10 NHL Players Who Will Become Breakout Stars in 2024-25 Season
The start of every NHL season brings considerable excitement for all hockey fans. Many will focus on whatever new heights superstars such as Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews can reach.
A new season also features promising young players who will emerge as new stars. The coming campaign is no different, as several youngsters could enjoy breakout performances.
Many of these young players are first-round draft picks. Some, like Montréal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovský and Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi, showed glimpses of their potential last season.
They are among the 10 players we believe will have their much-anticipated breakout performances this season. Follow along as we examine the factors that should make them blossom into stars.
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Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings
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On July 15, the Los Angeles Kings signed Quinton Byfield to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $6.3 million.
It's a substantial raise for the 21-year-old forward and underlines the confidence Kings management has placed in his steady development into a top-line player.
Chosen second overall in the 2020 NHL draft, Byfield played parts of three seasons with L.A. from 2020-21 to 2022-23, netting a total of eight goals and 33 points in 99 games over that period.
While the 6'5", 225-pounder had potential as a power forward, the club remained patient with his development.
Byfield made considerable strides last season, though. Thanks to his impressive combination of size, speed, strength, skills and ability to play center or wing, he earned his spot on the Kings' first line.
Playing with center Anze Kopitar and winger Adrian Kempe, he finished fifth among his teammates with 20 goals and 55 points in 80 games.
Big things will be expected from Byfield this season, especially after signing that lucrative long-term contract. In time, that deal could turn into a bargain for the Kings. His ongoing development suggests a 35-goal, 80-point performance could be within his reach.
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
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The Anaheim Ducks have built up a roster of promising youngsters such as Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Lukas Dostal. Joining them last season was rookie center Leo Carlsson, who was chosen second overall in the 2023 draft behind Chicago's Connor Bedard.
Carlson, 19, jumped directly to the Ducks from the Swedish Hockey League. They initially eased him into their lineup to let him get used to the NHL pace, and he soon earned regular minutes with linemates Alex Killorn and Troy Terry.
He missed 20 games with lower and upper body injuries but finished the season with 12 goals and 29 points in 55 games.
The 6'3", 194-pounder can play center or wing and possesses outstanding playmaking skills. He's a strong skater with plenty of hockey smarts who is only going to get better as he matures and adjusts to the NHL pace.
Carlsson could center one of the Ducks' top two lines heading into 2024-25. He's spending the offseason building his strength and muscle mass for the coming season. If he can also avoid injuries this year, he could play a key role in Anaheim's efforts to lift itself from the foot of the league standings.
Logan Cooley, Utah Hockey Club
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Drafted third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 draft, Logan Cooley made his debut with the team last season.
The center wasted little time making a positive impression, scoring an amazing spinorama goal against the Los Angeles Kings in an exhibition game in Australia.
Cooley enjoyed a solid NHL debut season with the Coyotes, finishing with 20 goals and 44 points. He was fourth among rookie scorers, earning a spot on the league's All-Rookie Team.
The Coyotes have relocated to Utah where the 20-year-old could play a significant role as the club establishes itself in its new home. With his speed, offensive skills, two-way ability, and creativity, he could enjoy a big breakout performance in 2024-25.
The 5'10", 174-pounder will likely begin this season centering Utah's second line alongside Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther. They should go on to form a formidable scoring punch, providing Utah with the kind of scoring depth it was lacking in Arizona.
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Luke Evangelista, Nashville Predators
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Called up by the Nashville Predators late in the 2022-23 season, Luke Evangelista made the most of his opportunity with seven goals and 15 points in 24 games.
The 22-year-old followed up with his first full rookie season in 2023-24, tallying 16 goals and 39 points in 80 games.
The Predators' second-round pick in the 2020 draft, Evangelista finished sixth among NHL rookies in scoring. He acknowledged having an inconsistent start but felt his game improved as the season progressed. He also saw action in all six of Nashville's playoff games against the Vancouver Canucks.
The 6'0", 183-pounder is a skilled passer and playmaker. He also showed a good scoring touch last season. However, he'll likely see third-line minutes behind Gustav Nyquist and free-agent acquisition Jonathan Marchessault.
Nevertheless, Evangelista has the opportunity to put up good numbers in a third-line role. If Nyquist or Marchessault struggle or become sidelined, it'll give him a chance to prove he's ready to handle top-six minutes regularly.
Adam Fantilli, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Connor Bedard was chosen first overall as a potential franchise player for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 draft, but the Columbus Blue Jackets got a terrific consolation prize by selecting Adam Fantilli third overall.
A standout at the University of Michigan, he won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2022-23, then jumped to the Blue Jackets the following season.
The 6'2", 194-pound center bounced around the lineup in his rookie season but had 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games before suffering a season-ending calf laceration.
