Morrissey set a new career-high in points (31) despite playing in just 59 games in 2019. With Jacob Trouba now in New York, Morrissey is expected to handle the PP2 duties in 2020, which gives him a potential boost in value. He should be viewed as a reserve fantasy defenseman heading into drafts.
Comrie spent the entire 2019 season with the Manitoba Moose (AHL), going 25-20-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .917 SV% in 47 games. Comrie has appeared in five career NHL games since 2017 but will open 2020 in Manitoba yet again.
The Jets acquired Pionk from the Rangers as a part of the Jacob Trouba trade and signed the RFA defenseman to a two-year contract. Pionk had six goals and 20 assists (26 points) in 73 games last season and will likely open the 2020 season on the Jets second or third pairing.
Fleury split the 2019 campaign between the AHL and NHL but is set to become a full-time NHLer in 2020. Fleury had just one assist in 20 NHL games a year ago but brings great size (6-foot-3, 208 lbs.) and excellent skating ability to the Hurricanes bottom-4.
Toninato, who appeared in 37 games with the Avalanche in 2017-18, played in just two NHL games last season. The 25-year-old had 14 goals and 15 assists (29 points) in 57 AHL games and has a chance to crack the Florida roster as their fouth-line centre in 2020.
The Golden Knights have run into some cap issues and Miller is the second player to fall victim to that this week. Miller isn’t the best in his own-end but provides a lot in the offensive-zone and possesses a massive point-shot that is a weapon on the power-play. Miller had three goals and 26 assists (29 points) in 65 games last season, but had a 10-goal, 41-point campaign in 2017-18. Miller has three years left on his deal and joins a blueline that already has offensive-minded defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour.
Pionk had six goals and 20 assists (26 points) in 73 games with the Rangers in his first full NHL season in 2018-19. Like Trouba, Pionk is also a restricted free agent on July 1st, but will command a lot less money and will allow the Jets to get Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor this offseason. Winnipeg loses a top-pairing defenseman and get a player who looks like nothing more than a third-pairing player with modest offensive-upside.
Gustafsson was picked in the second-round (No.60 overall) in 2018 and is coming off of his second season in the Swedish Elite League. Gustafsson had two goals and 10 assists (12 points) in 36 games with HV71 and also had three assists in five games while playing with Sweden at the U20 World Juniors.
Maenalanen suffered a hand injury in Game 2 and will undergo surgery, which will keep him sidelined for up to two weeks. Patrick Brown is expected to be a permanent replacement for Maenalanen while he is out. Maenalanen could be back in Round 3 if the Hurricanes are able to get by the Islanders.
Ehlers was banged up late in Game 5 and is questionable for Game 6 in St. Louis. Par Lindholm is expected to dress and replace Ehlers if he is unable to play in a must-win game for Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Jets loss to the Blues in Game 5. The Jets fell apart in the third period and are now one loss away from being eliminated from the postseason. The road team has won every game in this series so the Jets hope that trend continues tonight in St. Louis—Hellebuyck has stopped 57 of 61 shots (.934 SV%) in their two road games in this series.
Maenalanen split his season between the NHL and AHL, totalling eight points (4G / 4A) in 34 games with the Hurricanes and 14 points (7G / 7A) in 31 games with the Checkers. Maenalanen was a healthy scratch in Game 1 and 3 but will dress for the second time with Andrei Svechnikov scratched due to a concussion.
Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Jets 6-3 win in St. Louis in Game 3. Hellebuyck hasn’t had the greatest series, allowing nine goals on 87 shots (.897 SV%) but the Jets are down just 2-1 after three games. Hellebuyck is 3-0-1 in his last four road starts and will look to stay hot in a pivotal Game 4.
Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Jets 4-3 loss to the Blues in Game 2. Hellebuyck has allowed six goals on 58 shots (.897 SV%) through two games and now the Jets find themselves down 2-0 on the road. Hellebuyck was 15-11-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .913 SV% in 30 appearances on the road this season.
