Top Player to Watch From Every 2020 NHL Postseason Team: Eastern Conference
This NHL postseason will be like no other. 24 teams make for an incredibly exciting playoff, where any team has a shot at the Stanley Cup. Additional teams that could potentially make the playoffs also adds many more exciting players to watch. We all know that Alexander Ovechkin will be huge for the Capitals and that Nikita Kucherov will light up any opponent he faces, but who are the players that will shock the hockey world with their play? Players who have progressed from last season to this one are extremely dangerous, as their name might not bring up a whole lot, therefore they are able to surprise their opponent. Below is one player from each Eastern Conference postseason team that has the potential to become a superstar this summer.
Boston Bruins: Anders Bjork
With the star-studded lineup of the Boston Bruins, it is easy to let Bjork slide under the radar. Bjork had a disappointing season last year due to injury, putting just three points to his name in 20 games, but the 23-year-old really bounced back this year. 19 points in 58 games for the young forward is an important step in his career, showing that he can contribute, even if not in the same way as Pastrnak and Marchand. As a player with no experience in the playoffs, Bjork should be someone for teams to keep an eye on. With the confidence he gained this season, Bjork could explode in the playoffs, as he takes his first steps into the postseason.
Carolina Hurricanes: Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton has always been a reliable player. Typically Hamilton has recorded around 40 to 50 points per season, and he could be counted on as someone who would certainly contribute a solid amount to a team’s offensive core. Hamilton did the same this year, putting up 40 points. The only difference is that he did it in almost half the games in which he recorded 39 points last year. Hamilton was injured for part of the season, only playing 47 games, so his return to high-intensity hockey is going to be a fascinating one. Although it may take Hamilton some time to get going again, there should be no doubt that when he does, he will be looking to return to the same level of scoring that he ended his season on. The only issue is, if the Hurricanes can’t get past the Rangers, Hamilton won’t have his shot at truly showing how good he was this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Oliver Bjorkstrand
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be one of the most exciting and threatening teams to watch in the qualifying rounds this summer. The Jackets are a team that despite their extensive list of injuries this season, was able to maintain a solid record. A big part of this success was Oliver Bjorkstrand. Like many of the Blue Jackets, Bjorkstrand suffered from injury this season, getting to play just 49 games. In his short season, Bjorkstrand still put up 36 points, the exact number of points he scored in a 77 game season last year. This progress that Bjorkstrand has made is even more important when considering he is freshly recovered from his injuries, along with many of his teammates.
Florida Panthers: Evgenii Dadonov
After his third NHL season, Dadonov was looking like a bust, playing just 55 games, combining for 20 points. After this disappointing start to his career, Dadonov went to Russia in order to develop as a player, and he certainly did. Since Dadonov returned to the Panthers for the 2017–2018 season, he combined for 182 points in 225 games. This season, Dadonov tallied 47 points in 69 games. Although Dadonov has been a very consistent player for the Cats since his return, what makes him dangerous this postseason is that the 31-year-old has never played in the playoffs, as he missed the Panthers brief playoff run in 2016 when he was overseas. As a player nearing the end of his career, making his first playoff appearance now will energize an already producing player even more.
Montreal Canadiens: Tomas Tatar
When one thinks “scoring” in the NHL, Tomas Tatar doesn’t necessarily come to mind. He has always been a respected forward, usually posting around 40 to 50 points. This season though, Tatar almost reached point per game, with 61 points in 68 games. The Habs didn’t have an incredible season, but Tatar’s development was certainly a bright spot. In March, Tatar and the rest of the Canadiens didn’t think they were going to make the playoffs, but due to the new playoff format, they just slipped in. The Habs have been given a chance to prove that they are better than their season record suggests. For the Canadiens to do this and advance to the first round, they are going to need the same Tatar from the regular season, and as an older player, he likely won’t put the opportunity to waste as his career could be coming to a close.
