have played a meaningful role in that and the pandemic shortening the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns was a factor as well. For example, he did alright from a points-per-game perspective in 2020-21 with eight goals and 22 points in 42 games. He didn’t build off that last season though, finishing with eight goals and 22 points again despite playing in 67 contests this time. Despite his talent, he’s struggled to earn a top-six role with the Rangers and frankly, that might not change this season, especially after New York signed Vincent Trocheck to serve as the second-line center. That all said, when Chytil was paired with Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere in the playoffs, that young trio did well together. Chytil in particular was able to elevate his game, scoring seven goals and nine points in 20 playoff contests, despite averaging a modest 13:24 minutes. That could be the Rangers third line going into this season and it would be a fun one to watch. It also gives reason to be cautiously optimistic about Chytil going into this season but put emphasis on the word cautiously.

Kaapo Kakko

It’s way too early to call Kakko a bust, but it’s fair to say that the 2019 second overall pick has struggled over his first three seasons in the NHL. To be fair, the timing of his arrival into the NHL didn’t do him any favors. He was a teenager still making the adjustment from life in Europe when the pandemic derailed everything. Then last season, when things were getting closer to normal in the NHL, he suffered a wrist injury that needed surgery. When he did play in 2021-22, he had seven goals and 18 points in 43 games, which isn’t great, but in the context of the journey he’s had, it becomes a bit more understandable. It’s also worth noting that he hasn’t gotten a major role with the Rangers yet. He averaged 15:27 minutes last season, including a modest 1:14 power-play minutes. That lack of power-play ice time is naturally to his detriment offensively, but it’s going to be hard for him to earn a bigger role given the Rangers’ top-end talent. On the plus side, he’s become a responsible player defensively even if he isn’t a physical presence. In the playoffs, the line of Kakko, Filip Chytil, and Alexis Lafreniere showed potential, but Kakko didn’t benefit offensively as much of the other two-thirds of that unit, scoring just two goals and five points in 19 games. Tellingly, Kakko was a healthy scratch for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final with the Rangers facing elimination. Kakko has a lot left to prove going into his two-year, $4.2 million bridge deal. There may have been factors complicating his situation, but the burden on proof is still on him to show that he can be the standout player the Rangers were hoping for when he was drafted.

Ryan Reaves

Reaves isn’t someone you employ because he’ll help you offensively or even because he’s an asset in his own zone. You don’t send him out on the power play or shorthanded. That’s not what he’s there for. Reaves basically only does one thing, but fortunately he does it with gusto: play a physical game in the defense of his teammates. The Rangers entered the summer of 2021 feeling like they were a team that lacked players who could be sent out when the opposition were taking liberties with the Rangers skilled players. With that in mind, they acquired Reaves from Vegas to serve as an old school enforcer. Even in his mid-30s, Reaves is still capable of playing that role. He ranked third in the league with 279 hits and got into three fights. However, there’s obvious downsides to having him on the ice. He had just five goals and 13 points in 69 contests, and he can’t be expected to do any better offensively at this stage of his career. He looked even worse in terms of 5v5 Corsi and Fenwick, finishing at 38.6% and 38.4% respectively. Only Kevin Rooney ranked below Reaves on the Rangers in that regard (min. 300 total minutes). Unsurprisingly he got limited use with the Rangers last season, averaging 10:39 minutes in the regular season and 9:25 minutes in the playoffs. Still, the Rangers see value in having him policing the ice and he’s consequently likely to continue to be dressed on most nights to serve in a fourth line role.

Alexis Lafreniere

Some first overall picks make an immediate impact in the NHL. That wasn’t the case for Lafreniere. He had 12 goals and 21 points in 56 games as a rookie in 2020-21. It was a weird season though with the restrictions created by the pandemic and he did show improves towards the end of the campaign. So how did he do in 2021-22 with a closer to normal situation in the NHL and the benefit of a year’s worth of pro experience? Not as well as hoped. Lafreniere was limited to 19 goals and 31 points in 79 contests last season. To be fair, there were some silver linings here that don’t show up from those base stats. He made strides defensively and had a noteworthy physical component to his game. His deployment was also less than ideal and arguably held him back. He only averaged 13:59 minutes with just 1:11 minutes per game on the power play. On top of that he didn’t have consistent linemates, at least not during the regular season. When Lafreniere was deployed regularly with Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil during the playoffs, he saw an uptick in production to two goals and nine points in 20 contests despite still averaging a modest 14:02 minutes. So he went into the summer on an optimistic note. Optimism is an easy thing to feel when it comes to Lafreniere in general. There’s so much potential here. With his shot, hockey IQ, skating, and size, he has the tools to become a star. Even with the relatively slow start to his career, his offensive upside makes him one of the Rangers’ most exciting players.

