10 NHL Players Who Will Become Breakout Stars During the 2025-26 Season
Part of the anticipation over the start of a new NHL season for hockey fans is the expectation of which promising young players will emerge as stars.
In recent years, notables such as Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini quickly established themselves among the top under-23 players in the league.
Several youngsters who debuted last season, like Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson and Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov, could be poised this season to move up and take their place among the NHL's elite youngsters.
Follow along as we look at 10 NHL players we believe will become breakout stars in 2025-26. Our list is based on players who have at least played their full rookie season (25-plus games).
Matt Coronato, Calgary Flames
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The retooling Calgary Flames exceeded expectations in 2024-25. Projected to be among the league's bottom-feeders, they came within a whisker of making the playoffs.
Matt Coronato was among the reasons behind the Flames' better-than-expected performance last season. After tallying nine points in 34 games in 2023-24, the 24-year-old right winger finished third among his teammates with 24 goals and 47 points in 77 games.
Chosen 13th overall by the Flames in the 2021 draft, the 5'10", 183-pound Coronato is a small but energetic and creative forward. Management considers him part of their long-term plans, signing him to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million.
That new contract and his promising play create heightened expectations for Coronato. If he meets the challenge, he could establish himself as a reliable scoring forward for the Flames.
Will Cuylle, New York Rangers
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The ongoing development of winger Will Cuylle was a highlight in an otherwise dismal season for the New York Rangers. He finished fifth among his teammates with 20 goals and seventh with 45 points.
Chosen in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Cuylle was projected to become a power forward for the Rangers. The 6'3", 213-pounder proved his mettle as a physical player, leading the club with 301 hits.
Cuylle's play last season was a significant improvement over his 2023-24 debut, when he had 13 goals and 21 points in 81 games playing fourth-line minutes. Now 23, he could be poised for a breakout performance.
Projected to play left wing on the Rangers' second line, Cuylle has an opportunity to establish himself as a reliable top-six forward. If he makes the most of it, he could become a key factor in the Blueshirts' effort to bounce back as a playoff contender.
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks
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Entering his third full NHL season in 2024-25, Lukáš Dostál had taken over the starting goaltender role with the Anaheim Ducks from veteran John Gibson. With Gibson traded to the Detroit Red Wings in July, the 25-year-old Dostál has the opportunity to establish himself among the league's top starters.
Dostál's performance has steadily improved on the rebuilding Ducks over the past three seasons. In 2022-23, his goals-against average was 3.78 and his save percentage was .901. In 2023-24, his GAA was 3.33 and his SP was up to .902. In 2024-25, his GAA was 3.10 and his SP was .903.
With 54 games played last season, the 6'2", 190-pound Dostál finished with a record of 23 wins, 23 losses, and seven overtime losses. Given his ongoing development and the improvement of the Ducks' roster, he could reach or exceed the 30-win plateau for the first time.
The Ducks have been steadily rebuilding their roster with young players and added veteran leaders like Alex Killorn, Jacob Trouba, and Chris Kreider in recent years. A strong breakout performance by Dostál could put them in contention for a playoff berth this season.
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Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings
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A promising performance by Simon Edvinsson was among the few bright spots in another disappointing season for the Detroit Red Wings. After totaling four points in 25 games over the previous two years, the 22-year-old defenseman had 31 points in 78 games with a team-leading plus/minus of plus-12.
The sixth-overall pick in the 2021 draft, Edvinsson's emergence as a potential top-line defenseman was much-anticipated by Red Wings fans. His performance last season while logging 21:07 minutes of ice time per game suggests bigger things to come.
At 6' 6" and 209 pounds, Edvinsson towers over his opponents. He also has the all-around skills to dominate play. Given his age, he still has plenty of time to grow his game.
Edvinsson's solid play gives the Red Wings some options. They can put him on the first pairing with Moritz Seider to form one of the best young pairings in the league, or they can have him play on the second pairing to spread skill among their top four.
Mason Lohrei, Boston Bruins
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The Boston Bruins hope to rebound from last season's poor performance. A breakout performance from Mason Lohrei could help them achieve that goal.
Chosen by Boston in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 6'5", 220-pound defenseman showed promise during his NHL debut in 2023-24. He had 13 points in 41 games as he split his time between the Bruins and their AHL affiliate in Providence.
Lohrei spent the entirety of his sophomore campaign with the Bruins, with 33 points in 77 games while averaging 19:32 minutes of ice time per game. He had his difficulties in his own zone at times, but the 24-year-old has potential as a puck-moving blueliner.
