Sami Vatanen – McKeen's Hockey

By Hall Means – New Jersey Devils 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:09:45 +0000

REVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - After a season that delivered a playoff berth after five years in the wilderness, the Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall, breakout young talent In Nico Hischier and Will Butcher, the feeling of optimism in New Jersey heading into 2018-19 is palpable. Forwards Patrick Maroon, Brian Gibbons and Michael Grabner departed in the offseason from the forward group while John Moore is gone from the defense. The team made no major additions or changes in the off-season and are counting on their young players to take a step forward while continuing their commitment to youth and the rebuild

Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall

A HALL OF A SEASON - It is hard to come up with enough superlatives to describe Hall’s season. 41 points higher that the next Devil in scoring, 19-year-old Nico Hischier, who made an immediate impact in the NHL as his centerman. They both played through injuries. Hall was revealed to be playing with torn ligaments in his hand while Hischier dealt with a chronic wrist/hand injury throughout the season. Kyle Palmieri was a frequent third member, particularly down the stretch, scoring 15 points in 19 games as their running mate. He scored 24 goals in 62 games last season after years of 26 and 30 respectively.

The other breakout rookie sensation was Will Butcher signed as a free agent out of Denver University. He established himself as their power play quarterback now and in the future. He led all rookie defenseman with 44 points and 23 power play points (second among NHL defenders). An uneven season with a blistering first (16 points in 20 games) and final (14 points in 20 games) quarters representing the bulk of his production. The strong finish along with 4 points in 5 playoff games bode well for next season.

A repeat performance from the two sophomores may be a reach and Hall’s heroics may be hard to duplicate. They will get some help with some players coming back from injury. They will hope for a full season from Marcus Johansson whom they acquired for picks but suffered two concussions, in addition to other injuries. He will line up with Travis Zajac who had a challenging season after returning early from pectoral surgery. Clearly not the same player labouring through the year .. He is 33-years-old and questions will linger until he puts them to rest but this combo on the second line could provide Hischier and Hall breathing room

BUILDING FROM WITHIN - Pavel Zacha has not broken out in his first two seasons, and even found himself scratched at times last year. He remains a talented prospect at 21-years-old and too early to write off, but Devils management will be looking for a meaningful step forward in the coming season. Speedy Miles Wood (22-years-old) made nice progress in his sophomore campaign from 17 to 32 points. And can be expected to continue to develop in the bottom six. 19-year-old Jesper Bratt made a notable first impression with a strong start to his rookie year, even with playing time on the top line. He was also a healthy scratch in seven of the final 17 games. He will be given a shot in the top six again but not a guarantee by any means. 22-year-old John Quenneville will be given a shot at making the team after two seasons of development in the AHL. A versatile, smart and skilled forward and can play both center and wing.

Aside from a well sheltered rookie season from Will Butcher the New Jersey defense is led by veteran warrior Andy Greene. He averaged 21:47 minutes per game, leading the team in total ice time, and still handling the tough matchups at 35-years-old. Sami Vatanen was acquired from Anaheim after a late start to the season recovering from shoulder injury. It took him a while to acclimatize to his new team. He had a streaky season with some strong production. Traded for Adam Henrique he is expected to be an important element on the blueline. 23-year-old Damon Severson was locked up to a long-term deal after a breakout season in 2016-17 and followed up with a very uneven seasonthat saw him as a healthy scratch on multiple occasion. He needs to find a balanced game and show better defending as his power play time has been usurped by Butcher and Vatanen.

A long-standing strength in new Jersey has always been in the crease. Corey Schneider turned in an uncharacteristically bad season. He did not win a game from the new year on. He was hampered by a groin injury missing much of February. He underwent hip surgery in May that will keep him out of the lineup to start the season. 29-year-old Keith Kinkaid filled in admirably in Schneider’s absence and he will start the season as number one. A return to form as an elite puckstopper for Schneider, will be the biggest boost to a repeat appearance in the playoffs.

OUTLOOK - Youth will be served here and the optimism from last season may be a challenge to maintain at times as a young club develops. They are on the right path and not far away from more playoff success. Whether it is this season or not will be a challenge for a young squad that will not surprise anyone next season.

