The Journey: Every NHL Team’s Preseason Standouts – Part 2
Hadi Kalakeche
2021-10-09
Welcome back to The Journey, where we follow hockey prospects and their paths to the NHL, providing fantasy predictions and analysis along the way.
This week, we will be continuing on last Saturday's subject of singling out one prospect from every team that rose in the depth charts, or left a calling card for future opportunities with the club. We went through the first half of NHL teams last time around, all the way to the Montréal Canadiens, which allows us to finish up this week with the last 16 NHL teams in alphabetical order, starting with the Nashville Predators.
Nashville Predators
Egor Afanasyev, LW
Afanasyev was selected 45th overall by the Panthers in 2019, and has since shown some decent progression in the KHL – he spent most of last year in the top level, and scored six points in that span as a 19-year-old. Afanasyev and Philip Tomasino headed into this preseason as the two prospects likely to fight for a roster spot on the Preds, and so far the Russian has been the most noticeable of the two, with four points in three preseason games. This includes a three-point, first-star performance against a well-stacked Tampa Bay Lightning side.
Every shift, he brings something to the table – whether through raw skill or by using his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame to rattle the boards and knock pucks free. He also boasts tremendous goal-scoring ability that should translate well. Afanasyev should earn himself a spot on opening night, especially with the Preds' lack of winger depth.
New Jersey Devils
Dawson Mercer, C/RW
One of my favorite players from the 2020 NHL Draft, Mercer has grown a bunch since being selected 18th overall by the Devils; his draft +1 season was spent in the QMJHL, where he led the league in goals per game with 19 in 23 starts for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He also added 17 assists, showing off his deception and opponent manipulation in both his playmaking and his release. Here's a breakdown of one of his preseason goals by ex-Devil and brilliant hockey mind Bryce Salvador:
Mercer's ability to solve problems quickly and on-the-fly is something that will not only carry into the NHL, it will likely allow him to thrive under the league's higher pressure and quicker pace. His preseason so far reflects his pro-ready game, as the prospect has all but guaranteed his roster spot on opening night with a point in all three games he played. A very solid prospect with high chances of being an impact player at the next level.
New York Islanders
Kieffer Bellows, LW
Although Bellows has only earned one goal in two preseason games so far the winger leads the Islanders in shots taken with 10 – he has made a case for himself with the Islanders yet to cut their roster down to size. The former 19th-overall pick has been all over the puck offensively, and showed some good defensive flashes while lacking in consistency at times.
After two seasons of partial NHL time totalling 22 games in that span, Bellows will hope to make the cut for good this year, although he is currently fighting with Ross Johnston, Matt Martin and a couple of others for the team's final spots. The Isles still have two preseason games to further evaluate their options, but Bellows has set himself up to be a good one for the team.
New York Rangers
Nils Lundkvist, RD
Lundkvist's growth so far has been a great success story for the Rangers' scouting and development teams, who turned the 28th overall pick in 2018 into a potential top-four defender with high-end offensive potential; the right-handed blueliner spent all of last year in the SHL, earning 32 points in 52 games against men as a 20-year-old. Lundkvist scored 14 goals last year, the most of any defenseman in the SHL, and picked up where he left off with three assists in three preseason games so far for the Rangers.
The prospect seems set to begin the season on the Rangers' main roster, and should see through the entire year on their top-six. A potential dark horse for the Calder this season, especially if he's given some power-play opportunities on the team's second wave.
Ottawa Senators
Shane Pinto, C
Pinto's preseason is off to a great start, after the prospect earned seven points in his first 12 NHL games last year. The prospect has three points in three games so far for the team, and was regularly one of their most stalwart defensive forwards in his appearances. His anticipation both on and off the puck make him a very solid penalty killer, and he just might be the team's best forward in that regard. On top of his brains, Pinto boasts above-average playmaking and a very decent shot, which make for a solid foundation of tools upon which he can build the rest of his game.
Expect to see Pinto start the season as the Sens' 2C or 3C and obtain a bunch of penalty-killing time for the team this year. He's great on faceoffs, as well – keep that in mind if it matters for your league.
Philadelphia Flyers
Yegor Zamula, LD
Despite recently straining his groin and being sidelined for 3-4 weeks, Zamula managed to show that he should be considered as part of the mix for the Flyers' top six, or at the very least their taxi squad. He was solid, offensively gifted and dependable in training camp and in his only game of the preseason, but his progress has been halted by this injury that will see him miss the start of the season. Still, Zamula looks very good for an undrafted prospect, and played better than he did in his two-game stint with the Flyers last season.
Hopefully a spot in the lineup is ready for him upon his return, but the team will likely send him down to Lehigh Valley for a couple weeks of conditioning after he returns from injury, and see where they go from there.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Radim Zohorna, RW
Zohorna's NHL career started late last season with the Pens, as they brought him on in March and April for a total of eight games, in which he earned four points. The 25-year-old undrafted prospect is in his last year of rookie eligibility, and has survived every cut so far in the Pens' preseason roster build. He now fights for a spot on the fourth line with a couple of veterans, such as Brian Boyle and Sam Lafferty.
Zohorna's ability to catch pucks in transition effortlessly is something that's rarely seen from 6-6 forwards. He has decent finishing ability as well, which might just push him a notch ahead of Boyle or Lafferty in the Pens' depth chart. Really excited to see what he does this year.
San Jose Sharks
Eklund's four points through three preseason games for the Sharks have seemingly forced the team to consider starting him this season as one of only a few 2021 draftees to play right away. The prospect has been electrifying with the puck, connecting plays and darting in-between coverage with the same efficiency he had all season in Djurgårdens last year, where he earned 23 points in 40 SHL games.
