SIMON NEMEC – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: Victor Nuño – DYNASTY STOCK WATCH – New Jersey Devils Edition

Victor Nuño — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:17:42 +0000

McKeen’s Hockey: Dynasty Stock Watch

New Jersey Devils Edition

Team Outlook

The New Jersey Devils remain one of the most exciting young cores in the NHL. With Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec at the center of their identity, the foundation for long-term contention is already in place. Their roster is built on speed, puck movement, and offensive creativity, and when healthy, they can outscore anyone. Injuries and thin depth have held them back at key moments, which only underscores how important continued internal development will be.

New Jersey is firmly in its contention window, and the organizational needs have shifted. The Devils no longer need bodies, they need impact. Young players must either bring high-end skill or fill defined roles with efficiency. As the roster becomes more competitive, prospects who can complement the core and contribute quickly will be the ones who rise. For dynasty managers, the takeaway is clear, prioritize players with realistic paths to meaningful NHL roles rather than those valued purely on pedigree, because opportunity still exists in New Jersey, but the margin for error is shrinking.

Buy Candidates

Mikhail Yegorov (G, 19)

Why Buy?
The Devils have been searching for long-term stability in net for years, and Mikhail Yegorov may finally be the prospect who changes that trajectory. His combination of size, poise, and technical control gives him a foundation that already looks near professional ready. He tracks pucks through layers, moves efficiently in his crease, and rarely gets rattled.

While his raw numbers at Boston University this season have dipped, he continues to outperform his expected goal metrics, which suggests this may be a buy-low opportunity for dynasty managers. The long-term path is wide open. The Devils have cycled through short-term options for years, and none have secured the crease during the team’s contention window. If Yegorov continues on his current trajectory, he has future starter upside and could be the goalie who finally stabilizes the position in the post-Brodeur era. This is a profile worth acquiring now before the price rises.

Simon Nemec (D, 21)

Why Buy?
Nemec has already shown why he was selected second overall. His composure, mobility, and high-end puck-moving ability make him an ideal fit for New Jersey’s aggressive, pace-driven style. Offensively, he reads the ice well, jumps into the rush with confidence, and has added more deception to his playmaking this season. While Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes currently share time quarterbacking the top power play, Nemec looks fully capable of producing on a second unit and could earn top-unit looks if the Devils ever want to give him that role.

His early NHL stint was uneven, and his first 90 games revealed some struggles keeping up with the pace and making quick decisions. This season, however, he looks like a different player. The confidence is unmistakable, and he is leaning into his elite skating far more consistently. His Evolving Hockey player card highlights how dramatically his offensive impacts have improved, even though he still needs support defensively. If that part of his game trends upward at a similar pace, the Devils may finally get the player they envisioned when they drafted him second overall in 2022. For dynasty managers, right-shot defensemen with this combination of skill, opportunity, and long-term upside are rare, and Nemec remains a premium asset with room to grow.

Arseni Gritsyuk (LW/RW, 24)

Why Buy?
Gritsyuk quietly developed into one of the more NHL-ready wingers to arrive from the KHL pipeline, and now that he has transitioned to North America, his game still shows the same blend of pace, skill, and competitiveness that made him stand out overseas. His surface numbers have not fully popped yet, but the underlying metrics tell a different story. His combined on-ice shooting percentage and save percentage (PDO) sits at a very low 948, a number that almost always regresses toward 1,000, suggesting better results are coming. Per HockeyViz, the Devils generate more offense with Gritsyuk in the lineup, reinforcing that the process is strong even if the finishing has lagged.

His usage has also been encouraging. Gritsyuk is getting shifts with Timo Meier and Nico Hischier, and he plays a heavy, north-south style that produces more than a hit per game in just under 15 minutes of ice time. His power play opportunities have been limited, but even a small increase in deployment could unlock meaningful scoring. For dynasty managers, he remains an ideal buy-low candidate, because the underlying play driving, the supportive metrics, and the quality of his linemates all point to a player whose production should climb as the season settles.

Sell Candidates

Seamus Casey (D, 21)

Why Sell?
Casey remains one of the most skilled offensive defensemen in the Devils’ system, with elite mobility, high end puck skills, and the creativity to quarterback play from the blue line. His NCAA production was excellent and showcased everything that made him a coveted prospect. The issue is not talent but fit. With Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec solidly ahead of him on the depth chart as New Jersey’s long term power play drivers, Casey’s path to meaningful minutes is extremely narrow. Unless he drastically adapts his game or the depth chart shifts, he is likely battling for a third pair role without the deployment that fuels fantasy upside.

The early returns at the NHL level reflect these concerns. Casey has struggled to carve out a stable spot, and his defensive impacts remain well below average, which makes it difficult for coaches to trust him in anything beyond sheltered usage. The offensive instincts are still there, and his Hockey Prospecting star potential suggests that the upside is likely still there, but the reality is that fantasy value depends on opportunity. His name value and pedigree will still attract interest in many leagues, making this the ideal moment to sell. Move him while another manager still believes in the top four outcome, before the organizational logjam and defensive limitations cap his long-term ceiling.

Anton Silayev (D, 19)

Why Sell?
Silayev’s draft year hype exploded thanks to his rare blend of size, reach, and smooth mobility. At 6-foot-7, he covers ice effortlessly and has the kind of physical profile teams dream of in a shutdown defenseman. His skating stride is fluid, he closes quickly in space, and he already looks like someone who can neutralize top competition at the NHL level. The problem for fantasy managers is that, despite all of these tools, Silayev does not naturally drive offense. He is not someone who creates scoring chances, directs play through transition, or activates meaningfully in the offensive zone. His impact is far more functional than dynamic.

While the real-life value is obvious, the fantasy translation is a different story. Silayev does post strong blocks, shots, and hits, giving him solid BASH peripherals, but those contributions are easy to find on the waiver wire. What differentiates fantasy assets is scoring, and so far, that has not been part of Silayev’s game. Across one hundred fifty-six KHL games, he has only twenty-four points. His pNHLe has cratered to five, which reflects the extremely limited offensive projection. He will almost certainly be an important piece for the Devils and play heavy minutes, but if he is not producing points, his fantasy ceiling remains low. Given the name recognition, draft pedigree, and how excited the Devils are about his role, now is the ideal moment to sell high and acquire a more impactful long-term asset.

Lenni Hämeenaho (RW, 21)

Hämeenaho is a smart and reliable winger whose mature two-way game made him an appealing draft prospect. He reads play well, supports possession, and owns a solid, NHL-level shot. Coaches trust his positioning and decision making, and he still projects as someone who can settle into a middle six role once he fully adjusts to the North American game. The challenge for fantasy managers is that his tools do not necessarily point toward strong offensive upside. He does not drive play with standout speed or high-end creativity, and his profile leans more toward steady than dynamic.

His transition to the AHL has underscored those concerns. After posting 51 points in 58 games for Ässät in Liiga last season, he has just four points in 14 games with Utica. His Fantasy Hockey Life card paints the same picture: his Fenwick looks decent, but his Corsi is low, his net expected goals impact is underwater, and he is not consistently winning puck battles or recovering loose pucks. His BASH can provide a modest peripheral floor, but if the scoring does not translate, his fantasy ceiling remains limited. Hämeenaho still carries name value and the perception of untapped upside, which makes this an ideal sell window. Move him now, before he settles into the type of depth role that delivers real world value but falls short in fantasy.

Summary

Player	Role	Key Insight
Mikhail Yegorov	Buy	Rising goalie prospect with a clear path to future NHL starts
Simon Nemec	Buy	Elite right-shot defenseman with top-four floor and PP upside
Arseni Gritsyuk	Buy	Skilled KHL winger ready to seize a top-six NHL opportunity
Seamus Casey	Sell	Offensive defenseman blocked by Hughes and Nemec
Anton Silayev	Sell	Defensive toolsy blueliner with limited fantasy ceiling
Lenni Hämeenaho	Sell	Safe middle-six projection, low fantasy upside

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – A Blueshirts winger making his mark, another young star for the Ducks, some good news in Nashville, a young defenceman stepping up in New Jersey and much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:55:43 +0000

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Beckett Sennecke #45 of the Anaheim Ducks gains the blue line during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks on October 23, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, a Blueshirts winger making his mark, another young star for the Ducks, some good news in Nashville, a young defenceman stepping up in New Jersey and much more!

#1 In his first two NHL seasons, New York Rangers left winger Will Cuylle made major progress, jumping from 21 points as a rookie to 45 points last season. His ice time went up, he delivered more than 300 hits, and suddenly this blue-collar winger was starting to look like he could be a major contributor. He started this season slowly, with one goal and zero assists in nine games, but in the past nine games, he has nine points (5 G, 4 A) with 23 shots on goal and 27 hits. That’s the kind of production that will make Cuylle very valuable for fantasy managers. He moves around the lineup, and with Gabriel Perreault called up from the AHL, Cuylle is skating on the Blueshirts’ third line, but he is getting first unit power play time, so he should be able to remain productive.

#2 One of the best draft day reactions ever belongs to Anaheim Ducks right winger Beckett Sennecke, who was shocked when the Ducks selected him with the third overall pick in the 2024 Draft. The 6-foot-3 winger is finding his way in the league in his rookie season, but he’s not struggling to keep up. In November, he has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 13 shots on goal in seven games, while receiving more than 15 minutes of ice time per game. He is skating on a line with Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier, which is an excellent opportunity to build something with two more skilled young forwards.

#3 While not a lot has gone right for the Nashville Predators this season, they are finding out that their 2023 first-round pick, Matthew Wood, could be a strong addition to the lineup. Wood was injured in the preseason, so he didn’t start the season on time, but in 11 games, he has produced 10 points (6 G, 4 A), recording a hat trick in Monday’s 6-3 loss to the Rangers. He played 17:09 in that game, the high-water mark in his career. Wood is skating on a line with Fedor Svechkov and Michael Bunting, but if he continues to generate offense, he will force his way into more ice time.

#4 The second overall pick in the 2022 Draft, New Jersey Devils defenceman Simon Nemec was not in a great place last season, managing four points (2 G, 2 A) in 27 games for the Devils while playing 34 games in the American Hockey League. He only got into the playoff lineup once Luke Hughes was injured, but Nemec showed well enough in the Devils’ first-round loss to Carolina that there was reason to be hopeful for him this season. The Devils have a deep core of defenders, which could have made it challenging for Nemec to earn regular playing time, but injuries to Johnathan Kovacevic, Brett Pesce, and most recently, Dougie Hamilton, have opened the door for Nemec, and he has burst right through it. He recorded a hat trick in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win against Chicago, giving Nemec eight points (4 G, 4 A) with 15 shots on goal and nearly 22 minutes of ice time per game in his past nine games.

#5 A five-time 20-goal scorer, Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi can run hot and cold sometimes, and when he’s not producing, it can feel glaring because on this roster, he is supposed to be a major player. Right now, he’s cooking, with nine points (7 G, 2 A) and 16 shots on goal in six games this month, and they’re not all pretty. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of Bertuzzi planting himself at the back post and letting pucks bounce off him into the net, but they all count and Bertuzzi making it work on Chicago’s top line alongside Connor Bedard.

#6 After a slow start, during which he managed just three points (1 G, 2 A) through the first 10 games, Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere has found his stride again, and has nine points (3 G, 6 A) with 14 shots on goal in his past eight games. His shot volume is still not ideal, and his ice time can be shaky, but if he contributes offensively and adds to it with 100-plus hits, which he has in three of the past four seasons, then there is potential fantasy value in the 2020 No. 1 overall pick. With Vincent Trocheck recently returning from injury, Lafreniere is skating in a familiar place alongside Trocheck and Artemi Panarin.

#7 After a tough 2024-2025 season, when he finished with 48 points (20 G, 28 A) in 72 games, Carolina Hurricanes left winger Andrei Svechnikov failed to record a point in his first eight games of this season and he was demoted to the fourth line. It appears that he is starting to find his way out of it, and in the past eight games, Svechnikov has seven points (4 G, 3 A) with 29 shots on goal. He has returned to the top line, alongside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, so Svechnikov is regaining some of the fantasy value that he squandered early in this season.

#8 When the Columbus Blue Jackets shuffled lines earlier this month, they put centre Adam Fantilli in between Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov. After starting the season with five points (2 G, 3 A) in 11 games, 21-year-old Fantilli has seven points (3 G, 4 A) with 19 shots on goal and 19:31 average time on ice in the past six games. That’s more like what is expected from the No. 3 pick in the 2023 Draft who had 54 points last season.