DEFENSE

Adam Fox

You can count on one hand the number of offensive defensemen who measure up to Adam Fox. He won the Norris Trophy in 2020-21 after scoring five goals and 47 points in 55 contests. He didn’t capture the trophy again last season, but he certainly lived up to expectations, scoring 11 goals and 74 points in 78 contests. The thing is, while Fox’s offensive contributions are the obvious highlight of his game, he will help beyond that too. The Rangers felt comfortable sending him out in all situations. He unsurprisingly led the team in average ice time (23:54 minutes), but he also was a key penalty killer, logging 2:08 shorthanded minutes per game. In contrast, Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, averaged a more limited 1:25 shorthanded minutes while Roman Josi, who finished second in voting, averaged 0:43 minutes. Fox also finished second among defenseman with 78 takeaways, behind only Alex Pietrangelo (93) and well ahead of Makar (49) or Josi (48). While Fox isn’t a leader in blocked shots, he certainly isn’t shy about sacrificing his body, contributing 128 blocks in 2021-22. If there is a downside to Fox though, it’s that he lacks size and doesn’t play a physical game. Also, while he excels at creating scoring chances, he doesn’t find the back of the net at nearly the same pace as the likes of Josi or Makar, who each more than doubled his goal total. Still, given everything that he brings to the table, there’s no reason to complain about Fox. Perhaps the best part is he’s only 24-years-old, so when the Rangers signed him to a seven-year, $66.5 million contract in November 2021, they did so with the reasonable expectation that he's going to be a star throughout the life of that deal.

Jacob Trouba

Trouba’s first two seasons with the Rangers were underwhelming, at least when measured against the cost of getting him from the Winnipeg Jets and his $8 million cap hit, but the 2021-22 campaign was something of a return to form for him. Playing on the second pairing and with limited power-play ice time, Trouba scored 11 goals and 39 points in 81 contests. While Adam Fox was the Rangers’ best offensive defenseman, it’s worth noting that a lot of Fox’s production came on the power play. At even strength, Fox was only a bit ahead with 39 points to Trouba’s 33. Trouba also has an edge to his game that Fox lacks. He stands at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, which he used to his advantage while recording 207 hits. He will take things too far sometimes though and has delivered controversial hits over his career. He gets on the refs’ bad side quite a bit and led the Rangers with 88 penalty minutes. If there’s a silver lining there, he also led the team in penalties drawn with 27. When he wasn’t the one in the box, he’d often help the Rangers kill penalties. That was an asset to his game, but perhaps the best attribute to his game is his proficiency when it comes to blocking shots. He was second in the NHL with 177 blocks last season. He’s not quite the star defenseman his cap hit suggests he would be, but he checks a lot of boxes and is an important part of the Rangers’ blueline behind Fox. Clearly New York appreciates what he does after naming him their new captain in August.

Ryan Lindgren

Over the last two seasons, when Adam Fox is on the ice at even strength, Lindgren is usually joining him. He’s not much of an offensive threat, which is evident just by looking at the fact that he finished the 2021-22 campaign with four goals and 15 points in 78 contests while averaging 20:06 minutes. However, that’s not the role the Rangers are paying him for. Fox can drive the offense while Lindgren is there to play a more conservative game that allows for his defensive partner to be bolder. Lindgren is the kind of responsible, stay-at-home defenseman you want doing that job. While he unsurprisingly got almost no power-play ice time, his role with Fox extended to the penalty kill where they were often deployed as part of the top shorthanded unit. At 6-foot-0, 191 pounds, Lindgren’s not the biggest of defensemen, but he’s willing to play physically, and he’ll block shots, finishing with 129 and 141 respectively last season. In terms of puck possession, he had a 48.4% 5v5 Corsi and 48.9% 5v5 Fenwick, which was a little better than the Rangers overall. Now 24-years-old, the odds of him developing into a significant threat with the puck aren’t great, but he should continue to do the job he’s been assigned to well. He’s in the middle of a three-year, $9 million contract and that’s a good price for him.

K'Andre Miller

The Rangers have a strong, young defense and Miller is part of what rounds that group out. Playing primarily with Jacob Trouba on the second unit last season, Miller scored seven goals and 20 points in 82 contests. In particular, he made major strides defensively in 2021-22 to become a great two-way presence. In terms of puck possession, he looked better than most of the Rangers, finishing with a 49.9% 5v5 Corsi and 50.1% 5v5 Fenwick. To give those numbers some context, only Adam Fox did better among Ranger’s defensemen in those two metrics. Miller has tremendous size at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and he used it effectively last season while dishing out 151 hits. That was second among Ranger’s defensemen behind Trouba, but unlike Trouba, Miller was able to play with that physical edge without taking things too far. Miller had just 24 penalty minutes in contrast to Trouba’s team leading 88. Another area where Miller looked strong was takeaways. He tied for seventh in the league with 59 while allowing just 37 giveaways. His role only grew in the playoffs, with his ice time ballooning to 24:47 minutes per game, which was second to only Fox on the Rangers. Miller stepped up offensively too, scoring two goals and seven points in 20 playoff contests. All-in-all, he’s becoming a great defenseman and part of the reason New York has such an enviable top-four going into the 2022-23 campaign. The only downside for New York is that he’s entering the final year of his entry-level contract and with the way he’s been developing, he’s not going to be cheap for much longer.

