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Russo's Rants 28 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | M A R C H 2 0 2 5 FORWARDS Yeah, yeah, yeah, he was born in Nebraska when his father, Mike, was coaching there, but he moved to Woodbury as a young kid, so we're claiming him as one of our own. After signing a seven-year contract with the Tampa Bay Light- ning on July 1, the 30-year-old fit in like a glove playing with stars like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. After years playing alongside future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby, Guentzel continues to prove he can produce and score goals next to anybody. He's got gifted hands, speed and a nose for the net. Despite not being the biggest guy, few players are as gutsy. When he goes into the corner or behind the net, he usually comes away with the puck. By late January, he was registering more than a point a game and on pace for 44 goals. The Islanders captain and former Edina High School star … quarterback continues to prove he made the right choice devoting himself to hockey once he decided to go to Notre Dame. As tough as they come, the Islanders engine drives goalies bonkers by living in front of the crease and once again had a strong year putting up goals and points. By the season's midway point, he already had 20 goals to top all Minne- sota-born players. The Burnsville native and former University of North Dakota national champion is your prototypical goal scorer coming down the right wing. He excels especially on the power play, where he can be deployed anywhere from the flank to the bumper to even the net front because he doesn't shy away from the hard-nosed areas. He was five goals from his sixth 20-goal season by late January and coming off a 40-goal season. It'll be interesting what happens after the season because he's in the last year of his contract and has long been linked to his hometown Wild. Another player linked to the Wild is Nelson, whom the Wild were identifying as a trade possibility by the March 7 deadline. If not, signing the 33-year-old Warroad native as a free agent July 1 is something the Wild seem to be eying. Wild GM Bill Guerin loves Nelson's game and his versatility. He can play wing or center, win big draws, score big goals, kill penalties and be a threat on the power play. Guerin likes him so much, he put the veter- an on the United States' 4 Nations Face-Off roster over younger players like Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller and Cole Caufield. The Avs have been trying to find a true No. 2 center since losing Nazem Kadri after their 2022 Cup run and last year executed a huge trade with Buffalo to acquire the former Mr. Hockey Minnesota from Eden Prairie. Mittelstadt is a crafty player who can provide skill and point production as a support to star top-line forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Three years after a dreamy NHL debut 20 minutes from where he grew up in Stillwater, the 26-year-old continues to be one of the Flyers' most up and coming players. Philadelphia may be in a rebuild, but one reason why the Flyers surprise so many teams on a nightly basis is the consistent play of youngsters like Cates, 26. He can play wing and center and seems to be thriving under John Tortorella in Philly. GUENTZEL JAKE ANDERS BOESER BROCK NELSON BROCK MITTELSTADT CASEY CATES NOAH LEE Jake Guentzel Casey Mittelstadt