NHL Barometer: Players to Watch in 2019-20

For the final column of the year, we switch up the format a bit. Rather than Risers and Fallers, the article focuses on nine players to watch for next season, emphasizing younger players who showed they have potential to be fantasy studs as soon as next season.

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Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, MTL – Kotkaniemi, a mild surprise with the third pick in last year's draft, has proven he can play in the NHL. At 6-foor-2, Kotkaniemi has more than the requisite size and skill to succeed, but he needs to add weight and strength to fully utilize all his assets. Kotkaniemi benefits from having Max Domi in front of him at center and should slide into the No. 2 role, ahead of Phillip Danault, before too long.

Robert Thomas, C, STL – Thomas, drafted 20th overall by St. Louis in 2017, has uncanny agility and an elite hockey sense, racking up 24 goals and 75 points in 49 games in the OHL last season. Despite having his ice time capped and at times playing sheltered minutes, including on the fourth line, Thomas has still notched nine goals and 23 assists in 67 games. Thomas plays wing, but he projects to be a center in the future, possibly as early as next season.

Brady Tkachuk, RW, OTT – Ottawa could have traded last year's pick to Colorado and maintained this season's selection resulting from the Matt Duchene. The Senators "lucked" out by landing Tkachuk at four even though this year's pick could be top prospect Jack Hughes or Finnish star Kaapo Kakko. Last season, playing at Boston University, Tkachuk tallied 31 points in 40 games, posting a plus-15 rating. This year, he hit 21 goals and 22 assists in 68 games, displaying a goal-scorer's touch along with the physical presence his father, Keith, was known for in his career. Brady could be the future captain of the Senators.

Pavel Buchnevich, RW, NYR – Buchnevich is in his third season in the NHL and just turned 23. It just seems like he has been around much longer. Buch, drafted in the third round, 75th overall, in 2013, hit the 20-goal mark Sunday against the Flyers. After sitting in coach David Quinn's doghouse and ending up in the press box, Buchnevich finally has shown the desired effort level and willingness to go the front of the net, resulting in a strong finish to the season with points in seven straight. If he starts 2019-20 with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, Buchnevich could hit 30 goals.

Josh Anderson, RW, CLM – Anderson, selected 95th in the 2012 draft, just gets better and better each year and game. Once viewed as maybe a third-line winger, Anderson has shown he can and is much more. The 24-year-old power forward had 18 goals and 29 points in 61 games prior to suffering a knee injury that ended up costing him 17 games down the stretch. Anderson was just whetting our appetite as to what would come next. Playing a full season, Anderson has set career highs in points (46), hits (206) and shots (225) while skating on the second line.

Quinn Hughes, D, VAN– Hughes, the seventh overall pick last year by Vancouver, completed his season with the University of Michigan before joining the Canucks. A foot injury delayed his debut, but Hughes has shown all the skills expected of him during his brief time in the NHL. While slightly undersized at 5-9, the slick skater makes up for it with his speed and stickhandling ability, evidenced in his 62 points (10 goals, 52 assists) over 69 collegiate games. Look for him to explode next year in his first full season in the league.

Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL – Heiskanen, the third overall pick in the 2017 draft, is one of those players' whose real life value exceeds his fantasy worth. That doesn't mean he won't provide numbers to aid your fantasy team, but watch him and you will just how good he is on the ice in areas that don't translate to counting stats. As a 19-year-old rookie, Heiskanen is playing more than 23 minutes game, notching 12 goals and 21 assists in 79 games, albeit with a minus-11 rating. Cale Makar from Colorado will likely be more of a fantasy phenom, but as an overall blueliner, give me Heiskanen.

Carter Hart, G, PHI – Philadelphia has used eight goalies this season but they finally seem to have their goalie of the future, possibly their first since Ron Hextall. Taken in the second round on 2016, Flyers fans have been biding time until Hart, who took home a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships, was recalled. After leading the WHL in GAA (1.60) and save percentage (.947) over 41 games for Everett in the 2017-18 campaign, Hart was struggling in the AHL when he was promoted in December. He hasn't looked back and should be Philly's No. 1 netminder next season.

Jordan Binnington, D, STL – The clock could strike 12 for Binnington, turning him back into a pumpkin, but that doesn't appear likely to happen. Flying into to rescue the Blues' season, Binnington wrested the No. 1 netminding job from Jake Allen, carrying St. Louis to a playoff berth. Buried in the minors, Binnington took advantage of his opportunity, posting a 1.85 goals-against average and .928 save percentage while winning 22 of 28 starts. Those numbers warrant belief heading into the 2019-20 campaign.

Others include Dylan Strome, Henrik Borgstrom, Sam Steel, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tyler Bertuzzi, Andreas Johnsson, Kevin Labanc. Kyle Connor, Ryan Pulock, Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar and Alexandar Georgiev.