NHL Preview 2024-25 107 SportsForecaster.com

Forwards

Macklin Celebrini [C]

  • Age: 18
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 190
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
NCAA 38 32 32 64 25 18 1.68
Career 100 40 66 106 -25 48 1.06
Forecast 78 24 23 47 - - 0.60

Four years after playing for the San Jose Jr. Sharks, Celebrini won the '24 Hobey Baker Award (top NCAA player) at age 17! He can drive defenders back with his speed and lethal shot, is exceptional at creating off the rush and has the tools to be productive right away in the NHL. He is also defensively sound and can win puck battles.

Logan Couture [C]

  • Age: 35
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 200
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 6 0 1 1 0 4 0.17
Career 933 323 378 701 -1 255 0.75
Forecast 41 10 12 22 - - 0.54

He hopes to be healthy again after missing all but six games last season because of a groin injury that has left his hockey (and post-hockey) future up in the air. Before '23-24, Couture produced 20-plus goals in five of the previous seven seasons and has been a consistent point producer when healthy. But injuries have been an issue.

Ty Dellandrea [C/W]

  • Age: 24
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 195
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Dal 42 2 7 9 -10 23 0.21
Career 249 17 42 59 -43 169 0.24
Forecast 77 12 14 26 - - 0.34

The 24-year-old Dellandrea spent nearly half the '23-24 campaign as a healthy scratch in Dallas, so an off-season trade might yield an opportunity for more playing time. When he did play last season, his average ice time dropped to just 12:40 per game. Dellandrea is willing to hit bodies and can also be an option on the penalty kill.

William Eklund [RW/LW]

  • Age: 22
  • Ht: 5-10
  • Wt: 176
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 80 16 29 45 -45 30 0.56
Career 200 42 86 128 -74 79 0.64
Forecast 81 21 34 55 - - 0.68

Turning 22 in October, Eklund is coming off a mixed bag of a first full NHL season. The positives? He was second on the team in goals and points in '23-24–and got hot down the stretch, putting up 15 points in his final 14 games. On the other hand, his minus-45 rating was the worst in the NHL. Eklund clearly has top-six winger upside.

Barclay Goodrow [LW/C]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 204
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
NYR 80 4 8 12 -13 78 0.15
Career 679 66 114 180 -30 598 0.27
Forecast 82 7 15 22 - - 0.27

Goodrow's six playoff goals (after a four-goal regular season) in 2023-24 convinced the Sharks that it would be worthwhile to bring him back to his original squad. He ought to get more ice time in his new/old home, where he will likely be charged with helping to nurture some of San Jose's youngsters, as well as contribute on the ice.

Mikael Granlund [W/C]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 5-10
  • Wt: 185
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 69 12 48 60 -23 32 0.87
Career 913 182 437 619 -25 281 0.68
Forecast 72 10 36 46 - - 0.64

The 32-year-old seeks to build on a comeback season that saw him tie his career best with 0.87 points per game in 2023-24, partly thanks to a career-high 20:58 of average ice time. He was especially dangerous on the power play, earning an assist on 22 of the Sharks' 42 man-advantage goals. He has not been a plus player since 2017-18.

Carl Grundstrom [LW]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 201
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
LA 50 8 4 12 -2 12 0.24
Career 293 43 33 76 -35 108 0.26
Forecast 74 10 6 16 - - 0.22

The 26-year-old Swede's hard-nosed style of play makes him an excellent forechecker, but it can also lead to injuries like the one that helped limit him to 50 games last campaign. His shot is good enough to score double-digit goals in a season, but he has not progressed much over his last four NHL campaigns. He needs to get it going.

Luke Kunin [RW/C]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 197
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 77 11 7 18 -30 83 0.23
Career 456 74 70 144 -103 383 0.32
Forecast 73 8 10 18 - - 0.25

The 2016 first-rounder has not been a big scorer, though he usually hits double figures in goals. Kunin makes his living with his physical play: he finished second on the Sharks in hits (165) and first in penalty minutes (83) and major penalties (9) in '23-24. He struggled defensively (–30) in his first season back after ACL surgery.

Will Smith [RW/C]

  • Age: 19
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 181
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
NCAA 41 25 46 71 25 14 1.73
Career 104 30 43 73 -12 28 0.70
Forecast 70 9 22 31 - - 0.44

The No. 4 overall choice in the 2023 NHL draft led the NCAA in scoring and helped Boston College reach the championship game in 2023-24. He is crafty and can handle the puck at full bore. Smith can beat opponents with a pass, his terrific wrist shot or a deke. His defense needs work and he is not a ''bad boy'' (he lacks physicality).

Tyler Toffoli [LW/RW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 196
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
NJ/Wpg 79 33 22 55 -6 14 0.70
Career 920 297 296 593 68 246 0.64
Forecast 80 28 22 50 - - 0.63

The 32-year-old Toffoli will be going for his third straight season of 30-plus goals in 2024-25. He is a goal-scoring winger who is not a big threat off the rush. However, Toffoli is strong down low and gets most of his scoring chances from there. He has a quick release and excellent hands, which make him dangerous on the power play.

