Lane Hutson
Lane Hutson was the best player on the ice at the rookie camp games against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was always a player who had a chance to crack the opening night roster after his performance in two games last season. However, most people erred cautiously and said he'd be better off spending some time in Laval. Hutson proved in those rookie games that he is a step above the prospects and ready to earn a full-time spot in the lineup.
It's a numbers game for Hutson like the rest of the defense, so the question is who he will replace in the lineup. Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson are locked on the left side, which means Arber Xhekaj is the likely victim unless they move Guhle to the right side. Can Hutson outperform Xhekaj in training camp? All signs point to yes.