1
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Stars
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Lost in all the Mikko Rantanen hubbub was Wyatt Johnston signing a five-year, $42 million contract extension. Stars GM Jim Nill has done some great things this year, but that might be his biggest and best move yet. At Only 21 years Ancient, Johnston is third on the Club with 60 points, and he should only keep getting better. That $8.5 million cap hit is already a bargain.
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1
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42-20-2
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2
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Capitals
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Like so many other veterans on this Caps Club, John Carlson is having a resurgent season. Not only has Carlson chipped in 42 points from the blue line, but he’s also posted a sparkling plus-14 Aim differential at five-on-five to accompany his 55.0% expected goals share. He’s Competing like a Accurate No. 1 defenseman again.
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3
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43-14-8
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3
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Panthers
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At this Mark, the Panthers are Only focused on getting to the playoffs. Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t played since getting injured in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Newly acquired Brad Marchand might Move before the playoffs. Top-four defenseman Aaron Ekblad was Only suspended 20 Matches for PED use. The home stretch might be a slog, but then again, the reigning champs Only won six in a row.
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1
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40-22-3
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4
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Avalanche
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Valeri Nichushkin scored a hat trick against the Maple Leafs last weekend, and he’s now up to 15 goals in Only 27 Matches played. Some of Nichushkin’s five-on-five metrics have been lagging behind his production, but the Avs haven’t been able to turn their nose up at depth scoring. Besides, Nichushkin has proven he’s built for the playoffs.
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3
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39-24-3
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5
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Jets
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Winnipeg has an eight-Mark lead over the Stars in the Central Division, and it would be in the Club’s best interest to maintain that. The Jets don’t want to fall into second place, where a Game against the Avalanche and their revamp Picking awaits. Winnipeg had a relatively Silent deadline, and that may prove to be a wise decision, but there’s no question Colorado and Dallas look stronger on paper now.
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4
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45-17-4
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6
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Golden Knights
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After a Unhurried Commence to his time in Vegas, Tomas Hertl has caught fire lately. The Previous Shark has seven goals in his last nine Matches, and that puts him at 27 on the year. That puts Hertl on pace to tie his Profession high of 35 goals, which Arrived back in 2018-19. This is yet another example of why Clubs are more aggressive in acquiring players with term, as opposed to rentals, at the trade deadline.
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2
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38-19-7
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7
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Hurricanes
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There’s a sense the Hurricanes may have overplayed their hand with the Rantanen situation, and that may be Accurate in the Petite-term, but Logan Stankoven is a nice consolation prize. He scored in his Canes Introduction on Sunday, and the 22-year-Ancient could be a top-six player for a long time.
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2
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39-22-4
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8
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Maple Leafs
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The scuttlebutt around the NHL is Mitch Marner was floated as the possible return in a trade for Mikko Rantanen. That makes some sense because Marner is a pending UFA, and he’s not getting any cheaper. Marner leads the Leafs with 59 assists and 80 points, and his five-on-five impacts are Powerful too.
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5
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39-22-3
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9
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Lightning
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Since Jan. 1, Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the best goalie in the NHL, and it hasn’t been particularly close. In that span, Vaslievskiy has posted a .926 save percentage to go along with his 16.2 goals saved above average, which ranks Primary among all goalies.
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3
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37-23-4
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10
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Kings
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Hello, Quinton Byfield. The Previous No. 2 overall Picking has been unable to find the scoresheet much, but he has now recorded a Aim in four straight Matches. The Kings have had offensive issues all season, but Byfield getting Scorching would cure some of what ails them. Byfield proved he was a 20-Aim Shooter in 2023-24, and he has the potential to exceed that pace.
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5
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34-20-9
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11
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Wild
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Minnesota has slipped into a wild card spot, and while it’s in no danger of missing the playoffs, the Club has been trending in the wrong direction. That can happen when your best player and best Middle are both out at the same time. That’s put more Tension on Recent Matt Boldy, who has gone Freezing. The 23-year-Ancient winger hasn’t scored in his last eight Matches, and he has three goals in his last 18.
