The NHL season has arrived and not a moment too soon.The regular season kicked off officially on Oct. 8 with a marquee matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ultimately, the difference between a win and a loss is determined by how a team plays as a whole. There are many outstanding players that look to have a promising year this time around and any fan of hockey should definitely keep an eye on them.
Players to Watch:
1. Johnny Gaudreau – The Calgary Flames rookie started his claim to fame during the 2010-11 season when he totaled 36 goals and 72 points in just 60 games playing for the Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. But that isn’t where Gaudreau stopped. In his very first NHL game, he scored a goal for the Flames and then continued on to post two goals and 10 points in just eight games at the World Championships. Gaudreau looks to live up to the hype in his first full season in the NHL.
2. Brandon Saad – During his rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Saad debuted with 47 points in the 2013-2014 season while also finishing third in the Calder Trophy voting. At the young age of 21, Saad looks to have an even stronger season this year. Not only does he show offensive potential but his placement on one of the NHL’s best teams could allow him to really breakout and shine in the upcoming season.
3. Anton Stralman – Boasting a $4.5 million salary, Stralman is looking to be a budding star for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not only has he had incredible numbers for two straight seasons with the Rangers and ended up as one of the league’s most underrated lockdown defensemen, but his recent switch to the Lightning, can boast great possession abilities on the ice only encouraging his chances of stellar performances moving forward.
4. Drew Doughty – While Doughty’s statistics may seem ordinary with 221 points in 442 career games, he has also won two Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and has finished in the top 10 in the Norris Trophy voting in all but one of the past five seasons. Also, he has yet to hit his mid-twenties. While Doughty may not exceed expectations in any one area, his roundedness is what makes him a definitive player and defenseman. Only six players have logged more regular-season minutes than him since 2011-2012, and no one has logged more playoff ice time than him in the past three years.
5. Zdeno Chara – This 37 year old defenseman had 40 points in an 82 game season and while that may have been the fewest he has had produced since the 2002-2003 season, the 17 goals to his name were the most he scored since 2008-2009. Not only was he the runner-up to in the Norris Trophy voting last year, but he remained in the top five for the past four seasons. Standing at a dominating 6’9” he continues to be a stellar shutdown defenseman and was able to score 10 power-play goals last season making it the second-most of his career. While he may be closer to 40 than 30, whatever he has lost to age in recent years he has been making up for with his size and playmaking ability.
6. Tanner Pearson– Pearson not only helped the Los Angeles Kings win their second Stanley Cup in the past three seasons, but he also had 12 points in 24 playoff games. At the fresh age of 22, Pearson was eligible for the Calder Trophy playing in 25 regular season games, the maximum allowed to still be considered a rookie in the NHL. If Pearson wins the Calder Trophy, he would join the proud few such as Danny Grant, Tony Esposito and Ken Dryden as players who have won the Stanley Cup before ever being named Rookie of the Year. With enough ice time, Pearson has the potential to do great things.
Now that the season is underway, fans and players alike are ready to sink their teeth into the first few opening games. Keep an eye on these players as they have the potential for stellar breakout seasons this time around.
Grant Pawlak can be reached at grant.pawlak@spartans.ut.edu