SITTING DUCKS – 2017-18 Yearbook

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 14:05:10 +0000

Anaheim Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67). (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Review/State of Play - The Anaheim Ducks made it to Western Conference final for the second time in three years. After five straight division titles it is an organization that feels it is close to the ultimate Stanley Cup goal and largely stood pat in the off-season. Randy Carlyle was rewarded for his success with a contract extension.

There were no major departures from the line-up that finished the season with 105 points (46-23-13) and won their division. Trade rumours and speculation swirled much of the season around their enviable group of young defensemen in Cam Fowler (25), Sami Vatanen (26), Hampus Lindholm (23), and Josh Manson (25) or who they would have to expose or in the expansion draft or trade. Instead GM Bob Murray made a deal with Vegas sending prospect Shea Theodore in exchange for them drafting Clayton Stoner and his $3.25 million dollar cap hit freeing up cap space. The rise of prospect Brandon Montour on the horizon helped facilitate the move.

Anaheim Ducks rightwing Patrick Eaves (18)(Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)

Right up against the cap that relief was welcome and allowed them to sign Patrik Eaves for three years at 3.15 million. He was acquired prior to the trade deadline from Dallas, ostensibly as a rental but clicked effectively with Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell firing seven goals at even strength in 20 games (11 total) before being shut down with a high ankle sprain and only appearing in seven playoff games.

Standing pat behind vets Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler - Ryan Getzlaf was quite simply a beast this season and took it to another level in the playoffs. A continuing attempt to separate Perry and Getzlaf is ongoing to provide matchup headaches for other teams. It would give them three strong lines as they own one of the best two way lines in the league in Andrew Cogliano, Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg. Kesler is an elite face-off man and a defensive specialist. A competitor that will get up the nose of opponents.

Corey Perry had a down season offensively with a paltry 19 goals, but shot at 8.8% while averaging over 15% in shooting percentage the last three seasons and owning a career 13.2%. At his career rate he would have scored 28 and had a shot at a fourth season over 30 goals. There is talk he played through an injury but it has not been confirmed.

Kesler and Getzlaf are 33 and 32 years old, respectively, but showing no signs of slowing down and will be a threat next season. Perry, also 32, should rebound, but snipers tend to fade faster as they get older. In projecting the 2017-18 season you need to take in the urgency factor. This is a confident team that knows what it wants and age will not be a factor among the leadership group for the coming season, injury concerns aside.

The emergence of 24-year old Richard Rakell with a surprising 33 goals (albeit on a 18.6% shooting percentage), along with a second 20 goal season from 26-year old Jakob Silfverberg, were important stories in providing scoring balance. Silfverberg has distinguished himself as a playoff warrior contributing 37 points in 40 playoff games over the last three seasons.

If 21-year old power winger with a goal scoring touch Nick Ritchie can make a similar transformation in his third NHL season, he adds another weapon down the lineup. He contributed 14 in his sophomore campaign so another 20 goal scorer would give the Ducks more than adequate attack over three lines

Gibson’s time - They also added veteran goaltender Ryan Miller to provide some relief for John Gibson and as an insurance policy in case of injury. The 37-year old veteran appeared in 54 games last season and represents an upgrade from Jonathan Bernier. If the 24-year old falters in his fourth NHL season, 16 -17 being his first as the starter, the vet will ready to take a heavier load. Gibson has flashed signs of being a dominant goalie and emerging as the starter this season would go a long way to sealing the deal in Anaheim.

If goaltending is successful, and the forward group delivers, they also ice one of the best young defense groups in the league. They are all responsible defensively, and mobile with some offensive chops. Both Vatanen and Lindholm suffered off-season shoulder injuries so monitor their recovery through training camp.

Outlook: Injuries and the endurance of their veterans are the only questions that will stop them from contending for their division title again and reaching for the Stanley Cup.

2017 NHL Draft Guide: Pacific Division – Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 14:17:36 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: A general view of draft selections after the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft on June 23, 2017, at the United Center, in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire)

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among many reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
2	50	30-N	39	Maxime COMTOIS	C	18	6-2/200	Victoriaville (QMJHL)
2	60	53-N	83	Antoine MORAND	C	18	5-10/180	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
3	91	NR	86	Jack BADINI	C	19	6-0/200	Chicago (USHL)
4	122	56-N	47	Kyle OLSON	C	18	5-11/165	Tri-City (WHL)
5	153	2-EG	75	Olle ERIKSSON EK	G	18	6-2/185	Farjestads (Swe Jr)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
2	50	Maxime COMTOIS	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	64	22	29	51	88
2	60	Antoine MORAND	C	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	67	28	46	74	52
3	91	Jack BADINI	C	Chicago (USHL)	59	28	14	42	38
4	122	Kyle OLSON	C	Tri-City (WHL)	72	20	37	57	52
5	153	Olle ERIKSSON EK	G	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	18	11		2.16	0.924

