Dan and Bik take a look at the state of the Western Conference, how much it's changed early in the season, and where the Canucks find themselves now.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
After a big weekend in the sports world, Matt and Blake recap the Canucks' road trip out east while looking at the debacle that is the Edmonton Oilers. The guys also wrap up the season that was for the B.C. Lions after a loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Western Final.
Jeff Paterson, the co-host of the Rink Wide: Vancouver podcast discusses the Canucks depth players rising to the occasion. We highlight the third line of Dakota Joshua, Pius Suter and Conor Garland; Mikheyev's impact as the catalyst on the Pettersson line; Nikita Zadorov's trade request out of Calgary and the anticipation for Bo Horvat's return to Vancouver on Wednesday night.
Lions GM Neil McEvoy states that the Lions' season was successful despite coming up short to the Blue Bombers. McEvoy discusses Vernon Adams and if he's good enough to win a Grey Cup, what the running game could look like next season and some of the key free agents the team will look to re-sign. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic is out four-to-six weeks after sustaining a fractured ankle in Sunday's shootout loss against the New York Rangers, the team announced Monday.
Roslovic, 26, is tied for fourth on the Blue Jackets with eight points in 14 games. He played 16:16 on Sunday despite the injury.
With Roslovic placed on injured reserve, Columbus recalled top prospect David Jiricek from the AHL's Cleveland Monsters.
The 19-year-old has played 10 games with the Blue Jackets this season, tallying three points. Jiricek was drafted sixth overall by Columbus in 2022.
The Blue Jackets face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said he was caught off guard by the club's decision to fire head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant Dave Manson on Sunday.
"First and foremost, obviously surprised," McDavid told reporters, per TSN. "Didn't see it coming. I loved playing for 'Woody,' I loved playing for 'Mans.' Two guys I think are unbelievable coaches and I really think they'll be in the league very, very soon."
Woodcroft was believed to be on the hot seat after Edmonton lost to the last-place San Jose Sharks last week, and he was let go despite a convincing win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.
The Oilers hired Kris Knoblauch, McDavid's coach during his time with the OHL's Erie Otters, to replace Woodcroft. Edmonton general manager Ken Holland and CEO Jeff Jackson had contradicting answers at Sunday's press conference when asked if players were involved in the decision to change coaches.
McDavid maintained Monday that he didn't play a role and addressed the speculation that he hand-picked Knoblauch due to their prior relationship.
"I woke up to a text, like probably a lot of you guys did as well," McDavid said. "I know the narrative out there obviously, but it couldn't be farther from the truth."
The three-time Hart Trophy winner was adamant Oilers players didn't tune out Woodcroft's message despite a heavily scrutinized 3-9-1 start to a season in which they were presumed to be Stanley Cup contenders.
"Not at all," McDavid said. "He never lost the room, I didn't think."
He added: "Our play hasn't been good enough. I'm first on the list there. Our play needs to be better, it's the reason two good guys lost their job."
McDavid has produced 10 points in 11 games this season while averaging just over 22 minutes per night. He missed two contests in October due to an upper-body injury.
While the 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame class wholly deserves its time in the limelight, we're going to momentarily shift our attention away from this year's inductees to focus on the future.
We've already analyzed who might get the call to the Hall next year, so to keep things fresh, let's have a look at which active players could be enshrined when they retire. A pair of locks recently called it quits in Patrice Bergeron and Joe Thornton, but a star-studded list of options remains.
Before we dive into it, it's important to note players are listed alphabetically by last name in their respective charts. The "Individual NHL awards" section includes the Conn Smythe but not the Mark Messier Leadership Award or King Clancy Memorial Trophy. All-Star and All-Rookie nominations were also left out of the tally.
Tier 1: First-ballot locks
The cream of the crop. Not up for debate. These players have been stars their entire careers and are shoo-ins when they're eligible.
As good as each of these players is, a trio stands above the rest. Crosby, Ovechkin, and Malkin - he's not being left off any list around here - aren't just three of the best players of their generation, but of all time. They've won it all, and hopefully, fate lets some combination of them get inducted together. Crosby being enshrined with his Penguins running mate - or his biggest "rival" - would make for one of the most memorable classes ever.
