| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 05:06:13
Of all the young or middle-aged (hockey-wise, I mean) players out there, who do you think is poised to have a big break-out season this coming year?
There has been lots of movement, lots of new linemates and teammates for some elite players . . . and that's on top of a potentially resurgent Ovechkin, and a returning healthy Crosby and Malkin.
So, help out your fellow poolies . . . who makes a big stats jump, and give us the reasons for your prediction!
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| 28 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sahis34 |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 15:54:05
eberle |
| Guest0168 |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 15:36:40
No one, they will all be injured. |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 14:27:26
quote:
Originally posted by foolpittier
quote:
Originally posted by foolpittier
james neil will have a large season
and he is, but what about tyler myers, jvr and lieno, i have these guys in a keeper and i wonder if their worth keepin, id rather take a risk on younger prospects, am i crazy?
Really depends on your pool. How many can you "keep", how many from each position, etc. So many questions, but in general, i'd prob give up on Leino and maybe Myers but i'd try to hold onto JVR. I like his upside too much to let him get away at this point. Myers could settle in nicely as a 40-45 pt dman, but i certainly wouldnl't expect much more. Again, so many factors can change a guys worth and without knowing your pool like you do, it's tough to judge these guys' "worth" properly. |
| foolpittier |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 14:06:02
quote:
Originally posted by foolpittier
james neil will have a large season
and he is, but what about tyler myers, jvr and lieno, i have these guys in a keeper and i wonder if their worth keepin, id rather take a risk on younger prospects, am i crazy?
|
| n/a |
Posted - 07/27/2011 : 04:43:18
Alex - yes, a lot of the players I predicted to break out are on new teams. Yes, a lot of new players on new teams don't click immediately and often don't produce to expectation . . . which is why I didn't make any mention of the other 2 dozen young players on new teams.
About Mike Richards playing with Kopitar . . . I only say that because I think they'd be a good fit, Kopitar has also played wing before, and they would be a very potent top line. Either way, first or second line, won't matter - Richards will get his minutes, maybe even more than in Philly. And I just have a feeling he will havesomething to prove . . . no one has EVER questioned his competetive spirit - he is a fighter. That's the main reason I see him having a huge season.
Stewart in St. Louis is intriguing . . . I really like that as a sleeper pick, thanks for bringing him to my attention. Had forgotten about him getting dealt.
Now to all of you . . .
Yes, I know whenever I mention anyone from the Leafs doing well, it will bring out twice as many comments.
But Bozak couldn't put up 40 points playing with Kessel . . . and he was the centreman the entire time, almost. That was SUCH a drag on that top line, and it wasn't even that Bozak is a terrible player or didn't have the effort - he's just not skilled enough for top line duty.
I saw Kessel play amazing in spots, and overall, it was a big improvement from the year before, IMHO. It didn't translate into a tonne more points, however, because of the Bozak drag. HENCE, I think that following Kessel's upward development, and now having a decent playmaker, should absolutely boost his stats.
And same goes with Connolly . . . he will have another fast guy on his wing who can certainly put the puck in the net - must be good for him. I think that match is decent as well.
I hear what Beans is saying about Connolly playing with Roy and Vanek (wouldn't put any of the other mentioned above Kessel) . . . but I think a healthy, fresh start might just do the trick.
But who knows, it's just postulating at any rate. 
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 17:53:42
I can see both Setoguchi and Heatley having decent seasons but I am not sure about break-out. Heatley will be top line and top PP time with Koivu which could bring some 40 goal magic back. I also see Setoguchi playing on the 1st line as he is a step up on virtually every other forward in the Minny system.
I don't see Connolly breaking out. I just look at the talent he played with in Buffalo with players like Vanek, Roy, Pomminville, Staffard, and Boyes. I know he didn't play with each of them all the time but just about any 2 of those guys are better than just about any 2 guys that Toronto will be putting on the ice with Connolly. Not only that, Connolly was #7 in production with the Sabre's last season and has one season out of 10 of more than 65 points. If he repeats that 65 points I will be impressed. I would suggest he would be close to 55 pts. With that, I can't see how Kessel will improve unless Connolly makes a huge step forward and all of a sudden becomes a 80 pt player.
I don't see that happening. I seen Kessel with 30-35 goals and 60-65 pts and Connolly with 55ish points. Neither are 'break out' seasons in my opinion |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 09:59:51
quote:
He's gonna get more minutes and play with more skilled players, and at age 24, he should be getting towards his statistical peak.
Setoguchi is going to play with more skilled players than Thorton, Marleau, Coture, Pavelski, and Boyle? In MIN??? In MIN he will be counted on to BE the main offense, not support it - thats a big step up for someone like him. Other than Koviu and Heatley, there is very little offensive support in MIN.
quote:
And, he will get to play with Kopitar probably, if Anze moves to wing in all probability.
