NHL Players Making the Most of Increased Roles in 2016-17

NHL management and coaching staffs plan the fall rosters with painstaking detail over the offseason. Seemingly moments after the faceoff on opening night, all those plans go out the window and force the franchise to find quick solutions to problems.

Injuries, slumps, impact rookies and any number of factors can lead to change, but the bottom line is the NHL houses dozens of surprise players each year—role players or secondary scorers who have emerged as offensive difference-makers, and defensemen who are now eating up minutes and playing sound two-way games.

Here are eight NHL players who are flourishing in new and more substantial roles in 2016-17.

8. Ryan Dzingel, LW, Ottawa Senators

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Ryan Dzingel split time between the AHL and NHL in 2015-16. When he did play with the Ottawa Senators—he got into 30 games—he averaged less than 10 minutes a night.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

Ottawa has new management and coaching, while also moving out several wingers—including Shane Prince and Matt Puempel. Along with various injuries, opportunities presented themselves for Dzingel this fall. He has spent extended time with Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan, among others.

 

How Has He Done?

Dzingel has been the most productive even-strength scorer among Ottawa forwards this season. His 2.32 points per 60 total ranks him No. 31 in the entire NHL among forwards who have played 200 or more minutes in the discipline. The Senators are giving Dzingel a chance, and he is delivering at impressive levels.

7. Damon Severson, D, New Jersey Devils

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Damon Severson played second-pairing minutes for the New Jersey Devils, paired mostly with John Moore. He was productive offensively, and the pairing formed a competitive possession team.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

The Devils traded defender Adam Larsson to the Edmonton Oilers, opening an opportunity for Severson to slide up the depth chart. This allowed him to play on the top pairing with veteran Andy Greene.

 

How Has He Done?

He has blossomed in the new role, posting more offensive production, playing more minutes and helping the Devils play more effectively in terms of possession. New Jersey gave up a quality defender in the Larsson-Taylor Hall trade, but Severson provided management with enough cover to make the bet worthwhile. So far, it is paying off in a big way.

6. Sam Gagner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Sam Gagner was a depth player for the Philadelphia Flyers, attempting to get his career back on track. He was playing 14 minutes a night and scored just 16 points all season.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

Gagner was a late free-agent signing by the Columbus Blue Jackets, landing a contract August 1. Columbus is a team badly in need of offense and skill forwards, so the match made a lot of sense.

 

How Has He Done?

He is among the league's top 70 offensive players and has been part of the Blue Jackets' brilliant power play this year. Although Gagner remains a depth player at even strength, his impact with the man advantage has been a big part of the Columbus success story.

5. Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Florida Panthers

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Jonathan Marchessault was a part-time forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015-16. Although he was productive when in the lineup, Marchessault played in just 45 games.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

On July 1, Marchessault signed with the Florida Panthers, and injuries during training camp and early in the season allowed him to move up the depth chart. Through his productive play, Marchessault has earned a spot on a line with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr.

 

How Has He Done?

He ranks inside the top 50 in overall scoring and has added six minutes to his ice time per game this year. Impressive on the power play and at even strength, it is a good bet Marchessault will remain on an offensive line even when everyone gets healthy later in the year. The Panthers uncovered a substantial offensive talent and are the better for it.

4. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers had an impressive year, his first full season in the NHL. He delivered strong performances at even strength as a complementary addition to the Taylor Hall line.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

Despite Hall being traded to the New Jersey Devils, Draisaitl has enjoyed a strong year so far in 2016-17. He is playing on a line with Connor McDavid and has received a push on the power play.

 

How Has He Done?

He ranks No. 21 in overall scoring, and he is among the leading power-play goal scorers. His seven goals at five-on-four has him in a first-place tie in the category. Edmonton is pushing for a playoff spot for the first time in years, and Draisaitl is emerging as a big part of it.

3. Cam Atkinson, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Cam Atkinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets was a productive scoring winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015-16. His 27 goals and 53 points represented career highs in both categories.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

Atkinson is playing on a ridiculous power play this season, as the Blue Jackets are blowing away the competition with the man advantage. Columbus owns the most productive power play in the NHL, and the team is riding that success to the top of the standings.

 

How Has He Done?

Atkinson is on fire offensively, mostly because of his 11 power-play points already this year. He is on pace to deliver a 70-point season for Columbus, marking another career high for the diminutive winger.

2. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets emerged as a top-flight No. 1 center last season. He played 18 minutes a night in all situations and delivered over 60 points for the first time in his career.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

This year, Scheifele is playing between two of the most dynamic young wingers in the game. Rookie Patrik Laine has set the NHL on fire, and Nikolaj Ehlers is a puck wizard who can find openings and create offense every shift.

 

How Has He Done?

Scheifele has emerged as one of the top offensive players in the NHL this season, with the help of his fantastic wingers. He is inside the NHL's top 10 scorers, and both linemates are among the 30 most prolific scorers in the league so far. Scheifele is emerging as one of the top young centers in the game.

1. Wayne Simmonds, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

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What Was His Role Last Season?

Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers was a quality two-way winger in 2015-16, a role he has filled well for several years. His 32 goals were a career high, but his yearly totals have been in the range several times in the last five seasons.

 

How Did He Get His Break?

Entering 2015-16, the Flyers usually deployed Jakub Voracek as the team's top right winger. Beginning last season, and progressing through this year, Simmonds is getting more feature time with Claude Giroux, and he is making the most of this opportunity.

 

How Has He Done?

Simmonds is playing two more minutes a night, and his shooting percentage has improved season over last season—that could regress as the year rolls along. He has also been a part of a very effective power play in the first third of 2016-17. He is on pace to score close to 40 goals—a major surge in production.

 

Note: All advanced stats via Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.