Yearbook Update: Player Predictions
Here are some revisions to the player point projections originally published in
our McKeen's 2002-03 Hockey Pool Yearbook
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Stat projections are listed as GP-G-A-PTS with the initial Yearbook forecasts
denoted in brackets.
Anaheim
Chistov .. may not last full sked given age (19) and lack of game play
last season
Revised Projection .. 63-13-24-37 .. (79-17-36-53)
Paul Kariya .. could return to point-per-game plateau given improved
support staff
Revised Projection .. 77-36-41-77 .. (77-36-34-70)
Andy McDonald .. early preseason star outplaying Chistov
Revised Projection .. 75-14-28-42 .. (59-6-14-20)
Steve Rucchin .. has upside if he can stay healthy for once
Revised Projection .. 72-15-29-44 .. (65-12-21-33)
Atlanta
Vyacheslav Kozlov .. fully recovered from a serious Achilles tendon injury
and will start the season with Kovalchuk
Revised Projection .. 72-22-36-58 .. (72-17-32-49)
Shawn McEachern .. Heatley influence should prompt return to 20-goal
level
Revised Projection .. 81-24-27-51 .. (81-17-26-43)
Kamil Piros .. surprisingly emerged as top candidate for No. 1 pivot
spot between Kovalchuk and Kozlov
Revised Projection .. 65-12-23-35 .. (27-2-5-7)
Patrik Stefan .. looks much improved based on early camp returns
Revised Projection .. 70-12-38-50 .. (66-8-30-38)
Boston
Bryan Berard .. should see plenty of top power-play duty here
Revised Projection .. 75-8-32-40 .. (75-7-26-33)
Girard .. a more confident player this year and will benefit from McLaren
holdout
Revised Projection .. 74-4-19-23 .. (45-1-11-12)
Huml .. bulked-up rookie has been the biggest surprise at B’s camp
Revised Projection .. 68-16-13-29 .. (12-1-2-3)
Martin Lapointe .. enthusiastic start won audition for Guerin’s spot
alongside Thornton
Revised Projection .. 80-24-29-53 .. (80-18-25-43)
Morrisonn .. no need to rush 19-year-old rookie with signing of Berard
Revised Projection .. 19-1-3-4 .. (74-2-11-13)
Buffalo
Campbell .. ready to make permanent jump
Revised Projection .. 68-4-16-20 .. (45-3-8-11)
Jochen Hecht .. promoted to second line with Connolly and Barnes
Revised Projection .. 77-17-24-41 .. (69-12-16-28)
Taylor Pyatt .. will see top-line duty and has the tools to reach 20-goal
plateau
Revised Projection .. 81-20-19-39 .. (81-16-13-29)
Calgary
Saprykin .. surprise of Flames camp so far, has inside track among slew
of candidates
Revised Projection .. 67-11-17-28 .. (9-1-1-2)
Carolina
Jaroslav Svoboda .. could start alongside Francis on the top line
Revised Projection .. 76-15-25-40 .. (76-12-14-26)
Chicago
Arnason .. showed up in much better shape and is in line for promotion
Revised Projection .. 58-12-13-25 .. (45-6-7-13)
Mark Bell .. in better shape and could profit from Daze injury
Revised Projection .. 81-22-25-47 .. (81-17-20-37)
Eric Daze .. will miss at least the first month after undergoing back
surgery
Revised Projection .. 65-29-21-50 .. (71-31-23-54)
Theo Fleury .. August free-agent addition should win the club scoring
title
Revised Projection .. 77-35-40-75 .. (73-28-36-64)
Colorado
Milan Hejduk .. looks primed for a big rebound
Revised Projection .. 82-37-37-74 .. (82-30-37-67)
Joe Sakic .. will give Forsberg run for team scoring crown
Revised Projection .. 82-37-58-95 .. (82-35-53-88)
Radim Vrbata .. early form suggests he’ll force his way onto top two
lines
Revised Projection .. 74-19-23-42 .. (35-8-10-18)
