The Biggest Surprise for Every NHL Team So Far in 2014-15
With the calendar set to turn to 2015, we're looking at the 2014 portion of the current season in search of surprise numbers or performances by individuals.
You'll find both good and bad surprises here, with every team accounted for. It could be a player who is performing well above or below his career highs, newcomers who have taken the league by storm or stats that don't seem to mesh with what the team's history or talent level would suggest is possible.
Click ahead to see the breakdown. Surely, there will be more surprises in the next half of the season, so enjoy the ride the rest of the way, too.
Anaheim Ducks: Sami Vatanen
1 of 30
What he's done: Vatanen has been one of the league's best defensemen, with nine goals and 24 points in 38 games with the Ducks so far this season. He's third in team scoring behind Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler.
Why it's a surprise: The Finn was a fourth-round draft pick in the 2009 NHL draft and was passed over by plenty of teams because of his lack of size (5'10" and 180 lbs). He had a strong half-season in the NHL last year after making the jump from the AHL but has already surpassed his career highs in fewer games and is on pace for a 50-point season.
Arizona Coyotes: Devan Dubnyk
2 of 30
What he's done: He's posted a 9-3-2 record with a .925 save percentage and 2.49 goals-against average. He also has one shutout.
Why it's a surprise: Dubnyk went from Edmonton to Nashville to Montreal and then to Arizona in the span of a year with little hope of becoming an NHL starter again after failing miserably in that role for the Oilers. But he's outplayed Mike Smith in the desert and is gradually earning more ice time as a result.
Boston Bruins: Goals Against
3 of 30
What's been done: The Bruins have allowed a total of 99 goals so far this season, ranking 16th in the league in that category. When you break it down to just even-strength markers, they fall to 20th in the NHL.
Why it's a surprise: The Bruins were the second-best team in goals-against per game a year ago with goaltender Tuukka Rask running away with the Vezina Trophy voting. Their 2.62 GAA in 2014-15 is a long way from the 2.08 GAA posted last season. The trading of Johnny Boychuk and injury to Zdeno Chara have contributed, but the difference is massive and can't be attributed to those factors alone.
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Buffalo Sabres: Zemgus Girgensons
4 of 30
What he's done: Girgensons is on pace for 24 goals and 44 points this season, his second in the NHL. He's also the league's leader in the All-Star Game fan voting.
Why it's a surprise: The 20-year-old Latvian is in his second season and didn't fare all that well in his first one. He totaled eight goals and 22 points in 70 games as a rookie but has racked up 11 goals and 20 points in 37 goals so far for the gawd-awful Sabres. As for the All-Star voting, I didn't even know Latvians were so invested. Which is more shocking?
Calgary Flames: Johnny Gaudreau
5 of 30
What's been done: Gaudreau has 30 points in 37 games so far this season, including three game-winning goals, a hat-trick and a two-game stretch book-ending the Christmas break that earned him NHL First Star of the Week honors.
Why it's a surprise: The rookie was a dark horse for the Calder Trophy coming into the season based on a stellar college career that included a Hobey Baker Award last year. No one, however, would have predicted his incredible pace on a Calgary Flames team that was expected to struggle to score goals. Gaudreau is second among rookie scorers and third on the Flames.
Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Semin
6 of 30
What he's done: He has one goal and six points in 22 games, with a minus-nine rating.
Why it's a surprise: Semin is a former 40-goal scorer who had 22 in 65 games last season. This season's lack of production is shocking and a huge drop for the 30-year-old who has found himself sitting out as a healthy scratch at times as a result of his lackadaisical play for the Hurricanes.
Chicago Blackhawks: Kris Versteeg
7 of 30
What he's done: Versteeg has re-ignited his career with nine goals and 27 points in 33 games this season and is a top-six forward on a line with Brad Richards and Patrick Kane.
Why it's a surprise: Although Versteeg had success in his previous stint with the Blackhawks, he has had just one 50-point season since his sophomore year. At his current pace, he would hit a career high of nearly 70 points.
Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov
8 of 30
What he's done: Varlamov has posted a goals-against average over 3.00 and a modest save percentage of .912 while looking like the second-best netminder in an Avalanche uniform this season.
Why it's a surprise: The Vezina Trophy runner-up last season was expected to help the Avs return to the playoffs and avenge a first-round loss to the Minnesota Wild. Considering Varlamov's 41 wins and .927 save percentage of a year ago, it's stunning to see him with just a handful of victories and the Avalanche last in the Central Division.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Nick Foligno
9 of 30
What he's done: Foligno has been a legitimate stud top-line winger for the Blue Jackets, putting up 17 goals and 31 points in 33 games while topping the NHL with nine tallies on the power play.
