The NHL preseason has been dragging on, and teams have already suffered injuries to key players. Despite these setbacks, there are several players poised to make a significant impact this season.
Injuries often create opportunities for other players to step up and take on more responsibility. This season, there are several candidates who could make a major leap forward in their development.
One such player is Connor Bedard, who had an impressive rookie season with 61 points. He’s expected to produce 30% more this season, thanks to the addition of talented wingers like Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen. If he stays healthy, Bedard could easily reach 35 goals and 80 points.
Mavrik Bourque is another player to watch, expected to play a key secondary scoring role for the Dallas Stars. After 77 points in the AHL last season, Bourque is primed to take advantage of easier matchups and could have a similar output to Wyatt Johnston’s rookie season.
Leo Carlsson, a sophomore center for the Anaheim Ducks, is expected to play a full season this time around, alongside rookie Cutter Gauthier on the second line. With a major size advantage on the line, the trio should be able to punish teams on the forecheck, creating scoring opportunities and drawing penalties.
Brandt Clarke, a defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings, is the best option to quarterback the power play in Los Angeles. He showed flashes of brilliance in 16 games with the Kings last season and is clearly the best offensive option on the blue line while Drew Doughty is out.
Dylan Guenther, a right-winger for the Utah Hockey Club, is expected to be a major part of the team’s success this season. With an expected role as the shooter on the top power-play unit, Guenther is expected to far surpass last season’s total of 35 points in 45 games.
Matthew Knies, a left-winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is widely expected to feature alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Toronto’s top line this season. He’s earned the chance to play on both special teams, as well as an extended look on the top line.
Cole Perfetti, a center for the Winnipeg Jets, is expected to produce around 60 points this season, a 50% increase over last season’s output. If Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers play together on the second line, there is a real chance Perfetti cracks the 60-point threshold.
Finally, Juraj Slafkovsky, a left-winger for the Montreal Canadiens, is projected to be nearly a point-per-game player in 2024-25. After a tale of two seasons in 2023-24, Slafkovsky will surely garner more defensive attention this season. However, his chemistry with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield was brilliant to watch after the All-Star break, and should continue into this campaign.
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