Anaheim Ducks – Draft Grade: 60

All year, anticipating the Expansion Draft, the Ducks were questioned about their preferred strategy in regards to their deep and abundant blueline corps. Without a side-deal, they would have had to expose a player the caliber of Josh Manson or Sami Vatanen, both young and effective defenders. Instead, they swung a deal with Vegas, surrendering one of their better blueline prospects in Shea Theodore so the Golden Knights would take the overpaid Clayton Stoner off their hands instead.

Even with Theodore playing in the desert, the Ducks are still deep along the blueline, with prospects the ilk of Brandon Montour, Josh Mahura, Jacob Larsson and Marcus Pettersson still in the pipeline. These riches muted the surprise of Anaheim not selecting a single defenseman with any of their five first round picks, all between the second and fifth rounds.

Maxim Comtois of the Victoriaville Tigres

Despite lacking significant selections, the Ducks seemed to make the most of things, selecting talented forwards with their first four selections and capping off their draft haul with one of the more heralded netminders out of Europe in Olle Eriksson Ek who had slid a bit due to a lackluster showing at the WU18 tournament. Although unlikely to have been a strategic ploy, their draft was also notable for picking up two of the four best prospects out of the QMJHL (Maxime Comtois and Antoine Morand) in what was a down year for the league. It would not be surprising in the least if all five of the Ducks picks went on to have NHL careers.

Best value: Kyle Olson, C/RW, Tri-City (4/122) – Ranked 47^th overall by McKeens, we felt that Olson should have been long gone by this point. A secondary offensive presence for the Americans, his scoring would have been more impressive if he had been awarded with the amount of power play time as some of the higher drafted WHL prospects.

Biggest headscratcher: Jack Badini, C, Chicago (3/91) – This pick is a default choice. Personally, I think Badini is a fantastic prospect, combining high end speed with great hockey IQ. He fits the bill here as an overager who may have been available to the Ducks with their subsequent selection.

NHL Playoff Preview: Anaheim Ducks (1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

Daniel Friedman and Robert Howard — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 23:49:24 +0000

Summary: This may be the most interesting series in the first round. You've got a pair of very capable offenses going head-to-head, and the possibility for a major upset – if Pekka Rinne can return to his former glory – and wins the battle against unproven sophomore John Gibson – this is a closer series than first appears.

The offenses matchup over four lines, and they both have good, mobile defense - giving an edge to Weber and Josi as the top pair in the NHL. Some key battles will decide the series, none more important than goaltending. The Nashville forwards need to continue their late season production against the Jennings Trophy winner.

PREDICTION: Anaheim in 7 (note: Daniel is calling for a Nashville win in 7 games, for a spoiler pick)

Key Injuries: ANA – Frederik Andersen had a late season concussion, plus a number of day to day injuries expected to be back for the playoffs, including Gibson, Kesler, Bieksa and Rakell. and Perron – They are a little banged up. NSH – nothing major.

Critical Factors: The addition of Ryan Johansen has given Nashville the big center they have coveted, and he and James Neal are finding some chemistry heading into the playoffs. Filip Forsberg continues his climb to a superstar and could be a difference-maker. Ryan Kesler provides secondary scoring (see Breakouts below), shutdown acumen, and a big game temperament. The emergence of Richard Rakell provides further depth. The Kesler/Johansen matchup could decide the series on its own, particularly if Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry begin to roll. Anaheim gets the edge on the top two lines, but the Nashville depth over four lines should not be underestimated with some veterans that can provide a gritty game, with timely goal-scoring. Both teams boast mobile, creative playmakers who contribute to the offense. Anaheim’s young, quick group, featuring Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm - all under 24 years of age (six starting defenseman altogether - seriously), and may be overmatched by Nashville with arguably the top pairing in the league in Shea Weber and Roman Josi - and their own young mobile defensemen emerging this season in Matias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis. Pekka Rinne tied for the 8^th worst save percentage this season with 0.908 and struggled. In 34 playoff starts he has a losing record and a save percentage of 0.914, - and finished with 0.901 SV% in March and April to raise further flags – contrasted with John Gibson’s 0.925 SV% over the same time period. The Ducks have gone 34-10- 5 after the Christmas break, overcoming adversity, and buying into a team first/defense first approach in the new year under Boudreau. Additions of Ryan Garbutt and Jamie McGinn mid-season bring more grit and defensive prowess over the third and fourth line.

