Whether you are an NHL general manager or just trying to manage your fantasy hockey roster, one of the best skills you can have is the ability to determine whether a player’s success is small-sample luck or a trend that will carry throughout an entire season.
Through the first month of the season, we have seen some spectacular starts to 2018-19 by superstar scorers like Connor McDavid, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Kane. Because of their histories, it doesn’t take much effort to figure out that these Hart Trophy-caliber players will keep on trucking through the winter and spring. But there are a number of players whose blazing hot starts are much more questionable based on their past performances.
Let’s have a look at five small-sample stars with bright seasons ahead, and five others who are likely to slow down soon: