The NHL preseason is upon us, and while the exhibition slate is mostly a wash for the established stars with secured roster spots, plenty of players around the league have something to prove in hopes of cracking their respective lineups.
Here are five players that have a little bit extra riding on their performances leading up to the regular season.
Kasperi Kapanen - Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have an abundance of prominent forwards in their lineup, leaving one spot available on the wing. Kapanen filled in on Toronto's fourth line nicely to close out last season and into the playoffs, but he won't be the only one vying to crack Mike Babcock's roster.
Kapanen has to compete with Josh Leivo and Nikita Soshnikov, among others, to capture the final spot, and considering he tasted such success in the pros in his last stint, it's unlikely he'll want to relinquish his position.
Alex DeBrincat - Blackhawks
After three consecutive seasons topping 100 points in the OHL, DeBrincat is on the verge of facing a real challenge for the first time in a long time. Listed at only 5-foot-7, the undersized forward has to prove he can keep up at the NHL level to earn a spot on the Blackhawks.
That said, Chicago's forward depth could use a boost, and if DeBrincat can produce offensively in the preseason, he could very well get an NHL look come October.
Jay McClement - Penguins
A 34-year-old journeyman defensive center might not be the most exciting player to keep an eye on, but the Penguins currently don't have a pivot under contract to play behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
McClement was offered a PTO earlier this summer, and won't produce much if he makes the team, but a full-time spot on the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions seems like enough incentive to make a positive impact.
Cody Franson - Blackhawks
Franson presents an interesting case. On one hand, he's largely approved by the analytics community for proving to be a competent defender on a terrible Buffalo Sabres team in 2016-17, but on the other hand, he fell through the cracks of free agency, only to earn a PTO with Chicago.
The 30-year-old is no guarantee to make the Blackhawks, but he's in a good position to make an impression on a defensive corps that needs to fill the void left by Niklas Hjalmarsson's departure.
Jimmy Hayes - Devils
Coming off a dreadful five-point campaign that led to being bought out by the Boston Bruins, the future of Hayes' NHL career potentially hangs in the balance of his PTO with the Devils.
Hayes has registered seasons of 19 and 13 goals as recently as 2016, and at 6-foot-5, 215 lbs, he seemingly possesses the tools to contribute as a depth forward. Still, Hayes will need to out-perform some of the Devils' prospects to prove he belongs in the league.
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