Potential Break-out Players: Ryan Kesler has been on fire since January 1^st since a brutal start and has managed close to a point a game pace (43-17-24-41) since the New Year – remember he delivered 13 points in 16 games in last year’s playoffs. His linemate Jakob Silfverberg broke out last year in the playoffs and has been hot down the stretch, scoring 11 goals in 14 games (14-11-5-16). Filip Forsberg was a point a game in his last 30 games (30-19-15-34). Ryan Johansen finished with 18 points in 19 games (19-4-14-18). Roman Josi could make his statement as one of the elite defenseman in the league and step out of Shea Weber’s shadow (if he hasn’t already) – he finished the season at a superstar pace (30-4-22-26). David Perron was a good addition, scoring 20 points in 28 games as a Duck (28-8-12-20) and returns from injury in time for the playoffs.

Season Matchup: Nashville 2-1. Both wins were in regulation. Most significantly they have not met since November, with all three games at the start of the season, and they were very different teams then.

Key Stats:

CF% 5v5 (war-on-ice.com): ANA 52.4% (5^th) NSH 52.5% (4^th)

PDO (war-on-ice.com): ANA 99.0 (27^th) NSH 99.l5 (21^st)

Power Play (NHL.com): ANA 23.1% (1^st) NSH 19.7% (10^th)

Penalty Kill (NHL.com): ANA 87.2% (1^st) NSH 81.2% (16^th)

Goals For per-game (NHL.com): ANA 2.62 (17^th) NSH 2.73 (13^th)

Goals Against per-game (NHL.com): ANA 2.29 (1^st) NSH 2.60 (14^th)

Notes: Anaheim’s excellence on special teams, leading the NHL in both categories, provides a big advantage. While they are largely even on offense, Anaheim’s number one ranked defense could be the difference, depending on goaltending. Anaheim had the second worst Osh% (6.6) in the league over the season – from the start of 2016, they were 9^th (8.9) posting a ridiculously low 4.8 Osh% and 97.2 PDO before the New Year. Nashville were middle of the pack in both time periods (7.3 and 7.7).

NHL Prospect Watch: Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 16:35:30 +0000

Anaheim Ducks' fans are among the biggest beneficiaries of the AHL’s decision to open up a Pacific division to house the affiliates of the West Coast-based NHL teams. Perhaps not as fortunate as Sharks' fans, whose up-and-comers get to play in the same arena, nevertheless the Ducks’ affiliate, based in San Diego, is only 90 minutes away in ideal traffic conditions. Maybe three hours in regular Southern California traffic.

Beyond proximity, the new Gulls' franchise has also seen many of the most highly touted Ducks' prospects suit up for their fans this season, among them former first rounders' Nick Ritchie and Shea Theodore, as well as others of intrigue such as Nicolas Kerdiles, Stefan Noesen and Brandon Montour.

With help from Hockey Prospectus author Jason Lewis (@SirJDL on twitter), we will review here a few of the more impressive Gulls this season as well as a few more who might be Gulls in the year or two to come.

The highest profile prospect to suit up for the AHL affiliate was winger Nick Ritchie. A former 10^th overall choice in 2014, Ritchie sticks out for his size and stickhandling abilities. Listed at a burly 6-2”, 232, he utilizes every pound on his frame on the ice. He relishes playing in the difficult areas of the ice and knows how to use his strength to his advantage to win board battles for the puck. He fits the Western Conference profile of a forward who can play dirty, play down low and score. While his initial NHL experience has been trying, with only one goal and one assist in his first 26 games, he fared much better in the AHL, with 28 points in 33 games, excellent numbers for a first year pro who only turned 20 two months into the season. Ritchie is a mule on the puck, very hard to dispossess him when he has it along the boards or down low and has a quick shot release, which will help him score with regularity from scrums near the crease going forward. His skating is still a work in progress, as he is not slow, but lacks much wow factor in terms of acceleration.

