Three forwards to target, two to avoid as the NHL enters it's final week of the regular season
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0 games on Friday, April 10
I debated what to write about with no games Friday and 15 on Saturday. Where I landed is to note some recent blueliner trends. At first, I looked at just the last 14 days, but I expanded the parameters to look at a defenseman's last 13 games. Initially, I selected 20 games, but I felt that went too far back and the data would be more germane for a more recent period, approximately the past month.
QuantHockey does a great job of consolidating data, link below, allowing you to view stats for a period of time. I picked the last four weeks, which has been anywhere from 12-15 contests for forwards. I utilized the data and presenting a few bullets to keep in mind as the season enters the final week:
- New Jersey has nothing remaining to play for, but don't tell Jack Hughes that. Since March 13, Hughes is the highly-scoring forward, potting 10 goals with 16 assists in 14 contests. Despite missing 20 games due to injury, Hughes has exceeded his 2024-25 total in four less appearances and sits just one shy of his 2023-24 production, which also came in 62 games. If he could only stay healthy for a full season.
- With three games remaining, Detroit remains with a barely perceptible pulse after going 3-6-1 in their 10 contests. One player who has raised his game even during this losing streak is Patrick Kane. In his last 13 appearances, Kane has delivered six goals and 12 assists raising his point total to 56 points, just three behind his surprising 2024-25 output in eight fewer games.
- Pittsburgh's acquisition of Yegor Chinakhov from Columbus was a steal. Chinakhov is a perfect left wing on one of the team's top two lines, providing production to match. His seven goals and 10 assists his last 14 games helped the Penguins clinch a playoff berth and top-three spot in the Metro Division. Chinakhov has 36 of his 42 points in just 41 games in the Steel City.
- Who had the Devils' Connor Brown with six goals and seven assists his last 14 games? Anyone? Don't he shy. That's what we all thought. no one. The ride has been great, as Brown has provided secondary and tertiary production in line with his 2019-20 season in Ottawa. Expecting that to continue or carry forward to the future may be fools' gold, but keep an eye on him just in case.
- Alexander Wennberg provided a typical season in 2024-25 for the Sharks, yet it was viewed as a disappointment. That comes with the territory after signing a two-year, $10 million deal with the Sharks in July of 2024. Wennberg has turned back the clock to 2016-17 when he scored 59 points for Columbus, notching 54 points in 77 games so far this season. He parlayed his fine play into a three-year, $18 million contract extension in January. One concern is Wennberg has 12 points his last 14 appearances, well above his norm, though that has helped San Jose remaining in the playoff hunt.
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