NHL 3 Player to Watch in the 2023-24 Season: Prediction & Prop Bets

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07 October 2023

NHL 3 Player to Watch in the 2023-24 Season: Prediction & Prop Bets

We are mere days away from the start of the 2023-24 NHL season and man does it feel good. Last year was so electric and we were honestly spoiled. We saw multiple 50+ goal scorers and an expansion team win their 1st cup in only their 6th year.

I’m really excited for this coming season. The draft class this year has so many beauties and there were some spicy moves. We had a lot of big names find a new home this offseason and teams are really gearing up to contend for the cup this year.

Teams that were already good, like the Devils and Stars, added more fire power. Then teams like the Blackhawks have brought in some veteran leadership to help their young core and #1 pick in Connor Bedard. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a team who wants to make another cup run for Sid and brought in offensive and defensive help.

Let’s take a look at a few big names that were on the move this offseason:

Tyler Bertuzzi to the Maple Leafs
Taylor Hall to the Blackhawks
Tyler Toffoli to the Devils
Jonathan Drouin to the Avalanche
Erik Karlsson to the Penguins
Pierre Luc Dubois to the Kings
Alex DeBrincat to the Red Wings
Reilly Smith to the Penguins
Matt Duchene to the Stars
Joonas Korpisalo to the Senators

There are plenty more, but that’s just to name a few. We’re going to get in to 3 players to watch this coming season whether they’re on a new team or same team and it’s a big year for them. Lots of players have a lot to prove this year and I think we are in store for another great year. Let’s get into some of these players and the year they have in front of them.

Veteran Taylor Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks got the #1 pick this year and were able to secure the next Gretzky in Connor Bedard. We haven’t had this much hype around a player since Alexis LaFreniere, but this kid is different. He is already showing in just the preseason that he is ready for the show.

Now what is the best thing you can do with a young team in a rebuild? Bring in veteran leadership for your young guys and that is exactly what they did. Taylor Hall was acquired from the Boston Bruins via trade.

The former Art Ross Trophy winner brings offense and leadership to the team as one of the older guys. He is coming off a mediocre year with 16 goals and 20 assists, but he missed 21 games. The year prior he played all 82 games and recorded 20 goals and 41 assists.

Now that we know what he brings to the table, let’s talk about this year. In the preseason already, they have Hall paired with Bedard and another veteran pick up, Corey Perry. These guys are already showing the chemistry they have which we got to see with their one pretty tick-tack-toe goal.

We all know Taylor has been up and down in his career, as well as moved around a lot. He is starting to find his previous form of when he first came into the league averaging around 20 goals and 30 assists per season. He has played 822 games in his 12 career, totaling 264 goals and 429 assists.

This team is still expected to be bottom of the league but look for Hall to have a good year with this pairing. With the help of Bedard, who is a great passer, Hall could get back to the 30-goal mark. This one is going to be fun to watch!

Winnipeg Jets trade Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings

After 3 seasons with the Jets, Dubois was moved to a now dangerous Kings team. The Kings did have to give up offensive weapons Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi but gained a monster.

Los Angeles already has the likes of Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala who all had monster years last year. Kempe had over 45 goals, Kopitar had over 45 assists and Fiala, in his first year with the team, had 23 goals and 49 assists.

Dubois has put up back-to-back seasons scoring 25+ goals and 30+ assists. He has really found his game again and has returned to the numbers he put up in his first 2 seasons in the league. Playing with a group like this with so many offensive weapons leaves openings for each to make plays.

The Kings made a push in the playoffs last year, showing the league they can contend. Adding Dubois brings a heavy 3 lines for the Kings. Right now, he will play on the 2nd line with Fiala and Arthur Kaliyev. Watch out for Dubois to have a big year like Fiala did in his first year with the franchise.

New York Islanders Mat Barzal looking to breakout this year

You really didn’t think I was going to pass on my team, did you? Coming in off another off season of no noise, let’s talk about the most “boring” team in the NHL and their star player, Mat Barzal.

Barzal is coming off another consistent season of 51 points and he only played 58 games! He amassed the same numbers as the previous season, but in 15 games less.

The Islanders added Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks at the deadline to play alongside Barzal. Before he got hurt, there was some great chemistry between the 2, so a lot to look forward to as we head into a new season. Both players signed 8 year deals last year as well, so this is their home and it’s time to start winning.

Mat has also been working hard this off season, training in the weight room like crazy. He has definitely strengthened up and has been training with Long Islands own UFC Star Matt “Steamrolla” Frevola. Our guy is cut up for this year and I’m extremely excited to see what a healthy Barzal has up his sleeve.