Team: 2022-23 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 9, 2022

Published: Aug. 9, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is not a 21-22 ranking this is based on who i think will be the top 20 for the 22-23 season so expect to potentially see a few outliers who i think are in for a breakout

take into consideration a lot of good players changed scenery this offseason so depending on their new current team i predict rankings will change quite a bit

another thing is for example huberdeau is going from a very offensive system to a more defensive system and same with tkachuk/ gaudreau etc


PLAYERS WHO COULD BE SWAPPED(more of the top 10 guys)
*I'd say the top 6 LW are pretty interchangeable depending on the night and what you value more (goal scoring, defence, 2way, playmaking)

*Mcavoy/Fox interchangeable again due you like
-Mcavoys speed/ Athleticism/ Physicality/ Better defensive IQ/ Shot
-Fox's Offensive IQ/ Playmaking/ QB abilities

*Kuch is definitely RW1 as for Pasta/Marner/Rantanen they are interchangeable depending how what kind of player you want (2way forward/ Speedy goal Scorer/ All around offensive threat)

- Josi and Slavin are changeable again do you want better defence or better offence


PLAYERS I EXPECT TO REGRESS
-Bergeron(age+ marchand gone for first 20 games)
-Ovechkin(age)
-Malkin(age+injury prone)
-Pavelski(age)
-Giroux (probably one of the lower regressments though due to joining stronger team)
- Miller (unsustainable scoring rate)
-Duchene( unsustainable scoring rate)
- Tarasenko( I expect him to be traded to a team with lesser stars)
- Stamkos ( Likely not to repeat 40 goals but probably mid 30's)
- Hertl( San jose's roster is looking much worse and i believe Meier will be moved to due to Cap+ going full rebuild soon/ losing best winger will affect production)
- Elias Lindholm ( Lost both his linemates will take time to build chem with new players)
-Alex Debrincat (New team has also been inconsistent over the years in terms of scoring and i expect it to take a season before he really gets going in ottawa)
-Chris Kreider( very unsustainable production, every single one of his goal scoring analytics were well above his career average. Scored a lot of deflections aswell which isn't usually a sustainable way to score)
-Anthony Deangelo(just went from one of the best teams to one of the worst teams, i still expect good PP production but he no longer has slavin to save him defensively and he just doesn't have a whole lot of weaponry in philly to allow him to maintain his high point prodcution)
- Darcy Kuemper( i think his best years are behind him even last season he wasn't quite as good as he was in Arizona, i don't think he will be the saviour washington is expecting and i do believe he is little to give credit to for Colorado's cup win i think any one of Francouz/ Kuemper/ Johansson/ Annunen could have been in net and they would have won. No disrespect to tampa it is just Colorado was near perfect in every way and they were hot and they wanted it bad every single one of those guys infront of kuemper busted their back to win that trophy

BIGGEST SHOCKERS
LW:
...Evander Kane: I feel like i shouldn't have to explain this one, he's on mcdavids line will probably score 40 goals while bringing good a solid 2way physical game. If it wasn't for his issues he would be a hot commodity in the league due to his play
...Jakub Vrana: Im expecting a big season out of this guy potentially 40 goals, detroit improving greatly this offseason and with a lot of the younger guys expected to make another jump while also being on the PP1 he should breakout
...Taylor Hall: Hall was very good the last 2/3rd's of the season once he was lined up with Pastrnak their games meshed well together and with the improvement at center with Krejci coming back and them having strong chemistry i expect him to get close to the 70-75 point mark
...Alexis Lafreniere: This kid looked good in playoffs and at the end of the regular season. I think he is starting to get used to the NHL and i believe he will be in for a breakout year, especially if Rangers give him more PP1 play and an increased role in the line-up. My prediction is
27 goals 30 assists while bringing a solid 2 way presence
...Vasili Podkolzin: Not much to say really he's a very solid player and i think he will get a more improved role on the team and will take over Miller's PP1 spot once he is traded i expect at the TDL

