Favorite comeback player of the NHL season

[timelydew]

I've set out to prove I'm not a one-trick pony when it comes to hockey talk. Back-to-back non-rules threads! Huzzah!

 

I've been a big fan of Michael Grabner since his 34-goal outburst as a rookie. I always acquire him in the NHL games and use his speed to make him a kind-of Pavel Bure lite, if you will. My buddies always laughed at me, but the dude can flat out wheel.

 

Well, in recent years, Grabs has battled some injuries and lots of inconsistency. By the time he got to my Leafs last year, he was still an electrifying skater and competent penalty killer, but with his vanishing acts that would go sometimes weeks on end, and his notable lack of finish, it looked as though he might skate his way (quickly, haha) out of the league someday soon.

 

All of a sudden, he inks a low-risk deal with New York, and the proverbial floodgates open. Not even playing top-six minutes, he's exploded for near 30 goals and his plus minus (I know this stat is no longer sexy, but it's still useful) has been sky-high all year long. No way the Rangers crystal balled that. You can't say a guy with those numbers isn't putting in good work. His pace has slowed, but he's shattered expectations nonetheless. Plus, he provides value as a penalty killer and can really put pressure on defences with his speed. Really happy for him.

 

Obviously, Eric Staal has resurrected his career by moving out of MSG, and Raleigh, for that matter. Would be a popular choice. Do you guys have anyone else? Write-in vote for Peter Budaj. I know he's in Tampa now, and the know the Kings are missing the postseason, but without him, the Kings would have otherwise been totally deep-sixed much earlier than now.

[yave1964]

@timelydew

 

Evander Kane had a very nice season after whispers that Buffalo was soured on him. He looks more and more essential to what they are building there at this point.

 

If it is possible to bomb and then win comeback player of the year all in the same year, how about Brian Elliot? He lost his starting job to the immortal Chad  Johnson (and why doesn't that man wear number 85??)  Elliot was the biggest bust in all of Hockey during the first half and one of the central cogs to the team during their second half tear that has ended with them making the playoffs.

 

W.C. Fields line about rather being dead than in Philadelphia applies to Sam Gagner who last year was both but this season has found a major role as a power play specialist in Columbus.

 

Patrick Maroon, I don't know if he qualifies as a comeback player because he has never been as good as hoped for but has had a major out of nowhere breakthrough season having the season that Lucic was supposed to have for a quarter of the money.

 

I am not the only one who wrote Koivu off in Minnesota, he has played as if he were five years younger.

 

 

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

A bit unconventional given the criteria of what "comeback player" is supposed to mean, but I am going to go with Jonathan Drouin.

 

Yes, I know, he hasn't been in the league that long, but he was a veritable superstar in the QMJHL and everyone expected him to waltz right into the NHL and continue doing he did in Juniors.

 

Well, needless to say he didn't quite get going right away. He was very unimpressive in the small amount of time he spent in the AHL, he was "Meh" with the Lightning, and on top of all that, started to develop a reputation for being a "whiny brat"....and word was the Lightning may (or at least were better off) trading him away for other assets.

He hit rock bottom when he was sent home by Steve Yzerman and was not playing hockey at all.

 

Enter the 2016-17 season, and not only was he NOT traded by the Bolts, but he seemed to put on his big boy pants and has become one of the go-to guys on the team to the tune of 21 G 30 A in 67 games played.

 

Does this mean he will be an NHL superstar moving forward? Not necessarily, but it shows that what he did in Juniors was no fluke, that he certainly does have the ability to play at a very high level, even amongst the best players in the world, if he focuses his mind to getting the job done.

 

So given all that, I say, "Welcome back Jonathan Drouin...you are a good player once again!"

 

Boy...can't wait till next year.

If Drouin can take yet another step, then Stamkos, Kucherov, Drouin, Johnson, Palat, Point, and Hedman could be stuff opposing teams' defensive nightmares are made of!

[timelydew]

5 hours ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

A bit unconventional given the criteria of what "comeback player" is supposed to mean, but I am going to go with Jonathan Drouin.

 

Yes, I know, he hasn't been in the league that long, but he was a veritable superstar in the QMJHL and everyone expected him to waltz right into the NHL and continue doing he did in Juniors.

 

Well, needless to say he didn't quite get going right away. He was very unimpressive in the small amount of time he spent in the AHL, he was "Meh" with the Lightning, and on top of all that, started to develop a reputation for being a "whiny brat"....and word was the Lightning may (or at least were better off) trading him away for other assets.

He hit rock bottom when he was sent home by Steve Yzerman and was not playing hockey at all.

 

Enter the 2016-17 season, and not only was he NOT traded by the Bolts, but he seemed to put on his big boy pants and has become one of the go-to guys on the team to the tune of 21 G 30 A in 67 games played.

 

Does this mean he will be an NHL superstar moving forward? Not necessarily, but it shows that what he did in Juniors was no fluke, that he certainly does have the ability to play at a very high level, even amongst the best players in the world, if he focuses his mind to getting the job done.

 

So given all that, I say, "Welcome back Jonathan Drouin...you are a good player once again!"

 

Boy...can't wait till next year.

If Drouin can take yet another step, then Stamkos, Kucherov, Drouin, Johnson, Palat, Point, and Hedman could be stuff opposing teams' defensive nightmares are made of!

I actually live in Halifax, so I got to see the brilliance of Jo first hand. I say to this day that he's the best player I've ever seen at the junior level. He'd attempt, and pull off, things no one had any right in doing during a game.

 

I have a vested interest in his career. I was crestfallen last year during "l'affair Drouin" but he's come out of it stronger. And he still does stuff in-game that I marvel at. Did you see his unreal saucer pass in Anaheim?

 

I still think he can kick it up a notch.

[J0e Th0rnton]

3 hours ago, timelydew said:

I actually live in Halifax, so I got to see the brilliance of Jo first hand. I say to this day that he's the best player I've ever seen at the junior level. He'd attempt, and pull off, things no one had any right in doing during a game.

 

I have a vested interest in his career. I was crestfallen last year during "l'affair Drouin" but he's come out of it stronger. And he still does stuff in-game that I marvel at. Did you see his unreal saucer pass in Anaheim?

 

I still think he can kick it up a notch.

What?

Another Haligonian?

 

haha nice.

[JR Ewing]

[J0e Th0rnton]

11 hours ago, timelydew said:

I actually live in Halifax, so I got to see the brilliance of Jo first hand. I say to this day that he's the best player I've ever seen at the junior level. He'd attempt, and pull off, things no one had any right in doing during a game.

 

I have a vested interest in his career. I was crestfallen last year during "l'affair Drouin" but he's come out of it stronger. And he still does stuff in-game that I marvel at. Did you see his unreal saucer pass in Anaheim?

 

I still think he can kick it up a notch.

Gotta ask now.

 

Opinions of Nico Hischier?

 

Overall we have had some incredible players come through town in the past score of years. Mackinnon, Drouin, Ehlers, Meier.

 

I thought Otto Sommpi would go in the 3rd round not 7th last go around.

 

Alexis Gravel is definitely turning heads in net too. Hopefully he does not become another Fucale