Red-Hot NHL Players Most Likely to Cool Off

A quarter of the way into this NHL season and several players are enjoying red-hot starts.

Some, like Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (pictured above), are off to the best starts of their careers. Over the course of the season, however, these players will likely see their respective performances cool down.

For the players on his list, various factors work against them. Some, like Reimer, are playing at a level they've never reached before. Several, like Florida Panthers winger Jaromir Jagr, are aging stars. Others, like Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal, have injury histories.

Here's a look at several red-hot NHL players most likely to cool off over the course of this season. Feel free to weigh in with your comments or to suggest your own candidates. 

10. Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers

Joel Auerbach/Associated Press

Ageless wonder and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr continues to confound Father Time. In his first full season with the Florida Panthers, the 43-year-old right wing leads the Panthers with eight goals and 17 points in 19 games.  

At his current rate of production, Jagr will finish the season with 33 goals and 70 points in 80 games. 

Jagr has terrific chemistry with linemates Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov, but he can't maintain his current pace. The last time he reached 30 goals and 70 points was in 2006-07 with the New York Rangers. Despite his leadership and puck-possession skills, his age will take its toll over the course of a long season. 

That doesn't mean Jagr can't be an effective player for the young Panthers. While he can occasionally turn back the clock, however, it's expecting too much of him to reach a level of production not seen in nearly a decade. A 20-goal, 50-point season seems more realistic. 

9. Martin Hanzal, Arizona Coyotes

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Centering a line with young wingers Anthony Duclair and Tobias Rieder, Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is on pace for a career season. With 18 points in as many games, the 28-year-old is the Coyotes' leading scorer. At his present rate, he could finish with 79 points in 80 games. 

Whether Hanzal can reach 80 games this season, however, is another matter. Despite his imposing 6'6", 226-pound frame, he's been hampered by injuries throughout his NHL career. The last time he played over 65 games was in 2009-10. Back surgery limited him to only 37 games last season.

Even if Hanzal stays healthy, he's unlikely to flirt with 80 points. His career-best was 40 points in 65 games during 2013-14. A 55-point season is a more realistic total. 

8. Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler is off to a flying start to this season. With 22 points in as many games, the 29-year-old is the Jets' top scorer and among the league's top-15 point producers. Wheeler's on track for a career-high 81-point season.

Since his NHL debut in 2008-09, however, Wheeler has never tallied more than 69 points. Indeed, 11 of his 22 points were tallied in his first eight games. He's since returned to his usual offensive pace. At 29, Wheeler's peak years could be behind him.

Wheeler remains an important part of the Jets' offensive attack, but the 80-point plateau is perhaps out of reach for him. He will likely finish with his usual numbers of around 25 goals and 65 points. 

7. Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello is off to a sizzling start to this season. In 21 games, the 28-year-old Norwegian has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. He's the Rangers' leading scorer and ranks among the league leaders. 

Zuccarello's on pace for career highs in goals (39), assists (42) and points (81), but it's unlikely he can maintain that pace. Since earning a full-time role with the Rangers in 2013-14, he's never tallied more than 19 goals, 40 assists and 59 points.

While the 5'7", 179-pounder has proven himself at the NHL level, opponents will put more emphasis on shutting him down over the course of the season. 

After a slow start to this season, Zuccarello caught fire offensively in November. He could be a late-blooming scoring star, but his history suggests his current production will decline as this season progresses. Zuccarello will likely to finish with 25 goals and 60 points.

6. Mike Cammalleri, New Jersey Devils

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

A former two-time 80-point performer, New Jersey Devils left wing Mike Cammalleri is enjoying his hottest start in years. Skating on the first line with center Adam Henrique and winger Lee Stempniak, the 33-year-old has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 20 games. At this rate, Cammalleri could reach 85 points in 82 games. 

Unfortunately, Cammalleri is unlikely to maintain this pace. Sixteen of his 21 points came in six multi-point games. Injuries have also hampered him during his career. The last time he played more than 68 games in a full NHL season was in 2008-09 with the Calgary Flames. That was also the last time he reached 80 points.

