Who has been your team's pleasant surprise thus far in season?
- Thread starter Blackhawkswincup
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PeteEakins
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- Oct 9, 2021
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Darnell Nurse is going to win a Norris. If not now, someday.
AhosDatsyukian
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- Sep 25, 2020
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For returning players, probably Henri Jokiharju. He had a rough year with injury last season, even went so far as needing a tinted visor to deal with the lights as part of a return from a puck to the face. Many figured the acquisition of a couple of RHD in free agency might be the end of him but he's been surprisingly steady and improved.
From new players, the obvious answer would be Zach Benson. The kid just gets it and is working all over the ice.
From new players, the obvious answer would be Zach Benson. The kid just gets it and is working all over the ice.
bland
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- Jul 1, 2004
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Andreas Englund.
He and Jordan Spence might be the best 3rd pairing in the league. His composure and ability to thrive within his limitations has been the most pleasant surprise for the Kings.
He and Jordan Spence might be the best 3rd pairing in the league. His composure and ability to thrive within his limitations has been the most pleasant surprise for the Kings.
Oneiro
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- Mar 28, 2013
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Mikey McLeod.
I never thought this guy would get to 400 GP and now he's a lock for it. Turned into a solid role player and one of the best face-off men in the league. He's even shooting the puck now. Looks a lot more like his scouting profile pre-draft.
I never thought this guy would get to 400 GP and now he's a lock for it. Turned into a solid role player and one of the best face-off men in the league. He's even shooting the puck now. Looks a lot more like his scouting profile pre-draft.
Frolov 6'3
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People always laugh about +/- but with just 4 assists being +4…..quite remarkable indeed.
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StumpyTown
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- Sep 26, 2016
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Scheifele. Playing good 2-way hockey. Who would have expected that.
EichHart
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Sheppy
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- May 17, 2011
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Bounces R Way
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Connor Zary no question
Refreshing to see a Flames fwd that can make plays without a lot of time and space. Also refreshing to see a young guy come in and seize the opportunity in front of them with both hands.
Refreshing to see a Flames fwd that can make plays without a lot of time and space. Also refreshing to see a young guy come in and seize the opportunity in front of them with both hands.
LEIFey
Context Matters!
Sean Walker has been a pleasant surprise for the Flyers. Admittedly the bar was pretty low, but he has easily surpassed expectations for me.
InfinityIggy
Zagidulin's Dad
I want to say Zary just because I don't think we expected him to produce to the level he has so far, but I will say AJ Greer as a waiver claim. Guy fits his role to a tee.
JohanFranzenstein
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- Dec 6, 2013
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Robby Fabbri. Dude is a beast if he's healthy.
Vegas: probably either Kaeden Korczak. I knew he could eventually make it as an NHLer but he's been better than I expected or Adin Hill continuing his dominant play. Not as much argument for it being a flash in the pan of excellent play to backstop a cup run that we've seen with a lot of goalies. No real big surprises. Could say W. Karlsson's excellent play but that's a continuation of his excellence in the playoffs.
Anaheim: kinda tough to say. For me a bunch of candidates that aren't overly surprising but still pleasant surprises.
Leo Carlsson: I really though as late as his second preseason game that he should work on his puck management timing on smaller NA ice. He's not as far off from being an elite forward as you'd expect an 18 year old to be. He definitely has some adapting to do in certain situations but in most he thinks the game much faster than most players can. High skill, high iq, big body, great vision, he's the total package. Also the concerns with his skating were massively overblown. When he gets the legs moving he's really fast.
Pavel Mintyukov: another one that I thought wasn't quite ready until the end of preseason. He's got a really diverse set of tools in his kit. Fast, creative, relatively responsible defensively with a blend of physical and positioning based defense with relatively few errors (for a 19 year old), he's probably Anaheim's best PP QB, he sees the whole game really well and he's not afraid to throw the body or absorb physical contact. I will admit it does kind of look like he's been fatigued lately and hasn't been impressing quite as much as he did at the start of the year, but I think he has the makings to be elite.
