Who have been the NHL’s “treats” this season as Halloween approaches?
As Halloween arrives, it’s worth taking a look at what players have been “treats” for their respective teams in the first month of the season.
While there have been surprising starts, both good and bad, around the NHL thus far, there have been a few bright spots that few could’ve expected through the month of October.
On Friday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton give their “trick or treat” picks for the first few weeks of the season.
Carter Hutton: I think Dan Vladar is my treat so far this year. I think as a guy with as many games as he’s played at 28 years old, he’s played six games, he’s been very good for the Philadelphia Flyers. Again, it’s not just Vladar. I think it’s the confidence of having Ersson and him, how you can platoon these two guys together. I think about, at 28 years old, and now you’re over 100 games in the NHL, he’s played very well.
There’s kind of a coming-out party for goalies. As you start to mix in, you still are physically capable to grow and get better. But now you have experience to pair that with. I think in a tough market like this, he is a great goalie to be there with his experience to kind of block out the noise and help Ersson. So, I think this is a good dynamic for the Flyers moving forward.
Tyler Yaremchuk: My treat is going to be Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. He netted a hat trick the other day. He is on an absolute run right now to start the season for Vancouver. Nine goals in 12 games. Listen, he’s shooting 37%. This stat line is absolutely a trick, but what’s a treat is the fact that this guy has set himself up beautifully in a contract year…look at this stat line from earlier in his career, back in 2018, that’s seven seasons ago, he played his first NHL season with the Anaheim Ducks. Had 12 points in 50 games…then, he bounces around for the next 3-4 years. NHL. AHL. Up and down like a yo-yo, and then last year, boom, it clicks.
He sets the record for most hits in a season. He’s almost a 20-goal guy with the Canucks. … I’m sure a couple of years ago, if you would have asked Kiefer Sherwood while he was playing in the American League, ‘Hey, how would you feel if at the end of the day, your career earnings were $5 million?’ He probably would have taken that deal. He might get $5 million a year on July 1.
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…