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TORONTO - SEPTEMBER 27: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during a preseason NHL game at the Air Canada Centre September 27, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)
TORONTO - SEPTEMBER 27: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during a preseason NHL game at the Air Canada Centre September 27, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)Abelimages/Getty Images

NHL Predictions: 10 Players That Impressed in Preseason

Tom SchreierOct 7, 2010

The preseason may only be six games long, but it has given many teams an indication of who's who on their roster.

Many players used September as a time to show that they are the real deal and ready to take their team to the next level.

The following are ten players that impressed during the preseason.

Hal Gill

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MONTREAL, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Hal Gill #75 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre on September 27, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Hal Gill #75 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre on September 27, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hal Gill, who was plus-6 in the preseason, was a major reason why the Habs were able to make their miracle run last year.

His ability to stop superstars Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Alexander Semin in Washington and Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal in Pittsburgh helped the Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Corey Perry

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28:  Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on September 28, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on September 28, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

The Ducks are long removed from their 2007 Championship season, but Corey Perry looks like he's ready to do anything to get Anaheim back into the playoffs next year.

Perry had five goals in the preseason and continued to build upon his strong chemistry with teammate Ryan Getzlaf.

Marc-Andre Fleury

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MONTREAL- MAY 4:  Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins watches play in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 4, 2010 in Montreal, Quebe
MONTREAL- MAY 4: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins watches play in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 4, 2010 in Montreal, Quebe

Often overshadowed by superstar teammates Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, the first player selected in the powerful 2003 NHL Draft, was solid in net for the Pens.

Fleury posted a 1.80 GAA and .936 save percentage, keeping the Penguins in every game they played.

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Braydon Coburn

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ST PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 25:  Braydon Coburn #5 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on September 25, 2010 in St Paul, Minnesota.  (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 25: Braydon Coburn #5 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on September 25, 2010 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

While fellow defensemen Matt Carle and Chris Pronger were the focus of Philadelphia's defensive corps, Braydon Coburn made a name for himself during the preseason.

Tied for first in the league with a plus-8 tally during the preseason, Coburn was responsible in his own end and made a case that he should be in the same sentence as his superstar teammates.

Drew Stafford

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BUFFALO - OCTOBER 3:  Drew Stafford #21 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during their NHL game at HSBC Arena October 3, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 9-3. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
BUFFALO - OCTOBER 3: Drew Stafford #21 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during their NHL game at HSBC Arena October 3, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 9-3. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Much is expected from Drew Stafford in Western New York this year.

With 14 goals and 20 assists, Stafford was one of the league's biggest underachievers last season. Seeing Stafford tally seven helpers in the preseason should relax many anxious fans in Buffalo.

Pekka Rinne

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Even with the loss of defenseman Dan Hamhuis, the Nashville Predators are playoff sleepers this year and goaltender Pekka Rinne is a major reason why.

The defensive Preds only allowed him to see 67 pucks during his four starts, but Rinne made certain that they did not find the back of the net. Less than five percent of them touched twine and the overlooked goaltender had a GAA just below 1.00 (0.99).

Martin St. Louis

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SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 1: Martin St Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates prior to the pre season game against the Florida Panthers on October 1, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1 in overtime
SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 1: Martin St Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates prior to the pre season game against the Florida Panthers on October 1, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1 in overtime

If the Lightning expect to get back into the postseason and even potentially take a run in the playoffs this year Martin St. Louis, who signed a four-year extension in the offseason, will have to be on top of his game.

St. Louis gave every indication he was during the preseason and should be ready to help the weapons around him -- Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, and Simon Gagne -- find the back of the net next season.

Jonas Hiller

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ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 01:  Goaltender Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks makes a save against the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center on October 1, 2010 in Anaheim, California.  Vancouver won 4-2.  (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 01: Goaltender Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks makes a save against the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center on October 1, 2010 in Anaheim, California. Vancouver won 4-2. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The defensive-minded Ducks are going to depend on Jonas Hiller to make some big saves in the clutch next season.

In four stars during the preseason Hiller gave every indication that he will. His 108 saves topped the league and he still had a solid 2.55 GAA and .923 save percentage.

Phil Kessel

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Much is expected of Phil Kessel, who will have to outplay top pick Tyler Seguin in order to justify the transaction that brought the sniper to Toronto from Boston.

The dynamic winger had a goal per game in the preseason and looks like he is ready to help the Leafs climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar next year.

Tomas Plekanec

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MONTREAL - MAY 22: Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 22, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by: Jim M
MONTREAL - MAY 22: Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 22, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by: Jim M

After signing Tomas Plekanec to a six-year, $30 million deal in the offseason, the Canadiens are excited to see him score a goal per game in the preseason.

If Plekanec plays like he did during the preseason he could top the 25 goals he had last year and awaken a dormant offense in Montreal.

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