Have you gotten your hockey fix yet?  Well, it has been a few weeks of nonstop action and so far, we have had no shortage of excitement. As we head into the second round, the number of games we see each day has tempered off, meaning we now have a chance to catch our breath and reflect on what exactly occurred over the past two weeks. 

It should come as no surprise that I have a large interest in keeping close tabs on prospects. In fact, if my home team is not playing that night, I tend to gravitate to games in which showcase one or two. Although the quantity of entry-level talent drops off during the playoffs, there is a select group who have been handed the opportunity to showcase themselves this summer and I thought I would shed some light on what I have seen from the lot thus far.

Of course, I cannot mention all of them, so if you were hoping to get a recap on what I thought about a specific player, please find me on Twitter @hall1289 and let me know.

Here are some of my top storylines through the first few rounds of postseason play.

Liam Foudy came as advertised.

Since I cover the Blue Jackets with DobberProspects, I had an increased level of interest when it came to the swift skating Foudy. And sure enough, he did not disappoint. It was no secret heading into the bubble that head coach John Tortorella thought highly of the 20-year-old’s two-way capabilities, and his icetime was indicative of just that. He averaged 16:43 of ice-time throughout a total of 10 games, which included 42 minutes during their eight-period marathon in Game 1 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. With just two points, which included his first career NHL goal, he did not overwhelm the scoresheets, yet he played his role to a tee and provided the team with energy on a shift-by-shift basis. His style meshes well with the brand of play that has been formed in Columbus and should have no issues finding his spot among the roster heading into next season.

Overall, his playoff interview was exactly what I had anticipated, and I continue to see him as a very solid top-six winger with 60-70 points as his general area of production.

Nicholas Robertson looks like the real deal. 

It was a very respectable showing for the 18-year-old trigger man following a dominant junior campaign for the Peterborough Petes (OHL). Despite a disappointing qualifying round exit for the Leafs, Robertson’s play provided a nice bright spot and something to be excited for in the not-so-distant future for Toronto fans. He spent the majority of his time on the team’s third line, which held him to an average of 12:05 minutes a night. However, he made the most of his opportunity and was able to hold his own and played with a tremendous amount of confidence for such a young skater. He not only scored his first goal as a pro, but he provided an impressive amount of energy and played a sound game in all three areas of the ice. He loves to shoot the puck, and when he does, he holds nothing back. His offensive abilities are undoubtedly ready to produce at any level and his entry-level deal will stand as a large positive to a cap-crunched Maple Leafs team in the next two years.

Robertson is a very promising prospect, and the fact that the Leafs managed to snag him in the second round should be considered nothing less than highway robbery.

Dillon Dube is ready for more responsibility.

Alright, I know I have pumped this kid’s tires a lot as of late, but I definitely believe that the praise is warranted. Despite his primarily third-line role, Dube has been one of the Flames' top performers in most facets of the game. He brings tenacity, which is evident from his 25 hits, as well as offensive production. He potted four times during the postseason, which included a two-goal effort in game one against the Stars and five points in total. He plays with an edge and finds ways to create a spark when the team is in need. He’s got tremendous speed and does not shy away from throwing his body around, despite his 5-foot-11 stature.

I genuinely believe that an increase to his role should be on the "to-do list" for the club next season, and if that becomes reality, do not be shocked to see a very generous spike from his 16-point rookie campaign. He likely remains a mid-range offensive producer but will cover a wide range of categories in fantasy along the way.

Alexandre Texier looks poised for a bounce-back sophomore season.

After transitioning from an impressive career in the Liiga, Texier was injected straight into the Blue Jackets lineup in October but struggled to find overall consistency. Injuries of course played a part, as he suffered a frightening lumbar fracture, but I still couldn’t help the feeling that he had another gear to give. Those reservations seemed to all fade away during his return to the line-up this summer, as he looked strong, quick, and confident in his game. He failed to find the back of the net, but contributed four assists and enjoyed top-six minutes throughout, which is a telling sign of what head coach John Tortorella thought of his overall play. 

He is equipped with a great shot, a heavy work ethic, and incredible foot speed, all of which I fully expect to translate into NHL success. it’s easy to lose patience, but fantasy owners should be holding tight and seeing out their eventual top-six investment returns.