Considering the limited minutes he has received in the AHL, averaging under 12 minutes TOI per game, his development would have been better served with more time away from the spotlight in San Diego. On the other hand, in spite of his lack of offensive production, his possession figures have been strong in protected shifts and he has been a willing crasher and banger. Further, with the Ducks strong second half play, Ritchie has gained valuable experience – and will gain even more in the postseason – that will come in handy as he works his way up the depth chart in the coming year or two. The premature NHL time may delay his ascent to a top six role, but that is still his expected destination in the near future.

Just as high end as Ritchie on the Gulls roster this year has been two way blueliner Shea Theodore, also a first year pro. Theodore spent more of his with San Diego, getting only 13 NHL games as of this writing. Ironically, he produced three times as many points as his aforementioned teammate in half the games. His possession numbers were also stellar, without the benefit of protection. Whereas Ritchie excels in the power game, Theodore’s skill set lends itself far more to finesse and smoothness. For a team that is already stacked at the NHL level with young and mobile defenders along the caliber of Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindhold and Sami Vatanen, having Theodore waiting in the wings is almost unfair. The former Seattle Thunderbird is a fantastic skater in either direction and is a veritable weapon from the point, equally comfortable winding up for the slap shot, releasing a quicker wrister or passing to a better positioned teammate.

He sees the ice well and does a good job carrying the mail up the ice, or distributing the puck when more appropriate. While not known for his defensive game, he does not lack in that area either. He will never be a pure shut down defender, but his positional sense, willingness to sell out to prevent an opposition play and general ability to clear the zone should be sufficient to see him as part of a second unit, if not paired up with a more traditional defensive-minded partner on the first pairing. The biggest hurdle left for Theodore to climb is the presence of his aforementioned teammates. There were rumors earlier this year that the Ducks may be shopping one or both of Vatanen and Fowler. Without trading at least one of those – most likely Vatanen, a pending RFA – there will be no role for Theodore to take. The British Columbia native will be ready for a full time position in the NHL to start next season. While a few more months in the AHL would not hurt him, he is not far from being in a position of extracting diminishing returns with additional seasoning.

Theodore’s equal as an offensive blueliner is his current Gulls teammate Brandon Montour. A former second round pick, Montour went from scoring a point per game in the USHL to nearly matching that feat in the AHL in the space of two years. Put simply, he is an offensive dynamo. He is a well above average skater with great hands. He will always support the rush and more often than not, will actively participate in it as well. He has an excellent point shot and uses it judiciously, as he knows how to get it through traffic without being blocked.

As good as Montour is when the Gulls have the puck, he is equally as dangerous without it. Very eager to get the puck back, he will make many, many poorly thought out risky decisions, leaving his team in an awkward situation as he recovers from losing position. As fast as he is, very few defenders can recover in time from the positions he finds himself in due to over exuberance. His physical game is also lacking, making him a net negative in his own end. Assuming the Gulls can recover the puck, he finds himself useful once more at orchestrating the outlet, but does not do enough to assist in the process of regaining possession. In spite of his awesome offensive production in the AHL in his first full season as a professional, there is a good reason for his not being given a call up this season. Even as the game evolves, and teams are more likely to choose skill over brawn, there is still little patience for risk, unless even when overwhelmed by reward. See the trials and tribulations faced by Norris winner PK Subban in Montreal for a prominent example. Not that Montour is another Subban, but rather he is much riskier from a defensive perspective, meaning he is less likely to earn the trust needed to get the ice time and prime power play opportunities that Subban does. Assuming he continues to work in his defensive play, Montour could emerge as a powerplay specialist type who is limited to a 4/5 role at even strength. If he doesn’t, T.J. Brennan is the template. Another year in the AHL is a near inevitability.

While not as exciting as the three previously featured prospects, San Diego had a trio of other forwards of note suit up there this year with decent likelihoods of NHL careers ahead of them. Former second rounder Nicolas Kerdiles. Now in his second pro season, Kerdiles does not stand out in any one facet of his game, but neither does he have any glaring weaknesses. An intelligent and versatile forward who can play center or on the wing, he has moderate offensive ability to go along with shutdown center qualities. Frequently used to kill penalties, he has increased his offensive production in his second year in the AHL. It is hard to see a future wherein he scores much more than 30 points per season in the NHL, but that is solid work for a bottom six forward who contributes in his own end. Kerdiles should be ready for an extended NHL trial next season.

