Welcome to part 5 of my means to be successful next year series. My past four installments are easily accessible since I have not done any posts in between them. Today our focus is on Evengy Dadonov, Jason Demers and Alex Petrovic.

Evengy Dadonov (Winger)

Role: Top 6 Forward

Stats from Last Year: St Petersburg (KHL) 53 GP; 30-36-66

Stats from 2011-12 with Panthers: 15 GP 2-1-3

KHL Career Stats: 311 GP 112-128-240

NHL Career Stats: 55 GP 10-10-20

Contract: 1st year of a 3 year deal worth $4M AAV

He’s back! After disappearing from the radar of Panther fans, Dale Tallon brought him back. Dadonov played a few years with the club from 2009-12. Putting up 20 points in 55 games, Tallon traded him due to several veterans beating out the young Dadonov for a spot. Now with his rights expired as an RFA he is returning. Dadonov is expected to replace Jaromir Jagr on the line alongside Barkov and Huberdeau.

Stat Expectations for 75+ GP: 25 Goals; 26 Assists; 51 Points

Chance to make it: 78%. Dadonov has had NHL success and coming off a 30 goal season paired with pheonmenal linemates, Dads should make it.

Jason Demers (Defense)

Role: 2nd-3rd Pairing Defenseman

Stats from last year: 81 GP (T-1st); 9 G (1st); 19 A (4th); 28 PTS (2nd)

Career Stats: 504 GP; 37-134-171

Contract: 2nd year of a 5 year deal worth $4.5M AAV

Cash Per Point: $160,714.29

Demers had a weird year last year. After a great start, he burned out and was an ankle weight for the remainder of the year. Struggling defensively but being able to provide the occasional offensive punch, Demers gets a lot of flack from fans for being the replacement for Erik Gudbranson. However while Demers could easily fetch value in a trade, I want to get another look at him.

Stat Expectations: 6 Goals; 22 Assists; 28 Points

Chance to Make It: 62%. Demers is good at putting up assists in his career however he needs to start finding the back of the net again. 

Alex Petrovic (Defenseman)

Role: 3rd Pairing Defenseman

Stats from Last year: 49 GP (2nd); 1 G (2nd); 13 A (2nd); 14 PTS (2nd)

Career Stats: 161 GP; 3-32-35

Contract: 1st year of a 1 year $1.8M AAV

Cash per point: ($1.05M) $75,000

An ankle injury kept Petrovic out of the lineup for a significant part of the year. When he came back, Petro continued to do what he was brought in for which was defend. While he didn’t make any Gudbranson style hits, he played efficently in his own zone.

Stat Expectations: 1 Goal; 13 Assists

Chance to make it: 79%. He just has to stay healthy to make it.