This article is part of our NHL Barometer series.
This week's article includes a pair of lesser known pivotmen, Vesey making NY the Big Easy, a bad mamma Cam-mer in Edmonton and Dubi not doing the Dubi Dubi Do in Columbus.
First Liners (Risers)
Joel Eriksson-Ek, C, MIN – Erik Haula's lower-body injury allowed Eriksson-Ek to be promoted from Iowa last week. He has made the most of that opportunity, scoring two goals with three assists in four games. Eriksson-Ek, the 20th overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, has a solid two-way game, aiding his adaptation to the NHL style of play. He may not spend the year in Minnesota but is worth a look while he is hot and projects to be a second-line center as he matures.
Devin Shore, C, DAL – Shore, taken in the second round in 2011, received an opportunity due to Jiri Hudler's illness. He has impressed, tallying a goal and five assists in six games while skating as the third-line center. Shore has just six shots, but he may be deferring to others, as his minor-league numbers reveal. He projects to be a second-line center in the future, but with Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza in town, Shore will need to be content with third-line minutes.
Jimmy Vesey, LW, NYR – Coach Alain Vigneault likes to roll three offensive lines and the early-season production of Vesey (rhymes with easy) and presence of Pavel Buchnevich affords AV that option on Broadway. Vesey, who was drafted by Nashville in the third round of 2012, refused to sign with the Predators and was dealt to Buffalo this past offseason. He opted not to sign with the Sabres and inked his entry-level contract with the Blueshirts, who were aided by the presence of another Hobey Baker Award winner in Chris Drury and Boston residents Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. Vesey is skating on a line with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash, allowing him significant minutes (averaging 17 with this duo) and production (five points in seven contests).
Travis Konecny, LW, PHI – Konecny, normally a center, is now skating on the top line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers' first-round pick in 2015 (24th overall), he took a quantum leap forward last year, scoring 101 points in 60 games in the OHL, and carried those gains to earn a spot on the team. Konecny, who is a goal and five assists in seven games, is also seeing time on the second power- play unit and should spend the entire season with the parent club.
Ryan Dzingel, LW, OTT – Um, who? Dzingel had a solid training camp, and with Clarke MacArthur (concussion) sidelined indefinitely, he opened the season on the second line next to Derick Brassard and Bobby Ryan. He has exceeded expectations, notching four goals – including a pair Tuesday – on just eight shots. Dzingel, a 2011 seventh-round pick, should see his minutes increase, although it's unlikely he continues to score at a 50% shooting rate.
Mike Matheson, D, FLA – Matheson has picked up the early-season scoring slack from the blueline while Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad have yet to get on track. Florida's first-round (23rd overall) selection from 2012 took advantage of the opportunity when Erik Gudbranson was traded to earn a roster spot in training camp. Matheson has a pair of goals and assists in six games, averaging just shy of 20 minutes of ice time on the second pairing. His rate of production will likely dip a bit but the upside is there for the Boston College product.
Shea Weber, D, MTL – Weber, one half of one of the blockbuster deals this summer, is doing his best to mollify the fan's annoyance at the trading of P.K. Subban. After tallying the game-winner and an assist Wednesday, Weber now has three goals, six assists, and an NHL-leading plus-12 after seven games. In the long-term, due to age, contract length and amount, the deal will likely end up favoring Nashville; but for now, Montreal has to be ecstatic with their return.
Cam Talbot, G, EDM – Most analysts expected Edmonton to be better, but few foresaw the solid play from their blueline and Talbot keying a 6-1 start to the season. His goals-against average of 2.49 is only slightly better than the 2.55 he posted last year, but his .927 save percentage is 10 points higher. The Oilers seem comfortable with a wheel-and-deal style of play, as Talbot has faced at least 31 shots in six of his seven starts. The GAA and SV% may suffer, but as long as the offense remains productive, the former Ranger should continue to rack up Ws.
John Gibson, G, ANA – After a mildly slow start, Gibson has found his game. He dropped his first three starts of the season, but has roared back with three wins in his last four, allowing just six goals during that span. He is locked in as the Ducks' top netminder following the trade of Frederik Andersen to Toronto and should post 30-plus victories.
