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Feel free to view Part 1 (Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton), Part 2 (Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle), Part 3 (Vancouver, Vegas, Carolina, Columbus), Part 4 (New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers), Part 5 (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington), Part 6 (Boston, Buffalo, Detroit), Part 7 (Florida, Ottawa, Montreal) and Part 8 (Tampa Bay, Toronto, Arizona, Chicago) of our 2021-22 season preview series if you haven’t already done so.
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COLORADO AVALANCHE
2020-21 Record: 39-13-4, 82 points
Result: First in the West Division. Lost 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.
Significant Gains: Darcy Kuemper, Darren Helm, Ryan Murray
Significant Losses: Philipp Grubauer, Joonas Donskoi, Brandon Saad, Ryan Graves, Conor Timmins
Strengths: Colorado had the best offense in the league last season. The Avalanche led the NHL with 3.52 goals for per game played. Colorado had the eight-best power play and finished second overall with 47 markers with the man advantage. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar were all point-per-game or better producers in 2020-21. Gabriel Landeskog, Andre Burakovsky, Samuel Girard and Devon Toews had strong offensive showings as well. The Avalanche also performed very well defensively, while preventing many scoring chances against. The team ranked third in the NHL in goals against per game played (2.36) and had the seventh-best penalty kill percentage (83.1).
Weaknesses: The Avalanche lost some key players this offseason. The departures of Donskoi and Saad will test the team’s depth up front. Secondary offense could become an issue if Nazem Kadri doesn’t bounce back. J.T. Compher, Tyson Jost and/or Valeri Nichushkin will need to pick up the slack. There were changes on the back end and in the crease as well for the Avalanche, but Colorado still has the depth and the talent at those positions to feel secure in those areas.
Player to Watch: Pavel Francouz could prove to be a valuable pickup this season for fantasy managers either late on draft day or as a waiver pickup. He didn’t play in 2020-21 because of a lower-body injury, but he is slated to be Kuemper’s backup this year. Francouz was superb between the pipes in 2019-20 with 21 wins, one shutout, a 2.41 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 34 appearances. He has a chance to see plenty of starts this year, especially if Kuemper continues to have injury problems. Kuemper has played in over 30 games just twice so far in his career.
DALLAS STARS
2020-21 Record: 23-19-14, 60 points
Result: Fifth in the Central Division. Did not make the playoffs.
Significant Gains: Ryan Suter, Braden Holtby, Luke Glendening
Significant Losses: Jason Dickinson, Jamie Oleksiak
Strengths: Dallas tied for the sixth-best goals against per game played (2.64) last season. Being strong defensively is nothing new for the Stars. The club didn’t allow many scoring chances against last year. The Stars acquired some depth on the back end with the signings of Suter and Hakanpaa. There is also plenty of two-way talent among the team’s forward group as well as depth at the goaltending position. Additionally, Dallas had the fifth-best power play percentage (23.6).
Weaknesses: The offense of the Stars has been a problem for a while and it cost them some points in the standings in 2020-21. Dallas lost in a league-high 14 games beyond regulation and ranked 28th in winning percentage in one goal games (.310). The Stars were banged up last year, but the returns of Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov and Roope Hintz should provide scoring coverage for the top-two lines. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the offensive struggles continue. The lack of success on the penalty kill stands a much better chance of getting better. The Stars had the eighth-fewest shorthanded situations and finished 19th in penalty kill percentage (79.1).
Player to Watch: Holtby could have some bounce-back potential and some under-the-radar fantasy upside if he lands a job sharing the crease with Anton Khudobin. However, that would mean that Ben Bishop isn’t available to play yet after missing all of last season following knee surgery and that would put Jake Oettinger in the minors for the start of the season. More clarity to the situation will probably come during training camp, but goaltenders on the Stars have plenty of fantasy upside.
MINNESOTA WILD
2020-21 Record: 35-16-5, 75 points
Result: Third in the West Division. Lost 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights in first round.
Significant Gains: Alex Goligoski, Dmitry Kulikov, Frederick Gaudreau
Significant Losses: Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, Nick Bonino, Carson Soucy, Marcus Johansson
Strengths: Minnesota’s offense found another gear in 2020-21, while tying for the seventh-best goals for per game played (3.21). The Wild had the second-most goals in the first period (60) and the second-most goals in the third period (67). Rookie forward Kirill Kaprizov led the team in goals (27) and points (51) last season. Kevin Fiala was productive as well and made a big impact on the power play, while Mats Zuccarello, Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno exceeded expectations. The Wild also kept up the team’s superb defensive play, while limiting scoring chances against and tying for the eighth-best save percentage (.907).
Weaknesses: The Wild will have to continue to trend in the right direction and prove that career years from Foligno, Eriksson Ek and Greenway weren’t flashes in the pan. The team struggled mightily to score in the playoffs versus Vegas and if that’s a precursor for 2021-22 then a big strength of the team a year ago becomes a serious problem. Replacing Suter on the back end won’t be easy either, but there is still plenty of depth there especially after the additions of Goligoski, Kulikov and Jordie Benn.
Player to Watch: Kaprizov had plenty of eyes on him during his rookie season. He lived up to lofty expectations and then some and his contract situation has been an interesting story throughout the summer. However, the player to monitor at training camp will be Marco Rossi. He is back to full health after being diagnosed with myocarditis in January. Rossi may get a year of development back in the minors or he could jump right to the NHL and possibly slot in as a top-six forward on Minnesota. He has the scoring ability to make an impact and would be a strong fantasy option if he ends up playing alongside Kaprizov.