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Here is another copy of my article:
There are many players that have interesting storylines going into this season, but I have composed a list of the top 10 players to watch/due for a breakout season this year. Starting with number 10:
10. Semyon Varlamov – Colorado Avalanche – As an Avs fan, no one has a bigger chip on their shoulder then goaltender Semyon Varlamov. The talented, but injury-riddled Russian goaltender was traded to the Avs this off-season for a first and second round pick. While GM Greg Sherman knew exactly what he was getting in Varlamov, he received tons of criticism for potentially giving up a “lottery” pick in the 2012 draft. However, I have extreme confidence that Colorado will get back to their winning ways this season and Varlamov will be a big part of that. Regardless of how Semyon plays, he will have immediate pressure to win in Denver or else he might lose his starting job to J.S. Giguere. Look for a big year out of Varlamov.
9. Tyler Ennis – Buffalo Sabres – While much can be said about all the moves Buffalo made this off-season, I will look at the young centre and why I believe he is poised for a breakout season. Ennis is on a team filled with talented Centres (Roy, Leino, Luke Adam etc), but Ennis possesses a skill level that will only grow as he gets older. I believe Ennis is poised for a Claude Giroux-type breakout year in which we could see Ennis taking over Roy on the first line (as Giroux did in Philly). Whether or not he puts up big stats this year, I believe that Ennis will continue to grow as a player, and if he finds his way onto the first line it will benefit sniper Thomas Vanek. I believe that Buffalo is a serious contender this year, and amidst all the signings Ennis will become the breakout star in Buffalo. The Sabres have so many centres (Roy, Leino, Adam, Gaustad, Hecht etc) that we could see Ennis move up to LW as well. He had 20 goals – 49 points last year, and I predict him to be around the 60-70 point mark this season.
8. Evander Kane – Winnipeg Jets – Every person in the hockey world is starting to develop Jet fever, and Kane looks to have his best season as a professional hockey player. While the skill is certainly evident, Kane lacked confidence in Atlanta in a city where hockey didn’t matter. However, being in Winnipeg changes things for the young Canadian forward, and I believe that this is the season we see the true goal scoring ability of Kane. Kane went from 14 goals in his rookie season, to 19 last year, and I believe that he will be around the 25-30 goal mark this season. Whether or not Winnipeg is a good team in their first year back, look for a huge year out of Kane.
7. David Backes – St. Louis Blues – The newest captain of the St. Louis Blues, Backes is poised to have an even better year than last season. Backes was the backbone of the Blues last year, and his stats speak for himself – 31 goals, 31 assists, +32. Backes is a fantasy owner’s dream, as he gets just about every category, but this season I believe we will see how much he has grown as a player. The captain, to me, brings experience and confidence to a young forward. Many people don’t believe in giving the captain to a young guy, but that isn’t the case in my opinion. Regardless of age, if a player is ready and leads by example, then he is ready for the captain. That is why I believe in David Backes, he leads off the ice but most importantly with his play on the ice. Look for a big year out of Backes as the Blues try to get back into the playoffs.
6. Chris Pronger – Philadelphia Flyers – Speaking of new captains, Pronger takes the C in Philly with the departure of Mike Richards. But is this really a surprise for anyone? In the simplest terms, Pronger is a true leader in the NHL and his play speaks for himself. Pronger is an emotional leader, he isn’t afraid to voice his opinion towards other teammates as well as voice his opinion on the ice. He has previous experience as Captain in Anaheim and St. Louis, but I really feel that this will be his most important time as captain. The Flyers are a young, extremely talented team (despite the departure of two of their best players in Richards and Carter) and Pronger leads the way as the old, grizzled veteran. Look for a strong year out of Pronger, one in which the Flyers could make another deep run towards Lord Stanley.