Cammalleri should remain a key offensive forward for the Devils this season. Given his age and injury history, however, it's a stretch to expect him to reach 85 points. Twenty-five goals and 55 points seems a more realistic tally. 

5. David Krejci, Boston Bruins

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Coming off an injury-hampered 31-point performance in 2014-15, Boston Bruins center David Krejci isn't wasting time putting last season behind him. With 22 points in 20 games, Krejci leads the Bruins in scoring and ranks among the league leaders in points. He's on track for a 32-goal, 89-point campaign. 

It's unlikely, however, the 29-year-old Czech center reaches that total. Fifteen of Krejci's 22 points came in October. Over the course of his NHL career, he's never tallied more than 23 goals in a season, while his career high in points (73) came in 2008-09. 

The fact that Krejci has bounced back from last season bodes well for his chances of perhaps reaching 70 points again. At this stage in his career, however, it's doubtful he'll get much more than that. 

4. John Klingberg, Dallas Stars

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

In his sophomore season, Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg is putting up impressive offensive numbers. With 20 assists and 24 points in 22 games, the 23-year-old leads all NHL defenseman in both categories. He's also on track for an 88-point season. 

Klingberg's performance is remarkable for such a young defenseman, but the young Swede will find it difficult maintaining that pace. The last blueliner to reach 80 points in a season was Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom in 2005-06. Klingberg also hasn't played a full NHL season yet, which could take a toll on his numbers.

Klingberg is an important part of the Stars offensive attack. Setting up superstars like teammates Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin will certainly ensure he's among this season's top-scoring defensemen. However, he's unlikely to exceed 80 points at this stage in his career. A 60-point season seems more realistic. 

3. James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Now in his sixth season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, goaltender James Reimer is off to the best start of his career. After 15 appearances, the 27-year-old's 2.07 goals-against average and .934 save percentage currently puts him among the league's top-10 goalies. 

Reimer's an unrestricted free agent next summer. That could also explain his stellar play thus far, as improved stats will bolster his free-agent value. However, he's struggled to elevate his game over the course of his career. It hasn't helped that the Leafs were among the NHL's worst defensive teams during much of Reimer's tenure in Toronto.

While the defense in front of Reimer has improved this season, the Leafs are still giving up a high number of shots. If that trend continues, he could start wearing down under the heavy workload. If regular starter Jonathan Bernier regains his job, Reimer will make fewer appearances.

Considering his career numbers, he's unlikely to maintain his current level of play. 

2. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Since being called up by the Edmonton Oilers in late-October, center Leon Draisaitl is on an offensive tear. In just 11 games, the 20-year-old sophomore tallied seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points.

At his current pace, he'll reach 45 goals and 110 points in 72 games. Those kind of numbers haven't been seen from an Oilers forward since Mark Messier in 1989-90.

Centering the Oilers top line alongside left wing Taylor Hall accounts in part for Draisaitl's impressive stats.

Compared to a year ago, he's better adjusted to the NHL game. However, he's yet to play a full season in the big league.

As this campaign progresses, he'll have to deal with heightened expectations. Opponents will also start putting more focus on shutting him down. 

Draisaitl is a skilled, energetic playmaker with a bright future, but it's unrealistic to expect him to maintain this pace so early in his career.

If he continues playing on the Oilers' top-two forward lines, he could finish with a more realistic 25 goals and 60 points. 

1. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Despite being investigated for sexual assault earlier this season, Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane didn't let it distract him.

In fact, the 27-year-old star is on track for the best season of his career. With 13 goals and 31 points in 21 games, Kane is on pace for a 50-goal, 124-point performance. He currently leads both the Blackhawks and the league in scoring.

Kane could find it difficult maintaining his current level of production as the season goes on. His career-best numbers (30 goals, 88 points in 82 games) came in 2009-10.

Kane scored at a point-per-game clip over the last two years, but injuries limited him to 69 and 61 games, respectively. NHL scoring is also down. Last season marked the first time since 2003-04 the league's top scorer didn't reach 100 points.

With the sexual assault investigation now closed, Kane hasn't allowed his focus to decline. He should remain among the league's top scorers, but his production will likely cool to around 85-90 points over the course of the season.

Given the decline in NHL scoring, that could be enough for him to win the scoring title.