Elsewhere in Tier 1, we have a collection of players from the most dominant teams of the era. Kane is more accomplished in points and accolades than his Blackhawks captain, but Toews was a serial winner at his peak and owns an impeccable international resume, which is important to factor in when debating a player's candidacy.
The pair of Kings on the list won't get as much fanfare as some others here, but Kopitar has two Selke Trophies, two Cups, and well over 1,000 points. Doughty's stock fell when he failed to live up to his lucrative contract for a few seasons, but his trophy cabinet between Los Angeles and Team Canada should easily get him inducted.
The Lightning will likely send four players from their best era in franchise history to the Hall. Kucherov is perhaps the most underrated of the bunch, but his 1.14 points per game sits 19th all time,and his 1.12 rate in the playoffs is 15th.The resumes of Stamkos, Hedman, and Vasilevskiy speak for themselves.
Perhaps the most divisive players in this section are Karlsson and Perry. Karlsson's attracted plenty of criticism for his defensive game over the years, but he's one of nine defensemen to ever win the Norris three times. He also owns the 10th-highest points per game rate (0.83) all-time at his position, boosting his case. Perry, on the other hand, is mainly viewed as a depth pest at this stage of his career, but he was a top player in his prime and has won every team trophy there is.
Tier 2: Stars on track
Not quite established enough to waltz into the Grand Hall just yet. They're building strong cases and will likely get in at their current rates, but they don't have the games played or the hardware to be considered locks yet.
Each of these players has a long way to go in their respective careers - none are older than 28 - but could be Hall of Famers if they stay near their current rates for a few more years. MacKinnon is a lock for 1,000 career points within three more seasons and will likely contend for championships consistently as the face of the juggernaut Avalanche. He's also been top five in MVP voting four of the past six seasons.
Sticking with Colorado, Makar has a rock-solid case through only four-plus seasons. He became the fastest defenseman ever to hit 250 points and has a Calder, Norris, Conn Smythe, and Stanley Cup in the bank. His ride to the Hall of Fame is already in cruise control.
Draisaitl, Matthews, and Pastrnak are each cut from a similar cloth. All will likely be in the 500-goal, 1,000-point club by the time they hang up their skates, and they all own at least one major award. Adding a Stanley Cup to any of their resumes would put them over the top, even at their current ages.
Shesterkin is pushing 28 and doesn't even have 200 games played yet, but the future of goalies qualifying for the Hall of Fame is bound to get murky after the class of 2023. After years of being tough on netminders, the voting committee stirred up some controversy by inducting Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon, who each won two Stanley Cups but own lifetime numbers that pale in comparison to most goalies in the modern era. Shesterkin's operating at a sterling career .923 clip so far with one Vezina, putting him in contention despite the relatively tiny sample size.
Tier 3: Veterans on the cusp
May be first ballot in a weaker class, but their cases will likely be debated for a long time.
Players here have been productive for a long time, and some were among the best at their positions for a good portion of their careers. However, the championships and awards are lacking relative to those in the higher tiers, making each individual's case complex. Production isn't always enough to achieve hockey's highest honor. Just ask Pierre Turgeon, who put up 1,327 points (34th all time) and just got the call this year despite retiring in 2007. This collection could be the next generation's equivalent of Rod Brind'Amour and Keith Tkachuk - players on the fringe for decades.
Backstrom may be eligible for induction sooner than expected due to injury. He sits top 50 all time in assists, with over 1,000 points and a Cup. He was never a first-team All-Star and was only a finalist for a major award once, finishing runner-up for the Calder in 2007-08. Playing second fiddle in Washington all those years may hurt his relevance in Hall of Fame conversations. Giroux, Kessel, Tavares, and Pavelski are all fringe candidates as well, with consistent - but not necessarily extraordinary - careers.
As mentioned with Shesterkin, the future of goalies in the Hall is a massive unknown. Bobrovsky has had a roller-coaster career, but he's one of only 22 goalies to have ever won multiple Vezinas. He's also closing in on 400 wins and has a lifetime .915 save percentagedespite some down years. He just may sneak in one day.