GOALTENDING

Igor Shesterkin

It seems hard to believe that the New York Rangers could be blessed enough to transition completely seamlessly from the Hall of Fame-worthy Henrik Lundqvist to another elite talent. But as his Vezina win last year proved, Igor Shesterkin offers proof that sometimes, lightning truly does strike twice for a franchise; with far and away the best stats of any regularly starting NHL goaltender last year, the 26-year-old Moscow native gave Rangers fans yet another year of reliability between the pipes.

Shesterkin’s game is rivaled by very few around the league; during an era of tumultuous performances and changing guards for the NHL’s goaltending corps, he’s one of the most impressively consistent young talents available. He’s managed to steady the ship for the Rangers as they flirt the line between a quick retooling and a full rebuild, taking the controlled and precise style that Henrik Lundqvist perfected for the Rangers and adding a few twists of explosive strength and speed all his own. He has one of the league’s most consistent baselines; after every shot, he manages to re-set himself flat on the goal line to give himself a better opportunity to face tricky offensive systems designed to draw goaltenders out of position. Add in a strong tracking game and mental read of shooters, coupled with a game that minimizes extra movement to avoid fatigue, and there’s very little about Shesterkin that’s not to like. The only real question this year, of course, will be how he handles his first season without tandem partner Alexandar Georgiev; while he far outshone the longer-tenured Rangers backup, this will be the first time he’ll play in the NHL without his fellow countryman sitting alongside him. Instead, he’ll have to see just what veteran Jaroslav Halak has left in the tank to back him up – which could mean he’ll need to take on a heavy workload during the regular season if Halak’s lukewarm 2021-22 season wasn’t an anomaly.

Projected starts: 60-65

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK: Fantasy Prospect Rankings – 30 Forwards, 20 Defenseman, 10 Goalies

Peter Harling — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:19:43 +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, PIM’s 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.

Forward Rankings

VANCOUVER, BC - APRIL 26: Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) skates up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 26, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Matty Beniers, C – Seattle Kraken

The Kraken are poised to get an offensive boost this coming season with the additions of Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Those two new wingers will be centered by the Krakens first ever draft pick Matty Beniers, who finishing the season in the NHL scoring nine points in the final ten games. Beniers is a Calder favorite.

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

I projected Rossi to make the Wild after his draft in 2020, but he lost a year of development to COVID. He returned last year in the AHL and is now poised to crack a top six with the Wild. Another Calder favorite.

Cole Perfetti, C/LW – Winnipeg Jets

Thanks to the pandemic, Perfetti now has two seasons of pro development, and the 20-year-old is NHL ready to take a top six role with the Jets. “Goal” Perfetti could develop into a 40-goal scorer.

Mason McTavish, C – Anaheim Ducks

The power forward played nine games to start the season with the Ducks before returning to junior to lead Hamilton to an OHL championship. In multi-cat leagues, McTavish will check all the boxes, points, PP points, hits, FOW, he will do it all.

Kent Johnson, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnson may start on the wing, and may not offer much in peripheral stats, but he will rack up points early and often in his career. If Johnson can lock down a top six center role, he will have either or both Patrick Laine and Johnny Gaudreau on his wing.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New Jersey Devils right wing Alexander Holtz (10) skates during the first period of the pre-season National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals on October 4, 2021 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Alexander Holtz, RW – New Jersey Devils

The Swedish sniper scored 26 goals and 51 points in the AHL as a rookie. He only had two points in nine NHL games, but he is poised to secure a top six role with the Devils. He is a future 30 goal scorer.

Quinton Byfield, C – LA Kings

Bigger players can take a little longer to develop and the Kings are taking their time with Byfield. The big, smooth skating center can evolve into a dominant NHL first line center, and a dominant multi-cat fantasy asset as well. This one may take a few years yet, but he will be well worth the wait.

Jack Quinn, RW – Buffalo Sabres

I was very critical of the Sabres selecting Quinn ahead of Rossi in the 2020 draft. I still am, but Quinn has been excellent since then dominating the AHL. The gap between the two may be indistinguishable when all is said and done. Quinn is a blue-chip prospect.

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

The projected number one prospect in the 2022 Draft fell to fourth. It lit a fire in him and falling to Seattle may be the best thing for him as he has less competition to make the roster. Wright could make Montreal regret passing him by.

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Eklund nearly made the Sharks out of his draft but was sent back to the SHL for one more year of development. Eklund will make the team this year and be a top six winger with Calder aspirations.

