Jeremy Laura: Expectations - the top line goal expectations

Still getting a feeling that Bert might be traded.....just can't shake it.

Vrana - 24 goals
Larkin - 24 goals
Bert - 18 goals

Assuming all are healthy. Sorry. Think your numbers are too optimistic.

Vrana - 24 goals
Larkin - 24 goals
Bert - 18 goals

Assuming all are healthy. Sorry. Think your numbers are too optimistic.
- Kooleus

Vrana averaged 3 shots a game after acquired. He’s does that for 80 games at his career shooting percentage and he’s at 31-32 goals.

Bertuzzi and Larkin will both be lucky to hit 20.

Vrana - 24 goals
Larkin - 24 goals
Bert - 18 goals

Assuming all are healthy. Sorry. Think your numbers are too optimistic.
- Kooleus

That’s fair. We’re close on Larkin. I think he’s just got too much defensive responsibility to hit 30. Hoping Bert breaks 20 for sure.

Vrana averaged 3 shots a game after acquired. He’s does that for 80 games at his career shooting percentage and he’s at 31-32 goals.

Bertuzzi and Larkin will both be lucky to hit 20.
- Feds91Stammer

Sure. Maybe Vrana hits 30+. I hope so. But be careful extrapolating from an 11-game sample size. Maybe he averages 2.5 shots over an 82-game sample and hits 24 goals instead of 30+. Maybe playing against 1-2D instead of 3-6D means his shot quality diminishes and his shooting percentage regresses. We'll see.

Vrana averaged 3 shots a game after acquired. He’s does that for 80 games at his career shooting percentage and he’s at 31-32 goals.

Bertuzzi and Larkin will both be lucky to hit 20.
- Feds91Stammer

His shooting percentage for those 11 games was insane. I like that you did career instead of that stint. I feel the same on his output

Sure. Maybe Vrana hits 30+. I hope so. But be careful extrapolating from an 11-game sample size. Maybe he averages 2.5 shots over an 82-game sample and hits 24 goals instead of 30+. Maybe playing against 1-2D instead of 3-6D means his shot quality diminishes and his shooting percentage regresses. We'll see.
- Kooleus

QoT and QoC cancel out over the course of a season. There’s no guarantee he hits that shot output but it’s possible getting more mins than he ever has in his career. We will also have to see what the lines end up looking like with chemistry and whatnot. It will go a long way for all the scorers if they can have at least a league average power play as well.

I think the top line will end up Larkin, Vrana and Zadina and this is the skill and speed line. Suter, Bert and Fabbri will be the 2nd line in this scenario. I think Vrana will be close to 30 but may not reach it and Larkin will be close to around 25 if healthy. Bert same if healthy then around 20+. Believe these players and Zadina all take a good step up this year. Well see

Vrana will put up 35 goals this year. Larkin will top 20 and turn into more of a set up guy, so his points should reach into the high 60's low 70's.

I see Zadina having a breakout year offensively, although I was loving his show of defense late last year. He's really improved.

Bertuzzi could be a 30 and 30 guy. The biggest question is Suter. Can he keep up and put up at least 60 points this year?

With Leddy in the lineup this season, I can see him putting up 5 and 45. The biggest thing will be team and individual plus/minus.

I predict Hronek to be a 10 and 30 guy. Seider is an unknown. It's his first season in the NHL. He may not put up numbers people would love to see out of him, but I figure he'll definitely be a good plus/minus defenseman. That's more important now than points, although I'd love to see him put up some numbers. He'll improve as the season progresses.

As for the rest of the team, it's a crap shoot. Erne may reach 15, but that's pushing his limits. I hope he proves me wrong. I do believe we'll be adding another forward before the season starts.

I'm gonna be optimistic and give Vrana 35... while I understand Leddy will most likely be used to gain picks at the deadline I believe his presence on the powerplay will be most welcome and help boost confidence for some of the young guys and hopefully it translates into a man advantage actually being just that, of course it can only improve, and I feel with losing a lot of dead weight legs on the ice, the team is faster and Larkin has a little more freedom from teams focusing on him and I give him 24 to 26 goals... my thought is that Bertuzzi splits time between lines but his work ethic and motor, if he stays healthy, will yield him around 25 goals... so with increased minutes and powerplay time Vrana 35, Larkin and Bert near 25.. Im more interested in what Zadina can do, hopefully he can get going as far as putting pucks in the net and approach 20...

Vrana: 30
Bertuzzi: 22
Larkin: 19

Assuming decent health for all three, obviously not a guarantee.

Vrana: 30
Bertuzzi: 22
Larkin: 19

Assuming decent health for all three, obviously not a guarantee.
- Sven22

How close do you think the team can get to the 240 mark? That’s usually middle of the pack in the league for goals.

I think the top line will end up Larkin, Vrana and Zadina and this is the skill and speed line. Suter, Bert and Fabbri will be the 2nd line in this scenario. I think Vrana will be close to 30 but may not reach it and Larkin will be close to around 25 if healthy. Bert same if healthy then around 20+. Believe these players and Zadina all take a good step up this year. Well see
- TAV63

I actually wrote the exact same thing, but then saw your comment. I agree with having a skill line, and I agree with your second line. While I think Bert can get a lot of Holmstrom-like goals playing with two skill players, I think he fits better with Fabbri. Another possibility would be Larkin, Zadina and Bert, which should be similar to last year's top line at the beginning of the season. Obviously Zadina isn't built like Mantha, but he does have that rocket of a shot from the top of the circles that Bert could clean up.

How close do you think the team can get to the 240 mark? That’s usually middle of the pack in the league for goals.
- Feds91Stammer

I have them around 200 which is about a 20 goal increase from last years pace.

I have them around 200 which is about a 20 goal increase from last years pace.
- Feds91Stammer

I'm going to be slightly more optimistic and put them at about 210. A lot of things have to go right though (health, Seider, better seasons from Zadina/Hronek, much better PP, etc.)