HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Central Division Breakout Players

OEL = #1

All else = n00bs

MacKinnon is past due. He's an immense talent that was supposed to be Crosby-esque but has been hamstrung on a dumpster fire team with a horrendous coach. Now that the weight of Roy is gone I really do hope he becomes the player he was always supposed to be.

Ehlers and Fabbri are also good picks, but I'm going to go with MacKinnon now that Roy is gone. The Aves have too much too end talent to suck as badly as they've been doing and I think a coaching change will do them a whole lot of good.

Vesey

MACK MACK MACK MACK

70-90 is a fairly big range mr tanner. If Mackinnin gets 70 pts after a 61 pt season is that considered a breakout year?

70-90 is a fairly big range mr tanner. If Mackinnin gets 70 pts after a 61 pt season is that considered a breakout year?
- dirt_face

McDavid is getting 110, per Tanner. So Mackinnon better step it up.

MacKinnon didn't have 51 or 61 points last year, he had 52, just for absolute clarity! That said, I believe he's already had a "breakout" year in his rookie season with 63 points, we know what he's capable of. Away from Roy, who's a terrible coach IMO, he'll be back to a 60+ point player.

Ehlers and Fabbri are good picks, so is Seth Jones, Nino Niederreiter and perhaps Patrik Laine.

Gotta be honest here- MacKinnon completely flew over my head. Great call.

MacKinnon didn't have 51 or 61 points last year, he had 52, just for absolute clarity! That said, I believe he's already had a "breakout" year in his rookie season with 63 points, we know what he's capable of. Away from Roy, who's a terrible coach IMO, he'll be back to a 60+ point player.

Ehlers and Fabbri are good picks, so is Seth Jones, Nino Niederreiter and perhaps Patrik Laine.
- LeftCoaster

Its not just getting away from Roy...its getting away from bad players. MacK should never have to Center a line of Tanguay and Iginla to "spread the offence around".

The guys a stud, load up his line and let him dominate. I see Bednar letting the big dog eat

Its not just getting away from Roy...its getting away from bad players. MacK should never have to Center a line of Tanguay and Iginla to "spread the offence around".

The guys a stud, load up his line and let him dominate. I see Bednar letting the big dog eat
- DDM-Coga

But then what happens when Landeskog, MacKinnon, and Duchene are all playing on the same line? That's a one line team which is no bueno. I agree that you need to give Mack good linemates but maybe it'd be prudent to only pair him with one of Landeskog or Duchene. Maybe your boy Grigs can take the next step and become a 2C and then maybe you play Gabrial with Nathan and Matt with Mikhail. But that seems like a lot to ask out of Grigs

Vesey
- mdw7413

We're talking about the Central here. Duh!

My pick? Vesey

Would Mikael Granlund still be considered to be a breakout star?

I think with Bruce behind the bench, he will excel.

Just my thoughts....

But then what happens when Landeskog, MacKinnon, and Duchene are all playing on the same line? That's a one line team which is no bueno. I agree that you need to give Mack good linemates but maybe it'd be prudent to only pair him with one of Landeskog or Duchene. Maybe your boy Grigs can take the next step and become a 2C and then maybe you play Gabrial with Nathan and Matt with Mikhail. But that seems like a lot to ask out of Grigs
- Victoro311

You dont load it up making the 9 line again, but its putting Grigo and Rantanen in the Top 6 instead of giving that nice time to Iggy, Comeau and last year Tanguay.

Let the high IQ players play with your Stud Cs...The top 2 lines should be
Grigo Mack Dutch
Landy Soderberg Rants

We're talking about the Central here. Duh!

My pick? Vesey
- Only_A_Ladd

The greatness that is Vesey isn't restrained by such trivial things as "divisions".

You dont load it up making the 9 line again, but its putting Grigo and Rantanen in the Top 6 instead of giving that nice time to Iggy, Comeau and last year Tanguay.

Let the high IQ players play with your Stud Cs...The top 2 lines should be
Grigo Mack Dutch
Landy Soderberg Rants
- DDM-Coga

Everyone knows you don't pass the Dutchy to the right

Everyone knows you don't pass the Dutchy to the right
- eichiefs9

then stop hogging all the Josh Baileys so I dont have this issue

I could see a guy like Jaskin come out of "nowhere" and have a breakout season. Fabbri is a good pick as well.

Can Panarin still breakout after putting up ppg numbers?

Scheifele put up 61 points but I could see him leading his team and being a ppg player.

Craig smith is my pick though I think he will be on the top line with RyJO and Forsberg and they tear it up this year. He will jump from 37 pts last year to 65-70.

I could see a guy like Jaskin come out of "nowhere" and have a breakout season. Fabbri is a good pick as well.

Can Panarin still breakout after putting up ppg numbers?

Scheifele put up 61 points but I could see him leading his team and being a ppg player.

Craig smith is my pick though I think he will be on the top line with RyJO and Forsberg and they tear it up this year. He will jump from 37 pts last year to 65-70.
- belcherbd

- eichiefs9

I know it's tanneresque but I've got Nashville pegged as the Presidents Trophy winners.

Mark Sheifele

I know it's tanneresque but I've got Nashville pegged as the Presidents Trophy winners.
- belcherbd

I don't think it's all that outlandish (although I don't agree), but I do think it's crazy to think of Craig Smith as a 70pt player no matter who he plays with.

I will laugh when the Vesey call actually is a possibility - that is, after he is traded!

Wait, does Vesey not play for the Predators? Didn't they draft him?!