Transitioning to a new team isn’t always easy. The season has just only began, yet players starting fresh on a new team are already making an impact. It’s a small sample size, and there’s no guaranteed things can continue, but here’s three players who are off to hot starts in new threads.
Martin Jones
The Sharks were in desperate need of stability between the pipes, and they swung for the fences trading a first-round pick to the Los Angeles Kings for Martin Jones. Jones had only played 34 games in his career prior to the trade, but the 25-year-old was stuck behind Jonathan Quick and played well in a limited opportunity. In just five starts, Jones looks like he’s ready to be a number one goalie, and a pretty good one at that.
The Sharks have faced the Kings, Ducks, Capitals and Devils, and Jones has stonewalled all of them, allowing just two goals in four games, including back-to-back shutouts against Anaheim and Washington. In his fifth start against the Rangers he finally showed signs of struggles, allowing three goals in a loss against the Rangers, but he’s still off to a sizzling start. Jones has put up video game numbers, with a 1.18 GAA and .959 5v5 Sv%.
There’s a zero chance these numbers are sustainable, as Jones would break every goaltending record ever, but he’s looking like a number one goalie and for San Jose that’s a huge sigh of relief.
T.J. Oshie
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 10: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the New Jersey Devils at Verizon Center on October 10, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals won, 5-3. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Washington Capitals pried Oshie from the St. Louis Blues for a surprisingly light package of Troy Brouwer, a third-round pick and a prospect. Oshie has never been a dynamic goal scorer, but he’s always been a consistent point producer in the NHL.
With the Capitals, Oshie has landed in a destination and a role where he will certainly produce points. He’s been paired on a line with Evgeny Kuznetzov and Alex Ovechkin, which is about as good as it gets. In four games, he’s posted good possession numbers, scored two goals and for points, and has been generating a ton of shots (16). Oshie has always seemed like a better scorer than he actually is, and with the Caps, we might see that skill translate even more than it did in St. Louis.
His ample playing time and opportunity means the 28-year-old is primed for a career season. He’s got a legitimate shot at breaking 20 goals for the second time in his career, and playing with Ovie means he’ll be on the ice for a lot goals.
Adam Cracknell
Cracknell is never going to be a top-six NHLer, and will likely never be more than a fourth liner in the league. At 30-years-old, he doesn’t have potential, and what we see is what you’re likely to get from him. With all that said, Cracknell has done a great job on the fourth line for the Canucks.
General manager Jim Benning took a no-risk move bringing in Cracknell on a two-way deal, and so far he’s provided them with much-needed depth. In his career, he’s scored at the AHL level, has posted decent possession numbers in his career, and has scored 19 points in 88 career NHL games.
Cracknell has scored twice in six games in 2015-16, including potting the winner against the the Los Angeles Kings, playing on a line with Brandon Prust and Derek Dorsett. He’s likely peaking early on in the season, but he’s given the Canucks energy at the bottom.
He’s not going to win a scoring title anytime soon, but he can be a hard-working depth piece for the team, and if he can put up even 10-15 points, he’s an asset.
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