Preseason Insights from Every Team (Part 1)

Nashville Predators

Just a reminder that this is going to be a big year for Tommy Novak. There are several Preds forwards who could take a notable step forward this year, given the increased opportunity in the wake of several established veterans getting shipped out in the off-season. But I think Novak has a real shot at becoming the top-line center. His two goals in three preseason games so far lead Nashville.

The Gustav Nyquist – Cody Glass – Philip Tomasino line was Nashville's best play-driving unit last game, posting an impressive 60% CorsiFor. If Glass can avoid the injuries that hampered him early in his career, his breakout should continue, and 2023-24 must be Tomasino Time, right? We've been patient long enough.

New Jersey Devils

Finally, a positive sign for Alexander Holtz owners! He scored a goal in his only preseason game so far, but even more impressive than that is that he played nearly 20 minutes. My hope for him is that he starts the year on the third line and slowly works his way up. He remains a solid buy-low option for now in dynasty formats.

New York Islanders

Oliver Wahlstrom saw over five minutes of ice time with the man advantage in his only game so far but did not record even a single shot, let alone a point. He increasingly feels like the next Anthony Mantha in terms of having tons of potential but also tons of injuries, so buyer beware.

William Dufour is who I'm putting my money on in terms of Islanders' prospects. He scored a goal in his only game so far (three shots), and that is what he has done at every level so far in his young career.

New York Rangers

Zero points in three games for Alexis Lafreniere. Uh oh…

Ottawa Senators

Strangely, Ottawa waived their 2019 first-round pick, Lassi Thomson, today.

Stranger still: no other team has claimed him yet.

He's not a youngster, but I feel like Dominik Kubalik is getting overlooked by many. His three points in two games (nine shots) suggest that he could be primed for a solid bounceback campaign. Someone to consider later on in drafts for sure.

Roby Jarventie, 21, has also acquitted himself well this preseason with a couple goals in his first three games. He will be one to watch as he likely heads back to Belleville (AHL) to kick things off. Expect to see him back with the big club at times throughout the year.

Philadelphia Flyers

Don't look now but Bobby Brink has three points in three games, often playing alongside Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett on Philly's top line. I was higher on him than most of the other Editors at Dobber Prospects when we each rated the top 15 prospects for each team in the league. He gets overlooked in fantasy because of his small stature and historically poor footspeed but he plays a smart, feisty game and has fairly high scoring upside in my opinion.

The Victor Mete – Helge Grans pairing was easily the worst on the Flyers last game. They were getting absolutely caved in, so expect Grans to be back on the AHL squad to start the year.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Enough has already been said about the Penguins waiving Ty Smith; I'll just add that although this outcome seemed likely after GM Dubas brought in Erik Karlsson, I still believe that Smith has solid NHL potential. He just needs an opportunity. The fact that every other team in the league decided to pass on acquiring his services unfortunately suggests that maybe that opportunity is not forthcoming.

I have been really impressed with Valterri Puustinen so far. He has quickness and excellent playmaking skills. If he can beat out Alexander Nylander, he could be in a position to contribute as a depth scorer on this Penguins team, with a shot at some PP2 action.

Sound the ZoHORNa! 🚨

And what a pass from Puustinen! pic.twitter.com/4SRdoGw3T3

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 26, 2023

San Jose Sharks

Henry Thrun has emerged in the early going as the top PP option on the back end for this trainwreck of a Sharks team: he has four points in two games and has gobbled up 59% of the available PP time. The former Ducks prospects saw his stocks soar after he elected to move elsewhere in California. His main competition seemed like it would be Shakir Mukhamadullin, but it looks as though the organization would like to take it slow with him.

David Quinn spoke highly of Mukhamadullin. He and the team want to put him in the best spot to succeed. He can play top minutes in the AHL. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/fCY8aC1Wbv

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) September 28, 2023

Seattle Kraken

As many have predicted, it looks as though 2023-24 could finally be Eeli Tolvanen's coming-out party. The shifty forward has four points in two games and is looking dangerous all over the ice. On a team desperately in need of star power, this could be a serious boon for Seattle.

Eeli Tolvanen's 2 goals yesterday are just another reminder of his career renaissance since joining Seattle. He is scoring goals at a rate he hadn't experienced since his rookie season#SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/fl0ngzHvs8

— Kraken Stats (@KrakenStats) September 29, 2023

St. Louis Blues

Although he only has one point to show for it over three games, Scott Perunovich has played major minutes for the Blues in the early going. Reports suggest that Torey Krug is set to regain his top PP spot, but in his absence, Perunovich has received 69% of the available PP time. If he can finally stay healthy, poolies will be able to get a solid look at what he is capable of in 2023-24. He is a certified Band Aid Boy at this point, however, so don't count on a breakout.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The big news out of Tampa this week, of course, is that Andrei Vasilevskiy will miss the first couple months of the season with a back injury. That has resulted in Hugo Alnefelt stocks spiking massively—even in keeper and dynasty formats. But just a note of caution: even if Alnefelt comes in and plays well, this is still very much Vasilevskiy's net. Alnefelt's value remains quite limited moving forward, even if he can secure the backup role in the next year or two.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Easton Cowan and Matthew Knies have provided Leafs fans with a sneak preview of the grit/scoring combo they are each capable of providing over the coming years. Knies has five points in four games, and Cowan has three in three. While Cowan will likely still need several years before he is ready to become a full-time Leaf, Knies is set to make an immediate impact this year.

Matthew Knies scores off the wraparound 🚨

the kids are killing it pic.twitter.com/nkaSWqpl3A

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) September 30, 2023

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks don't have much of interest going on in their preseason, but check out our Vancouver writer Dave Hall's story on Jonathan Lekkerimaki's revenge tour in the SHL. He's back!

Vegas Golden Knights

The prospects to watch in Vegas are Pavel Dorofeyev (one point), Lukas Cormier (one point), and Brendan Brisson (one point). Each has seen some PP time and seem to be acclimating well. This will be a tough roster to crack, of course, but expect to see all three in a Vegas sweater at some point in 2023-24.

Washington Capitals

It's fantastic to see Ivan Miroshnichenko back at it. He has reclaimed his spot as Washington's top prospect and picked up two assists in his only preseason game so far (three shots). It is a great sign that he is set to play in North America this season. Expect him to kick off the campaign in the AHL but to get a couple cups of coffee this year to begin acclimating to the game at the highest level.

He has Ovechkin-lite potential as a power forward type with a wicked shot who can crash and bang.

Winnipeg Jets

None of the Jets' top prospects—Brad Lambert, Ville Heinola, Chaz Lucius—have been scoring so far in the preseason, but that doesn't necessarily mean much. Heinola *should* make the team for good this year, but he is getting a bit long in the tooth in prospect terms and does not seem to possess as much scoring upside as it once appeared.

Lambert was just sent down to the AHL but has impressed everywhere but the scoresheet.

Jansen Harkins, Daniel Torgersson, and Brad Lambert do everything but score the tying goal. Multiple shot attempts, multiple rebounds recovered, but Ottawa gets the saves and the blocks.

— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) September 30, 2023

*****

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @beegare for more prospect content and fantasy hockey analysis.