“The Silver Shield” is a column by Kasey Kazliner about the National Hockey League.
Minnesota’s forceful phenoms
Chicago’s Connor Bedard might be the headlining newcomer of the NHL this season, but about 400 miles northwest, two rookies are making Calder Trophy cases for themselves: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi and defenseman Brock Faber.
At seventh in the Central, the Wild are not having the year they would’ve hoped for following a 103-point playoff season in 2022-23. However, the elevation of Rossi and Faber has been huge in solidifying a strong future for the team. Both were drafted in 2020 and had long routes to the NHL before finding their footing on the Wild.
At 5-foot-9, Rossi wasn’t the typical size for a top draft pick, but his stout skill set overshadowed this narrative. His path to the NHL was unconventional to say the least — Rossi’s life and big-league dreams were severely in jeopardy after he was diagnosed with myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle. When he finally recovered, he made stints at both the AHL and NHL levels but appeared timid with Minnesota, landing him back with the minor-league Iowa Wild.
This was a blessing in disguise, though, as Rossi earned his stripes with Iowa and furthered his development into an NHL-caliber center. This season, he has completely broken out. Through 50 games, he has racked up 13 goals and 15 assists. He has spent time on the first line with bonafide stars Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov while also developing his game on the lower lines.
Rossi is an explosive skater, and his speed and craftiness has taken his offensive game to the next level. His new-and-improved confident playing style this season has made him look like a completely different player than in his earlier NHL days.
Faber was a main piece in the Kevin Fiala trade back in 2022 after being drafted by the Kings a round after Rossi. A native of Maple Grove, Minnesota — a 30-minute drive from St. Paul — Faber grew up a big Wild fan. He played college hockey at the nearby University of Minnesota and got his first stab at playing a full NHL campaign this season following limited time with the Wild last year.
The 21-year-old defenseman leads all Wild players with 24:51 of ice time per game, showing his impressive resilience and durability at such a young age. Faber’s 30 points only trail Bedard by three for the rookie lead, but Minnesota’s star defenseman will surely be on track to pass Chicago’s center due to his absence with a broken jaw.
Faber has shined in the defensive zone, creating havoc for opposing teams looking to score. On top of his stout defense, he is a skilled playmaker and uses his strong physicality to evade defenders in the neutral zone to generate points. He’s also been a big part of Minnesota’s power play unit, posting nine points on special teams thus far.
The Wild sit five points out of the Western Conference’s second Wild Card spot and are determined to make their fifth-straight Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance despite the shaky start. Regardless, the time ahead is looking bright with two Calder candidates taking initiative this season.
The best prospects for early pick-hopefuls
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Macklin Celebrini, the consensus projected No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. However, only one team will land him, and because of the lottery system, a handful will be disappointed when they don’t hear their name called at the No. 1 slot. While Celebrini is extremely talented, these teams can still be happy with their selections as there are plenty of highly touted prospects. So, let’s look at some of the top draft prospects not named Celebrini.
Ivan Demidov
Ivan Demidov is an 18-year-old Russian forward who currently plays with SKA-1946 of the MHL. His playmaking ability, consisting of elite puck handling and flashy shooting, has helped him tally 45 points this season. Demidov’s high hockey IQ and unpredictable mobility will definitely be attractive to teams picking in the top three.
Artyom Levshunov
Belarusian defenseman Artyom Levshunov has made an immediate impact at the NCAA level with Michigan State, posting 27 points in 28 games this season. He’s been vital on the Spartans’ penalty kill and his 6-foot-2 frame gives him the physical edge on defense. Levshunov is more of an offensive defenseman but he can perform at the top of his game in all three zones.
Cole Eiserman
Winger Cole Eiserman is only 17 years old but could be the next American phenom in the NHL. He’s committed to Boston University and currently plays for the U.S. National Development Team. Averaging a whopping 1.63 points per game, Eiserman is a pure scorer. The issue is that he is far from a jack of all trades; his playmaking and skating could use some work, but he’ll have plenty of time to improve upon his flaws as development continues.
Anton Silayev
Defenseman Anton Silayev’s 6-foot-7 size and precise skating ability has made him into a highly touted prospect. His stats don’t tell the full story; he only has 11 points this season in Russia’s KHL but has been elite covering ground and setting up his teammates. With his physical build and skill set, the sky’s the limit for Silayev.
Cayden Lindstrom
British Columbia native Cayden Lindstrom is a physical center who isn’t afraid to charge loose pucks and battle to make plays. He’s recorded 46 points with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and would likely have plenty more if he wasn’t sidelined with a hand injury. Lindstrom is gifted in playmaking in transition and would be a solid addition to any NHL team looking for a skilled player in the middle.
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft will begin on June 28, but it’s never too early to check in on the league’s next stars. Past the midway point of the season, a handful of teams look to select a top prospect and build for the future.
The NHL’s best face off in Toronto
The 2024 NHL All-Star festivities took place last weekend, with Team Matthews winning the 3-on-3 All-Star Game tournament and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid taking the Skills Challenge.
The Canucks led the league with six All-Stars following their acquisition of forward Elias Lindholm. The Maple Leafs, the hosts of All-Star Weekend, had four and impressed home fans as all played on the victorious Team Matthews.
Popular Canadian celebrities Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Will Arnett and Tate McRae made appearances as honorary captains.
Teams got back to work on Monday after almost a week off from games.
“The Silver Shield” runs every Thursday.