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 27: Juraj Slafkovsky #20 of Slovakia protects the puck from Isak Rosen #23 of Sweden during the second period in preliminary round action a the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 27, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Juraj Slafkovsky, LW – Montreal Canadiens

The first overall pick in the 2022 draft may start in the NHL, but will need Mike Hoffman and Jonathan Drouin to falter to allow an opportunity for Slafkovsky to step in. As he showed in the World Championship and Olympics, he is up for the task.

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries limited him to just 28 AHL games last year, but he managed 28 points. The Leafs need cap friendly roster players and Robertson could step into a top six role on the high-octane offensive Leafs roster out of training camp.

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Guenther torched the WHL with a 91-point season and has one more year of junior eligibility to play. Their will be some more wait time before he is lighting NHL goal lamps, but his upside is tremendous.

Shane Pinto, C – Ottawa Senators

Pinto looked to be a lock for 2C, but injuries ended his season after just five games. If he can stay healthy, he would be third line centre at worst providing points, hits, and FOW.

Lukas Reichel, LW – Chicago Blackhawks

The German winger was excellent as a rookie in the AHL and showed he is NHL ready. The Hawks are rebuilding, and he is a part of their future. Reichel will see ice time in the NHL and as the Hawks continue to ship out veterans for futures, his role will increase.

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

The third overall pick in the 2022 Entry Draft could have the highest offensive upside from his draft class. He has committed to play in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota where he may play two seasons

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

With roster spots opening in Calgary, the time is nigh for Pelletier to play his way in to the Flames top six. He checks all the boxes, has carried his dominant offense to the pro level, has character and leadership. He will help Flames fans get over the loss of Johnny hockey and Tkachuk.

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

In his final junior campaign Bourque led Shawinigan to a QMJHL Championship and laid claim to the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the Playoffs MVP. He already has a cup of coffee in the AHL and may not be long for the NHL

Jake Neighbours, LW – St. Louis Blues

Neighbours is graduating to the pro level, and while he may not have elite offensive upside, he brings a heavy physical game and could be the Blues next David Backes.

Brendan Brisson, C – Vegas Golden Knights

Brisson was a key and underrated player for Michigan on their march to the frozen four. He destroyed the AHL with Henderson in the final seven games posting eight points. Vegas will need players on ELC deals o round out their roster and Brisson could have a ripe opportunity.

Thomas Bordeleau, C – San Jose Sharks

Bordeleau posted a point pr game with Michigan before playing eight NHL games with the Sharks and another eight games for USA at the World Championships. Surpassing veterans Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm on the Sharks roster shouldn’t be to difficult for Bordeleau.

Jonatan Berggren, W/C – Detroit Red Wings

The 22-year-old kicked in the front door of the AHL in his debut in North America to the tune of 64 points in 70 games with the Griffins. He will be a big part of the Yzer-Plan and will try to make a similar splash in the NHL this year.

Dylan Holloway, LW/C – Edmonton Oilers

The 20-year-old has two years of NCAA development and had a successful AHL rookie campaign in Bakersfield. At 6-1 and 203 pounds he brings a good blend of offensive punch and hits.

Wyatt Johnston, C – Dallas Stars

Drafted 23^rd overall after missing the entire season, the Stars have been rewarded for the faith in Johnston as he torched the OHL with a 124-point season. He still has another year of junior eligibility to play but his upside is tremendous.

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

Othmann wore the captain’s “C” for the Flint Firebirds last year and posted a 50-goal season and 97 points. The power winger has another year of OHL to play before he turns pro.

Bobby Brink, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Brink posted 57 points in 41 games in his junior year at the University of Denver before finishing the year in the NHL with ten games in Philadelphia. As the Flyers rebuild or retool Brink will be a big part of the future.

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Knies was a force both physically and offensively for the Golden Gophers. His play warned him a roster spot with USA at the Olympics where he produced two points in four games. He looks NHL ready now but returned for a sophomore season, look for him t finish the year with the Leafs.

J. J. Peterka, RW – Buffalo Sabres

The feisty German had a banner rookie campaign in the AHL with 68 points in 70 regular season games and had another 12 points in 10 playoff matches. He is NHL ready and will also provide some peripheral stats to boot.

Xavier Bourgault, C – Edmonton Oilers

Bourgault averaged over a PPG in his WHL career finishing with a 75-point season in only 43 games, with 22 points in 16 playoff games. He is ready to bring his offense to the pro level and will play a year in Bakersfield. If his production carries over to the pro level, he will be dynamite!

Matias Maccelli, LW – Arizona Coyotes

After two strong seasons of pro hockey in the Liiga, Maccelli made a splash in his AHL rookie season posting 57 points in 47 games and playing his way into 23 NHL games with the Coyotes. He lacks draft pedigree and is a sleeper but has the upside to be a Calder candidate and a fantasy darling.

