The return of the NHL season marks the return of Slappers and Bangers. Usually, we look at two players and analyze trends to determine whether their production is sustainable. To start the year, I thought I’d do things differently and tag four players to watch. They haven’t played enough hockey to make any comments on trends or predictions. Let someone else do that and capitalize on their knee-jerk mistakes.
The inclusion of Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Calgary Flames, will evoke some eye rolls. Roll away. My spidy sense is tingling. We’ll also take a look at Gustav Forsling, D, Florida Panthers, Alex Laferriere, RW, Los Angeles Kings, and Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins.
The two things I am looking for are ice time and opportunity.
Let’s get started.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Calgary Flames
While I am modestly bullish on Mantha, let’s be clear, I am not expecting 80 points. That said, there are a lot of players with solid values below 70 points.
In his first game with the Flames, Mantha played 16:27, which is 2:14 more than he averaged last year between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights. He also played 2:12 on the power play, which was 33 seconds more than he averaged last season and 1:18 more than in 2022-23. His .59 points per game, a 49-point pace matched his career average of .60 per game.
Last year was the first time in six seasons (2017-18) that Mantha managed to play more than 70 games in a season. That has been the story of Mantha’s career, injuries. Every time he gained momentum he wound up injured.
He’s starting the year on the Flames third line with Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, and Martin Posipil. Although, beyond Nazem Kadri, there’s not a single player locked onto a line.
In front of Mantha lies opportunity and more opportunity. The delicate dance for Mantha is to avoid injury and take advantage of said opportunity.
Injury-free, Mantha should improve on his 49-point pace from last season. We could see him finally surpass 60 points if he takes advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
He’s on my players-to-watch list.
Gustav Forsling, D, Florida Panthers
I had high hopes coming into this season for Forsling. I didn’t expect Adam Boqvist, D to take over on the first power play unit so quickly. Thursday night, Aaron Ekblad had over four minutes on the power play. Forsling didn’t log a single second.
He did lead the team in ice time for the game. His real-life value has surpassed his fantasy value. Unless Ekblad suffers an injury, Forsling’s opportunity to run the Panthers’ first power play is slim to none.
Given a legitimate opportunity on the first power play unit, Forsling would hit 50 points for the first time in his career. That does not appear to be in the cards.
Forsling remains a very solid depth option on defense. Over the last three seasons, he has produced at a 41-point pace. Luckily he shoots the puck to the tune of two shots per game. In 2022-23, he averaged 2.6 per game. He isn’t a big peripheral player, but with 111 hits and 102 blocks last year, he doesn’t leave you barren.
If you need reliable offense and shots from the blue line, Forsling is a strong option. If you need power-play points, search elsewhere.
Forsling is fading on my players-to-watch list. Owning him in three pools I am in a restless wait mode. A hot streak and I’ll be pushing him on every owner in the league who lacks a decent fifth or sixth defenceman. I’ll be wearing my best door-to-door salesman suit with my foot stuck in the door frame until someone pays me off.
If you own him, he’s a player to watch until he gets hot enough to trade. Hold – then sell high.
Alex Laferierre, LW, Los Angeles Kings
He is becoming one of my favorite young players. He had a solid if unspectacular rookie season last year, with 12 goals and 11 assists, for 23 points in 82 games. Ahh, but it was the 146 shots and 113 hits in 13:13 ice time that I sat up for.
His 146 shots ranked him 17th for players 21 years of age or younger and third among rookies. Of the players ahead of him, his 1070 total ice time was the lowest.
I’m not the only one that has taken notice. The Kings’ Head Coach, Jim Hiller, also noticed, especially in training camp. In the first game of the 2024-25 season, Laferriere skated on the Kings’ top line alongside Anze Kopitar, C, and Adriene Kempe RW. He also logged 4:23 on the Kings’ first power play unit.
I’ll reiterate a comment I made in the intro. It is too early in the season to draw out trends. That said, it’s hard not to notice the opportunity presented to Laferierre to start the season.
Whether he sticks on the top line and power play depends on his play. Entering his second pro season it says a lot about his growth from last year.
Expect a big jump in production this year. He only produced 23 points last year, so even doubling his production would leave him with 46 points. Even if he gets dropped from the first power play he should reach 46 points. He’ll need the first unit exposure to produce much more than that.
I will be happy with a stat line of 25 goals and 25 assists, for 50 points, along with 200 shots and 130 hits. This could be his floor this year.
Get in while you can. Laferierre won’t be a secret much more. I would slide Laferierre from a player to watch to a player to buy. Especially in dynasty formats. Move before it’s too late.
Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins
The Bruins have been enamored with him for the last two seasons. They finally got their man. Now locked up for seven years at $7.75 million, Lindholm’s nightmare of a contract season didn’t appear to affect his open market value.
With four points in his first two games, Lindholm is doing his best to put 2023-24 behind him.
He fills most of the void left by Patrice Bergeron’s retirement. He’s a solid two-way center that is good on face-offs (56.4% last season). He’s on a line with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha to start the year. Worst case scenario he swaps Pastrnak for Brad Marchand.
Lindholm is also playing 60% of the Bruins’s power play minutes. Needless to say, he has been given every opportunity to succeed.
The easy prediction is for Lindhom to return to being the 75-point two-way center he was with Calgary. It is hard to fathom a different result when Pastrnak is your wingman.
Odds are, Lindholm is already owned in your pool. The start he’s had eliminates an early buy-low window.
If you own him, you’re in a firm hold mode. If you need a center, he’s on your watch list. You’re waiting for his production to dry up to buy low. The one thing with Lindholm, other centers offer similar value. He is no unicorn. Don’t be afraid to turn your attention to a Nazem Kadri if the Lindholm owner won’t budge.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.
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