He has the added strength of being one of the smartest and most deceptive players of his draft class, and every ounce of that is apparent so far. There are games to go, and Eklund has options, but with a signed ELC and his performances so far, I see nothing preventing him from having a decent impact at the NHL level this season.
Seattle Kraken
Morgan Geekie, C/RW
The only non-rookie on this list, Geekie sneaks in among the younger crowd for a simple reason: the Kraken are using the preseason to develop chemistry between the team's roster players, and see who works well with who. That, combined with the fact that the team only has one draft's worth of rookies in the bank (all of which were absent from preseason games), leads us to Geekie as the standout from the team's games so far.
The 23-year-old's strong release was evident in the first preseason game against the Canucks, in which he netted two, and he showed his intensity and teamwork in all of his games so far, earning an additional two assists against the Canucks a week and a half later. He could very well find his way in Seattle, with ample opportunities to grab a spot in the top six.
Special mention to Vince Dunn, who has proven the analytics community right after years of sheltered minutes with the Blues.
St. Louis Blues
Scott Perunovich, LD
Perunovich's 2020-2021 season was upended completely by a shoulder injury that required surgery to repair. Now fully healed and ready to play, Perunovich has put on an impressive showing for the Blues so far in preseason action, with great reads on the breakout, pinpoint passing, outstanding puck-moving and solid stick defense on the rush. A shorter defenseman at 5-foot-10, Perunovich does not hesitate to build play from the back-end and create chances for his teammates out of very little.
Craig Berube himself mentioned Perunovich as one of the players that is forcing his hand ahead of the final cuts of the season, especially with the defense group from last year having remained untouched. He has played well enough to stay, and should be a part of the team's top six defensemen.
Tampa Bay Lightning
It was difficult to choose a standout rookie for the Lightning, as their prospect cupboard is pretty bare and their preseason is not going well so far. I opted for the prospect who surprised everyone with a hat-trick in an 8-5 Bolts win over the Carolina Hurricanes, including this quick draw from the faceoff dot (sensitive ears beware):
The 2018 second-rounder has been loaned to the AHL and will likely start in Syracuse, but has left a good impression and can now build off of that in the minors. He could see a stint in the NHL this season if his performance with the Crunch warrants it.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, C/RW
A shifty playmaker with tons of puck skills and pace, SDA made a great impression in the Leafs' preseason, despite being limited to one goal in three games. The 2018 third-round pick has benefitted from ample power-play time to show off his distribution ability, and has looked impressively skilled in his three games, making high-speed plays with ease.
He was just recently sent down to the Marlies for the start of the season, which is perfectly reasonable given the amount of players fighting for a spot on the forward core. He should benefit from ample playing time in the minors while adapting to North American ice.
Vancouver Canucks
Jack Rathbone, LD
After earning himself eight games in both the NHL and AHL last season, Rathbone came into this year's preseason looking to steal a spot. After Olli Juolevi (quite literally) fell off after arriving at training camp out of shape, Rathbone saw an opening and took it. DobberProspects Managing Editor Dave Hall noted in one of our recent discussions: "Not only did he pot a G + A in a game, his decision-making and outlets have been unreal – very calm and composed and smooth. Just looks NHL ready". That sums Rathbone's game up very well. Calm, poised, and accurate.
His two points in game 1 remain his only points through five games, and yet the prospect keeps playing night in, night out. This is an excellent sign, as the team would have cut him by now, had they felt he wasn't ready. Rathbone has blown away his competitors for the final spot on the Canucks' top six, and should spend the season on their roster.
Vegas Golden Knights
Daniil Miromanov, RD
The 24-year-old undrafted free agent signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Knights, and his case is a very curious one – he was a right winger as late as 2018, when he was playing in the QMJHL, but converted to right defense after going back to Russia. The offensive-minded blueliner earned 29 points in 58 KHL games last year, good for the eighth-best total among defensemen, and the third-best on his team overall.
Miromanov might be a good call-up option for the team as they deal with injuries or poor performances during the year, but should start off with the Henderson Silver Knights this October.
Washington Capitals
Despite Connor McMichael playing really well this preseason, Lapierre's five points in only three preseason games gives him the edge at the moment; the 2020 first-round pick struggled with concussion issues in his budding career but seems on the right track so far. The prospect has been dictating play with brilliant connective passes and diverse rush patterns, and looks suited to take the open 3C spot on the Caps' starting roster.
On the above play where he sends Oshie in for a breakaway goal, Lapierre manages to find an impossibly small seam between two defenders in order to make the play. This area of his game is very refined and should carry well into the NHL. Between McMichael and Lapierre at the moment, the Quebecer has the edge. With games left to play in the preseason schedule, however, the Caps have a bit of time to make an informed decision.
Winnipeg Jets
Perfetti's rookie camp and preseason performances have put him in an excellent position to start the year on the Jets roster, as Paul Maurice has indicated that he, along with all the other Jets players still on the roster, are considered Jets players and should see some ice-time this year. Since Perfetti cannot be sent down to the AHL, this means one of two things: either Perfetti spends the year in Winnipeg, or he earns a nine-game stint and is sent back to the OHL without burning a year in his contract. I believe the former is more likely, based on what he's shown so far.
The center has one point in three preseason games so far, but has played much better than the scoresheet indicates, with smart reads in all three zones and great distribution ability, which was just as clear last season when he earned 26 points in 32 AHL games. He should earn a regular spot on the team's bottom-six and potentially work his way up the wings if he continues to perform.
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