#9 For several seasons, there has been some level of expectation that Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Cam York would occupy the quarterback position on the team’s top power play unit. That has never really stuck before, but it might be now. York has 10 points (1 G, 9 A) in 13 games this season, with six of those points coming via the power play. That total of six power play points ties a career high for York, so he may be poised for improved offensive output. He is playing a career high 24:48 per game, so the opportunities should be there, but he does have just eight shots on goal in 13 games, so that is one factor to keep an eye on but, overall, York appears to be realizing some of his offensive potential.

#10 The 11th pick in the 2025 Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ben Kindel has surprisingly made it through 15 NHL games and isn’t looking out of place despite being just 18 years old. Kindel had 99 points (34 G, 65 A) in 65 games for Calgary in the Western Hockey League last season, so he knows what he’s doing with the puck on his stick, but he has also managed to provide solid two-way results as well, with the Penguins outshooting opponents with Kindel on the ice. He has seven points (5 G, 2 A) in 15 games, but injuries in Pittsburgh have presented greater opportunities and Kindel has four points (2 G, 2 A) with 12 shots on goal and 20:12 of ice time per game in the past four games. He has moved to left wing on Sidney Crosby’s line, which isn’t a bad spot to be for an 18-year-old who was supposed to be heading back to junior.

#11 Calgary Flames right winger Matt Coronato broke through with 23 goals and 47 points last season, earning a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension, but then he struggled out of the gate this season, managing three points (2 G, 1 A) and 20 shots on goal in his first 10 games. He was even a healthy scratch for a game and while his production is still not where it needs to be – he has four points (2 G, 2 A) in his past eight games, but he does have 32 shots on goal, and that increasing shot rate is an encouraging sign.

#12 When Philadelphia Flyers right winger Matvei Michkov got off to a slow start, there were accusations that he was out of shape after suffering an injury in the offseason. How else to explain that he had just three points (1 G, 2 A) in his first nine games? Michkov is starting to snap out of it and has goals in three straight games, giving him six points (3 G, 3 A) with 12 shots on goal in his past seven games. The shot rate needs to get better, but at least there are some positive signs. It’s a little troubling that he is averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time per game, after playing 16:41 per game as a rookie last season, so keep tabs on how he is deployed by head coach Rick Tocchet.

#13 Although left winger Eetu Luostarinen failed to record a point in his first seven games this season, he has bounced back from that slow start to deliver 10 points (3 G, 7 A) with 24 shots on goal and 27 hits in his past 10 games. He is skating with Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand, a line that was a big part of Florida’s playoff success last season, but they are effectively the Panthers’ top line right now and Luostarinen’s improved offensive output is part of the reason for that.

#14 Veteran Ottawa Senators winger Michael Amadio has recorded 27 points in three straight seasons, and that is a career high for him, so expectations for his offensive contributions need to be modest, but with Brady Tkachuk injured, there has been a chance for Amadio to move up the Senators’ depth chart. He has six points (4 G, 2 A) and nine shots on goal during a six-game point streak and while he may not offer great long-term value, Amadio is producing enough now to have appeal in deeper leagues.

#15 One of the top free agent signings in the offseason, Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers went five games without a point and didn’t score his first goal until his 12th game with the Hurricanes. One of the expectations with Ehlers moving to Carolina is that he would finally get more ice time after it appeared he was underused in Winnipeg, but Ehlers’ production has started to take off this season only after his ice time went down. He has six points (3 G, 3 A) during a five-game point streak, a stretch during which he has played just over 14 minutes per game. He is now skating on a line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, younger players who may be a better match for Ehlers’ speed.

#16 Nashville Predators defenceman Nick Blankenburg is 27 years old and hit career highs with 16 points and 60 games played for Nashville last season. With Roman Josi out of action early in this season, Blankenburg is making the most of his opportunity. He has six points (1 G, 5 A) and 16 shots on goal in eight games, averaging 20:17 of ice time per game. Blankenburg is probably not a long-term answer on defence, but as a short-term fill-in, he’s getting enough ice time, which includes second unit PP time, to make himself useful.

#17 A top goaltending prospect since he was the 11th pick in the 2020 Draft, Yaroslav Askarov has had some ups and down along his development path but is in position to share the crease with Alex Nedeljkovic for the San Jose Sharks this season. In his first half dozen starts this season, Askarov had a brutal .844 save percentage and looked lost. Then the calendar flipped to November and in five starts he has a .965 save percentage with 12.87 Goals Saved Above Expected. With the Sharks playing an exciting offensive game, Askarov’s emergence as a quality goaltender could go a long way to help the team.

#18 Seattle Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen had just one assist through nine games but is starting to snap out of it with seven points (2 G, 5 A) in his past eight games. He only has 11 shots on goal in those eight games, which is a red flag, but he’s skating with youngers Shane Wright and Berkly Catton at even strength while getting first unit power play time.

#19 One of the premier scoring centres in the league, Tampa Bay Lightning pivot Brayden Point has scored 139 goals in the past three seasons, but he’s having trouble finding the net this season. In his past 12 games, Point has four points (1 G, 3 A) and 27 shots on goal. He is scoring on just 8.8 percent of his shots this season, which is low, but it’s especially low for Point, who has scored on 21.4 percent of his shots in the past three seasons. Is it possible that regression is hitting him after a three-year run?

#20 The Utah Mammoth have been an exciting team early in the season and two of the reasons for their success now and optimism for the future are right winger Dylan Guenther and centre Logan Cooley. In November, Guenther has one goal and zero assists with 18 shots on goal in six games. The shot rate is encouraging, given Guenther’s reputation as one of the game’s elite shooters, but he’s hit a dry spell. Cooley had 12 points (8 G, 4 A) and 26 shots on goal in 11 games in October but has just two assists and eight shots on goal in six games this month.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:47:56 +0000

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) waits for play to begin during the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers on January 27, 2025, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire)

The Devils managed to get back into the playoffs, finishing the season with 91 points (42-33-7), but they lost in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. Star centre Jack Hughes was injured and did not play after March 2nd and Luke Hughes was injured in the first game against Carolina in the playoffs, missing the rest of the series. The Devils were a quality puck possession team, ranking eighth in Corsi percentage (51.8) and 10th in expected goals percentage (51.7). Their power play ranked third in the league with 9.66 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play and their penalty killing ranked fourth with 5.70 goals against per 60 minutes of four-on-five play. That is a solid statistical profile and with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen representing a significant improvement in goal, the Devils were a playoff team despite dealing with some major injuries.

What’s Changed?

The Devils were not overly active in the offseason, doing some tinkering, but keeping their core intact. New Jersey signed Edmonton Oilers right winger Connor Brown and Dallas Stars winger Evgenii Dadonov as free agents, and it appears that Russian winger Arseni Gritsyuk is going to make the move to New Jersey after scoring 44 points (17 G, 27 A) in 49 KHL games for SKA St. Petersburg last season. Centre Erik Haula was traded to the Nashville Predators, right winger Nathan Bastian signed a deal with the Dallas Stars, and left winger Tomas Tatar signed with EV Zug in Switzerland. Defenceman Brian Dumoulin inked a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Kings and checking centre Curtis Lazar signed with the Edmonton Oilers. Defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic is recovering from knee surgery and may not be ready for the start of the season, but the Devils are relatively deep on the blueline and should be able to handle his absence.

What would success look like?

The Devils have the makings of a legitimate contender, especially now that they have a strong goaltending tandem, but the key is keeping Jack Hughes healthy. Hughes is a game-breaking talent and, while the Devils returning to the postseason would be a baseline for success, if they have Hughes, there is a chance that they can go on a deeper run. As it is, they have won one playoff round since they reached the Stanley Cup Final against the Los Angeles Kings in 2012.

What could go wrong?

Injuries have been a problem for the Devils, and Jack Hughes and defenceman Dougie Hamilton missed significant time last season, and yet the team was still good enough to reach the playoffs. On one hand, that should show how they can overcome adversity, but it also reveals, through a 91-point season, that they were fortunate to get into the playoffs, so they are still dealing with a small margin between making and not making the postseason.

Top Breakout Candidate

A 24-year-old winger who has steadily improved throughout his career in Russia, Arseni Gritsyuk should have a legitimate chance to play in a top nine role with the Devils, with some power play time sprinkled in as well. He may not have an enormous impact, but on a veteran team with hopes of contending, there are not a lot of unproven options looking for the chance to break out with a big season.

FORWARDS

Jack Hughes

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	32	60	92	1.19

When healthy, Hughes is one of the few players in the league with legitimate MVP hopes. Across the past four seasons, he has accumulated 299 points (123 G, 176 A) in 251 games and his 1.19 points per game ranks 12th – behind Mikko Rantanen and ahead of Sidney Crosby – among skaters to appear in at least 200 games. On top of that, he is an excellent play driver who has a 55.8 percent Corsi in the past three seasons. While he may not be the picture of the prototypical checking center, Hughes is very effective defensively. He is a brilliant and creative offensive player who, at his best, can generate scoring chances like few others in the league. The elephant in the room is that he has been unable to stay healthy. He played 78 games in 2022-2023, recording a career high 99 points (43 G, 56 A), but he has missed 20 games in each of the past two seasons and missed 33 games in 2021-2022. He is still just 24-years-old, but that is a lot of missed time early in his career. He is also abysmal on faceoffs, winning a career best 37.6 percent of his draws last season. All told, Hughes is a very dynamic player who gives the Devils a chance to be a contender, provided he is in the lineup. The uncertainty in that regard requires tempered optimism when it comes to his projections for 2025-2026, Hughes could miss significant time, say 15 games, and still produce 30 goals and 80 points.

Jesper Bratt

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	25	62	87	1.06

A premier offensive threat on the wing, Bratt recorded a career-high 88 points (21 G, 67 A) last season and has 317 points (106 G, 211 A) in 321 games across the past four seasons. He has game-breaking speed that allows him to quickly attack in transition, and he uses a wide base to effectively protect the puck, especially in the offensive zone. Bratt’s shot rate dropped from 3.02 shots per game in 2023-2024 to 2.22 shots per game in 2024-2025, which is not ideal because he has a legitimately quick release that can allow him to score from distance, but he was distributing the puck enough to finish fifth in the league with 67 assists, behind only Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, and Connor McDavid. He ended up getting one fifth-place Hart Trophy vote and while that might be a tad optimistic, in terms of evaluating his play, it does reflect a player who has become a star with the Devils. While Bratt had a few strong defensive seasons earlier in his career, his recent defensive play has been less effective, allowing more chances against, but his offensive game has exploded so much that it more than overcomes the decline in his defensive effectiveness. It is reasonable to expect something in the range of a point per game for Bratt, so 80-plus points is a possibility again in 2025-2026.

Nico Hischier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	34	42	76	0.99

New Jersey’s captain continues to deliver reliable results and Hischier scored a career-high 35 goals while playing a career-high 20:23 per game last season. He finished fourth in Selke voting, marking the second time in the past three seasons that he has earned a top five finish. He has the credentials as a top two-way center, who gives the Devils an elite 1-2 combination down the middle of the ice when Hughes is healthy. Across the past three seasons, Hischier has taken 4,818 faceoffs, ranking second in the NHL, behind only Sidney Crosby (5,500) and he has won 55.3 percent of those draws, ranking 18th out of the 88 centers to take at least 2,000 faceoffs in that time. Hischier’s most common linemates last season were Timo Meier, Stefan Noesen, and Dawson Mercer, and he controlled better than 55 percent of the expected goals during five-on-five play with the first two. Hischier is a play driver so his line combination should not play a huge part in the direction that the puck is moving, but if Meier is a sure thing on the left side, the right winger can help determine how much offensive upside the line will have. With at least 60 points in four straight seasons, Hischier seems a good bet to score 30 goals and 70 points in 2025-2026.

Timo Meier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	30	26	56	0.73

A physically strong winger who can play a power game, Meier has surpassed 25 goals in each of the past four seasons. He has also recorded at least 140 hits in three of the past four seasons, and he tends to have success along the boards because of how strong he is on the puck. As a result, Meier is an excellent shot generator, even if not quite at the same level in New Jersey as he was during his peak seasons in San Jose. Meier is especially effective during five-on-five play. In the past three seasons, he has generated 1.09 individual expected goals per 60 minutes, which ranks sixth among the 302 forwards that have played at least 2,000 five-on-five minutes in those three seasons. Despite consistently generating high-quality scoring chances, Meier has only scored on 9.15 percent of his shots in those three seasons, which ranks 211th, so there is room for improvement if his finishing ability catches up to his ability to get into scoring position. Playing with Hischier is a good place for Meier, skating alongside a productive center who can drive play and that ensures that Meier is often in position to score. Even taking into account his less than stellar finish around the net, 30 goals and 55-60 points should be within Meier’s grasp in 2025-2026.

