Seth Jarvis – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CAROLINA HURRICANES – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:16:32 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - MAY 07: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) looks on during Game 3 of an Eastern Conference Second Round playoff game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils on May 7, 2023, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

After a few seasons of coming up short in the playoffs, the Hurricanes were able to finally get back to the Eastern Conference Final last year. The pressure has been on Carolina to get further and while the stress on them isn’t as high as it is in other cities, internally the knowledge they can be so much better dictated they had to get beyond the second round. Carolina finished with 99 points and landed in second place in the Metropolitan Division behind the Washington Capitals. They continued to be a headache on ice for opponents with the way they’re able to dominate in shot attempts and scoring chances. They were the best team in the league at five-on-five in CorsiFor percentage (59.1) and expected goals for percentage (55.9). Playing against Carolina means having to weather the storm of pucks they send to the net and doing the best you can to counterattack. The science used to build the roster, and their game plan hasn’t gotten them to the Stanley Cup Final yet, but piece by piece they’re figuring out how to do it.

What’s Changed?

When the Hurricanes had to move on from Mikko Rantanen last season 13 games after they acquired him from Colorado, it reopened their desire for a top-flight scoring winger. They found him in free agency with Nikolaj Ehlers. Carolina signed Ehlers, arguably the top free agent available, to a six-year, $51.5 million contract and will most likely slot the 29-year-old Dane next to Sebastian Aho on the top line. They also bolstered their blue line acquiring K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers for prospect Scott Morrow and 2026 first and second-round picks. Miller signed an eight-year, $60 million extension with the Rangers as part of the sign-and-trade deal and he figures to partner up with Jaccob Slavin. They added further defensive depth with a one-year deal for Mike Reilly.

What Would Success Look Like?

The goal for Carolina is to win the Stanley Cup. Although getting to the Stanley Cup Final would be the right gradual step forward after reaching the East Final last season, this is a team designed to win it all. The days of being satisfied making the postseason and winning a round or two are long gone and after years of sustained success, anything less than winning it all is a disappointment. Adding Ehlers and Miller are meant to make them better and more stout in their own end and the addition of Logan Stankoven in the Rantanen trade with Dallas also gave them more young talent to work with.

What Could Go Wrong?

Although one of the areas that’s appeared to hold them back the past few years has been goaltending, whether it was health or performance, Carolina is running it back again with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. Andersen played well in the playoffs last year until they ran into Florida. If their goaltending duo can’t help them get over the hump, something would have to give, right? The Hurricanes are built well and slow starts the past two seasons allowed other teams in the Metropolitan Division to get out ahead of them to stay. Getting home ice throughout the postseason should be a priority, but if they have to play from behind again, it could feed back into the mental loop that they can’t get it done. Their time to win is now and has been.

Top Breakout Candidate

While K’Andre Miller will get a lot of attention on defence for Carolina, the player to keep an eye on is Alexander Nikishin. He was their third-round pick in 2020 and came over from Russia late last season in time to join the Hurricanes for the playoffs. He got four games in the postseason and is poised to be a key member of the defence corps this season. He was a big-time offensive weapon on the blue line for St. Petersburg SKA in the KHL. In 193 games with SKA, he had 45 goals and 112 assists (157 points). He skates well with the puck and at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he’s got plenty of size to handle the NHL.

FORWARDS

Sebastian Aho

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	33	51	84	1.06

“What about Sebastian Aho?” should be the reply to anyone asking when the Hurricanes are going to add an elite goal scorer. Carolina’s start player has never scored fewer than 24 goals in a season over his entire career, finding sneaky ways to get himself open around the net both at even strength and the power play. He also carries the team’s shoot-first mindset with him, always looking at the net first to see if he can get the puck there before deferring to someone else. It’s not the main thing he’s known for because he does so many other things well, but if the Canes need a goal, he’s usually the first one to step up. Last year was somewhat of a down season due to a shooting percentage dip and power play production. Aho also acted as more of a playmaker with his linemates starting to find the back of the net more. Helping Seth Jarvis have a career season, Jack Roslovic scoring 20 goals and setting up Mikko Rantanen during his brief spell with the team. He’s also one of the most dangerous players in the league shorthanded; he and Jarvis are always looking to break the other way when they’re on the penalty kill. The potential fit with newcomer Nikolaj Ehlers is exciting to think about, as that’s another top caliber linemate for the Hurricanes star forward and could be enough to get him back over the point-per-game hump. There is always the question of what he can do to break into that elite category of centers because he’s always considered just in the tier below. Some are still waiting for him to have that one truly elite season where he puts up close to 100 points. That day may not ever come, but the Hurricanes will go as far as Aho can take them.

Nikolaj Ehlers

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	27	35	62	0.84

Ehlers’ career in Winnipeg can be summed up as “great but could have been more.” You could argue he was the most talented player on the roster during his run there and had stretches where he was the best player on the ice. He just never produced at a superstar level and while that’s an arbitrary definition, the Jets never played Ehlers like he was one of their best players. He was always on the second line, separate from Mark Scheifele, while also playing on the second power play unit. Scheifele’s chemistry with Kyle Connor, Winnipeg’s desire to spread the wealth and the lack of trust in Ehlers to play 20+ minutes a night being the main reasons. Only used on the first line in a “break glass in case of emergency” situation. It’s not automatic that Carolina will play him like a superstar, but he does check a lot of the boxes they need. Ehlers is an electrifying talent, effortlessly gains the zone to back the defence up, creates high danger chances by dominating the perimeter, getting the defence to breakdown by cycling them to death and, most importantly, he can score. His sneaky wrist shot is dangerous from all over the offensive zone, mostly because of his release and how much traffic the other forwards create from Ehlers keeping the defence focused on him patrolling the outside. It’s an ideal fit for a Carolina club looking for more game-breakers. They’re taking a risk on elite production following Ehlers if he gets the ice time, neither is a sure thing. If he isn’t, he adds to Carolina’s assortment of great players who are just shy of being considered elite.

Andrei Svechnikov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	31	35	66	0.86

Last season was Svechnikov’s first true down season. He produced at his lowest rate since his rookie season with half of his 20 goals coming on the power play and another four being empty net goals. It’s not what you want to see from a player touted for his goal-scoring prowess going back to his draft year. It’s the one area where he’s really stagnated the last few seasons, his goal scoring rate steadily declining since his 30-goal season in 2022. He was on the scoresheet more often for taking penalties than anything else. Svechnikov salvaged this with a remarkable playoff run, where he scored eight goals and was team’s best player through the first two rounds. It was there you saw him look like the sniper and the power forward the team has been waiting to show up for almost six years now. He is a talent you keep betting on because even in a down season you saw what makes him a difference maker. He is a scoring chance machine with a hard shot who can win a few games for you on his own when he’s dialed in. Also, very lethal as a playmaker, as teams caught onto his shot early and he had to add more of a passing dimension to his game. The issue is Carolina doesn’t see this version of him often enough. It keeps him from breaking into that upper echelon of players but he’s still young enough to not assume his best days are behind him. Svechnikov has everything it takes to be the Hurricanes best player, he just needs to show it more often.

Seth Jarvis

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	36	41	77	0.94

While Necas carried the Hurricanes offence in the first half with his torrid start, Jarvis was not far behind. He was arguably the team’s best player in the second half of the season, kicking things off strong with 11 goals in the month of January and recording back-to-back 30 goal seasons. The ideal Carolina forward, Jarvis brings a lethal combination of skill and grit, always playing with a high level of intensity and his offence has reached another level the last couple of seasons. His game is all about hustle, but what’s made him more dangerous now is the level of detail in his skill game, always buying himself an extra second or two with the puck to get more on his shot or pick a corner. He’s also more comfortable with commanding the offence, using his teammates better and improving his playmaking game, whereas in previous seasons he was more of a straight-line player who would always take the puck to the net on first instinct. That is still a huge part of his game, as he’s incredibly strong on his skates while battling for position and he’s one of the team’s best finishers on breakaways. It helps him on both sides of the puck, as Jarvis excels at the keep-away style of defence with constantly chipping pucks out of the zone and disrupting plays to the point. It is also a reason his penalty killing unit with Aho is one of the most dangerous in the league, frequently creating more scoring chances shorthanded than the power plays they go up against. He might be the one Hurricanes forward who is closest to breaking into that elite tier.

Logan Stankoven

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	21	27	48	0.59

It is hard to not notice Stankoven’s size, or lack thereof. It’s usually the first thing anyone points out with him looking every bit of 5-foot-8, 170 pounds. He is also quick to make it an afterthought with how relentless he plays the game. Stankoven is a dog on a bone when going after pucks, using that lower center of gravity to get the inside track on defencemen and he’s also a lot stronger than he looks, as he’s very hard to get off the puck. It made him a valuable player to have in front of the net both in Dallas and Carolina, being able to locate loose pucks and take a beating from defencemen despite being undersized. The finishing he showed in juniors and the AHL hasn’t quite blossomed in the big league yet, effective at getting to the net but struggling to score from distance. Some parts of Stankoven’s offensive game are a bit rushed, as he’s very quick to get his shot off with the defensive pressure ramped up. Figuring out how to add that finesse he showed at the lower level is the key to unlocking his next level. Although his current track record is fantastic as a play-driving forward with a lot of upside, which the Hurricanes certainly believe in as they signed him to a six-year deal in the off-season. We saw glimpses of how high his potential is in the post-season, especially as a goal-scorer so they’re expecting this deal to become a bargain very soon.

Jackson Blake

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	22	25	47	0.57

As a smaller forward, Blake has done nothing but shatter expectations in his young career. Completely bypassing the AHL after a superstar season at North Dakota, he made the Hurricanes roster out of camp, starting on the fourth line with limited power play time and becoming a regular player on the first line with Sebastian Aho by the end of the year. Blake’s relentless pursuit of the puck on the forecheck made him a natural fit on the Hurricanes and he is fearless with cutting to the middle of the ice with the puck. Not the fastest player but can weave through traffic better than most when he gets the motor going. This is especially noticeable in the neutral zone, where he adds another dimension to how the Hurricanes zone entry scheme as a grittier player who can also make plays with the puck at the blue line. The learning process was tough for Blake, going through a mid-season scoring drought but finishing on a strong note with five goals in his last seven games. Blake’s stick-handling ability made him a great fit on the top line but did get outmatched by stronger defenders when trying to take it to the net. This led to him frequently deferring to his linemates when he had shooting opportunities and limiting some of his game. All part of the process in your first NHL season. The Hurricanes saw enough to make him part of their core long-term with a six-year extension.

Taylor Hall

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	16	22	38	0.51

At this point in his career, having a player like Taylor Hall on your top line isn’t ideal but he’s a luxury in the middle of your lineup. Transitioning into more of a role player, Hall can still have the odd game where he’s the best player on the ice. His puck-carrying skill is still unmatched, being able to find lanes through defensive coverage and setup shop in the offensive zone. The speed might not be there anymore, but his skating is still fluid and effortless. He can flip possession without needing to move his feet much and it takes some pressure off his linemates. His offensive game has shifted from where it used to be, no longer a pure playmaker and taking on more of a shooting role after joining the Hurricanes. He didn’t score as much as you’d hope with how impressive he was by the eye test, having most of the offence go through him on cycles and helping his lines heavily tilt the ice in Carolina’s favor. This might be the new normal for him as a highly skilled second liner who is more known for setting the table rather than scoring the goals himself. An interesting player for Carolina to build their depth around as he gets older. They have some intriguing prospects knocking on the door and Hall is a good player to help them get acclimated to the NHL game.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	13	26	39	0.48

Stuck in neutral is the best way to describe Kotkaniemi’s career with the Hurricanes. The last few years he began the roster as the team’s second line center, mainly played an off-puck support role with Martin Necas. He’s a reliable enough player to help set the table for high-skilled linemates, making small connecting plays up the ice and sometimes making that one final pass to set up a scoring chance. He is just overly reliant on his linemates to see any production for how he plays, and sometimes it’s not always the case with how points are rewarded. The lack of assertiveness in Kotkaniemi’s game is the main thing that holds him back. He waits too often for the perfect shot to develop, doesn’t trust himself with carrying the puck up the ice and will defer to someone else quickly if there’s any pressure. He might start as the 2C in October, but he is usually shuffled onto the fourth line when the playoffs roll around. His strengths are somewhat redundant with Jordan Staal still on the team and his offensive game developing to the point where he’s a 2C hasn’t blossomed like the Hurricanes had hoped. If he was the third line center, it’s a moot point but Kotkaniemi is regularly slotted higher in the lineup in hopes that he can at least hold the fort down in a top six spot. With off-season rumors swirling about wingers Seth Jarvis or Logan Stankoven moving over to center, Kotkaniemi’s days of playing in the top six might be numbered.

Jordan Staal

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	10	25	35	0.49

Even at his age, Jordan Staal is still somewhat of a pillar for the Hurricanes. He can go long stretches without getting on the scoresheet, but it’s never part of his job description holding the team’s defensive structure in place as the shutdown center. Last year was one of his better recent ones in terms of point production, partially thanks to linemate Jordan Martinook having a career season. Staal defends best in the offensive zone, using that big body to jam up opponents breakout attempts and keep everything along the wall. Built like an NFL linebacker with a condor wingspan, Staal is going to stay an effective NHLer as long as his legs still work. He doesn’t need to take many strides to catch up to forwards or get a stick on a puck to deflect a pass. This is why he still gets heavy minutes despite his weak offensive production, sometimes leading forwards in ice time if the Canes have to defend a lead. His presence is both a positive and a negative because his defensive game is part of the team’s identity but it becomes noticeable how much of a drain on the offence he is when his ice time gets bumped into the 17-18 minute range. The third line center spot is his to lose, even at 37 years old.

DEFENCE

Jaccob Slavin

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	4	20	24	0.20

Every year the Norris gets awarded, there becomes a side conversation for “best defensive defenceman” and Jaccob Slavin’s name is usually first on the list. Known for having the best defensive stick in the game, Slavin holds the Carolina defence corps together. Playing an ultra-aggressive style with his shifty footwork bailing him out of most tough situations. His style of defending is somewhat unorthodox, using all parts of his body to block shots, often sprawling onto the ice to block passing lanes and attacking forwards from an angle rather than head-on in a defensive posture. It doesn’t work for everyone, but Slavin has mastered his craft of being the Hurricanes “problem solver” in the defensive zone. He has the skillset to be a contribute offensively, but it’s where his game lacks some dynamic ability. He has an explosive first stride and is sneaky with getting his shot through but very deliberate with his decision-making, so it doesn’t make him the best offensive blue liner. This year will be a little different, with his defence partner from the last three seasons leaving in free agency and the team short on right-handed options, it’s been reported that Slavin could be playing his off-side next season. He has experience doing this, but you have to go all the way to his brief AHL stint in 2014 to find the last time he played this role regularly. Slavin is no stranger to having the pieces around him changing, but shifting to his off side will be a new challenge for him and the Hurricanes overall team defence hinges on his performance.