Also worth mentioning is Michael Sgarbossa, who came over from Colorado in a minor trade last March. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of the OHL’s Saginaw program by San Jose, he has proven himself to be a strong AHL producer over four pro seasons. His puck skills are solid, but not good enough to be a carrying tool if that was all he could bring to the table. Thankfully, he also has a knack for finding seams in coverage, making strong passes and is responsible enough to be used to kill penalties as well. He may be a tweener, in the sense that his skill set is not clearly strong enough for a top nine NHL role, but can sometimes look like the best player on the ice in the AHL. Nevertheless, a pending RFA, he has earned a longer NHL look than the nine games across two seasons he has so far received.

The last player I was to discuss from the San Diego squad is Czech winger Ondrej Kase. The former seventh rounder is an exciting player with good wheels and solid puck skills, but this year is unfortunately a wash for him in his first season since coming over from Europe. Having returned in the past two weeks, he is already showing why he might soon be regarded as a draft steal. Nonetheless, the down time this season can only be seen as a major disappointment.

A talented player in a similar situation to Kase is NCAA forward Kevin Roy. Undersized at 5-9”, the former fourth rounder has scored at over one point per game throughout his four year stay in the collegiate ranks. In looks last season, Roy showed himself to be a skilled playmaker who plays with a very high panic threshold, allowing him to take positional risks offensively than less brave players would not. Injuries greatly hampered his play this year, but he is now healthy and will look to try to lift a decent Northeastern squad into the NCAA tournament before considering a likely contract offer from the Ducks.

Another collegian who should be on the receiving end of a contract offer shortly is Minnesota-Duluth captain Andy Welinski. Not a standout in any part of the game, he has been a solid NCAA blueliner, proficient in his own zone with strong gap control and a good enough shot from the point that will not look out of place in the AHL. His offensive production was decent for UMD, but never really improved after a solid freshman season. The lack of progress may limit the Ducks offer to an AHL contract only, but the floor of his ability is high enough to warrant at least that, if not more.

Looking to Europe, I received a strong report from Hockey Prospectus contributor Miika Arponen on Finnish winger Miro Aaltonen who compared him to Jere Lehtinen in style. A complete player with a strong own zone game, there have been unconfirmed rumors that the former seventh rounder could make his way to North America in the offseason after three and a half good season in Liiga.

Finally, a few words about the Ducks 2015 first rounder, Swedish defenseman Jacob Larsson. In the midst of a strong rookie season in the SHL, Larsson took some time out to represent his country at the WJC. Another highly mobile defenseman in the Anaheim pipeline, Larsson can absolutely fly when he sees a lane through the zone. He has a high panic threshold and will not rush a shot or pass due to pressure. I would like to see his awareness improve, but playing a full season in a men’s league at age 18 is impressive. His size is also a point in his favor and he has demonstrated that he can be tough to play against in the corners. There is still plenty of room for growth, but he is starting at a very good spot.

2015-16 Yearbook: Under the radar fantasy all-stars

James Mirtle — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:14:14 +0000

Comeback players, rebound candidates, up-and-coming kids and settling-in sophomores: These are the sort of fantasy all-stars you want to be drafting in your pools. And it just so happens we’ve assembled an entire roster of them.

The basis for making the “under-the-radar” fantasy all-star team is that, quite simply, these players will likely fall further than they should in your draft. That is either because they are unproven, playing for poor or overlooked teams, or coming off of a bad season. But those kinds of gambles are exactly what can win your pool – assuming you’re the only one sharp enough to buy this unbelievable magazine.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that, in recent years, the NHL has become a young man’s league. Teams are increasingly playing players who are 25-and-under in big minutes, which means the likes of Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov are able to suddenly explode and make a team like the Lightning an offensive juggernaut.

So be sure to enter your draft with a good handle on the burgeoning talents out there, even if many didn’t star for Canada (or the U.S.) at the world juniors and aren’t yet household names.

Forwards

Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas. He missed all but eight games of the season with a devastating hip injury that wiped out his 19-year-old season, but Nichuschkin provides a tantalizing mix of skill with opportunity on one of the best offensive teams in the league. If he’s fully recovered, and if he can get back on track after a year away, a spot on a top line with two of the most potent offensive players in the league (Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin) awaits. The payoff could be enormous, as he has the tools to be a star.