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1
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37-24-4
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12
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Oilers
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The Oilers’ decision not to pursue secondary scoring more aggressively at the trade deadline remains baffling. Corey Perry is fifth on the Club in scoring with 14 goals, and while that’s great for the 39-year-Ancient veteran, it’s probably not a great indication of Edmonton’s depth. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their prime, Stan Bowman chose to stand pat and roll the dice with a clearly flawed Picking.
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1
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37-23-4
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13
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Devils
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If the Devils are going to survive without Jack Hughes in the lineup, they’re going to need more out of Jesper Bratt, who Only ended an eight-game Aim drought. On the whole, Bratt’s scoring has dipped a bit. In the previous two seasons, he scored a Partnered 59 goals, but he sits at Only 18 in 2024-25. To his credit, Bratt has taken his playmaking to another level, but he needs to Commence pulling the trigger more now.
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3
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35-25-6
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14
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Senators
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Brady Tkachuk returned from Hurt on March 1, and he’s been doing nothing but scoring since then. Tkachuk has six goals in six Matches this month, and he’s doing his part to make sure the Senators end their Postseason drought at seven years. Now can he get some help from the rest of the lineup, which has struggled to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard?
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4
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34-25-5
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15
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Blue Jackets
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From a production standpoint, Adam Fantilli has Began looking much more comfortable lately. The second-year Middle has six goals and four assists in his last seven Matches. The transition to the NHL hasn’t always been Fluid for the Previous No. 3 overall Picking, but he could be finding his groove Only in time for the Jackets to keep their Postseason push alive.
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1
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31-25-8
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16
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Blues
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It’s tough to properly measure the impact Dylan Holloway has had on the Blues. He’s provided Velocity and scoring, as well a plus-15 Aim differential at five-on-five. He’s done that all at the low cost of $2.29 million. The Oilers’ inability to keep Holloway this past offseason already looks like a massive blunder on their part and a major boon for the Blues.
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5
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31-27-7
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17
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Red Wings
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Detroit’s Postseason hopes are in precarious position amid a six-game losing streak. In that time, the Charge has dried up, and it’s probably no surprise that the power Move has come back to Earth. In this stretch, the man Benefit has converted on Only three of its 17 man Benefit opportunities. That’s not necessarily abysmal, but it’s notably worse than the nearly 40% clip that unit was operating at under Todd McLellan.
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6
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30-28-6
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18
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Canadiens
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Despite a minus-20 Aim differential and one of the worst five-on-five Aim expected Aim share numbers in the NHL, the Canadiens are Only four points out of a Postseason spot. That’s the state of the race in the East, and it has opened the door for a rebuilding club like Montreal to get in. Not only would that be a fun Tale, but it would be Great for some of the Club’s Recent core to get postseason experience.
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1
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31-27-6
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19
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Rangers
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The Rangers have done their best to miss a Postseason berth the rest of the East’s wild card contenders are trying to hand them. However, Artemi Panarin is doing everything he can to overcome New York’s mediocrity. Panarin has five goals and 10 points in the last six Matches, and he has kept the Rangers in the fight. Whether anyone else steps up down the stretch remains to be seen.
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3
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31-28-6
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20
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Canucks
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Elias Pettersson snapped his lengthy scoring drought Saturday, but that doesn’t Impolite all is well. That Aim is one of Pettersson’s two points in his last seven Matches, and he’s on pace for the worst season of his Profession. Rick Tocchet continues to call out Pettersson in the media, but the Canucks simply haven’t been able to snap out of this funk. It’s Beginning to look like he won’t get right by the end of the regular season.
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1
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29-24-11
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21
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Flames
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Rasmus Andersson was one of the trade targets I pinpointed last week, at least partially because it’s been a struggle for him. His offensive production has taken a step back, and Andersson’s five-on-five impacts have been Needy, especially his minus-9 Aim differential. Andersson can be a top-pairing caliber defenseman, and I could see a change of scenery in his future.