C:
...Jack Hughes: I do believe Hughes will be a top 5 center next year, he is one of the best offensive threats in the league and i won't be surprised if he gets over 100 points this season and carry's this young Jersey team to a PO's spot. He plays a good all-around game and i expect some added maturity to his defensive game along with some added strengh and size this offseason
...Elias Pettersson: Shouldn't be too big of a shocker i still think he has one of the highest potential's in the league and i don't expect last years drought to continue. One of the better 2 way centers in the league and i can see him being a future selke winner after Bergeron, O'Reilly/ Couterier start to decline
...Barzal: New system that isn't Trotz boring old trap hockey anymore with a dull offence. If Isles get kadri that is an added threat for the PP and i expect another big season from Dobson and Wahlstrom to finally breakout helping barzal reach the 90-100 point mark this year
...Larkin: Detroit has a better roster now, Vrana is healthy and Seider and Raymond have a season under their belt, im expecting a career high season out of Larkin of the all-around better young centers.
...Robert Thomas: Im really high on Thomas i think he is the second coming of bergeron but with more of a playmaker style rather then goal scorer. I think he has proven he is the number 1C on that team now and i expect to see more improvements in his all-around game... Still can't believe boston took Vaakanienen over him
...Tim Stutzle: Again another team that got significantly better in some departments, stutzle finally has linemates to his skill level and surely a 30-40 goal scorer + the vet presence of giroux should equal to a stellar season from Stutzle

RW:
... Patrik Laine: Laine was a dominant presence last year and with an elite playmaker like Gaudreau and then just another team that had some good new additions via young players now NHL ready and FA i expect to see Laine start living up to his potential... Incoming 50 goal season?
...Lucas Raymond: I feel i already explained why he will improve already in the Vrana and Larkin explanations. If those 3 get lined together i think they could be a top 8 line in the league
...Kevin Fiala: shouldn't be a shocker really, joining a lesser team but will have better linemates and probably be their first or 2nd option on the PP.
...Seth Jarvis: Plays for one of the most stacked teams on the league, had a great rookie season and i expect him to be lined with Svechnikov and Aho again so Im expecting to see another large jump in production. Im expecting a 30-35 goal 70-75 point season while being one of the better defensive wingers in the league
...Alexander Holtz: This may be a reach but i think he is gonna get some 1st line minutes with Bratt and Hughes aswell as PP1 minutes and those are 2 of the better playmakers the league has to offer so for being a pure goal scorer with great speed, great hands and an arsenal of way to put the puck in the net i wouldn't be surprised if he was a 30 goal scoring rookie
Holtz/ Beniers/ Power currently lead my list for Calder Candidates

LHD:
...Chabot: More offensive weapons and i expect a bigger increase in 5v5 + PP production and considering he is their QB and logs big minutes should be a career year for Chabot
...Byram: I expect to see another big jump from him, injuries are always a concern but if he can stay healthy he has one of the brightest futures for dmen and i wouldn't be surprised if he saw some minutes with Makar which will further increase his development. Solid all-around defenceman.
... Vince Dunn: Seattle has some solid offensive weapons now and Dunn produced very well on a bad seattle team, though i still don't expect them to make playoffs i do expect to see a rather large jump in Dunn's offensive point totals im predicting he puts up 10 goals 50 points and he's not just an offensive threat he fairly physical and can hold his own defensively both 5v5 and PK.

RHD
...Dobson: I think he will be a big riser again this year, no longer in Trotz overly defensive system and i expect Isles to bounce back somewhat this year. I do think Dobson has the potential be a top 10 point producing dman in the league

G:
...Georgiev: I really don't know what to expect from him some nights he is really good some night he is really bad all i know is he has a stacked Dcore infront of him and i think he will do very well behind them, could be one of those Husso/Campbell like guys that just end breaking out big