K'Andre Miller

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	8	28	36	0.47

Looking to fill a long-term hole, Carolina made one of the biggest trades of the off-season, acquiring K’Andre Miller in a sign-and-trade deal with the Rangers. They paid heavily for the defenceman and are paying him like a top-pair guy, so one would think he is going to be penciled into that role opening night. Miller is the complete package in terms of raw skill. He’s a very tall, mobile defenceman with a long reach and great instincts with the puck. Spending the last few years patrolling the Rangers shutdown pair alongside Jacob Trouba, it’s been somewhat of trial by fire, as he had to be the safety valve for Trouba’s aggressive play. He got a brief run with Adam Fox at the start of last season before being stapled to physical defenceman Will Borgen for rest of the year and Miller continued to play the safety valve role. Excellent at leading breakouts but not carrying the puck much and his offensive contributions took a dip, playing heavy minutes on the penalty kill with minimal usage on the power play. Also had his worst season at defending entries, giving up more chances off controlled entries than any other Rangers defenceman. Carolina has a good recent track record of getting the most out of skilled defenceman and Miller is going to be a major project for them. There’s a natural home for him alongside Slavin if the Canes veteran blue liner moves to his off side. Power play time is also open for him as the longtime Ranger has a fresh start in Raleigh.

Sean Walker

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	6	13	19	0.23

The combination of moving to a new team and having a clean bill of health did wonders for Sean Walker’s career. His first season in Carolina was mostly spent on the third pair with not much defensive trust placed in him. Whether that’s from being paired with offensive defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere or the coaches being worried about his size is up for debate, but something changed late in the season and carried into the playoffs. Walker became a regular 20+ minute defenceman by the end of the season and even got spot duty alongside Slavin in the Washington series. Walker was arguably the fastest and most explosive defenceman on the roster last season, not afraid to carry the puck and one of the best at generating controlled zone exits. Used his smaller height well to negate entries with his stick and lower body. Not having him available for most of the Florida series was more of a blow than it appeared from the outside. Even if you think he’s just a third pair guy, Walker dominated those minutes and that’s nothing to scoff at. He is someone who could ascend in the lineup next season depending. He got a brief audition with Slavin and the two looked like they had natural chemistry, but it’s likely some of the more higher profile pieces like Miller and Nikishin get first crack at trying out for the top pair.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
76	7	37	44	0.58

The one pure offensive defenceman on the Hurricanes blue line, Gostisbehere feasted on the power play early in the season but saw his production dwindle as the year went on. Losing his top power play spot to Brent Burns in the middle of the season while the team was struggling. The Canes used him well at five-on-five, forming a dominant third pair with Sean Walker with heavy offensive zone deployment. Gostisbehere could play his game and attack the zone on resets and reloads in the neutral zone and quarterbacked the offence from the blue line well. He’s excellent at getting the high forward to miss and get a better shot from closer to the faceoff circle or find a pass from the middle of the ice. There isn’t much that has changed about his game going back to rookie season in Philadelphia, his feet are quick, and his offensive skillset is dynamic. Not the most physical player in the world, but the Hurricanes have no shortage of penalty killers on their roster. The full-time addition of Alexander Nikishin could impact Gostisbehere’s production depending on who wins the top power play spot. Gostisbehere has somewhat of an edge because of seniority but if Nikishin is all he is hyped to be, there will be some pressure for him to take that spot.

Goal

Frederik Andersen

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
36	22	9	2	2	.902	2.42

There are plenty of exciting names sitting in the wings for the Carolina Hurricanes in net. But for at least one more year, expect the coastal team to hold the course and run it back with what they already know; for better or for worse, Carolina will start the 2025-26 season with both Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov as their tandem once again. It's an intriguing choice, given that neither goaltender was particularly stellar last year - but interestingly enough, despite neither Kochetkov nor Andersen surpassing league-average performances on the year, the team ended up looking on paper like one of the most dominant forces in the East. And given that the roster has grown so accustomed to Andersen and Kochetkov over the last few seasons, it actually might not be a bad tactic on the team's part. It should prevent the coach staff from needing to adjust any defensive strategies to accommodate for a new goaltender in the building, while running out the last year of Andersen's contract and potentially even evaluating which of Cayden Primeau or Amir Miftakhov could be his successor. The only minor concern is how Kochetkov performed with a fairly heavy workload last year - but if Primeau is able to shoulder some of the workload that Andersen can't, it could be a best-case situation for Carolina as they continue to fight for a cup during their prime window.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – PLAYOFF EDITION – Less obvious picks that will win your playoff pool

Scott Cullen — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:56:32 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, the focus will be on the upcoming playoffs. Here are some players to target for playoff pools and it should go without saying that the focus will be on less obvious players because you don’t need me to tell you that Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar would be a good pick.

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 02: Florida Panthers Center Sam Bennett (9) dumps the puck in during the NHL regular season game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 2, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

#1 It is quite common for NHL players to score at a lower rate in the playoffs, and it is only natural – they are only playing against the top half of the league in the postseason. Florida’s Sam Bennett, however, is built differently. Since 2019-2020, Bennett has scored 220 points (107 G, 113 A) in 379 regular-season games, which is a rate of .581 points per game. In the playoffs, since 2019-2020, Bennett has 45 points (19 G, 26 A) in 64 games, a rate of .703 points per game. He rose to the occasion during the 4 Nations Face-Off and it’s reached the point where it is fair to expect Bennett to elevate his game when the games matter more.

#2 The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken at the trade deadline, bringing the feisty forward back to Tampa Bay, where he won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning. In his past three playoff appearances, Gourde has produced 34 points (17 G, 17 A) in 62 games. Even more importantly, he has been moved to left wing on Tampa Bay’s top line, skating alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov and he finished the regular season with six points (1 G, 5 A) in the last eight games.

#3 It is not like Adrian Kempe is an unknown offensive quantity, having scored 139 goals across the past four seasons, but the Los Angeles Kings have routinely been bounced from the playoffs in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers and that is despite Kempe putting up 19 points (11 G, 8 A) in 18 games over his last three playoff seasons. Skating on the Kings’ top line with Anze Kopitar and Andrei Kuzmenko, Kempe is likely to offer good value in this postseason, especially if this is the year that the Kings find a way to get past the Oilers.

#4 Carolina Hurricanes right winger Seth Jarvis has recorded back-to-back seasons with 67 points, including more than 30 goals in both seasons. He has also been a consistently productive player in the postseason, producing 27 points (13 G, 14 A) in 40 playoff games. He also had a strong finish to this regular season, putting up 21 points (9 G, 12 A) and 62 shots on goal in his last 18 games.

#5 Second year Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies is in a prime spot to generate offense, skating on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and he finished the regular season with a flourish, tallying 13 points (4 G, 9 A) with 30 shots on goal in his last 12 games. At 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, Knies has the size to handle the more physical play which tends to show up in the playoffs and with an elite setup man like Marner and a finisher like Matthews, there are plenty of points to be found while skating on their wing.

#6 The Montreal Canadiens are naturally underdogs in their first round series against the top-seeded Washington Capitals, but in deep playoff pools, sometimes the play is to take a top player for a lower-seeded team. Consider Habs captain Nick Suzuki, who had 15 points (8 G, 7 A) with 22 shots on goal in his last 10 games, on his way to a career-high 89 points (30 G, 59 A) this season. In deeper pools, there comes a time where fantasy managers need to decide whether to take the sixth-best forward on the favored team or the best forward on an underdog and if the pool is relatively large, hitting on the right underdogs can have a huge effect.

#7 Vegas Golden Knights left winger Ivan Barbashev has been a reliable offensive performer since arriving in Vegas, producing 112 points (48 G, 64 A) in 175 games for the Golden Knights, but he was also an integral part of their Stanley Cup winning team in 2023, contributing 18 points (7 G, 11 A) in 23 games. Barbashev plays a hard game, with plenty of hitting, and is not shy about getting to the front of the net, so he is a quality support scoring option for Vegas.

#8 With the Winnipeg Jets dealing with injuries on the wing, including to Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabe Vilardi, opportunity has knocked loudly for Alex Iafallo, who has often been an over-qualified fourth liner this season. In his last 10 games of the regular season, Iafallo contributed seven points (4 G, 3 A) with 22 shots on goal, while playing frequently with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor on the Jets’ top line.

#9 Drafted 12th overall in last summer’s draft by the Minnesota Wild, defenseman Zeev Buium returned to the University of Denver for his sophomore season and accrued 48 points (13 G, 35 A) in 41 games. He is an intriguing deep league sleeper for playoff pools, as the skilled blueliner appears to be on his way to not only playing for the Wild in the playoffs but potentially quarterbacking the team’s top power play unit. Minnesota has an uphill fight, taking on Vegas in the first round, but the Wild were a much stronger team with Kirill Kaprizov in the lineup this season and Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek both returned from injuries late in the season. If that improves the Wild’s chances of pulling off an upset, it also improves the chances of Buium having a productive postseason.

#10 Since St. Louis Blues left winger Dylan Holloway remains week-to-week with a lower-body injury, it has been important for the Blues to fill his spot in the lineup. While it was likely going to happen anyway, the Blues inked 2022 first-round pick Jimmy Snuggerud, who had 51 points (24 G, 27 A) in 40 games during his junior season at the University of Minnesota. Since joining the Blues, Snuggerud has chipped in four points (1 G, 3 A) with 10 shots on goal in seven games. He finished the regular season on a line with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, a quality spot for him to keep contributing offensively.

#11 Los Angeles Kings centre Quinton Byfield had some ups and downs during the season, but he really seemed to find his footing later in the season. In his last 32 games, Byfield had 31 points (12 G, 19 A) with 64 shots on goal. His most common linemate this season has been Kevin Fiala and they have been a dominant duo during five-on-five play, controlling 63.1 percent of shot attempts and 61.0 percent of expected goals.

#12 Ottawa Senators winger David Perron has endured a difficult regular season, managing just 16 points (7 G, 9 A) in 43 games, and he is 36 so maybe age is just catching up to him, but don’t ignore his playoff track record. In his past four playoff appearances, Perron has played a total of 62 games, recording 47 points (21 G, 26 A). He is past his peak years, obviously, but scored seven goals in a 13-game stretch in March, and plays a physical, agitating style that tends to translate well in the postseason.

#13 Just a couple of seasons ago, in 2022-2023, Cam Fowler recorded a career-high 48 points (10 G, 38 A) in 82 games for the Anaheim Ducks, the team that he had spent his entire career with until earlier this season when he was traded to the St. Louis Blues. Since joining the Blues, Fowler has produced 36 points (9 G, 27 A) in just 51 games. Eight of those 36 points were on the power play, so there might be even more upside there, as Fowler is now on St. Louis’ first power play unit and if the Blues are going to upset the Jets in the first round, they will likely need Fowler to continue at this level.

#14 Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli set career highs with 27 goals and 59 points this season and he is in a good spot for that production to continue, as Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel are his wingers at even strength. Cirelli also has had playoff success. In his past four playoff appearances, Cirelli scored 28 points (11 G, 17 A) in 57 games. He is likely to play plenty in a matchup role, because of his defensive acumen, but Cirelli can deliver offensively, too.

#15 The 2024-2025 season has been thoroughly unimpressive for Maple Leafs winger Max Domi, who finished with 33 points (8 G, 25 A) in 74 games, his lowest single-season point total aside from the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season. Nevertheless, Domi has been productive in the postseason, accumulating 23 points (7 G, 16 A) in 40 games across his past three playoff appearances, all with different teams (Carolina, Dallas, and Toronto). He is skating on Toronto’s second line, with John Tavares and William Nylander, so there should be scoring opportunities for Domi in this year’s playoffs, too.

#16 Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall has bounced around a lot and battled injuries in recent seasons and was mostly overlooked when the Hurricanes acquired him at the same time that they traded for Mikko Rantanen earlier in the season. However, once the Hurricanes traded Rantanen to Dallas, more responsibility was waiting for Hall, and he has responded favorably. In 18 games since the trade deadline, Hall contributed 15 points (8 G, 7 A) with 38 shots on goal. Hall also has 29 points (14 G, 15 A) in 39 career playoff games, so he has tended to show up in the postseason, even if it ends up being in small samples.

#17 At 35-years-old, Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn fills more of a supporting role on the team. He finished with 49 points (16 G, 33 A) in 80 games, the third time in his career that he played more than 70 games and finished with fewer than 50 points. Benn finished the regular season with no goals and nine assists in his last 17 games. It can’t be ignored, though, that Benn has been a beast in the playoffs. He has reached double-digit point totals in five separate playoff runs and in the past two seasons, he has put up 26 points (7 G, 19 A) in 36 playoff games. He finished the regular season on a line with Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen, which should give Benn quality chances to contribute offensively, though a late-season injury to Jason Robertson could cause the Stars to shuffle those lines.

#18 The Montreal Canadiens plugged winger Ivan Demidov into their lineup for the last two regular season games and Demidov responded with a goal and an assist in his first period of NHL action. Two games is obviously a super small sample size, but Demidov’s five-on-five shot rate (11.62 per 60 minutes) and point rate (5.81 per 60) were better than any other Habs skaters in those two games. His individual expected goals rate (1.29 per 60) ranked second behind Alex Newhook (1.85 ixG/60). Demidov is playing on a line with Newhook and Patrik Laine, while also getting second-unit power play time and if the Habs are going to pull off an upset against Washington, they might just need their precocious rookie to make a difference.

#19 Goaltenders with the best save percentage since the 4 Nations Face-Off (minimum 10 starts): Andrei Vasilevskiy (.927), Darcy Kuemper (.926), Connor Hellebuyck (.924), Scott Wedgewood (.924), Anthony Stolarz (.922), Adin Hill (.920), Sergei Bobrovsky (.914), Sam Montembeault (.912), Filip Gustavsson (.911), and Jordan Binnington (.910). That could be encouraging for any of the teams that employ those netminders, but Vasilevskiy’s Lightning and Kuemper’s Kings could use the lift that comes with strong goaltending.