Burns has had a much better career than many realize, sitting 15th in league history in points by a defenseman. He also has a Norris, and Randy Carlyle is the only player ever to win the award and not be inducted. Burns might not be a first-ballot candidate, but he has as good of a case for enshrinement as anyone in Tier 3. Josi is on track to finish his career with a similar argument, with one top defenseman honor to his name and four more full seasons on his contract to keep climbing the points list. Letang and Pietrangelo have the championships Josi and Burns are missing, but they've combined for a single Norris nomination through lengthy careers.
One of the more compelling cases in this section is Marchand's. He's among the likeliest of this tier to get in on the strength of an undeniably impressive back half to his career. The Bruins captain is under a point per game overall, but he exploded offensively in his seventh NHL season and has kept up the pace since with 649 points in 584 games dating back to 2015-16. He's been a first- or second-team All-Star four times at left wing over that span, has a Cup ring, plus gold medals at the world juniors, world championship, and World Cup. Just like his playing style, Marchand's Hall of Fame resume is sure to be controversial among fans.
Tier 4: Great starts
These players are the face of the league's next generation. This section is the most hypothetical of the bunch, but each individual has shown great potential to be a star for a portion of their respective careers. Our age cutoff of 25 axed Canucks star Elias Pettersson by a day. Statistics as of Nov. 13.
All of these players have a long way to go, but a path to the Hall of Fame is viable if they continue on their current trajectories. Dahlin, Heiskanen, and Quinn Hughes will all likely win a Norris one day, and their early offensive stats are certainly promising.
Scoring titles and MVPs look within reach for Jack Hughes already at 22 years old, and Robertson, the most productive of this bunch, was fourth in Hart Trophy voting last year aged 23. Tkachuk could benefit from a boost in points, but he's a rare power forward in today's game and is captain of a team on the rise. His case could strengthen significantly with a few more strong seasons under his belt.
We're just over a month into the season and Connor Bedard has already seen his implied odds of winning the Calder soar from 56% to 73%.
Let's take a closer look at why, and figure out who - if anyone - can challenge the young phenom the rest of the way.
Player
Oct 1. Odds
Nov. 13 Odds
Connor Bedard
-130
-275
Logan Cooley
+1000
+750
Leo Carlsson
+3000
+1600
Luke Hughes
+700
+1600
Adam Fantilli
+1200
+2500
Matthew Knies
+2200
+2500
Pavel Mintyukov
N/A
+2500
Bobby Brink
N/A
+3000
Joseph Woll
N/A
+3500
Marco Rossi
N/A
+3500
Matthew Poitras
N/A
+3500
Lukas Dostal
N/A
+4000
Luke Evangelista
+3500
+4000
The Calder Trophy was Bedard's to lose heading into the season, and he's shown no signs he's ready to give it away. Bedard leads all rookies in points with 13 through 13 games.
Although Bedard hasn't truly separated himself from the pack - at least not yet - he has the best offensive outputs of the bunch and is producing with little talent surrounding him. So long as that's the case, he's extremely likely to win. The odds reflect that.
There are plenty of guys nipping at Bedard's heels ready to pounce if he were to slip up or suffer an injury.
Logan Cooley has transitioned smoothly to the NHL and sits second among rookies in points while leading the group with 10 assists. Seven of those assists are primary, which puts him in a tie for 16th among all skaters. His playmaking is keeping him in the mix.
With six goals in 10 games for the surprisingly competitive Ducks, Leo Carlsson is surging up the board and is nearly half the price he was a month ago. The problem with Carlsson is he's going through a load-management program and not playing every night. Keeping up with Bedard is going to be tough when dressing in fewer games.
Luke Hughes started the season in remarkable fashion for a Devils team that was clicking at a historic rate on the power play. Unfortunately, the offense has dried up for Luke with stars Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier sidelined due to injury. The Devils aren't scoring nearly as much, making it a lot tougher on the youngest Hughes to put up enough points to remain relevant.
At this point, another defenseman - Pavel Mintyukov - appears more likely to challenge for the Calder. He's piled up 10 points for the Ducks and looks excellent quarterbacking a dangerous top power-play unit.
His on-ice impact is strong as well, with Mintyukov owning a positive goal differential and the second-highest expected goals share among Ducks defenders. There is value at +2500.
Adam Fantilli and Matthew Knies have seen their odds balloon a little bit and for good reason. Fantilli has points in three straight games but is averaging just 13:54 of ice time per game in November, a far cry from the 16:22 he averaged in October. He is unlikely to produce consistently enough with that kind of usage.
