One player to root for from every NHL Eastern Conference team

With a new NHL season getting underway, ardent fans are eager to watch their favorite teams and hate on rivals. But for the teams you don’t dislike but don’t know much about, this guide may help you when your favorite team isn’t playing.

Here’s a player on each Eastern Conference team to root for.

Boston Bruins | Joonas Korpisalo | Goaltender

Korpisalo was essentially run out of Ottawa one year after signing a big contract. Now on his fourth team in three seasons, he has a chance to rebuild his reputation with one of the league’s premier organizations. 

Buffalo Sabres | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | Goaltender

Written off on multiple occasions, Swedish netminder “UPL” went from being considered the goalie of the future to another stalled prospect. Now he might once again be the goalie of the future. His building off of last season (.910 save percentage, 2.57 goals against average) could potentially help break the longest playoff drought in the NHL (13 seasons) for a rabid fan base. 

Carolina Hurricanes | Brent Burns | Defenseman

Burns is 39 and turns 40 on March 9, is on an expiring contract and may be looking at his last chance at a Stanley Cup. He is basically the archetype for the “old guy without a Cup.” 

Columbus Blue Jackets | Sean Monahan | Center

Monahan had to slowly rebuild his career after injuries hampered his reign as one of the league’s elite goal-scoring centers. He signed a big contract this summer in Columbus to be close to his best friend from his Calgary days, the late Johnny Gaudreau. 

Detroit Red Wings | Alex Lyon | Goaltender

Lyon is an undrafted 32-year-old journeyman on his fourth stop in eight seasons, and he has been either the savior or near-savior of a team’s season in his past two stops. He’s part of a crowded crease with as many as four guys who could command the net at some point this season. The odds never seem to be in his favor, but Lyon has a history of delivering. 

Florida Panthers | Gustav Forsling | Defenseman

The elite defenseman helped lead Florida to a Stanley Cup, playing a critical role in last season’s seven-game win over Edmonton. The former Florida waiver claim signed a massive contract extension and has the chance to deliver a sequel performance even better than the original. 

Montreal Canadiens | Lane Hutson | Defenseman

A 5-foot-10, 163-pound rookie defenseman playing enormous minutes for an Original Six franchise seems destined to either take the league by storm or be a complete disaster. Add in Hutson’s electric ability, Montreal’s teeming offensive talent and defense-optional style and you have the makings of must-see pond hockey. Hutson is only 20.

New Jersey Devils | Dougie Hamilton | Defenseman

Hamilton will always be a fan favorite for being part of one of the most absurd NHL rumors in history. Whether he’s a “museum guy” or not, Hamilton is also one of the more fun players in the league and coming off a pectoral injury that cost him essentially all of last season and torpedoed New Jersey’s  season.

New York Islanders | Anthony Duclair | Wing

He shaved his hair off just to be a part of this team and follow some arcane policies instituted by GM Lou Lamoriello.