Sterling Predictions: Biggest Surprise

Which player will be the biggest surprise, good or bad?

Mrs. O: I think Chiasson will be the biggest surprise and it'll be a good surprise.

Sheer Craziness: I think most of our surprises will be good. I'm touting Hoffman for the biggest surprise, but I also think Pageau could be a, um, surprise surprise. I'm also kind of thinking Cowen might be a slight positive surprise, just because of the low bar he set last season. But yeah, Hoffman for biggest surprise.

Peter: Jared Cowen, good surprise, as his focus on skating makes him the team's most improved player. Mark Borowiecki and Milan Michalek could also be good surprises. I don't want to think about bad surprises.

Ian: Defensively, I think Cowen will be the biggest surprise. It might take a month into the season, but he'll begin to live up to the shut-down body-bashing expectations we have for him. Offensively, I'm thinking Zibanejad will turn some heads this year while putting up a ton of points and showing some highlight reel flash.

B_T: Please let it be Cowen.

Michaela: Jared Cowen will surprise everyone by not sucking, and playing pretty well. Everyone expects him to have another terrible season, so no matter what, he probably won't have a hard time surpassing those expectations.

Adnan: Alex Chiasson will be the biggest surprise and score 25+ goals.

Nkb: By the end of the season, both Stone and Hoffman will have firmly entrenched themselves in top 6 roles. Hoffman, in particular, will be a pleasant surprise in this regard, but Stone will impress with an uncommon patience and vision with the puck.

Oh and Jared Cowen will still stink but that shouldn't surprise anyone.

Ary: I think Cody Ceci will be the biggest surprise this season, and will put up some of the offense that he had in junior and during his short stay in Binghamton. Ceci actually "stabilizing the defense" would be huge, as he definitely has the tools to be a two-way threat. I've also been really impressed with Alex Chiasson, and think that he could score 20+ goals this season. In terms of negative surprises? I don't think Craig Anderson will go back to his lockout form any time soon (and thus will be taken over by Lehner this year).

Amelia: Alex Chiasson. He seems an afterthought already as Sens fans debate roles for Lazar, Stone, and Hoffman, or get to know prospect Nick Paul, but Chiasson will have a productive, healthy 25-goal, 45-point, season.

Which player will be the biggest surprise, good or bad?