This article is part of our NHL Barometer series.
This week's article should be titled, "The Kids Are Alright." It includes the top two picks in this year's NHL draft, several others making their debuts and the face of Buffalo sidelined at least six weeks.
First Liners (Risers)
Auston Matthews, C, TOR - Were you expecting someone else? To parody the SNL bit of, "Ashton, you're so meow, meow fine," all of Toronto may be singing, Auston, you're so meow, meow fine. Matthews made history tallying four goals in his debut Wednesday against the Senators. He is on the "third" line but look for that to the change as the year moves along, which might have already occurred for game two.
Paul Stastny, C, STL - Stastny tallied 49 points last season in 64 games, but when drafting, he doesn't get much interest, until late. That might end up a huge benefit for whoever snags him, as he is playing on the Blues' top line with Robby Fabbri and Alexander Steen while also received copious amounts of power play time. Reap the rewards.
Patrik Laine, RW, WPG - While Laine didn't match Matthews' debut, he wasn't too shabby himself, notching a goal and an assist. Laine, the Robin to Matthews' Batman, followed his fellow rookie in this year's draft going second overall. Laine had a brilliant World Championships earlier this year, which showed he could play with big boys, and he has carried that success into the season. Laine is viewed some as the next Teemu
This week's article should be titled, "The Kids Are Alright." It includes the top two picks in this year's NHL draft, several others making their debuts and the face of Buffalo sidelined at least six weeks.
First Liners (Risers)
Auston Matthews, C, TOR - Were you expecting someone else? To parody the SNL bit of, "Ashton, you're so meow, meow fine," all of Toronto may be singing, Auston, you're so meow, meow fine. Matthews made history tallying four goals in his debut Wednesday against the Senators. He is on the "third" line but look for that to the change as the year moves along, which might have already occurred for game two.
Paul Stastny, C, STL - Stastny tallied 49 points last season in 64 games, but when drafting, he doesn't get much interest, until late. That might end up a huge benefit for whoever snags him, as he is playing on the Blues' top line with Robby Fabbri and Alexander Steen while also received copious amounts of power play time. Reap the rewards.
Patrik Laine, RW, WPG - While Laine didn't match Matthews' debut, he wasn't too shabby himself, notching a goal and an assist. Laine, the Robin to Matthews' Batman, followed his fellow rookie in this year's draft going second overall. Laine had a brilliant World Championships earlier this year, which showed he could play with big boys, and he has carried that success into the season. Laine is viewed some as the next Teemu Selanne in Winnipeg, and while that is a major stretch, 35 goals could be in his future.
Pavel Buchnevich, LW, NYR - Buchnevich, who slipped to the third round of the 2013 draft, spent the last two seasons with the KHL, tallying 37 points in 58 between two teams. He inked an entry-level contract with the Rangers this offseason and made his debut Thursday night as the Blueshirts opened their 90th season. Buchnevich is on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, who speaks Russian, which should aid Buch's transition to the U.S.
David Pastrnak, RW, BOS - Pastrnak had 15 goals and 11 assists in 51 games in his second season, showing the pedigree that made him the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. Expectations are high this for Pastrnak, who is skating on a line with David Backes and Brad Marchand while Patrice Bergeron is sidelined. Pastrnak did his best to live up to those expectations in game one, notching two goals and two assists.
Zach Werenski, D, CLM - Werenski, the eighth overall pick of the 2015 draft, played his sophomore season with the University of Michigan last season rather than joining the Blue Jackets. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big Ten first team. Werenski signed an amateur tryout contract with AHL Lake Erie, finishing the playoffs with five goals and 14 points in 17 games. He earned a spot with Columbus this pre-season and broke camp on the top line with Seth Jones and manning one of the points on the first power play.
Oscar Klefbom, D, EDM - If the Oilers make the rise that several of us believe they can make, it will be because of improved play on the blue line. Edmonton acquired Adam Larsson for Taylor Hall, but it will take better play from incumbents, including Klefbom, for the team to improve. Klefbom was limited to 30 games last year due to a hand injury and infection in his ankle. He is healthy and paired with Larsson, so he should see big minutes, including on the PP, where he played 6:07 opening night.
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, PIT - The Flower was slated to back up playoff sensation Matt Murray, but Murray broke his thumb in the World Cup of Hockey on Sept. 19, sidelining him three to six weeks. Murray will be back soon, but Fleury could grab a hold of the job and not let go, relegating Murray to backup duty. Whoever starts should rack up wins in front of an excellent Penguins' team. Keep in mind that with expansion next year, Fleury will be left exposed and could be in Las Vegas in 2017-18.
Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG - Winnipeg finally made room for Hellebuyck by waiving Ondrej Pavelev right before the season. Hellebuyck got a brief chance last year, making the most of it, before Winnipeg decided that losing was better to winning, resulting in the team drafting Laine. He went 13-11-1 with a .918 save percentage with a 2.34 goals-against average last year and will split time with Michael Hutchinson, though I expect Hellebuyck to see most of the action between the pipes.
Others include Mark Scheifele, Connor McDavid, Frans Nielsen, Victor Rask, Mika Zibanejad, Aleksander Barkov, Logan Couture, William Nylander, Kyle Turris, Kyle Connor, Sebastian Aho, Brad Marchand, Jeff Skinner, Nail Yakupov, Blake Wheeler, Richard Panik, Bobby Ryan, Thomas Vanek, Patric Hornqvist, Mark Stone, Vladimir Tarasenko, Tomas Hertl, Lee Stempniak, Ryan McDonagh, Jake Gardiner, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ivan Provorov, Erik Karlsson, Noah Hanifin, Jakob Chychrun, Rasmus Ristolainen, Martin Jones, Jaroslav Halak, Cam Talbot and Jake Allen.
Training Room (Injuries)
Jack Eichel, C, BUF - Eichel suffered a high ankle sprain Wednesday after getting tangled up in front of the net and will miss four to six weeks and could even miss up to eight weeks. His absence is a major blow for Eichel and the Sabres, who also is without Kyle Okposo due to a knee injury. Buffalo will be patient with the return of its sophomore star.
Nick Bjugstad, C, FLA - Bjugstad will miss three more weeks after suffering a broken hand last week. He tallied 15 goals and 19 assists last season, a drop off from the 43 points he notched the year before. Vincent Trochek clearly moves up the depth chart in the short-term and could fully assume the second line center role even after Bjugstad returns.
Sidney Crosby, C, PIT - Crosby suffered a concussion in practice last week and missed opening night. He has skated for three straight days and is clearly making progress, but there is no timeframe for his return. All you can do is monitor the news and wait for when his return is announced.
Jonathan Quick, G, LA - Quick suffered a lower-body injury in the season-opener against San Jose and is week to week. The absence could be long term, though little has been revealed as to what is or the extent of the injury. In his absence, Jeff Zatkoff will man the pipes for L.A., though that's a major drop off from Quick.
Others include Bryan Little (LBI, DTD), Mattias Janmark (knee, out until March), Evander Kane (three cracked ribs suffered when he slammed into boards Thursday, out for several weeks), Jonathan Huberdeau (Achilles, out 3-4 months), Jon Merrill (finger, four weeks) and Carey Price (flu, DTD).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Bo Horvat, C, VAN - Horvat stepped up in his sophomore season to play second-line center and tally 40 points, albeit with a minus-30 on the year. Now, with Brandon Sutter healthy, Horvat for the time being is back on the third line. That could change, but until it does, Horvat will be in more of a checking role.
Rick Nash, RW, NYR - Nash is included not so much for anything he has done, but because of how the lines in New York are configured. He is playing on the "third" line with Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller. Coach Alain Vigneault will role three scoring lines and one checking lines, but playing on that third line might mean fewer minutes and chances for Nash.
Jacob Trouba/Hampus Lindholm, D, WPH/ANA - Both Super Trouba and Lindholm are holdouts for their respective teams. Trouba doesn't want to move from the right to the left side. On the right, he is behind Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers but on the left, he would be on the first pair with Buff. This stalemate can play out until Dec. 1. Lindholm refuses to sign his qualifying offer, and even if/when he does, he will need some time to shake off the rust in his game, requiring acquiring additional time out.
Kari Lehtonen, G, DAL - There is an adage that if you have two "No. 1" goalies, you don't really have any. That was true last year, as Lehtonen and Antti Niemi played "I don't want it, you take it" with the Stars' starting goalie job. Niemi got the nod opening night, though Lehtonen will see action as well. But this is a situation that as of now will do little but to frustrate owners of each until a clear call is made.
Others include David Desharnais, Mike Ribeiro, Alan Quine, Marian Hossa, Justin Williams, Ryan Pulock, Ben Bishop (slight cut in starts), Steve Mason, and Thomas Greiss.
