Sam Bennett has serious breakout potential this season
Continuing our series of players to watch for, the Pacific!
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Connor McDavid – EDM
There’s a very real argument that Connor McDavid is already a top three player in the NHL. Despite only playing 45 games last year, McDavid was able to put up 16 goals and 48 points with a PPG of 1.07 – 3rd in the entire league. While McDavid is definitely not flying under the radar, ESPN currently has him slated at 8th in the rankings. If you can snag him in the last first round, do it.
Sam Bennett – CGY
Scoring 18 goals and getting credited for 18 assists is a commendable feat. Doing it as a 19-year-old is downright impressive. The former 4th overall pick Sam Bennett has the pedigree of a star-in-the-making and it really feels like this is the year where he makes the jump from talented youngster to legitimate, elite NHL forward. With guys like Jiri Hudler and Joe Colborne donning different jerseys, look for Sam Bennett to get even more power play time. Plus, with Bob Hartley’s second-rate system gone and a goalie who isn’t a complete sieve coming into the fold, the Flames overall play will likely take a step forward this season, upping Bennett’s overall numbers.
Loui Eriksson– VAN
The Canucks might be a tire fire this season, but the continued brilliance of the Sedins always makes at least the first line of this team a threat. Fellow Swede Loui Eriksson is joining the twins after coming off an excellent season potting 30 goals and being a top-30 point producer in the entire league. We saw Radim Vrbata light up the league to the tune of 31 goals two years ago on the Sedins’ wing and in the past they’ve turned middling players like Alex Burrows into legit top sixers. Loui Eriksson is already such a talented player that ESPN’s ranking of 87 feels conservative.
Alex Goligoski – ARI
GoGo has been sneaky good the last few seasons, ranking 27th among all defensemen for scoring. Despite this, ESPN only has him ranked as the 42nd best defensemen in the draft. He looks to be in for another solid season on a really fun, young, and possibly good Coyotes team. Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and Dylan Strome all look like future studs, to say nothing of Tobias Rieder or solid veterans Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal, or Shane Doan. Don’t worry about Oliver Ekman-Larsson taking power play minutes away from Goligoski – he faced a similar situation last year with John Klingberg and was still able to produce.
Tomas Hertl – SJ
Did you know Tomas Hertl had 21 goals and 46 points last season? It feels like it’s been all lows for Tomas Hertl since his rookie year when he did THIS, but he really did start to put it together last year after being put on a line with the Joes, Thornton and Pavelski. Despite his age, Jumbo Joe might have the best vision in the league and Joe Pavelski is a goal-scoring machine. Still, only 22, Hertl should continue to impress this season with his uber-talented linemates.
Teddy Purcell – EDM
Say this about Teddy Purcell: Put him with good players and the guy produces. Playing about half his time last year with the rip-a-hole-in-the-earth duo that was Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl last year, Purcell was able to put up 43 points in 76 games. Coming to LA, he gets to play with one of the best centers in the NHL, Anze Kopitar and, once he comes back from injury, running mate Marian Gaborik. Purcell reached his career high in points (65) playing with Steven Stamkos in 2012 during Stammer’s insane 60 goal season. While Anze Kopitar may not be prime-era Steven Stamkos, there’s little reason to expect Teddy Purcell won’t continue to rack up another 45+ point season.
Chris Prod is a correspondent at FantasyPros and runs his own blog about the Central division, Double Bickells on the Dime. He tweets sparingly @mastodude30.
