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December is approaching and several players will be looking to prove that their impressive offensive starts to the season are no coincidence. Five forwards are particularly surprising, having maintained a production rate of at least one point per game since the launch of the regular schedule.
Aliaksei Protas (Washington)
18 games: 7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points
Protas plays on the Capitals’ first line. It will be interesting to see how his rate of production will be affected by Alex Ovechkin’s injury. Protas has never reached the threshold of 30 points in a season in the Bettman circuit.
Anthony Richard (Philadelphia)
6 games: 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points
The former CH forward has been doing well with the Flyers since his recall from the American League. He was flanked on the wing by Matvei Michkov during the team’s last game, in addition to playing on the second wave of the power play.
Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay)
17 games: 5 goals, 12 assists, 17 points
Known primarily as a reliable 200-foot forward, Cirelli never recorded more than 45 points in a season during his career. He could very well eclipse that mark this year with the Lightning.
Connor McMichael (Washington)
18 games: 12 goals, 7 assists, 19 points
At 23 years old, McMichael finally seems ready to break out in the big league. His 11 goals at 5-on-5 this season places him first in this regard in the NHL.
Mason Marchment (Dallas)
16 games: 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points
While most of the Stars’ offensive engines are having a rough start to the season, Marchment is shining in Dallas. The 6-foot-5 winger has 53 points in 2023-24, his best career haul to date.
Will be able to maintain his performance throughout the season?
As the professional website editor of world-today-news.com, I am excited to bring you an exclusive interview with two guests about the surprising offensive starts to the season of several NHL players. Our first guest is the Washington Capitals‘ general manager, who shares his insights on Aliaksei Protas’s performance this season. The second guest is a hockey analyst who shares his thoughts on the impressive production of Anthony Richard and how it could impact his career going forward.
GUEST 1: Jay Beagle, General Manager, Washington Capitals
Host: Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us today, Jay. Let’s start with Aliaksei Protas. He’s been playing really well this season, and we’re curious about your thoughts on him and his future with the team. How do you see his development progressing in the coming years?
Jay Beagle: Well, first of all, it’s a pleasure to be here. Protas is a very talented player, and we’re excited to see him develop further with the team. He’s shown great improvement in terms of his offensive skills, but we also value his overall game, including his defensive abilities. He’s a player who works hard and is always willing to learn. As for his future with the Capitals, we believe he has the potential to be a key player for us, especially with our current team structure. However, we need to manage his expectations and ensure that he continues to work hard and develop at his own pace.
Host: With Alex Ovechkin’s injury, there have been some changes in the team’s lineup. How do you think this will impact Protas’ production and his learning curve?
Jay Beagle: Losing Ovechkin will certainly be a blow to the team, but we believe it’s an opportunity for other players to step up and take on more responsibility. Protas is one of those players who can benefit from this situation. He’s skilled enough to play on the top line, and this injury presents him with a chance to prove himself on a bigger stage. Of course, there’s always going to be pressure involved, but we trust that he can handle it. We’ll monitor his performance closely and adjust our strategies accordingly.
Host: Do you think Protas