Players to Watch in the Northeast
Next season, the National Hockey Leagues (NHL) Northeast division is expected to be one of the toughest divisions in the league. The Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins will go head-to-head trying to decide the best division’s top spot. Below is a list of some of the players to watch out for in the next season.
Tyler Myers – Defenceman – Buffalo Sabres
Last year’s Calder Trophy winner for the leagues top rookie should be expected to have an even better sophomore campaign. Last season, Tyler Myers recorded 48 points, good enough to put him fifth on the team, and third among all rookie skaters. In addition, Myers led the Sabres in ice time at over 23 minutes a night.
Next season should be nothing different for the now 20 year-old defender, standing six-foot-eight, Myers will only get better with age. A big defenceman that can skate, Myers is likely to once again lead the Sabres in ice time, getting plenty of time on the special teams.
Milan Michalek – Forward – Ottawa Senators
Michalek spent a great deal of last season injured but still managed to notch 34 point, and 22 goals for the Senators. The left winger should start next year on the first line, and if he is able to have a healthy season, he should rack up the points, playing along side Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson.
Michalek can score goals, certainly he is no replacement for Dany Heatley, but he can put the puck in the net, as he demonstrated in his 66 games last season. If Michalek can remain healthy, he will be a big part of the Senators offence, perhaps taking some of the pressure off Spezza.
David Krejci – Forward – Boston Bruins
The offensive success of the Bruins next year will lie heavily on the shoulders of Krejci. This pressure will be compounded, however, if the Bruins do end up trading away centre Marc Savard. If Savard were to be moved, Krejci would be the team’s first line centre.
The Bruins believe that Krejci has what it takes to be a number one centre in the NHL, but thus far has not broken out offensively. The Czech born forward is going to have to improve on his 52 points last season if the Bruins are to do some real damage in the Northeast.
P.K. Subban – Defenceman – Montreal Canadiens
Subban is currently only one of two truly offensive defenceman on the Montreal blue line, and at 21 years-of-age a great deal of pressure is on his shoulders. With Andrei Markov helming the team’s first unit, the second unit will belong to Subban. As if the youngster did not have enough pressure to perform, there is also the fact that Markov will start the season on the injured reserve, meaning all of his power play time will fall to Subban.
The Canadiens need this youngster to perform just as he did in the playoffs, playing upwards of 20 minutes a game, and helping the rest of the slow Montreal blue line break out of their own end.
Tyler Bozak – Forward – Toronto Maple Leafs
Bozak will start off as the Leafs first line centre next season, and will be the set-up man for team sniper Phil Kessel. Last season, in 37 games, Bozak notched 27 points, 19 of those assists. The Leafs have to hope that the sophomore can continue his strong play through next season. General Manager (GM) Brian Burke is counting on the continued growth of the youngster.
With Nazem Kadri coming through the pipeline, the Maple Leafs brass are hoping that Bozak can step up and become a first or second line centre, making next season his audition.
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