I don't think 90 points is out of reach here.
(note: Kopitar could also have a breakout season above 90 points)
Dude, seriously. Kopitar is not moving out of the top line centre roll in LA - Richards will for sure be their #2 centre to start the season - and will very likely give LA 2 strong top lines, something they have not had before. Richards and Kopitar might see time together on the PP and PK, but that will be it. If Richards gets 90 points as a second line centre, that would be amazing - for him and for LA.
I do like Simmonds though, he should break out. Connolly and Kessel - well, I guess they're either going to have a breakout year together, or its going to be another long season in TOR this year.
Alex - good picks - Doughty is a given I think, last year was just an off year for him. Malone and Stewart I agree, and I like the Kane pick - WIN is just waiting for him to explode.
Most of my thoughts have been expressed already, so I have little new to add.
- I'm looking for Stastny to have a comeback year and get back to his usual PPG numbers
- Jamie Benn - numbers have been steadily climbing, he's going to get even more big minutes in DAL this year with the absence of Richards and Neal, and proved he was capable when Richards went down last year. Look for 70+ points from him.
- TJ Oshie - I like this kid, he had a crap year last year, he's going to be better this year. Too good not to be.
|
| Alex116 |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 09:03:36
Slozo, aside from Kessel, every other player you mentioned, has just recently been traded! If you're bang on your predictions, i suggest teams make trades, even big ones, more often!
What i'm getting at is that a change of scenery, new team, new linemates, etc, doesn't always click immediately. These guys you list are def all very capable of "more" than they've shown thus far, but surely some will struggle or at least start slow in their new surroundings?
Of the ones you mentioned, i think Connolly (with a huge * beside this meaning "must stay healthy) and Kessel will do quite well. I too see potential for 40 in Kessel's future but it may have to wait one more year depending how quick these two gel.
Richards i don't see breaking 80, but then again, i don't see him playing 1st line center with Kopitar on his wing. I think they stick with Kopitar as their #1 and Richards as their #2, much like the Canucks have Sedin and Kesler. Sure, they'll play a bunch of PP together, but i don't see why they'd stack that one line? Did you hear this is what they're thinking of doing, or are you just going on a hunch? Just curious. I did hear that the Kings may be interested in Hemsky? In that scenario, i suppose he could be the 2 and they could in fact stack that top line??? Funny, with all the rumours and trades, i kinda thought Hemsky was already traded??? 
Love Simmonds, and 40 shouldn't be tough to top, Havlat, not so sure. Guess it depends where he plays? Lastly, Setoguchi, i can't see getting much time on the top line, therefore leaving who as his center? Cullen? Or am i forgetting another aquisition the Wild made? While this kid has potential, i don't see him topping the 31/34/65 he had on SJ a few years back?
Now for mine, and you can pick them apart at will ....
Taylor Hall - I don't see a sophomore slump in this kid. If he were healthy, he'd have easily cracked 25G last year and had an outside shot at 30. I say he hits 30 and maybe even 35 this year, as well as 30 assists. Look for him to be 65-70 pts in yr 2.
Ryan Malone - This guy's career high is just 47 points. He's yet to play more than 70 games though. If he can finally avoid the injury bug, i could see him at 65pts with a 30+ goal season.
Drew Doughty - Look for a big bounce back year for this kid once he's got his new deal. Sure, some tend to slack off after signing a big contract, but this kid is far too good imo. Having already had a 59 point season, it may not be a huge breakout year, moreso a bounce back year, but 65-70 is in within his reach, especially with what should be an improved team overall.
Chris Stewart - 23 pts in 26 games after the trade to St. Louis. Again, not a huge breakout season, seeing as he already had a 64 pt year in Col, but i see him topping 70 with 30-35 goals. No Beans, i'm not saying anything about St. Louis making the playoffs. At least not yet.
Mikael Backlund - With Stajan, Langkow and Jokinen as the other C's on the Flames, this kid has a great shot at being the #2 guy there and even has a shot at the #1 spot if Jokinen slumps at all. What then, if he finds some chemistry with Iggy? With 10G / 15A in 73 games last year, he's only got one direction he can go...UP! 20/30 is not a massive year, but it would double his best year to date and he could go even higher?
Evander Kane - Jet's fans are gonna love this guy. Andrew Ladd will hinder his chances of first line LW duty, so he may rely on another youngster in Alex Burmistrov to have somewhat of a breakout as well? Either way, Kane is young, can handle the difficult travel, and should put up 25+ goals this year.
Alexei Yashin - NO WAY this guy doesn't still have PPG capabilities! I see him at a zero points in zero games sort of range. Considering his age, attitude laziness and greed, this would still be a breakout, no?
|
| n/a |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 07:04:23
Myself, here are the key players I think might be poised to have career years or breakout seasons:
Setoguchi - Wild
I think he might have a career year in his first season with the Wild . . . even if he only finds himself on the second line behind Dany Heatley who came with him. He's gonna get more minutes and play with more skilled players, and at age 24, he should be getting towards his statistical peak.