Columbus
Andrew Cassels .. August signing gets prime billing here
Revised Projection .. 77-17-46-63 .. (74-15-44-59)
Espen Knutsen .. addition of Cassels will help divert attention
Revised Projection .. 75-14-45-59 .. (75-12-38-50)
Grant Marshall .. has shown signs of being on the verge of a career
year
Revised Projection .. 79-22-24-46 .. (71-16-20-36)
Nedorost .. laying claim to top-six spot with solid preseason
Revised Projection .. 58-7-12-19 .. (27-2-6-8)
Geoff Sanderson .. rejuvenated alongside former sidekick Cassels, but
allow for injury time
Revised Projection .. 75-29-28-57 .. (71-25-22-47)
Jaroslav Spacek .. may have underestimated here
Revised Projection .. 78-9-23-32 .. (78-7-18-25)
Dallas
Ulf Dahlen .. impressing early on the top line with Modano and Guerin
Revised Projection .. 72-19-31-50 .. (72-17-27-44)
Jon Sim .. taking full advantage of Brenden Morrow’s contract holdout
Revised Projection .. 64-15-12-27
Detroit
Pavel Datsyuk .. stands to gain the most from Steve Yzerman’s absence
Revised Projection .. 82-19-39-58 .. (82-16-29-45)
Boyd Devereaux .. will miss next month due to broken thumb
Revised Projection .. 65-11-17-28 .. (81-11-17-28)
Darren McCarty .. appears to have gained more offensive role after coaching
change
Revised Projection .. 74-15-22-37 .. (74-10-13-23)
Zetterberg .. could hit 45-point mark based on smooth NHL transition
to date
Revised Projection .. 76-11-34-45 .. (76-8-27-35)
Edmonton
Anson Carter .. capable of hitting 30 goals at full health
Revised Projection .. 75-27-32-59 .. (66-24-25-49)
Florida
Valeri Bure .. expect a rebound with knee troubles seemingly behind him
Revised Projection .. 75-27-33-60 .. (71-25-29-54)
Kristian Huselius .. sprained knee early at camp, but will be back shortly
after opening night
Revised Projection .. 77-28-25-53 .. (81-28-25-53)
Marcus Nilson .. should volley impressive camp performance into career
numbers
Revised Projection .. 82-18-30-48 .. (82-16-23-39)
Shvidki .. shown signs of pushing Novoseltsev for second-line duty eventually
Revised Projection .. 69-13-13-26 .. (45-7-6-13)
Los Angeles
Eric Belanger .. pushing for promotion to second line
Revised Projection .. 69-13-18-31 .. (69-7-12-19)
Minnesota
Cliff Ronning .. veteran has fit into Wild lineup like a glove
Revised Projection .. 80-21-40-61 .. (75-18-33-51)
Sergei Zholtok .. may finally deliver solid back-to-back seasons
Revised Projection .. 70-17-28-45 .. (70-15-23-38)
Montreal
Hainsey .. beat out Komisarek to replace the injured Sheldon Souray
in starting six
Revised Projection .. 64-4-14-18 .. (35-1-4-5)
Nashville
Hamhuis .. Karalahti’s departure has opened door
Revised Projection .. 76-4-16-20 .. (24-1-5-6)
Andreas Johansson .. August addition assumes a more offensive role here
Revised Projection .. 68-12-19-31
David Legwand .. formed effective partnership with Orszagh at camp
Revised Projection .. 81-20-34-54 .. (81-18-27-45)
Vladimir Orszagh .. has been outstanding early in camp
Revised Projection .. 80-19-26-45 .. (80-17-22-39)
New Jersey
Brian Gionta .. looks terrific in second-line role
Revised Projection .. 78-18-27-45 .. (78-14-20-34)
Jamie Langenbrunner .. top line RW has chance to reach 45-point mark
Revised Projection .. 76-17-29-46 .. (76-14-23-36)
NY Islanders
Shawn Bates .. warming to under-appreciated winger despite injury-prone
nature
Revised Projection .. 66-15-33-48 .. (66-11-26-37)