With veterans Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm healthy for the coming season, Lohrei might not see as much ice time as he did last season. Nevertheless, he could maintain a hold on a second-pairing position by improving his defensive game and anchoring their second power-play unit.
Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers
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Philadelphia Flyers fans entered the 2024-24 season anxiously awaiting the debut of Matvei Michkov. Chosen seventh overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old winger didn't disappoint them.
An electrifying scoring winger with impressive skating ability, Michkov led the rebuilding Flyers with 26 goals and finished second with 63 points. Those were also his same placements in goals and points among last season's rookie scorers.
Michkov finished fourth among Calder Memorial Trophy voters, infuriating Flyers fans who felt he should've been higher. His placement among the voters reflected his need to improve his defensive skills, something he acknowledged in a May 21 interview with RG.Org's Sergey Demidov.
Entering his sophomore season, Michkov will feel the pressure to build on last season's promising performance. He'll be helped by playing alongside veterans Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny on the Flyers' top line. He could be in line for a 90-point performance if their chemistry carries over into this season.
Frank Nazar, Chicago Blackhawks
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Called up on Dec. 14, Frank Nazar spent the rest of the 2024-25 season with Chicago. The 21-year-old center showed promise, finishing ninth among his teammates with 26 points in 53 games and 12th among NHL rookie skaters.
That performance convinced management that Nazar deserved a lucrative contract extension. On Aug, 21, the youngster signed a seven-year deal worth an average annual value of $6.6 million.
Nazar's steady development last season earned him the second-line center position alongside veteran wingers Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen. He also proved himself playing for the United States' gold-medal team at the 2025 IIHF World Championships, sitting ninth among all scorers with 12 points.
A swift-skating, creative two-way center, Nazar could blossom into a reliable top-six forward this season for Chicago. He should provide much-needed support for first-line center Connor Bedard, shifting some of the offensive load off their franchise player.
Will Smith, San Jose Sharks
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Macklin Celebrini's impressive debut with the San Jose Sharks overshadowed that of teammate (and fellow rookie) Will Smith. While Celebrini led the rebuilding Sharks with 63 points in 70 games, the 20-year-old Smith finished fourth with a respectable 45 points in 74 games.
The fourth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the versatile Smith can play center or right wing. He spent the 2023-24 season with Boston College before making the jump to the Sharks last season. That extra year in the NCAA helped him hone his skills, making for a smoother transition to the NHL.
A skillful playmaker with excellent hockey sense, the 6'1", 181-pound Smith skated at times on Celebrini's wing. He's projected to slot in as the Sharks' second-line center this season. Smith also had a solid performance for Team USA's gold-medal team at the 2025 IIHF World Championships, finishing with seven points in 10 games.
Smith's larger role with the Sharks this season will mean playing regular top-six minutes. It should set the stage for a breakout performance this season of between 65 and 75 points.
Logan Stankoven, Carolina Hurricanes
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Last season was eventful for Logan Stankoven. After 59 games with the Dallas Stars, the 22-year-old forward was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the return in the Mikko Rantanen deal.
An energetic, quick-shooting forward who can play center or wing, Stankoven finished sixth in the rookie class with 38 points in 78 games split between the Stars and Hurricanes. He also led all rookies in postseason scoring with five goals and eight points in 15 games.
Hurricanes management liked what they saw of the 5'8", 165-pound Stankoven, signing him to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6 million. He's projected to skate at right wing on their third line, but could see second-line minutes this season.
Despite his small stature, Stankoven has shown promise as a scoring forward in the NHL. Should he continue to settle in well with the Hurricanes this season, he could emerge as a reliable top-six forward.
Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken
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Considered the top prospect entering the 2022 NHL Draft, Shane Wright was passed over by three clubs before being chosen by the Seattle Kraken. It took a couple of seasons for him to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, but Wright showed promise with 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games last season.
That performance saw the 21-year-old center finish fifth among Kraken scorers. The skillful two-way center could be poised to make a bigger impact in 2025-26.
Wright has shown maturity by overcoming the difficult early start to his NHL career. Projected to center the Kraken's third line this season, his performance in 2024-25 suggests he could be ready to move up soon.
The Kraken will go into this season under new head coach Lane Lambert. Depending on his usage under the new bench boss, Wright could start making the case as a top-six forward this season.
Stats via NHL.com, salary info via PuckPedia, and line combinations via Daily Faceoff.
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