Radko Gudas: honestly thought he was just a product of Florida's system and wouldn't be much of an improvement to a historically bad Anaheim defense of last year. While I think Cronin has had a lot to do with Anaheim's defensive improvement (not to say the defense is good now but they're not bleeding 45+ shots against a game now), Gudas' presence has helped a lot. Plus he has more goals than last year already and added a lot of physicality to a blue line that really needed it.
Mason McTavish: I was legitimately concerned through preseason and the first couple Ducks games that McTavish just looked lost all the time. I had this feeling that he'd have a sophomore slump but he's turned it around. Shame he's currently injured.
Tristan Luneau: I think everyone agreed that Luneau wasn't ready for the NHL when the season started. But the Ducks couldn't send him to the AHL and didn't want to send him back to juniors. He's had a short run of games where it looks like he's improved massively. He definitely still has rookie things to work on but he doesn't look like an outright liability on an improved NHL blue line. Shows flashes of potential greatness. Maybe won't be at Mintyukov's level but could be just under.
Anaheim: kinda tough to say. For me a bunch of candidates that aren't overly surprising but still pleasant surprises.
Leo Carlsson: I really though as late as his second preseason game that he should work on his puck management timing on smaller NA ice. He's not as far off from being an elite forward as you'd expect an 18 year old to be. He definitely has some adapting to do in certain situations but in most he thinks the game much faster than most players can. High skill, high iq, big body, great vision, he's the total package. Also the concerns with his skating were massively overblown. When he gets the legs moving he's really fast.
Pavel Mintyukov: another one that I thought wasn't quite ready until the end of preseason. He's got a really diverse set of tools in his kit. Fast, creative, relatively responsible defensively with a blend of physical and positioning based defense with relatively few errors (for a 19 year old), he's probably Anaheim's best PP QB, he sees the whole game really well and he's not afraid to throw the body or absorb physical contact. I will admit it does kind of look like he's been fatigued lately and hasn't been impressing quite as much as he did at the start of the year, but I think he has the makings to be elite.
Radko Gudas: honestly thought he was just a product of Florida's system and wouldn't be much of an improvement to a historically bad Anaheim defense of last year. While I think Cronin has had a lot to do with Anaheim's defensive improvement (not to say the defense is good now but they're not bleeding 45+ shots against a game now), Gudas' presence has helped a lot. Plus he has more goals than last year already and added a lot of physicality to a blue line that really needed it.
Mason McTavish: I was legitimately concerned through preseason and the first couple Ducks games that McTavish just looked lost all the time. I had this feeling that he'd have a sophomore slump but he's turned it around. Shame he's currently injured.
Tristan Luneau: I think everyone agreed that Luneau wasn't ready for the NHL when the season started. But the Ducks couldn't send him to the AHL and didn't want to send him back to juniors. He's had a short run of games where it looks like he's improved massively. He definitely still has rookie things to work on but he doesn't look like an outright liability on an improved NHL blue line. Shows flashes of potential greatness. Maybe won't be at Mintyukov's level but could be just under.
For the Isles, Holmstrom and to a lesser extent Gauthier even though he’s only played about 8-9 games this season
Quite a few choices for the Canucks in the early going.
Boeser leading the NHL in goals at 18 and with 31 points on pace for about 90 points.
Hoglander with 9 goals mainly playing on the bottom 6 and just starting to get second unit PP time.
DeSmith as the backup goalie with a 5-2-1 record and .917 save percentage.
Boeser leading the NHL in goals at 18 and with 31 points on pace for about 90 points.
Hoglander with 9 goals mainly playing on the bottom 6 and just starting to get second unit PP time.
DeSmith as the backup goalie with a 5-2-1 record and .917 save percentage.
Bone Density
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I want to say Lazar, but he showed glimpses of it last season. Glad the issues with his family were resolved, and he's found a nice home in Jersey.
Gregor Samsa
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- Sep 5, 2020
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CoolioFunk
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- Apr 15, 2021
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Mikkola on the panthers has surprised me. Was expecting a purely defensive dman but can actually chip in on offense as well, up to 10 points already.
AfroThunder396
[citation needed]
I will go off the map and say Curtis Lazar. Career journeyman, floated around the league a lot. I had very low expectations. But he gives 110% every shift, is a warrior on the PK, and has a decent amount of offense for a 4th liner. He has basically stolen Nate Bastian's spot.