New York Islanders: Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Pageau had a career year this season, putting up 42 points in 67 games. The Ottawa Senators traded Pageau to the Islanders this season as they were going through their rebuilding process. Although Pageau has spent seven years of his career with the Senators, I’m sure he was relieved to be traded. Being on the Islanders gives Pageau a real shot at a Cup. All signs point to Pageau being a series changer throughout the qualifying round and the playoffs. Last time Pageau played in the playoffs in 2017, he lit up the Rangers, and posted 10 points in 19 games total, through the Eastern Conference Final. The experience Pageau has gained since then, with the confidence that he will have coming off such a great year, makes him a key player for teams to keep an eye on.
New York Rangers: Ryan Strome
When Ryan Strome was traded from the Oilers to the Rangers, he was thought of as a solid, 30 point player. This past season though, Strome has certainly found a home for himself in New York. Strome put 59 points to his name in 70 games this year, proving that he is truly a step above average. Since Strome entered the league in 2013, this is the first season where he has been able to put up these numbers. Additionally, the last time Strome was in the playoffs was four years ago, so he will be looking to get back to playoff action, and continue to prove what kind of player he has become.
Philadelphia Flyers: Travis Konecny
The Flyers had a lot of success this season, building a roster amongst the league’s best. A big part of the Flyers’ jump in the standings from last year to this season is Travis Konecny. Konecny mirrored the Flyers’ improvement this year, moving into a key role on the team, along with Giroux, Couturier, and Voracek. Konecny posted 61 points in 66 games this season, compared to 49 points last year, in a full 82 game season. The Flyers are one of the most intimidating teams in the playoffs this year, considering how hot they were when the season ended. Players coming into their own, such as Konecny, makes the team that much more daunting for anyone that has to face them.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Bryan Rust
Although the Pittsburgh Penguins faced a lot of uncertainty this season, Bryan Rust was one thing that the Pens could be certain of. The 28-year-old recorded a career-best 56 points in a fraction of the games he has played in other NHL seasons. This was Rust’s breakout season, although coming late in his career. The success he had this season is exciting, and likely pushes Rust to perform similarly, if not better, in the postseason. Rust can be added to the list of Crosby, Malkin, and Guentzel, that teams have to respect if they want a shot at beating the Penguins. Rust is even more dangerous because as someone who just broke out this year, he could fly under the radar, lighting up the scoresheet.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Anthony Cirelli
With so much offensive firepower on the Lightning, Cirelli can be easily dismissed when looking down the Tampa Bay roster. Although Kucherov, Stamkos, and Point, are the players that teams are going to need to keep an eye on the most, Cirelli has shown that he can certainly join the mix of elite players that the Bolts already have. Cirelli ended the regular season with 44 points, five more than last year, but in only 68 games instead of 82. This is what makes the Lightning so strong. They have some of the best scorers in the league, and when you think you have those players covered, those like Cirelli come in and produce secondary scoring that can win a game by itself.
Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander
William Nylander looked promising after his first few years in the NHL. Two consecutive 61 point seasons looked good on his stat sheet, but his 27 point performance in 54 games in the 2018–2019 season put some doubt in Nylander’s capabilities. To say the least, Nylander rebounded this season, putting up 59 points in his 68 game season. With how Nylander’s play has fluctuated in the last few years, one has to wonder if he keeps things up in the postseason or if he goes back to the Nylander we saw a couple of years ago. If Nylander continues to produce how he has this season, the already dangerous Leafs offense becomes an absolute beast.
Washington Capitals: Jakub Vrana
Although the Capitals have built a dynasty over the last few years, they have also built a roster that will carry them into the future. A big part of this next era of Caps is Jakub Vrana. At 24 years old, Vrana has used this season to progress, and show that he is one of the best young players in the NHL. Vrana put up 52 points this year, compared to his 47 points last year, also playing 13 fewer games this season. Vrana is already a Stanley Cup champion and he will look to contribute to another deep playoff run this year.
