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Thomas Vanek

​A healthy scratch late last season and then hurt in the playoffs, the 32-year-old Vanek appeared done in a young man's Buy NHL Coins when Minnesota decided in June to buy out the final season of his contract. But on July 1, Detroit, whose assistants John Torchetti and Doug Houda had previously coached the left winger, signed Vanek to a low-risk, one-year deal at $2.6 million. He enters Tuesday's home game against Carolina tied with fellow forward Gustav Nyquist and defenceman Mike Green for the team lead with three goals and seven points.

Mika Zibanejad

When the New York Rangers traded for Zibanejad, 23, general manager Jeff Gorton suggested the former Ottawa Senators centre had merely scratched the surface of his potential with last season's career-high 21 goals and 51 points. So far, it's hard to argue with that assessment as the speedy and creative Zibanejad has clicked with linemates Chris Kreider and rookie Pavel Buchnevich, notching two assists in his Rangers debut and recording two goals and six points overall.

Lee Stempniak

Buy HUT Coins The 33-year-old was on track for a career year before New Jersey dealt the right winger to Boston late last season and Stempniak ultimately fell one point short of the 52 he attained in his second year in the NHL in 2006-07 with St. Louis. Stempniak is off to another blistering start with four goals and six points in his first five games with the Carolina Hurricanes, playing on a line with Jeff Skinner and Victor Rask.

Joe Colborne

When the Flames didn't make the Calgary-born forward a qualifying offer, Colorado jumped at the chance to sign the unrestricted free-agent centre fresh off a career season with 19 goals and 44 points. Armed with a two-year, $5-million deal, Colborne, who played two seasons with the University of Denver Pioneers, paid immediate dividends when he posted his first NHL hat trick and only the second opening-night, three-goal game in Avalanche history in their season-opening 6-5 win over Dallas. Colborne has three goals and four points in five contests Click Here.