The Pittsburgh Penguins recently traded James Neal to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. There has been a lot of hype about what Patric Hornqvist can bring to this team or how he can contribute. What do I think he will do this season? Let's take a look.

Go to the dirty areas

This is what the Penguins have needed for a long time. They really haven't had a player who can go to the dirty areas and score. In one play during the season against the Blues, Patric Hornqvist goes to the dirty area on the power play and stuffs it home for a goal. That is something the Penguins really need during the regular season if they are to compete with teams like Boston or Tampa Bay. He'll get at least 20 goals with the Penguins this season if that is his place down low on the power play. 

Score over 30 goals

This is something that should easily happen for Patric Hornqvist this year. He's never really played with a great center like Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby but they will make him into a great player. If Evgeni Malkin can make James Neal into a 40 goal scorer, then I'm sure he can do the same to Patric Hornqvist. It should be a great season for him goal wise and point wise.

Play on top Power Play

He should easily be on the top power play unit as the season starts but it may not be set and stone. Chris Kunitz occupies Hornqvist's spot and I'm not sure new coach Mike Johnston would want to take him off of there. What the Penguins could do is have four forwards on the ice and one defenseman to start out the season. If they allow too many shorthanded goals, then you change it to three forwards and two defenseman like they did in the playoffs. All I know is that if Christian Ehrhoff is quarterbacking this power play they should score a ton with Hornqvist on the ice.