10 to watch: We’ll keep an eye on Kessel, Penguins
From the rookies like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel to the veterans with a change of scenery and the stars coming back from injury, there are plenty of players worth watching in the 2015-16 National Hockey Leaguse season.
Here are 10:
Mark Giordano
The 31-year-old Calgary Flames defenceman looked to be a shoo-in for the Norris Trophy last season until he suffered a torn biceps injury on Feb. 25. Fully recovered after surgery, the Flames captain will be trying to pick up where he left off.
Phil Kessel
Run out of Toronto after his worst season in six years, the 27-year-old now has the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to feed him the puck in Pittsburgh, which makes the speedy winger a potential 50-goal scorer.
Jaromir Jagr
He’s 43 and entering his 24th NHL campaign, looking to become a mentor for young talent on the Panthers. He is also fourth all-time in NHL scoring, only 48 points behind thirdplace Gordie Howe. He had 47 points in 77 games last season.
Mark Stone
The Ottawa Senators rookie seemed to come out of nowhere to become one of the NHL’s most dangerous forwards late last season. The 23-year-old led the league in scoring after the all-star break and tied Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau for the rookie scoring lead with 64 points.
Carey Price
The Canadiens goaltender won everything last season, the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina as best goalie. And the first thing he said when he turned up for camp was that he can do even better this season.
Milan Lucic
An uninspired season of only 18 goals saw the brawny winger traded by Boston to Los Angeles, a team with two Stanley Cups in recent years that is already well stocked with big, gifted scorers and playmakers. A focused and motivated Lucic makes the Kings even scarier.
Jamie Benn
The big Dallas centre gets better every season and last year he won the scoring title with 87 points in 81 games, one more than the New York Islanders’ John Tavares.
Patrick Kane
The Blackhawks star enters the season under the cloud of yet another controversy, but nothing seems to faze the 26-year-old. If he somehow gets through his latest troubles, he will no doubt continue to produce more than a point per game and score some dazzling goals.
Connor McDavid
Dubbed as the next superstar, the first overall draft pick begins his NHL career trying to help the once-great Edmonton Oilers become contenders again. His every move will be watched for signs of genius.
Jack Eichel
In McDavid’s shadow is Eichel, the second overall pick who will try to raise the last-place Buffalo Sabres back to respectability. McDavid is Canadian and Eichel is American, and they are fated to be career-long rivals.