Teuvo Teravainen and Marko Dano, Chicago. Patrick Kane’s legal situation – which was unresolved at press time – aside, there’s going to be opportunity on the defending champs this season. Teravainen and Dano (the key piece they received from Columbus in the Brandon Saad trade) are great examples, as they could both slide into top six roles to start the year and surprise. That’s certainly what GM Stan Bowman is banking on given the way he’s remade his roster to squeeze under the cap.

Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad, Florida. You could even add another two or three names from the Panthers here. Florida was rather pathetic offensively last season (25th), but things began to click late in the year when they added NHL greybeard Jaromir Jagr to the top line with Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. This is an organization that has been bad enough for long enough that they’ve accumulated some terrific young offensive talents; if several of them can put together breakout seasons at the same time, the Panthers could pile up far more goals than recent years. And they’re one of those teams often overlooked on draft day.

David Pastrnak, Boston. Even with the Bruins in disarray last season, the Czech rookie had an impressive North American debut. A better than point-a-game showing in the minors over 25 games turned into a nearly 50-point pace over a half season in the NHL. Now, minus Milan Lucic and with management attempting to get younger, he should be gifted more opportunity on a scoring line and be a key part of the Bruins attack.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington. The Capitals were the sixth highest scoring team in the NHL last season and could easily climb higher this time around, in large part thanks to better depth up front. Newcomers T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams are part of that, but what should make Washington a contender is the progress from their two burgeoning young weapons: Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky. Both showed well in Year 1, but Kuznetsov is the more enticing fantasy pick given he should be given a key role on the team’s second line and has game-breaking talent. His nearly 17 minutes a game in the postseason was proof positive the coaching staff was beginning to trust him with a bigger role.

Teemu Pulkkinen, Detroit. A fourth round pick in 2010, Pulkkinen has been forced to go the patented long, slow Red Wings route through the system. Last year, however, he dominated the AHL to the point it made no sense for him to even be there, with 48 goals in 62 games between the regular season and a dominant playoffs (14 goals in 16 games). Detroit could have used even a fraction of those goals last season; this time around, he’ll get more of a chance – and under his AHL coach no less. A bit of a wild card but one with some upside.

Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim. After posting underwhelming totals in his first two seasons in Anaheim, the 24-year-old Swede put in a remarkable postseason, with 18 points in 16 games to cement a spot in the Ducks top six. Could mesh very well with countryman Carl Hagelin this season, too.

Nazem Kadri, Toronto. It’s going to be new coach Mike Babcock’s way or the highway in Toronto this year and that could go either way for Kadri, whose off-ice issues contributed heavily to the fact he signed only a one-year deal in the summer. The big question is if Tyler Bozak is traded either during training camp or early in the season, as that would free Kadri up to finally fill the first-line centre role, albeit without Phil Kessel there to help. Even without a trade, Kadri may get that chance. Either way, with more of a role on a power play, Kadri has 60-point potential. His 39 last year should be considered the low water mark, although this is a Leafs team that may not score a whole lot.

P-A Parenteau, Toronto. Parenteau is in a similar boat. He wasn’t well liked by his coach in either Colorado or Montreal, which limited his opportunities and offensive totals. But there’s a Kessel-sized hole on right wing with the Leafs, and Parenteau signed a bargain of a one-year deal there in order to try and cash in next July. If he produces, it benefits both parties, as Toronto can convert him into a pick or prospect at the deadline. Win-win.

Elias Lindholm, Carolina. A potential superstar who is going to breakthrough at some point. He nearly doubled his point totals last season even as the Hurricanes year went to hell in a hand basket, and Carolina is a dark horse of a rebound candidate given their all their unheralded young talent. Lindholm is still only 20 years old so his big leap may still be two or three years off. But it’s coming.

Sean Couturier, Philadelphia. Another young player with more to give offensively. It’s more a question of when than anything, and with Couturier, some of that is simply giving him less of an onerous defensive role and better linemates. But opportunity plays in, too, and he would easily break the 40-point barrier with more power play time. A new coach, with a better understanding of his gifts at the other end of the rink, could pay off for Couturier this year.

Tanner Pearson, Los Angeles. His season was completely derailed by injuries, but the key will be opportunity. It appears he’ll be right back in a second line role next season, and linemate Tyler Toffoli is set to breakout in a big way. The big question with Pearson is what exactly his ceiling is offensively, as he didn’t particularly dominate the AHL. Still, betting on 40 points and hoping for more is reasonable.