#20 Goaltenders with the worst save percentage since the 4 Nations Face-Off (minimum 10 starts), among playoff goaltenders: Jacob Markstrom (.869), Pyotr Kochetkov (.879), Logan Thompson (.880), Stuart Skinner (.883), Charlie Lindgren (.887), Frederik Andersen (.890), Calvin Pickard (.899), and Mackenzie Blackwood (.899). Just as the Lightning and Kings could be more hopeful with strong goaltending, the Hurricanes, Capitals, Oilers, and Avalanche might be a bit more wary based on the goaltending they have received late in the regular season.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – CAROLINA HURRICANES – Team Preview

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 20:00:50 +0000

_{PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 26: Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) skates during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 26, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)}

After making the playoffs for the past five campaigns and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals twice, Carolina entered 2023-24 as potential contenders for the Cup. The regular season largely went as planned with the Hurricanes posting a 52-23-7 record on the strength of a balanced offence and a stellar defence -- Carolina led the league with a xGA/60 of just 2.65. To bolster the Hurricanes’ Cup chances, they acquired high-end forward Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh and took a chance by acquiring the struggling Evgeny Kuznetsov from Washington. Kuznetsov ended up holding his own with Carolina, and Guentzel was his usual dominant self, but even that wasn’t enough. Carolina bested the Islanders in the first round but couldn’t overcome the Rangers in the second.

WHAT’S CHANGED? The Hurricanes were unable to sign Guentzel to a long-term deal, and ultimately cut their losses by trading his negotiating rights to Tampa Bay in exchange for a 2025 third-round selection before he became an unrestricted free agent. Kuznetsov then mutually agreed with Carolina to terminate his contract so he could play in the KHL, so both of Carolina’s additions during the 2023-24 campaign are gone. The Hurricanes also lost top-six forward Teuvo Teravainen as well as defencemen Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, and Tony DeAngelo as unrestricted free agents. In an attempt to offset those blueline losses, Carolina inked free agents Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker. Carolina also signed bottom-six forward William Carrier.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? After six years of being good, but not good enough, anything short of a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals would probably be seen as a disappointment. The Hurricanes certainly might accomplish that feat. Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas are in their respective primes while Seth Jarvis is fast becoming a star. If Pyotr Kochetkov builds off his strong 2023-24 campaign, and Frederik Andersen stays relatively healthy, Carolina will have a solid goaltending duo. Plus, Gostisbehere is a nice power-play specialist, making the Hurricanes even stronger in that regard.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Although Carolina has plenty of different strengths, it would be argued that sound defensive play has been the secret sauce to the Hurricanes’ dominance. Carolina has finished in the top five in xGA/60 in each of the past four campaigns and led the league in that category for each of the last two years. With that in mind, losing two of the squad’s top-four defencemen in Skjei and Pesce might hurt the team’s dynamics more than it initially seems. Gostisbehere is an offensive-minded blueliner and Walker is primarily a third-pairing guy, so neither of them are pure replacements for what Carolina lost. Another member of Carolina’s top-four blueline, Brent Burns, is also in danger of regressing at the age of 39. None of that would make the Hurricanes bad, but perhaps they won’t be quite as good as they have been in recent years.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Then again, the loss of Skjei and Pesce coupled with the possible regression of Burns has created an opportunity for rookie Scott Morrow. The rookie blueliner was strong with UMass-Amherst last year, scoring six goals and 30 points in 37 contests. Morrow has the potential to be a great two-way defenceman, and he’s one of the Hurricanes’ best prospects.

FORWARD

Sebastian Aho

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	42	56	98	1.20

2023 was just another year at the office for the Hurricanes star forward. It was his most productive season in the NHL, recording a career-high 89 points and he maintained his consistent scoring pace with another 35+ goal season. He does everything for the team, thriving as a center who can handle the offence and the tough matchups on the top line and is an integral part of their aggressive penalty kill. His work on the power play is what stood out this year, recording a career-high 32 points with the man advantage, running the power play from the left wall and also playing the bumper position depending on the situation. His versatile approach to goal-scoring makes him a weapon in all situations, possessing a great shot with good speed to get open looks off the rush and finding sneaky ways to get himself open in front of the net. With Carolina always searching for a goal-scorer, Aho eventually has to be the guy to pick up the slack. He’s one of their best playmakers and doesn’t have the best shot, but he is the best at knowing what you need to do to score goals. On a team that loves to possess the puck, someone has to make it count for something and Aho is the best at it. It’s a part of his game that has yet to tail off and makes him the heartbeat of this Carolina team. Is this the season he surpasses 40 goals and flirts with 100 points?

Andrei Svechnikov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
71	24	38	62	0.87

Recovering from knee surgery, Svechnikov’s season didn’t start until late October, and it took him until mid-December to start getting back into form. After that, his season mirrored most of his NHL career. He was among the team leaders in shot volume and most offensive categories but didn’t score as many goals as fans or the team had hoped. Svechnikov looks like an unstoppable force at times, playing a power forward type game with deceptively good playmaking skills thrown in. The latter part of his game is always going to be unappreciated because he’s topped out as a 20-25 goal-guy instead of the 30+ guy most were hoping he would be. That and it’s easier for forgive the high number of penalties he takes when he’s more consistent with scoring goals rather than being a setup guy. His NHL track record isn’t bad, last year being one of his best with a 72-point pace, but the Hurricanes are hoping he can take the next step to become a superstar. Which is ultimately going to come down to if he can find the back of the net more often. He had the toolset to do it, the heavy wristshot combined with that powerful skating stride and playmaking skills should make him one of the more feared forwards in the NHL even if the results haven’t followed just yet. There is considerable upside but better to play it safe and draft for 70 games and 25 goals and 30 – 35 assists.

Seth Jarvis

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	40	38	78	0.98

Jarvis is the epitome of a Hurricanes forward in a lot of ways. He’s undersized, but strong as an ox. He’s a high-motor player who battles hard to get to the front of the net and creates a lot of offence from around the blue paint. Last year was the first time he saw a reward for it on the scoresheet with a 33-goal season and finding a permanent home in Carolina’s top six. The high-effort game takes a toll on his body and leads to some streaky production, but after three years in the league he’s starting to learn some of the tools to become a more consistent player. He still forechecks hard but doesn’t always go in at full speed for every loose puck, finding more creative ways to win battles and get himself open in front of the net instead. He can still pick a corner and be the lethal sniper off the rush but being a net-front menace has more of a reward in the Canes system. His breakout season filled a major void in Carolina’s forward corps, and he became one of the team’s cornerstones by the end of the year, playing on both special teams units by the end of the season. With still a relatively small NHL track record, Jarvis still has to prove if he can produce like this on a yearly basis, but he has established himself as a key part of Carolina’s future. He finished last year on a point per game pace and firing 14 goals in his last 18 games. Entering his fourth season he is capable of 40 goals and a point-per-game.

Martin Necas

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	31	37	68	0.83

Necas somewhat fell back to earth after a breakout season where it looked like he was on the path to stardom. A strong start was followed by a winter slump where he scored only five goals in 27 games through November and December. He began to return to form in mid-January after a brief stint on the IR, scoring at almost a point-per-game pace for three months before ending the season on a slow note that carried over into the playoffs. Finding linemates for him was an issue and the numbers game forced Necas off the top power play unit, so he didn’t have the same opportunities he did in 2022-23 when he was one of the few guys on the team who could produce offence. His talent is undeniable, but his preference for the one-man cycle game and tendency to make things happen on his own made him an awkward fit on most lines, although the Canes lack of a true second line pivot also contributed to that. Necas often had to play the one-man game because his linemates didn’t know what he was going to do, and the safer option was to just go to the net so he could do whatever he wanted high in the zone. Sometimes it worked, but he didn’t have enough players working with him last year. Even with his name being in trade rumors all summer, he’s slated to return to the Hurricanes for another year and should be back in a top six role with the Hurricanes losing a few forwards through free agency. Whether in Carolina or elsewhere he can produce 25 – 30 goals and 65 – 70 points with upside if he can find chemistry.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
76	16	22	38	0.50

At the start of the year, there were reasons to be optimistic about Kotkaniemi’s progression with Carolina. He began the season with 10 points in his first 10 games and was reliable as a pivot who could take advantage of playing with some of the team’s higher end skill guys like Martin Necas. Unfortunately, it was short lived as Kotkaniemi ended the season with only 27 points which included a three-month drought where he didn’t score a single goal. He went from centering the second line to playing regularly on the fourth line, even finding himself in the press box for a couple games. He is the negative side of the coin of a player with a ‘Jack of All Trades’ skillset, because he’s above average in most areas but not great at anything. The only exception being his heavy shot, which he needs a lot of time and space to release. One of the few skilled puck carriers on a forecheck-heavy team, Kotkaniemi’s skillset is needed but it comes back to him finding his confidence and the coaching staff trusting him again. Even when he was playing better, neither he nor his linemates could find the back of the net so it was hard for him to find any rhythm. With the roster currently loaded with middle-six players, Kotkaniemi needs to show some improvement to stand out from the pack. Now in his seventh season, and while young, a breakout is looking unlikely and should draft for around 15 goals and 30 – 40 points.

Jack Roslovic

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
76	18	19	37	0.49

Roslovic’s season was hampered by injuries, but he was trusted with some good linemates in both Columbus and New York, spending time on the Johnny Gaudreau line in Columbus and with Mika Zibanejad on the Rangers second line in the playoffs. His speed, lanky frame and occasional highlight reel play make him a desirable candidate for that role, but the results have been scattered over his career. Prone to both cold spells in goal-scoring and driving play. Last year being one of his stronger seasons in the play-driving department. As a pass-first player, it’s expected for his results to be more linemate driven, but Roslovic’s strength in the transition game gives him some quick-strike ability that every team can use. He’s an interesting fit in Carolina on a one-year ticket. His versatility will be nice, but it’s tough to say if his love for carrying the puck will fill a need or be an awkward fit in their forecheck-heavy system. There’s potential for him to be the center who can mesh with Necas’ skill, but his inconsistent play-driving could make the Canes pull the plug on that line before it has a chance to gel. He has skills they can use but could be short on linemates on a roster lacking top-end talent. He has only hit 20 goals once and risky to project at much more than that with an equal amount of assists.

Jordan Martinook

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	16	22	38	0.46

Best suited for a checking role, Martinook is usually the first one to get promoted to the top six whenever the Canes need a spark. He plays a straight-forward game with a lot of energy, so it’s easy to see why he’s been a favourite of Rod Brind’Amour since his arrival in Raleigh. His last two seasons have been his most productive, despite him being in his early 30’s. Although a career high of 34 points isn’t going to land you in a lot of record books. Point production is usually secondary when it comes to him, as Martinook is a key cog in their checking line and penalty kill. There’s more skill to his game than meets the eye, as Martinook has decent wheels and a deceptively good shot that makes him dangerous on breakaways. His knack for getting deflections on point shots also makes him a player you have to watch for sometimes. There isn’t much creativity in his game, but it’s not expected given his normal role. He’s the modern-day checking line forward who plays with a lot of tenacity but hasn’t lost the skill he had in juniors. Martinook finally earned a raise this off-season, signing a three-year deal after a couple years of team-friendly contracts with the Hurricanes. He will continue to be one of the team’s sparkplugs provided he stays healthy. Expect similar production.

William Carrier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
64	12	17	29	0.45

Carrier wasn’t the most well-known member of the inaugural Vegas squad, but he was an underrated part of their core. He played a fourth line role but on a higher end in the 11–13-minute range, often used in their starting lineup to help set the tone. He plays super aggressive on the forecheck and brings more skill than you’d expect, surprisingly one of the Vegas leaders in shot and scoring chance setups per 60 minutes during his time there. Most of those are meat and potatoes plays, getting the puck back to the point and crashing the net, but that’s a welcome addition on the Hurricanes. So much so that they opted to sign him to a six-year deal. Carrier isn’t the player you expect to have under contract until he’s 35 years old, but in the immediate he provides help to a Carolina team that was looking to add size and physicality in the off-season. His love for crashing the net and setting up point shots should give his assist total a boost. A nice player to have, but definitely the contract was definitely a head-scratcher for someone who plays lower in the lineup, although he does fill a need with Jesper Fast’s future in jeopardy.

Jack Drury

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	11	23	34	0.43

In search of some form of reliability at the 2C spot, Jack Drury emerged as the guy in the playoffs. Spending most of the season in the bottom-six, Drury found his way as a regular NHLer and the challenge was finding some kind of niche. He hasn’t quite found his game offensively just yet, as his scoring touch isn’t there and he wastes controlled entries with perimeter shots off the rush. Where his game has come along is being a stabilizer and defensive presence alongside Martin Necas. If there was one thing you could count on with Drury, it’s that he could keep play out of the Hurricanes end and be a support valve to help keep possessions alive. He always knows where to be and was a good linemate to deter some of the erratic play of Necas and their defence that loves to pinch at every opportunity. The question is if you want more out of him if he's going to be your second line center. As of now, he’s an excellent fourth or third liner but it’s tough to say if he’ll be a guy who can step up if the Hurricanes need more scoring. He’s also part of a very crowded center corps with no clear number two behind Sebastian Aho. His reliability and potential to do more could give them to edge for that spot, should things break that way.

DEFENCE

Jaccob Slavin

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	7	32	39	0.48

A defensive stalwart with incredible endurance, Slavin might be the face of this era of Hurricanes hockey. Last year was his ninth season with the team and he will likely finish his career in Raleigh after signing an eight-year extension over the summer. How that contract ages is a conversation for another day, but he has held up better than most shutdown defencemen through his late 20’s, still posting excellent defensive numbers and remaining one of the league’s best at denying zone entries. Carolina’s quick, but conservative zone exit strategy has helped with some of the wear and tear, as he doesn’t take a lot of hits and is good at avoiding contact in general. Offence isn’t a big part of his game, although he did see an uptick in point production last season despite no power play time. The Hurricanes love of point shots and defencemen pinching make all of their blue liners a threat to get on the scoresheet in some way and Slavin is no different. He has some of the better puck skills among their defence corps, although it’s not something you see from him every game. This year will be a big test for him because he’s always been part of a great collective unit and now, he’s the centerpiece. It shouldn’t be that much of an adjustment since he was always the de facto top guy, but he doesn’t have the same rapport he did with the pieces around him and sometimes it takes time to get new roster additions, especially this many at the top of the lineup.

Brent Burns

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	8	30	38	0.46

Turning 40 years old in March, the only question with Burns is when Father Time will claim him like he does to most players once they reach the back end of their career. Burns has avoided hitting this wall thanks to his freak-like athleticism and training regimen, but you saw hints of it in the playoffs when the game appeared too fast for him. Quicker passing plays would avoid him, and he would be slower to react than usual. His regular season numbers are slightly more optimistic, as the Hurricanes were on the positive side of the shot, goal and scoring chance ledger with him on the ice, although getting deployed with the top line and Jaccob Slavin helps with that. His own game hasn’t changed much late in his career, he will fire everything at the net, and he can still be a force when jumping in from the point. He was also one of the team’s better blue liners at leading breakouts, both with relieving pressure and kickstarting the transition game, which is needed in the Hurricanes rigid system. With one year left on his deal, Carolina is hoping his body can hold up to at least hold the fort down in a top four role, as he doesn’t need to play the big minutes he used to command. He should at least see a reduction in minutes on the power play with more options brought in.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	11	40	51	0.64

Betting on himself with a one-year deal in Detroit, the veteran defenceman earned himself a nice free agency payday thanks to a monster performance on the power play with 29 points. Returning to Carolina on a three-year deal, he fills a void on a blue line that lost both Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce in free agency, although he’s a different mold than both of those players. A pure power play specialist, Gostisbehere can handle the minutes of what they lost but probably not the assignments against top lines. How much they can shelter him will depend on how the rest of the defence plays, but they’re still going to try to get Ghost out in the offensive zone as much as possible. The Hurricanes foundation is built on a heavy cycle game and point shots, which Gostisbehere can take advantage of with how good he is at creating offence from up high. He’s also not a stranger to playing a simpler game in the defensive zone, even as a puck-mover. He had to do this in Detroit with their system, using the glass for most of his exits and is already familiar with what the Canes system is like. He is a welcome addition to both the Canes power play and five-on-five game, as he will get plenty of pucks thrown his way and his penchant for slipping past forwards for a better shot, will give Carolina a different dynamic high in the zone.

