NHL Players Making the Most of Increased Roles in 2014-15

Every year NHL teams thrust role players into prominent positions with high hopes, and each year there are more flops than successes. It's a very difficult thing to do, especially over a sustained period.

A few players have enjoyed surprising success, and this year's list is an impressive one. There's a good chance some of these men will be able to handle their new roles and move up on the depth charts of their respective teams.

Here are 10 players who are taking advantage of their increased roles in a big way this season.

10. Riley Nash, C, Carolina Hurricanes

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His Role Last Season: Riley Nash was employed in a checking role by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2013-14. He played less than 13 minutes per game and scored 20 of his 23 points at even strength.

What Changed? Injuries have devastated the Hurricanes, with Nash stepping in and playing well. He has 15 points in 20 games—four points on the power play—and is enjoying a career season.

Can He Sustain It? It is unlikely Nash will see 18 minutes a night when Carolina's lineup gets healthy. Nash will return to his normal role by the end of the season.

9. Nick Bonino, C, Vancouver Canucks

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

His Role Last Season: Nick Bonino played 16 minutes a night for the Anaheim Ducks in 2013-14. He scored 29 even-strength points and 20 on the power play.

What Changed? Bonino was dealt to Vancouver in the offseason and is now playing a feature role. His playing time has increased slightly—to 17 minutes—and his even-strength scoring has spiked considerably. He already has 15 even-strength points on the season.

Can He Sustain It? He is playing with Chris Higgins and Alex Burrows in a more prominent role this year. His current output has increased, but it's likely a reflection of playing between established NHL wingers. He should sustain these numbers if he stays in the role.

8. Darcy Kuemper, G, Minnesota Wild

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His Role Last Season: Darcy Kuemper played 26 games for the Minnesota Wild in 2013-14. He won 12, had a .916 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against-average. He was one of five goalies to play for the Wild one year ago.

What Changed? Kuemper settled in as the No. 1 goalie for Minnesota and has done a splendid job. He's currently tied for No. 15 overall in save percentage and has been a key player for the Wild in their early success.

Can He Sustain It? There are good signs for Kuemper, who has a real chance to grab the starting job for the Wild. Niklas Backstrom is 36 and coming to the end of his career, and Kuemper is taking advantage the opportunity.

7. Brent Burns, D, San Jose Sharks

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His Role Last Season: Brent Burns played forward in 2013-14 for the San Jose Sharks. He scored 20 even-strength goals during the season.

What Changed? The Sharks moved Burns to defense for 2014-15. Incredibly, he is on pace for a stronger offensive season from the blue line. Burns scored 48 points as a forward a year ago and is tracking at a 66-point pace this season.

Can He Sustain It? Burns' career is an interesting one; he's always been a productive player no matter how he's been deployed. That should continue on defense for years to come.

6. Frederik Andersen, G, Anaheim Ducks

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

His Role Last Season: Frederik Andersen had a strong season for the Anaheim Ducks in 2013-14. He posted a 2.29 goals-against-average and a .929 save percentage in his rookie season. He was one of four goalies who played for the Ducks last year.

What Changed? Andersen has established himself as the No. 1 option this season for Anaheim. He is among the league's best in save percentage in the NHL this season and has played most of the Ducks' games.

Can He Sustain It? He's in a very good position, but it isn't clear that Andersen will win the day. John Gibson is an outstanding young goalie and could be the long-term solution in Anaheim.

5. Sami Vatanen, D, Anaheim Ducks

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

His Role Last Season: Sami Vatanen played 48 games for the 2013-14 Anaheim Ducks. He played less than 18 minutes per game, scoring 21 points—seven on the power play—as he gained more playing time during the year.

What Changed? Vatanen has exploded as a power-play defenseman and is having a major impact on the NHL this season. He is playing almost 22 minutes a night and is scoring at a tremendous pace, especially on the power play.

Can He Sustain It? He is less than 80 games into his NHL career, so Vatanen will need to prove himself over a longer period. The early returns suggest a quality NHL career is likely.

4. Brock Nelson, C, New York Islanders

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His Role Last Season: Brock Nelson was a regular forward for the New York Islanders. In 72 games, he scored 26 points and played 14 minutes a night.

What Changed? Nelson is now up to 17 minutes a night and is scoring almost a point per game. One of the most interesting things about his offensive spike is that he's not playing with elite-level linemates. This year, he has played most often with Ryan Strome and Anders Lee—good players, but hardly top-flight NHL forwards.

Can He Sustain It? The jury will be out for some time in regard to Nelson. He's clearly a talented forward, but his offensive output this season runs miles ahead of his established levels. It's likely he will not be able to sustain 80-point seasons during his career.

3. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis Blues

Bill Boyce/Associated Press

His Role Last Season: Vladimir Tarasenko served an important support role for the St. Louis Blues last season. The young winger played 15 minutes a night, scoring 43 points on a complementary offensive line with Patrik Berglund and Jaden Schwartz.

What Changed? Injuries and opportunity vaulted Tarasenko into a major role with the Blues this season. He's playing almost 18 minutes a night, on pace for 85 points and is a feature player. He's playing again with Jaden Schwartz, and newcomer Jori Lehtera completes the trio.

Can He Sustain It? Tarasenko is not a proven player at this time. He has a range of skills and is establishing himself as a quality offensive player. He is over 120 games into his NHL career but will need to prove himself over a longer period before being considered a bona fide star.

2. Filip Forsberg, RW, Nashville Predators

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His Role Last Season: Filip Forsberg played in 13 NHL games during 2013-14 and played well on a line with David Legwand and Eric Nystrom.

What Changed? Forsberg has blossomed this season, becoming an impact player and one of the best rookies in the game. He is on a feature line with Mike Ribeiro and James Neal and is a strong early candidate to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

Can He Sustain it? He's only 20 and remains unproven. Forsberg will have to complete this season and another one at a high level before we can be sure of his level of ability. The early returns are exceptional, and Nashville fans should be thrilled with their new star.

1. Jakub Voracek, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

His Role Last Season: Jakub Voracek played a feature role for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013-14. He scored 62 points while playing 17 minutes per game. He was also a star on the power play, posting 23 points with the man advantage.

What Changed? Voracek exploded out of the gates and is on pace for 90 assists. His linemates are Claude Giroux and Michael Raffl this season.

Can He Sustain it? He was at close to a point-per-game pace during the lockout season and then scored 62 points in 82 games a year ago. This season, Voracek is trending toward a 100-point season and represents a massive step forward. He would need to deliver those totals for two seasons in a row for it to be considered an established level.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com and Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.