Breakout Candidate: Ivan Demidov, RW/LW
The fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Demidov saw two games of action in the regular season before dressing in all five playoff contests. Penciled into a top-six or -nine role, Demidov should skate on one of the two power-play units. Demidov should contend for the Calder Trophy this season and be an elite forward in the future.
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Buy Low Candidate: Patrik Laine, RW
Laine’s injury history could cause him to slide down fantasy drafts. When healthy, he is a power-play specialist who is good for at least 20 goals and likely much more. Even though limited to just 52 contests last season. Laine lit the lamp 20 times last season. The big question, though, is can he stay on the ice, as well as be motivated.
Riser: Zachary Bolduc, LW/RW
Bolduc scored 19 goals, added 17 assists and finished with a plus-20 rating despite playing just 12:48 a contest in St. Louis. Montreal is likely to up that number by two minutes a contest, as Bolduc bounces between the second- and third-line and sees time on the power play. Look for 20+ goals this season with 30 a possibility down the road.
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Faller: Mike Matheson, D
Lane Hutson’s presence resulted in Matheson falling from 62 to 31 points. A good portion of that decline came on the man-advantage, where he dropped from 28 to 10 points. The addition of Noah Dobson could result in a further decline in ice time on the man-advantage and slide from first to second blue line pair.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.