Defense Rankings

Owen Power, Buffalo Sabers

The first overall pick in the 2021 Draft returned to Michigan for more development. His season ended in the NHL but not before he also represented Canada at the Olympics. His ten game NHL preview was promising with three points, ten shots and nine blocks.

ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 22: St. Louis Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) during a NHL game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the St. Louis Blues on November 22, 2021, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire),

Scott Perunovich, St. Louis Blues

After missing an entire season to injury, his pro debut was delayed a year, but he rebounded in spectacular fashion with 22 points n 17 games in the AHL. His dominant play earned him an NHL recall, but again injuries limited his play to 19 games. His upside is elite, but the injuries are a concern.

Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Hughes will play another season in the NCAA with Michigan to refine his defensive game. Offensively he is already dominant having scored 17 goals with the Wolverines, and four points in 10 World Championship games with USA. The wait may be a little longer on Hughes, but the upside is tremendous.

Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators

After posting over a point per game in his sophomore season, Sanderson will begin his pro career. There may be some AHL development time in the near future, but the long-term fantasy upside in multi-cat leagues is very high.

Calen Addison, Minnesota Wild

In his second pro campaign Addison posted 34 points and 70 PIMS in 43 games in the AHL. His strong play earned him four different NHL recalls totalling in 15 games and four points. He is ready for the NHL now and will be a top pairing D in short order.

Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings

Can the Wings boast back-to-back Norris Trophy winning defencemen? It’s very possible! Edvinsson comes to North America with two seasons of SHL development under his belt. He will go from playing for Sweden at the WJC to the Red Wings camp to win a roster spot in the NHL.

Olen Zellweger, Anaheim Ducks

Zellweger fantasy stock is rising like a rocket. He exploded for 78 points in 55 games with Everett in the WHL. He still has a year of junior eligibility remaining, but don’t be surprised if he graduates and plays with the Ducks this year. Even if you must stash him in your minors for a year, he is a keeper.

Jack Rathbone, Vancouver Canucks

The 2017 fourth round pick is under a lot of people’s radar, but with two seasons of pro development he has 49 points in 47 AHL games and has dressed for 17 NHL games. Cracking the Canucks blueline shouldn’t be too difficult.

Cam York, Philadelphia Flyers

York barely qualifies for this list as he played in 30 NHL games last year, but he does, and he will be a full time NHL player going forward. The addition of Tony DeAngelo could hurt his PP time immediately, but he will get prime deployment in time.

Brandt Clarke, LA Kings

The Captain of the Barrie Colts scored 59 points in 55 games and will be back in the OHL for another year of dominance. It’s a mystery how he is not on the Canadian WJC roster as he is an elite all-around defender.

Kaiden Guhle, Montreal Canadiens

The big, mobile 6-2 defender helped propel the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Memorial Cup after a mid-season trade. His pro career is about to begin, and the Canadiens blue line is a barren wasteland, just waiting for him to assume the throne. The wait will be short

Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

Selected second overall, the Devils passed on both Logan Cooley and Shane Wright to select the right shot defenseman. Nemec could take some time to become a fantasy relevant producer, but it will happen.

David Jiricek, Columbus Blue Jackets

Jiricek is the Jackets top defensive prospect, but their blue line is a crowded one and it may take a little time for the 18-year-old to break into the lineup.

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 12: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence (53) carries the puck during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings on March 12, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

Jordan Spence, LA Kings

Don’t sleep on Spence, since being a fourth-round pick in 2019 he has won the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year Award, played his way onto Team Canada at the WJC and scored 42 points in 46 games as an AHL rookie, and made his NHL debut playing in 24 games. He is ready for full time NHL duty.

Lukas Cormier, Vegas Golden Knights

Cormier is using the WJC in August as a primer for his petition to bypass the AHL and play for the Golden Knights. His 207 career points in 208 QMJHL will be on any fantasy radar, but he also hits, despite being 5-10

Justin Barron, Montreal Canadiens

Barron played most of his rookie pro season in the AHL with 20 points in 43 games for the Eagles, but he also played in seven NHL games for the Avalanche and Canadiens.

Denton Mateychuk, Columbus Blue Jackets3

Mateychuk may have the highest offensive ceiling from defensemen in the 2022 Draft class. He has another year of development ahead in the WHL and then some AHL time, but his ceiling is very high.

Philip Broberg, Edmonton Oilers

Broberg has arrived in Edmonton as a top four. Can he win some power play time away from Tyson Barrie, Darnell Nurse, and Evan Bouchard?

Nils Lundkvist, New York Rangers

The 2018 first round pick finally came to North America, splitting time between the AHL and the NHL. He likely sees a similar time share this season as the Rangers have a formidable back end.

Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars

If Harley played one more game, he would not have been eligible as a prospect, but he played 34 games for the Stars and is poised to be a full-time player going forward.

Goaltending Ranking

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

The Wild’s future starting goalie is the whole package. He has size, athleticism, tracks the puck and is positionally sound. Fleury signing a two-year deal may delay his inevitable reign as an elite starting goalie.

