2015 NHL Playoffs: Players Having the Biggest Impact in Their Postseason Debuts
The playoffs are the ultimate test of an NHL player's ability to contribute when the games matter most.
The hockey tends to be more physical and tighter defensively; it's hard to win puck battles and even harder to score goals. The pressure is extreme, and even the slightest lapse in concentration can put a player in hot water or, worse, cost a team a tightly contested seven-game series.
In this crucible, it's interesting to see how first-time playoff participants have handled themselves. Some of these players are rookies, such as Calgary scoring sensation Johnny Gaudreau, while others are veterans who have had the misfortune to spend the bulk of their career with a wretched team, such as Jeff Petry.
Who is doing the most at the toughest time of year? That's what this slideshow considers, based on each player's overall performance to date in the postseason. Please note: We have limited the focus to players still in the hunt for the Stanley Cup, so first-timers on eliminated teams are ineligible.
10. Brian Flynn, Montreal Canadiens
1 of 10
Stats: 6 GP, 1 G, 3 PTS, 10:00 AVG TOI
In Brief: Acquired at the trade deadline for the low, low price of a 2016 fifth-round draft pick, Brian Flynn made an incredible postseason debut with Montreal, picking up three points and being named first star by NHL.com in a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Flynn has appeared in just a single second-round game, but when on the ice, he's been a reliable shot generator and a useful depth forward on a line that starts a disproportionate number of shifts at the defensive end of the ice.
In terms of per-minute impact, he's been extremely effective, given the context.
9. Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
2 of 10
Stats: 6 GP, 1 G, 3 PTS, 12:30 AVG TOI
In Brief: Teuvo Teravainen was extremely effective for Chicago in the team's second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Not only did he manage two points in the four-game sweep, but he fired eight shots in pretty limited ice time.
It's taken some time for Teravainen, who is listed at just 5'11" and 178 pounds, to get adjusted to the North American game, but his skill is obvious and is starting to shine through in this postseason.
8. Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames
3 of 10
Stats: 9 GP, 1 G, 2 PTS, 18:25 AVG TOI
In Brief: Mikael Backlund's offensive numbers are nothing to write home about—with just two points, there's a decent argument that teammates Michael Ferland and Sam Bennett belong ahead of him on this list.
That argument has been rejected for two reasons.
First, Backlund has been snake bitten. He's fired a team-high 28 shots but only has one goal to show for it; that's more shots than Ferland and Bennett combined.
More importantly, head coach Bob Hartley is leaning heavily on Backlund. He plays lots of minutes, starts many shifts in the defensive zone and is trusted against tougher competition. He kills penalties and fills in on the power play. He's a useful all-situations player and, at some point, will be rewarded for his strong work with some offensive production.
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=256)
7. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
4 of 10
Stats: 11 GP, 4 G, 5 PTS, 16:23 AVG TOI
In Brief: Like Teuvo Teravainen, Evgeny Kuznetsov has had to make adjustments since coming over to North America, and his immediate production didn't always match the hype that preceded his arrival. But his talent has started to shine through in these playoffs.
Kuznetsov has been Washington's most successful even-strength goal scorer and currently sits tied with Alex Ovechkin for the team lead. He came up big in the Capitals' Game 7 win over the Islanders, scoring a highlight-reel, game-winning goal in the third period, and NHL.com justifiably named him first star in the most important game in the team's playoff run to date.
6. Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames
5 of 10
Stats: 9 GP, 2 G, 5 PTS, 19:40 AVG TOI
In Brief: Sean Monahan is Calgary's most important forward.
He plays nearly 20 minutes per game, chipping in on both special teams and carrying a significant load at even strength. He's near the team lead in scoring.
With that said, his playoff performance thus far has had some faults. He is facing tough opponents but gets a ton of offensive-zone faceoffs—he starts roughly three shifts in the offensive zone for each in the defensive zone. The Flames have been crushed on the shot clock when he's on the ice and outscored 7-2 at even strength.
He's a very good young player, and he's contributing on the power play, but there's still work to be done here.
5. Scott Darling, Chicago Blackhawks
6 of 10
Stats: 5 GP, 3-1, 0.936 SV%, 0 SO
In Brief: Scott Darling was a hard player to rank because his performance was so excellent, but with Corey Crawford back in net and playing brilliantly, he may not see the ice again.
Crawford fumbled things badly in the first round, so Darling stepped in for him, playing a pivotal role for the Blackhawks as they knocked off a formidable Nashville team in six games. He's since been relegated to the bench, but Chicago knows he'll be ready if called upon and has good reason to appreciate what he's done so far.
4. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
7 of 10
Stats: 9 GP, 3 G, 7 PTS, 19:16 AVG TOI
In Brief: Johnny Gaudreau was absolutely brilliant in Calgary's first-round series against the Canucks, posting six points in six games. He's slowed down in the second round, as Anaheim's held him to a single point and just four shots through three games so far, but he still leads the Flames in overall scoring.
He's had some problems, notably at even strength, when he's recorded just two points—putting him in a six-way tie for the No. 6 position in even-strength scoring—and put up lousy Fenwick numbers. But he's been lethal on the power play (two goals), which has a ton of value.
3. Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens
8 of 10
Stats: 10 GP, 2 G, 2 PTS, 22:29 AVG TOI
In Brief: Jeff Petry has been absurdly good since joining Montreal at the trade deadline.
He's played tough minutes and lots of them, taking on good opponents and starting nearly two shifts at the defensive end of the rink for each one he starts in the offensive zone. Despite this, he's been on the ice for just a single goal against at even strength this postseason, and the Canadiens take 57.5 percent of shots and missed shots when he's on the ice.
Just for good measure, he's also killing penalties and chipping in on the power play.
2. Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
9 of 10
Stats: 11 GP, 7-4-0, 0.930 SV%, 1 SO
In Brief: Ben Bishop has had some down moments in the postseason, notably Game 1 against Detroit and, more recently, Game 4 against Montreal. But on the whole, he's been everything the Lightning could have asked for: a legitimate No. 1 goaltender good enough to steal games for his team.
He came up big in Game 7 against the Red Wings, posting a 31-save shutout, and he brought the Lightning to the brink of progression from Round 2 with three straight exceptional performances.
1. T.J. Brodie, Calgary Flames
10 of 10
Stats: 9 GP, 1 G, 5 PTS, 27:00 AVG TOI
In Brief: There really isn't much question as to whom Calgary's best player has been this postseason. T.J. Brodie has, frankly, been amazing, even without the assistance of regular partner Mark Giordano.
He's done all the things we like to see from a top defenceman. He's handled the toughest minutes—both in terms of opposition and zone starts—and delivered results well above the team average in both the shot metrics and goals departments. He's provided a significant offensive touch, and he has carried around a partner, Deryk Engelland, who is perhaps less than ideal for regular minutes on a shutdown tandem. He's played in all situations.
Giordano, before he got injured, was a real contender for the Norris Trophy. Brodie has made it plain that he's not the only defender of that calibre in southern Alberta.
Statistics courtesy of NHL.com and War-on-Ice.com.
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=480 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