Dmitry Orlov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	6	26	32	0.41

The first season of Dmitry Orlov’s three-year deal was a bumpy ride. Blocked by Slavin and Skjei in the top four, Orlov had to make do with third-pair minutes for most of the year. In theory, he should have crushed these assignments, as he’s used to playing top-pair assignments on good teams. In practice, he struggled to find chemistry with lesser partners and didn’t find his groove until the middle of the year when he was teamed with Jalen Chatfield. The two were arguably the team’s best defence pair in the back half of the season and began playing top-pair minutes at even strength while the rest of the defence corps soaked up the power play time. This year, the training wheels are gone, and Orlov is one of the guys expected to slide up in the lineup to replace what they had in Skjei. Again, this transition shouldn’t be a problem for him in theory but at 33-years old he doesn’t have the same explosiveness as he did in his prime and was on the wrong end of some brutal puck-handling mistakes. Carolina is hoping year two is more of a smooth transition. The prior experience in the top four and chemistry with Chatfield should make the jump easier for him, though.

GOAL

Frederik Andersen

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
39	24	11	3	3	0.914	2.39

Pyotr Kochetkov

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
43	27	13	4	4	0.908	2.49

The Carolina Hurricanes are presumably down to their last season with Frederik Andersen. Unless the now-34-year-old Andersen re-signs on another one or two-year deal with the team at the end of this upcoming campaign, this will be his farewell tour - and that makes this season particularly crucial for the Metropolitan Division franchise, since he's remained their go-to when healthy even after yet another lengthy absence from the lineup. Andersen missed almost the entirety of the 2023-24 season with a blood clot health scare, leaving the Hurricanes to split the net between fellow veteran Antti Raanta and up-and-comer Pyotr Kochetkov. Once he returned, though, Andersen was who the team turned to both down the back stretch and into the postseason. He looked good, but he'll be 35 by the time this year wraps up; it's clear that he's nearing the final few seasons of his NHL career, and Carolina will need to prove that the team's coaching staff feels just as confident relying on Kochetkov in their most crucial games moving into a new era.

Most of Kochetkov's poor performances last season looked simply like a young goaltender learning what it takes to hack it over the long haul in the big leagues, and a concussion forced him to miss a chunk of time in the middle of the year - far from what Hurricanes fans would hope to see after spending the last few seasons forced to sit through a never-ending laundry list of bumps and bruises for both Andersen and Raanta. But while Kochetkov's inexperience made itself known in a handful of games, his overall instincts looked sharp, and his technique looked fluid. His skating ability makes it tough for shooters to take advantage of any decision-making tweaks he still needs; so long as the Hurricanes give him a slightly longer leash to learn the ropes, they should be in good hands.

2024 NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW- New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Corey Sznajder — Sat, 04 May 2024 13:40:37 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 02: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) in action during the National Hockey League game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers on November 2, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

While not considered fierce rivals, there is no love lost between the Hurricanes and Rangers. They’ve had their battles over the years, meeting in the playoffs for the second time in three years with no shortage of ex-teammates on both rosters. The Rangers got the better of the matchup in their last playoff meeting, blowing out Carolina 6-2 on the road in Game 7. The series followed a familiar script of the Hurricanes owning the shot clock but being unable to score on the power play or finish their chances at even strength, a problem that was magnified when they had to play from behind.

Two years have gone by and there’s been some changes on both sides. Vincent Trocheck has gone from Carolina’s second line to the Rangers top line, The Hurricanes presumably have their starting goaltender Frederik Andersen healthy, Brent Burns is on their top pair instead of Tony DeAngelo and both teams are bringing deeper rosters to the table bolstered by the trade deadline. The main players are still here, though and the CliffNotes summary of both teams is similar to what it was then.

Carolina is still that heavy shot volume team that is going to wear you down on the forecheck and struggle to finish while the Rangers still rely on some quick-strike offense backed by a lethal power play and lean on goaltender Igor Shesterkin when they need to. Both clubs have made some improvements since 2021, though. Peter Laviolette has cleaned up the Rangers defensive play so they’re less reliant on their goaltending to steal games and their offense is more versatile compared to the counter-attack dependent team they were under Gerard Gallant. Carolina is also less of a one-trick pony with how they create their offense, showing some more patience with letting plays develop off the rush instead of firing every puck at the net. They also have a new toy in winger Jake Guentzel, who gives them a top line that can potentially matchup with the Rangers firepower.

Both made quick work of their first-round matchups, so what’s new about the Rangers and Carolina in 2023?

The Matchup:

Again, the look of these teams is similar to what it was in 2022, except Laviolette has cleaned up the Rangers play in the defensive zone, as they’re a much better team at getting through an aggressive forecheck now. It’s an interesting style matchup at even strength because Carolina doesn’t give up much off the rush and it’s borderline impossible to create anything against them on the forecheck. They aren’t the cleanest team with exiting the zone and will blindly throw the puck into the neutral zone at times, but they’re still one of the best teams at recovering the puck and at least making things a deadlock at even strength.

How this plays out in a series will depend on the sequence of a game. If Carolina gets a lead, they should be set (although their Game 5 against the Islanders suggests otherwise) while the Rangers can do enough things to frustrate them if the Canes are playing from behind. The one area off the rush where they’re the most prone is counterattacks from the defensive zone, which usually happens when Carolina is pushing for offense late and the Rangers are good enough off the rush to capitalize on these opportunities.

Both teams scored at a similar rate at five-on-five during the regular season (2.56 goals per 60 for Carolina vs. 2.5 for NYR), even though most would consider the Rangers the better finishing team. They have the best forward between both teams (Artemi Panarin) and their passing gives them an edge in all situations, but some of the plays that Panarin and Zibanejad like to create aren’t going to be open unless Carolina gets really careless with the puck or their defensive coverage, so this could be a tight series at five-on-five. That said, Rangers are setup to be a tough team to come back against because they can either force Carolina into playing more of a rush game, which they are excellent at countering against, or forcing them to play a safer, dump-and-chase style of game where they get 30+ shots with 90% of them being of the low-percentage variety.

Why The Rangers Will Win

The easiest way to pick the Rangers is to go down the three major positions and choose who the best player is. Most are probably picking Panarin, Adam Fox and Shesterkin for forward, defenseman and goalie respectively and it’s hard to argue against that. Panarin didn’t exactly light up the scoresheet in the first round against the Caps, but it’s hard to say that he didn’t look dangerous whenever he was out there. It’s hard for any stars to dominate in the playoffs, especially this season, so you just need them to have enough shifts where they can takeover a game. Panarin did that enough against Washington to put the Caps away and he’s still one of the best passers in the league, arguably the best at threading the needle to go east-west with the puck. You could have the best game plan in the world and Panarin is good enough to make that irrelevant in two seconds.

Fox is in a similar boat to Panarin, as he didn’t have his usual star-level production, but he’s still an auto-breakout for the Rangers and will be a thorn in the Hurricanes side when they try to get their forecheck going. Despite the two points, he was impactful in the Washington series, leading the team in zone exits with nine and only turning the puck over once. The Rangers also successfully exited the zone on 16 of his 23 retrievals, which puts him at an elite level when it comes to starting exits. What helps this year is he’s not on an island anymore. New York switching Braden Schneider to the second pair in place of Jacob Trouba really helped stabilize some of the Ranger’s issues with turnovers. Scheider is still young and has issues with dealing with forecheck pressure, but the Rangers are getting the puck out more than they give it away.

The defensive style they played under Gallant was frustrating for the Hurricanes to deal with even if it wasn’t pretty. They didn’t advance a lot of pucks and instead basically gave it back to Carolina where they were immediately pressured into a bad shot that Shesterkin could easily handle or moved the play along the wall where another puck battle would start. Under Laviolette, they’re doing a better job of moving the puck forward and pushing the play from the defensive zone. This could turn some 2-1 games into 3-1 or make Carolina’s aggressive defense back off at the line if they get burned. They can still play the new style, but they’ve learned some new tricks and can try things out until Carolina proves they can score at five-on-five.

This is where the other advantage is on paper, or at least in theory. Shesterkin was a major problem for Carolina two years ago and has given them trouble this year, shutting the Canes out in their last meeting back in March. He is coming off a down season for his standards, but he’s still the type you would expect to turn it on when the games get tougher. His playing style is also a nightmare for the Hurricanes because of how much they normally rely on rebounds, deflections and close-range changes. He’s very quick to drop down and take away anything that you can’t elevate, and it usually takes a great shot, a lucky bounce or perfect timing to beat him. This is where you’d hope the investment in Jake Guentzel pays off if you’re Carolina, as he’s someone who can elevate the puck from close range, but even he scored only one goal in the first round, and it was into an empty net. There’s a lot Carolina needs to go right for them to advance in this series.

This isn’t even getting into the home ice advantage factor. Madison Square Garden has been a house of horrors for the Canes in recent history, they’ve won only four out of their last 23 games there, which includes a 16-game losing streak that lasted over the span of seven seasons. Carolina has moved on from that, winning their last game at MSG 6-1, but home ice played a role in their last series with both teams taking the first three games on their turf until New York won Game 7 in Raleigh. We’ll see if the MSG hex plays a factor again.

Why The Hurricanes Will Win

The Hurricanes’ success will depend on if their forwards can make their shots, if their power play clicks and if Freddie Andersen holds strong in net. They had some of that going for them in their series against the Islanders. Their power play struck in four out of five games and has a lot of different weapons they can turn to. Guentzel might not be making an impact on the scoresheet, but him in the bumper spot is what makes it go. Whether it’s directing traffic or drawing defenders in front of the net, he makes Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis’ lives a whole lot easier. Carolina is hoping he will see more of a reward for it on the scoresheet this round, as converting on those close-range chances is going to be key. Their second unit isn’t too bad either and could play a factor as they start to eat into some of the Rangers more tired skaters on the second half of the penalty kill.

If Carolina has a depth advantage, it’s on the wings. They split up their top line of Guentzel-Aho-Jarvis in Game 2, replacing Jarvis with Andrei Svechnikov and it helped both parties. Svechnikov and Jarvis are their best bet to have one of their forwards breakout against Shesterkin. Jarvis can pick a corner if he gets room and Svechnikov brings a dual threat that most of their other forwards don’t have, showing off some terrific playmaking skill in the opening round. The defense probably shouldn’t be overlooked here either, as Burns, Skjei, Orlov and even Chatfield are always a threat to contribute offensively. All four have heavy shots and will jump into the play if the opportunity presents itself. Washington had to activate their defense to get anything off the rush against the Rangers and the script will probably be similar for Carolina.

The Canes defense is the bedrock of their team after all. As stated earlier, they don’t give up a lot and this is the deepest they’ve ever been, especially if they get Brett Pesce back. Dmitry Orlov on your third pair is a luxury most teams would kill to have and Jalen Chatfield’s going to a more known player in a couple months when he hits free agency. His mobility is a great asset to have with how much man-to-man defending Carolina does and it should limit how much the Rangers can create off the cycle. If Carolina can limit the rush play and shutdown the Rangers when they try to regroup on entries, they should be in good shape because New York is very deliberate with how they play off the cycle. Carolina’s aggressive defensive zone coverage makes that a tough matchup, so there’s the potential for them to make the Rangers dependent on special teams if they can’t make any adjustments. Getting Pesce back for the series would make this easier for Carolina, though.

Special teams are going to be the ultimate struggle in this series. Carolina’s power play is running hot and so is the Rangers penalty kill, even scoring a shorthanded goal against the Caps. Carolina also has a top ranked penalty kill and the Rangers power play is going to be a huge test for them. They threw a few different looks against the Caps, moving Trocheck around the zone to get him open in the slot while Washington’s PK sold out to block the cross-seam pass. Carolina’s penalty kill isn’t going to let Panarin and Fox dance around the zone as easily, but it only takes one misread for them to make you look silly. Still, the Hurricanes penalty killers are a disciplined group. They like to pressure you, but their main job is to give the goaltender just the shooter to worry about instead of a screen, a rebound or an extra pass.

Of course, some of this comes down to the star players, namely Sebastian Aho. He’s never had a bad playoff series objectively and he is Mr. Do-It All for Carolina. There is just another level you expect him to reach if he’s going to carry the Hurricanes through a playoff series where the other team has more “star” players. He does a lot for the team, playing on both special teams units and is the catalyst for most of their offense. You just want to see him (or anyone) take over a game when they need a spark. We’ve seen it in the first round plenty of times, including this year, now he just needs to get over the hump.

McKeen’s 2024 NHL Playoff Pool Picklist

Robert Howard — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:01:11 +0000

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid #97 prior to the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Edmonton Oilers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on February 25, 2023. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire)

In kicking off our 2024 NHL Playoff Pool coverage, Scott Cullen did an excellent breakdown of how to strategize for your pool. We recommend you give it a read and can link here.

The picklist below largely follows the strategy laid out in his article focusing on these broad categories – 1) Diversify 2) Stacking 3) First Round Winners 4) Power Play 5) Late Season Production 6) Injuries 7) Targeting playoff performers. Every playoff season will be different, of course, and simply following the Stanley Cup odds laid in many places including BetGM will provide a picture of which teams you should focus on with your picks to make the final, but the path to that result will vary. They currently have the Carolina Hurricanes (650) and the Colorado Avalanche (700) as odds on favourites to meet in the Stanley Cup Final, followed closely by Florida Panthers (700), Dallas Stars (800), Edmonton Oilers (800) and the New York Rangers (900).

If we look at McKeen’s team predictions for each of the first round series it becomes clear some teams have an easier path and their players will provide the best odds to play the most games. Lets look at how the brackets might shake out.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas Vs. Vegas – We have Dallas winning in seven in a very hard-fought battle. A deep Dallas team versus the defending Champion who boasts several high-profile additions to end the season.

Winnipeg Vs. Colorado – This should be another war with the potential of a Winnipeg upset if Connor Hellebuyck rises to the occasion and Georgiev continues his late season struggles. Colorado should triumph in seven games.