Dawson Mercer

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	23	19	42	0.51

Mercer has played every game in his four NHL seasons, but his offensive production has tailed off in the past two seasons. He had career highs of 27 goals and 56 points in 2022-2023 and managed 19 goals and 36 points last season. That’s not exactly the ideal trend for the now 23-year-old forward who does have the courage to get to the net in an effort to score. He doesn’t generate shots at a high enough rate, and his defensive results have been mixed, but he does have enough offensive ability and the versatility to move up and down the lineup and even capable of playing center and wing. Mercer’s most common linemate last season was Timo Meier and they were on the right side of shots and chances, and downright dominant in goal differential, with 24 goals for and nine goals against (72.7 GF%) during five-on-five play. The next two most common were Erik Haula and Nico Hischier, and forecasting Mercer’s future production tends to depend on which linemates he has in 2025-2026. The risk that Mercer might be outside of New Jersey’s top six forwards, potentially centering the third line, does put a possible limit on his scoring upside, but 20 goals and 40 points should be a reasonable expected range.

Ondrej Palat

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	12	16	28	0.37

A reliable veteran winger, Palat played in 77 games last season. The last season in which he played more games was his rookie season in 2013-2014. At the same time, he averaged just 13:45 of ice time per game, his lowest average time on ice since playing 11:44 per game while playing 14 games in 2012-2013. For years, Palat was a strong two-way winger, but last season showed statistical decline at both ends of the rink. Last season was the first time in his career that Palat was outscored during five-on-five play and his 0.36 points per game was his lowest since 2012-2013. While his individual production is not impressive, that’s also not primarily what the Devils are looking for from Palat. He played mostly with Hughes and Bratt, two of the most dangerous offensive forwards on the roster and Palat provides a defensive conscience for that line. He’s also a quality penalty killer but does not get enough time to make a real impact in those situations. Nevertheless, Palat is likely to see a regular role in New Jersey’s top six, playing a complementary role, and can be expected to contribute maybe a dozen goals and 30 points during the 2025-2026 season.

Evgeni Dadonov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
71	15	17	32	0.45

A 36-year-old winger, Dadonov hit the 20-goal threshold last season for the fifth time in his career; this despite averaging 13:32 of ice time per game, his lowest since averaging 10:03 per game for Florida in 2011-2012. Even in what was a relative depth role with the Dallas Stars last season, Dadonov used his skills and offensive instincts to generate chances. He’s older now, so maybe not quite as dynamic as he was during his best seasons with Florida, but Dadonov has a refined game that allows him to contribute at both ends of the rink, even if it’s in a lesser role. This makes him an interesting addition for the Devils because Dadonov might be a player who contributes while playing a limited role near the bottom of the depth chart, but he also could slide into a role in the top six, even if just for short bursts, because he has the skill level to fit alongside the more gifted players on the roster. Given his age and where he is in his career, expectations should be modest, so maybe Dadonov could add a dozen goals and 30 points to the Devils in 2025-2026.

Stefan Noesen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	17	21	38	0.48

After so many years of battling just to stay in the lineup or, in some cases, in the NHL, Noesen landed some security when he signed as a free agent with the Devils last summer. He responded by putting up career highs in goal (22) and points (41) while playing a career high 15:56 per game. He is not the strongest skater, but Noesen plays hard, going to the net without fear and battling effectively in corners. His blue-collar game has earned Noesen some respect but also landed him a net-front position on the Devils power play and he tallied 11 goals with the man advantage last season. Noesen is a relative late bloomer but has established that he can be a strong puck possession player and that can play no matter where Noesen is skating in the lineup. His most common linemates last season were Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, followed by Paul Cotter and Erik Haula. Naturally, he was more successful with Hischier and Meier, so it would be ideal to stay in that spot, but if he gets supplanted there, Noesen can still be a contributor even if he is in the lower half of the depth chart. As such, a reasonable expectation for Noesen this season could be around 15 goals and 35 points.

Paul Cotter

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	12	7	19	0.25

Acquired from Vegas last summer, in a deal that sent Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid to the Golden Knights, Cotter had career highs with 16 goals and 245 hits in his first season for the Devils. That is the best version of Cotter, an active physical presence who can add a little offensively. Among the 378 forwards to play at least 500 five-on-five minutes last season, Cotter ranked 69th with 0.93 goals per game. With NHL teams getting more interested in stockpiling physical players who can handle the rough going, especially in the playoffs, Cotter does appear to fit that mold, even if it’s in a lesser role. While Cotter clearly has offensive limitations, and was not a big scorer in junior with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, where he had 26 points (9 G, 17 A) in 48 games, or even with Henderson in the American Hockey League, where he had 50 points (24 G, 26 A) in 97 games, he does have soft hands and has scored some highlight-reel goals in transition. The Devils have better forward depth and that could allow Cotter to remain relatively productive. It’s fair to expect Cotter to contribute at least a dozen goals and 25 points, along with 200-plus hits during the 2025-2026 season.

DEFENSE

Dougie Hamilton

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
65	8	35	43	0.66

A smooth-skating 6-foot-6 defenceman that can handle the puck is a rare commodity, and Hamilton brings all of those assets to the Devils. When he’s healthy, he is very effective, moves the puck well, and excels at getting shots on net, but injuries have plagued him, with significant time missed in four of his past six seasons. Hamilton’s defensive play has slipped in recent years, which cuts into his overall effectiveness, but he’s so outstanding offensively that his offensive impacts outweigh his defensive impacts, sometimes by a large margin. Across the past three seasons, Hamilton ranks ninth among defencemen with 1.41 points per 60 minutes during five-on-five play, second in shot attempts per 60 minutes (17.92), and first in shots on goal per 60 minutes (8.24). During five-on-four play, he ranked third in shots on goal per 60 minutes (12.63), so it doesn’t really matter what the situation is, Hamilton is ready to shoot. Those credentials make him a valuable defenceman, yet also one whose name is starting to get brought up in potential trades, even though he has a no-movement clause, because there are rumblings about the Devils trying to acquire Quinn Hughes from Vancouver to complete their set of Hughes brothers. In any case, until that time comes, Hamilton will be a major part of the Devils’ attack and even if he was to miss around 20 games this season, he could still produce a dozen goals and 45-50 points. If Hamilton happens to stay healthy, 60-plus points remains possible for him.

Luke Hughes

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	8	44	52	0.68

Even though his 2024-2025 season started late while he recovered from a shoulder injury, and he managed just a couple of assists in his first 13 games, Hughes had a strong finish to end the season with 44 points (7 G, 37 A) in 71 games. When Hamilton was injured late in the season, Hughes stepped up and contributed 16 points (2 G, 14 A) in 16 games then suffered another shoulder injury in the playoffs. Through two-plus seasons, Hughes has shown plenty of potential, but is also not a finished product, either. He can handle the puck and skates well, but even though he has good size, listed at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Hughes does not play a physical brand of hockey. In the past two seasons, there are 268 defencemen that have played at least 500 minutes in all situations and only five defencemen (one of whom is his brother, Quinn Hughes) have averaged fewer hits per 60 minutes than Luke Hughes’ 0.79 hits per 60. While he is still early in what figures to be a long and productive NHL career, Hughes’ offensive upside is limited by Hamilton’s presence, because he will quarterback the top power play unit. He also has room to improve his defensive game, but he’s young enough that he can reasonably be expected to get better. Nevertheless, Hughes has surpassed 40 points in each of his first two NHL seasons and should be able to do it again this season.

Brett Pesce

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
73	3	13	16	0.22

A veteran blueliner who has a greater real-world impact compared to his fantasy impact on the game, Pesce had four seasons in Carolina in which he finished with 25-30 points. However, his last season in Carolina brought 13 points and last season, his first in New Jersey, brought 17 points (3 G, 14 A). Pesce is a steady top four defender who has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game for nine consecutive seasons. He’s a strong skater who uses excellent positioning to control the game when he’s on the ice. Pesce had a Corsi percentage of 52.3 percent last season and that was his lowest since his rookie season in 2015-2016, so the puck tends to move the right way when he is on the ice, and he recorded 138 blocked shots last season, his most since 2016-2017. Pesce played most often with Luke Hughes last season, providing the defensive backbone that freed Hughes up to take more chances offensively. Since the Devils have several options ahead of Pesce to handle the more offensive aspects, it’s fair to expect maybe 20 points from him during the 2025-2026 season.

Simon Nemec

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
33	3	9	12	0.36

The second pick in the 2022 Draft, Nemec endured a difficult 2024-2025 season, playing just 27 games for the Devils during the regular season, spending more time in the American Hockey League, where he accrued 23 points (5 G, 18 A) in 34 games. After showing potential as a rookie in 2023-2024, Nemec got off to a slow start last season, resulting in his demotion to the AHL, but he played well there and returned just before the break for the Four Nations Face-Off. Even upon returning to the Devils, Nemec struggled on his way to a 44.2 percent Corsi while getting outscored 17-8 during five-on-five play. Inserted into the playoff lineup after Luke Hughes was injured in Game 1 against Carolina, Nemec was more effective in the four games that he played and scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 3. Nemec has offensive potential just waiting to be tapped but is going to have to earn his way into the lineup to even get that chance. The Devils have a lot of proven NHL veterans ready to go, so Nemec is not going to be gifted his spot. He has the chance to be a quality NHL defencemen, but after some struggles, Nemec is now in a position where he is going to have to prove that he belongs and while that’s possible, it does acknowledge that he has some hurdles to overcome. If he is in the NHL for a full season, 25-30 points would be a reasonable expectation, and if he plays most of the games, that alone would count as progress.

Goal

Jacob Markstrom

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
50	27	16	4	5	.905	2.55

The New Jersey Devils haven't strung together two consecutive playoff berths since 2010 - which, coincidentally, marked the end of their thirteen-year postseason streak at the hands (or goaltending glove) of Martin Brodeur. It makes sense, then, that the team took a look at the trio they brought to the crease last year - veteran starter Jacob Markström, veteran tandem/backup Jake Allen, and newly graduated prospect Nico Daws - and decided they weren't going to change a thing.

They'll have some tough decisions to make in the crease next offseason, with Daws due for a contract extension in the offseason and 2021 draftee Jakub Malek finally making his way to North America this year. Their minor league crease was already a bit crowded this year, with prospect Tyler Brennan spending his entire year in the ECHL, and neither Allen nor Markström will see their contracts up for at least a few more years. But for the upcoming season, at least, they'll have the reliability of Markström - who proved last year that he's still capable of getting the job done - and the veteran presence of Allen, both of whom have plenty of playoff experience and time spent around far tougher fanbases. The only question, at this point, is how many NHL games Daws gets to experience before the year is up.

NHL GLOBAL SERIES: New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres – Casey and the Devils Stole the Show in Prague Opener – Impressions from Prague

Matej Deraj — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 18:16:35 +0000

The year Czech hockey has had so far couldn´t have been much better. First, the Central European country hosted a World Championship in May and won gold. Five months later, the NHL came to Prague. Fans from all of Europe, and not just Europe, gathered in the Czech capital to watch the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres to kick off the 2024-25 season.

A lot of fun activities were prepared for fans in the nearby Harfa mall, such as precision shooting, throwing hats on sticks, cornhole, or a PlayStation tournament. The participants collected stamps and at the end, they got a poster based on their preference. Based on the majority of black or red jerseys, you could imagine why there was a lot more Sabres posters still available. You could see a lot of Hughes brothers, Hischiers, Meiers or Tatars and Nemecs walking downtown Prague. On the other hand, Sabres stars Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka had a lot of supporters. Apart from them, there was a huge variety of jerseys at the O2 Arena, including Juraj Slafkovský (Montreal), Penguins, Stars, even Kraken jerseys and the sweaters of various Czech, Slovak and German teams.