Fantilli still showed plenty of promise last season despite his injury and the Blue Jackets' woeful performance. With Dean Evason now in charge and perhaps more roster stability, the 19-year-old could enjoy a breakout effort in his sophomore campaign.
Blessed with impressive offensive skills and a willingness to play a physical game, Fantilli has a bright future. He could start this season centering the Blue Jackets' second line where he'll get more opportunities to generate scoring chances. He may also get a chance to move up to the first line if he performs well throughout the season.
Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets
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Entering his fourth NHL season, Cole Perfetti is seeking an opportunity to garner top-six minutes with the Winnipeg Jets.
On July 23, the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck reported that the 22-year-old fell out of favor with former Jets coach Rick Bowness, leading to a reduction in his playing time.
With Bowness retired and replaced by Scott Arniel in May, Perfetti may finally achieve his long-awaited breakout campaign. Billeck indicated the young forward received positive feedback from Arniel and his coaching staff.
A versatile forward who can play center or wing, Perfetti was chosen 10th overall by the Jets in the 2020 draft. The 5'11", 185-pounder showed potential as an offensive forward in his first two years but was derailed both times by season-ending upper-body injuries. When healthy, he has blazing speed and impressive offensive skills.
Perfetti could break out this season with a healthy season playing regular top-six minutes for a head coach who has confidence in his abilities. It could also boost the Jets' offense and restore confidence in their prospect development.
Shane Pinto, Ottawa Senators
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The 2023-24 season was supposed to be a big one for the Ottawa Senators. After years of rebuilding, they seemed finally on the cusp of playoff contention.
Shane Pinto was expected to be a contributing factor coming off a promising 20-goal, 35-point performance in 82 games in 2022-23.
However, his season wound up cut in half after first being unable to sign with the Senators due to salary-cap constraints followed by a 41-game suspension in October for violating the NHL's sports wagering rules. It was among the reasons that caused the Senators to miss the playoffs for the seventh straight season.
To his credit, Pinto accepted his punishment, signed a one-year, $775,000 contract in January and became a worthwhile contributor to the Senators during the second half of the season, finishing with 27 points in 41 games.
Chosen 32nd overall in the 2019 draft, the 6'3", 201-pounder plays a solid two-way game and adapted well as their third-line center.
Entering his fifth NHL campaign and third full season, the 23-year-old is now armed with a two-year contract from the Senators. His production should improve this season as he earns additional playing time and responsibilities.
Jack Quinn, Buffalo Sabres
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A promising 37-point rookie performance in 75 games with the Buffalo Sabers during the 2022-23 season suggested Jack Quinn was poised for bigger things in his sophomore campaign.
However, injuries limited him to just 27 games, though he did finish with a respectable 19 points.
The eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft, he was a high-scoring winger during his junior days with the OHL's Ottawa 67's. He's already shown the potential to be the same with the Sabres.
Now 22, he has 104 games of NHL experience under his belt. That gives him an extra measure of maturity in his game for 2024-25. He'll likely begin this season on either their left or right wing on their second line.
The Sabres failed to reach the playoffs last season partly due to a significant decline in their offense. A healthy and productive effort by Quinn could play a big role in their efforts to end their 13-year playoff drought.
Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild
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Chosen ninth overall in the 2020 draft by the Minnesota Wild, Marco Rossi endured a bumpy road to reaching the big league.
A heart condition brought about by COVID sidelined him for the entire pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. He spent most of the next two seasons with the Wild's AHL affiliate in Iowa.
The Austrian center kept working away and finally established himself with the Wild last season. He tallied 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points in 82 games, finishing fifth among his teammates in goals and seventh in points. He also finished sixth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy and was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Now 22, he appears to be on the verge of a breakout performance in his sophomore season. He's a smart player known for his playmaking skills and showed a terrific scoring touch last season. The young Wild center also can play a good defensive game.
Rossi will attempt to find a role among the Wild's top-six forwards. If he does, he'll be in an excellent position to build on his rookie performance and establish himself among their core players.
Juraj Slafkovský, Montréal Canadiens
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Chosen first overall in the 2022 draft by the Montréal Canadiens, Juraj Slafkovský faced incredible pressure playing in one of the league's biggest markets.
The Slovakian winger managed just 10 points in 39 games during his 2022-23 rookie campaign before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Slafkovský's sophomore campaign started slowly with just seven points in his first 25 games, sparking calls from fans and pundits for his demotion to their AHL affiliate in Laval for more seasoning.
Promoted to the Canadiens' top line with center Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield in December, the 20-year-old flourished with his new linemates. His performance and stats improved, finishing the season third among his team's scorers with 20 goals and fourth in points with 50.
Slafkovský has only scratched the surface of his potential. The 6'3" 230-pounder has a power forward's frame, impressive speed and solid offensive skills.
With heightened confidence and another season on the top line, a season with 35 goals and 70 points is not out of the question.
Stats via NHL.com. Line combination via Daily Faceoff.
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