Predators vs. Coyotes: Top 3 depth players who could make an impact
Which depth players could help determine the series between the Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes?
The Nashville Predators will “host” the Arizona Coyotes when their best-of-five series commences this Sunday. While star players will have the spotlight in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, some of the depth players may control the outcome.
I, along with many others, have deemed that the Predators and the Coyotes underachieved in the regular season. My reasoning is that both teams have stars in the lineup that we, as hockey fans, have learned to expect a lot from.
For that reason, players like Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen, and Matt Duchene for Nashville, and Phil Kessel, Taylor Hall, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for Arizona, along with several others, will be scrutinized in this series, and throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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My eyes, however, will be on the series’ depth players. These are the players that can make or break a playoff run, and in 2020, having balance through the lineup will be critical. Here are three depth players from each team that will be waiting in the wings to steal the series.
Nashville Predators
Dan Hamhuis
Dan Hamhuis is a 37-year-old defenseman whose scoring touch has faded over time. He is not going to be the player to score big goals, but his experience can be enough to make a positive impact in these unprecedented playoffs.
He is a veteran of 1,148 regular season games, 68 postseason contests, and one Stanley Cup Final (2011 with Vancouver). If Hamhuis can play solid defensive hockey against the Coyotes’ depth players, it could make a big difference in this series.
Colton Sissons
What makes Colton Sissons stand out is his performance in the 2017 playoffs. As the Predators reached the first Cup Final in franchise history, he played 22 games, recorded 12 points, was a plus-7, and scored two game-winning goals.
His overall career postseason numbers are not as flashy, but the fact that his team excelled in a year where he set playoff career-high numbers shows that if he steps up against Arizona, it could go a long way in helping the Preds advance.
Nick Bonino
Nick Bonino is the only player on Nashville’s roster to have won a Stanley Cup. Having won championships in consecutive years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, you can’t help but think he will be a key cog in the Predators’ qualifying round series.
In his postseason career, Bonino has played 94 games, scored 47 points, and owns a plus-11 rating. His especially strong performance in 2016 (four goals, 14 assists, plus-9, two game-winning goals) is the reason that it is crucial for the Predators to have him excel versus Arizona.
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Arizona Coyotes
Michael Grabner
Michael Grabner may not have the flashiest numbers, but he has been solid in the playoffs (31 games, 12 points, and a plus-10 rating), and his speed sure is eye-catching.
What will make him important to the Coyotes’ chances of advancing past the qualifying round is his ability to kill penalties and streak down the ice. His speed fits the mold of today’s NHL, and his penalty killing attributes have the potential to shift momentum at times in the series.
Derek Stepan
Derek Stepan brings a lot to the table for Arizona against Nashville. He was a top ten scorer for the team in the 2019-20 regular season, and he has played in 97 playoff games, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 with the Rangers.
For an inexperienced team, having a playoff regular in the lineup will be a big confidence booster, and while the media attention will be on the guys at the top of the Coyotes’ roster, Stepan could quietly stand out and help Arizona take this series.
Niklas Hjalmarsson
When it comes to blueliners on the Arizona roster, Niklas Hjalmarsson is not the first one that comes to mind for most. He played in only 27 games this season, he is 33 years old, and he could be considered the number five defenseman for the Coyotes.
However, it is impossible to argue with his 128 career playoff games and his three Stanley Cup titles. Regardless of what his role is in the playoffs, Hjalmarsson has the ability to lead the charge for the Coyotes past the Predators.
Next. Play-in Round Predictions. dark
This series should be a very tight, entertaining one. There are stars on both sides, but keep an eye on these depth players as the series unfolds.