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

This coming season will be a key development period for the Russian. After playing a limited number of games in Russia, he will make his North American debut in the AHL with Milwaukee. With Saros in place for the foreseeable future, Askarov can take a year or two in the AHL to refine his game.

Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes

Kochetkov made an impressive debut in North America to end the season. He posted a 13-1-2 record in the AHL and even made his NHL debut starting in three games, winning all three. With both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta on expiring deals, Kochetkov could be the Canes starter sooner than later.

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

After posting stellar numbers in Everett the question was could he do it in the pros? His rookie season was outstanding posting a 33-9-5 record. Wolf has staring goalie upside, but with Jacob Markstrom in place through 2026, its not happening soon.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

After coming out of nowhere to back stop team Canada to a WJC Silver Medal and being named Best Goalie in the Tournament, he took his breakout to another level in the NCAA. As a freshman goalie he posted a 21-10-1 record with 10 shutouts to lead Northeaster to a Hockey East Championship. Levi won the Mike Richter award as NCAA Top Goaltender and was a Hobey Baker finalist. He is the Sabres best goaltending prospect.

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

The 6-6 netminder back stopped the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Memorial Cup. The Yzer-plan is starting to take form and Cossa could be in place to tend the crease when the Red Wings are a contender again.

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

Dostal has two AHL seasons development to his credit and is looking ready for prime time. His future looks like split time between the NHL and AHL for a year before he settles into a tandem situation in Anaheim.

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tarasov was playing his way into the Blue Jackets roster before a hip injury prematurely ended his season. He will be back in November and should pick up where he left off.

Cayden Primeau, Montreal Canadiens

Montreal has enjoyed premium goaltending for decades. Carey Price, Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden. As the Canadiens top goalie prospect, Primeau has a lot to live up to.

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

Heading for his junior season as a Boston Terrier, Commesso drew into two games for USA at the Olympics, winning both and posting a shutout. The Hawks are biding their time with stop gap goalies while they rebuild, and the long-term solution is Commesso.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: NEW YORK RANGERS – RANK: #5- TIER II

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:33:16 +0000

New York Rangers

#5 NY Rangers - Graduations have taken out some of the elite names that used to dot the top of the NYR system, but they still place five players in our top 100.

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: New York Rangers Defenseman Nils Lundkvist (64) skates during the New York Rangers Prospect Development Camp on June 29, 2018 at the MSG Training Center in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Nils Lundkvist

There is no doubt Nils Lundkvist should be in the NHL next season. The Rangers´ prospect won the Salming Trophy for the SHL Defenseman of the Year at 20 years of age, after an impressive season with Lulea HF. He started well at the Worlds Men's Championships too, but unfortunately for Team Sweden, Lundkvist got injured after three games and didn't play a single shift after that. Luckily, it was not that serious, and the young Swede has gone back to full training.

The 5-10”, 187 lbs, Pitea native is a smooth-skating offensive contributor who likes to move the puck and make plays. Nils Lundkvist scored at least 30 points in the SHL for two seasons in a row. Last year, he managed to score 14 goals and add 18 assists. The Rangers should get Lundkvist a partner who is big and defensively responsible, two things the young prospect is not exactly known for. Luckily for him, Patrik Nemeth signed with the New York team in the offseason and should help the younger countryman to adapt in the NHL. Lundkvist has the potential to become an elite offensive defenseman one day. - MD

Vitali Kravtsov

After struggling in his first North American season, the delay of the NHL season gave Kravtsov a unique chance for a restart at home. Things couldn't have worked out better, as he got loaned to his home KHL team with his draft year's coach returning to that team. Unsurprisingly Kravtsov's game got going in the right direction very quickly and he was able to regain his confidence offensively. Upon returning to the NHL after the KHL season concluded Kravtsov looked much improved, even if the production may not have explicitly told that story.

Now Kravtsov' enters this coming season with the goal of establishing himself as an everyday NHL player, who can provide an offensive spark with his attacking style, while also improving his defensive effort and play. This is totally achievable considering Kratsov's talent level. His speed, goal scoring ability, and ability to use his size in transition are all weapons and make him a good bet to become a top six forward for the Rangers. Hopefully he can gain the confidence of new head coach Gerard Gallant and be given ample opportunity to remain in the lineup. - VF

Brennan Othmann

Othmann, a 6’0 power winger, was one of the first Ontario based players to head overseas this season with the uncertainty surrounding the OHL. Thanks to his dual nationality (Canadian and Swiss) and family connections (Uncle Robert coaches in Switzerland), Othmann was able to quickly secure a spot in the Swiss second league (SL) with EHC Olten to further his development. Othmann performed admirably in a men’s league, but it was at the Under 18 tournament in Texas, reuniting with former minor hockey linemate Shane Wright and joining forces with Dylan Guenther to form Canada’s top line, where he really shined. One thing that he was able to showcase is that he is actually a fairly skilled player and is perfectly capable of playing a complementary role on a scoring line. He is an active forechecker and he loves to throw his weight around, either by driving the net or applying pressure to opposing defenders in puck pursuit. As such, he opens up ice and space for his linemates to let them utilize their skill to facilitate. But with a big shot, soft hands, and improving vision with the puck, he can be an offensive weapon for them too.