Regarding the two teams who actually played, the Devils took two wins (4-1, 3-1) to get the first four points of the year. Not just on the ice, Jersey had the lead in the stands as well, despite the Czecho-Slovak Sabres Fan Club members doing their best. With Czech-born Patrik Eliáš being one of the biggest Devils legends and forward Ondřej Palát on the roster, they are definitely one of the most popular teams in the country. Slovak fans lined up in big numbers as well to watch the upcoming star defenseman Šimon Nemec. His countryman, forward Tomáš Tatar, was the most popular man on the ice, given the applause he received. But it wasn´t just about watching a few players. The fans were ecstatic to see the highest level of hockey and everything they love about the NHL first-hand.

There was no one in the building happier than Seamus Casey, though. The Devils young defensemen made his NHL debut in Prague and scored his first goal in the second game. A quick pull-back and a great shot that beat Devon Levi to tie the game 1-1.

“I don´t think you can score a nicer goal as your first. My wasn´t,” said Devils captain Nico Hischier. “My neither,” added Tomáš Tatar, laughing.

“This whole week has just been a blast. The guys have been great, welcoming me in. We talked about it before, it´s your normal first experience in the NHL, but it´s been super fun. To get two wins, it´s an awesome start,” said Casey.

The 20-year-old defenseman stole the show in Prague with his confident and fearless play. The Devils 2^nd rounder from the 2022 NHL Draft was paired with another youngster Šimon Nemec. “I talked about this with a few people, the way coach communicated things with us made things pretty seamless. I thought our transition through camp was awesome, although it took a while to get used to a new style. This weekend, I thought we played super simple at times, but with a lot of pace. When our skill came out, we were able to bury a few. Just simple hockey within our structure.”

The Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was pleased with his young undersized (5´10”) defenseman. He had a lot of trust in Casey and put him on the second powerplay unit instead of Nemec. Casey took the opportunity and was rewarded with a goal. “You need to be a competitor to play in this league, especially on defence and at his size. He has the qualities; he has shown that. He´s gotten better each day. The opportunity has presented itself here and he has taken advantage of it.”

The young American made his case to stay up clear, just like Johnathan Kovacevic, who scored in the first game. The Devils were missing Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, both injured, but their absence wasn´t that noticeable. “I think everybody played well on the backend this weekend. You get contributions from everyone. The message from the Day 1 with our team is we never want to be defeated by circumstance in terms of our injuries. We don´t want those things to defeat our group mentally. You should be able to overcome it, or put up a fight at least.”

Two Czech and two Slovak players suited up for the games in Prague, however, only Slovaks played in both. The Devils forward Ondřej Palát starred in the most commercials before the game and talked to fans in Czech, but he only appeared in the first match. He missed the second one due to personal reasons, related to birth of his second child. “Last night, the time our game ended, there was a situation worth monitoring back in New Jersey. It was determined he was going to have to return home and be with his family,” explained Keefe.

The Sabres brought two Czech-born players to Prague, but Jiří Kulich was the only one to skate in a game. He played the second match, after Zach Benson and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel were both sidelined with injuries. “I was very happy to find out I was going to play tonight; I immediately texted my friends and family. It was beautiful, I´m glad I could be part of it. On the other hand, I was not satisfied with my performance. The second goal we conceded was on me,” said 20-year-old Kulich after the match.

The Sabres couldn´t be happy with the score nor their performance. The Devils, on the other hand, were all smiles. Tomáš Tatar summed it up for the whole group. “Obviously, the results make it so much better. We had a great time here in Prague, you know, the whole city is very beautiful. We had a teambuilding, we glued together. We wanted to focus on a game, both yesterday and today, and I think we did. Coming out of Prague with four points with the time we could spend together as a team is so valuable. We had a great time.”

NHL: Training Camp Updates

Scott Cullen — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:02:07 +0000

Toronto Maple Leafs Winger William Nylander (88) (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

As the NHL season approaches, training camps are in full swing and preseason action is underway. That means that changes are already taking place with injuries and opportunities changing every day.

Doughty suffers broken ankle

Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty suffered a broken ankle that leaves him out month-to-month. That is a huge loss for the Kings but, it means new opportunities because someone will have to fill the void that is created by Doughty’s injury. Brandt Clarke was already poised to play a regular role on the Kings blueline but could step into a role on the Kings’ first power play unit. Clarke has eight points (2 G, 6 A) in 25 career games and half of those points have come with the man advantage. If not Clarke, Jordan Spence could step up, too. He had 24 points (2 G, 22 A) in 71 games last season, with six points on the power play. Clarke has the better pedigree. He was selected eighth overall in the 2021 Draft and produced 46 points (10 G, 36 A) in 50 games in the AHL last season.

Appendicitis knocks out Gibson

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson underwent emergency surgery for an appendectomy and that will keep him out for 3-6 weeks. If he only missed three weeks, that will not cost him too many starts, but if it’s closer to the other end of the spectrum, there will be more games for Lukas Dostal. While Dostal appeared in 44 games for the Ducks last season, he managed just 13 wins and had a .902 save percentage, which is not enough to believe that he is going to have significant fantasy value this season.

Boqvist on Panthers’ top power play

With Brandon Montour signing in Seattle, it appears that Panthers defenceman Adam Boqvist is getting a look as the quarterback on Florida’s No. 1 power play unit. He has never played more than 52 games in an NHL season and has 85 points (23 G. 62 A) in 209 games, with 29 of those points coming on the power play. However, there are 57 defencemen that have played at least 300 five-on-four minutes across the past three seasons and Boqvist ranks 50th with 3.32 points per 60 minutes and 55th with 4.88 on-ice GF/60. To his slight credit, he ranks 41st with 6.84 xGF/60 in those situations. If Boqvist ultimately can’t handle the role, Aaron Ekblad could be lurking as a possible quarterback on PP1.

Hanifin getting first unit power play time in Vegas

On a team that already boasts Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, it appears that Noah Hanifin is getting an opportunity to skate with the top power play in Vegas. Hanifin recorded 47 points last season, with 13 points on the power play, including five of his 12 points with Vegas after he was acquired from Calgary. While Hanifin ranked fifth with 11.87 shots per 60 minutes during five-on-four play across the past three seasons, he ranked 29th with 4.35 points per 60 minutes. He also ranked 50th with 5.80 on-ice goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play. This is a position of relative strength for the Golden Knights, so if Hanifin isn’t getting the job done on the first power play, they have two more options who have experienced some success in that role.

Cooley and Guenther could offer big fantasy value

The Utah Hockey Club has some promise heading into the season, not the least of which is related to a couple of young forwards who finished hot last season and could be poised for big things in 2024-2025. Right winger Dylan Guenther just signed an eight-year contract extension for more than $57 million, even though he has played just 78 NHL games, but the ninth pick in the 2021 Draft has an awe-inspiring shot and finished last season with 17 points (9 G, 8 A) with 53 shots on goal in his last 16 games. Pair Guenther with Logan Cooley, the third pick in the 2022 Draft, who finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting last season and he had 14 points (9 G, 5 A) in his last 16 games. Two young players finishing with that kind of production offers temptation for what they might be able to accomplish this season. The answer could be: more than you think.

Luke Hughes recovering from shoulder injury

Devils defenceman Luke Hughes, who finished third in Norris Trophy voting last season, could miss the first month of the regular season due to a shoulder injury suffered in offseason training. Hughes’ injury opens the door for Simon Nemec, another highly drafted defenceman going into his second NHL season, to take on a bigger role including time on the Devils’ second power play unit. Nemec had 19 points (3 G, 16 A) in 60 games as a rookie, but could certainly improve on that if he can secure regular time with the man advantage.

Tatar getting a good opportunity in New Jersey

The last time that Tomas Tatar was skating for the New Jersey Devils, he produced 20 goals and 48 points during the 2022-2023 season. Last season, between Colorado and Seattle, Tatar managed just 24 points (9 G, 15 A) in 70 games. He played 12:27 per game, his lowest average since 2012-2013. But right now it looks like Tatar has a chance to skate on the Devils’ second line, with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer, which would put Tatar much more in line to produce 40-plus points again.

Willy Styles to center

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is getting a training camp look at centre ice, which does shuffle up the forward lines, sending John Tavares to the third line. Nylander at center allows the Leafs to play Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok on his wings, while Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann can skate on Tavares’ wings, giving Toronto better scoring depth. Of course, Max Pacioretty would seem like a logical fit in a middle six role following his tryout, so Jarnkrok or McMann would seem like candidates to move down the depth chart, unless Robertson is moved out.

Michkov a Calder favorite?

Philadelphia Flyers rookie right winger Matvei Michkov is either the favorite or co-favorite to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the NHL. The seventh pick in the 2023 Draft, Michkov had 41 points (19 G, 22 A) in 47 KHL games last season. He is looking at the opportunity to start the season on the Flyers’ second line while receiving first unit power play time. He has four points (1 G, 3 A) through his first two preseason games, which has done nothing to turn down the hype machine but maybe it’s deserved.

Beauviller getting a chance in Pittsburgh

After managing a career-low five goals and 17 points for Vancouver and Nashville last season, Anthony Beauvillier is the epitome of a buy-low performer. He is also looking at the potential opportunity to skate on Pittsburgh’s top line alongside Sidney Crosby. It can be a revolving door on Crosby’s wing, but the opportunity to skate with such an elite centre would elevate Beauvillier’s scoring potential, at least making him relevant for fantasy owners. He has never scored more than 40 points in a season, but that career high happened one year before his career low performance.

Montour ahead of Dunn for PP1 in Seattle

The Seattle Kraken appear to be giving free agent acquisition Brandon Montour a shot to quarterback the top power play unit. Across the previous three seasons, among the 57 defencemen to play at least 200 minutes Montour ranked 20th with 4.69 points per 60 minutes of five-on-four play. Dunn ranked 33rd with 4.26 points per 60, which is not a dramatic different. When it comes to on-ice goals for per 60 minutes, Montour ranked tenth, with 10.02, while Dunn ranked 47th with 6.16. Since they were operating on different teams, it seems that these numbers would be heavily influenced by the talent around them.

Faulk on PP1 for St. Louis

With Torey Krug likely to miss the season as he deals with a bad ankle, Justin Faulk is getting the opportunity to run the Blues’ top power play unit. Faulk has experience in the role, with 134 of his 426 career points coming with the man advantage. If Faulk can’t guide the unit successfully, Scott Perunovich, Colton Parayko and Philip Broberg could all be viable candidates, too.

Demko remains out for Vancouver

With an uncertain timeline for the return to action of goaltender Thatcher Demko, the Vancouver Canucks have signed Kevin Lankinen, to pair with Artrus Silovs in the crease while they wait. Lankinen has been a quality backup, posting a .912 save percentage in 43 games with Nashville over the past two seasons, but he could be required to handle a larger percentage of the action, at least while Demko is sidelined. Silovs has flashed potential but has started a total of 19 NHL games, nine during the regular season and 10 in the playoffs. He has a .898 save percentage in those games, so the 23-year-old netminder is still a work in progress as he tries to establish himself as a full-time NHLer.

Tarasov getting his shot in Columbus?

With Elvis Merzlikins coming off a terrible season, and big changes in the Blue Jackets organization, it could be time for 25-year-old goaltender Daniil Tarasov to get the starter’s job in Columbus. Tarasov has a .905 save percentage in 45 career games, which is enough to at least consider him in a tandem with Merzlikins, but it would not take much for Tarasov to become the first option for the rebuilding Blue Jackets.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Team Preview

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:00:56 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 08: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) warms up before a game between the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils on February 08, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

A season that started with high expectations went down the tubes rather quickly and the Devils finished the season with 81 points (38-39-5). Travis Green replaced Lindy Ruff behind the bench for the last 21 games and New Jersey’s record got worse. The Devils ranked 10th in Corsi (51.7%) and 12th in expected goals percentage (51.6%), which is better than average. It’s not where the Devils were in previous seasons, but still better than average. New Jersey’s power play ranked 11th with 8.22 goals per 60 minutes while the penalty kill ranked 10th with 6.94 goals against per 60 minutes. Considering these rankings, how did the Devils not make the playoffs? Their goaltenders combined to give them a .886 save percentage, ranking 30th. That can undo a lot of good happening elsewhere on the ice. The Devils also had some major injuries to key players. Dougie Hamilton played 20 games and Jack Hughes missed 20, but played hurt late in the season, too.

What’s Changed? Former Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe takes over behind the bench for the Devils and he takes over a team that was busy trying to solve its problems. Intent on fixing their goaltending issues, the Devils acquired Jacob Markstrom from Calgary, then stabilized their defence by signing Brett Pesce from Carolina and Brenden Dillon from Winnipeg. The Devils couldn’t wait any longer on right winger Alexander Holtz, so they traded him along with goaltender Akira Schmid to Vegas for hard-hitting winger Paul Cotter. They dealt defenceman John Marino to Utah and Kevin Bahl to Calgary in the Markstrom deal after acquiring defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic in a trade with Montreal. The Devils also dipped into their past by signing wingers Stefan Noesen and Tomas Tatar as free agents.