Knies has taken on a bigger role with the Maple Leafs of late, but he's more of a complimentary piece than a dynamic, puck-dominant player like Bedard, Cooley, or Carlsson. That makes it tougher for him to find the scoresheet.
All in all, it feels like most - if not all - of the rookies behind the pack need plenty of things to break their way while Bedard only needs good health to take home some hardware.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.
We begin the week with a two-game slate. Although I don't see much value in terms of sides and totals, a few props jump off the page.
Let's take a closer look.
Evan Bouchard: Over 2.5 shots
Bouchard's shot volume has been very strong this season. He registered at least three shots on target in eight of 13 games, good for a 62% success rate.
His splits are extreme. Bouchard is averaging 4.2 shots and nearly eight attempts per game on home ice. Unsurprisingly, that's leading to a lot of success. He went over his shot total in five of six games in Edmonton.
Bouchard's volume is drastically lower on the road, sitting at 2.6 shots on 5.3 attempts per game.
He's back at home Monday night in a mouthwatering matchup against the Islanders. They have a reputation as a boring defensive team, but the reality is they can't defend at all. Only the Sharks and Blackhawks - two teams in deep rebuilds - have conceded more shots per game.
The Islanders give up a ton of volume to opposing defensemen, ranking 31st in shots against versus the position. Look for Bouchard to take advantage.
Odds: -110 (playable to -130)
Mathew Barzal: Under 2.5 shots
Barzal owns some of the most extreme home/road splits you'll ever see. He recorded three shots or more in all nine games he played at home, which is no coincidence since he generated 7.4 attempts per contest.
His road numbers don't hold a candle to his output on Long Island. He sees the toughest assignments playing on the top offensive line, and it's clearly impacted him.
Barzal has gone under his shot total in all four road games and averaged 3.3 attempts per contest. He essentially needs to hit the net every time he shoots the puck to have a fighting chance.
For all the Oilers' faults this season - horrendous goaltending, poor finishing, etc. - they're doing an excellent job limiting shots. They rank second in the NHL in attempts allowed per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, slotting behind only the Hurricanes.
I wouldn't expect an uptick in volume from Barzal here.
Odds: +105 (playable to -125)
Valeri Nichushkin: Over 0.5 points
Nichushkin is starting to heat up. He registered points in two of the past three games and recorded nine shots on goal in that span.
The Avalanche recently promoted him to the top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon, which is an obvious plus. With Artturi Lehkonen now sidelined due to an upper-body injury, Nichushkin has also shifted up to the top power-play unit.
Colorado has as much high-end firepower as almost anybody in hockey. Without Lehkonen in the mix, Nichushkin doesn't really have competition for all the prime minutes.
He should have MacKinnon by his side on every shift he takes and benefit greatly from whipping the puck around with Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and Co. on the top power play.
The Blues embarrassed the Avalanche last time out, prompting an outburst from head coach Jared Bednar. I expect a response against a Kraken team that's struggled to keep the puck out.
With 18-20 minutes likely coming alongside elite players, Nichushkin should have ample opportunity to find the scoresheet.
Odds: -130 (playable to -150)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.
Only 15 games into his NHL career, rookie Adam Fantilli expects more from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This year's third overall pick called for higher standards after Columbus lost its fifth straight game Sunday against the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets coughed up a lead with 11 seconds remaining in the third period, then fell short in a shootout.
"We have a young team, but that does not matter," Fantilli told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "I hate losing. I never want to lose. I don't want to get used to losing. I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy about the series of losses we've had.
"I want to be able to fix it. I want to do my part in being able to fix that. We're a young team, but we're extremely skilled, and I think we have (the ability to play) a lot better than we're showing."
Columbus has fallen to eighth in the Metropolitan Division and 27th in the league standings with a 1-5-4 record in its last 10 appearances.
Fantilli is tied for the team lead with nine points this season despite logging only 15:23 per contest. The 19-year-old ranks fourth in rookie scoring, trailing Connor Bedard, Logan Cooley, and Pavel Mintyukov.
The Blue Jackets return to the ice Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
We're more than a month into the NHL season, which means it's time to look at early standouts from around the hockey world.