5. Mike Richards – Los Angeles Kings – The old Flyers captain gets a fresh start in LA, and many people believe that LA is a serious contender this year. They are loaded with talent upfront and on the blueline, but Richards is an interesting addition to this team and might end up being the missing piece of the puzzle in LA. People are so focused on the trade itself and what it did to the two teams, but my first thought about Richards on LA is the pairing of him and Dustin Brown on the same line. Throw in either Gagne or Dusty Penner, and it turns into perhaps the most frightening line in the NHL. While Anze Kopitar will still run the offense and first line, this is the line that is really going to cause problems for opposing teams. Simply put, Richards and Brown are two of (if not the best 2) hitters in the league, not to mention both very talented offensively. This line has the grit of a checking line, but the scoring of a first line, and will give LA a hell of a two-line punch. Look for a massive year out of LA, and Mike Richards will settle in nicely.
4. Brad Richards – New York Rangers – Speaking of Richards, Brad likely has the most pressure in the NHL right now. The guy that every single team wanted this off-season, Brad decided to reunite with former coach John Tortorella in New York, and people are very divided on how he will do there. New York is an extremely tough place to play in, and as history showed us they made a terrible decision in signing Centre’s Chris Drury and Scott Gomez to long-term deals. While Brad’s 9 year contract is a little crazy for the 31 year old centre, I believe that he is worth all the hype and is one of the best Centres in the game today. The most important factor in Brad Richards will be his ability to play with sniper Marian Gaborik, who really has never had a top line centre to play with in his career. Richards could put up massive assist numbers this season feeding Gaborik, but that will only work if the two develop some chemistry. With that being said, I believe Richards will have a huge year in New York.
3. Ilya Bryzgalov – Philadelphia Flyers – Many people believe that Richards was the best acquisition of the off-season, but for me none was bigger than the Flyers signing Ilya Bryzgalov. The talented Russian goaltender spent the last few years in Phoenix, in which he led them to back-to-back playoff appearances. While that was certainly impressive leading a less talented Coyotes team, Ilya will have massive pressure to lead the talented Flyers back to the playoffs and more. The major flaws for Philly the last 3 playoffs was goaltending – the skill upfront was always there but the goalies seemed to always let them down. The Flyers completely changed their team this off-season (losing Richards and Carter), but I believe no one move was more important than signing Ilya. Look for a big year out of Bryzgalov, as I believe the Flyers are poised to return to the Stanley Cup.
2. John Tavares – New York Islanders – John Tavares is quickly becoming one of the NHL’s elite forwards, as evident with his extremely strong finish last season. John is surrounded by talented and young forwards in New York, and this could be the year we see him in the top 10 in scoring. In his first two seasons, Tavares had trouble at times finding his game and was often criticized. However, the young centre will continue to grow every season and will only get better, which is why I believe that this year we will see John light up the score sheet. Look for Tavares to be in the 30-40 goal range and 70-80 point range this season
1. Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins – Last and certainly not least, the player that every single person in the hockey world is following, Sidney Crosby is the player to watch this season. Simply put, Sid is still dealing with Post Concussion Syndrome and everyone is anticipating his return. Sid will not start the season, and who knows when he will play, but everyone is watching daily what happens with him. I believe that Sid will return shortly after the season starts, and he will continue where he left off last season. Last year he was untouchable, no one could stop him as he found himself at 66 points in 41 games, a remarkable pace that would’ve had him around the 120 point mark and far ahead of everyone else. As soon as Sid steps back into a game setting, look for him to go crazy and put up big numbers again. With a healthy Sid and Geno back, the Penguins are poised for many Cup runs in the future. With that being said, don’t be surprised if the Pens go deep this year as long as their two stars remain healthy. I hope that Sid recovers as soon as possible, as he is the best player in the game and everyone wants him back.
In conclusion, I believe that these 10 players are all players to watch this upcoming season. I myself am excited to watch Varlamov in Colorado, but everyone has their own views on players to watch. Feel free to comment/ask questions on why I believe in these players. Thanks for reading
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
