NHL Preview 2024-25 135 SportsForecaster.com

Forwards

Mason Appleton [RW]

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 194
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 82 14 22 36 16 26 0.44
Career 426 60 87 147 33 146 0.35
Forecast 82 17 18 35 - - 0.43

The 28-year-old aims to build on his best NHL campaign, one that saw him post career highs in goals, assists, points and plus/minus rating as a third-line right-winger. His defensive play and attention to detail are fine, and he uses his reach to his advantage in all three zones. He also gets involved physically (106 hits in '23-24).

Morgan Barron [C/LW]

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 220
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 80 11 7 18 10 23 0.23
Career 278 33 34 67 18 90 0.24
Forecast 79 10 10 20 - - 0.25

The big (6'4'', 220 pounds) depth forward is coming off his first season of double-digit goals in the NHL, though his average ice time fell by nearly three minutes per game from '22-23. He is surprisingly quick for his size, is physical, can kill penalties and is responsible in all three zones. The offense Barron produces is a bonus.

Kyle Connor [LW]

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 183
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 65 34 27 61 -6 6 0.94
Career 641 299 318 617 0 147 0.96
Forecast 82 43 40 83 - - 1.01

What Connor does best is score: he has topped 30 goals in six of his seven NHL campaigns, including 34 (10 GWG) last campaign. Connor gets lots of power-play time, though his totals were down last season. He can play a fast game as well as beat opponents one on one. Connor's commitment to defense sometimes leaves a bit to be desired.

Nikolaj Ehlers [LW]

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 172
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 82 25 36 61 27 29 0.74
Career 702 231 308 539 107 228 0.77
Forecast 76 27 37 64 - - 0.84

The 28-year-old stayed healthy and did a lot of scoring with relatively few minutes (15:52 TOI/GP) last campaign. Ehlers owns high-end skills, elite hockey smarts and the wheels to be a threat off the rush. He can push opponents back with his speed and excels at finding open ice. The Danish veteran can play either wing position, too.

Alex Iafallo [RW/LW]

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 201
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 82 11 16 27 14 6 0.33
Career 612 115 156 271 37 107 0.44
Forecast 75 13 17 30 - - 0.40

The versatile forward can be useful in a power-play role and he also kills penalties. His offensive totals fell off in his first season with the Jets last season, even though he played all 82 games (up from 59 in 2022-23). He is competent in most aspects of the game, although exceptional in none. He can be plugged in wherever needed.

Rasmus Kupari [C/RW]

  • Age: 24
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 183
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 28 0 1 1 -5 4 0.04
Career 217 14 24 38 -21 52 0.18
Forecast 57 2 7 9 - - 0.16

The Finn can really fly. Putting up points is another matter–as was staying healthy in 2023-24. Kupari managed just one assist in 28 games with the Jets and is still looking for his niche at the NHL level after being used mostly as a fourth-line forward when he was not injured or a healthy scratch. Time is starting to run out on him.

Adam Lowry [C]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-5
  • Wt: 210
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 81 12 23 35 17 57 0.43
Career 791 122 154 276 49 430 0.35
Forecast 82 11 20 31 - - 0.38

At 6'5'', Winnipeg's captain puts the ''power'' in power forward; he led all Jets forwards with 181 hits in 2023-24 and plays a heavy game. As a checking pivot, he also provides secondary scoring, gets some power-play time and kills penalties. He can match up against top-six opponents and plays to the limit of his ability every game.

Vladislav Namestnikov [LW/C]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 181
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 78 11 26 37 17 37 0.47
Career 814 143 201 344 42 424 0.42
Forecast 75 9 24 33 - - 0.44

Namestnikov's first full season in Winnipeg, his seventh NHL franchise, saw him put up his best offensive totals since 2017-18. Also, he tied a career high in assists. The '11 first-round pick was regarded as a scorer when he came into the NHL but has since evolved into a versatile forward who provides good secondary scoring numbers.

Nino Niederreiter [LW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 218
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 77 18 16 34 12 34 0.44
Career 997 246 249 495 79 440 0.50
Forecast 80 20 19 39 - - 0.49

The No. 5 pick in the 2010 draft is entering his 14th pro campaign. At his best, he notches about 20 goals and 40 points, while playing about 15 minutes per game as a middle-six winger. He is a powerful skater who uses his size and strength (6'2'', 218 pounds) well in the offensive zone. He is skilled enough to move up in the lineup.

Cole Perfetti [RW/LW]

  • Age: 22
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 185
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 71 19 19 38 13 12 0.54
Career 236 49 80 129 29 52 0.55
Forecast 78 25 28 53 - - 0.68

He is going through the NHL's version of growing pains. Perfetti can make plays off the rush and has a shot that can make him a 30-goal scorer–someday. In 2023-24, the 22-year-old went 15 games without a point at one stretch, saw his ice time drop and dressed for just one playoff game. The smallish (5'11'') forward has more to learn.

