This article is part of our NHL Barometer series.
This week's article includes Sid the Kid on a roll, veterans hot in the Windy City and on Broadway, Budaj Boddai, a big loss on the blue line in Columbus and the Flower wilting in Pittsburgh.
First Liners (Risers)
Sidney Crosby, C, PIT – Crosby has pushed concerns over his early-season concussion far into the background. His two goals Saturday gave him six in the last four games and eight in six contests since returning. Of course, the impact from concussions is cumulative, but the length of time from his prior one may have aided Crosby's recovery. If you discounted the injury and took a shot on him as a first rounder, you have been rewarded.
Ryan Kesler, C, ANA – Kesler, whose production declined dramatically since 2011-12, is off to a surprisingly solid start. Two power-play goals Sunday gives him four to go with six assists in 13 games. Kesler's playing time is up over a minute a game, much of that coming on the man advantage. Add in 21 hits, nine blocked shots and 22 penalty minutes and you have someone who can stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis.
Marian Hossa, RW, CHI – Hossa had a rough 2015-16 campaign, tallying just 33 points in 64 games. This year is different, with the Slovak counting 11 points in 12 games. Hossa scored the OT winner and added an assist Sunday against Dallas, giving him seven points in his last six contests. The probable Hall of Famer tallied his 500th goal in October and continues to be a threat on a stacked Chicago squad.
Rick Nash, RW, NYR – Nash totaled 15 goals and 21 assists in an injury-plagued 2015-16 season after 42 goals and 27 assists the previous year. Much of the early offseason was spent speculating whether Nash would be bought out of the final two remaining years on his contract, which boasts a $7.8 million average annual value. The Rangers wisely decided to keep him, as Nash came to camp in great shape and has started well. His goal Tuesday was the 400th of his career and seventh in 14 games.
P.A. Parenteau, RW, NJ – Parenteau re-signed with the Islanders this offseason, inking a one-year deal worth slightly over $1 million to once again line up with John Tavares. But right before the season started, he was inexplicably placed on waivers. The Isles claimed they wanted to play the kids, although many of them have been healthy scratches. The Devils grabbed the veteran and he has provided the team five goals in 12 games while seeing time alongside Taylor Hall.
Victor Hedman, D, TB – Hedman, the second pick in the 2009 draft, took four years to find his footing. The talented Swede broke through in 2013-14 with 55 points and his hot start this year - 10 points in 13 games – has many believing he could exceed that total. Even if he falls short, 50 points and a healthy plus-minus should suffice as his year-end production.
John Klingberg, D, DAL – Klingberg continued his rebound from a horrific start, notching an assist Tuesday in Dallas' 8-2 pasting by Winnipeg. That point gave him six points in the last seven games after managing only two in the first six. The 131st selection from 2010 exploded on the scene two years ago with 40 points and upped that mark to 58 last season. Despite the slow start, it wouldn't be surprising to see Klingberg match that total.
Peter Budaj, G, LA – Jonathan Quick's injury left a major hole between the pipes for the Kings. Surprisingly, it's been Budaj who has ably filled that role. He made 19 saves Tuesday against Toronto to notch his second straight shutout and improve his record to 7-3 and lowered his goals-against average to 1.86 and upped his save percentage to a respectable .919 – two numbers he has never posted, even in spot duty. Ride the wave while it lasts.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, CLM – The Bob is back. A lingering groin issue limited the Russian to just 37 games last year, and even when he was on the ice, his production was a shell of his former self. Now fully healthy, Bobrovsky seems to have recaptured his Vezina-winning form. His shutout Friday in the 10-0 whitewash of the Canadiens raised his save percentage to .947, lowered his GAA to 1.47 and improved his record to 5-3-1.
Others include Artem Anisimov, Mitch Marner, Matt Duchene, Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenyuk, Mark Scheifele, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alexander Wennberg, Rickard Rakell, Tyler Seguin, Jordan Eberle, Carl Hagelin, David Pastrnak, Patrik Laine, Nikita Kucherov, Corey Perry, Jakub Voracek, Patrick Maroon, Duncan Keith, Zach Werenski, Brady Skjei, Damon Severson, Keith Yandle, Brent Seabrook, Devan Dubnyk, Corey Crawford, Tuukka Rask, Robin Lehner, John Gibson and Jimmy Howard.
Training Room (Injuries)
Seth Jones, D, CLM – Jones will miss the next three weeks due to a hairline fracture in his foot, removing a key piece from the Blue Jackets' blueline. He leads the team in ice time with an average of 24:14, which includes 1:26 on the power play and 3:04 on the penalty kill. Jones is the undisputed leader of the back line, whose absence puts more pressure on Zach Werenski and Jack Johnson, along with Sergei Bobrovsky.
Others include Bryan Little (lower-body, out until end of November), Nick Bjugstad (hand, likely back next week), Mike Fisher (upper-body, missed three straight games), Jonathan Drouin (possible concussion, day-to-day), Thomas Vanek (lower-body, placed on long-term injured reserve), Tyler Motte (lower-body, expected to be sidelined 2-to-3 weeks), Jussi Jokinen (knee, returns to action Thursday) and Justin Faulk (undisclosed, week-to-week).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Carl Soderberg, C, COL – Soderberg, who registered a career-high 51 points last season, is off to an extremely slow start. He hasn't recorded a point in his last six games and has just three in 10 contests. The former Bruin's ice time is down nearly a minute (17:02 vs. 18:01) from last year, as is his power-play time (1:18 vs. 2:16). If you believe in silver linings, Soderberg is centering Jarome Iginla and Gabriel Landeskog, so he has linemates that could help him turn it around.
Loui Eriksson, LW, VAN – Eriksson parlayed 30 goals and 33 assists last season with Boston into a six-year, $36 million contract with the Canucks. Visions of him tallying 35 to 40 goals with the Sedins went through our heads following his arrival. But we may be lucky to see 20 to 25, as Eriksson finally potted his first goal in game 14 on Tuesday – his first point in the last eight contests. Eventually, his production will rise; but for now, it may be pine time for him unless you believe the goal will kickstart his game.
Mattias Ekholm, D, NAS – Nashville has struggled this year and Ekholm's production has also fallen off. He collected eight goals and 27 assists last season, but has been held to just two assists in 11 games. Ekholm is playing over 23 minutes per contest – an increase of three minutes from last season – which should help his stats. But until the Preds can get out of neutral, it may be best to bench him.
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, PIT – Fleury's inclusion here is less for what he has done and more to whom has returned to the lineup. Matt Murray has won both contests, including a shutout, since he was activated from the hand injury he suffered at the World Cup. MAF has posted a 6-2-2 record, but those six wins have come thanks to the Pittsburgh offense and his 3.07 GAA and .908 SV% are only mediocre. If Murray remained sidelined, Fleury would continue to stand between the pipes; but since that isn't the case, look for the kid to see more action.
Others include Auston Matthews, Mika Zibanejad, Boone Jenner, Jimmy Hayes, Sebastian Aho, Vladislav Namestnikov, Tyler Toffoli, Jack Johnson, Toby Enstrom, Semyon Varlamov and Pekka Rinne.
