Rodrigues had nine goals and 20 assists (29 points) in 74 games during his first full NHL season in 2018-19. With bigger named prospects faltering around him, Rodrigues settled into a middle-6 role with the Sabres and finished the season ranked fourth among Buffalo forwards in TOI/GP (15:49). Entering the 2020 season, Rodrigues will once again be battling with Casey Mittelstadt for the No.2 centre role.
After missing just one game in 2017 and 2018 combined, Bennett appeared in just 71 games last season but averaged the least ice-time of his career (13:17 TOI/GM). Bennett wrapped the season up with 27 points (13G / 14A). Bennett will likely be fighting with Michael Frolik for a spot on the Flames’ second line but will likely open the year in the bottom-6.
After finishing his Junior season at Clarkson University, Sturm turned pro and appeared in two NHL games with the Wild at the end of 2019. The 24-year-old led Clarkson with 45 points (14G / 31A) in 39 games. Sturm has NHL-size (6-foot-3, 207 lbs.) but with Eric Staal, Mikko Koivu, Joel Eriksson Ek and Victor Rask ahead of him on the depth chart, he is likely headed for the AHL to start the year.
Forsling had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 43 games with the Blackhawks last year and had a few games in the AHL. The 23-year-old blueliner was traded to Carolina this offseason and will likely be on their third-pairing to start 2020. If he plays a full season in the NHL, Forsling has 20-plus point upside with the Hurricanes.
Forsig had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 43 games with Chicago last season. He has appeared in at least 38 games in each of his first three NHL seasons, tallying a total of 27 points (8G / 19A) in 122 career games. Forsling is still a pending RFA but will likely get a contract to be the Hurricanes No.5/6 defenseman in 2020.
New Jersey selected Boqvist with the No.36 overall pick in 2017. The 20-year-old centre has been in the Swedish Elite League since 2016 and is coming off of a season where he had 35 points (13G / 22A) in 51 games with Brynas IF—good for second on the team.
Luostarinen, 20, was a second-round pick (No.42 overall) in 2017 and recorded 15 goals and 21 assists (36 points) in 54 games with KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish Elite League this season. Luostarinen also appeared in four games for Finland at the IIHF World Championship, where he helped them win Gold.
Heponiemi, 20, was a second-round pick (No.40 overall) in the 2017 draft and had 16 goals and 30 assists (46 points) in 50 games with Karpat of the Finnish Elite League. The Finnish centre had 204 points (56G / 148A) across two seasons with Swift Current (WHL) before returning to Finland this season.
Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Blue Jackets 4-3 loss in Boston in Game 5. Bobrovsky has now given up four goals in back-to-back games and the Blue Jackets are on the ropes. Bobrovsky has gone 3-1 while allowing just nine goals on 147 shots (.939 SV%) in his four starts at Nationwide Arena in the postseason.
Bobrovsky allowed one goal on 37 shots in the Blue Jackets 2-1 win in Game 3. Bobrovsky has played very well all postseason, but particularly vs. the Bruins, where he has stopped 99 of the 105 shots (.943 SV%) that he has faced. Bobrovsky will look to stay unbeaten in Columbus in Game 4—he is 3-0 while allowing just five goals on 101 shots (.951 SV%) in the first three postseason games at Nationwide Arena.
