Raymond, Johnston Head NHL Players Ascending From Star To Superstar

Going from good to great in the NHL is easier said than done, but these four players have a good shot at going from star to superstar.

There are a lot of good players in the NHL, capable of playing top-six minutes and producing 60 or even 70 points. The hardest thing to do in pro sports is to go from being a star on your own team to being a superstar in the league. Going from being a difference maker once in a while to being an impact player night in and night out is incredibly difficult to do.

Let’s take a look at some of the players with the potential to burst onto the scene among the league’s elite. All of these players have a chance to surpass a point-per-game and become true offensive catalysts for their teams.

Late last season, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was injured and the team sputtered amidst a fight for their playoff lives. The team needed a hero and like Superman ripping open his shirt to reveal the ‘S’, Lucas Raymond burst into the spotlight and put this team on his back. Whether he was scoring late tying goals to push the game to overtime, a clutch hat trick, or dramatic game-winning goals, Raymond was consistently at the forefront of their success.

While the team came up just short of the playoffs, Raymond announced his arrival to the rest of the NHL. His 31 goals were second on the team and the 72 points led the Wings in scoring. Now that he’s secured the big contract that will keep him in Motown long-term, Raymond is poised to take the next step. Challenging 40 goals and 90 points isn’t out of the question for the cerebral Swedish star.

A couple of years ago, Johnston seemed to come out of nowhere putting up 24 goals and 41 points as a rookie. He followed that up last season with 65 points and a team-leading 32 goals. This upcoming season could be the 21-year-old’s true breakout season, asserting himself as the Stars' best and most productive forward.

Johnston is a tactician, quarterbacking play every time he steps onto the ice. His ability to read and react to play, dictate the pace and find teammates when pressured is impressive. What stands out about Johnston is his finishing ability and versatility as a shooter. Whether on the rush, set up for a one-timer or cleaning up in the slot, Johnston can beat a goalie from just about anywhere. Taking another significant jump as both a goal scorer and facilitator will shock absolutely no one.

It took until his fourth NHL season but the 2020 first overall pick finally started to look like that difference-making offensive player that he was supposed to be coming out of the QMJHL. Part of the issue was deployment and opportunity but Lafreniere hadn’t earned a role near the top of the lineup before last season. When he finally got the opportunity alongside Artemi Panarin, the duo clicked instantly. Lafreniere helped elevate Panarin and vice versa.

After nearly reaching 30 goals last season, the Rangers are hoping that he can smash that mark this upcoming season. Lafreniere may not be the most fleet of foot but he acclimated to the NHL pace of play last season and began to find his role with the Rangers. He’s been one of the most efficient five-on-five goal scores over the last few seasons which only boosts his value as he adds production on the powerplay and matures as he enters his prime.

When Byfield was playing in Sudbury during his draft year, the raw tools and package that he brought to the game had teams salivating at the “what if?” factor. After what was essentially his first full NHL season, Byfield began to show what all of that promise could bring. Primarily playing alongside franchise icon Anze Kopitar, Byfield started to showcase the blend of speed, power and skill that he possesses regularly.

Although he only had 55 points last season, Byfield could be in line for one of the biggest jumps in point totals of any player in the NHL this season. The Kings’ young forward needs to consistently look to attack defenders head-on and use his frame in cohesion with his skill but if he does, the NHL will be put on notice.

Coming into the NHL, Caufield was well known for his unbelievable shooting ability. He could score a goal from along the goal line, sniping it over a netminder’s shoulder or simply grip it and rip it on the rush. Caufield has all of the tools that great goal scorers have from a diverse shooting arsenal to a lightning-quick release. Last year, we saw the young Canadiens’ forward take a massive step as a playmaker, putting up more assists than goals for the first time since he was 14 years old.

If Caufield can continue that level of playmaking and use his wicked shot just a little bit more, we could be talking about a player putting up 40 and 40 as a baseline for the next half-decade of his career. Caufield is uber-talented and he’s meshed perfectly with Habs’ captain Nick Suzuki and 2021 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky. The trio was one of hockey’s most dangerous lines when together and that was without any support behind them last year. With added depth up front and another year of growth for the young trio, we could see a massive step forward for not only Caufield but the Habs in general.