I say he goes above his best year - his rookie year, where he got 31 goals and 34 assists - and has his best season.
Wayne Simmonds - Flyers
He's only 22, but already has three seasons under his belt. With a new team that has lots of talent to play with, I look for Simmonds to come into his own on the Flyers, and become that second line guy. I think he will smash his career best 40 points and get to 60 perhaps. With Briere probably moving to center from RW, he is probably going to be the #2 RWer behind Giroux . . . no matter where he lands though, he will be playing with talented offensive players and get a great chance.
Mike Richards - Kings
I don't think he has reached his statistical peak (his high is 80 points), and he has now been traded to the Kings with only one thing on his mind: prove Philly management to be a bunch of fools.
He should be in his prime (26 years old), and with something to prove, he has also left behind the coaching issues and obvious lockerroom issues in Philly. And, he will get to play with Kopitar probably, if Anze moves to wing in all probability.
I don't think 90 points is out of reach here.
(note: Kopitar could also have a breakout season above 90 points)
Martin Havlat - Sharks
I am going to go out on a limb here, and say that he has his best year statistically on the Sharks. He is coming from a very defensive system, to one where he gets a huge upgrade in linemate skill; he comes to an awesome power play, where he is sure to increase his point totals; and he is still just 30.
The last time he played on a deep offensive team (last year with the Hawks) he had his best statistical season at 77 points.
He might better that this year.
Tim Connolly - Leafs
He won't get a better chance at earning a top line spot than here, where he is slated to play with the talented sniper Kessel. If he can stay healthy, he might be good for his best statistical year at the age of thirty.
This is more of a gamble, however. So, one might want to go with . . .
Phil Kessel - Leafs
Might be coming into his own in Toronto, after what I would term as an incredible statistical performance when looking at his linemates. Now he has a real live centre . . . it's gotta boost his numbers. That, and having the other potent line intact, could make for his best statistical year.
If he's available in my draft, I am picking him up fast, as I see a 40 goal season perhaps.
That's all I got right now!
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Guest6050 |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 01:12:17
I think Subban will get more points this year. He played on the first wave of power play in the last 20 games of last year and did great. Mtl relies on special units a lot and with a healthy Markov, it smells good for Subban. I see Crawford getting 40+ wins with Chicago. The Black Hawks improved during off season, and Crawford is definitely the man. I'll go with picks like Neal, Hall, Tavares. If Selanne plays, I'll try to grab him not too late before someone else takes him. The guy has a sixth sense for scoring around the net, and age doesn't matter with smart hockey. |
| Kirby |
Posted - 07/25/2011 : 00:31:53
Maybe Paajarvi will take a big step. He is the forgotten one amongst the 3 rookies last year and really stepped his play up in the second half of the year once he played with Omark. I could see Byfuglien taking another step up, and Gomez might be worth a final round pick and actually put up decent points again. Keep an eye on Kunitz too, he did pretty good while healthy, and Pittsburgh will have Malkin and Crosby back, so he could get 60+ points. Doughty had an off year and could be a nice late pickup, the same goes for Mike Greene
Guys like Lecavalier, Nash, Havlat and Gagne could look like they did a couple years back and be worth a mid to high round pick.
I would avoid picking guys like Selanne, Lidstrom, and Perry too early, the first 2 are eventually going to play like their age and until I see Perry do it again, I wont reach for him early, I see him as a 80 point player still.
And dont forget about the injured guys like Whitney, he was leading the Oilers in points until his injury
A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be. -Wayne Gretzky |
| MrBoogedy |
Posted - 07/24/2011 : 20:55:14
Cammalleri has a break out year and ends up in top 5 scoring
|
| Guest4271 |
Posted - 07/23/2011 : 10:06:55
Jared Knight gets 40 nhl points this year. |
| Pasty7 |
Posted - 07/23/2011 : 09:18:23
Eberle and Hall, i bet hall scores 40 this year
"I led the league in "Go get 'em next time." - Bob Uecker
|
| ToXXiK1 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 21:00:03
Kovalchuk will have a banner year with NJ and with Ryder gone in Boston, I would expect Seguin to see fulltime ice and would like to see what he can do. |
| sahis34 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 19:28:53
quote:
Originally posted by Guest4312
rick nash has tied for the league lead in goals (2003-2004) so i'm not sure this season would be considered break-out material. but i do get where you're going, with jeff carter he could revamp his career from a team standpoint. for a guy with many individual awards and international success i'm sure the last thing he cares about now are his own numbers he just wants to see important hockey games late next year.