Second Round Matchup: Colorado vs Dallas - The winner of these two close series meet and it means one of the highly ranked Colorado or Dallas will eliminate each other in the second round, assuming no upset in the first.

Edmonton Vs. Los Angeles – Edmonton should have the depth and firepower to take Los Angeles in six as we have predicted.

Vancouver Vs. Nashville – We hesitate to underestimate Nashville again, and this could be a close contest, but feel confident Vancouver will take it in six.

Second Round Matchup: Edmonton vs Vancouver – This should make for a thrilling series, but McDavid and company looked on a mission in the second half and should proceed to the conference final in six.

Therefore, the conference final in the west is projected to be Edmonton versus Colorado or Dallas (two very closely matched teams).

EASTERN CONFRENCE

Florida Vs. Tampa Bay – The recent two-time Stanley Cup champion meets last year’s finalist in the first round. While Tampa’s core may be aging, they are still a real threat if they get rolling. Florida showed they know how to win in the playoffs last year as well. Two goaltenders who can steal a series may make this a potential upset, but Florida should prevail in six.

Boston Vs. Toronto – Old nemesis meet again in the first round. Boston has beaten Toronto consistently in the playoffs in recent years and won all head-to-head matchups this season. There are questions about both teams, but the series should go seven and really could go either way.

Second Round Matchup: Boston Vs. Florida – with both series offering potential upsets, Florida players are ranked higher than Boston, and have ranked some high scoring Leafs and reasonable picks given they could well make it to the second round and can provide a challenge for both teams.

Carolina Vs. New York Islanders – A deep Carolina team adding some significant pieces at the deadline and should beat the Islanders here in five games.

New York Rangers Vs. Washington – The Rangers should be heavy favourites in this series and should beat the Capital in five or six games.

Second Round Matchup: - Carolina vs New York Rangers – of the second-round matchups this is the one we are most comfortable predicting. It should be a close series with the Hurricanes moving on to the Conference Final against Florida.

The following picklist is based on those possible outcomes. The first round offers some interesting matchups that could leave a favourite or two on the outside looking in early. Stack up on the teams you feel have the best odds of taking the cup but understand there are always upsets. Looking at the above, the teams with the easiest path to the conference final are Edmonton and Carolina. Colorado and Dallas are favourites of both the oddsmakers and ourselves to win a cup, but one of them will bow out by the second round. Florida has depth but will have to go through Tampa and either Boston or Toronto.

Good luck whichever strategy you choose.

Subscribers can download an excel version of this list in subscriber downloads

RANK	Player	Team	Pos	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP	EVG	EVP	PPG	PPP
1	Connor McDavid	EDM	C	76	32	100	132	35	30	1.74	24	87	7	44
2	Nathan MacKinnon	COL	C	82	51	89	140	35	42	1.71	41	92	10	48
3	Sebastian Aho	CAR	C	78	36	53	89	34	36	1.14	24	55	11	32
4	Jake Guentzel	CAR	C	67	30	47	77	25	22	1.15	25	55	5	22
5	Leon Draisaitl	EDM	C	81	41	65	106	26	76	1.31	20	65	21	39
6	Mikko Rantanen	COL	R	80	42	62	104	19	50	1.3	28	64	14	40
7	Cale Makar	COL	D	77	21	69	90	15	16	1.17	13	47	7	39
8	Sam Reinhart	FLA	C	82	57	37	94	29	31	1.15	25	55	27	34
9	Matthew Tkachuk	FLA	L	80	26	62	88	19	88	1.1	19	55	6	32
10	Aleksander Barkov	FLA	C	73	23	57	80	33	24	1.1	18	49	5	29
11	Artemi Panarin	NYR	L	82	49	71	120	18	24	1.46	38	75	11	44
12	Jason Robertson	DAL	L	82	29	51	80	19	22	0.98	20	52	9	28
13	Roope Hintz	DAL	C	80	30	35	65	26	22	0.81	19	42	8	19
14	Seth Jarvis	CAR	C	81	33	34	67	23	14	0.83	18	44	13	20
15	Andrei Svechnikov	CAR	R	59	19	33	52	13	58	0.88	14	35	5	17
16	Evan Bouchard	EDM	D	81	18	64	82	34	32	1.01	10	47	8	35
17	Zach Hyman	EDM	L	80	54	23	77	36	48	0.96	39	57	15	20
18	Valeri Nichushkin	COL	R	54	28	25	53	5	22	0.98	12	30	16	21
19	Nikita Kucherov	TBL	R	81	44	100	144	8	22	1.78	31	91	13	53
20	Auston Matthews	TOR	C	81	69	38	107	31	20	1.32	51	77	18	29
21	David Pastrnak	BOS	R	82	47	63	110	21	47	1.34	35	75	12	35
22	Jack Eichel	VGK	C	63	31	37	68	4	27	1.08	20	44	11	22
23	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	EDM	C	80	18	49	67	10	36	0.84	14	38	4	26
24	Joe Pavelski	DAL	C	82	27	40	67	12	20	0.82	16	46	11	21
25	Matt Duchene	DAL	C	80	25	40	65	15	20	0.81	19	49	6	16
26	Mika Zibanejad	NYR	C	81	26	46	72	15	30	0.89	12	35	12	31
27	Martin Necas	CAR	C	77	24	29	53	-9	42	0.69	16	40	8	13
28	Vincent Trocheck	NYR	C	82	25	52	77	16	55	0.94	13	52	11	24
29	Chris Kreider	NYR	L	82	39	36	75	19	26	0.91	19	41	18	29
30	William Nylander	TOR	R	82	40	58	98	1	24	1.2	26	59	11	35
31	Mitch Marner	TOR	R	69	26	59	85	21	18	1.23	17	57	8	27
32	Adam Fox	NYR	D	72	17	56	73	21	36	1.01	10	38	6	33
33	Miro Heiskanen	DAL	D	71	9	45	54	8	36	0.76	7	33	2	21
34	Carter Verhaeghe	FLA	C	76	34	38	72	17	36	0.95	26	51	8	21
35	Mark Stone	VGK	R	56	16	37	53	1	22	0.95	10	35	4	14
36	Wyatt Johnston	DAL	C	82	32	33	65	14	38	0.79	26	52	3	10
37	Casey Mittelstadt	COL	C	80	18	39	57	10	32	0.71	15	48	3	9
38	Jonathan Drouin	COL	L	79	19	37	56	12	28	0.71	14	37	5	19
39	Artturi Lehkonen	COL	L	45	16	18	34	11	14	0.76	9	22	7	12
40	Sam Bennett	FLA	C	69	20	21	41	17	100	0.59	15	29	5	12
41	Vladimir Tarasenko	FLA	R	76	23	32	55	13	12	0.72	20	46	3	9
42	Jamie Benn	DAL	L	82	21	39	60	8	41	0.73	13	35	7	22
43	Tyler Seguin	DAL	C	68	25	27	52	10	26	0.76	22	42	3	8
44	J.T. Miller	VAN	C	81	37	66	103	32	58	1.27	25	61	10	40
45	Quinn Hughes	VAN	D	82	17	75	92	38	38	1.12	12	54	5	38
46	Elias Pettersson	VAN	C	82	34	55	89	20	12	1.09	21	56	13	31
47	Brad Marchand	BOS	L	82	29	38	67	2	78	0.82	19	37	7	26
48	Charlie Coyle	BOS	C	82	25	35	60	-2	38	0.73	17	44	7	11
49	Jonathan Marchessault	VGK	R	82	42	27	69	-2	40	0.84	34	52	8	17
50	Tomas Hertl	VGK	C	54	17	21	38	-28	22	0.7	10	26	6	11
51	Teuvo Teravainen	CAR	L	76	25	28	53	15	10	0.7	15	32	9	17
52	Mason Marchment	DAL	L	81	22	31	53	22	54	0.65	16	42	6	11
53	Thomas Harley	DAL	D	79	15	32	47	28	18	0.59	13	37	1	9
54	John Tavares	TOR	C	80	29	36	65	2	30	0.81	20	45	9	20
55	Pavel Zacha	BOS	C	78	21	38	59	12	18	0.76	15	44	6	15
56	Brayden Point	TBL	C	81	46	44	90	-16	14	1.11	31	58	15	32
57	Steven Stamkos	TBL	C	79	40	41	81	-21	34	1.03	21	42	19	39
58	Victor Hedman	TBL	D	78	13	63	76	18	76	0.97	9	45	4	31
59	Brandon Hagel	TBL	L	82	26	49	75	1	79	0.91	24	66	2	7
60	Evander Kane	EDM	L	77	24	20	44	-4	85	0.57	21	36	2	7
61	Logan Stankoven	DAL	C	24	6	8	14	10	4	0.58	5	12	1	2
62	Devon Toews	COL	D	82	12	38	50	28	18	0.61	12	43	0	5
63	Charlie McAvoy	BOS	D	74	12	35	47	4	86	0.64	11	34	1	13
64	Morgan Rielly	TOR	D	72	7	51	58	7	27	0.81	6	38	1	20
65	Brock Boeser	VAN	R	81	40	33	73	23	14	0.9	24	48	16	25
66	Alexis Lafrenière	NYR	L	82	28	29	57	2	40	0.7	26	51	2	6
67	Mark Scheifele	WPG	C	74	25	47	72	19	57	0.97	19	54	6	18
68	Kyle Connor	WPG	L	65	34	27	61	-6	6	0.94	29	42	5	19
69	Chandler Stephenson	VGK	C	75	16	35	51	-9	25	0.68	10	35	4	13
70	Mattias Ekholm	EDM	D	79	11	34	45	44	47	0.57	8	41	2	3
71	Josh Morrissey	WPG	D	81	10	59	69	34	44	0.85	8	50	2	19
72	Ross Colton	COL	C	80	17	23	40	-8	61	0.5	14	35	3	5
73	Warren Foegele	EDM	L	82	20	21	41	3	47	0.5	18	38	1	1
74	Brady Skjei	CAR	D	80	13	34	47	15	40	0.59	11	31	1	12
75	Brent Burns	CAR	D	82	10	33	43	19	20	0.52	5	22	4	20
76	William Karlsson	VGK	C	70	30	30	60	15	22	0.86	22	43	7	15
77	Shea Theodore	VGK	D	47	5	37	42	4	6	0.89	3	27	2	15
78	Filip Forsberg	NSH	L	82	48	46	94	16	43	1.15	35	62	13	32
79	Roman Josi	NSH	D	82	23	62	85	12	45	1.04	14	51	9	33
80	Sean Monahan	WPG	C	83	26	33	59	-1	12	0.71	15	36	9	21
81	Gustav Forsling	FLA	D	79	10	29	39	56	43	0.49	9	37	1	2
82	Brandon Montour	FLA	D	66	8	25	33	1	46	0.5	7	16	1	17
83	Mathew Barzal	NYI	C	80	23	57	80	-4	34	1	18	55	5	25
84	Noah Dobson	NYI	D	79	10	60	70	12	36	0.89	9	45	1	24
85	Nikolaj Ehlers	WPG	L	82	25	36	61	27	29	0.74	25	54	0	7
86	Tyler Toffoli	WPG	C	79	33	22	55	-6	14	0.7	22	37	11	18
87	Cole Perfetti	WPG	C	71	19	19	38	13	12	0.54	14	27	5	11
88	Gabriel Vilardi	WPG	C	47	22	14	36	11	14	0.77	13	22	9	14
89	Anthony Duclair	TBL	L	73	24	18	42	-8	34	0.58	19	30	5	12
90	Brock Nelson	NYI	C	82	34	35	69	-5	28	0.84	24	48	9	19
91	Bo Horvat	NYI	C	81	33	35	68	-1	39	0.84	22	48	10	18
92	Adrian Kempe	LAK	R	77	28	47	75	13	72	0.97	20	44	5	27
93	Kevin Fiala	LAK	L	82	29	44	73	1	62	0.89	18	43	11	30
94	Anze Kopitar	LAK	C	81	26	44	70	11	22	0.86	16	44	9	23
95	Jake DeBrusk	BOS	L	80	19	21	40	4	18	0.5	15	28	2	10
96	Tyler Bertuzzi	TOR	L	80	21	22	43	2	53	0.54	16	37	5	6
97	Ivan Barbashev	VGK	C	82	19	26	45	15	42	0.55	16	40	3	5
98	Gustav Nyquist	NSH	C	81	23	52	75	7	8	0.93	17	49	5	24
99	Ryan O'Reilly	NSH	C	82	26	43	69	6	18	0.84	12	41	14	28
100	Max Domi	TOR	C	80	9	38	47	10	118	0.59	8	45	1	2

2024 NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

Ryan Dadoun — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 22:33:41 +0000

ELMONT, NY - APRIL 23: New York Islanders Center Mathew Barzal (13) and Carolina Hurricanes Center Sebastian Aho (20) battle for the puck during the third period of Game 4 of the National Hockey League Eastern Conference First Round Playoff game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders on April 23, 2023, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

Under Rod Brind'Amour’s tenure as the head coach of the Hurricanes, Carolina has now made the playoffs for six straight games, and the squad has seen some playoff success over that span, but the one thing that’s alluded the Hurricanes during this era has been a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. Carolina was clearly looking to change that when it acquired Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov from Pittsburgh and Washington, respectively, ahead of the trade deadline. Will those big acquisitions pay off, though? The reality is that they won’t unless the Hurricanes have a deep playoff run, starting with the task of eliminating the Islanders for the second straight year.

It's not hard to see why the Hurricanes are the clear favorite in this series, just as they were in 2023 when they bested the Islanders in six games. It starts with the offense -- Carolina finished the campaign ranking eighth offensively with 3.38 goals per contest, and that’s jumped to an average of 3.65 since the additions of Guentzel and Kuznetsov.

Guentzel has been everything the Hurricanes could have hoped for and more, supplying eight goals and 25 points over 17 outings since the trade. Kuznetsov, who was far more of a gamble to begin with, has been a mixed bag, collecting two goals and seven points over 20 appearances. He did have a four-game scoring streak (two goals, five points) early in his tenure with the Hurricanes, but since then he’s been limited to two assists over 13 outings. Ultimately, he hasn’t shown he can be the same forward who surpassed the 70-point mark on four occasions, but Carolina doesn’t need him to be. Instead, he can be deployed in a bottom-six role to keep the Islanders on their toes even when the main scorers are on the bench.

The Hurricanes also have arguably the best blue line in the league -- they are first in xGA/60 at 2.65. For much of this season, goaltending was a question mark despite the strong defense, but that was because Frederik Andersen wasn’t healthy. The 34-year-old is back now and seems poised to have a tremendous playoff run after posting a 13-2-0 record, 1.84 GAA and .932 save percentage in 16 contests. In other words, Carolina is a tremendously talented team.

