The World Cup is giving us an early opportunity to gauge which players could come out of the blocks hot when the NHL season begins Oct. 12. Sometimes, it takes players time to get warmed up and into the NHL season before they start catching fire — think Sidney Crosby last season. But if you’re already playing terrific hockey in the World Cup, you’re a likely candidate to start the NHL year off strong.
Here are a few players we’ve identified who are having great World Cups, which could be a sign of things to come in October…
SIDNEY CROSBY
Last season, some were wondering if Crosby was starting to show signs of decline when he got off to a (relatively) slow start for himself. A perennial Hart Trophy and Art Ross contender, Crosby scored just five points in the month of October, and 27 points in his first 36 games. Of course, he finished the season third in NHL scoring with 85 points in 80 games. With a strong start, though, he could have competed with Patrick Kane in league scoring.
Now, fresh off a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe win, Crosby appears back in peak form. And if his World Cup showing is any indication, his October and November should be much better this season.
Crosby has been the focal point of a terrific line combination with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. He’s been buzzing around the ice like a 23-year-old Sid and has recorded four points and 10 shots through two games. Crosby looks well-prepared for the start of the NHL season, so look for him and the Penguins to get off to a much better start this season.
COLTON PARAYKO
The 23-year-old Blues defenceman received one first-place vote for the Calder Trophy last season and finished eighth in overall voting for the award. But you could argue he’s been the best 2015-16 rookie in the World Cup so far.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, Parayko has incredible strength and reach that makes him a tough matchup for any opposing forward, but he’s not just a one-dimensional player. Parayko has a frightening point shot that has been on display all through the World Cup and has led directly to a few points for him.
Playing with the 23-and-under Team North America, Parayko’s ice time and responsibility crept up each game. And with 13 shots on goal, Parayko was a major factor for the young team in the offensive zone, something the meticulous, defence-first Blues will need from him come NHL season. This guy looks like the real deal and a prime candidate to have a strong start and an overall great season.
LEON DRAISAITL
The young Oilers centre/winger has been a key player for the oldest team at the World Cup of Hockey.
After getting benched for a long stretch of Europe’s second pre-tournament game, he finished the warm-up series by answering with a hat trick. And he didn’t slow down in the preliminary round. Draisaitl scored a goal in Europe’s opening 3-0 win against the United States and was the overtime hero in their 3-2 win against the Czech Republic that helped push Team Europe into the semifinal.
The 20-year-old German scored 51 points in 72 games with the Oilers last year, which was helped greatly by a terrific start to his season. Judging by his play at the World Cup, we could see a similar start from him this season.
JOHNNY GAUDREAU
An interesting one here for sure, considering Gaudreau still doesn’t have a contract with the Flames — so there’s actually a chance he doesn’t start the NHL season. But we have to assume the negotiations won’t go that far, will they?
Gaudreau was arguably Team North America’s best player and his four points in three games were tied with Shayne Gostisbehere, Jonathan Toews, Matt Duchene and Sidney Crosby for the tournament scoring lead through the preliminary round.
Gaudreau has been a star of the night twice for the North Americans and he looks in mid-season form. If the 23-year-old signs a new contract and plays the full NHL season, could he improve on last year’s 78-point total?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST
There’s no mistaking that the 34-year-old Swedish goalie is one of the top two or three at his position in the world, but he has had slow starts to NHL seasons in the past. However, his play at the World Cup appears to indicate that he’ll start off on a good foot when the puck drops this October.
Lundqvist had to miss Sweden’s first preliminary round game with an illness, but in the two games he did play, he was fantastic. There were no ill-effects against Finland, who Lunqvist shut out, and although he allowed four goals in an overtime loss to Team North America, he still had to make 45 saves to get his team that far. Overall, Lundqvist has faced 85 shots, the third-most in the tournament, behind Jaroslav Halak (111) and Sergei Bobrovsky (96), who were the only two goalies to start all three games.
Lundqvist’s .953 save percentage is also second to Carey Price among goalies who played more than one preliminary round game. The Rangers need to lean on Lundqvist as their defence core is slow in a league that’s becoming more and more about speed.
Long live The King.