As in the case of the majority of Canadian players, the fan would like to see Juraj Slafkovsky more incisive. After collecting six points in his first six games, without being dominant, the first overall pick in 2022 has been satisfied with two points in six games since his return from injury. His eight points nevertheless represent an improvement of six compared to his first twelve games last year. Let’s take this opportunity to take a look at the progress of the main young players in this vintage, most of them all aged 20.
Posted at 12:22 p.m.
Simon Nemec (2e overall), defender, New Jersey
This compatriot of Slafkovsky played 60 games last year with the Devils, but he failed to gain the trust of his new coach, Sheldon Keefe. After nine lackluster games, he was sent back to the American League recently, where he continues his progress.
Logan Cooley (3e au total), centre, Arizona/Utah
The best offensive player of his vintage currently. Cooley has 11 points after 15 games, centering the second line with Matias Maccelli and Dylan Guenther. André Tourigny manages his usage time well given his young age, with 15:36, sixth among his club’s forwards. Slafkovsky produces at an almost similar rate though (he would have 10 points in 15 games at the same ratio, but plays 17:32).
Cutter Gauthier (4e overall), winger, Philadelphia
This power forward begins his NHL career after being traded from the Flyers to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale. After a modest start, only 4 assists in his last 13 games, he has just been demoted to the fourth line. Gauthier had an assist Sunday to the right of support players Ross Johnston and Brett Leason in just 9:30 of use.
Shane Wright (5e au total), centre, Seattle
After a promising season last year in the American League, Wright has not produced with the Kraken since the start of the season: only 2 points in 15 games, all obtained in the same meeting on October 17 against Philadelphia. He played just 9:36 Friday against Vegas and has played less than 12 minutes in the last four games, playing third-line center.
David Jiricek (6e overall), defender, Columbus
This tall right-handed defender is struggling to break through the formation, which has been decimated by injuries in defense. Columbus has just claimed right-handed defenseman Dante Fabbro from the Nashville Predators on waivers. Jiricek has only played five games this season and played less than ten minutes the last two times. A return to the American League?
Kevin Korchinski (7e total), defender, Chicago
We threw this young man too quickly into the den of the wolf last season. After playing 76 games in Chicago last year, he was sent to the American League this season, where he had three points in nine games and a -8 record. He is currently on survival in the minors.
Marco Kasper (8e in total), center, Detroit
Kasper earned a promotion to Detroit on October 19 after starting the season in the American League. He has one point in ten games (obtained in his first meeting) at the center of the third line with Jonatan Berggren and Vladimir Tarasenko. Its usage time is slowly decreasing.
Matthew Savoie (9e au total), centre, Buffalo
The Sabers quickly abandoned the project by trading him last summer for a 25-year-old mid-training player, Ryan McLeod. Savoie has collected 8 points in 12 games so far with the Oilers’ AHL farm club. It’s missing a bit of dog.
Pavel Mintyukov (10e overall), defender, Anaheim
One of the few from this vintage having an impact in the NHL at the moment. Mintyukov may only have 2 points in 13 games, but he’s averaging 20:59 per game, second on the Ducks behind veteran Cam Fowler. He plays in the second wave only on a numerical superiority, but in the first wave of numerical inferiorities with his partner Brian Dumoulin. That says a lot about the maturity of his game.
Conor Geekie (11e in total), central, Arizona
This 6’4″ power forward went to the Lightning in the trade for Mikhail Sergachev. He remains on the right wing of the second line with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli despite only 3 points in 14 games. He nevertheless brings good energy to the dozen matches entrusted to him.
A few others…
Rutger McGroarty (14e au total), Winnipeg
This winger failed to crack the Penguins roster after being acquired for another first pick, Brayden Yager. He has two points in nine games in the American League.
Jiri Kulich (28e au total), Buffalo
This winger was sent back to the American League recently after recording just one point in eight games in Buffalo. He had 45 points in 57 games in Rochester last year.
Maveric Lamoureux (29e au total), Arizona/Utah
Injuries precipitated his arrival in the NHL. He does well in a second pair for around fifteen minutes per game. He was sent off from the match a few days ago following a nasty blow to a Blues opponent, which led to a furious fight against compatriot Pierre-Olivier Joseph.
Tristan Luneau (53e and in total), Anaheim
This Quebecer was sent back to the American League recently after starting the season in Anaheim. There were too many young defensemen on the Ducks roster.
Matthew Poitras (54e au total), Boston
The revelation last year with a deserved position at the start of the season with the Bruins. He is still there, on the wing of the third trio, 4 points in 14 games, with only a dozen minutes of use.
Lane Hutson (62e in total), Montreal
Probably the best player of the vintage at the moment. He has 8 points in 15 games, third behind Cooley and Slafkovsky (as many points as this one, but three games more), playing an average of 23:12, far ahead of all 2022 young players in this regard. He comes from elsewhere at 28e ranks in the NHL for usage time, with a few seconds more than Kristopher Letang, Thomas Chabot and Filip Hronek.
Quote of the day
PHOTO GENE J. PUSKAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tristan Jarry
I want to come back here and play well. I want to help this team. Giving him a chance to win every time I’m in front of the net.
Goaltender Tristan Jarry, recalled by the Penguins after spending two weeks in the American League trying to regain the momentum of the good days
Pittsburgh is 6-8-2 since the start of the season.