Joel Farabee has been placed with the top group, and it feels right.

Just one year removed from his college career, Farabee is shaping up to be an important contributing piece to the Flyers' success this summer. The former BU product has been placed with the big boys on the top-six for the vast majority of his six postseason games, and boy has he shown up for the occasion. The Flyers have failed to score in bunches throughout the tournament, but the 20-year-old has posted four points, including one goal on the man advantage. The coaching staff had reservations throughout the season with his consistency, but all indications are that he could thrive in this new offensive environment on the top half of the lineup.

The club has a variety of young talent that can contribute offense, but Farabee looks to be fulfilling all of his developmental checkmarks. If he can sustain his top-six role come next season, expect him to become fantasy relevant sooner rather than later 

Zack MacEwen has officially forced his way into a permanent bottom-six role (somewhere).

If you are not a Vancouver Canucks fan or just a part-time hockey fan in general, you may not recognize his name. If not, MacEwen is a 24-year-old, undrafted rookie who has forced his way onto a Canucks roster over the course of the 2019-20 campaign. While he has enjoyed offensive success at the AHL level, he is not overly flashy in any particular department on the ice. Instead, he is a player who finds success by playing smart, tactical hockey. There is something to be said about a hard-working player who thrives in all the “little things” department, and the Prince Edward Island native is just that.

What was once one of Vancouver’s best kept secrets has quickly turned the heads of many teams around the league. With a flat cap in mind, each team will be on the hunt for a cheap, consistent bottom-six contributor, and MacEwen checks off all of those boxes. As a restricted free agent this summer, the Canucks, who are in a cap crunch themselves, may have to get creative should they want to keep their low maintenance workhorse heading into 2020-21. He is by no means a fantasy beast but could be a nice addition to any deeper option formats.

Jack Studnicka deserves a full-time roster spot next season.

He may not have any points through four games with the Bruins this summer, but Studnicka has proven that he can handle himself at the highest level. The Windsor, Ontario native is an offensive threat who sat third among AHL rookies with 49 points in 60 games with the Providence Bruins. He has proven that he is not afraid to shoot the puck and his experience in the playoffs will only benefit his growth as he heads into next year's training camp. Get the kid on the third line and second power-play unit for the remainder of their playoff run, please.

Emil Bemstrom needs to find a way to translate his success to the NHL.

If his league-leading 23 goals in the SHL just one year prior has taught us anything, it’s that Emil Bemstrom can shoot the puck and score goals from all areas of the ice. What’s more, he plays with a chip on his shoulder and enjoys getting greasy in the tough areas of the ice. Unfortunately, we saw none of that, at least very little during his first playoff run this summer. In fact, through his five postseason matches, he posted zero points, just two hits and a measly four shots on target, all of which kept him either glued to the bench with an average of just 9:52 of icetime or out of the lineup entirely.

There is no denying the Swede's attributes, but Torteralla’s trust in him is clear. Bemstrom must make adjustments to his game and become a more consistent and responsible player if he is to thrive as a Blue Jacket. I still have Bemstrom as one of my top boom or bust prospects and if he can tinker some things over the summer, continues to hold high offensive upside. 

Nicolas Roy is becoming the perfect third-line center.

What does a team look for in a third-line center position? A physical presence? Responsible play in the defensive zone? How about production on the scoresheet from time-to-time? Well, Roy has provided all of that for the Vegas Golden Knights and then some. While skating just over 15 minutes per game, Roy has contributed for one goal and four points, almost half of his output during his 28-game regular season. He's thrown 14 hits and has provided an excellent presence on the club’s third line with Nick Cousins and Alex Tuch. Players such as Roy get overlooked often, but his consistent play has been hard to ignore. He will be a large and likely underrated piece to the puzzle should the Knights find themselves in a deep run.

No, he will not be a huge factor on your fantasy teams next season, but he plays an undeniable role in the Vegas Golden Knights success now and in the future. He is a prime candidate for a deep multi-category format.

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Thanks again for joining me for another week. Please let me know what you thought of these players or any other prospect you were hoping to read about.