This article is part of our Neutral Zone Wrap series.
The last few installments have, for the most part, covered known commodities. This week, let's look further down NHL and AHL lineups to see who has an outside chance of making headlines sometime during the next few months.
We're not talking about any Hail Marys here – something closer to a calculated long shot. Perhaps they excelled at previous levels, but are now buried on the depth chart. Or maybe people just forgot about them due to prolonged poor performance.
Who has an opportunity to come out of nowhere and post significant stats in 2016? Here are a few names recommended for deeper/dynasty leagues, but that doesn't mean any of them should be ignored in other formats:
T.J. Brennan, D, Toronto
Brennan's AHL resume looks ridiculously awesome: 405 games, 278 points. But due to defensive liabilities, the 2007 Buffalo draftee has only accumulated 46 NHL games with three teams over five seasons. He's off to another quick start with the Marlies (27 in 31), which should eventually earn him a call-up, considering the Leafs once again won't need to worry about reaching the playoffs.
Dmitrij Jaskin, RW, St. Louis
With all their talent, it's surprising to see the Blues struggle to put the puck in the net (22nd in the league at 2.41 goals per game). The forward corps always seems to carry multiple injuries, leaving the door open for an up-and-comer like Jaskin (one goal, six assists in 34) to move up. The 22-year-old Russian has all
The last few installments have, for the most part, covered known commodities. This week, let's look further down NHL and AHL lineups to see who has an outside chance of making headlines sometime during the next few months.
We're not talking about any Hail Marys here – something closer to a calculated long shot. Perhaps they excelled at previous levels, but are now buried on the depth chart. Or maybe people just forgot about them due to prolonged poor performance.
Who has an opportunity to come out of nowhere and post significant stats in 2016? Here are a few names recommended for deeper/dynasty leagues, but that doesn't mean any of them should be ignored in other formats:
T.J. Brennan, D, Toronto
Brennan's AHL resume looks ridiculously awesome: 405 games, 278 points. But due to defensive liabilities, the 2007 Buffalo draftee has only accumulated 46 NHL games with three teams over five seasons. He's off to another quick start with the Marlies (27 in 31), which should eventually earn him a call-up, considering the Leafs once again won't need to worry about reaching the playoffs.
Dmitrij Jaskin, RW, St. Louis
With all their talent, it's surprising to see the Blues struggle to put the puck in the net (22nd in the league at 2.41 goals per game). The forward corps always seems to carry multiple injuries, leaving the door open for an up-and-comer like Jaskin (one goal, six assists in 34) to move up. The 22-year-old Russian has all the skills and can build on his somewhat impressive 2014-15 (33 in 72 combined at two levels), provided he receives a significant boost in ice time from his currently mediocre 12:37.
Anton Lander, C, Edmonton
Here's another example of someone who has lit it up in the minors (83 points the last two seasons), but can't seem to secure a solid foothold in the show. That said, Lander did follow up an impressive stint in OKC (32 in 29) last year with an equally impressive tour in the Alberta capital (20 in 38). Looks like the Swedish center has been relegated to a lesser attacking role if we go by his two assists in 36 games, but there's room to earn a promotion if he can improve his overall game. Of course, given his team context, it's tough to blame him for the minus-9 rating.
Joni Ortio, G, Calgary
The Flames boast the league's worst team GAA (3.24). Even with Karri Ramo running the table in terms of starts (21 of the last 24), he's by no means untouchable (a 2.75 GAA and .907 save percentage place him in the lower half). Both Ramo and Jonas Hiller earn a pretty penny (combined $8 million cap hit), but neither appears to be Calgary's long-term solution. And while Ortio's stats won't excite anyone (including a horrible 3.73 GAA and .876 save mark line in Stockton), the younger Finn has shown spurts of sharpness, including winning his first four after a January recall last year. He's a dark horse at best for this season, but could be a good stash for the future.
Daniel Sprong, RW, Pittsburgh
Many in the Pens organization have admitted to mismanaging Sprong during his 18-game trial (two goals, zero assists). Why keep a talent like that confined to the fringe of the lineup (he averaged a measly 8:44 of ice time) when guaranteed minutes in junior await? The powers that be realized the error of their ways and returned the teenager to the QMJHL, where he promptly scored twice in his debut Monday, but it has been reported they'd like to see him back in Pittsburgh before the playoffs … if they even qualify.
Chris Wideman, D, Ottawa
Beyond Erik Karlsson, no one on the Sens could realistically be identified as their second-best blueliner. One would've expected either Cody Ceci (eight in 33, now injured) or Patrick Wiercioch (three in 28) to step up and claim the spot, but that hasn't developed as planned. Enter Wideman (four goals in 25), who has destroyed the opposition at every stop in his career (95 points and 191 PIM in the NCAA, 130 points and 263 PIM in the AHL). If the Sens want to optimize their use of the undersized, but offensively skilled blueliner, they should give him a boost in power-play time.
Have a safe and happy New Year. Enjoy all the hockeys this time of year. And may all your half-hearted resolutions have a remote chance of coming true.
