Top 5 Players to Excel on Their New Teams

With the 2021 season drawing near, the joy of projecting a player’s success with their new team is a must-do. With this season being unlike any other, players have less time to adapt to their new environments and become the impact player their GM’s were hoping for when they acquired them. Taylor Hall likely fills the number one spot on just about any list as he joins elite center Jack Eichel in Buffalo, where the duo should be a problem for opposing teams. Here is a list of players I feel should be impactful on their new teams:

1. Montréal Canadiens Defense

Okay, so I started with a group of additions… Joel Edmundson, Jake Allen, and rookie prospect Alexander Romanov signal a change of focus for Montréal. Giving up the 9th most goals against last year, the Canadiens may very well end up the most improved defensive team this season. Let’s not forget Carey Price as he looks to regain form as the league’s best goaltender. Adding Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, and Corey Perry into the mix, Marc Bergevin deserves a tap on the shoulder for changing the team’s culture. It is also worth noting that Montréal has 12 picks in the first five rounds of the 2021 Draft – Bergevin doesn't appear finished just yet.

2. Devon Toews – Colorado Avalanche

If this player is unfamiliar to you now, I doubt it will take very long to make an impression with the Avalanche. Playing under defensive-minded coach Barry Trotz in New York, Toews demonstrated his ability to be a difference-maker in the defensive zone but hasn’t unlocked his offensive potential. That all changes in Colorado as the departure of Nikita Zadorov opens the door for a potential special team’s role on one of the league’s best powerplay teams. If that isn’t enough for an increase in points, Toews now joins the 4th high-scoring offense in the league, a big jump from an Islanders team ranked 23rd in team scoring during the 2019-2020 season.

3. Tyson Barrie – Edmonton Oilers

When Tyson Barrie signed with Toronto, it looked like the perfect fit. So, what makes signing in Edmonton any different? Barrie can focus on the part of the game that made him a great player, offense. Many believe he will exceed expectations playing with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on one of the league's best powerplay units and not be relied on in the defensive end. As stated, this is a second chance for a player who could be a boom or bust candidate. Barrie’s ability to breakout with the puck allows the Oilers to play their North-South style while spending less time in their defensive zone.

4. Chris Tanev – Calgary Flames

Vancouver Canucks fans will be missing this player for years to come. A rugged, right-shot defenseman that can handle special teams’ assignments, Tanev bolsters an arguably league-best defensive core. With Calgary having such depth on the blueline, Tanev will be placed into situations of success and not have to play against the opposition’s top players on a nightly basis.

5. Kasperi Kapanen – Pittsburgh Penguins

Having now gone full circle, Kapanen finds himself in his second stint with the Penguins organization that drafted him 22nd overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. After spending the last five seasons in Toronto, Kapanen looks to get the opportunity to play in a top 6 role centered by Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Posting a career-high 44 points in the 2018-2019 campaign, the Penguins hope the re-acquisition provides a much-needed offensive spark.

Honourable mention: Lias Andersson to the Los Angeles Kings

Formerly drafted 7th overall in the 2017 Draft by the New York Rangers, Andersson’s career hasn’t started the way he had hoped. Los Angeles is hoping the 22-year-old will fit in with the Kings' youth movement and regain the confidence that warranted a top-10 selection. Hockey fans may remember the Swedish captain throwing his silver medal into the crowd at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championships, making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Who do you think will impact their team the most? Let us know in the comments below.