Oleg Kvasha .. centering second line of Isbister and Parrish with Peca
sidelined
Revised Projection .. 79-19-33-52 .. (79-15-27-42)
NY Rangers
Pavel Bure .. could miss opening month after more knee surgery
Revised Projection .. 64-41-27-68 .. (80-53-33-86)
Lundmark .. will get crack at second line as Rucinsky remains unsigned
Revised Projection .. 75-15-19-34 .. (58-6-11-17)
Petr Nedved .. set to play left wing with Lindros and Bure
Revised Projection .. 80-33-37-70 .. (80-28-32-60)
Mark Messier .. could go out with a splash if he remains healthy
Revised Projection .. 72-19-36-55 .. (63-13-30-43)
Rem Murray .. falling out of the mix
Revised Projection .. 82-11-18-29 .. (82-13-23-36)
Ottawa
Magnus Arvedson .. strictly defensive role
Revised Projection .. 73-11-16-27 .. (73-14-20-34)
Peter Schaefer .. September acquisition from Canucks adds scoring depth
Revised Projection .. 75-16-19-35 .. (DNP-Fin)
Spezza .. has taken big strides in overall game
Revised Projection .. 74-13-29-42 .. (67-6-24-30)
Philadelphia
Brendl .. major project getting chance on Flyers’ top line
Revised Projection .. 65-18-21-39 .. (28-5-6-11)
Michal Handzus .. increase in offensive duties under Hitchcock
Revised Projection .. 77-16-32-48 .. (77-12-22-34)
Phoenix
Daniel Briere .. should lead Yotes in scoring
Revised Projection .. 79-32-42-74 .. (79-30-38-68)
Shane Doan .. switched to left wing on top line with Briere and Amonte
Revised Projection .. 78-29-33-62 .. (78-25-30-55)
Mike Johnson .. worked his way back into the mix
Revised Projection .. 76-13-28-41 .. (65-7-11-18)
Pittsburgh
Alexandre Daigle .. how long will storybook comeback last?
Revised Projection .. 55-15-17-32 .. (DNP)
Jan Hrdina .. paired with Kovalev in preseason
Revised Projection .. 82-22-33-55 .. (82-15-25-40)
Koltsov .. impressed with speed in North American debut
Revised Projection .. 65-10-18-28 .. (42-5-9-14)
Janne Laukkanen .. fragile Finn capable of surprising if healthy
Revised Projection .. 65-5-17-22 .. (53-3-8-11)
St. Louis
Pavol Demitra .. could repeat team scoring crown barring injuries
Revised Projection .. 79-34-46-80 .. (72-28-41-69)
Tom Koivisto .. 28-year-old rookie looks comfortable in North American
debut
Revised Projection .. 65-4-17-21 .. (28-1-5-6)
Doug Weight .. back in full health and capable of reaching 70-point
mark
Revised Projection .. 76-21-50-71 .. (70-17-43-60)
San Jose
None
Tampa Bay
Alexeev .. looks ready to make the jump
Revised Projection .. 65-11-16-27 .. (25-3-4-7)
Vincent Lecavalier .. could close gap on Richards
Revised Projection .. 81-29-35-64 .. (81-29-29-58)
Brad Richards .. a 70-point year is not out of the question
Revised Projection .. 82-22-46-68 .. (82-18-46-64)
Shane Willis .. could rebound to 20-goal mark based on camp showing
Revised Projection .. 76-20-22-42 .. (72-14-16-30)
Toronto
Nikolai Antropov .. has rebounded well from reconstructive knee surgery
Revised Projection .. 69-14-22-36 .. (58-6-17-23)
Boyes .. disappointing camp, clearly not ready to step into NHL
Revised Projection .. 11-2-3-5 .. (55-7-13-20)
Alexander Mogilny .. will benefit from move alongside Sundin
Revised Projection .. 75-36-36-72 .. (75-32-28-60)
Mats Sundin .. upgraded wing talent should translate into point-per-game
numbers
Revised Projection .. 82-39-46-85 .. (82-35-41-76)
Vancouver
Sami Salo .. perhaps brittle Finn can stay healthier in the west
Revised Projection .. 65-7-17-24 .. (58-5-11-16)
Washington
None