10 NHL Players Flourishing in New Roles in 2015-16

During the cap era, NHL teams are solving more problems in house and making do with what they have. That often results in players being employed out of position or playing more minutes on a more important line.

While many of these experiments fail or deliver mixed results, there are home runs every season, and this year is no exception. Teams are flourishing because of bets made and results delivered, and in some cases, such gambles are making an enormous difference.

Here are 10 players, ranked on a combination of current and potential long-term impact, who are delivering beyond expectations because of a new role on their respective NHL teams.

10. Jimmy Hayes, RW, Boston Bruins

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Jimmy Hayes was one of several young Florida Panthers forwards trying to break out and establish themselves as bona fide NHL players last term. Despite 19 goals in 2014-15, Hayes was dealt to the Boston Bruins over the summer.

What Has Changed? The change of scenery appears to agree with Hayes, whose size and skill combination fits well with the Bruins' style of play. His even-strength offensive numbers are outstanding so far this season, and he's enjoying success alongside Ryan Spooner and Chris Kelly—despite poor possession numbers.

Can He Sustain It? The long-term success of the line is questionable; they are not competitive when it comes to run of play and possession. Hayes' shooting percentage is over 18 per cent, according to Hockey-Reference.com, and it is extremely likely to fall back over the long season.

9. Brandon Sutter, C, Vancouver Canucks

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Brandon Sutter played a two-way role for the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 21 goals and 33 points a year ago. He was regarded as one of the Penguins' top face-off men and spent his time at center.

What Has Changed? The Vancouver Canucks are using Sutter in a variety of roles, including on the wing with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. That offensive push is giving Sutter a big opportunity, and so far, he's taking advantage of it. NHL.com shows he remains a top face-off option.

Can He Sustain It? Sutter is 26 and an established NHL veteran. The Sedins are older but remain quality talents, and there's no reasonable argument against Sutter being successful in this somewhat unusual role.

8. Loui Eriksson, RW, Boston Bruins

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins performed in a two-way role in his first two seasons with the team. He could be found most often with secondary players such as Carl Soderberg and Chris Kelly.

What Has Changed? The Bruins have Eriksson playing a prominent role on the power play—and Behind the Net shows impressive results—and significant even-strength time with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Eriksson is playing a substantially more important role than in the past. 

Can He Sustain It? Eriksson has played over 650 NHL games and is 30 years old. He can sustain this level of performance for some time, and there's evidence he was miscast in his previous role. Boston needs him to be more productive offensively, and he's delivering.

7. Martin Jones, G, San Jose Sharks

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Martin Jones worked his way through the Los Angeles Kings system at a slow pace, eventually emerging as a quality backup to Jonathan Quick in the last two seasons. He was traded to the Boston Bruins and then San Jose Sharks during a one-week period in June. 

What Has Changed? Given the opportunity to be a No. 1 starter, Jones has flourished with the Sharks. He is among the NHL leaders in save percentage and has two shutouts so far this year.

Can He Sustain It? Goalies are famously inconsistent, but Jones' resume boasts strong performances all down the line. He's earned the opportunity and is now performing well. San Jose is competitive because of it.

6. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs was rushed into the NHL at an early age. As often happens, progress was slow, and his emergence as a quality NHL defender was at least somewhat in doubt as this season began.

What Has Changed? We're early in the season, but Rielly is one of the players who appears to be responding well to Mike Babcock's coaching. A year ago, Rielly was at 48 per cent in five-by-five possession, but this season he is over 55 per cent in the same discipline.

Can He Sustain It? Rielly is one of Toronto's true gems for the future, and his development has to be regarded as a major positive. At his age, to be delivering this level of performance suggests great things could be ahead.

5. Nail Yakupov, RW, Edmonton Oilers

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Nail Yakupov of the Edmonton Oilers struggled to find his way in his first three seasons in the NHL. At the same time, the organization was hesitant to play him on a feature line. The result was frustration on both sides and among fans.

What Has Changed? The chemistry Yakupov has found with 2015 No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid may have rescued his NHL career. A strong start to the season has things looking up for the talented Russian.

Can He Sustain It? Yakupov's issues are mostly in regard to positioning and making high-risk plays. He's finding the range with McDavid, and the Oilers can live with some chaos if the pucks keep going in.

4. Alex Galchenyuk, C, Montreal Canadiens

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens has improved his numbers in each season since he was drafted in 2012. Although drafted as a center, he spent much of the time during those years playing on the wing.

What Has Changed? The Canadiens moved him to center full time this year, allowing the team to put offensive players on their top three lines. It has opened up the offense and contributed to the fast start in Montreal.

Can He Sustain It? Galchenyuk has been helping to drive offense with two complementary wingers in Lars Eller and Alex Semin. It is early days, but there is some evidence he is able to create offensively without having a clearly better player on his line—that's a major item and suggests he has turned a corner.

3. John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? John Carlson of the Washington Capitals is one of the more underrated offensive defensemen in the league. Despite scoring 55 points a year ago, he rarely gets mentioned among the league's best, and many wondered how Washington would survive on the power play without Mike Green.

What Has Changed? The Capitals have moved Carlson's power-play minutes up from less than two minutes a game last year to 3:37 in 2015-16. The result is an even more impressive offensive player who the league's website shows is currently tied for the lead in power-play points by a defenseman. 

Can He Sustain It? Carlson is ideally suited for such a role and should flourish in it. Washington is enjoying a strong start this year, and Carlson has been a big part of the team's success.

2. Seth Jones, D, Nashville Predators

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Seth Jones of the Nashville Predators is a young, emerging defenseman with a complete skill set. In his two full NHL seasons, Nashville has been bringing him along at a steady pace, mindful of the difficulty of the position.

What Has Changed? Jones' time on ice has increased by about one minute a game so far this term, according to Hockey-Reference.com, and he leads the team in points per 60 by a defenseman at even strength. And as demonstrated by Behind the Net stats, he remains a big part of the power play.

Can He Sustain It? It's extremely likely Jones would have been a bigger part of the offense on most other teams, but Nashville has so many talented defensemen he had to earn his way to where he is now. It's likely he'll hold a prominent spot for many years.

1. Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Washington Capitals

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How Was He Deployed In The Past? Evgeny Kuznetsov of the Washington Capitals played a secondary role in 2014-15, his rookie year. He spent most of the season on a line with Marcus Johansson and Troy Brouwer. 

What Has Changed? The Capitals have Kuznetsov playing with Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie this season, and the line is flying. He is among the league's leading scorers and is an emerging impact player. 

Can He Sustain It? Kuznetsov is a brilliant skater who possesses dynamic skill. While still quite new to the NHL, he can keep pace with Ovechkin and is bringing speed and playmaking to the line. The Washington Capitals should benefit greatly now and long into the future.

All advanced statistics via HockeyAnalysis.com unless otherwise noted.