This article is part of our NHL Barometer series.
This week's article includes a young center not named McDavid rolling for the Oil, the Norwegian Hobbit on a roll, Optimus Reims in Toronto, and the #1 goalie in the Hub.
First Liners (Risers)
Leon Draisaitl, C, EDM - I profiled Draisaitl two weeks ago but he deserves another mention. It looked like it would be a lost season after starting the year at Bakersfield in the AHL. After three weeks in the minors, he was called back up and has more than made the most of the chance. Draisaitl has notched five goals and 13 points in eight games since that promotion. He is thriving in a top-six role with the Oilers, originally filling in for Jordan Eberle and now slotting in down the middle for Connor McDavid. Draisaitl, selected third overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, should continue to rack up points.
Claude Giroux, C, PHI - The Captain got off to a horrible start with just five points his first 12 games. Lately, he has looked more like the Giroux circa 2013-14 with two goals and five assists his last six games. He still has some areas to work on, but is inching closer to being the constant threat from the past several seasons.
Boone Jenner, LW, CLM - Back and hand injuries limited Jenner to just 31 games last season. So far this year, he has been healthy and productive, with 13 points in 18 games. Jenner has slotted in as the first line left winger, which should continue to afford him lots of scoring chances while playing with Ryan Johansen.
Mats Zuccarello, RW, NYR - The Norwegian Hobbit is on a roll. After seeing his season end in scary fashion – taking a Ryan McDonagh slapshot to the head, which left him with a brain contusion and unable to speak for a while – Zucc has not looked back this season. Using his extra-long stick, he has notched nine goals and nine assists in just 18 games and could end up making his first All-Star Game appearance.
Lee Stempniak, LW, NJD - Stempniak had a disappointing 53 games with the Rangers, notching just nine goals and nine assists while playing 12:26 per outing. A trade to Winnipeg revived his career a bit, as he tallied six goals and four assists in 18 games. Despite that fine end to the year, Stempniak had to sign a PTO, which he parlayed into a contract with the Devils. That deal has worked out well for each side, as the veteran has scored four goals and 11 assists in 18 games while playing on the top line.
Dion Phaneuf, D, TOR - Phaneuf's points and play had declined the last few seasons, making the seven-year, $49 million contract extension he signed in December of 2013 look like it would be an albatross around the Maple Leafs' neck. This year, he has looked more like the vintage Phaneuf, with 11 points in 18 games. He has toned down the physical play a bit and is seeing a minute less of ice time nightly, which should benefit him the rest of the way.
Kevin Shattenkirk, D, STL - Shattenkirk missed 10 games with a groin injury and got off to a slow start after returning, as he was held pointless in his first three games back. He is more than making up for lost time, as he has a goal and three assists in the past three contests. Shattenkirk was known for strong starts and poor finishes. Last year, it looked like he was putting it all together with 44 points and a plus-19 rating in 56 games before an abdominal injury sidelined him two months. Despite the early injury, maybe this is the year he has a full season of production.
James Reimer, G, TOR - Optimus Reims has been red-hot, as he was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week after going 3-0-0 with a 1.62 goals against average and .952 save percentage in that span. He continued that fine play Tuesday, making 35 saves in defeating the Avalanche 5-1. Reimer is coming off two horrific campaigns, so temper your expectations; but right now, he is the clear #1 over Jonathan Bernier in Toronto.
Pekka Rinne, G, NAS - Rinne appeared in 64 games for the Predators last season, finishing second in the NHL with 41 wins and posting a remarkable .923 save percentage. Those numbers could have been even better, as he faded the last two months of the season following a mild knee injury in January. Rinne is proving that last year's fine stretch of play was no fluke, as he is now 10-2-2 with a 2.11 goals-against average and close to a .920 save percentage.
Others include Frans Nielsen, Derick Brassard, Tyler Seguin, Sean Monahan, Henrik Sedin, Max Domi, Ryan Johansen, John Tavares, Bryan Little, Jeff Carter, Mikko Koivu, David Krejci, James Neal, Vladimir Tarasenko, Max Pacioretty, Tanner Pearson, Taylor Hall, Teddy Purcell, Alexander Steen, Mike Hoffman, Brandon Saad, Jason Zucker, Mike Cammalleri, Patrick Kane, John Klingberg, Oscar Klefbom, Ryan McDonagh, Seth Jones, Morgan Rielly, Torey Krug, Shea Weber, Andrei Markov, Alexander Edler, Rasmus Ristolainen, Aaron Ekblad, Cory Schneider, Henrik Lundqvist, Reto Berra, Jake Allen, Corey Crawford, Linus Ullmark, Thomas Greiss, Antti Raanta, Petr Mrazek and Braden Holtby.
Training Room (Injuries)
Evander Kane, RW, BUF - Kane, out with a knee injury out since October 24, returned to practice Tuesday. He should join the team before the end of December, slotting back onto the first line on the left wing. Kane has to try and regain some good will and positive vibes following his struggles the past few seasons.
Mark Streit, D, PHI - Streit will miss the next six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a pubic plate detachment. His absence robs Philly of their best defenseman. Shayne Gostisbehere will attempt to fill Streit's skates.
Carey Price, G, MTL - Price, out since suffering a lower-body injury on October 29, is inching closer to returning. He has been handling the puck on the ice the past few days and could be back by the end of the week.
Others include Connor McDavid (collarbone, sling is off, back at end of January), Brandon Dubinsky (elbow, out at least two weeks), Brad Richards (back, out since Oct. 21, close to returning), Pavel Datsyuk (ankle, activated), Zach Parise (knee, skated Monday), Justin Schultz (back, out since Oct. 25, skated Monday), Ryan Murphy (concussion, DTD), Jonas Hiller (hip, out since Oct. 28, skated Monday) and Semyon Varlamov (groin, IR).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Brayden Schenn, C, PHI - Schenn, after being a healthy scratch Saturday, was back in the lineup Tuesday. That game off did little to revive his offense, as he went scoreless again. Schenn has just seven points in 16 games after tallying 47 and 41 points the past two seasons. Tread carefully if you own him.
Dustin Brown, LW, LA - From 2007-08 to 2011-12, Brown scored at least 53 points in each season. Since then, the bottom has fallen out, as Brown has seen his production taper way off. He scored 29 points in a strike-shortened 2012-13 season, then added 27 each of the past two years. Maybe it's the extra games from the long playoff runs or his style of play, but Brown is struggling again this season with just six points in 18 games. How bad does the eight-year extension he signed with LA in July 2013 look now?
Trevor Daley, D, DAL - Daley had 16 goals and 22 assists in 65 games with the Stars last season but was deemed expendable by Dallas. He came to Chicago in the Patrick Sharp deal, but his O has remained in Big D. Despite the injury to Duncan Keith, Daley has scored just three points in 18 games with the Blackhawks.
Tuukka Rask, G, BOS - Rask had what would be considered a very good year for any goalie, posting a 34-21-13 record, 2.30 GAA, and .922 save percentage. However, those numbers are a step back from what he notched the past few seasons. So far this year, Rask has really struggled, with a 3.02 GAA and a .896 save percentage in 12 games. He did little to break that poor streak, surrendering five goals on just 28 shots Tuesday.
Others include Mike Ribeiro, Alex Burmistrov, Victor Rask, Mike Fisher, Patric Hornqvist, Filip Forsberg, Radim Vrbata, Colin Wilson, Brian Gionta, Michael Del Zotto, Alex Goligoski, Calvin de Haan, John-Michael Liles, Jonathan Bernier and Brian Elliott.
