There are a handful of NHL stars who had a down year last season. However, given their talent and the moves their respective teams made in this off-season, the circumstances are different, and that could lead to a bounce-back season.
The off-season has been in full effect for multiple weeks now, leaving plenty of time for GMs to make changes and improve their squads. These roster changes could be a key component to getting a star player back to playing the way everyone knows they can.
Here are three star players who could be eyeing a bounce-back season for the 2025-26 campaign.
Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews was not the same goal-scoring threat last season as he usually is. In all nine seasons Matthews has played in the NHL, last year was his worst in terms of putting the puck in the back of the net.
The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner scored a franchise-record 69 goals in the 2023-24 campaign, but dropped down to just 33 goals last season.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has made a couple of solid moves in the acquisitions of left winger Matias Maccelli and center Nicolas Roy. However, the off-season itself is really what Toronto’s captain needed.
Upon elimination from the playoffs, Matthews revealed he was playing through an injury, practically throughout the entire season. Some stretches of the season were better than others, he added.
"Definitely a tough year physically," Matthews told reporters. "I'm confident with some time off and just going through my own process and treatment and everything, I'm really confident I'll be back 100 percent next season, and it's nothing for me to worry about."
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
It was a long and tough season for the Vancouver Canucks, but no one had it worse than Elias Pettersson. From the locker-room rift with J.T. Miller to underperforming and media attention, it was a year to forget for Pettersson.
In 64 games last season, the Canucks center scored 15 goals and 45 points, despite being just two years removed from a 102-point season. Aside from the 2020-21 campaign, where he played just 26 games, last season was the worst of his career.
Although it was a disappointing season in Vancouver, the front office and players are betting on themselves to get back to the post-season. GM Patrik Allvin signed Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland and Brock Boeser to new contracts. Bringing back those crucial players could be a sign of encouragement for the team and Pettersson.
Noah Dobson, D, Montreal Canadiens
While Matthews and Pettersson could bounce back because of off-season moves around them, Noah Dobson’s chance to reset comes at the hands of being traded by the New York Islanders to the Montreal Canadiens.
Dobson was traded for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks in the 2025 draft. He also signed an eight-year, $9.5-million contract as part of this sign-and-trade.
After recording 70 points and finishing eighth in Norris Trophy voting two seasons ago, Dobson’s production dropped off in his final campaign with the Islanders, scoring 39 points.
However, the 25-year-old D-man has an excellent opportunity at hand to get back to his scoring ways. With that, he could be paired up with Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson, putting Dobson in a great position to succeed under his new team.
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