What would success look like? There is more than enough talent on hand for the Devils to make the playoffs, but it would not be unreasonable for expectations to be higher than merely making the postseason. That would be one step of success, but the Devils are built to be a Stanley Cup contender so that would be the real success. On an individual level, it would be ideal if young defencemen Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec continue to develop because they should be cornerstone pieces for this franchise for a long time.

What could go wrong? If Markstrom does not fix what ails the Devils in net, then the season could go sideways again. Certainly, major injuries to players like Jack Hughes or Dougie Hamilton – who have both missed some time in recent seasons – would be problems, but this team, as constructed, should be deep enough to handle an injury or two, even to key players. The underlying numbers were still solid last season so it would be a real surprise if the Devils made all these moves and still ended up missing the playoffs again.

Top Breakout Candidate: This is not really a team with openings for young players to get quality ice time, but defenceman Simon Nemec is an exception. The second pick in the 2022 Draft, Nemec contributed 19 points in 60 games as a rookie. He did put up 14 goals and 42 points in 78 AHL games, so he can make a difference offensively, and there may come a day when he is put into a more offensive role on the Devils blueline. Right now, it appears that Hamilton and Luke Hughes are the first two options to quarterback the Devils power play, but Nemec should not be discounted and even if his point totals might not explode this season, he is likely to take a step forward in his development anyway, playing with a steady veteran like Brenden Dillon.

Forwards

Jack Hughes

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	41	61	102	1.32

There is no denying the level of skill with which Hughes plays. He is averaging 1.21 points per game across the past three seasons, which ranks 12th in the league. The issue that does hang over Hughes, however, is that he has had trouble staying healthy. He missed 20 games last season and was playing through a shoulder injury that ultimately required surgery. He is not exactly the biggest and strongest out on the ice, so it is reasonable to have concern about his durability until he shows that it is not an issue. One other issue for Hughes is that he has yet to prove he can have success in the face-off circle. Injuries may play a part, but he won just 37.2 percent of his draws last season and that was a career-high rate! When he is on the ice, He is a sublime talent, one of the best puck-handlers in the entire league. He plays with audacious creativity which makes him a crowd-pleasing performer and Hughes is adept at creating chances for himself as well as for his linemates. Hughes’ ability to attack in transition plays a big part in his ability to generate shots and he put up a career-high 4.42 shots per game in 2023-2024. Hughes played a career-high 20:58 per game last season, a minute higher than the previous season, so he is starting to hit his peak in terms of usage. For the 2024-2025 season, it is reasonable to count on something like 35 goals and 85 points from Hughes, but that comes with the expectation that he will miss some games. If Hughes stays healthy, a 100-point season is within his grasp.

Jesper Bratt

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	32	48	80	0.98

Bratt has climbed to join the ranks of the best offensive wingers in the game and scored a career-high 83 points last season even while the Devils struggled as a team. He roared out of the gate to start the season, much like he did the year before, tallying 18 points in his first nine games. Bratt generated a career-high 3.02 shots on goal per game while playing a career-high 19:18 per game. He earned that ice time with his production. In the past three seasons, Bratt has compiled 229 points, which ranks 20th among wingers in that time. He has breakaway speed and attacks in transition frequently. The 26-year-old winger uses his wide base to shield the puck very effectively, which allows him to buy time in order to make a more dangerous play. When he is playing with confidence, he is frequently putting the defense on its heels because of his speed. Bratt’s increased shot output makes him a greater threat offensively because he has a quick release and if the defence gives him time, he can fire the puck to beat the goaltender from distance. Playing with Hischier and Palat, Bratt should be in position for another productive campaign. Considering his recent production, he could be expected to contribute 30 goals and 75-80 points.

Nico Hischier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	29	52	81	0.99

The Devils’ captain has established his credentials as a premier two-way centre but has added to his defensive reputation with more consistent offensive production. In the past two seasons, he has tallied 58 goals and 147 points in 152 games. While Hughes struggles at the face-off dot, Hischier has continued to improve in that aspect of the game and won a career-best 56.6% of his draws last season. A heady player who can modify his contributions based on what is needed, Hischier has not only generated more points in the past two seasons, but that has been supported by underlying numbers, with higher on-ice expected goal rates and yet he has achieved that through different paths. In 2022-2023, his shot rate spiked to 3.16 per game, nearly an extra shot per game compared to the previous season. Then, last season, it dropped to 2.56 shots per game, even though the Devils generated even more shots with Hischier on the ice. His most common linemates are Jesper Bratt and Ondrej Palat, which is a quality trio to be sure. Among lines that played at least 200 five-on-five minutes last season, they ranked second with 4.66 expected goals per 60 minutes and fourth with an expected goals percentage of 63.8. Considering that efficiency and looking ahead to the 2024-2025 season, it is reasonable to expect 25-30 goals and 70-plus points from Hischier.

Timo Meier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	39	34	73	0.97

After mediocre production when he first joined the Devils in the 2022-2023 season, Meier still landed a big contract, but he struggled for quite a while last season, and it looked like the contract could be a disaster in the making. However, even as the Devils’ season went off the rails, Meier started to put it together late in the season and he scored 18 goals and 30 points in his last 26 games. That followed 10 goals and 22 points in his first 43 games. The three-time 30-goal scorer finished with 28 goals last season, but his overall impact is not like it was in his last couple of seasons in San Jose when he was one of the premier shot generators in the entire league. Among forwards that have played at least 2000 five-on-five minutes across the past three seasons, Bratt ranks seventh with 1.11 individual expected goals per 60 minutes. This should make Meier one of the primary projects of new head coach Sheldon Keefe, because if he can get Meier back on top of his game, that will give the Devils more options when trying to set their scoring lines. With even a little movement in the right direction, Meier could deliver 30 goals and 60 points.

Dawson Mercer

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	28	30	58	0.71

When Mercer scored 11 goals during an 11-game flurry in the 2022-2023 season, it may have set the bar too high to be sustainable and he saw his 56-point season plummet to a 33-point season in 2023-2024. Mercer did record his second straight 20-goal season but since he has yet to average two shots on goal per game in any of his first three NHL seasons, that should be a primary objective if he is going to have goal-scoring production that lasts. To Mercer’s credit, he has scored 40 even-strength goals across the past two seasons, which ranks fourth on the team behind Hughes, Bratt, and Hischier. Mercer is not shy about getting to the front of the net, and that’s where the goals are scored. What could work in his favour for a bounce-back season is that his most frequent centre last season was Erik Haula and, based on the Devils’ personnel, it looks like Mercer should have a chance to skate more consistently with Jack Hughes, which naturally raises offensive expectations. A 22-year-old (mostly) winger, Mercer has not missed a game in his first three NHL seasons and should be able to produce 25 goals and 50 points in 2024-2025, but he’ll have to shoot the puck to do it!

Ondrej Palat

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
70	12	27	39	0.56

Even if the veteran winger only managed 31 points for the Devils last season, Palat continues to be an excellent two-way forward who continues to push play in the right direction when he is on the ice. He thrived playing alongside Bratt and Hischier, which should be who he lines up with this season. One interesting, yet under-utilized, aspect of Palat’s game is that he was a highly effective penalty killer but ranked 10th among Devils forwards in four-on-five ice time per game despite having the lowest rates of shot attempts against and expected goals against per 60 minutes. Given all the team success he experienced in Tampa Bay, Palat has playoff experience that sets his apart from his Devils teammates. He has accrued 150 playoff games in his career, with four separate playoff runs of more than 20 games. Beyond the experience and strong defensive play that Palat brings to the table, it is apparent that he is losing effectiveness offensively. He last surpassed 50 points in a season in 2016-2017 but has managed 54 points in 120 games since joining the Devils. Given that recent track record, and the fact that he is now 33-years old, it is probably more reasonable to expect 30-35 points from Palat in 2024-2025.

Erik Haula

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	15	20	35	0.44

Moving to New Jersey has brought an element of stability to Haula’s career. He has played 156 games for the Devils over the past two seasons, the first time in his career that he logged that many games for the same team across back-to-back seasons. That’s in large part because he has been moving between teams so frequently. More importantly, Haula was excellent in a two-way role for the Devils last season, anchoring the third line and delivering positive results at both ends of the rink. The Devils controlled 55.5 percent of expected goals when Haula was on the ice during five-on-five play. He has won 54.5 percent of his faceoffs since joining the Devils and tends to play with a bit of an edge. He recorded a career-high 54 penalty minutes last season. Considering what the Devils have down the middle of the ice, with Hughes and Hischier at the top of the depth chart, getting such reliable performance from Haula is what is needed for this team to be a contender. The 33-year-old pivot should be expected to continue what he has been doing for the Devils in the past couple of seasons. That means that he could produce 15 goals and 35 points this season.

Stefan Noesen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	15	21	36	0.45

A late bloomer who set career highs with 14 goals and 37 points for the Carolina Hurricanes last season, Noesen signed with the Devils as a free agent. He previously played with the Devils from 2016-2017 through the 2018-2019 season. The 31-year-old winger has played 366 games in his NHL career, and it might have taken awhile for him to establish that he is a legit NHL player, because he is not necessarily the most graceful skater, but he thrived in Carolina. With Noesen on the ice across the past two seasons, the Hurricanes controlled 61.8 percent of expected goals with Carolina outscoring the opposition 71-37 with Noesen on the ice. In addition to those positive results, Noesen plays with a physical edge and goes hard to the net, which helps to make him a useful contributor in a depth role because he is hard to play against and has been an efficient scorer even when he receives little ice time. In New Jersey, there is a fair chance that Noesen will have an opportunity to play in the top nine, which means more ice time and, perhaps, more opportunities for him to score. If Noesen keeps playing a physical game and contributes 35 points, the Devils ought to be happy with their offseason addition to the lineup.

Tomas Tatar

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	13	19	32	0.41

The veteran winger returns to New Jersey after splitting last season between Seattle and Colorado, finishing with 24 points in 70 games, his lowest offensive output since 2012-2013, when he had seven points in 18 games. It makes sense for the Devils to bring Tatar back on a bargain deal because the 33-year-old had a strong season in 2022-2023 when he was last with New Jersey. Tatar is a finesse player who has had seven seasons with at least 20 goals. While he does not play an overly physical game, he is at least a competent defensive player, sometimes even better than that. He offers the Devils another secondary scoring option and some veteran savvy. If Tatar can help the Devils get back into the playoffs, then he had better figure out how to show up for the postseason. In 52 career playoff games, Tatar has just seven goals and 13 points, so while that might be a point of concern, the priority for New Jersey is to get back into the playoffs and having a skilled winger who can move around the lineup ought to help with that pursuit. At this stage of his career, 33-year-old Tatar could contribute 12-15 goals and 30 points.

Paul Cotter

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	9	18	27	0.35

Looking for a bit of a roster shakeup, the Devils traded right winger Alexander Holtz and goaltender Akira Schmid to the Vegas Golden Knights to acquire a 2025 third-round pick along with Cotter, a hard-driving fourth-line winger who brings a consistent physical presence to the lineup. Cotter, 24, produced seven goals and 25 points for the Golden Knights last season and ranked second on the team with 233 hits. No one on the Devils was within 50 hits of Cotter’s total. He has worked his way through the ranks as a fourth-round pick in 2018 and he has had to battle to make his way into the league. Now, Cotter has some specific appeal related to the style of game that he plays. The Devils appear intent on adding some bite to their forward depth chart and he is front and centre in that approach. He is likely to start the season on a line with Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian, a group that should not recoil at the thought of physical contact. While Cotter has a modest 22 goals and 45 points in 138 career games, he has decent hands and can chip in a little offensively. A reasonable expectation would be to match last season’s total of 25 points, with potential for more if he somehow earns a role higher on the depth chart.

