*Note – These write-ups will be more detailed during the regular season as skater lines, data, and other factors are more clearcut.
Games on the Slate
New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders
Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks
Top Goalies
Cam Talbot (EDM)
Talbot, who is Edmonton’s starter is slated to start and play the entire game tonight against an under-manned Winnipeg Jets team. Talbot stopped 22 of 23 shots faced in his preseason debut and is in line for a strong effort tonight.
Anton Forsberg (CHI)
Forsberg saw much more action last season than any could’ve expected, 26 games to be exact, with the injury bug biting Corey Crawford. Forsberg is expected to start this game against Detroit, a team that last year had all kinds of issues scoring goals and will likely not have key forwards Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, or Justin Abdelkader tonight after playing into overtime last night.
Devin Dubnyk (MIN)
The unquestioned starter in net for the Wild heading into the season, Dubnyk will see his first preseason action tonight against the Stars. Expect him to see two periods of action and play as a solid option at $7,400.
Key Three Skaters
This section will cover my three favorite skaters for a particular slate overall.
Patrick Kane (CHI)
After a down year for the Blackhawks, Kane included, there is some redemption to be had for the group from the “Windy City.” Kane’s 76 points were his fewest since the 2014-2015 campaign when he had 64 points in just 61 games. Look for Kane to take advantage against the Red Wings who will not have Jimmy Howard in net after he played last night and also will likely be without proven commodities such as Dylan Larkin, Justin Abdelkader, Anthony Mantha, and Danny DeKeyser.
Connor McDavid (EDM)
McDavid will make his preseason debut tonight centering the Oilers top line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ty Rattie. McDavid’s talent is all word, which obviously goes without saying and tonight facing a team mainly full of subs for Winnipeg, he’s in as good a spot as could be.
Anders Lee (NYI)
Lee is back in the lineup tonight against the Devils and will look to improve on his performance in his first preseason game when he was able to just fire one shot on goal. Lee set a career high with 40 goals last season including two in four games against the Devils. Lee does his dirty work in the front of the net as one of the leaders at his position in high danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. Look for him to make an impact tonight.
Sneaky Skater
Filip Zadina (DET)
Zadina has created a lot of buzz in camp for the Red Wings coming in as the number six overall draft pick in this summers draft. He’s been skating with the speedy Andreas Athanasiou and veteran Thomas Vanek as a productive unit in training camp thus far. Zadina, who will be making his preseason debut was a force last season in Junior scoring 44 goals while dishing out 38 assists in 57 games for the Halifax Mooseheads. Zadina is slated to see powerplay time as well on the same unit with Athanasiou and Vanek.
Top Positional Plays
Center
Jonathan Toews (CHI)
Mikko Koivu (MIN)
Brock Nelson (NYI)
Andrew Copp (WPG)
Nick Schmaltz (CHI)
Frans Nielsen (DET)
Ryan McLeod (EDM) – Prospect centering a line with Jesse Puljujarvi and Jujhar Khaira
Sam Steel (ANA) – Great value play here centering the Ducks’ top line with Rakell and Perry on his wings.
Wing
Alex DeBrincat (CHI) – After a great rookie campaign, DeBrincat will look to take a big leap forward this season. He’s just $4,600 tonight.
Zach Parise (MIN) – Looking to come back after two injury-plagued seasons.
Jordan Eberle (NYI)
Brandon Saad (CHI)
Rickard Rakell (ANA)
Corey Perry (ANA)
Gustav Nyquist (DET)
Jesse Puljujarvi (EDM) – Has looked great in camp, scored a goal in his last game.
Jakob Silfverberg (ANA) – Skating on the second line as the top shooting option there with a high volume of shots on goal.
Ty Rattie (EDM)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM)
Charlie Coyle (MIN)
Travis Zajac (NJD)
Nino Niederreiter (MIN)
Andreas Athanasiou (DET)
Defense
Oscar Klefbom (EDM)
Jared Spurgeon (MIN)
Jacob Trouba (WPG)
Darnell Nurse (EDM)
Hampus Lindholm (ANA)
Josh Morrissey (WPG)
Will Butcher (NJD)
Julius Honka (DAL)
Johnny Boychuk (NYI)
Tim Heed (SJ)
Favorite Line Stacks
Edmonton Oilers First Line
Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Rattie
Chicago Blackhawks Second Line
Saad – Schmaltz – Kane
Minnesota Wild First Line
Parise – Koivu – Niederreiter
New York Islanders First Line
Lee – Nelson – Eberle (not yet confirmed)
Anaheim Ducks First Line
Rakell – Steel – Perry
GOOD LUCK!!
