ROOS LETS LOOSE POLL: Sustainable Strong Starts?

**RizzeeDizzee** · November 28, 2021, 9:05 AM

Although we're now at the one quarter mark of the season, some players unquestionably are still producing numbers that won't prove sustainable. So who are those that will stay as productive as they are now, versus those who'll come back to earth? That's what it's up to you to decide here.

I've listed 20 players who are producing better numbers than were expected. The extent to which those numbers exceed expectations doesn't matter for purposes of this poll, on whether they can keep up - or even improve upon - their current pace(s). I say pace(s) because I've included skaters (where scoring pace the relevant measuring stick) and goalies (where GAA and SV% are what's being assessed). You should vote for any and all players you believe can at least sustain their current pace(s) by the end of the season, with their pace(s) denoted after their name. Oh, and injuries don't matter. That means if a player is scoring at a 78 point pace, you should vote for him if you believe he'll post 78 if he plays all 82 games or if he maintains at least a 78 points but in fewer than 82 games. One last note - if you don't see a player here who is exceeding expectations, it's either because I thought it was too obvious he'll not sustain his numbers or because I felt these 20 simply represented better overall choices.

As usual, please post who you voted for and why, so your fellow Dobberites can get added insight.

**RizzeeDizzee** · November 28, 2021, 9:13 AM

I voted for five players:

Bertuzzi - Yes, the vast majority of his points came in just four games, but that explosiveness, plus favorable deployment, should keep him scoring at this rate or even higher
Bjorkstrand - He just keeps getting better and this is the season where he become elite
Gaudreau - He had 17 points in 14 games in Q4 last season when put on a line with Tkachuk and Lindholm, so this isn't new, plus he's an impending UFA
Jenner - Sometimes new coaches give players a chance and they show they had the talent to do much better than was thought
Kaprizov - Who needs a number one center or offensive defensemen; this guy can truly do it all and 2021-22 is the year he becomes a superstar