DEFENCE

Dougie Hamilton

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
70	18	40	58	0.83

A torn pectoral muscle limited Hamilton to just 20 games in the 2023-2024 season, but he still produced five goals and 16 points, with half of those points coming on the power play. A smooth skater standing 6-foot-6, Hamilton can swallow up so much space on the ice, either jumping into the rush, or getting back to handle an attacking opponent. His defensive play has dipped in recent seasons, but it helps to generate even more chances offensively. While it occurred in a relatively small sample of games, Hamilton had a Corsi percentage of 59.7 last season, the highest mark of his career. It was the fourth season of his career in which his expected goal percentage was better than 57 percent, so this is a player who typically has a significant positive impact. One of the things that makes Hamilton such a consistent threat is his ability to put pucks on net. He has averaged more than three shots on goal per game for seven straight seasons. With the expectation that Hamilton will be ready to go at the start of the 2024-2025 season, he should continue to be one of the most productive defencemen in the league. Health will obviously be a factor, but he should be able to produce 15 goals and somewhere between 45-50 points. While Hamilton went for a career-high 74 points in 2022-2023, that was the only season of his career in which he finished with more than 50 points. He certainly has that capability, but it has not been typical for him to pass that threshold.

Luke Hughes

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	10	41	51	0.62

The fourth pick in the 2021 Draft, Hughes endured some growing pains as a rookie and still accrued 47 points, tying Minnesota’s Brock Faber for second in rookie scoring behind Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard. With Hamilton injured, Hughes took over on the Devils’ top power play unit and finished with 25 power play points. The puck was moving the right way with Hughes on the ice, too, with the Devils getting 54.5 percent of shot attempts and 52.5 percent of expected goals during five-on-five play when Hughes was on the ice. Coming from a family that includes his brothers, Devils centre Jack Hughes and Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes, it should come as no surprise that Luke Hughes is a strong skater. He is also bigger than his brothers. On the other hand, Jack and Quinn are both incredibly dynamic players with the puck and it would be too soon to suggest that Luke is on that level. At the same time, Luke was 20-years old last season, so there is time for him to mature and grow into a role as a legitimate top pair defenceman. With the Devils improving their supporting cast on the blueline, bringing in Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon as free agents, their young defenceman should have much better support in 2024-2025. Hamilton returning to action, and quarterbacking the top power play, should mean fewer points for Hughes, but he could very well have a better all-around impact because of the cast of characters around him. It would be fair to expect Hughes to put up 35-40 points in his second NHL season.

Simon Nemec

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	5	23	28	0.37

Drafted second overall in 2022, Nemec started last season in the American Hockey League, where he produced eight points in 13 games for Utica before getting called up to New Jersey. He showed plenty of potential, with 19 points in 60 games. Nemec didn’t get the luxury of a big role on the power play, chipping in just two points with the man advantage. He has shown that he is not afraid to join the attack, and he is an excellent skater who plays an intelligent game. He makes an efficient first pass that tends to help get the puck moving in the right direction and can carry the puck through the neutral zone to challenge opposing defenders. Nemec has the upside to become a top pair defenceman and that makes him a valuable commodity heading into the 2024-2025 season. Much like Hughes, Nemec is sure to benefit from New Jersey’s offseason upgrades on the blueline. That stability should play well for the Devils’ young defencemen and Nemec has been making such rapid progress that he could take a big leap forward this season. What does that mean for his production? It would be reasonable to expect 25-30 points out of Nemec in a full season. While he could put up more with a bigger power play role, it seems that Hamilton and Hughes will be ahead of Nemec on the power play depth chart.

GOAL

Jacob Markstrom

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
53	30	17	6	3	0.908	2.65

Jake Allen

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
28	16	9	3	1	0.902	2.93

The 2023-24 New Jersey Devils weren't the league's worst team, but they did boast arguably the league's worst three-player goaltending tandem - so they spent their offseason cleaning house, albeit in a somewhat risky way. Out for next season are Vitek Vanecek (dealt mid-season last year to the San Jose Sharks) and Akira Schmid, who was dealt to Vegas at the end of June. In their places, the Devils held on to struggling mid-season acquisition Jake Allen and sent a first-round pick to Calgary for struggling Jacob Markström - who will start the year as one of the league's oldest tandems and both coming off historically poor years in 2023. They'll hope to hold down the fort while Nico Daws is given a chance to continue developing at the AHL level, although some might raise their eyebrows at the idea of New Jersey spending yet another year working with other teams' aging reclamation projects.

Markström is, on paper, the best chance for success for New Jersey. While he struggled as much as the rest of Calgary did last season, leaving surprising holes along the ice and lagging on recoveries from his knees during rebound attempts, his overall tracking and decision-making still looked strong enough to lend credence to the possibility that he's still got some game left in the tank. Allen is a less-promising entity, struggling with depth management during his tenure in Montreal and seeming to get rattled by bad goals in a way veteran goaltenders shouldn't, but it's hard to deny that New Jersey should be a lower-pressure environment than Montreal for him to hopefully get his game back on track. Ultimately, though, this tandem likely doesn't have a ton of staying power in Jersey - so don't be surprised if Daws is back up in Newark before the year is up.

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Boldy is back on track – Devils turn to their young defencemen – Granlund lifting the Sharks – Healthy Fabbri on a tear for the Wings

Scott Cullen — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:20:59 +0000

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

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

This week, Matt Boldy is back on track, the Devils turn to their young defencemen, Mikael Granlund is lifting the Sharks, and a healthy Robby Fabbri is on a tear for the Red Wings.

#1 Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy had shown lots promise entering this season but then started this season with one goal (and seven assists) in his first 12 games. A new coach seems to have helped Boldy get back on track as he has rallied to score four goals in the past five games, though that may just be a case of the percentages starting to swing back in Boldy’s favour after he was having trouble finishing early in the campaign. He is getting ample opportunity with the man advantage. Among players with at least 50 minutes of five-on-four play, Boldy ranks fourth with 3.62 expected goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play. He is behind Vincent Trocheck (3.91), Joe Pavelski (3.82), Zach Hyman (3.78), and ahead of Quinton Byfield (3.57) and Sam Reinhart (3.39).

#2 With Dougie Hamilton out long term due to a torn pectoral muscle, the New Jersey Devils have a hole on the blueline and the first place to look for solutions may be internally, as rookie Luke Hughes will continue to play a big role and Simon Nemec has been called up from the American Hockey League. Hughes has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 12 shots on goal in his past six games, playing more than 20 minutes in five of those contests. Nemec, the second pick in the 2022 Draft, has started his NHL career with three points (1 G, 2 A) in his first three games after producing eight points (2 G, 6 A) in 13 AHL games to earn his promotion. Hughes and Nemec are playing the point on New Jersey’s top two power play units, so they will have opportunities to produce.

#3 As the San Jose Sharks are starting to show signs of life, going 8-7-1 after a 0-10-1 start, veteran centre Mikael Granlund has picked up his offensive production. In his past dozen games, Granlund has 15 points (3 G, 12 A) while averaging 21:53 minutes of ice time per game. A player that can sometimes be a reluctant shooter, Granlund has also put 29 shots on goal in those 12 games so that shows more offensive drive.

#4 Injuries always seem to be lurking around the corner for Red Wings winger Robby Fabbri, but he has been very productive when healthy this season and has landed a spot on Detroit’s top line, alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Fabbri has produced 13 points (8 G, 5 A) in 13 games this season, though he has just 20 shots on goal, so it is obvious that he will not continue to score on 40% of his shots, but playing with high quality linemates is a good way to maintain production.

#5 Through his first 16 games this season, Arizona Coyotes forward Alexander Kerfoot contributed just four points (1 G, 3 A). In his past nine games, he has 11 points (1 G, 10 A) and is averaging more than 19 minutes per game. While Kerfoot is generally skating on the third line, with Michael Carcone and Jason Zucker, he is also getting first unit power play time and that gives him a higher offensive ceiling than he might have otherwise.

#6 Ottawa Senators right winger Drake Batherson has turned up the heat offensively. In his past 10 games, the 25-year-old has produced 13 points (6 G, 7A) with 26 shots on goal while playing nearly 18 minutes per game. Skating on a line with Tim Stutzle and Vladimir Tarasenko seems to agree with Batherson.

#7 Florida Panthers late bloomer Evan Rodrigues has seven points (3 G, 4 A) during a three-game point streak and with the opportunity to play with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, the 30-year-old winger is poised to have his most productive season. Rodrigues has been a consistent shot generator in previous stops but the chance to play with top players raises the bar for what point totals he might be able to achieve. He tallied a career high 43 points (19 G, 24 A) in 2021-2022 and already has 20 points (6 G, 14 A) in 25 games this season.

#8 With Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish out of the lineup, the Anaheim Ducks pretty much have to lean on rookie centre Leo Carlsson and the 18-year-old pivot has nine points (5 G, 4 A) and 27 shots on goal in his past 10 games, averaging more than 18 minutes of ice time per game. The Ducks have made it clear that they would prefer to ease Carlsson into his NHL career but circumstances may dictate that he just play more because he can. With 0.72 points per game, Carlsson ranks third among rookies, behind Connor Bedard (0.81) and Connor Zary (0.75).

#9 Philadelphia Flyers rookie right winger Tyson Foerster is starting to find his range as a scorer. He has produced six points (4 G, 2 A) with 13 shots on goal in his past five games. The 21-year-old winger is skating on Philadelphia’s top line alongside Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, and as long as that is the case, Foerster should hold some appeal for fantasy managers.

#10 The seventh overall pick in the 2021 Draft, William Eklund is working his way into a bigger role for the San Jose Sharks, as he has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 16 shots on goal in his past eight games. He is also playing nearly 19 minutes per game in that stretch and it’s encouraging for a rebuilding team to see their 21-year-old prospect taking advantage of the opportunity to play a significant role. Eklund has landed on San Jose’s top line, skating with Tomas Hertl and Alexander Barabanov, as well as playing on the Sharks’ top power play unit.

#11 Playing just 11 minutes per game for the Arizona Coyotes, Michael Carcone has nevertheless been the most efficient five-on-five goal scorer in the league. Carcone is a 27-year-old who had played a total of 30 NHL games before this season and his good fortune in the offensive zone is keeping him in the Coyotes lineup. He is scoring on 32.4 percent of his shots on goal, which is not sustainable, but Carcone has scored 2.71 goals per 60 minutes, which is the best rate in the league among players that have skated at least 200 five-on-five minutes. He is followed by Trevor Moore (2.09), Nils Hoglander (2.04), Zach Hyman (2.00), Artemi Panarin (1.86), and Jake Neighbours (1.86).

#12 Hoglander has had a meteoric rise for the Canucks this season. After an extended stay in the American Hockey League last season, Hoglander started this season in a very limited role with the Canucks, playing less than 10 minutes six times in his first 11 games. The ice time is still inconsistent, but he has scored seven points (6 G, 1 A) in his past 11 games and his highest ice time this season has come in each of his last two games. He has found a spot on the wing with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser, and that is a real chance for Hoglander to prove that he can be a top six forward in the NHL.

#13 Over the past month, among players to skate in at least 100 minutes in all situations, here are the ixG leaders per 60 minutes: Zach Hyman (2.50), Evander Kane (1.93), Brady Tkachuk (1.92), Quinton Byfield (1.77), Anders Lee (1.66), Matt Boldy (1.65), Jake Guentzel (1.58), Robby Fabbri (1.57), Lawson Crouse (1.57), Joel Eriksson Ek (1.56), and Nils Hoglander (1.54). Many of those players are already established fantasy performers, but it supports the production of players like Fabbri, Crouse, and Hoglander, who are getting the chances that lead to scoring more goals.

#14 Even after surrendering four goals against Philadelphia on Thursday, Arizona Coyotes netminder Connor Ingram has forced his way into a much bigger role between the pipes. In 16 games, Ingram has a .925 save percentage and with Karel Vejmelka struggling (.892 save percentage in 11 games), Ingram has been the natural choice for the suddenly competitive Coyotes.

#15 After a breakout season last year, Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson had serious difficulty stopping pucks early this season, posting a .872 save percentage in his first eight games. He is rounding into form, it appears, as Gustavsson has a .926 save percentage over his past seven starts. For a Wild team that struggled to the point that they felt the need to fire head coach Dean Evason, improved play from their starting goaltender can make a world of difference.

#16 Detroit has some tough decisions to make in goal as starter Ville Husso continues to have difficulty. He has a .886 save percentage in 14 starts and that opens the door for backups to earn a bigger role. Veteran James Reimer has a .917 save percentage in six starts while Alex Lyon has a .947 save percentage in his first five appearances for Detroit. The Red Wings are competitive this season, but it might be time for Lyon to get more action. The Red Wings have held three goaltenders in the NHL, presumably because they did not want to lose Lyon on waivers and now it looks like they might want to consider giving him a bigger piece of the goaltending pie.