Others include Derek Stepan. Victor Rask, Auston Matthews, Travis Zajac, Joe Pavelski, Brayden Schenn, Brock Nelson, William Nylander, Connor McDavid, Joe Pavelski, Tyler Motte, Brandon Pirri, Alexander Radulov, Matt Read, Mitch Marner, Patrik Laine, Matt Moulson, Patric Hornqvist, Alex Killorn, Sam Bennett, Alexander Steen, Jonathan Marchessault, Jakub Voracek, Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak, J.T. Miller, Vladislav Namestnikov, Ryan Suter, Damon Severson, Sami Vatanen/Cam Fowler/Hampus Lindholm (with Lindholm now signed, it will be interesting to see if Vatanen's and Fowler's production declines), Noah Hanifin, Johnny Boychuk, Devan Dubnyk, Petr Mrazek, Carey Price, Jimmy Howard, Al Montoya and Henrik Lundqvist.
Training Room (Injuries)
Michael Del Zotto, D, PHI – MDZ is expected to rejoin the Flyers' lineup when eligible on Nov. 5. A lower-body injury has sidelined Del Zotto since early October, opening the door for Ivan Provorov to break camp with the team. His return to action will greatly improve the team's blueline and provide Philly with another option for the point on the second power play.
Tuukka Rask, G, BOS – Rask has missed the Bruins past three games with an undisclosed illness. In his absence, Anton Khudobin, Malcolm Subban and Zane McIntyre have all started a game and lost, highlighting just how important Rask is to the Bs. The hope is that Rask will be able to return to action Saturday against the Red Wings.
Others include Jori Lehtera (upper-body injury, activated Thursday), Rickard Rakell (visa/abdominal issues, skating with team), Bryan Little (lower-body injury, end of November), Thomas Vanek (lower-body, day-to-day), Chris Kreider (neck spasms, day-to-day), Patrick Sharp (concussion, yet to resume skating), David Backes (surgery to remove bursa sac, out through weekend). Jeff Skinner (mid-body injury, day-to-day), Jussi Jokinen (knee, two more weeks), Ryan Pulock (lower-body, out 4-6 weeks), Kris Letang (upper-body, day-to-day, out since October 19), Simon Despres (head, undisclosed), Robin Lehner (illness, day-to-day), Mike Smith (lower-body, week-to-week) and Craig Anderson (personal, unknown).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Brandon Dubinsky, C, CLM – It's been a slow start for both Dubinsky and the Blue Jackets. Dubinsky, the prototypical John Tortorella center, has only one point with a minus-8 rating in six games. His ice time is down over a minute from last year, largely due to the decline in power-play time. He isn't a true #1 center but has assumed that role following the departure of Ryan Johansen, but don't expect scoring at that level.
Riley Sheahan, RW, DET– Sheahan had 24 points in 42 games during the strike-shortened 2013-14 season and 36 points in 79 games in 2014-15, thereby raising expectations. He has failed to deliver, notching just 25 points in 81 games last year. The change from Mike Babcock to Jeff Blashill did Sheahan little favors, as he saw more time on the penalty kill and less on the power play. This season, the lower-body injury to Justin Abdelkader has created an opportunity for Sheahan in the top six, but the Notre Dame product has just one point – an assist – over seven contests.
T.J. Brodie, D, CGY – I had a choice of Brodie or Vatanen in my home league and two-plus weeks in, my choice doesn't look too smart. Last season, he recorded a career-high 45 points (six goals, 39 assists), including nine on the power play, in 70 games. This year, Brodie has just one assist and a minus-seven rating in eight games. The ice time is down slightly more than a minute per game, and while the power-play duty is similar, it has varied wildly from game-to-game. As of now, downgrade your projections for Brodie.
Pekka Rinne, G, NAS – Color me silly for believing that Rinne's playoff run last year would be the elixir to cure his struggles from the second half of 2014-15 and all of 2015-16. After a solid initial win over Chicago and in a loss to Dallas, the last two starts have been duds, including being pulled Wednesday against Anaheim after allowing four goals on just 17 shots. Eventually, Rinne should right the ship. But for now, staple him to your bench.
Others include Calle Jarnkrok, Henrik Zetterberg, Derick Brassard, Chris Kunitz, Matthew Tkachuk, Lawson Crouse, Michal Kempny, Mattias Ekholm, Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth.