Can the Islanders measure up? It’s hard to argue that they could.

The big gap between these teams is in terms of offense. The Islanders managed just 2.99 goals per game, ranking 22nd in the league. They certainly have scoring threats. Brock Nelson, Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri each recorded at least 30 goals while Mathew Barzal finished with 80 points and Noah Dobson ranked seventh in the defenseman scoring race with 70 points. After that, though, the Islanders don’t have another player who finished with at least 40 points.

New York was never expected to be a major offensive force, though. Instead, it was supposed to be goaltending that led the way. Semyon Varlamov did fulfill his end of the bargain with a 14-8-4 record, 2.60 GAA and .918 save percentage in 28 contests, but starter Ilya Sorokin struggled, posting a 25-19-12 record, 3.01 GAA and .909 save percentage in 56 appearances. Those aren’t the worst numbers in the world, but they do represent a major decline after he finished second in Vezina Trophy voting a year ago. One might hope that legendary goaltender Patrick Roy replacing Lane Lambert as the bench boss midway through the campaign would have helped spark Sorokin, but the 28-year-old netminder remained mediocre with a 12-8-3 record, 2.74 GAA and .909 save percentage in 23 outings under Roy’s leadership.

Maybe Varlamov will get the assignment in Game 1 or Sorokin will have a short leash, but at best, the Islanders have the potential to be a team with strong goaltending, whereas Carolina could be that and so much more.

KEY MATCHUPS

Bo Horvat vs. Sebastian Aho

There was a major contrast between these two top-line forwards in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, and that had a big impact on which squad advanced. Aho led the Hurricanes with four goals and seven points across the six-game series while Horvat was limited to a goal and an assist. The Islanders need Horvat at his best this time around, and it’s a similar story in Carolina.

While the Hurricanes are the more balanced team overall and rely on Aho’s offense less now that Guentzel is on the roster, Aho is still a central piece and played a major part in their regular season success with a team-leading 36 goals and 89 points over 78 outings. If the Islanders can find a way to contain Aho, then their task of pulling off an upset will become substantially more realistic.

Kyle Palmieri vs. Teuvo Teravainen

In contrast to Horvat, Palmieri was great in the 2023 postseason series, supplying two goals and five points in six games versus Carolina. The 33-year-old followed that up by having one of the best campaigns of his career with 30 goals and 54 points in 82 outings. That’s given the Islanders some much-needed oomph on the second line.

He’ll be countered in part by Teravainen, who is projected to play on the Hurricanes’ second unit. The 29-year-old Finnish forward struggled in 2022-23 with 12 goals and 37 points across 68 appearances, but he bounced back this campaign, contributing 25 goals and 53 points in 76 outings. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue that success into the playoffs.

Noah Dobson vs. Brent Burns

This is one of the few areas where the Islanders have the obvious edge. That wasn’t the case a year ago when Burns outscored Dobson five-to-two in the first-round series, but since then, Dobson has found another level. The Islanders blueliner has found another level -- his 70 points in 2023-24 shattered his previous career high of 51 -- while time is slowly catching up to the 39-year-old Burns. The Hurricanes defenseman still managed 10 goals and 43 points in 82 outings, which is amazing for his age, but it pales in comparison to what Dobson, who is 15 years his junior, can do.

X-FACTOR

Carolina Hurricanes: I suggested above that the return of Andersen fixes Carolina’s previously questionable goaltending situation, and I do believe that, but I have to also acknowledge that the 34-year-old goaltender’s 16 starts this year represents a rather small sample size. I don’t consider that to be a huge issue because the veteran goaltender has enjoyed a largely successful career outside of this campaign, and he has that stellar defense supporting him, but it would be fair to take his numbers with a grain of salt and acknowledge that Carolina doesn’t look as complete if its starting netminder falters, especially because the next best alternative, Pyotr Kochetkov, has just one career playoff start under his belt.

New York Islanders: I already mentioned above that Palmieri was one of the Islanders’ better players in the 2023 series, but Carolina can’t sleep on his linemate, Brock Nelson, either. That’s in part because the duo has been red hot recently. Palmieri has seven goals and 12 points over his past 10 outings while Nelson is entering the postseason riding a five-game scoring streak (four goals, eight points). A lot is riding on the Harvat and Barzal, but it might be the second line that gives Carolina more trouble.

FANTASY PLAYERS TO TARGET

Given what we just discussed about Nelson and Palmieri’s recent performance, an argument could be made that they’re being undervalued going into fantasy drafts. The only problem is the Islanders’ chances of getting past the first round are low in my opinion, so I wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to grab them.

Instead, I’d sooner load up on Hurricanes players if given the option. Given Guentzel’s success since joining Carolina, I anticipate him being fantastic in the 2024 postseason. I think Teravainen is also a solid add and perhaps an undervalued one. He had a somewhat hot-and-cold campaign, but he finished with four goals and five points over his last three appearances, giving him some momentum going into the playoffs.

Seth Jarvis set career highs in the regular season with 33 goals and 67 points in 81 outings, and I expect him to maintain that level of success into the postseason. It helps that he’s set to play on the top line alongside Guentzel and Aho.

PREDICTION

Carolina has gone all-in on this playoff run and should at the very least push past the Islanders. Perhaps I’m underestimating the chances of a Sorokin comeback or not giving enough weight to the probability that the Islanders’ second line will do well, but given the totality of the Hurricanes, I expect them to push past the Islanders in five games.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Season Wrap – Players who exceeded expectations and what we learned from them

Scott Cullen — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:45:46 +0000

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

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

This week, reflecting on players that were much better or much worse than preseason expectations and what we might learn from those seasons. Sam Reinhart, Filip Forsberg, Brock Boeser, Vincent Trocheck, Robert Thomas and much, much more!

#1 Florida Panthers right winger Sam Reinhart was not some unknown commodity entering the 2023-2024 season. He was coming off back-to-back seasons with more than 30 goals and had a career-high 82 points in 2021-2022. He hit a new level this season, however, scoring his 54th goal on Thursday night. He is scoring on a league-leading (minimum 100 shots on goal) 24.0 percent of his shots. That percentage spike certainly helps, and Reinhart has scored a career-high 27 power play goals after scoring 16 in each of the previous two seasons. He has also scored the first five shorthanded goals of his career this season. Ultimately, this has been a career season for the 28-year-old but, given the power play production and high shooting percentage, it is not going to be easy for him to duplicate this season.

#2 It is no secret that Nashville Predators left winger Filip Forsberg is a high-end offensive player, but he had some durability issues. Prior to this season, the last time that he had played even 70 games in a NHL season was in 2016-2017. A healthy Forsberg has played 18:59 per game, his highest average time on ice since 2015-2016 and is generating 4.19 shots on goal per game, more than an additional shot per game over his 2022-2023 season. The result has been career highs of 43 goals and 89 points in 79 games. He has thrived on a line with offseason additions Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist. O’Reilly, coming off a season in which he had 30 points in 53 games, has 66 points (26 G, 40 A) in 79 games, the second highest point total of his career. Nyquist, who has 27 points (11 G, 16 A) in 51 games for Columbus and Minnesota last season, has a career-high 72 points (22 G, 50 A) in 79 games.

#3 A season ago, Vancouver Canucks right winger Brock Boeser scored 18 goals in 74 games, the lowest per-game goal rate of his NHL career. He had also gone through personal turmoil, following the death of his father in May of 2022, and was open to the idea of moving on from Vancouver. The Canucks stuck with Boeser and has been paired primarily with J.T. Miller and a rotating cast of other linemates, but the result has been career highs of 40 goals and 73 points while scoring on a career-high 19.6 percent of his shots.

#4 New York Rangers centre Vincent Trocheck has long been a valuable fantasy performer, in part because he is a centre who hits – this is the third straight season in which he recorded at least 170 hits. Trocheck has played more than 21 minutes per game this season and has recorded a career-high 76 points (25 G, 51 A) in 80 games.

#5 Prior to this season, St. Louis Blues centre Robert Thomas was known as a pass-first playmaker and while that still remained a big part of his game, Thomas started to shoot the puck more and that led him to career highs of 25 goals and 83 points. It’s the first season in which Thomas has recorded more than two shots on goal per game and he has played a career-high 21 minutes per game. This is the second season of the 24-year-old’s career in which he has topped a point per game and, in his prime, should be expected to continue scoring in the years to come.

#6 Ever since he scored 85 points (22 G, 63 A) in 82 games as a rookie in 2016-2017, New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal has been a dangerous offensive threat, though on a tight-checking Islanders team, that hasn’t always resulted in big point production. This season, Barzal shifted to right wing and the result has been a career-high 23 goals and 80 points in 78 games. He is generating 3.00 shots on goal per game for the first time in his career and has hit the 80-point mark despite scoring on just 9.8 percent of his shots. His on-ice shooting percentage of 8.4 percent is also below his career average, so there is still another level out there for Barzal if he can build on increased shot rates and then hit a season in which the percentages start to break in his direction.

#7 Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki has improved his production every season that he has been in the NHL, scoring 0.58 points per game as a rookie in 2019-2020, but steadily increasing that rate to hit 0.96 points per game this season, producing 76 points (33 G 43 A) in 79 games. The second half of the season has also offered a great growth opportunity for second-year winger Juraj Slafkovsky, who has joined Suzuki and Cole Caufield on Montreal’s top line. In 30 games since the All-Star break, Slafkovsky has tallied 28 points (12 G, 16 A) with 76 shots on goal.

#8 When Carolina Hurricanes right winger Seth Jarvis went from 40 points (17 G, 23 A) in 68 games as a rookie in 2021-2022 to 39 points (14 G, 25 A) in 82 games last season, it looked like he had stalled somewhat in his second NHL season. Not so fast. Jarvis had gone from scoring on 15.5 percent of his shots as a rookie to just 7.5 percent last season. This season, Jarvis is playing a career-high 18:47 per game and is scoring on a career best 17.3 percent of his shots, leading him to 63 points (30 G, 33 A). The 22-year-old spends a lot of time on Sebastian Aho’s wing and, given his breakthrough season, that should continue for many more years.

#9 Anaheim Ducks left winger Frank Vatrano has always been able to generate shots and he did so even when playing a depth role earlier in his career. This season, Vatrano has logged more than 18 minutes per game for the Ducks, generating 3.37 shots on goal per game, the first time in his career than Vatrano has averaged more than three shots on goal per game. That has led Vatrano to career highs of 33 goals and 56 points.

#10 Dallas Stars centre Wyatt Johnston is just 20-year-old, in his second season after scoring 24 goals and 41 points as a rookie in 2022-2023. He followed that up with a significant step forward in his sophomore season. Johnston’s ice time is up nearly a minute-and-a-half per game, but he has generated more than 2.60 shots on goal per game after he had 1.95 per game as a rookie, and Johnston has vaulted to 32 goals and 65 points in his second NHL season.

#11 After starting his career with productive seasons in Calgary, veteran centre Sean Monahan endured a three-year stretch during which he produced 68 points (24 G, 44 A) in 140 games. He had been bothered by hip injuries and it was looking like a once promising career might be fading away before Monahan even hit 30 years of age. In good health this season, Monahan has become a productive scoring centre once again. He has 56 points (24 G, 32 A) in 80 games, his most points in a season since 2018-2019.

#12 In 2021-2022, Los Angeles Kings right winger Trevor Moore had career highs of 17 goals and 48 points. He was a reliable middle six winger with good speed but was not counted on to produce a ton offensively. Expectations were lowered when he scored 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 59 games last season. This season, Moore has played nearly 18 minutes per game and is averaging more than three shots on goal per game for the first time in his career. As a result, the 29-year-old has delivered 55 points (30 G, 25 A) in 79 games.

#13 When the Calgary Flames acquired Yegor Sharangovich from the New Jersey Devils in the Tyler Toffoli trade, expectations were modest. After all, Sharangovich has managed 30 points (13 G, 17 A) in 75 games the previous season. The 25-year-old thrived in Calgary, playing more than 17 minutes per game, and putting up 57 points (30 G, 27 A) in 78 games. He has scored on 17.9 percent of his shots, which is a career high and probably unsustainable, making it easy enough to predict regression for Sharangovich next season.

#14 While there were expectations surrounding Jonathan Drouin following his move to Colorado, it was hard to know what would constitute a successful season from the enigmatic winger. Drouin had 87 points (17 G, 70 A) in 163 games over the previous four seasons but getting reunited with former junior teammate Nathan MacKinnon has had an amazing effect on Drouin, as he has hit a career high 56 points (19 G, 37 A) in 76 games.

#15 The first overall pick in the 2020 Draft, New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere had been modestly productive in his first three NHL seasons, hitting a career-high of 39 points (16 G, 23 A) in 2022-2023. This season, the 22-year-old has seen his ice time increase by nearly two minutes per game while his per-game shot rate has jumped by one per game. Playing most of the season with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck has paid off in a big way for Lafreniere, who has hit career highs with 27 goals and 56 points.

#16 Following a two-season stretch in which he had a .897 save percentage in 98 appearances, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington came into the 2023-2024 season with few expectations placed upon him. Binnington responded by posting a .911 save percentage in 55 games this season and, with 28 wins, he was a big reason for the Blues to remain in the playoff hunt as long as they did.

#17 At 36-years-old, coming off a down season in Ottawa, Cam Talbot took the starting job with the Los Angeles Kings and ran with it. There have been some ups and downs along the way, but a .916 save percentage with 26 wins in 52 games has been a major boost for the Kings and has given Talbot far more fantasy value than anyone had a right to expect. The key to goaltenders is that there might be a handful of reliable options year after year, but among the rest, it will suddenly be guys like Binnington and Talbot who can unexpectedly alter the fate of your fantasy team.

#18 At the start of the season, the Buffalo Sabres gave rookie Devon Levi a good chance to take the starting job out of training camp and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had to bide his time, watching and waiting while Levi faltered. When the Sabres turned to Luukkonen, he delivered a .910 save percentage with 27 wins in 53 games. The 25-year-old has looked every bit like a starting goaltender, and now he is the one that will enter next season as the starter.

#19 The Arizona Coyotes entered the season with Karel Vejmelka in the starting goaltender role, but as Vejmelka struggled, Connor Ingram was delivering quality starts and he has taken over the starting job, posting a .909 save percentage with 22 wins in 48 games. The difficulty of getting wins for Arizona has put a limit on Ingram’s fantasy appeal, but he was barely relevant in fantasy terms before this season and is now much more interesting.

