Booms, Busts and Sleepers are defined differently by all. For this column, a Boom is a player who is expected to take a leap forward, next step and/or rebound from a poor prior campaign. A bust is someone who will fall - likely substantially - from prior year output or not live up to their draft placement. A sleeper is a player who go later in the draft than he is supposed to, earning you additional profit compared to where selected.
Booms:
Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina: Carolina has been waiting for several years for Nikishin to come to the US. He made that journey from Russia, joining the Canes during the playoffs last year. Nikishin is a big blueliner with tremendous offensive skill. Eventually, he will take over as the team’s power-play quarterback, that could happen this season. If it does, look for 40+ points with possibly 100+ hits.
John Gibson, G, Detroit: Gibson’s departure from Anaheim has been rumored for years. Finally, this offseason, it became reality, as Gibson landed in Detroit. Injuries and ineffective play have been the norm for Gibson since 2019-20. Freed from the Ducks and on a team desperate for a #1 netminder, Gibson is prime for a rebound campaign in Hockeytown.
Anton Lundell, C, Florida: Lundell’s inclusion is injury-related, Aleksander Barkov will miss the entire regular season after undergoing surgery to repair injuries to his right ACL and MCL. Lundell did a solid job last season when filling in for Barkov. He moves up at least one line and could center the Panthers’ first line, leading to a career-best campaign.
Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota: Rossi is slated to center the Wild’s top line between Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. Last season, Rossi went from 40 to 60 points skating between the first and third lines. If he can maintain his current placement, Rossi, who three-year, $15 million contract with Minnesota in August, could net 70+ points.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto: Mitch Marner is now in Vegas, and his production will need to be replaced. Knies, on Toronto’s first line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, is a prime candidate to assist in that endeavor. He broke out for 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games during the 2024-25 regular season, earning a six-year, $46.5 million contract. Knies should net 35+ goals this season.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.