#17 Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom is out for a couple of weeks with a broken finger, offering a prime opportunity for top prospect Dustin Wolf. Wolf has a .927 save percentage in 118 AHL games, so he has proven everything he can at that level, but he has had difficulty working his way into the Flames’ crease. Dan Vladar has posted a .877 save percentage in eight starts this season, so the Flames can give Wolf more action while Markstrom is out. In four career games (three starts) for the Flames, Wolf has a .914 save percentage, which is good enough to finally earn him a legitimate look.

#18 A handful of notable slumping forwards over the past month: Chandler Stephenson (one assist in 10 games), Ryan Hartman (one assist in nine games), Reilly Smith (two assists in 14 games), Nick Paul (one goal, one assist in 15 games), and Kasperi Kapanen (one goal, one assist in 14 games). Of course, there are others, but these are players that have had quality playing time and their production has hit a dry patch. Stephenson is centering Brett Howden and Michael Amadio right now, which is not necessarily conducive to big scoring numbers. Hartman’s fantasy appeal was largely tied to playing centre on Minnesota’s top line but now that Marco Rossi is in that spot, Hartman has fallen down the depth chart. Smith has played most of this season on Evgeni Malkin’s wing, so it is hard to imagine how he has gone 15 games without a goal. He has been moved to play with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel and that duo remains dominant at five-on-five, so maybe they can sprinkle some of their magic on Smith. After some early season scoring success, including scoring five of his eight goals on the power play, Paul has gone nine straight games without a point. He is a fringy fantasy player at best, and this is not his best. Not only does Kapanen have just two points in the past 14 games, but he has just 16 shots on goal. He’s barely giving himself a chance.

#19 Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll was in the midst of an outstanding performance against the Ottawa Senators Thursday when he was forced to leave the game with a lower-body injury. With a .916 save percentage in 15 games, Woll had claimed the Leafs’ No. 1 job, but if he is going to miss some time, the responsibility will fall to the tandem of Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones. Samsonov was excellent for the Leafs last season, but has a .878 save percentage in 10 games this season. That is decidedly not excellent. Jones had some moments with Seattle last season but the 33-year-old netminder had a .895 save percentage in the five NHL seasons that preceded the 2023-2024 season. Samsonov is the one to back, but that’s not easy given his performance thus far.

#20 It’s not like Patrick Kane is flying under the radar, but it’s worth keeping tabs on him to see what kind of residual effects could hit the Detroit lineup. Kane skated on a line with Alex DeBrincat and Joe Veleno while getting first unit power play time in his Red Wings debut. J.T. Compher did not play because he was nursing some nagging injuries, but it’s possible that Compher, who has 15 points (5 G, 10 A) in his past 15 games, is the more likely centre for that line when he is healthy.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #5

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:15:37 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 13: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) stickhandles into the offensive zone during the New Jersey Devils versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on April 13, 2023 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

Top 20 New Jersey Devils Prospects

1. Luke Hughes

Selected fourth overall in the 2021 Draft, it was just a matter of time before Hughes made the jump to the NHL to join his brother Jack with the Devils. There may very well be a point where, looking back at this draft, Luke Hughes emerges as the top player from his class. Drafted as the clear No. 1 defender from the USNTDP, he made the jump to the NCAA’s University of Michigan in 2021-22, where he had a very strong year as one of the most productive defenders in the league. He was honoured as a Hobey Baker finalist, the Big Ten Rookie of the Year, and named to numerous All-Star Teams. Last year, he had an even better season, including captaining Team USA to a Bronze Medal at the WJC. He’s a poster child for the modern-era defenseman, with a transition game that will translate effortlessly to the NHL, albeit with greater size than many who share the other traits of his game, such as older brother Quinn, of the Vancouver Canucks. He’ll be a top two defender for the Devils and looks to stick in the NHL this season.

2. Simon Nemec

Yet another potential game-breaking defender in the Devils’ system, Nemec was selected second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft after an incredible 2021-22 season. His draft year included being named MVP of the Hlinka Gretzky, an Olympic Bronze medal, and a World Championship appearance, on top of a dominant regular season and playoff run with HK Nitra in his homeland of Slovakia. His introduction to North America started off slow but he found his game as the season progressed and seemed to be back to his exceptional ways by the end of the year. He’s a very mature, calm player that can surprise you with his speed and creativity. He drives the play, quarterbacking his team from the back end. He’s a very strong puck mover, capable of using both his feet or his hands to make plays. He’s also solid in his own end, showing off impressive defensive awareness. He has top two potential and could very well become one of the best offensive defenders in the league.

3. Alexander Holtz

With many top players from the 2020 Draft already impacting at the NHL level, patience has seemed to grow thin for seventh-overall pick Holtz. Selected from Djurgardens in the SHL, he spent just one more season in the league before coming overseas. He joined the AHL’s Utica Comets full-time in 2021-22, playing at nearly a point-per-game pace throughout the season. He was close to that level again last season and has seen time in the NHL in both seasons as well. Holtz is very likely to make the shift to full-time NHLer this season, thanks to his hard, accurate shot, his impressive movement of the puck, and his improving ability to get to the high-danger areas, which has been a work in progress throughout his development. He has the potential to be a top line sniper and could be one of the best goal-scorers in the league during his prime.

4. Arseny Gritsyuk

Drafted way down at 129th overall in 2019, Gritsyuk has continued to outplay that selection. When the Devils drafted him, he had just finished his rookie season in the MHL and had helped Team Russia to a bronze medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well as a silver medal at the Under-18s. He has remained in Russia through his four post-draft seasons as well, working his way up to the KHL where he has become a full-time player the past two seasons, which included winning the KHL Rookie of the Year award in 2021-22. The forward boasts a hard, deceptive shot but can dish it out as well, doing well to drive the puck to the middle via passing or carrying it in himself. He’s very light on his feet and is fearless in his pursuit. He should be an excellent secondary-scoring winger in the NHL. He’s signed with Avangard Omsk through the 2024-25 season, so additional patience will be required.

5. Seamus Casey

Casey has the potential to be the steal of the 2022 Draft. His draft year was a little up and down with the USNTDP, resulting in him being selected 46th overall despite early thoughts of him as a first rounder. Now with NCAA University of Michigan, he’s back to the style of play that earned him first-round consideration. He’s an excellent quarterback, using great vision to scan the ice and lead his team’s attack. He has a very fluid approach that makes it seem like the game comes easily to him. His four-way mobility stands out in the offensive end, where he can surprise teams with his agility and creativity. There have been some concerns regarding his processing and decision-making, but he took great strides in these areas last season. He’s well on his way to outplaying his draft slot and becoming a top four NHL defender.

6. Josh Filmon

It’s not often that a player drafted in the sixth round is signed and makes the jump to the next level the following season, but that’s exactly what Filmon has done. Selected 166th overall in the 2022 Draft from the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, he returned to the Broncos as an alternate captain, putting up 75 points and 47 goals in just 64 games. The Devils’ brass saw all they needed to, signing him to his entry-level deal and bringing him up to the AHL to end the season. The winger seems to do all the little things right, playing a really smart, consistent game. His skating is an area that needs to improve if he is to succeed in the AHL and NHL. Still, he’s long seemed like his game would translate easily to the next level. He could carve out a bottom six role for himself, but it’s more likely that he’s a depth option.

7. Nolan Foote

A prospect acquired by the Devils via trade, Foote was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, 27th overall. He went back to the WHL Kelowna Rockets in 2019-20 as the team captain, and the Devils landed him later that season in a deadline swap and didn’t waste any time. They had him playing in the AHL in 2020-21 and he has spent the past three seasons there, with brief appearances in the NHL each season. He’s taken notable steps forward each year, improving his speed, his awareness, and his hands. He hasn’t taken over the AHL as was hoped, but he’s looking better and better each year and his production reflects that. While he no longer looks like a top six option, he still has middle-six potential and should be a reliable secondary scoring option. Now it’s just a matter of when.

8. Topias Vilen

The Devils have had an excellent run of quality later round picks in recent drafts, and Vilen is a poster child for that. The Devils called his name 129th overall in 2021 from the Liiga’s Pelicans. Looking at his stats, it can seem that he hasn’t taken huge strides forward in his development. However, Vilen is more of a defensive defender, and his mature style of play is enough to carry him to the AHL and potentially the NHL. He plays big minutes, his angling out on the rush and his active stick are very impressive, and when he needs to, he can kick off transition with a solid first pass. Last season he began showing that he can contribute on the scoreboard too, a nice addition to the package he brings. His ceiling isn’t overly high, but he could come in as a bottom-pairing, shut-down d-man that is used heavily on the penalty kill.

9. Akira Schmid

One of the most improved players in New Jersey’s system last season. Actually, Schmid may have been one of the most improved prospects in all of hockey. From platoon netminder in the AHL to starting NHL playoff games, his progression has been rapid and impressive. Is this sustainable? We’ve seen other young netminders rise through the Devils’ system quickly in recent years, such as Mackenzie Blackwood and Nico Daws, only to see them quickly crash back down. Somehow, Schmid feels different. The big netminder is an incredible athlete and his play tracking ability has improved so much since his USHL days. He flat out stole some games for the Devils down the stretch last year and he enters this season in direct competition with Vitek Vanecek for the starting job. While he is no longer eligible for the Calder trophy, he has definitely emerged as one of the top young goalies in the NHL and should be set to have a good season with an upstart Devils team.

10. Graeme Clarke

New Jersey’s patience with Clarke has paid off as he rewarded them with a tremendous third pro year at AHL Utica, leading the team in scoring by a significant margin. No one has ever doubted Clarke’s skill level, and the skating continues to improve making him a better pro. The road to success for Clarke has been long and winding. The former Ottawa 67 and older brother to top Los Angeles Kings’ prospect Brandt Clarke, Graeme has significant adversity. He had to spend some time in Slovakia during the OHL Covid shutdown. He has also battled shoulder injuries. But this has all led to him finally having a breakout year at the pro level and he is now positioned as a top call up option heading into 2023-24. Clarke’s skill level with the puck is among the best in the New Jersey organization and as his strength has improved, he’s been able to create chances more consistently at the pro level. Clarke’s shot is also a weapon, especially on the powerplay. Not all paths to the NHL are created equal and Clarke is very much still a candidate to become a top six forward in the future.11. Lenni Hameenaho
A recent second round selection, Hameenaho has a chance to be a solid pro because of his combination of high IQ and work ethic away from the puck. How high his offensive upside is remains a question mark, but he should at least become a quality role player.

12. Tyce Thompson

Thompson’s return to full season play following a shoulder injury the year prior was a bit of a disappointment. Hopefully a healthy offseason and a restart can help him regain his form this year and push him back near the top of New Jersey’s prospect pool.

13. Chase Stillman

While Stillman may never live up to the hype associated with being a first-round selection, he still provides a lot of value on the ice with his energy, physicality, and pest-like demeanour. Stillman will be turning pro this year and expectations regarding his offensive contributions should probably be tempered.

14. Nico Daws

Daws may have been passed on the depth chart by Schmid, but he’s still a solid goaltending prospect. The big man continues to work hard to improve his quickness and play tracking and he has a chance to push for a full-time back-up role in the near future.

15. Samu Salminen

It took some time for Salminen’s eligibility to be confirmed, but when he arrived at UConn, he performed well as a freshman. Salminen’s IQ is his best quality and it will be interesting to see what he can do with a full year at the college level this season.

16. Ethan Edwards

Edwards is really settling in at the college level with the University of Michigan as he is steadily climbing their depth chart. He heads into his junior year as one of the team’s prominent returning players and could be in line for a breakout season.

18. Shane Bowers

A former first round pick, it’s been a struggle for Bowers through four pro seasons. After being acquired for Reilly Walsh, maybe the Devils can finally unlock Bowers’ upside and turn him into a useful NHLer.

19. Tyler Brennan

It seems very likely that Brennan will need to begin his pro career at the ECHL level this season, and that’s totally fine. However, he never really reached the heights many expected of him during his WHL career. Tracking his development will be interesting.

20. Charlie Leddy

Leddy’s future role at the pro level will probably be strictly defensive oriented. His offensive upside from the blueline is likely limited, but he’s mobile, competitive, and can play the right side. He is returning to Boston College for his sophomore season.

