Who is this year's surprise 2nd-half stud?

[larrylintz]

Dude, Mika Zibanejad no contest. Guaranteed top 6 center ALWAYS with quality wingers in Ryan, Stone, Hoffman. Power play time this is a no brainer, I am about to trade him and Frederik Andersen for Rinne and it is hard to part ways.

Dude, he's had good linemates and #1pp time all year and he's on track for a 51 point season. I don't see the "no contest" here. I need someone who can score at a 60-point plus pace minimum rest of year.

[J0e Th0rnton]

Dude, he's had good linemates and #1pp time all year and he's on track for a 51 point season. I don't see the "no contest" here. I need someone who can score at a 60-point plus pace minimum rest of year.

Zibby was on the #2 PP most of the year. They changed things up a lot by first trying Michalek, then Smith and finally, Zibby.
Mind you, they were using Turris completely wrong for his skills on the PP. Hell, they were doing everything wrong on the PP. Why they moved Hoffman to PP2 for a long while instead of using him on the left umbrella is beyond me. That was where he had the most success early because it gave them options to pass to either Karlsson or Hoffman.

Turris should be used down low. He isn't a great shooter, so his position perplexed me. Its almost as if they were trying to reduce Hoffman's scoring for his next contract lol.

Zibby is a bit of a slow starter. 1 goal in first 18 games last year finished with 20 goals. 2 goals in first 19 games this year.

[The Bottlenecker]

Namestinikov seems to be getting time with Stamkos, and they have some chemistry. He was also doing quite well alongside Kucherov a couple years ago while the 2 of them played in the AHL, so potential is there too.

[chizzle]

Ehlers

[2014olympicgold]

Ehler, especially if Ladd gets traded. I know Ladd is more of a LW3 right now, but the top 2 lines would be more relied on.

[Big Ev]

Zibby was on the #2 PP most of the year. They changed things up a lot by first trying Michalek, then Smith and finally, Zibby.
Mind you, they were using Turris completely wrong for his skills on the PP. Hell, they were doing everything wrong on the PP. Why they moved Hoffman to PP2 for a long while instead of using him on the left umbrella is beyond me. That was where he had the most success early because it gave them options to pass to either Karlsson or Hoffman.

Turris should be used down low. He isn't a great shooter, so his position perplexed me. Its almost as if they were trying to reduce Hoffman's scoring for his next contract lol.

Zibby is a bit of a slow starter. 1 goal in first 18 games last year finished with 20 goals. 2 goals in first 19 games this year.

Turris is a great shooter...

also I agree on Zibby. Just added him. He's been great as of late and always starts slow due to fitness.

[AwesomeSince86]

Namestinikov seems to be getting time with Stamkos, and they have some chemistry. He was also doing quite well alongside Kucherov a couple years ago while the 2 of them played in the AHL, so potential is there too.

I agree on Nemestinikov, but he would need to be shuffled to another line or have Stammer pick it up a notch.

[Instant Karma]

I agree on Nemestinikov, but he would need to be shuffled to another line or have Stammer pick it up a notch.

...or get sent down to the minors and demand a trade.

[larrylintz]

Zib got hot last december but from then till end of season he scored at a 56-point pace, so that's not quite what i'm looking for if that's what we're seeing this year. I also don't think you're right that he didn't get #1pp time in first half. I saw him out there a lot, i know because i was frustrated Hoffman wasn't where he was. But i see your point. He SHOULD be better, when he's good he's great, but then he goes invisible. I also already have hoffman and EK, not sure i want three guys on the same team.

And i agree with Ev, i think Turris has a great one-timer. He played on the same minor team as my nephew fwiw, my brother used to watch him score 10 points-plus a game. They thought he'd be the next Gretzky.

[STONE.]

And i agree with Ev, i think Turris has a great one-timer. He played on the same minor team as my nephew fwiw, my brother used to watch him score 10 points-plus a game. They thought he'd be the next Gretzky.

So what you're saying is...."Turd-is is a BUST!"
(sorry, I guess I just miss tequilamonster a bit)

[TheWhale]

I'm thinking Galchenyuk is going to have a nice second half

[Pengwin7]

I like the choices of Hertl/Bennett/JT Miller/Namestnikov.

These guys align with what we remember in Stone/Palat.
1. Wingers
2. Young 20-something age.
3. Top six slots w/PP time.


I hedge on young centers. There's a lot of responsibility there.
So Zibby... Galchenyuk... nah, I think those guys are still working on safe-guarding their line as center.

But those young wingers listed that have 2-4 years of NHL/AHL experience.
They've got the young legs, they've adjusted to the NHL/AHL speed... they're meshing with linemates.

I've FA-added all of Hertl/Miller/Namestnikov in my DobberPRO team in last 1month+.
I think Hertl & JT Miller are both top 30 players over last 14 days, IIRC.

Young. TopSix. Wingers.
That's the target 2nd half.

[Axeman33]

Yakupov.

Assuming he lines back up with the returning McDavid, Yakupov could be in line for a nice second half spurt (also assuming they can both stay healthy).

[Pengwin7]

Yakupov.

How do you forecast the EDM top six w/McDavid's return?

[havanablast21]

Yakupov.

Assuming he lines back up with the returning McDavid, Yakupov could be in line for a nice second half spurt (also assuming they can both stay healthy).

intriguing. I echo Pengwin7's inquiry on how you envision the top 6 moving forward when McDavid returns and maybe again if/when RNH returns.