#20 Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren played in 31 games last season, a new career high. As the Capitals have tried to remain in the playoff race, despite a terrible goal differential, Lindgren has taken the starting job in the Capitals’ crease. Lingren has a .908 save percentage with 22 wins in 47 games.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Duclair, Drouin, Nyquist, Ekholm, Thompson plus much, much more

Scott Cullen — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:22:15 +0000

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 14: Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Anthony Duclair (10) looks to make a pass during the NHL Hockey match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers on March 14, 2024 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire)

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

This week, Anthony Duclair has been a great fit in Tampa Bay, Jonathan Drouin is thriving in Colorado, Gustav Nyquist is having a career year in Nashville, Mattias Ekholm is a force in Edmonton, Logan Thompson is hugely important for the Golden Knights down the stretch, and much, much more!

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning winger Anthony Duclair has been well traveled throughout his NHL career. This stop with the Lightning is the eighth NHL team for the 28-year-old winger and Duclair has been a quality addition for Tampa Bay. In eight games for the Lightning, Duclair has put up nine points (5 G, 4 A) with 18 shots on goal. He has settled on left wing of Tampa Bay’s top line, alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, which is a great situation for just about anyone.

#2 Jonathan Drouin’s offseason move to Colorado offered him the opportunity to play with elite talent and it has helped to resurrect his career. In his past 10 games, Drouin has 12 points (4 G, 8 A) with 21 shots on goal and the shots on goal are a good indication for Drouin, who can be a reluctant shooter at times. He is still averaging a little over 1.5 shots on goal per game this season, which is not a lot, but the rate has increased during this most recent offensive surge. He is in a prime position, skating on the left wing of Colorado’s top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

#3 The Nashville Predators finally lost in regulation time Thursday night in Arizona, snapping an 18-game point streak, but that did not prevent veteran winger Gustav Nyquist from extending his individual point streak to seven games. In the past 19 games, Nyquist has produced 25 points (9 G, 16 A) with 38 shots on goal. The 34-year-old has hit a career high with 66 points (21 G, 45 A) in 73 games. He has been an excellent fit on Nashville’s top line and first power play unit, skating with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly.

#4 Moving to Edmonton last season helped to unlock some offensive potential in veteran blueliner Mattias Ekholm. Known as a steady and reliable defenceman, Ekholm’s ability to move the puck opens the door to quality offensive production. In his past eight games, Ekholm has delivered 10 points (3 G, 7 A) with 25 shots on goal. He is up to 36 points (7 G, 29 A) on the season, his most since he put up a career-high 44 points in 2018-2019. Incredibly, only three of Ekholm’s 36 points have come on the power play.

#5 As the Vegas Golden Knights battle to secure a playoff spot, starting goaltender Adin Hill is out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury. Logan Thompson takes over as the No. 1 for Vegas, with Pavel Patera recalled from the AHL to fill the backup role. Thompson stopped 39 of 40 shots in Thursday’s 4-1 victory at Winnipeg, giving him a .922 save percentage in his past nine games. The Golden Knights have a 21-12-5 record with Thompson between the pipes, which should help to give him good value for the stretch run.

#6 While the Ottawa Senators are making some noise when it is too late to really matter, the production still offers value for fantasy managers. Right winger Drake Batherson has been on a productive run for quite a while, tallying 18 points (9 G, 9 A) with 50 shots on goal in his past 19 games. He is riding on the Sens’ top line, skating with Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto, a good combination for Batherson.

#7 On one hand, it is wonderful for the Buffalo Sabres that young winger J.J. Peterka has developed to the point that he leads the team with 25 goals this season. On the other hand, it is not ideal for the Sabres to have Peterka outscoring the likes of Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jeff Skinner. Peterka has seven points (5 G, 2 A) with 20 shots on goal in his past eight games and he played a career-high 21:38 in Wednesday’s loss against Ottawa, skating on the Sabres’ top line with Thompson and Tuch.

#8 Hurricanes right winger Seth Jarvis is enjoying a breakout season. In his third NHL campaign, Jarvis has produced 60 points (28 G, 32 A). In his past 11 games, the 22-year-old winger has 12 points (9 G, 3 A) and 26 shots on goal. Skating on Carolina’s top line with Sebastian Aho and Jake Guentzel is obviously a great spot for Jarvis, but he is doing his part to keep that prime spot in the lineup.

#9 At the start of the season, Washington Capitals centre Connor McMichael appeared to be blocked by veterans down the middle of the ice. However, with Nicklas Backstrom unable to get healthy and Evgeny Kuznetsov shipped out to Carolina at the trade deadline, more opportunities are available for 23-year-old McMichael. To his credit, he is making the most of it, most recently skating with Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie on the Capitals’ top line, McMichael has eight points (5 G, 3 A) with 14 shots on goal in his past nine games.

#10 Even though his ice time can be inconsistent in Winnipeg, Nikolaj Ehlers continues to produce. He has eight points (2 G, 6 A) with 26 shots on goal in his past eight games and he played 18:07 in Thursday’s loss against Vegas, which was Ehlers’ highest time on ice since an overtime loss to Toronto on January 24. Without a prime role on the Jets’ power play, Ehlers has scored 48 of his 53 points this season at even strength, which is a huge credit to him as a player but does make him less appealing for fantasy managers.

#11 It is fair to say that the Los Angeles Kings expected a lot more from centre Pierre-Luc Dubois this season. He has no shot at scoring 60-plus points for a third straight season, but he does have seven points (1 G, 6 A) in his past seven games. The concern for fantasy managers – to say nothing of the Kings – is that Dubois has just 11 shots on goal in those seven games, raising questions about how sustainable this production might be over the rest of the season. One reason to be encouraged about Dubois is that Viktor Arvidsson has landed on his wing and Arvidsson brings an energy that should elevate Dubois’ game.

#12 With Mitch Marner still nursing a high ankle sprain, Max Domi is getting a chance to skate on the Maple Leafs’ top line with Auston Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi. Domi has been a solid complementary player for Toronto this season and he does have nine points (1 G, 8 A) with 19 shots on goal in nine games since the trade deadline. As a pass-first playmaker, Domi does seem to be a stylistic fit alongside Matthews, the league’s leading goal scorer. Of course, the moment that Marner is ready to return, Domi’s fantasy value will drop.

#13 When the Detroit Red Wings traded winger Klim Kostin to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline, it did not make big waves. After all, he had just four pints (3 G, 1 A) in 33 games for the Red Wings, but Kostin is getting a better opportunity with the Sharks. He has seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 10 games for San Jose and played a season-high 17:01 in Thursday’s loss at Minnesota, skating with Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund on San Jose’s top line. Yes, that is the Sharks’ top line.

#14 Scoring a goal in Thursday’s win over Nashville, Arizona Coyotes centre Nick Bjugstad extended his point streak to five games. The veteran pivot has landed in a plum spot, skating with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on Arizona’s No. 1 line, and he has delivered 11 points (7 G< 4 A) with 29 shots on goal in his past 11 games. It is the first time since 2017-2018 that Bjugstad has surpassed 40 points in a season.

#15 Playing on a deep Carolina blueline, Dmitry Orlov has not been as productive as he was last season, when he produced a career-high 36 points while playing for the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins. While that is true, Orlov may be worthy of late season fantasy interest, as he has contributed eight points (3 G, 5 A) along with 18 shots on goal in his past nine games. Orlov is playing just over 17 minutes per game this season, down more than five minutes per game compared to last season, and he is not a big power play point producer, but being a strong puck mover on a dominant Carolina team can still deliver the goods.

#16 The Carolina Hurricanes added more talent at the trade deadline and after a couple of three-point games, it appears to have sent winger Teuvo Teravainen into a slump. He has gone six straight games without a point despite playing nearly 16 minutes per game. For fantasy managers in the playoffs, it may be worth finding a hotter hand rather than hoping that Teravainen can snap out of this slump.

#17 When he recorded an assist on March 1 against New Jersey, Anaheim Ducks centre Mason McTavish had 40 points in 52 games. He has gone nine straight games without a point since then and played just 10:35 in Thursday’s 4-2 loss at Seattle. McTavish is a promising second year centre who should be a long-term fixture in the Ducks lineup, but for fantasy managers that need production now, he is coming up short and, in most cases, is worth sending to the waiver wire in order to find more immediate help.

#18 Sometimes goaltending can be overvalued, but when a team does not have reliable goaltending, it seems like it overpowers everything else. Take the New Jersey Devils, for example. They spent most of the season struggling to get any kind of consistently reliable play between the pipes and that, combined with some significant injuries, has left them outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. At the trade deadline, however, the Devils brought in Jake Allen from Montreal and Kaapo Kahkonen from San Jose. The early returns have Allen with a .925 save percentage in six starts and Kahkonen with a .934 save percentage in three starts. The Devils have won four of their past five games and Allen might have some fantasy value for the final weeks of the season, certainly far more than he had in Montreal prior to the trade.

#19 When the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Michael Bunting from Carolina at the trade deadline, it was not very well received, in part because it meant that the Penguins were moving on from Jake Guentzel, a bitter pill to swallow for a team used to adding talent at the deadline. Nevertheless, Bunting has taken advantage of the bigger role afforded to him in Pittsburgh, producing six points (2 G, 4 A) while playing more than 17 minutes per game in his past seven games. For his part, Guentzel has been great in Carolina, scoring 14 points (2 G, 12 A) with 33 shots on goal in 10 games.

#20 The NHL leaders in expected goals (all situations, per Natural Stat Trick) for the month of March are: Sam Reinhart (8.11), Zach Hyman (8.07), Connor Bedard (7.59), Brady Tkachuk (7.58), Auston Matthews (7.53), John Tavares (7.23), Kirill Kaprizov (7.05), Andrei Svechnikov (6.59), Filip Forsberg (6.41), Nico Hischier (6.40), Chris Kreider (6.39), and Sidney Crosby (6.35). Reinhart and Hyman are the league’s newest 50-goal scorers, but Bedard and Crosby are the ones in this group that are under-performing their expected goals this month, as Bedard has four goals and Crosby has three. Svechnikov, Hischier, and Kreider also scored four goals, so they have been a few goals below expectations, too.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Quinton Byfield is making his presence felt, a surprising source of offense for the Maple Leafs, Columbus’ All-Star is scoring, and much, much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:42:21 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 30: Los Angeles Kings Center Quinton Byfield (55) looks on during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings on January 30, 2022, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

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

This week, Quinton Byfield is making his presence felt, a surprising source of offense for the Maple Leafs, Columbus’ All-Star is scoring, and much, much more!

#1 Drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2020, Quinton Byfield took some time to get up to speed in the National Hockey League. Coming into this season, he had 8 goals and 33 points in 99 games, so he was not exactly busting down the door to stardom. He did start to show potential last season, though, and the Kings gave him a lot of ice time on the top line to start this season, skating on a line with Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. More recently, Byfield has moved down the depth chart to join Pierre-Luc Dubois and Byfield continues to produce. In his past 10 games, Byfield has tallied 12 points (6 G, 6 A) with 25 shots on goal.

#2 Throwing Byfield with Pierre-Luc Dubois offers a chance for Dubois to shake out of his season-long slump. Since the Kings replaced Todd McLellan with Jim Hiller as head coach, Dubois has six points (3 G, 3 A) and 14 shots on goal in seven games. That improved production comes on the heels of Dubois managing just one point (1 G, 0 A) in the previous eight games.

#3 A 27-year-old winger who had played all of 10 games in the NHL prior to this season, Bobby McMann has become an unlikely contributor for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first 26 games for the Maple Leafs this season, McMann had just seven points (2 G, 5 A) but it was understandable, he played less than 10 minutes in 18 of those 26 games. McMann broke through on February 13, recording a hat trick in a 4-1 win against St. Louis and that earned him a bump up the depth chart. He has most recently found himself on a line with John Tavares and Nick Robertson and has 10 points (7 G, 3 A) and 17 shots on goal in the past six games. Suddenly, McMann is changing the perception of what he might be able to offer as an NHL player, from fringe NHLer to possible top-six winger.

#4 Getting Connor Bedard back in the lineup has helped Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev who has eight points (1 G, 7 A) in seven games since the All-Star break, which includes four points (1 G, 3 A) in four games since Bedard returned from his broken jaw. Prior to the break, Kurashev had just two points (1 G, 1 A) during a 14-game stretch, and yet he is still second on the Blackhawks in scoring with 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 50 games.

#5 Columbus’ All-Star representative this season, centre Boone Jenner has emerged from the break on a five-game point streak, during which he has accrued eight points (5 G, 3 A) with 22 shots on goal. Jenner juices up his fantasy appeal with physical play, too, and has 17 hits in those five games. He is skating between Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Roslovic, both of whom are also picking up the pace offensively. Gaudreau is in full set-up mode lately, with 15 points (1 G, 14 A) and 33 shots on goal in his past 13 games. Roslovic has upped his production more recently, with five points (1 G, 4 A) and 14 shots on goal during a four-game point streak which started when he joined Jenner and Gaudreau on Columbus’ top line.

#6 Winnipeg Jets right winger Gabriel Vilardi got off to a strong start with his new club, contributing 20 points (11 G, 9 A) in 25 games, but he did miss some time due to injury and went through a six-game scoreless drought around the All-Star break. He’s making up for it, though, with eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 12 shots on goal during a three-game point streak. Vilardi is skating on the Jets’ top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, which is a pretty great opportunity for a young player looking to become a more consistent scoring threat.

#7 Although he was held off the scoresheet in Thursday’s 1-0 win against Florida, it was only the third time in the past 16 games that Carolina Hurricanes right winger Seth Jarvis did not record a point. He has 18 points (4 G, 14 A) and 34 shots on goal in that span, giving him a career-high 46 points in 56 games. Jarvis isn’t the only Hurricanes winger who has picked up his scoring pace. Martin Necas has 15 points (8 G, 7 A) and 50 shots on goal in his past 14 games.

#8 The third pick in the 2021 Draft, Anaheim Ducks centre Mason McTavish has had some ups and downs in his second NHL season, but his talent is undeniable, and he does have seven points in his past four games. While fantasy managers, especially those in banger leagues, might love that McTavish has 30 penalty minutes in his past 10 games, those frequent trips to the penalty box could start to cost him ice time.

#9 Florida Panthers centre Anton Lundell tallied 44 points as a rookie in 2021-2022 and has not been able to match that pace since, in part because his shooting percentage has fallen off, from 14.4 percent two seasons ago to 7.2 percent this season. Nevertheless, Lundell has shown some signs of life offensively, producing six points (4 G, 2 A) and nine shots on goal in his past five games. The Panthers have been excellent this season, and they have not received a huge contribution from Lundell, so if he can pick up the pace down the stretch, that would go a long way for a team that is a Stanley Cup contender.

#10 Minnesota Wild rookie centre Marco Rossi has moved into a tie with teammate Brock Faber as the second leading rookie scorer in the league behind Chicago’s Connor Bedard, who has 39 points (17 G, 22 A) in 43 games. Rossi has five points (4 G, 1 A) and 13 shots on goal in his past five games, which gets him to 33 points (17 G, 16 A) in 56 games. Rossi’s ice time is down, so tread carefully about adding him now. His improved scoring pace does offer hope that Rossi will have a bigger role both in the near and more distant future.