Ultimately what you have in Othmann is a throwback power winger who plays on the edge, but also possesses the skill and finishing ability to play inside your top six and on the top powerplay unit. He hits hard. His two-way game is developing. His skating is improving. His overall offensive skill set is becoming more well-rounded. Players like him are rare in the game today and with the right development, Othmann has a chance to be a very valuable NHL player for the Rangers. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Braden Schneider

Braden Schneider is a player that you build a contending team around. He has all the attributes that you want in a defender. He is strong and physically able to hold his ground while making some higher skilled plays. His footwork is good for a big man, quick and agile for a man of his size. He sports a right shot that makes him instantly valuable. At the Junior level, he has shown flashes of offensive skill coupled with steady production improvement; from .33 points per game, to .5 to .7 and finally to 1.23 in his latest season. This bodes well for him to project as more than a defensive first, simple puck mover.

He isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but he can contribute. His shot is also an asset. He has a big shot, and he is a solid one-time option from the blue line. His passing skills are solid, but he doesn’t have elite vision. As one of the older kids in his draft class it was expected for him to be dominant in the WHL this year and he did just that, leading an impressive Brandon Team in the Regina bubble. Schneider is a high floor guy who almost certainly plays in the NHL; however, projections range from a third pairing shutdown type and penalty killer to possible #2-3 depending on how close he gets to his ceiling. - VG

Zac Jones

Sometimes when a young player figures it out, everything clicks in an instant and he simply takes off, reaching new stratospheres of on-ice impact. Jones might just have taken off in the last year. A late bloomer from outside of Richmond, Virginia, he emerged seemingly full-formed in his draft year with Tri-City of the USHL, teaming up with Philadelphia prospect Ronnie Attard for one of, if not the, best blueline pairings in the league. His lack of size and skating that was more shifty than blazing fast suggested a limited upside, but the Rangers took a third-round flyer on him nonetheless.

He moved on to UMass, trying to fill the shoes of the recently departed Cale Makar, and he led the team’s defenders in scoring (albeit without Makar’s breathtaking dynamic play). For his sophomore encore, Jones went from very impressive, to dominant. Once again, he led his team’s blueliners in offense, with more of it coming off his own stick, too. He was named an All-Tournament player as he helped lead the Minutemen to an NCAA title. Immediately, he signed a pro contract and got into 10 games for the Rangers, quickly ramping up from 10-12 minutes per game at first up to 17-19 minutes per game by the end. That wasn’t enough for Jones, as he continued his season in the World Championships, regularly topping 20 minutes per game and being named one of Team USA’s top three players on the way to a Bronze Medal. It would not surprise if Jones breaks camp next season in the NHL, and his upside is clearly in top four territory now. - RW

Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson is a rangy but strong defender who will take care of his own zone and move the puck out of his own zone effectively. Blessed with an enormous frame, Robertson does effective work in his own zone. He is a tough defender to shed and has quick footwork for a big man. He is able to stay with smaller speedy wingers and run them out of space with his quickness, physicality, and range. When moving the puck, he is a bit conservative, but it suits his game. He makes good reads and manages the puck well when it is on his stick. Not a wild puck rusher by any stretch, his offensive game revolves around making the smart play. Creativity is not his strong suit, as when faced with a difficult decision, he is more likely to opt for a simple dump into the corner, rather than try to wiggle his way out of it.

Destined to be a shutdown guy at the pro level, Robertson matches up well defending any type of forward as he rarely loses a physical battle. He is a cycle killer and can pin guys against the wall seemingly at will. His skating is fine for a big guy, but he isn’t the quickest accelerator. He will start his pro career in the AHL this coming season and should develop into a quality #4-5 for the Rangers within a few years. - VG

Morgan Barron

The older brother of Colorado first round pick Justin Barron, Morgan eschewed the CHL route for college, spending three seasons at Cornell – the last as team Captain – before turning pro last season. The former sixth round pick hit the ice running, producing at a point-per-game rate in the AHL and appeared in his first five NHL games, scoring his first NHL goal to boot. Barron has been easy to underestimate as he lacks any truly dynamic-level skills, but he does everything well, and has maintained a high-level of effectiveness at every level at which he has so far played. He plays between the dots and his intelligence – not just “hockey IQ”, but general intelligence – has always helped everything play up.

