Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles
Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles
Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles
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Stars – Last season, the Stars saw their powerplay rank last overall from fourteenth in the league in the<br />
year prior. The additions of Whitney, Jagr <strong>and</strong> Roy should get them back to the NHL average. Jagr <strong>and</strong><br />
Whitney reached twenty powerplay points last season <strong>and</strong> Roy contributed 12, which would have tied<br />
for the team lead in Dallas.<br />
Red Wings – If Tomas Holmstrom decides to hang up the skates, Johan Franzen should see an infinite<br />
rise in point totals from the extra man. Playing a somewhat similar game to Holmstrom, the Mule will<br />
reach career highs while using his thick frame to upset the opposition shift after shift.<br />
Oilers – The entire hockey world was pressing F5 on their computers on TSN <strong>and</strong> Twitter as Justin<br />
Schultz knocked teams off his list. He’s had all the hype <strong>and</strong> some players with similar numbers in<br />
college were Matt Carle, Alex Goligoski <strong>and</strong> Jordan Leopold. Goligoski hit 20 points in 45 games, Carle<br />
managed 42 points in 77 games <strong>and</strong> Leopold reached a lowly 14 points in 58 games in their respective<br />
rookie years in the NHL. What player’s numbers will he echo in this upcoming year?<br />
Panthers – Florida saw a significant drop in goal totals in the second half of<br />
last season. They averaged 2.24 goals per game in their last 41 matches while<br />
starting the year with 2.85 goals per game in their first 27. It’s difficult to say<br />
which totals they will revert to this upcoming season as Versteeg had just<br />
broken out <strong>and</strong> Fleischmann first line minutes for a full season for the first<br />
time in his career.<br />
Kings – In the past four years, the year following a team’s Stanley Cup championship saw these teams<br />
allow on average 23 more goals than the past season. This does not bode well for Jonathan Quick <strong>and</strong><br />
Jonathan Bernier owners. This would drop Jon Quick’s totals from last year to a .916 save percentage<br />
<strong>and</strong> a 2.28 goals against average.<br />
Wild – Last season, the Minnesota Wild led the NHL in wins <strong>and</strong> points in the month of December. The<br />
wheels soon fell off. The Wild held a 14-23-5 record from January on <strong>and</strong> concluded the year in 12 th in<br />
the Western Conference. This next season they’ll have Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Mikael Granlund <strong>and</strong><br />
Zenon Konopka in addition to the old squad. If the first half Wild shows up, could we be in for a season<br />
to remember in Minnesota?<br />
Canadiens – The last year that Montreal had the honour of Andrei Markov running their powerplay,<br />
they had a success rate of 19.3%. This past season, they ranked third last in the league at 14.3%. His<br />
healthy return should have the Montreal faithful buzzing every time they are given the extra man <strong>and</strong><br />
perhaps we’ll see Pacioretty reach a new level after only recording four goals on the powerplay last<br />
season.<br />
Predators – As one of the smallest leaders Canada has ever seen dawn the ‘C’, Ryan Ellis will have to<br />
make the most of his opportunity this year with the recently departed Ryan Suter. The gaping hole on<br />
the top powerplay <strong>and</strong> many even strength minutes to have, Ellis should see at least thirty points in this<br />
next campaign. Roman Josi will be playing minutes alongside Shea Weber which will help him also reach<br />
career highs.<br />
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