Mark Scheifele [C]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 207
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 74 25 47 72 19 57 0.97
Career 907 350 490 840 87 437 0.93
Forecast 80 28 53 81 - - 1.01

The veteran top-line center continues to provide offense, but his overall play also improved markedly last season (from –16 in '22-23 to +19 in '23-24). He bought into the team's emphasis on greater commitment to defense and work off the puck. Scheifele's 57 penalty minutes in '23-24 were a career high and tied for third on Winnipeg.

Gabriel Vilardi [RW]

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 216
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 47 22 14 36 11 14 0.77
Career 298 103 97 200 17 74 0.67
Forecast 74 32 39 71 - - 0.96

Injuries to his knee and spleen limited Vilardi to 47 games in his first season with Winnipeg, but he scored at a 38-goal pace. He possesses a quick release and reads goaltenders well thanks to a great hockey IQ. However, injuries have been an issue throughout Vilardi's career: he has never played more than 63 games in an NHL season.

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Dylan DeMelo

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 194
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 82 3 28 31 46 36 0.38
Career 664 21 154 175 119 327 0.26
Forecast 82 4 22 26 - - 0.32

The 31-year-old DeMelo is consistent rather than slick, but he opened eyes with career highs in assists, points and average time on ice last season. He also finished second in the NHL in plus/minus rating (+46). He does a bit of everything: matches up against top-six forwards, kills penalties, blocks shots and pushes back physically.

Colin Miller

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 199
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
NJ/Wpg 46 4 5 9 8 26 0.20
Career 582 43 138 181 0 368 0.31
Forecast 72 4 15 19 - - 0.26

The veteran D-man must have left an impression in the five games (plus one more in the Stanley Cup playoffs) he toiled with the Jets late last season, after coming over from New Jersey via trade. Winnipeg re-signed Miller to a two-year deal over the summer and will probably use him on the third pairing. He is solid, if unspectacular.

Josh Morrissey

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 195
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 81 10 59 69 34 44 0.85
Career 690 85 312 397 90 329 0.58
Forecast 79 13 54 67 - - 0.85

The veteran's offensive game has taken off the last two seasons, with 76 and 69 points, respectively. However, is overall play improved markedly last season (+34). He devours minutes (24:11 TOI/GP in '23-24), is an excellent puck distributor and has an accurate shot. Morrissey is also relied upon to match up against top-six forwards.

Neal Pionk

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 190
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 82 5 28 33 9 63 0.40
Career 560 45 216 261 24 306 0.47
Forecast 81 6 26 32 - - 0.40

The 29-year-old has averaged 33 points in the past four campaigns and more than 20 minutes of ice time in each of his seven NHL seasons. The veteran defender also brings plenty of other contributions: he was second on the Jets in hits (221) and blocks (118) in 2023-24, and he averaged more than 1:35 of ice time on both special teams.

Dylan Samberg

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 216
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 78 1 17 18 16 43 0.23
Career 228 9 46 55 61 100 0.24
Forecast 79 2 16 18 - - 0.23

There is not a ton of flash to Samberg's game. He moves well in open ice but can get himself in trouble down low in his own end. The 25-year-old is not very physical, but he gets in lanes to block shots. His offense improved in '23-24, though all but one of his 18 points were assists. He is a combined plus-26 in the past two seasons.

Logan Stanley

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-7
  • Wt: 231
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wpg 25 1 1 2 4 36 0.08
Career 230 8 37 45 28 260 0.20
Forecast 68 3 13 16 - - 0.24

The 6'7'' rearguard ate a lot of press box meals last campaign, as he was a healthy scratch on most nights and played just 25 games. The 2016 first-round pick has yet to come close to living up to his draft position, after scoring exactly one goal in each of his four NHL seasons. As a defensive defenseman, his long reach is an asset.

Connor Hellebuyck

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 207
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Wpg 60 37 19 4 5 2.39 0.921
Career 582 330 191 44 45 2.56 0.918
Forecast 61 34 - - 4 2.46 0.918

A nightmarish playoff loss should not negate Hellebuyck's '23-24 regular season, which saw him win the Vezina Trophy for the second time. At 6'4'', he is big in the net and usually plays deep in order to allow the puck to come to him. Though Hellebuyck must be careful about over-challenging shooters, he remains among the NHL's elite.

Kaapo Kahkonen

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 215
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
SJ/NJ 37 7 24 3 1 3.64 0.898
Career 140 49 68 15 4 3.34 0.898
Forecast 23 12 - - 1 3.03 0.903

There is nothing like leaving an awful defensive team to give a netminder's game a boost. That was the case in '23-24 for Kahkonen, who looked much sharper in New Jersey after being torched for parts of three seasons with San Jose. He played well despite winning only one of six appearances, which bodes well for the upcoming campaign.