#11 New York Rangers right winger Kaapo Kakko missed nearly two months of action but is starting to get back into the groove. In his past six games, the 23-year-old forward has put up five points (2 G, 3 A) along with 12 shots on goal. It may be too soon to offer a full-throated recommendation for Kakko, but it’s worth keeping an eye on him. Progress has been gradual, and he is already in his fifth NHL season, but he has flashed potential.

#12 Consistent offensive production does not come easily for Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway, who scored a career high 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 56 games for the Minnesota Wild during the 2020-2021 season. However, every now and then, he heats up and suddenly becomes an intriguing fantasy option, even if it is for short-term purposes. Over the past month, Greenway has eight points (5 G, 3 A) and 16 shots on goal in 10 games. Injuries have opened the door for Greenway to get more ice time in Buffalo and he has landed on the second line, alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens, two skilled players who can help extend Greenway’s offensive good fortune.

#13 At this stage of his career, 38-year-old Corey Perry tends to not offer a lot of fantasy value during the regular season. He plays on the lower half of the depth chart and while he contributes some, it is usually only enough for consideration in the deepest of leagues. While all of that may be true, Perry does have four points (3 G, 1 A) with eight shots on goal and 16 penalty minutes in the past four games and that might warrant a little bit more attention. He is getting second unit power play time and is skating with Dylan Holloway and Mattias Janmark at evens.

#14 Goaltending has been a question mark for many teams this season and those questions have lingered in Carolina for much of the season. The answer may be found within the Hurricanes’ own dressing room, as Pyotr Kochetkov has hit a hot streak and that might be enough to solidify the play in Carolina’s crease, at least for the time being. After a sparkling 44-save shutout Thursday against Florida, Kochetkov has a .969 save percentage across his past four starts. Of course, in his previous four appearances, Kochetkov’s save percentage was a ghastly .851, so he has been offering quite the thrill ride with plenty of ups and downs.

#15 One of the primary challenges when seeking fantasy hockey answers in goal is finding goaltenders that play enough. St. Louis Blues backup goaltender Joel Hofer, for example, has been excellent lately with a .928 save percentage across his past nine starts, but that goes back to before Christmas, so Hofer still offers value in deeper leagues. If something were to happen that would give him a greater share of the starts in St. Louis, the 23-year-old could see his value soar.

#16 After lighting up the Vancouver Canucks for four points (1 G, 3 A) in Thursday’s victory, Seattle Kraken centre Jared McCann has a six-game point streak and has put up 22 points (11 G, 11 A) with 44 shots on goal in his past 15 games. McCann is coming off a career-best season in which he scored 40 goals and 70 points, but his recent production is getting him back into that stratosphere again.

#17 In his past seven games, Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar has zero points. This stretch is the first time – in his career! – that he has gone more than three consecutive games without recording a point. It’s not like this is no reason to trade Makar. He has 20 shots on goal in those seven games and has 60 points (13 G, 47 A) in 53 games this season, but an unprecedented slump from the most prolific scoring defenceman in the league at least bears watching.

#18 Since the All-Star break, the leaders in all situations expected goals: Nico Hischier (5.57), Nathan MacKinnon (5.54), Auston Matthews (5.21), Chris Kreider (4.91), J.T. Miller (4.88), Kirill Kaprizov (4.66), Zach Hyman (4.55), Jack Hughes (4.45), Brady Tkachuk (4.37), Joel Eriksson Ek (4.32), Boone Jenner (4.25), Kyle Palmieri (4.25), Evander Kane (4.23), Nazem Kadri (4.22), and Cole Caufield (4.18). While these are a lot of expected names, it’s interesting to see Hischier at the top of the list, and players like Jenner, Palmieri, and Kane are likely higher than their overall production might suggest.

#19 There are 36 players that have recorded at least seven power-play points since January 1. That list includes Juraj Slafkovsky (9), Jonathan Huberdeau (7), Frank Vatrano (7), Morgan Frost (7), and Jake Neighbours (7). Again, a lot of the names at the top of the list are to be expected – Matthew Tkachuk leads with 14 five-on-four points in 2024 – but some less established players are starting to make a difference with the man advantage, too.

#20 With Mark Stone injured, joining Jack Eichel on the shelf, the Vegas Golden Knights are getting rather thin up front, so maybe consider Michael Amadio as a short-term fix. The 27-year-old forward has scored a goal in four of the past five games, putting a dozen shots on goal while averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time per game. Amadio finished with a career-high 27 points (16 G, 11 A) in 67 games last season and has 21 points (11 G, 10 A) in 50 games this season, so he is not necessarily a long-term answer but, right now, he has an opportunity to play a more significant role.

NHL:CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Lindholm and Kuzmenko are traded, plus Logan O’Connor, Ivan Barbashev, Adam Henrique, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and much, much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:31:42 +0000

Elias Lindholm (28). (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire)

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

This week, Elias Lindholm and Andrei Kuzmenko are traded, plus Logan O’Connor, Ivan Barbashev, Adam Henrique, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and much, much more!

#1 The Calgary Flames were likely to be a team to watch this season, with so many quality players in the final year of their contracts. The Flames started their trade season in earnest when they moved Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. Lindholm has logged a career-high 20:45 of ice time per game for the Flames this season, but has a modest 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 49 games. Part of the problem is that he has scored on just 6.9 percent of his shots, his lowest rate since 2015-2016. While Lindholm has typically been a solid play driver for most of his career, he has struggled in that respect this season, so a new situation may help. It will be fascinating to see how Lindholm fits in Vancouver. It’s entirely possible that he is the second line centre, behind Elias Pettersson, which could put a limit on his offensive upside, but there could very well be opportunities for Lindholm to play with Pettersson, too. At the very least, he should be able to expect positive regression on his shooting percentage, so there is some reasonable hope that his production improves down the stretch.

#2 Heading to Calgary in exchange for Lindholm is second-year winger Andrei Kuzmenko, a 27-year-old winger who burst onto the NHL scene by scoring 39 goals for the Canucks last season. This season, he has just eight goals in 43 games and had been a regular resident in Rick Tocchet’s doghouse. Kuzmenko scored on 27.3 percent of his shots last season, so he was among the most obvious regression candidates in the league, but he had also been healthy scratched for multiple games and had seen his ice time cut by nearly two minutes per game. With the Flames, Kuzmenko should see his ice time pick up, with a regular role on the top power play unit. He could be worth a speculative pick up, just because he has to be better than he showed in Vancouver this season, but the Flames are not about to get better, so it could be a challenge for Kuzmenko to put up big numbers the rest of the way.

#3 A couple of Flames players to monitor in the aftermath of the deal are wingers Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich. If Kuzmenko is going to get a chance on the top line, one of those wingers will slide down the depth chart. Sharangovich has tallied 24 points (15 G, 9 A) in his past 24 games, and it would make sense for the Flames to keep him in a prime scoring role. Huberdeau has been wildly disappointing this season, managing 26 points (6 G, 20 A) in 48 games, though he does have nine points (1 G, 8 A) in his past 10 games. As a setup man, Huberdeau may get first crack to play with Kuzmenko, but his performance hardly indicates that this is a surefire solution for either of them.

#4 Although the big stars at the top of the depth chart command the attention in Colorado, one of the unsung heroes for the Avalanche has been right winger Logan O’Connor, a 27-year-old high energy forward who has 16 points (9 G, 7 A) and 30 shots on goal in his past 16 games. O’Connor has zero power play points among his 24 points this season, scoring 21 at evens and three while shorthanded. While it is to his credit that O’Connor has more even-strength points than Nick Suzuki, Steven Stamkos, or Mats Zuccarello, a regular role on the power play helps raise the floor of a player’s potential offensive production.

#5 While the Vegas Golden Knights are battling through some injury trouble, winger Ivan Barbashev has stepped up his game and heads into the All-Star break with 11 points (4 G, 7 A) and 14 shots on goal during a six-game point streak. While he has been productive recently, Barbarashev has seen his ice time drop by more than two minutes per game compared to how much he played for Vegas last season.

#6 A prime candidate on the trade market heading into the All-Star break, Anaheim Ducks centre Adam Henrique has nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 20 shots on goal during a six-game point streak. While he is not going to score a point-and-a-half per game over the long haul, it is very encouraging that Henrique is generating shots at that rate, even in a relatively small sample of games.

#7 After scoring 39 points in 82 games during his sophomore campaign last season, Carolina Hurricanes right winger Seth Jarvis has taken his game to a new level this season. He enters the All-Star break having scored 10 points (1 G, 9 A) with 21 shots on goal in his past eight games and he has scored 38 points (15 G, 23 A) in 48 games. He plays primarily with Sebastian Aho on the Hurricanes’ top line, which is obviously a favorable spot for Jarvis to continue his high level of production.

#8 At the start of the season, the Buffalo Sabres were really giving rookie netminder Devon Levi every opportunity to claim the starting job, but he just couldn’t do it. It turns out that the young goaltender who was ready to handle the starting job was 24-year-old Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He has really made his case in the new year, posting a .944 save percentage in eight games since the calendar turned to 2024. Wins don’t come that easily in Buffalo, but Luukkonen is a goaltender who could help provide answers at a position that has tended to offer plenty of questions marks this season.

#9 The Colorado Avalanche inked 39-year-old left winger Zach Parise, which should give them better depth up front. It is unlikely that Parise will step into a significant scoring role, but that can’t be guaranteed, either. As a 38-year-old with the Islanders last season, Parise had contributed 34 points, including 21 goals. It is at least worth watching Parise, to see where he lands when he finally gets into the Colorado lineup.

#10 The fifth pick in the 2019 Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, centre Alex Turcotte had zero points in 12 NHL games coming into this season. He started the season in the American Hockey League, where he produced 23 points (7 G, 16 A) in 28 games, earning a promotion to a struggling Kings squad. Turcotte picked up a goal and an assist in just over 10 minutes of ice time in his second game with Los Angeles, and that might be enough to get him a longer look. Given his relatively slow progress for such a high draft pick, it’s probably wise to proceed with caution when it comes to Turcotte.

#11 Despite Ryan Johansen being a relative disappointment for the Colorado Avalanche, they are getting quality production out of centre Ross Colton. He enters the All-Star break having scored nine points (2 G, 7 A) with 16 shots on goal in his past seven games. Colton is getting a chance on Colorado’s top power play unit, which is enough reason to consider adding him in deeper leagues.

#12 Veteran centre Brayden Schenn was off to a slow start this season and was mired in a 16-game goalless slump when he found the net against Florida on January 9. That started him on the road to scoring 11 points (5 G, 6 A) with 23 shots on goal in his past 11 games. Schenn is skating on a line with Brandon Saad and Jake Neighbours at evens and has been moved to the second power play unit, so his upside is not that high but, right now, he could be a useful addition.

#13 Although wins are not coming easily in Chicago, goaltender Petr Mrazek has been playing very well, giving him surprising fantasy value. Mrazek has a .940 save percentage in his past seven starts, which is outstanding, but he was credited with two victories in that time, so that decreases his relative value.

#14 There are some potential goaltending battles taking place in Southern California. David Rittich has emerged as a viable option for the Los Angeles Kings, outplaying Cam Talbot in recent weeks. Rittich, who started the season in the AHL, has a .924 save percentage in 11 appearances for the Kings. Talbot, who was outstanding early in the season, has managed a .886 save percentage in his past 14 appearances, opening the door for Rittich to earn more time in the crease. In Anaheim, rookie Lukas Dostal is pushing veteran starter John Gibson. Dostal has a .918 save percentage in his past 10 games, which is good enough to earn more playing time. Gibson has a .882 save percentage in his past nine appearances, which is good enough to lose playing time. Gibson is a potential trade candidate for teams needing an answer in goal, which would obviously increase Dostal’s value if that were to ever happen.

#15 The Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin was the best goaltender in the world in 2021-2022, when he easily won the Vezina Trophy. He has fallen on hard times recently, though, posting a .863 save percentage in 10 starts since the calendar flipped to January 2024. It’s not as though the Rangers can give veteran Jonathan Quick a significantly larger role, so they just need Shesterkin to get back on track.

#16 Buffalo Sabres right winger Jack Quinn had missed the first couple of months after suffering an Achilles injury, but he stepped right into the lineup and produced 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in 17 games. Unfortunately, he will miss the next two months while he recovers from a lower-body injury that required surgery. The initial beneficiary in the Sabres lineup could be captain Kyle Okposo, who has just two points (1 G, 1 A) in his past 12 games but is looking at an opportunity to skate on the Sabres’ top line with Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson.

#17 It has been a tough season for the Columbus Blue Jackets and does not appear to be getting any easier for them heading down the stretch. Rookie centre Adam Fantilli will miss the next two months due to a lacerated calf. Fantilli ranked fourth among rookies in scoring with 27 points (12 G,15 A). The Blue Jackets also lost Patrik Laine to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Laine hasn’t played since mid-December and was getting the lowest average ice time of his career (15:13 per game). Rookie centre Dmitri Voronkov, who has five goals and 24 shots on goal in his past seven games, is one Blue Jackets players that could get a bigger role, as could sophomore winger Kent Johnson, who is very talented but also has zero goals and two assists in his past 11 games.

#18 The New York Rangers have lost centre Filip Chytil for the rest of the season due to concussions. He had been out since November 2, but there was still some hope that he could return to his role as a valuable third-line centre before suffering a setback in his recovery. The Rangers were already candidates to acquire another centre via trade, but this situation makes that a virtual certainty now. As it is, journeyman Jonny Brodzinski, who has a career-high 11 points (2 G, 9 A) in 30 games, is the Blueshirts’ third line centre.

#19 Here are three forwards that could be buy-low candidates because of relatively low on-ice shooting percentages. Tom Wilson (5.2 OiSH%) last finished with an on-ice shooting percentage under 8.0% was 2014-2015. Matty Beniers (5.4 OiSH%) finished last season with an on-ice shooting percentage of 11.9% and maybe that was unsustainably high, but the pendulum has moved too far in the other direction this season. Jamie Benn (6.7 OiSH%) had a career-high 13.1% on-ice shooting percentage last season and regression has hit him hard in 2023-2024 as he is now at a career low.

#20 At the other end, here are three players that have benefitted from high on-ice shooting percentages and might be good sell-high candidates. Tyler Seguin (12.1 OiSH%) is rocking a career-high on-ice shooting percentage and the last time he finished a season higher than 10.0% was in 2014-2015. Casey Mittelstadt (12.7 OiSH%) finished last season with a 9.7 OiSH%, a career high, and he is obliterating that this season, so he is probably due for regression. Dylan Larkin (12.2 OiSH%) has never finished a season with an on-ice shooting percentage over 10.0% and is more than 20% beyond that mark right now.