Penalty Minutes: Justin Abdelkader
If Luke Witkowski were expected to be a regular, this would be a simple category to predict. He is not so I’ve decided to go with associate captain Justin Abdelkader. Abdelkader will skate exclusively as a bottom-six forward this season. I expect 8 to be more of an agitator this season regularly stirring the pot.
Abby will be asked to be hard on the body on more of a nightly basis. Abdelkader will ruffle feathers being more of a physical presence leading to more trips to the sin bin. I have Abdelkader penciled in with 98 penalty minutes this season.