NHL Players Ready to Take Off in the 2024-25 Season
The NHL preseason is about to conclude, and it’s time to predict which players will make a significant leap in their performance and production during the upcoming season. Following the example of Dylan Guenther and Matthew Knies, who experienced notable improvements in their roles and statistics, several players are poised to stand out in the 2024-25 campaign. It’s important to remember that a “breakout” doesn’t always translate into greater offensive production. It may involve a more important role in team play situations, more time on special teams, or more challenging matchups. Many of the players mentioned below are destined to see a significant increase in their role, and some of them could have a breakout in the traditional sense.Connor Bedard
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
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Although the preseason isn’t always an indicator, Bedard’s elite shot and vision were consistently on display in September. If he stays healthy, he should exceed a point per game. If he aims to be part of the Olympic team, he’ll need to maintain a pace of 85 to 90 points when the roster is announced, which is achievable for someone with his talent.
We have all witnessed Bedard’s brilliance at his best. Despite this, he hasn’t been consistent over two years. He is likely to play more than 20 minutes in each game and generate between three and four shots per game. His shooting percentage should start to increase, something often seen in players with elite shots like Bedard. If Bedard shoots at 13% on 270 shots, he would score 35 goals, a significant improvement over his campaigns of 22 and 23 goals. Needs more opportunities to work his magic, both through his own creation and the situations in which he is deployed. It is reasonable to suggest that he finishes with 32 goals and 55 assists this season, which would give him a total of 87 points.Quinton Byfield
Center, Los Angeles Kings
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound center will be a key piece for the Kings as he prepares to take on the role of pivot on the first line when Anze Kopitar retires at the end of the season. Kopitar is still an excellent player, but the Kings will need to put Byfield in difficult minutes to continue developing his game on both sides of the puck. Byfield has everything it takes to be a player who can score 80 points and be reliable on defense. He will have more opportunities on the power play, and his even-strength offensive game began to take off last season. After two consecutive seasons with point totals in the mid-50s, Byfield is expected to use his speed, strength, and skill to physically dominate his shifts. There is a real path to a 30-goal, 45-assist season for him as he takes on a more prominent role in the Kings’ top six.Matty Beniers
Center, Seattle Kraken
The center of the Kraken’s first line is one of the best two-way players in the NHL at the young age of 22. Beniers is reliable in all situations, a rarity for players under 25. Beniers hasn’t found the next offensive step, and it’s something Seattle desperately needs. From a true breakout perspective, this could be the year Beniers firmly enters the conversation for the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward. Winners are often accompanied by offensive production (not because they have to be), and Beniers will have time on both special teams units to make an impact. The Kraken’s new coach, Lane Lambert, wants the penalty to be aggressive and will encourage his players to generate scoring opportunities when the opportunity arises. That, combined with the first line’s minutes and the first power play representatives, should allow Beniers the opportunity to increase his offensive production. Beniers’ rookie campaign saw him produce 57 points in a second-line role. He is taking on tougher matchups on the first line, and if he can score over 60 points while effectively shutting down the top opponent, he will be in the Selke conversation. That is a big step forward for a player at this point in his development.Zach Benson
Left Wing, Buffalo Sabres
A promotion to the top line with Tage Thompson and Josh Norris is all Benson needs to get on the scoresheet. Whether he stays there, or plays second-line center to allow Ryan McLeod to thrive in the third-line role, Benson is poised for a big increase in every statistical category. After a 28-point campaign last season in which he averaged less than 15 minutes of ice time per game, he is likely to play close to 19 minutes per game this season. He will also have opportunities on the power play and will be in a position to play with better players than in previous campaigns. Considering everything, there’s a clear possibility that the young and talented player will double his offensive production from last season and score between 55 and 60 points. He will play more difficult minutes due to his matchups against the best defenders, but Benson can create offense and should thrive with linemates with more talent and more time in the offensive zone. The Sabres are counting on him this season, so scoring around 22 goals and 35 assists is within reach for the 2023 first-round pick.Cole Perfetti
Center, Winnipeg Jets
With Nikolaj Ehlers signing with Carolina, Perfetti is finally in line to get a significant upgrade in offensive opportunity. Combine that with his outstanding performance for Winnipeg in the playoffs, and there’s no defensible reason to keep him off the top power play or to not give him consistent minutes in the top six. With a greater opportunity on equal terms and special teams, there is every reason to believe that Perfetti could be a 70-point player in 2025-26. Increasing his ice time from 15 to 17 minutes per game will lead to an increase in shot opportunities. If Perfetti matches his shooting percentage from the last two seasons, he should score between 25 and 30 goals. The increase in power play time will naturally increase his offensive production. Finally, it’s Perfetti time in Winnipeg, and he’s well-prepared to seize this well-earned opportunity and make the most of it.Logan Stankoven
Center, Carolina Hurricanes
The small center saw its opportunity (and, therefore, its production) increase after the transfer from Dallas to Carolina. The Canes deployed Stankoven as their second-line center and were rewarded for it. As is the case with Perfetti, Stankoven is likely to see 17 minutes of ice time per game this season, adding two minutes to last season’s average. Whether he’s flanked by Andrei Svechnikov or Ehlers on his left, he’ll have a very skilled player capable of scoring a lot of points. Stankoven’s playmaking ability could be what elevates Svechnikov to that goal-scoring surge that many have been waiting for. If he plays with Ehlers, both are dual-threat offensive players, and Stankoven has the ability to finish the opportunities that Ehlers creates. Regardless of who he plays with, an improvement in the skill set and a greater opportunity should lead to increased production for the young Canes center.