Mikael Granlund, Minnesota. The expectations are certainly for more than 40 points, especially given all his time on the top line with Zach Parise. But without top unit power play duty, Granlund isn’t likely to truly become an elite scorer. That said, he’s continued to make significant strides in his all-around game and should continue to be trusted with more minutes overall. If he’s healthy all year, topping 50 points should be a gimme.

Defencemen

Sami Vatanen, Anaheim. Vatanen missed 15 games and still finished 34th in scoring among defencemen in only his second NHL season. Prorated, he would have hit the 45-point mark. And that’s on a Ducks team that had the 28th ranked power play, despite loads of talent. Much of that was shooting percentage driven, which means Anaheim should pot more goals on the man advantage, which means good things for Vatanen, who could easily emerge as a top 10 quarterback this year.

Ryan Ellis, Nashville. Another young defenceman with similar offensive talent, Ellis’s main problem is he’s buried behind Shea Weber and Roman Josi and as a result is dealt second unit power play duties. Even so, he produced at a nearly 40-point pace last season and didn’t get there largely because of injury. At the very least, he’s going to produce more than six power play points this time around – especially if one of the big two misses any time.

Olli Maatta, Pittsburgh. No more Christian Ehrhoff. No more Paul Martin. The Penguins are going to be a dangerous offensive team with Kessel in the fold, and there’s loads of opportunity for some young defencemen. Maatta missed most of last season due to an awful run of injuries and illness, but he’s in line for huge minutes – potentially on the top pair with Kris Letang at even strength – and nearly double his power play workload with the other vets gone.

John Klingberg, Dallas. Klingberg already had his breakout and really should have been given more consideration for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year last season. This time around, he won’t start the year in the AHL; he’ll be on the Stars top unit both at even strength and the power play. And while his on-ice shooting percentage may take a dip, repeating his 40 points with what should be a deadly Dallas attack seems highly likely. And 50-plus isn’t out of the question.

Morgan Rielly, Toronto. Buyer beware given the Leafs roster. But Rielly has been quietly evolving into an offensive threat even as the ceiling caved in (multiple times) in Toronto and turning him into an elite weapon will be near the top of Babcock’s to-do list. Finding ice time shouldn’t be a problem given the competition, and without Cody Franson around, Rielly should be on the top power play unit from the start.

Oscar Klefbom, Edmonton. If the Oilers are going to climb out of the abyss, they’re going to need some surprises on the back end. Klefbom seems to be the best candidate on that front, although whether or not he is given much time on the man advantage remains to be seen. A long shot to pile up points given he wasn’t exactly a huge producer in the minors, Klefbom nonetheless is worth keeping an eye on in deeper pools.

Goaltenders

Martin Jones, San Jose. The Sharks are gambling here. If you’re similarly in the mood for a roll of the dice, this isn’t a bad one. Jones has started only 29 NHL games in his career, and all of them were behind the Kings stifling defence, but he put in 3.5 really solid seasons in the AHL, and despite going undrafted, had a decent junior career. San Jose made a huge commitment giving him a three-year, $9-million deal, which means at the very least Jones is going to give you a lot of starts on what remains a decent team.

Petr Mrazek, Detroit. Mrazek wrested the No. 1 duties from Jimmy Howard late last season, which sets up an interesting duel this year for the crease. Howard has four years remaining on a deal with a cap hit of more than $5-million, so he’ll be the favourite to get more starts, but Mrazek’s got a strong pedigree, a relationship with the new coach and age on his side (at eight years younger). Don’t expect him to sit 55-plus games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay. Ben Bishop has started 75 per cent of the Lightning’s games the last two seasons. In both years he has had at least 37 wins and a save percentage better than an average starter. So why take a flier on Vasilevskiy? For one, he’s a very good goalie, one of the best prospects at the position in the league. For another, he could take over as Tampa’s starter as early as 2016-17 given the organization’s cap crunch and Bishop’s pending UFA status. Add in Bishop’s injury history, and Vasilevskiy may get more of a look than many expect this season.

A contributor to McKeen’s Hockey in various roles for the last 14 years, James Mirtle covers the NHL for The Globe and Mail and is based in Toronto. You can find more of his work at jamesmirtle.com.