HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Metro Division breakout picks for 2019-20

Somewhat biased pick, but I have to pick Buchnevich. If he can hang on the first line, he should rack up points playing with Zib and Panarin.

If I have to pick someone not on the Rangers, I think Nico has a chance to explode for the Devs. All the teams will lock on Hughes/Hall and he could quietly take his game to a north of 60 point level.

Not set in stone, but heading into the preseason Brind'amour has been rolling lines of

Dzingel - Aho - Niederreiter
Svechnikov - Staal - Teravainen

Svechnikov should get an awful lot more opportunity on a line like that than he did playing with Wallmark and Martinook last season, and Turbo should be able to actually finish on some of the offense Svech creates.

Not set in stone, but heading into the preseason Brind'amour has been rolling lines of

Dzingel - Aho - Niederreiter
Svechnikov - Staal - Teravainen

Svechnikov should get an awful lot more opportunity on a line like that than he did playing with Wallmark and Martinook last season, and Turbo should be able to actually finish on some of the offense Svech creates.
- BINGO!

I'm a big believer in stacking your elite players, and I'd love to see Svechnikov and Aho. I can't believe a coach could have that as an option and not try it. It's not like Dzingle-Staal-Neiderreiter wouldn't be an acceptable second line either.

I'm a big believer in stacking your elite players, and I'd love to see Svechnikov and Aho. I can't believe a coach could have that as an option and not try it. It's not like Dzingle-Staal-Neiderreiter wouldn't be an acceptable second line either.
- James_Tanner

They went full Svech-Aho-Teravainen for a few games last season and it looked great, but I think they're trying to keep guys with similar footspeed together, because the 3rd line thus far is Foegele-Haula-Necas.

Dzingel and Aho play at a similar pace, as does Svech and Teravainen, but Nino and Staal are a half step slower and some of what Dzingel does is probably wasted if he's playing with those two.

Aho and Sves one of the best pairs in the game? They wouldn't even be one of the best pairs on the Leafs. Then there's those guys in Edmonton that we forget about when April comes. Dirtbag Bruins that we don't forget about when April comes.