Breakout forwards for next year?

[kovalchuk17]

Ehlers definitely has a shot at 60 if he plays with wheeler and whoever they decide the top center is all season. While probably Scheifele, it could still be Little. My optimism for Ehlers actually went down with Winnipeg jumping to the #2 overall pick. In the very likely event the Jets pick Laine, he may simply surpass Ehlers from the getgo bumping Ehlers from the top line. We'll see how it plays out, but I wouldnt be reaching for Ehlers.

One other factor I forget to mention, I also like to pick players that are fairly defensively responsible. That way, they're on the ice when their team is up 1-2 for empty net point potential. With points at a premium these days, even 3-5 empty net points a season across your entire roster is nothing to scoff at.

These days, with my free time at more of a premium, I dont start projecting possible sleepers until after the majority of free agents have signed. You'll always know who the studs are but for everyone else their opportunity within their team matters. At any time, Player A could get bumped down due to acquisition of Player B. Player C could get bumped up due to trading away Player D. All players on Team E might go down because they hired a defensive coach. Top end players on Team F might be worth more because they hired a coach that stacks his top powerplay unit. The list goes on and on.

[Ingolo]

Keeping the Ehlers thread going, my biggest worry with him is a possible drop in his Ozone starts. Last year he played some pretty sheltered minutes and saw over 55% of his starts in the ozone. If Laine takes his spot with Wheeler and Scheifele, and he ends up in a more defensive role with Little, he might see a little bump down in shot opportunities. That being said, I think that lineup is stacked, and if he doesn't break out this year, it's only a matter of time. Wheeler/Laine/Ehlers/Connor on the wings for your top 6? Yes please.

[diehardpooler91]

Although there are many candidates, no one other than the one who wrote the post mentioned Hertl...someone mentioned health concerns however I'm pretty sure he played in every single game in the past two seasons...I beleive he had a much larger role this season and put up respectable numbers despite a very slow start - look for him to set career highs in offensive production next year as his role as top 6 has been solidified.

Who are some forwards who are hovering at around 40-50 points or less that could get around 65 next year?

Some that stand out to me:

Drouin
Lindholm
Hertl
Ehlers
Strome

[BreadManPanarin]

Bold prediction: Dylan Strome hits 60 points before Ryan Strome.

[Eskimo Brother]

Bold prediction: Dylan Strome hits 60 points before Ryan Strome.

That would be quite entertaining, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility if D. Strome is given some good opportunities this year.

[Crazy Joe Davola]

Ehlers definitely has a shot at 60 if he plays with wheeler and whoever they decide the top center is all season. While probably Scheifele, it could still be Little. My optimism for Ehlers actually went down with Winnipeg jumping to the #2 overall pick. In the very likely event the Jets pick Laine, he may simply surpass Ehlers from the getgo bumping Ehlers from the top line. We'll see how it plays out, but I wouldnt be reaching for Ehlers.

One other factor I forget to mention, I also like to pick players that are fairly defensively responsible. That way, they're on the ice when their team is up 1-2 for empty net point potential. With points at a premium these days, even 3-5 empty net points a season across your entire roster is nothing to scoff at.

These days, with my free time at more of a premium, I dont start projecting possible sleepers until after the majority of free agents have signed. You'll always know who the studs are but for everyone else their opportunity within their team matters. At any time, Player A could get bumped down due to acquisition of Player B. Player C could get bumped up due to trading away Player D. All players on Team E might go down because they hired a defensive coach. Top end players on Team F might be worth more because they hired a coach that stacks his top powerplay unit. The list goes on and on.

Laine is a right-handed player who enjoys playing the left-side.. while Ehlers is a lefty who usually plays the left-side. You're right that Laine could end up bumping him down, but realistically, there is going to be a ton of action in that top six and I think we see one of Laine/Ehlers/Connor jump on over to the right side. My guess is that it'll be Laine who moves over as its far easier to adjust to defensive zone responsibilities and break-outs on your natural side. Especially coming over from the (slightly) bigger Finnish rinks.

Besides, once you're out there moving through the neutral zone and heading towards paydirt, its all forward 1, forward 2, forward 3 - first in, support player and third man staying high. Laine will go where he needs to in order to snap that gorgeous shot off.

Ehlers - Scheifele - Wheeler
Connor - Little - Laine

Is how I see it starting out.. We may see Little back with Wheels and hell, Connor may end up as a centreman again in his early twenties and push Little down to the three-hole.

Any way you shake it, there will be a lot of offense coming from that group in the near future and I think Ehlers is going to be a very big part of it.

[BreadManPanarin]

Ehlers - Scheifele - Wheeler
Connor - Little - Laine

Is how I see it starting out.. We may see Little back with Wheels and hell, Connor may end up as a centreman again in his early twenties and push Little down to the three-hole.

Any way you shake it, there will be a lot of offense coming from that group in the near future and I think Ehlers is going to be a very big part of it.

Yeah, this top 6 group is very exciting for Winnipeg fans and for fantasy owners. I am holding on to Ehlers very tightly in hopes that he will be very valuable in the not too distant future. Put him with any combination of Scheifele, Wheeler, Connor, Little and Laine and I think he will put up big numbers. I would be surprised if he doesn't break 55 points in 2016-17 and 65 points in 2017-18.

[loco man]

Daniel Sprong has a great shot at making the Pens next year. If so he would likely be playing with Malkin and could have a great rookie season. Pitts 3 line flow helps him since lines 1 and 3 are pretty set, Geno's linemates will be 2 of Sprong, Bennett, Kunitz.
I like his chances. Calling dark horse Calder contender

[plug]

Another vote for Fabbri.

[CHunter]

Hertl
Pastrnak
Reinhart
Silfverberg
Kreider
Hagelin
Drouin
Burakovsky
Trocheck

[StuntMan12]

Anthony Duclair anyone?

[Crazy Joe Davola]

Anthony Duclair anyone?

Not in my mind. He took 100 shots and scored on 20 of them. I think he can replicate his numbers through developmental gains but we won't see much more this season.

Long term he's more of a complimentary second line winger IMO

[Sulla]

Agree with CJD I see him more of a regression candidate than a breakout

[Noriculous]

So... is this thread for next year 2016, this year 2016, next year 2017? ��

Anyway... for 2017
Namestnikov
D. Pouliot
PL Dubois
Sergachev
Zacha
Connor
Hanifin
Provorov

[Sulla]

I think some of them may be relevant before the end of this season (Zacha, Provorov) but not a bad starting list