We are roughly a quarter through the start of the season, so what better way than do some awards... Please note, the "offensive" portion is the overall offence, not just forwards, same goes with defensive... These will include:
MVP:
Offensive surprise:
Offensive letdown:
Defensive surprise
Defensive letdown:
Overall biggest surprise:
Overall biggest letdown:
"Unluckiest" player:
Player most likely to do even better next quarter:
Likeliest team target/team departure:
I will start:
MVP: Auston Matthews
Offensive surprise: John Tavares
Offensive letdown: Mitch Marner
Defensive surprise: Morgan Rielly
Defensive letdown: David Kampf
Overall biggest surprise: William Nylander
Overall biggest letdown: Mitch Marner
"Unluckiest" player: Max Domi
Player most likely to do even better next quarter: Mitch Marner
Likeliest team target/team departure: Target; Nikita Zadorov
MVP: Jack Hughes
Offensive surprise: Holtz maybe
Offensive letdown: Mercer (see below)
Defensive surprise: Miller
Defensive letdown: Bahl
Overall biggest surprise: McLeod
Overall biggest letdown: Health
"Unluckiest" player: Mercer
Player most likely to do even better next quarter: Hischier
Likeliest team target/team departure: (someone we never saw coming)
MVP: Jack Hughes
Offensive surprise: Holtz maybe
Offensive letdown: Mercer (see below)
Defensive surprise: Miller
Defensive letdown: Bahl
Overall biggest surprise: McLeod
Overall biggest letdown: Health
"Unluckiest" player: Mercer
Player most likely to do even better next quarter: Hischier
Likeliest team target/team departure: (someone we never saw coming)
Most of Fitzy’s acquisitions have been ones that weren’t talked about before hand. Meier was the exception. Marino, Toffoli, Lazar, Haula, Siegenthaler, and Dougie and Palat signings were all things people didn’t see coming. His first deal was selling Blake Coleman…which was also a surprise. He has also been known to send breadcrumbs in wrong direction (ie, with Gaudreau, Hellebuyck).
The media following the Devils is very different from Toronto or neighboring New York…so it’s probably fairly easy to keep things under wraps. My guess is…if he adds, it will be someone who is not on any trade lists today.