From multi-year pros who took a step in the summer to emerging draft day gems from this past June, here's a look at one prospect from every team's system that's impressing early in the 2023-24 season:
Anaheim Ducks
Yegor Sidorov is proving he was a worthwhile top-100 pick this summer despite being passed over in the 2022 draft. The Belarusian winger is making a mockery of WHL goaltenders with 15 goals, 24 points, and an insane 89 shots on goal in 16 games.
Arizona Coyotes
Conor Geekie's picked up the slack with Wenatchee Wild teammates Zach Benson and Matt Savoie making cameos in the NHL. The 19-year-old's showing why the Coyotes traded up to take him 11th overall in 2022 with 23 points through 15 games.Don't be surprised to see him as a top-six center with Team Canada at the world juniors.
Boston Bruins
Second-round picks aren't supposed to become important pieces on top NHL teams less than two years after being drafted. But that's exactly what Matt Poitras has done with seven points and legitimate top-nine usage thanks to his hockey IQ and work ethic.
Buffalo Sabres
Jiri Kulich just keeps scoring goals. Coming off an excellent rookie season in the AHL as an 18-year-old, Kulich hasn't missed a beat in his sophomore campaign. He's racked up nine goals and 13 points to put himself on the cusp of the NHL.
Calgary Flames
Connor Zary's strong start - in conjunction with Calgary's early struggles - saw the 2020 first-rounder called to the big league in early November. After tallying 10 points in only six AHL games, the 22-year-old isn't wasting his NHL opportunity: He's got four points through five games with the Flames.
Carolina Hurricanes
There's been no regression for Alexander Nikishin after his breakout 2022-23 campaign. The 6-foot-4 defenseman is putting up huge totals with seven goals and 23 pointsthrough two and a half months, while his 24:13 per contest leads all KHL players. Nikishin's very likely the best defenseman not in the NHL - but the Hurricanes have to wait until 2025 to bring him to North America.
Chicago Blackhawks
You already know all about Connor Bedard, so let's look elsewhere for the Blackhawks.
Adam Gajan - a breakout star at the world juniors last year with Slovakia - has been a workhorse with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers early on. He has a .917 save percentage in a league-leading 13 games.
Colorado Avalanche
After missing all of October with an injury, Nikolai Kovalenko seamlessly returned to action last week. The 24-year-old is up to seven goals and 18 points through 14 KHL games ahead of his anticipated arrival in North America next season.
Columbus Blue Jackets
After back-to-back 100-point seasons in the QMJHL, it's not a shock to see Jordan Dumais putting up absurd totals upon his return to the Halifax Mooseheads. The 2022 third-rounder has 12 goals and 28 points...in only 11 games. A 150-point year is a legitimate possibility for Dumais, even with missed time.
Dallas Stars
Logan Stankoven dazzled with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers and the 2021 second-rounder is doing much of the same in the AHL. The 5-foot-8 forward has seven goals and 15 points in his first 12 pro games. It's only a matter of time before we see him donning a Stars jersey in an NHL debut.
Detroit Red Wings
A transfer to Michigan State has paid dividends for Red Savage. The 20-year-old has 14 points in 12 games with the Spartans - the same amount he had in 32 contests with the Miami RedHawks a year ago.
Edmonton Oilers
Raphael Lavoie made it abundantly clear he wants to be on the Oilers' roster, as he tallied four goals and seven points in five AHL games to earn a quick call-up. He'll look to break into Edmonton's bottom six in the coming games under new head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Florida Panthers
Jack Devine's looking like a quality snag in the 2022 seventh round for the Panthers. Coming off of a strong sophomore campaign at the University of Denver, Devine started 2023-24 with five straight multi-point performances and has 18 points through 10 games.
Los Angeles Kings
It should be no surprise that Brandt Clarke earned an early season NHL call-up. The 2021 eighth overall pick has seamlessly transitioned to the professional ranks, tallying 10 points in 12 AHL games and ranking third in shots on goal among blue-liners.
Minnesota Wild
Riley Heidt wasn't selected until the final pick of the 2023 second round despite scoring 97 points in the WHL at just 17 years old. He's letting teams know they made a mistake passing on him with 27 points in 16 games, and he's scored a point in every contest except for one.