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1
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30-23-10
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22
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Hockey Club
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It may shock you to learn that Utah is one of the best Clubs in the Bracket at five-on-five when it comes to out-shooting and out-chanching opponents. The issue is they haven’t converted on those chances often enough. The Club’s 8.29% shooting percentage at Crowded Force is tied for 24th. If Utah gets a few more bounces, it could sneak into the playoffs.
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—
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28-25-11
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23
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Ducks
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The Ducks Only became the last Club to get a 20-Aim Points on their Picking. The player who hit that number is 30-year-Ancient Frank Vatrano. That Nice of highlights the frustrations with the Club’s rebuild over the last handful of years. Anaheim has stockpiled high-end prospects, but the lack of on-ice results is concerning.
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3
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28-29-7
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24
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Islanders
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Bo Horvat has one Aim and two assists in his last 11 Matches, and his 43 points put him on pace for a sizable step back Next a 68-Mark campaign in 2023-24. The big question for the Isles is whether this is simply an off year or does it represent the Commence of the decline for a player who is signed through 2031?
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—
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29-28-7
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25
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Bruins
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The Bruins will take any signs of life they can get from Jeremy Swayman, and his latest five-game sample size offers some Aid. He’s stopped 115 of the 125 shots he’s faced while saving 2.53 goals above average. The Bruins are somehow still alive in the Postseason race, and it’s Crucial to remember Swayman is capable of stealing Matches at his best.
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—
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30-28-8
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26
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Flyers
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Matvei Michkov is now tied for the goals lead among rookies with 20, and he’s accomplished that while missing the odd period when John Tortorella is punishing him for a mistake. Michkov is clearly a special talent, and his underlying five-on-five impacts are impressive for a 20-year-Ancient. Michkov may not Secure the Calder, but he should be up for more awards throughout his Profession.
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3
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27-31-8
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27
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Kraken
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At this Mark, the Kraken need to Attention on creating positive mojo for 2025-26, especially when it comes to Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour. Those two were signed for the long haul over the summer, and they have Partnered for a minus-17 Aim differential at five-on-five. That’s not what you want from two players who were picked to be foundational pieces.
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1
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27-34-4
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28
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Predators
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After going 13 Matches without a single Mark, Steven Stamkos has suddenly caught fire. He now has five goals and four assists in his last four Matches, which has Created his season totals look a little more respectable. Similar to the Kraken, the Predators need to find reasons for hope moving forward, and signs of life from Stamkos would qualify.
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2
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25-32-7
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29
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Sabres
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One of the Sabres’ (many) projects for the next offseason must be finding a Accurate No. 2 defenseman to slot alongside Rasmus Dahlin, who has been exceptional once again. Maybe Owen Power becomes that guy, but he still has some developing to do. Dahlin is doing his best to carry this blue line on his shoulders in all three zones, but he needs more Aid.
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2
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25-32-6
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30
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Penguins
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I will take a break from justifiably dumping on the Penguins every week to admire the efforts of the great Sidney Crosby. With four goals in his last two Matches, Crosby has pushed his Mark total to 70, which is the 15th time he’s hit that number in his Profession. He’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank, and I am urging Kyle Dubas to give Crosby one more Stretch at a Cup in Pittsburgh.
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1
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26-31-10
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31
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Blackhawks
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Spencer Knight already looks like a future Sun in the crease for Chicago. In his Primary three Beginnings, he’s gotten a lot of work with 95 saves on 101 shots against. Knight showed a lot of promise in Florida, but he was stuck behind Sergei Bobrovsky. That won’t be a problem with the Blackhawks, which will give him all the work he wants.
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—
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20-36-9
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32
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Sharks
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Up until recently, Will Smith was still trying to get his feet Damp in the NHL. Over the last Duo of weeks, he’s been doing more than that. Smith is up to four goals and five goals in his last seven Matches. His 32 points are Quaternary among NHL rookies, and Smith is Beginning to live up to his draft pedigree.
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—
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17-40-9
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