Prospect Ramblings: Djoos has arrived (and more first NHL goals)

Hayden Soboleski

2017-10-15

Normally, me geeking out over prospects scoring their first ever NHL goals is a small segment of my ramblings, coverings one or two goals a week. I thought I was lucky last week to feature DeBrusk, McAvoy, Bratt, and lots of others, but this season just keeps on giving, so without further ado lets break down some more goals, starting with a player that needs to appear on your fantasy radar ASAP:

 

Christian Djoos

Djoos scored a goal in his first ever NHL game, and even threw in an assist for good measure. Lots of us here at DobberProspects were licking our lips last season just waiting for him to make the jump after a stellar AHL campaign and strong pre-season. He is very capable of securing an NHL spot, and will be fantasy-relevant as soon as he does. He's undersized so might be sheltered depending on his opponent, but has big offensive upside (58 points in 66 AHL games last year) and now with Niskanen out long-term, there's a real opportunity here for Djoos to prove he can be a regular. He was present for about 24% of the even-strength ice-time in the Caps' last contest, plus close to 25% of the team's powerplay time – which is fantasy defenseman gold. He's slightly buried as a left-handed d-man behind Orlov and Orpik, but once Ovechkin becomes mortal again and the team needs offense, expect Djoos to start getting more and more favorable ice time.

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Nolan Patrick

Patrick does good work following up a play and getting to the right spot to be in position for a pass. This will be first of many for the 2nd-overall-pick who looks like he'll spend the full season in Philly, but you dont need me to tell you that.

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Alex Kerfoot

Its not the prettiest goal on today's list, but the puck going in off of you means you were in the right place. At least that's what I tell myself every time I score a goal with my ass… The highly-coveted college UFA has looked good in the Avs' top-six so far and if he sticks with Duchene good things will continue to happen. This kid has outstanding passing vision. 

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Sam Girard

A straight up blast from the point is as good a way as any for a d-man to get his first. Girard scored like crazy in Junior so perhaps doubting his ability to jump to pro was a mistake. With injuries on the Preds blue line, Girard could very well stick in the NHL and become immediately worth a look in deeper one-year leagues. 

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Ian McCoshen

McCoshen joins the play at the right time, and gets the puck on net. Sometimes thats all it takes, and it happened at a great time for the Panthers who had just fallen behind. He probably wont have enough upside to be worth picking up in most leagues, but that doesn't make this goal any less special.

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Vince Dunn

In the same game as McCoshen, a Blues defenceman picked up his own first ever NHL goal. Dunn is one of several fringe defensemen tring to lock down a third-pairing spot, and plays like this certainly help his cause. Nothing wrong with crrying the puck into the offensive zone yourself and taking any chance to shoot that's given to you. Dunn scored regularly in Junior, and put up 45 points as an AHL rookie last year. There's no reason to doubt his ability to continue putting up good numbers if he sticks with the Blues, although he will be hard-pressed to get any PP time behind Pietrangelo and Parayko. 

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Slater Koekkoek

Koekkoek has teased us with inconsistant play for the last couple seasons, and has now achieved a milestone with his first NHL goal (and second). I'm not confident this will help him become a bona-fide NHLer, but with two goals already in limited games, he's certainly making a case.

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Mario Kempe

It helps when your teammate tees up a wicked one-timer to get the puck to the net, but deflection goals are still goals. Good work for Kempe who gets his first NHL point after coming from modest production in the KHL. His overseas numbers aren't outstanding enough to warrant getting excited, especialy given how bad the oyoteslook so far this year. 

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Thank you for reading, and best of luck in your upcoming matchups!

Hayden Soboleski

@soboleskih

 

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