Alex Wennberg [C]

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 190
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea/NYR 79 10 20 30 0 14 0.38
Career 819 107 278 385 -54 177 0.47
Forecast 81 11 18 29 - - 0.36

The 14th player taken in the 2013 draft can play a variety of roles but is mostly a third-line center. He has a lanky frame and plays with pace, although he tends to spend much of his time on the perimeter. While Wennberg will get into shooting lanes to block shots (75 last season), he has not reached the 40-point mark since 2016-17.

Fabian Zetterlund [RW/LW]

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 220
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 82 24 20 44 -34 33 0.54
Career 275 58 68 126 -30 67 0.46
Forecast 82 26 27 53 - - 0.65

The 25-year-old made the most of his first opportunity to play top-six winger minutes in the NHL last season, leading the Sharks in goals after failing to score in 22 games following his trade from New Jersey in '22-23. His average ice time (18:51) was way up from the previous campaign, including an average of 2:29 on the power play.

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Matt Benning

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 203
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 14 0 2 2 -5 14 0.14
Career 464 17 85 102 -21 239 0.22
Forecast 62 1 10 11 - - 0.18

The son of former NHL D-man Brian Benning hopes to be healthy in '24-25 after a hip issue that required surgery limited him to 14 games in '23-24. He was coming off career highs in assists and points in '22-23, but he only averages about 18 points per 82 games. The 30-year-old has not put up a positive plus/minus rating since '19-20.

Cody Ceci

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 210
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Edm 79 5 20 25 12 14 0.32
Career 899 53 188 241 -4 198 0.27
Forecast 79 4 16 20 - - 0.25

Ceci's offensive numbers were not bad in '23-24, considering that he played a total of 5:28 on the power play all season. He was the Oilers' most utilized penalty killer (2:36 SH TOI/GP) and finished third on the team with 106 blocks. Ceci's reputation needs improving, since he is known for making big mistakes at inopportune moments.

Mario Ferraro

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 185
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 78 3 18 21 -38 36 0.27
Career 438 18 80 98 -118 189 0.22
Forecast 80 5 19 24 - - 0.30

Simply put, Ferraro devours minutes: he averaged 22:52 of ice time last season and 21:36 or more in each of the past four campaigns. That is partly why Ferraro was on the ice for more opposition goals against than any other skater in the NHL in 2023-24 (140). He paced the Sharks in blocked shots (195) and placed fourth in hits (124).

Jan Rutta

  • Age: 34
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 204
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 69 5 14 19 -21 38 0.28
Career 417 23 75 98 25 219 0.24
Forecast 74 4 15 19 - - 0.26

Offense has never been the two-time Stanley Cup champ's calling. He is what he has been throughout his career: a right-shooting defensive defender who will generate a few points here and there, while being able to handle being partnered with almost anyone. The 34-year-old is a good complement to someone who needs a calming influence.

Henry Thrun

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 210
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
SJ 51 3 8 11 -22 16 0.22
Career 119 5 20 25 -48 46 0.21
Forecast 70 6 18 24 - - 0.34

The former Harvard defenseman stepped right into a regular NHL role in his first full pro season in 2023-24. He is not a dynamic offensive player but can move the puck well and is a solid two-way defender. Thrun was a scorer in the NCAA, so his first-season totals–with limited power-play time–are likely a floor rather than a ceiling.

Jake Walman

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 218
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Det 63 12 9 21 -2 44 0.33
Career 284 35 66 101 0 157 0.36
Forecast 77 10 28 38 - - 0.49

The 28-year-old was a valued member of the Red Wings' blueline corps, until he was shipped to San Jose in a pure salary dump over the summer. He is coming off career highs in goals and points last campaign–despite playing only 63 games; one goal was an overtime penalty shot. He should see plenty of ice time with the Sharks in '24-25.

Yaroslav Askarov

  • Age: 22
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 176
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Nsh 2 1 0 0 0 1.47 0.943
Career 35 15 15 3 0 3.08 0.901
Forecast 42 11 - - 1 3.42 0.898

The 22-year-old has excelled in his two AHL seasons, and he earned his first NHL win during a brief call-up last season. The young Russian has elite athleticism that lets him make reactionary saves other netminders cannot. At his best, his agility and ability to read plays and move quickly side to side are good enough to steal games.

Mackenzie Blackwood

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 225
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
SJ 44 10 25 4 2 3.45 0.899
Career 262 111 104 29 16 2.93 0.906
Forecast 37 10 - - 1 3.37 0.899

Blackwood's 2023-24 stats do not reflect the huge number of high-danger chances he faced on a nightly basis. Little of the Sharks' dreadful campaign can be blamed on the veteran 'tender, who kept them in games when they were badly outplayed and outshot. Two of his last three wins were shutouts. Injuries continue to be a bugaboo here.