THW Daily - Connor Bedard’s Rookie Season & the Latest From Edmonton
Also, the Shane Pinto situation in Ottawa, landing spots for Martin Jones & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have predictions for Connor Bedard’s rookie point total, why Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson should return to WHL, landing spots for Maple Leafs netminder Martin Jones, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Experts Predict Connor Bedard’s Rookie Point Total
October 5, 2023 by Jim Bay
With his goal and two assists in last night’s (Oct. 3) victory over the Detroit Red Wings, Connor Bedard now has five points in three games he has skated for the Chicago Blackhawks this preseason. With the start of the regular season less than a week away, one of the bigger questions surrounding the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is how many points he will get in the 2023-24 season.
The answer to that question is not simple for a player considered a generational talent. As detailed earlier, Bedard has different circumstances than recent generational talents such as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. This has led to a wide range of predictions from NHL pundits, fantasy analysts, and oddsmakers. Let’s look at a sampling of what others think Bedard will do in the 2023-24 season.
Capitals Should Capitalize on Shane Pinto Situation
October 5, 2023 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The regular season is rapidly approaching, and the Washington Capitals are putting the final touches on what will become their 2023-24 opening night roster. With confidence oozing out from new head coach Spencer Carbery in his interviews during the preseason, it seems as though there is growing confidence that the Caps can make it back into the playoff picture this season.
With players like Ivan Miroshnichenko and Vincent Iorio emerging as players who could crack the opening night lineup, there is still room to improve. One player the Capitals should consider bringing in to bolster their forward group is Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto.
Nate Danielson is Better Off Returning to the WHL
October 5, 2023 by Logan Horn
Since being drafted ninth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings, Nate Danielson has done nothing but impress. While some Red Wings fans weren’t sure about the choice on draft day, his play in Traverse City and the NHL Preseason is making believers out of all.
He has since impressed at the Traverse City prospect tournament, the team’s official training camp, and now in the preseason with his strong two-way play, skating and hockey sense. The question that nobody expected to ask has already been brought up, “Should Danielson be in the NHL this year?”. While his inclusion on the roster would arguably make the team better, though only slightly, I believe that the best thing for Danielson, and by extension the future of the Red Wings, is for him to return to the WHL for this upcoming season.
Maple Leafs: 3 Potential Landing Spots for Martin Jones
October 5, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the 2023-24 season with a surplus of NHL-caliber goalies. Ilya Samsonov is, of course, the club’s starter, but they have a decision to make for their backup.
Rookie Joseph Woll is expected to have the role, as he is now eligible for waivers, and the Maple Leafs cannot risk losing him for nothing. Due to this, Martin Jones is likely the odd man out and could have a new home soon – whether it is through a waiver claim or a trade. Thus, let’s discuss three potential landing spots for the veteran goalie.
Bruins’ Danton Heinen Should Make 2023-24 NHL Roster
October 5, 2023 by Hannah Garfield
On Sept. 5, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced that Danton Heinen would return to the team on a professional tryout (PTO) contract. The 28-year-old Canadian was drafted by the Bruins 116th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Level Draft, and he made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season. While his first stint with the Bruins organization was not particularly remarkable, he has a pretty solid shot at making the roster this season.
He has earned praise at training camp and performed well in preseason games. He has also slipped into a nice position in the bottom-six and looks comfortable on the ice – unlike the team’s other PTO, Alex Chiasson, who never quite built any momentum and was released from his tryout on Oct. 1. Heinen, who is coming off a season with the Pittsburgh Penguins that really wasn’t that bad, is looking like a pretty safe bet to make the roster out of training camp in a bottom-six role.
Oilers News & Rumors: Brown, McLeod, Ekholm, Campbell, Skinner
October 5, 2023 by Jim Parsons
In an Edmonton Oilers news and rumors update, Connor Brown scored a couple of preseason goals on Wednesday and is looking good early. Was he the perfect fit and the ideal choice to play alongside Connor McDavid? Ryan McLeod was back on the ice for the Oilers. He didn’t play in the penultimate preseason game, but will he play in the last one? What about Mattias Ekholm? Should the Oilers be concerned he’s not yet played? Finally, who gets the nod as the starter for the Oilers? Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner have both played well.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Vancouver Canucks - Canucks’ Ilya Mikheyev: A Bounceback Season Ahead
St. Louis Blues - Blues’ Defensive Structures Still Have Lingering Issues
NHL News & Rumors - Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Avalanche, Canucks
From TSN - Insider Trading: Could next year's NHL Draft be at the Sphere?
From Sportsnet - 32 Thoughts: Bettman talks salary cap, expansion at Board of Governors
From the NHL - Drysdale signs 3-year contract with Ducks, was restricted free agent
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