Anaheim Ducks – Trevor Zegras

It’s probably not surprising that Zegras is my favourite Duck because he’s everybody’s favourite Duck at the moment, and probably will be for a number of years. Zegras’ magic bag of tricks is just going to expand the more he plays and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. On top of all that, he seems like a great guy off the ice, especially with the media which gives him a lot of bonus points. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t a Duck for a long time.

Arizona Coyotes – Karel Vejmelka

Since Phil the Thrill is no longer on the Yotes I have to choose one of their other players, more specifically, a goalie. Vejmelka is a goalie that literally came out of nowhere, he was playing in the Czech pro league until last year when he got a call from Arizona. At the moment, he’s one of the only bright lights in the dark pit that is the Arizona Coyotes organisation. His rags to riches story is one we can all take inspiration from, or at least talk about over a cup of tea somewhere far away from Arizona. I can’t imagine the emotional pain he is in while he is playing for that team. Best of luck to him.

Calgary Flames – Dan Vladar

Dan Vladar came into my life after a trade from the Bruins to the Flames in 2021. Subsequently, he was put into a game against the Leafs in the middle of November 2021. That was one of the best matches I watched that season, some would say it was an epic match (it was me, I am some). One player shone very bright throughout, it was Auston Matthews. Second to him though was Dan Vladar who put up an extraordinary performance in net for the flames, so much so that my friends kept taking the piss out of me because I kept saying how angry I was at him for making so many saves. Goddamn you Dan Vladar you beautiful bastard, come play for the Leafs!

Chicago Blackhawks – Max Domi

Yes, I heard your complaints last time, I don’t want to hear them again. Yes, Max Domi has not played any games yet for the Blackhawks but considering they traded all their players that were decent their left to tank their season for Bedard, which I’m sure a lot of teams will be doing with them this season. Domi had a great time in Montreál, a not so great time in Columbus and I’m sure in terms of production it’s about to get a whole lot worse. I think he’s a great guy with the potential to do something pretty good, it’s just about finding the right team and I think he will probably do that next season!

Colorado Avalanche – Darren Helm

I have a few words for you to make my case for Darren Helm. Game 6, Vs. St Louis Blues, Round 2, 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Just seconds from overtime he shoots a wild slap shot from the blueline and BOOM. It goes in. Propelling the team into the Western Conference Final. Helm won a cup with the Red Wings back in 2008 which makes his career even more spectacular. There was a video on YouTube about his day with the Stanley Cup that he won with the Avs, he just seemed like a really awesome guy, and a clutch hockey player too. 

Dallas Stars – Joel Kiviranta

Joel Kiviranta is my favourite player on the Stars for one reason in particular, the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the ‘bubble’, which I am sure everyone remembers. I watched most of the playoffs because there was no school and the world had stopped. Also the Leafs went out in the qualifying round and there was nothing else to watch. Kiviranta showed up in some great moments for the Stars during that run, he was noticeable on the ice every time and was great in showing everyone what he could be. It’s a shame he fell off a cliff massively last season but I think he turns it around and reclaims his place as a clutch player – if not with the Stars then with another organisation. Would love to see him on the Leafs.

Edmonton Oilers – Derek Ryan

I’ll be the first to admit there are not many players on the Oilers that stand out to me as being a favourite so I’ll have to go with Derek Ryan. The only reason I have for it is that last season, at the age of 35, Derek Ryan scored a hat trick. It’s impressive when anyone scores a hat trick but it’s more impressive when a veteran does it, especially on a team with the scoring potential of McDavid and Draisatl. 

Los Angeles Kings – Drew Doughty

Unfortunately for me, I started watching the NHL after his Norris campaign so I don’t think I have ever really seen peak Drew Doughty. What I have seen though, from the internet I should probably add, is a guy who is a great offensive defenceman and is also a barrel of laughs with no front teeth. He also negotiated his own contract which I think is pretty cool. It’s a shame he got injured before this year’s playoffs because I think with him in the lineup they could’ve gone further than they did.

Minnesota Wild – Kirill Kaprizov

I think at the moment he is one of the best 5th round picks in NHL history. He holds the record for the largest contract given after the smallest amount of NHL games played, he won the Calder for best rookie despite being an older NHL player (won it at the age of 24) but most importantly, he made the Minnesota Wild exciting. I’m sure there are Wild fans out there who are saying right now that the Wild were always exciting, no they were not. At least Kaprizov can give you a show every night when the Wild are in Cap hell because of the Suter and Parise contracts. He is very fun to watch, you can’t deny it. And he’s anti Putin; definitely bonus points for that.

Nashville Predators – Filip Forsberg

I will admit, I do not watch a lot of Predators’ games so I can’t really pick here based on how much I enjoy watching them or their media appearances. What I can comment on is his facial hair. Best moustache in the league hands down. The NHL should create an award for facial hair and give it to him every year. I mean, look at it, glorious.

San Jose Sharks – Timo Meier

This is a team who I also don’t watch a lot so I am choosing this player based off of a single moment: his five goal game. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the entirety of that game but I saw the last few goals I believe. Crazy game and was fun to watch. Fun fact: one of the few Swiss players in the NHL which is pretty cool. I think he and Hertl are going to do a lot more with the Sharks and who knows, maybe he will get a six goal game?

St. Louis Blues – None of them

I tried really hard to think of a player on this team that I like but I came to the conclusion that because of the events during the Colorado-St. Louis 2022 Playoff Series and the racism that Nazem Kadri faced and the genuine on ice physical abuse he received for making valid and reasonable plays deems them incapable of a ranking. They have good players, don’t get me wrong, but I genuinely cannot muster up the feeling to name a favourite one from that team. Also, am I the only one that gets evangelical christian vibes from Ryan O’Reilly?

Vancouver Canucks – Quinn Hughes

Not only is Hughes a decent defenceman, he is also part of a trio of brothers that I can very vividly see in the future all playing on the same team for the devils – who knows if that’s ever going to come true. The reason Hughes is my favourite Canuck is entirely because of how he looks. He constantly looks like he’s a really socially awkward guy who doesn’t want to be anywhere. Whether that is intentional or not is beyond me but it always makes me laugh when I see a picture of him. There are genuinely so few pictures of him smiling, I think he might be a robot.

Vegas Golden Knights – Phil Kessel

It’s hard to name my favourite players from the Vegas Golden Knights because it seems that every time I begin to write, another one gets traded for future considerations. How strange. Phil Kessel is a poker playing, hot dog eating champion of the people. I think he passes Yandle for the Iron Man streak and I think it seems only fitting that he does it looking shiny – those golden helmets suck by the way. Phil the Thrill, I hope he stays in the league for a number of years, maybe even back to the Leafs one day.

Winnipeg Jets – David Rittich

The Jets organisation is one that I think has the potential to do good things but just refuses to. Whether that’s because it has had the same GM for 11 years or whether the locker room problems are just too much to get over, the only player that can save them now is BSD – Big Save Dave. I cannot think of another player in the league at the moment who has such a cool name but just does not live up to it, especially not over the last couple of years. I hope we see a BSD renaissance and he gets Vezina votes this season, but who knows. Time will tell.