Why it's a surprise: The pending unrestricted free agent wasn't generating a whole lot of buzz before the season but suddenly will have nearly every team considering him as a possible addition in the offseason. He's never scored more than 18 goals in a single season, and his best point total is 47. He's well on his way to smashing both of those numbers.
Dallas Stars: Ales Hemsky
10 of 30
What he's done: Hemsky has just three goals and 11 points in 32 games after joining the Stars as a free agent this summer. It's not a surprise in the good way.
Why it's a surprise: Former Ottawa Senators captain Jason Spezza also joined the Stars via trade, which made the signing of Hemsky a no-brainer after the two showed great chemistry down the stretch with the Sens last season following the trade deadline when the Senators plucked Hemsky from the Edmonton Oilers. Hemsky had four goals and 17 points in 20 games in Canada's capital last year.
Detroit Red Wings: Tomas Tatar
11 of 30
What he's done: Tatar has 15 goals and 25 points in 37 games this season.
Why it's a surprise: With Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg healthy and Gustav Nyquist emerging as a big offensive threat last season, Tatar's strong showing in support when the stars were injured wasn't guaranteed to happen again. But the 24-year-old has carved out a big role for himself. He's tied for the team lead in goals with Nyquist and is on pace to shatter the numbers he posted last season.
Edmonton Oilers: Powerless Power Play
12 of 30
What's been done: The Oilers have been successful on 12 percent of their power-play opportunities this season. That's second-worst in the NHL.
Why it's a surprise: Given how many young and talented forwards are in Edmonton, it's shocking how difficult a time they're having scoring with an extra man on the ice. Then again, you could say the same about their even-strength play and the fact they're dead last in the league standings. The power-play failure is a significant drop from their 17 percent last year, which ranked 21st in the league.
Florida Panthers: Aaron Ekblad
13 of 30
What he's done: The rookie has scored five goals and 20 points in 34 NHL games while also posting a plus-nine rating and a pair of game-winning goals.
Why it's a surprise: Ekblad is only 18 years old, having been drafted first overall in the 2014 NHL draft. Add to that the difficulty of playing the position of defense in the NHL while making the jump from junior hockey to the pros, and the wow factor is off the charts. Ekblad is shockingly good in both ends of the ice. Kevin Allen of USA Today says Ekblad "may be the most polished 18-year-old defenseman since Boston Bruins rookie Raymond Bourque debuted in 1979."
Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown
14 of 30
What he's done: Brown has six goals and 12 points through 37 games for the Kings, who are struggling to stay in a wild-card spot in the Western Conference months after winning their second Stanley Cup in three seasons. He also has a minus-nine rating on a team that prides itself on defensive savvy.
Why it's a surprise: The Kings captain had a career-worst season a year ago (15 goals, 12 assists, 27 points in 79 games) but bounced back with a stronger showing in the playoffs (six goals and 14 points in 26 games). His struggles to score are even more insufferable because of the fact he's not playing nearly as physically as he has in the past. He's outside of the top 25 in hits—he hasn't been out of the top 10 since 2006.
Minnesota Wild: Jason Zucker
15 of 30
What he's done: Zucker is third on the team with 12 goals and has 16 points in 32 games for the Wild.
Why it's a surprise: It's Zucker's first full NHL campaign, and he has more goals than the team's hired gun Thomas Vanek. The 22-year-old Zucker is on pace for a 30-goal season after combining for eight in 47 games over parts of three seasons.
Montreal Canadiens: Dale Weise
16 of 30
What he's done: With four goals and 12 points through 34 games, Weise is two goals and four points away from matching his career highs.
Why it's a surprise: Weise has been a career fourth-liner who was more likely to drop the gloves and fight than score a goal. But he's seen time on the first line for the Canadiens this year, and at this pace he is going to shatter his best offensive numbers. His stats project to about 10 goals and almost 30 points.
Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg
17 of 30
What he's done: In 36 games, Forsberg has 14 goals, 35 points and a plus-22 rating. Four of his goals have been game-winners.
Why it's a surprise: In his previous attempts to crack the NHL roster, Forsberg hasn't fared nearly as well. He had one goal and six points in 18 games over two seasons before this big breakout. He's clicking at a nearly point-per-game pace and leads all freshmen as well as his team.
New Jersey Devils: Damon Severson
18 of 30
What's been done: He's no Aaron Ekblad, but Severson is looking good in his jump from junior as well, with four goals and 12 points in 32 games so far.
Why it's a surprise: The 20-year-old had an incredible season with the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets but wasn't expected to make the jump into the NHL this quickly.
New York Islanders: Brock Nelson
19 of 30
What he's done: Nelson is second to John Tavares in goal scoring with 14 tallies and has 27 points in 36 games this season. He has eight goals on the power play.
