Your team's biggest unexpected contributor?

[Raspewtin]

Who on your team has contributed the most, relative to expectations?

For the Rangers, it's Kevin Hayes and it's not close. Most of us were happy just to have signed Hayes, and then Gordie Clark talked about how "big centers are hard to find", most of us went wot? center? Then preseason comes along, he looks better than everyone thought he would, but we still kind of expected him to go to the AHL. But he makes the team as our 3C, a spot that JT Miller was all but guaranteed to have that Hayes stole from him. Since then, literally all he's done is improve. The Hayes of today curbstomps the Hayes at the beginning of the year. Pretty much every Ranger fan is totally thrilled with his development.

Click to read more...

 

[Darth Milbury]

Anders Lee. Started the season on the Ahl, beat out by Cory Conacher

18 goals, second leading goal scorer in NY and leading role goalscorer.

Can barely skate and not much of a playmaker ,but had exceeded expectations for sure.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Jamie McBain.

I expected nothing, he's been a huge surprise at the league minimum salary

 

[starling]

Mike Hoffman.
Leads sens in goals(18) and tied with Ovechkin for 9th in the league in ES goals(18).

 

[Darth Milbury]

Mike Hoffman.
Leads sens in goals(18) and tied with Ovechkin for 9th in the league in ES goals(18).

He's been pretty darn impressive.

 

[Rick Nash 61]

Who on your team has contributed the most, relative to expectations?

For the Rangers, it's Kevin Hayes and it's not close. Most of us were happy just to have signed Hayes, and then Gordie Clark talked about how "big centers are hard to find", most of us went wot? center? Then preseason comes along, he looks better than everyone thought he would, but we still kind of expected him to go to the AHL. But he makes the team as our 3C, a spot that JT Miller was all but guaranteed to have that Hayes stole from him. Since then, literally all he's done is improve. The Hayes of today curbstomps the Hayes at the beginning of the year. Pretty much every Ranger fan is totally thrilled with his development.

Definitely agree with Hayes, but I'd put Klein there as well. Even though his goals have slowed down he's still been awesome for us this year.

 

[Arthuros]

Rickard Rakell really pulled a double-whammy on us, because he was just not doing well at all at the start of the year.

The kid's been playing like a man possessed after he got recalled. 12 points in the last 14 games.

 

[Kovaz]

Josh Jooris. Ahl tryout last year, surprised everyone and almost made the team out of camp. Hard on the forecheck, good skater, and he can chip in offensively too. He'll probably top out as a bottom six guy long-term, but even playing in the Nhl is a win.

 

[tampa pred]

I'll go with a tie between Forsberg and Ribiero.

Forsberg- Expected him to be a pretty good 2nd or 3rd line winger this year. Did not expect him to be the team's best forward.

Ribs- Hoped that he would be OK, but didn't expect much given his history. He has been the top line center that Nashville has always needed.

 

[Rectify]

Blake Comeau, when healthy he has been excellent along side Malkin. Didn't think he was going to have any impact at all when the Pens signed him.

 

[bogostick]

Perreault for the Jets

 

[Seb]

Dale freaking Weise

 

[attachetatuque]

Dale Weise and Sergei Gonchar


Weise is impressive. He is plugged in the 1st line, and even with his limited skillset, he complements Pacioretty so well. Hard worker, always aggressive on pucks, and he's been able to finish recently. Keeping in mind that he was traded for a fringe NHLer in Diaz, he's been amazing.

When Gonchar was brought in, I was not expecting much. He's been a stabilizer on the blue and has been great for Beaulieu (honorable mention). I wouldn't resign him, but he's been exceeding all expectations.

 

[Pavelski2112]

Karlsson, by a pretty wide margin. Didn't even expect that he'd be called up this year, now he's playing on the first line with Pavelski and Thornton, and he doesn't look out of place at all.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Rickard Rakell really pulled a double-whammy on us, because he was just not doing well at all at the start of the year.

The kid's been playing like a man possessed after he got recalled. 12 points in the last 14 games.

Beleskey has to be the answer for the Ducks though. The next goal he scores (his 22nd) will double his previous career high.

 

[Kelly]

Santorelli

 

[mattyboy]

Dale freaking Weise

yup.

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

Anders Lee. Started the season on the Ahl, beat out by Cory Conacher

18 goals, second leading goal scorer in NY and leading role goalscorer.

Can barely skate and not much of a playmaker ,but had exceeded expectations for sure.

28 goals so far in his 73 game NHL career, scored on his first shot.

 

[Volica]

Josh Jooris. Ahl tryout last year, surprised everyone and almost made the team out of camp. Hard on the forecheck, good skater, and he can chip in offensively too. He'll probably top out as a bottom six guy long-term, but even playing in the Nhl is a win.

That'd be it from Calgary.

Some could argue Bouma or Russell as well.
One's a bottom 6 guy; but has played out of his mind this year. The other was another team's castoff that is playing like a top 4 Dman; leading shot-blocker in the NHL... has probably had the least up/down games of all Flames Dmen this year.

 

[ChrisWinsor]

Hoffman for sure

 

[Trap Jesus]

Pastrnak contributing on the Bruins first line as an undersized 18 year old is pretty crazy, although I just can't see him sticking there in the long run this season.

Eriksson has been better than expected this season. Still not what we expected at the time the trade was made, but a huge improvement over last season.

Other than that, it's been a pretty damn disappointing year for Boston.

 

[Isles5513]

Anders Lee. Started the season on the Ahl, beat out by Cory Conacher

18 goals, second leading goal scorer in NY and leading role goalscorer.

Can barely skate and not much of a playmaker ,but had exceeded expectations for sure.

Sorry Darth, but Lee is second. The answer is Chad Johnson. How many goals against he has contributed to in such a small role is amazing. It certainly wasn't expected.

 

[Bologna 1]

Scott Gomez/Steve Bernier for the devils I would say

 

[Wolfpuck]

Brad Malone

He's brought the #grit and #toughness that were advertised when we signed him, but recently he's gelled really well on our fourth line, and is even starting to contribute offense.

 

[Nordique]

Foligno 21G 29A +10 50 points in 51 games.

I expected him to contribute, but not like this. And he earns his goals, points. He centered the 3rd line for a while, played on the 1st with Johansen, and is now on the 2nd line with Dubinsky. Every line he is on has played well.