NHL Season Preview: Future Stars of 2016-17
By Arman Baz
NHL Season Preview: Looking Ahead to the Future Stars of 2016-17
It might be a little early for a 2016-17 NHL season preview, but for 26 clubs around the league, the preparation is just beginning.
Every season there is a new star that rises in the NHL. It’s not always a young player but more often than not it is. With a taste of what we got in 2015-2016, it’s safe to say that their will be a few big stars next year.
Let me name a few of them.
NHL Season Preview: Future Stars of 2016-17
He was the savior of the Flyers’ season, and now, he proved that he can be a stud in the NHL. With a Calder nomination, and an incredible season, I guarantee, Shayne Gotisbehere will be one of the top offensive defensemen next year.
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Hoffman is a player that we thought would reach more than 30 goals last season, but failed to accomplish under head coach Dave Cameron.
He had an excuse though; It was a bad relationship with Cameron and that caused him to be moved a lot around the lines, even ending up on the fourth line a few times. He did hit 29 goals, but I think under new coach Guy Boucher can produce 35-40 goals next season.
Fabbri joined the St.Louis Blues this season coming from juniors, and has shown a lot of skill throughout this whole season. But, we only saw him for one season; will he become much better next year? Many say he will be a future top 6 forward, and a few say he will become an elite player in upcoming years.
Bennett started his NHL career a very solid way, scoring goals in many consecutive nights, but that didn’t really help the Calgary Flames reaching the playoffs. Bennett is the highest drafted player in Flames history.
Personally, I think that Bennett is going to end up being a second line center if he was kept on the Flames because there is Sean Monahan ahead of him.
McDavid’s season was cut short, only playing 45 games. But, he achieved 48 points during that time span. I think we can all expect him to be a point per game player next year.
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Mitch Marner
In just his first season of junior after getting drafted by Leafs, Marner not only surprised the OHL but also the NHL in how he performed during the season. In just 57 games, he nailed 116 points. No doubt that he is going to join the Leafs next year.
Auston Matthews
Ah, the projected number 1 pick in this year’s draft. Just what the Leafs needed for their future. Now, Matthews has the potential to be a franchise player, and the Leafs are in need for that to happen.
If Matthews gets drafted by the Leafs, will he perform amazing in his first season? Personally, I think he will do decent, maybe racking up to 60 points.
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Patrik Laine
The projected number 2 pick in this draft could possibly go number 1. Sources say that the Finnish sniper can turn out to be the next Alexander Ovechkin. Now that might sound crazy, but they almost have identical one timer areas, similar power in their shots, and they can both score many goals. Laine may hit 50 goals a few times in his career, but I think he will at least get 30+ goals a season.