This article is part of our Left, Right & Center series.
As we approach the 75-percent mark of the season, it's time once again to assess what has happened so far.
Similar to the quarter-season and halfway reviews, this will be a bit different from the regular weekly offerings. So we'll be looking at the biggest fantasy surprise (Shooting High), the hugest fantasy disappointment (Press Box Bound), and someone who has the potential to do more in the final stage (One to Watch).
Who has shined? Who has disappointed? And who is in line to impress the rest of the way? As has been the case since December, repeats are allowed.
Left Wing
Shooting High: Patrick Maroon, Edmonton
Maroon encountered moderate success in three-plus seasons with Anaheim (79 points, 249 PIM, 384 hits in 204 games). And while there have been stretches of mediocrity during his time in Alberta's capital, the recent stats (nine goals, four assists, 17:48 average in 2017) hint the American may be ready to realize a larger role. Granted, there's a built-in benefit to playing with Connor McDavid, but Maroon appears to have settled in and would conceivably work well with any of the Oilers' talented centers.
Press Box Bound: Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary
Of all the star-caliber players who haven't missed significant time this season (10 games gone with a broken finger qualifies as a "moderate" absence), Gaudreau would probably rank at or near the top of the list in terms of fantasy frustration. At face value, his output looks decent (35 points in
As we approach the 75-percent mark of the season, it's time once again to assess what has happened so far.
Similar to the quarter-season and halfway reviews, this will be a bit different from the regular weekly offerings. So we'll be looking at the biggest fantasy surprise (Shooting High), the hugest fantasy disappointment (Press Box Bound), and someone who has the potential to do more in the final stage (One to Watch).
Who has shined? Who has disappointed? And who is in line to impress the rest of the way? As has been the case since December, repeats are allowed.
Left Wing
Shooting High: Patrick Maroon, Edmonton
Maroon encountered moderate success in three-plus seasons with Anaheim (79 points, 249 PIM, 384 hits in 204 games). And while there have been stretches of mediocrity during his time in Alberta's capital, the recent stats (nine goals, four assists, 17:48 average in 2017) hint the American may be ready to realize a larger role. Granted, there's a built-in benefit to playing with Connor McDavid, but Maroon appears to have settled in and would conceivably work well with any of the Oilers' talented centers.
Press Box Bound: Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary
Of all the star-caliber players who haven't missed significant time this season (10 games gone with a broken finger qualifies as a "moderate" absence), Gaudreau would probably rank at or near the top of the list in terms of fantasy frustration. At face value, his output looks decent (35 points in 49 matches, with 135 shots and 12 PPPs). But looking deeper into the numbers reveals a lack of consistency (including nothing in his last four), which is only magnified by defensive hiccups (minus-18). The Flames sit in the thick of the Western Conference wild-card race and will need Gaudreau at his peak – or at least somewhere close to that – if they expect to qualify for the playoffs.
One to Watch: Peter Cehlarik, Boston
A third-round pick in 2013, Cehlarik remains a relative unknown in North America. Now 21, he spent over three years in Sweden before the Bruins locked him up to a three-year deal last summer. The worry coming in was that Cehlarik would need significant time to acclimatize to a more physical style of game, but his initial AHL stats (18 goals, 15 assists in 40 appearances) suggest otherwise. The Slovak (two assists in three) has seen action alongside David Krejci and David Pastrnak and projects to be a decent power-play candidate due to his large frame (6-foot-2, 200 pounds).
Right Wing
Shooting High: William Nylander, Toronto
As everyone and their relatives know, the current Leafs youth contingent has torn opponents to shreds. Nylander shot quickly out of the gate and hasn't really slowed down (10 goals, 13 assists since mid-December, including eight power-play points). The way he has teamed with Auston Matthews is something to behold, yet it shouldn't necessarily be surprising considering their combined talent. If it's going well for Nylander now, just imagine what he may be able to accomplish in a year or two.
Press Box Bound: Loui Eriksson, Vancouver
Here's a repeat offender in the negative section, thanks to a horrible point haul (22 in 60 games, including one in his last 14) and the inability to stay on one line for an extended period. For all the Canucks invested in Eriksson last June ($36 million), you'd think coaches and management would have figured out by now how to optimize his skills. The silver lining (or possibly, black cloud) is that five years will be left on his contract after the season, so there's sufficient time to work out the details. There's no debating Eriksson's ability (such as the 63 points from last season); the bigger question is whether Vancouver is his ideal fit.
One to Watch: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Columbus
Bjorkstrand was featured in our preview column as a potential breakout candidate. Those who followed his junior career already know he's the real deal, yet his NHL resume remains a work in progress (only 20 appearances). The Dane was returned to the minors in December, where he once again dominated play (26 points in 37). As a result, he was recalled last week and looks to have already made an impression (two goals in three on a line with Alexander Wennberg and Brandon Saad). Even with the Blue Jackets among the Eastern Conference's elite, Bjorkstrand should serve as an integral contributor during the stretch drive.
Center
Shooting High: Nazem Kadri, Toronto
While his career stats (197 points in 326 contests) would never be characterized as awful, there was always something missing in Kadri's portfolio. Maybe the right head coach had to arrive in Toronto and encourage his talent. Or perhaps it's just that the seventh selection from 2009 now has the experience and maturity to handle a heavy workload at both ends of the ice. Whatever the case may be, Kadri is killing it across the board (24 goals, 22 assists, 175 shots, 77 PIM, 85 hits in 58) and rewarding those who have kept faith in him.
Press Box Bound: Frans Nielsen, Detroit
Pavel Datsyuk's de facto replacement down the middle has shown brief periods of encouragement, but not enough to get the job done. Like other recent top-dollar acquisitions, the Wings expected a lot from Nielsen when they brought him aboard last summer. His leadership skills will never be questioned, but the club didn't pay $31.5 million for an experienced center that only provides so-so stats (27 points in 56 outings, minus-16). Detroit will be working really hard to avoid missing their first postseason since 1990 and Nielsen, who averaged 51 points over the last three full campaigns, will need to step it up.
One to Watch: Jordan Weal, Philadelphia
The criticism on Weal has mainly surrounded his size (5-foot-10), yet the AHL stats continued to pile up (139 combined points in the last two seasons within the LA system). He had been mired in the Kings' system with barely a sniff of pro action (10 appearances) before they shipped him to Philly in the Vincent Lecavalier/Luke Schenn deal just over a year ago. A repeat cycle looked inevitable (47 in 45 in the minors) until he was promoted last week, and even if the offense hasn't materialized in three outings with Philly, the reviews have been positive. Weal is currently nursing a minor injury, but should be back in the lineup soon enough.