The expectation is that he will play more at the NHL level next season, although it is not as likely that he makes the NHL roster full time just yet, as the Rangers’ roster is deeper than it was last year. That said, if he shows that he can maintain the same level of offensive production in the AHL as last year, but over a more regular, full schedule, he will quickly force his way back up to Broadway. Between his well-rounded skill set and his plus size, he could be the ideal new-age bottom six center in short order, or at the very least, play on the wing. - RW

Tarmo Reunanen

Reunanen, a mobile, puck moving defender, is coming off of a terrific debut season in North America with the Hartford Wolf Pack. With 17 points in 21 games, Reunanen was the top scoring defenseman on Hartford and ended the season as an AHL All Star. Certainly, the Rangers blueline and prospect system is very deep, however it does seem likely that Reunanen will be able to earn a permanent place in the lineup if his play maintains this high level.

The key to his development will be continuing to improve his play in the defensive end, in addition to becoming a more difficult player to match up against physically. It seems unlikely that he will ever develop into a defensive stalwart, however, an average defensive performance would suffice given his strengths as a puck mover. His aggressiveness in leading the attack and ability to create in transition should play well, even if he is unable to wrangle powerplay time away from the likes of Adam Fox, K’ Andre Miller, or Zac Jones. Reunanen projects as a higher risk #4 or 5 and could be the perfect complement to someone like Matthew Robertson or Braden Schneider in the near future. - BO

Ryder Korczak

Ryder Korzcak, the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights second round pick defender Kaedan, is a talented playmaker with a late ‘02 birthday. Playing in his third WHL season with the rebuilding Moose Jaw Warriors, Korczak wore an ‘A’ and was counted upon to be a go to offensive player this past season. While his production was not as high as anticipated, he was still a third-round selection by the Rangers in 2021.

Korczak is at his best working the half wall area, and despite his lack of size (5’10, 160lbs), consistently shows an ability to prolong possession in the offensive zone by working the cycle with his quick feet and hands. He is a very precise passer who always keeps his head up and on a swivel in the offensive zone and rarely makes a poor decision with the puck in the offensive zone. Where Korczak tends to struggle is the middle of the ice. He can be swallowed up and forced off the puck when he attempts to fight through checks in the slot area. As such, even when operating in transition, he tends to stick to the perimeter. That said, those weaknesses could certainly improve as he builds up strength and matures physically. Given his high IQ and vision, he does have a projection as a top six forward, if his development goes according to plan. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Brett Berard

Even though he was one of the most offensively proficient – and gifted – forwards of the 2020 USNTDP class, Berard was still available in the fifth round of the draft, where the Rangers finally stopped one of the most egregious drops of the 2020 draft class altogether. In some senses, his fall was foreseeable, even if the extent of the fall was still surprising. He is very small – not just short, but slight, too. He dealt with injuries in his draft year, shrinking the chances for scouts to watch him perform. The USNTDP of that year was on the blander side, without many first-round caliber talents drawing scouts to watch them week-in and week-out. Even Berard lacks any one elite level component to his game.

All of the above is true, and Berard should have still been drafted at least two full rounds before he was selected. His skills are solid, if not elite, but he has always managed to produce above his weight class thanks to high end instincts. He sees where the play is heading and where it could be headed if he pushes it in the right direction. He probably would not have made the WJC roster last year were it not for COVID keeping numerous candidates from Boston University and Michigan out of contention. Berard got one of those vacated spots and boosted his stock with consistently strong performances. He needs more time, but he will maximize every chance he gets. - RW

Lauri Pajuniemi

After two really strong seasons with TPS in Liiga, Pajuniemi has signed with the Rangers and will be making his North American debut this year. The talented goal scorer and late bloomer may even push for a roster spot this season with New York. His scoring instincts are excellent.

Jayden Grubbe

A torn ACL limited Grubbe’s draft season to only a handful of games, but the Rangers still selected him in the third round in 2021. The captain of the Red Deer Rebels is a physical, two-way center who projects as a high end third line center at the NHL level. He should be ready to play in the WHL at some point this year, but hopefully the knee injury hasn’t impaired his skating improvements.

Hunter Skinner

The plan for Skinner this past year was to have him take the lead on the London Knights blueline, which would have been great for his development. Due to the OHL cancellation, the Rangers had to pivot and got him set up in the ECHL as a 19-year-old, where he performed so well that he earned his ELC and finished the year with Hartford. Skinner will take some time to develop, but the physical blueliner has a cannon of a shot and raw skill that can be developed.

William Cuylle

A big power forward who can put the puck in the net, Cuylle played in the AHL on an exemption due to the OHL’s (aforementioned) cancellation. He will need to continue to upgrade his quickness to be an effective pro, but he will return to Windsor this coming year and should be among the OHL’s leading goal scorers if all goes according to plan.

Dylan Garand

For two straight seasons with Kamloops (WHL), Garand has been a stabilizing force between the pipes thanks to his quickness and advanced positioning. Garand will return to the WHL this coming season and should, once again, be among the best goaltenders in the WHL and the CHL.