NHL players on the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Jets, Lightning and Blues are looking primed to take a massive next step in a breakout campaign, says Tony Ferrari.
NHL rosters are coming into shape as October begins, and we're even seeing some regular-season hockey already.
We're also starting to see who is playing where in the lineup and their linemates. With that, there are plenty of young, promising players in excellent positions to really break out of their shell and become an effective NHL player.
A breakout season can be defined in a few ways. Sometimes, it’s a player going from 15 goals to challenging 40. Other times, it’s a defender who plays big minutes for their club and finds themselves playing in all situations.
Let’s look at some of the candidates for big breakout seasons.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
There were a few Maple Leafs that didn’t fall into the team’s usual trap of becoming less effective once the playoffs arrived last year, and Knies was one of them.
Knies amped up his physicality, emerged as a true power forward and chipped in a couple of goals. His first NHL season may have ended the way most Leafs seasons do – with a first-round exit – but his development throughout the year and intro the playoffs was notable.
With all signs pointing to the second-year left winger playing alongside franchise icons Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Knies' offensive potential is through the roof.
The Maple Leafs need his blend of power and skill as the first forward in on the forecheck who gets to the dirty areas. With a year of experience under his belt, Knies is poised to possibly double his 15-goal output, with a 60-point season not out of the question.
Kaiden Guhle, D, Montreal Canadiens
So much hype around the Canadiens has been about the fun and exciting forward group they are slowly assembling. But the back-end leader is Kaiden Guhle, and we can see him assert himself as a true top-pair defender this season.
Guhle has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time in each of the last two seasons, and this year, he should easily repeat that trend.
With smart and physical defensive play, a solid first pass and a good shot from the blueline, Guhle can play in all situations at the NHL level. With Mike Matheson and David Savard being the only veteran blueliners on the roster, Guhle will have the chance to take hold of the defense corps in Montreal and become the leader they always hoped he could be.
Cole Perfetti, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Now that his contract negotiations are out of the way, Perfetti can work on building toward the breakout season everyone is expecting.
He isn’t the kind of player who blazes by defenders or bowls them over. Instead, Perfetti tactically picks his opponents apart. He plays tic-tac-toe hockey all over the ice. His understanding of the game is as high as it comes.
With consistent top-six minutes in the cards for him this season, Perfetti should not only be able to crack the 40-point plateau at last, but he should eclipse 50 with his eyes set on 60.
The Jets’ 22-year-old, who can play on either wing or at center, has shown flashes of absolute brilliance throughout his young NHL career, and this upcoming season could be when we finally see it all come together.
J.J. Moser, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing big minutes for an Arizona Coyotes team that was a guest in a college hockey rink is one thing, but playing top-pair minutes on Stanley Cup hopeful Tampa Bay Lightning, alongside future Hall of Famer Victor Hedman, is another. Moser was a key part of the trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev out of town in Tampa, and the young Swiss blueliner will benefit from it in a major way.
Moser has an offensive side to his game and can play on the second power-play unit. His career-high of 31 points should be an easy mark to surpass, and his underlying metrics should get a boost from playing with a far better supporting cast. Moser was a player that Tampa targeted for a reason, and we could be in store for a big age-24 season from him.
Dylan Holloway, LW, St. Louis Blues
The Blues hope their bet on the former Edmonton Oilers’ first-rounder is worth it after offer-sheeting Holloway this summer. His play during the playoff run was far better than the numbers indicated. Holloway brought an element of speed and pace to the Oilers when the big guns weren’t on the ice. His blend of phsyciality and skill is incredibly important for the Oilers' depth throughout the playoffs.
Now with the Blues, Holloway should get a bigger opportunity and role with the club as they look to get their team back into contention in the Western Conference. Holloway’s transitional play and rush attack ability will add to the Blues’ emerging talent up front. Having just turned 23 years old a couple of weeks ago, Holloway is entering his prime. It wouldn’t shock anyone if a 25-goal season was on the way.
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