Montreal Canadiens
Apparently, Lane Hutson got bored with racking up a bunch of assists. The electrifying blue-liner has goals in four straight, highlighted by a hat trick against North Dakota. With eight goals, Hutson's more than halfway to his tally from his freshman campaign in 30 fewer games.
Nashville Predators
Yaroslav Askarov doesn't have the same hype he once did as a former 11th overall pick, but he remains one of hockey's elite goaltending prospects. He's figuring out the North American game with a sparkling .935 save percentage in five starts to commence his sophomore AHL campaign.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils have an embarrassment of riches on the back end - and Seamus Casey will add to it before long. The 2022 second-rounder is flourishing at the University of Michigan with added offensive opportunities since Luke Hughes' NHL promotion, registering 18 points through the opening 12 contests to lead all NCAA defenders.
New York Islanders
Justin Gill's building on the breakout 2022-23 campaign that made him an Islanders fifth-round pick in the summer. The 20-year-old leads the QMJHL with 35 points in 19 games in his final year of junior eligibility.
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers always seem to have a goaltender on the cusp of the NHL. Dylan Garand has carried the momentum from a strong AHL postseason into the new campaign, sporting a .927 save percentage through seven starts.
Ottawa Senators
Maxence Guenette is making a case to receive NHL minutes. The 22-year-old rearguard has 10 points in 11 games with the AHL's Belleville Senators after assisting on both goals in the team's 2-1 overtime win on Sunday.
Philadelphia Flyers
Early concerns about Matvei Michkov's lack of ice time in the KHL have subsided since he was loaned back to HC Sochi. The 2023 seventh overall pick is playing 16:59 per night with Sochi and has registered 20 points in 22 games.That's a hugely positive development for the Flyers.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins used a top-15 pick on Brayden Yager this summer, anticipating that his goal-scoring dip was an anomaly. That's proving to be correct early on this season, as the Saskatoon native has 11 goals and 24 points in 17 WHL contests.
San Jose Sharks
Kasper Halttunen's elite shot made him an early second-round pick this summer. It's been on full display with the London Knights, as the Finnish sniper has 14 goals and 72 shots in his first 18 OHL games.
Seattle Kraken
A dominant WHL postseason from Jagger Firkus has carried into the 2023-24 campaign. The 2022 second-rounder has 18 goals and 35 points in 18 games to lead the league in scoring. He has as many hat tricks (two) as he has games without a point.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues took Juraj Pekarcik in the top 100 of this past draft after his exceptional showing at the Under-18 tournament with Slovakia. He's made it look like a quality selection with his early performance in the USHL, where he has 18 points in 14 contests in his maiden campaign in North America.
Tampa Bay Lightning
2022 first-round pick Isaac Howard lit up the junior ranks with the National Team Development Program but disappointed in his first collegiate campaign with Minnesota-Duluth. A transfer to Michigan State revitalized the young talent, who has 15 points through 12 contests with the Spartans.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Easton Cowan exceeded all expectations with a superb preseason performance with the Maple Leafs and carried that momentum to the OHL. His tenacity has made for multiple highlight-reel plays on the penalty kill. So much for being a questionable first-round pick - the Strathroy, Ontario native has a whopping 24 points in 13 games.
Vancouver Canucks
The OHL's Kitchener Rangers are off to a flying start offensively - and Canucks 2023 third-rounder Hunter Brzustewicz is a big part of it. He has five goals, 32 points - making him the league leader among defenders - and is a plus-12 in only 19 contests.
Vegas Golden Knights
Arttu Karki's booming shot made him an intriguing third-round pick by the Golden Knights in June. Making the move to the OHL from Finland, he ranks third in the entire league with 14 goals through 19 games. Oh, and he's a defenseman, by the way.
Washington Capitals
Andrew Cristall remains an absurd scorer at the junior level. The 2022 second-rounder has 11 goals and 31 points through 16 WHL games. Assuming he stays healthy, he'll fly past the 100-point mark with the Kelowna Rockets.
Winnipeg Jets
The Brad Lambert who was once thought to be a contender for first overall in the 2022 draft is beginning to reappear. After decimating the WHL in the second half of last season, Lambert started the 2023-24 campaign on a seven-game point streak upon his return to the AHL.