EASTERN CONFERENCE
BEST-KEPT SECRET
During Boston’s run to the 2019 Cup final, “The SEAN KURALY line has been the best tonight” became a popular refrain. Among the 17 Bruins who played at least 200 minutes at 5-on-5 in the playoffs, Kuraly ranked first in points per 60. Big, strong and tireless, he’s a matchup nightmare.
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Look at the league leaders for penalties drawn, and you’ll find many of the NHL’s top stars, from Connor McDavid to Nathan MacKinnon to…WARREN FOEGELE. The young left winger drew 31 minors last season despite playing only 12:30 per night. Foegele was also a beast in the playoffs.
Every training camp, coach John Tortorella puts the Blue Jackets through a timed, two-mile run. Swedish pivot ALEXANDER WENNBERG ran it in an incredible 11:02 to win this year, while finishing second to 6-foot-6 prospect D-man Doyle Somerby in 2018 with a nearly-as-impressive 11:24.
Is FILIP HRONEK Detroit’s long-term power-play quarterback? He earned opportunities late last year with Mike Green injured. From Jan. 1 onward, Hronek had 19 points in 31 games, playing close to 21 minutes. He’ll open 2019-20 as a top-four blueliner and has breakout potential.
Give winger FRANK VATRANO a chance, and he’ll give you goals. He popped 24 last year playing just 14:40 a night. Among 365 forwards with 500-plus minutes at 5-on-5, Vatrano ranked 44th in goals per 60. Since debuting in 2015-16, he ranks in the top five in the NHL in shots per 60.
VICTOR METE has zero goals through 120 NHL games. He’s a defensive D-man who succeeds via positioning and mobility. Intimidation isn’t an option at 5-foot-9. Mete and Shea Weber were fourth among ‘D’ pairs in Corsi for per 60, so they “shut down” by having the puck more.
Amidst all the flashy names New Jersey brought in over the summer, the Devils know they have a gem coming back in versatile center BLAKE COLEMAN. He’s a demon on the penalty kill, with five shorthanded points last year and finishing second in the NHL with 25 shots during a kill.
ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER makes the most of his shifts. Though he only averaged 14:39 of ice time per game last season, the two-way left winger was one of the Islanders’ best players when it came to drawing penalties (16). Even better? Beauvillier only took four minor penalties himself.
As a prospect, TONY DEANGELO was viewed as an offensive D-man, but it’s worth noting he was up there with the rest of the Rangers’ defense corps last year when it came to blocking shots, averaging 1.3 per game. On the offensive side, he was one of the team’s best shootout shooters.
As a rookie winger, CONNOR BROWN played a lot with Auston Matthews, and the result was a 20-goal effort. With each year, however, Brown’s role and ice time shrunk. He arrives in Ottawa fresh off a measly eight-goal year. But he’s still just 25. The Sens will give him every chance.
OSKAR LINDBLOM was a fifth-round pick but has developed quite nicely. He was one of the Flyers’ best possession players last year, behind only Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux. As a rookie left winger, Lindblom had 33 points in less than 14 minutes of ice time per game.
He may not have the offensive hops of Kris Letang or Justin Schultz, but BRIAN DUMOULIN gets the job done on the back end. The veteran defender was one of the Pens’ better possession players last season, even though he started the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone.
MATHIEU JOSEPH was drafted 120th overall in 2015, but after one NHL season he ranks 30th in that class in goals. The winger managed 13 despite playing just 11 minutes a game in 2018-19. He was 44th out of 574 NHLers (min. 500 minutes) in hits per 60 at 5-on-5. Another late-round steal.
Negative hype can mask a secret positive. Right winger WILLIAM NYLANDER was maligned for his seven-goal flop in 2018-19 after reporting in December, but he actually set career highs in shots, individual scoring chances and individual high-danger chances per 60. He was unlucky.
If you’re a young player in Washington, T.J. OSHIE is the veteran you likely see the most. The affable right winger often stays on the ice after practice to help any kids who are making their way on the Caps. With a Cup ring and extensive experience, Oshie has a lot of wisdom to impart.