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

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

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

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

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

Adam Fantilli, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

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

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

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

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

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

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

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

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

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

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

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

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

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

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

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

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

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

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

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

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

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

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

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

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

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

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

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

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

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

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

Will Smith, C – San Jose Sharks

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

Jiri Kulich, C – Buffalo Sabres

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

Tyson Foerster, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

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

Luke Evangelista, RW – Nashville Predators

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

Ridly Greig, C/LW – Ottawa Senators

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

Matthew Savoie, C – Buffalo Sabres

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

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Brendan Brisson, LW/RW – Vegas Golden Knights

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

Defense

Luke Hughes, LD – New Jersey Devils

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

Brandt Clarke, RD – Los Angeles Kings

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

Lane Hutson, LD – Montreal Canadiens

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

David Jiricek, RD – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

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

Simon Nemec, RD – New Jersey Devils

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

Olen Zellweger, LD – Anaheim Ducks

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

Simon Edvinsson, LD – Detroit Red Wings

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

Scott Perunovich, LD – St. Louis Blues

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

Pavel Mintyukov, LD – Anaheim Ducks

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

Denton Mateychuk, LD – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Kevin Korchinski, LD – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

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

Jordan Spence, RD – Los Angeles Kings

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

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

Thomas Harley, LD – Dallas Stars

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

Ville Heinola, LD – Winnipeg Jets

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

Lukas Cormier, LD – Vegas Golden Knights

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

Henry Thrun, LD – San Jose Sharks

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

Emil Andrae, LD – Philadelphia Flyers

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

Ryker Evans, LD – Seattle Kraken

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

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

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

Goalies.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

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

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

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

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

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

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

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

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

Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues

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

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

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

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

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

Justus Annunen, Colorado Avalanche

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

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

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

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

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

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #1 New Jersey Devils

Josh Bell — Sat, 27 May 2023 13:40:01 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 1^st (3^rd last year)

What a difference a year makes, after finishing 28^th in the league with 63 points in 2021-22 to finishing third in the league with 113 points and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Tom Fitzgerald took over in January 2020 and inherited a team that included two first overall picks in Jack Hughes (21-years-old) and Nico Hischier (23). Both arrived this season in spectacular fashion giving the Devils one of the best one-two punches down the middle in the league. In his first three drafts he had six first round picks, including two top five overall. Two of those picks, Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer, are in the line-up and thriving. Simon Nemec (2^nd – 2022), Luke Hughes (#4 – 2021), and Alexander Holtz (7^th – 2020) should all join the team as soon as next season. They are all ranked in the top 10 of McKeen’s top 200 NHL prospects – Hughes- 2^nd, Nemec – 7^th, and Holtz – 10^th. While that is a large reason they rank as the top prospect pool in 2023, it is also because they are deep, with 10 total prospects in the top 200.

Following the 2021 draft Fitzgerald started adding critical pieces to this year’s success through free agency in signing Dougie Hamilton and Tomas Tatar in 2021 and trading for 26-year-old Jonas Siegenthaler and 27-year-old Ryan Graves on defense. In 2022 he signed Ondrej Palat in free agency and traded picks and prospects for 25-year-old John Marino on defense and 27-year-old Vitek Vanecek in goal. Then made a blockbuster for 26-year-old Timo Meier, a 40-goal scoring power forward entering his prime, but an RFA at season’s end. A solid core all entering their prime is completed by 25-year-old Michael McLeod and 24-year-old Jesper Bratt. Fitzgerald has built an exciting, fast transition team, that is poised to challenge for the Stanley Cup for the foreseeable future.

Luke Hughes

Selected fourth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, it’s just a matter of time before Luke Hughes makes the jump to the NHL to join his brother Jack with the Devils. There may very well be a point where, looking back at this draft, Luke Hughes emerges as the top player. Drafted as the clear No. 1 defender with the USNTDP, he made the jump to the NCAA’s University of Michigan in 2021-22, where he had a very strong year as one of the most productive defenders in the league. He was honoured as a Hobey Baker finalist, the Big Ten Rookie of the Year, and named to numerous All-Star Teams. This year, he had an even better season, including captaining Team USA to a Bronze Medal at the World Juniors. He’s a poster child for the modern-era defenseman, with a transition game that will translate effortlessly to the NHL. He’ll be a top-two defender for the Devils.

2. Simon Nemec

Yet another potential game-breaking defender in the Devils’ system, Simon Nemec was selected second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft after an incredible 2021-22 season. His draft year included being named MVP of the Hlinka Gretzky, an Olympic Bronze medal, and a World Championship appearance, on top of a dominant regular season and playoff run with HK Nitra. His introduction to North America started off slow but he’s found his game as the season has progressed and seems to be back to his exceptional ways. He’s a very mature, calm player that can surprise you with his speed and creativity. He drives the play, quarterbacking his team from the back end. He’s a very strong puck mover, using his feet or his hands to make plays. He’s also solid in his own end, showing off impressive defensive awareness too. He has top-two potential and could very well become one of the best offensive defenders in the league.

3. Alexander Holtz

With many top players from the 2020 NHL Draft already impacting at the NHL level, patience has seemed to grow thin for seventh-overall pick Alexander Holtz. Selected from Djurgardens in the SHL, he spent just one more season in the league before coming overseas. He joined the AHL’s Utica Comets full-time in 2021-22, playing at nearly a point-per-game pace throughout the season. He’s about there again this season while seeing time in the NHL in both seasons as well. Holtz is very likely to make the shift to full-time NHLer next season, thanks to his hard, accurate shot, his impressive movement of the puck, and his improving ability to get to the high-danger areas, which has been a work in progress for him thus far. He has the potential to be a top-line sniper and could be one of the best goal-scorers in the league in his prime.

4. Arseni Gritsyuk

Drafted way down at 129th overall in 2019, Arseni Gritsyuk has continued to outplay that selection. When the Devils drafted him, he had just finished his rookie season in the MHL but had helped Team Russia to a bronze medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and a silver medal at the Unider-18s. He’s spent all four seasons post-draft in Russia as well, working his way up to the KHL where he’s become a full-time player the past two seasons. He also won KHL Rookie of the Year in 2021-22. The forward boasts a hard, deceptive shot but can dish it out as well, doing well to drive the puck to the middle via passing or carrying it in himself. He’s very light on his feet and is fearless in his pursuit. He should be an excellent secondary-scoring winger in the NHL. His contract with Avangard Omsk is up at the end of this season, so he may be heading to North America soon.

5. Reilly Walsh

After splitting his draft year between the USHL’s Chicago Steel and Prep school Proctor Academy, the Devils bet on Reilly Walsh and selected him 81st in the 2017 NHL Draft. He then moved on to the NCAA with Harvard University where he spent three years, playing consistent, productive hockey without shining too brightly. He signed with the Devils and jumped to the AHL in 2020-21 where he’s continued that trend of consistency. He was apparently on the trade block this past trade deadline but remains a Devil for now. He’s an offensive defender that moves very well with the puck on his stick, isn’t afraid to jump up into the rush, and has a great shot. He has quick edges and a level of deception in his game. The defender likely caps out as a bottom-line defender, but a contributing one that could see time on the power play as well.

6. Kevin Bahl

A player that will be graduating from this list very soon, Kevin Bahl was acquired by the Devils in the Taylor Hall to Arizona trade back in 2019. The 6-foot-6, 229-pounder was originally drafted back in 2018, 55th overall from the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. After the trade, he didn’t waste any time, making the jump to the AHL in the 2020-21 season, even getting time in the NHL that season. That’s been the trend since, where he gets more and more time in the NHL every season. While his size would suggest he’s on the slower side, that’s not the case at all. He’s a very mobile defender that also brings physicality and an excellent defensive game to the ice. With his reach and strength, he’s just so hard to beat. He doesn’t have a ton of offensive upside, but he should be a solid, bottom-paring, shutdown defenseman.

7. Seamus Casey

Seamus Casey has the potential to be the steal of the 2022 NHL Draft. His draft year was a little up and down with the USNTDP, resulting in him being selected 46th overall despite early thoughts of him as a first rounder. Now with the University of Michigan in the NCAA, he’s back to the play that earned him first-round consideration. He’s an excellent quarterback, using great vision to scan the ice and lead his team’s attack. He plays a very fluid game that makes it seem like the game comes easily to him. His four-way mobility stands out in the offensive end, where he can surprise teams with his agility and creativity. There have been some concerns regarding his processing and decision-making, but he’s taken great strides in these areas this season. He’s well on his way to outplaying his 46th-overall selection and becoming a top-four defender in the NHL.

8. Josh Filmon

It’s not often that a player drafted in the sixth round is signed and makes the jump to the next level the following season, but that’s exactly what Josh Filmon has done. Selected 166th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft from the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, Filmon returned to the Broncos as an alternate captain, putting up 75 points and 47 goals in just 64 games. The Devils’ brass saw all they needed to, signing him to his entry-level deal and bringing him up to the AHL. He’s a winger that seems to do all the little things right, playing a really smart, consistent game. His skating is an area that does need to improve if he is to succeed in the AHL and NHL. Still, he’s long seemed like a player that would translate easily to the next level. He could carve out a bottom-six role for himself, but it’s more likely that he’s a depth option.

9. Nolan Foote

Another top-10 player in the system that the Devils acquired via trade, Nolan Foote was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, 27th overall. Foote went back to the WHL and the Kelowna Rockets in 2019-20 as the captain of the team, and the Devils landed him that season and didn’t waste any time. They had him up in the AHL in 2020-21 and he’s spent the last three seasons there, with brief looks in the NHL each season. He’s taken notable steps forward each season, improving his speed, his awareness, and his hands. He hasn’t taken over the AHL as has been hoped, but he’s been looking better and better and his production does show that. While he no longer looks like a top-six option, he still has middle-six potential and should be a reliable secondary scoring option. Now it’s just a matter of when.

10. Topias Vilen

The Devils have had an excellent run in recent drafts in the later rounds, and Topias Vilen might be the poster child for that. The Devils called his name 129th overall in 2021 from the Liiga’s Pelicans. Looking at his stats, it can seem that he hasn’t taken huge strides forward in his development. However, Vilen is more of a defensive defender, and his mature style of play is enough to carry him to the AHL and potentially the NHL. He plays big minutes, his angling out on the rush and his active stick are very impressive, and when he needs to, he can kick off transition with a solid first pass. He’s shown this season that he can contribute on the scoreboard too, a nice addition to the package he brings. His ceiling isn’t overly high, but like Bahl, he could come in as a bottom-pairing, shut-down d-man that is used heavily on the penalty kill.

SIMON NEMEC – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: Victor Nuño – DYNASTY STOCK WATCH – New Jersey Devils Edition

McKeen’s Hockey: Dynasty Stock Watch

New Jersey Devils Edition

Team Outlook

Buy Candidates

Mikhail Yegorov (G, 19)

Simon Nemec (D, 21)

Arseni Gritsyuk (LW/RW, 24)

Sell Candidates

Seamus Casey (D, 21)

Anton Silayev (D, 19)

Lenni Hämeenaho (RW, 21)

Summary

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – A Blueshirts winger making his mark, another young star for the Ducks, some good news in Nashville, a young defenceman stepping up in New Jersey and much more!

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

FORWARDS

DEFENSE

Goal

NHL GLOBAL SERIES: New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres – Casey and the Devils Stole the Show in Prague Opener – Impressions from Prague

NHL: Training Camp Updates

Doughty suffers broken ankle

Appendicitis knocks out Gibson

Boqvist on Panthers’ top power play

Hanifin getting first unit power play time in Vegas

Cooley and Guenther could offer big fantasy value

Luke Hughes recovering from shoulder injury

Tatar getting a good opportunity in New Jersey

Willy Styles to center

Michkov a Calder favorite?

Beauviller getting a chance in Pittsburgh

Montour ahead of Dunn for PP1 in Seattle

Faulk on PP1 for St. Louis

Demko remains out for Vancouver

Tarasov getting his shot in Columbus?

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Team Preview

Forwards

DEFENCE

GOAL

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Boldy is back on track – Devils turn to their young defencemen – Granlund lifting the Sharks – Healthy Fabbri on a tear for the Wings

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #5

1. Luke Hughes

2. Simon Nemec

3. Alexander Holtz

4. Arseny Gritsyuk

5. Seamus Casey

6. Josh Filmon

7. Nolan Foote

8. Topias Vilen

9. Akira Schmid

10. Graeme Clarke

12. Tyce Thompson

13. Chase Stillman

14. Nico Daws

15. Samu Salminen

16. Ethan Edwards

18. Shane Bowers

19. Tyler Brennan

20. Charlie Leddy

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

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars