Project my forwards. Points only.

[bbfl1987]

Meier
Keller
Nylander
Skinner
Mantha
Konecny
Kapanen

[mounD]

Meier - 75 points
Keller - 70 points
Nylander - 80 points
Skinner - 65 points
Mantha - 70 points
Konecny - 55 points
Kapanen - 50 points

[bbfl1987]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks Nylander is going to silence his critics! Thanks!

[mounD]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks Nylander is going to silence his critics! Thanks!

He's kinda good ...

nylander-marner.png

[Patysboy]

I think that Keller will bounce back!

Meier 70 pts
Keller 75 pts
Nylander 70 pts
Skinner 65 pts
Mantha 65 pts
Konecny 55 pts
Kapanen 50 pts

[bbfl1987]

I’m thinking so, too. Once he gets on Kessel’s diet plan, he’ll be unstoppable.

[als_revenge]

Meier - 75 points
Keller - 70 points
Nylander - 80 points
Skinner - 65 points
Mantha - 70 points
Konecny - 55 points
Kapanen - 50 points

Can't argue with this, although the Nylander projection is a bit higher than what I'm expecting...

[FrozenInferno]

As much as I love Nylander as a Leafs fan and an owner I have to say 80pts is a pretty bold prediction for a guy likely to get PP2 time.

I'm hoping him and Matthews rekindle that 5on5 chemistry and he at least cracks 70pts. Any more than that would be tough to accomplish without a role on the top PP unit and I can't see that happening since him and Marner basically do the same thing (halfwall distribution) and they'd likely want that element on PP2.

He's being faded super hard because of last year's writeoff of a season and the emergence of Marner but he's a serious talent. The only thing keeping him from his true ceiling is that prime PP time and, honestly, probably a coaching change. I don't think Babcock is the guy that will give Nylander the freedom to play his real style of hockey like you see when he's tearing the World's apart.

[j0hn_d0e]

Keller 74
Meier 68
Nylander 67
Skinner 61
Mantha 59
Konecny 53
Kapanen 50

[ACC90]

One question here about Keller :
Do you think he will go back at his original center position and play with Kessel?

Some lineup projection put Kessel with Stepan as a center... I don't find that funny as a Keller owner

[bbfl1987]

I can’t imagine Stepan getting that spot over Keller. Kessel//Keller just seems like a perfect combo to me. I’m sure Tocchet knows that. Either way, their PP should be much improved.

[ACC90]

I can’t imagine Stepan getting that spot over Keller. Kessel//Keller just seems like a perfect combo to me. I’m sure Tocchet knows that. Either way, their PP should be much improved.

Good it is a nonsense that the best two forwards of ARI won't play together

[Tanknation]

Good it is a nonsense that the best two forwards of ARI won't play together

I wouldn't bet 100% Keller plays on the top line. The Athletic had an interview with Tocchet the other week and Tocchet expressed how he believes in pairs and less so trios and he noted he was excited to try Schmaltz/Kessel together. Couple that with Kessel and Keller being defensive liabilities (per the HF Arizona boards) and its very possible that Keller is on the 2nd line with Stepan with top PP duties. I pray it isn't true as I have been sitting on Keller since day 1.

Meier - 71
Keller - 75
Nylander - 80
Skinner - 64
Mantha - 69
Konecny - 57
Kapanen - 38

[rufio.85]

The projections of Nylander at 80 in this thread are way too high imo.
You have to assume that Marner, Matthews and Tavares will be PPG players as well and will receive 1st PP duties.
When is the last time you've seen 4 players from the same team hit 80 in the same season?

Meier - 71
Keller - 66
Nylander - 59
Skinner - 65
Mantha - 63
Konecny - 55
Kapanen - 44

[mounD]

If Nylander gets 17-18 minutes per game on Matthews' wing with some PP1 exposure, just coming into his prime with all the underlying numbers screaming elite, then 80 points doesn't seem so crazy to me. Certainly no less likely than failing to reach 60 points. He's coming into that magical fourth full season (15-16 + 18-19 basically equal one full season), and he's already had two seasons at .75 ppg. He's shown the ability to have an IPP% above 80, which is territory reserved for the elite status of NHL scorers. He's had incredible possession metrics, transition impact, xG impacts, etc. showing that there's more under the hood than just a proficient scorer.

The wild card is PP time. If he ends up a regular on PP1 and manages, say 25 PPP (he had 27 PPP in 2016-17), he should cruise to 80 points. He could just as easily end up on a second unit, or the Leafs could split time between two units, and in that case 70 points might be more realistic. But I'm very high on Nylander, as pretty much all the data points indicate that he's a player just waiting to break out. The only question is ice time and deployment. If he's given the opportunity, he is absolutely going to deliver. You can take that to the bank.