Why it's a surprise: Nelson scored 14 goals as a rookie last season but has already equaled that number in less than half a year. He has passed his point total of 26 and is a big part of the Islanders' push for the Metropolitan Division title. The 23-year-old has made big strides already as a pro hockey player, as he's on pace for more than 60 points and 30 goals.
New York Rangers: Rick Nash
20 of 30
What he's done: Nash has scored 23 times in 34 games, and three of them have come while short-handed.
Why it's a surprise: Considering his miserable playoff performance last spring and the fact he 30 years old and coming off one of his worst regular seasons to date, many had written Nash off. Instead he's rewriting his personal record book. Nash is on pace for 55 goals, which would put him into the 50-plus club for the first time.
Ottawa Senators: Milan Michalek
21 of 30
What he's done: He has three goals, nine points and a minus-10 rating through 32 games.
Why it's a surprise: Michalek put up his worst statistical season last year since his first one in the NHL, but he's hitting new lows now. The 30-year-old is on pace for just 23 points over a full season, which is less than any year but the most recent lockout.
Philadelphia Flyers: Jakub Voracek
22 of 30
What's been done: Voracek is the league leader in points with 14 goals and 46 points through 36 games.
Why it's a surprise: The Flyers winger also leads the team in plus/minus with a plus-13. What's amazing is Voracek has career highs of 23 goals and 62 points in a season. He's going to smash those this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Blake Comeau
23 of 30
What he's done: Comeau has potted 11 goals and is sixth on the Penguins with 19 points through 32 games.
Why it's a surprise: He's years removed from his only 20-goal campaign with the New York Islanders, and nobody expected the journeyman to end up on a line with Sidney Crosby. But thanks to a revolving door in the Penguins medical room, Comeau has had a chance to cement himself among the top six forwards.
San Jose Sharks: Tommy Wingels
24 of 30
What he's done: Wingels is sixth in team scoring with nine goals and 23 points in 37 games.
Why it's a surprise: The 26-year-old has more points and is playing a more prominent offensive role than Tomas Hertl—who has seven goals and 14 points for the Sharks.
St. Louis Blues: Jori Lehtera
25 of 30
What he's done: Lehtera has eight goals and 25 points in 36 NHL games.
Why it's a surprise: Nobody knew for sure how the highly touted Finnish prospect was going to fare in North America, but the Blues were the perfect landing spot. He's clicked on a line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz in a rookie season at the age of 27.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Tyler Johnson
26 of 30
What he's done: Johnson is neck and neck with Steven Stamkos atop the Lightning leaderboard with 13 goals and 37 points in 37 games this season.
Why it's a surprise: As good as last year's Calder Trophy runner-up was a year ago, predicting a potential 30-point jump in his sophomore year would have been rather difficult. The 24-year-old has been outstanding with a point-per-game pace and, maybe more importantly, a league-best plus-23 rating.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Santorelli
27 of 30
What's been done: Santorelli has become a reliable second-line center for the Maple Leafs, with eight goals and 24 points through the first 37 games.
Why it's a surprise: In the last eight years, Santorelli has played just one full 82-game season, and that was back in 2010-11 with the Florida Panthers. He fared well with 20 goals and 40 points but hasn't come close to equaling that since. He's on pace for about 17 goals and more than 50 points with the Leafs, and the fit has been promising.
Vancouver Canucks: Brad Richardson
28 of 30
What he's done: With eight goals and 18 points in 35 games, Richardson is on pace for 42 points and 18 goals.
Why it's a surprise: The journeyman doesn't have to score goals to be effective, offering plenty in other departments, but he's been a strong secondary scoring presence on the Canucks' third line. The surprise is how effective he's been in limited ice time with no power-play time. Richardson will shatter his career highs of 14 goals and 27 points at this rate.
Washington Capitals: John Carlson
29 of 30
What he's done: Carlson is among the top scoring defensemen this season with 27 points in 36 games.
Why it's a surprise: The 24-year-old has always been talented with a big shot from the blue line and strong all-around play, but he's never put up these kinds of numbers. Carlson has hit 37 points twice in his five-year career but is on pace to hit the 60-point mark this year.
Winnipeg Jets: Michael Hutchinson
30 of 30
What he's done: Hutchinson is leading the NHL with a .937 save percentage and 1.87 goals-against average and has earned his way into a goalie rotation with former starter Ondrej Pavelec with the Jets.
Why it's a surprise: The rookie was playing regularly in the ECHL a year ago and is now the hottest goalie in the NHL. It's quite a climb in a short period of time for the 2008 third-round draft pick.
All stats courtesy of NHL.com unless otherwise noted.
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