I say he gets 90-100 points compared to his mid 60's and 70's, |
| Oilearl |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 18:21:27
I like Zach Parise of the Devils to bounce back strong from injury |
| foolpittier |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 13:32:06
james neil will have a large season |
| Guest4312 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 12:23:46
rick nash has tied for the league lead in goals (2003-2004) so i'm not sure this season would be considered break-out material. but i do get where you're going, with jeff carter he could revamp his career from a team standpoint. for a guy with many individual awards and international success i'm sure the last thing he cares about now are his own numbers he just wants to see important hockey games late next year. |
| sahis34 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 11:36:12
JVR, taylor hall, jamie benn, rick nash |
| Guest4086 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 10:34:42
quote:
Originally posted by Guest4312
steve sullivan / james neal could have great years in pittsburgh.
good point. i forgot about James Neal in Pittsburgh. chances are he plays on the top line with Crosby. great opportunity for a breakout season there. |
| semin-rules |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 10:33:52
As @valanche has already stated, as a Stars fan, I hope Jamie Benn has a fantastic season, to slightly heal the wounds of no Richards. |
| Sensfan101 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 10:30:52
As a Sens I hope Nikita Filatoc will have a breakout year. He has lots of potential and maybe the change of scenary will help him out.
You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take Wayne Gretzky |
| @valanche |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 09:21:45
jamie benn, blake wheeler, chris stewart, tj oshie, kyle okposo, rene bourque
66 is > than 99 |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 09:14:54
I'd like to think Vanek has every reason to break out. He has the chops to be a 40-40 guy and if Roy is healthy and Lieno has any chemistry with them, I can see him topping 90 pts.
I also see Lecavalier having a bounce back year. He looked great in the playoffs and that suggest to me that his health issues are behind him. I see him returning to 80 point form as well.
I would be wary of a few players who I think over-acheived last season. I don't see Selanne gettin 80 pts again (if he plays), I see Kesler closer to a 60 pt guy after a long Cup run and an injury, and I don't see MacArthur with a 60+ pt season again. I also avoid too many sophmores because of the dreaded slump. Skinner might be one to wait on as well is Hall and Eberle. It's tough, as those guys might also step up a notch too. It's risky none the less.
For playoff sleepers, depending on the knowledge of the people you are picking with, Lou Eriksson seems to slip into later rounds and the guy does nothing but quietly put up 70 pts every season. David Backes and Andrew Ladd seem to slip into later rounds as well. |
| Guest4312 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 09:10:15
taylor hall and tyler seguin will make considerable strides this year. in general, the entire core of young oilers will need to be much better this year unless they want 3 in a row at number 1. tyler myers will benefit from having a better supporting cast on defense. matt duchene will click at a point per game this year. ryan johansen could compete for the calder with landeskog or schenn. peter mueller should put up good numbers coming off a full missed season due to a concussion. nikita filatov could make noise on a scoring line in ottawa. boedker will get more time in phoenix. evander kane and nazem kadri could contribute more to their teams. burmistrov could also add to his rookie debut. if brett connoly finds his way onto a scoring line in tampa he could put up good numbers. granlund could get time in minnesota this year and show he is ready for the nhl. i'm not sure how many will make it straight out of the draft this year besides landeskog, larsson, and possibly strome or bartschi.... that is mainly younger players making a bigger impact. some players that might just find the scoring touch with a new sceneray is whoever plays with carter and nash (likely umberger)... likewise wolski could end up playing with richards and gaborik. i'm sure max pacioretty will play great this year barring an injury free season. i keep thinking kyle turris is due but he may never be the player once touted. JVR and giroux should see their numbers increase with additional playing time. steve sullivan / james neal could have great years in pittsburgh. i think havlat will also do well in san jose. sean bergenheim in florida and tomas fleishmann. thats all i can think of. |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 07:50:34
quote:
Originally posted by Guest4086
I think that John Tavares and Bobby Ryan both make the jump into the 90 point range this year and finish in or near top 5 in scoring.
I'll also go out on a limb and say that Havlat pulls a Jonathan Cheechoo out of his butt and hits the 50 goal mark. 
Tavares is not a bad pick at all. In fact, now you really have me thinking about moving him up in this year's draft, if he isn't a protected player (hopefully not).
Rookie season: 24 goals, 54 pts.
Sophomore season: 29 goals, 67 points.
With young and rookie linemates, he is still getting better and better, and he survived the second year jinx quite nicely.
He could easily be a 35 goal, 80 point player this year, especially considering what will be now an increased familiarity with young Moulsen and Paranteau, who each put up 53 point seasons.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Guest4086 |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 05:20:43
I think that John Tavares and Bobby Ryan both make the jump into the 90 point range this year and finish in or near top 5 in scoring.
I'll also go out on a limb and say that Havlat pulls a Jonathan Cheechoo out of his butt and hits the 50 goal mark. |
|
|
