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Players trending up, down for every Eastern Conference team

Flyers captain Claude Giroux will be playing a big role for the team in 2017-18, but his best days are behind him. Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire

Whether you are an NHL general manager or a fantasy hockey player, one of the most important skills to maintain a strong roster is being able to spot trends. Is a young player about to take off? Is an older player about to decline? These trends affect decisions -- and a mistake could lead to time on the golf course while others are in the postseason.

With that said, let's have a look at one player on each Eastern Conference team who is ready to take the next step forward, and one that is about to fade.