Top returning star players who will influence the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature the return of multiple star players.

With the NHLPA agreeing to the 24 team playoff format on Friday, the NHL has some traction on seeing the 2019-20 season through its completion. Roughly four months will have passed between the March 12th stoppage and when the 24 teams will get together to start their team training sessions to set up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There will be some impactful players returning from injury that were deemed out for this season or could have been out for the season depending on their recovery and how far their team advanced in a normal playoff year. An interesting twist to factor into this incoming playoff season that will be anything but normal.

Jake Guentzel, Left Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins

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The Pittsburgh Penguins get one of their many playoff superstars back for the Stanley Cup chase. Guentzel was deemed out for four to six months with surgery on his right shoulder in the end of December, potentially out for the season.

Now he is available for the playoffs from the start in a season where he had 43 points in 39 games and was selected to the All Star game before his injury. Guentzel has 43 points in 41 career playoff games.

Steven Stamkos, Center, Tampa Bay Lightning

The captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning will be back to lead the team into the playoffs after having core muscle surgery at the end of February, projecting to be out six to eight weeks. Steven Stamkos had 66 points in 57 games prior to his injury. Now the top line centerman will be fully healthy heading into the tournament.

Mikko Rantanen, Right Wing, Colorado Avalanche

Mikko Rantanen was projected to be out for multiple weeks when he sustained an upper body injury in mid February. The budding superstar had 41 points in 42 games before the injury. Now along with captain Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, the lethal top line for the Avalanche will be fully healthy for one of the rare times all season long to make a push for the Stanley Cup.

Vladimir Tarasenko, Right Wing, St. Louis Blues

The defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues will have their perennial 30+ goal scorer back for the playoffs. Vladimir Tarasenko only played in 10 games this season after having surgery on his left shoulder at the end of October, scoring 10 points.

He was projected to miss five months, barely making it back towards the end of the regular season. Now a team who still finished the abbreviated 2019-20 season at the top of the Central Division without Tarasenko will have him back at full strength to lead the defense of their title.

Mark Stone, Right Wing, Vegas Golden Knights

Mark Stone was pronounced week to week with a lower body injury sustained in the beginning of March. It is unclear whether this would have been a season ending injury but could have been if things broke the wrong way for Vegas.

Now the second leading scorer of the team with 63 points in 65 games prior to his injury will be back on the top line to lead the potent Pacific Division leading Vegas Golden Knights offense to push towards the Stanley Cup.

Seth Jones, Defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets

Seth Jones had ankle surgery in mid February, projecting to be out eight to 10 weeks. Depending on the Blue Jackets making the playoffs and how far they would advance, at the time it was a high probability that he would be out for the season.

Now the pivotal three time All Star Defenseman who had 30 points in 56 games prior to his injury is back in the top defensive pairing for a Blue Jackets team that is built on strong defense and goaltending.

Jacob Markström, Goaltender, Vancouver Canucks

Jacob Markstrom was projected to be out for weeks with a lower body injury sustained in the end of February. This could have been an end of season injury if Vancouver missed the playoffs. Now the starting Canucks netminder who had a GAA of 2.75 and save percentage of .918% in 43 games before his injury will be back between the pipes for the team’s push towards the Stanley Cup.

Chris Kreider, Left Wing, New York Rangers

Chris Kreider fractured his left ankle at the end of February and was projected to miss four to six weeks. With the Rangers on the outside of the playoff picture fighting for a playoff spot by the stoppage, his injury could have been season ending.

Now the fast power forward who had a slow start to the season but strong second half of the year finishing with 45 points in 63 games will be back on the top line for the Rangers Stanley Cup push.

Dougie Hamilton, Defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes

Dougie Hamilton was projected to be out indefinitely fracturing his left fibula in the middle of January. He was enjoying his best year as a Hurricane and was on pace for a career year, scoring 40 points in 47 games prior to his injury. Carolina now has their star defenseman back in their Stanley Cup push.

Tomas Tatar, Left Wing, Montreal Canadiens

Tomas Tatar was ruled out indefinitely with an upper body injury at the beginning of March. With the Canadiens far out of the playoff picture at the stoppage, this looked like a season ending injury. He was having a career year with 61 points in 68 games at the time of injury. With the playoff format expanding to 24 teams, the Canadiens are in the playoffs and Tatar will be there for the team’s Stanley Cup chase.

Conor Garland, Right Wing, Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes leading scorer with 22 goals on the season was projected to be out for weeks in the middle of March with a lower body injury. Now he will be back for the team in their Stanley Cup chase.

Johnny Boychuk, Defensemen, New York Islanders

Boychuk took a skate to the face in the beginning of March that cut his eyelid and required 90 stitches in total. He was ruled out indefinitely but will be back to help an Islanders team that is built on defense and goaltending.

These players and more are coming back this season when they were more than likely ruled out, strengthening their respective teams in this Stanley Cup chase. Normally teams are banged up with injuries before the playoffs begin, which is a huge factor in how far their teams advance.

All teams are entering this Stanley Cup tournament in relatively full health and having all their high powered weapons ready and available. One of the many layers that will make this epic playoff season that much more intriguing.