NHL Players Most Likely to Break the 80-Point Mark in the 2015-16 Season

Because of the ongoing decline in NHL scoring, reaching the 80-point mark is now the benchmark for the league's leading scorers. In 2014-15, only five players reached that plateau. Among them was Dallas Stars center Jamie Benn (pictured above), the 2015 Art Ross Trophy winner. 

Several players stand a good chance to reach the mark this season. They include new scoring stars like Benn and teammate Tyler Seguin. There are also several rising young talents like Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, as well as long-established superstars like Washington's Alex Ovechkin. 

Here's a list of the NHL players most likely to break 80 points in 2015-16. In evaluating their chances, we'll examine their respective careers to date and their production this season. All stats are current as of Nov. 27. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below. 

Honorable Mention

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Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins: Coming off an 84-point season, the Penguins captain is on pace for a career-worst 52 points. However, there's sufficient time left in this season for Crosby to regain his form. 

John Klingberg, Dallas Stars: In only his sophomore season, Klingberg is currently the NHL's highest-scoring defenseman. It remains to be seen if he can maintain this pace throughout his first full season. 

Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals: With 26 points in 23 games, the sophomore center leads the Capitals in scoring. Now centering the second line, he could struggle to maintain that production. 

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins: Like Crosby, Malkin's production is down this season. Still, it would be foolish to dismiss his chances of reaching 80 points. 

Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens: Pacioretty's 24 points in 25 games has him on pace for a career-best season. However, he's a streaky scorer with an injury history. Eighty points is likely out of reach this season.

Artemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks: The talented Russian rookie is having little difficulty adjusting to the NHL. While on track for nearly 80 points, he could struggle to maintain that performance over a full season.

Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks: The Sharks captain flirted with 80 points in 2013-14. With 23 points in as many games, this might be the season in which Pavelski finally reaches that plateau.

Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens: Plekanec currently sits among the league's top 15 scorers. However, he's never reached 80 points before. At 33, it could be a stretch to do it at this stage in his career.

Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings: A rising young star, Toffoli is among the league's leading goal scorers. Consistency was an issue in the past, but he's showing improvement this season. 

Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets: With 25 points in as many games, Wheeler is among the league's top 15 scorers. However, he's a streaky scorer, and it remains to be seen if he can maintain his current pace. 

10. Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

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Over their long NHL careers, Vancouver Canucks stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin have established themselves as proven NHL scorers. Henrik has reached or exceeded 80 points five times, while Daniel's done it four times. 

Though long in the tooth at 35, the twins show no sign of slowing down. With 27 points in 25 games, Daniel is currently fifth among the league leaders in points and shots. Henrik's 23 points in 24 games ranks him 15th among the NHL's top scorers. 

Given their age, the Sedins' production could decline over the course of this season. However, both were only a handful of points shy of 80 points in 2014-15. With the twins determined to prove they're still at the top of their game, one or both could reach that mark again. 

9. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

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As the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft and 2014 rookie of the year, expectations were high for Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. Coming off a disappointing sophomore performance last season, the 20-year-old is stepping up this season in a big way. 

In only his third NHL season, MacKinnon is among the league's top 15 scorers. With 24 points in 23 games, he's on track to exceed the 80-point mark. He's also proving himself a clutch player for the Avalanche. His four game-winning goals put him among the league leaders in that category. 

A rising talent, MacKinnon's best years remain ahead of him. He's done well to overcome last season's sophomore slump, emerging as the Avalanche's leading star. At his current rate of production, reaching 80 points for the first time in his career isn't out of the question. 

8. Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers

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If not for injuries throughout his NHL career, Edmonton Oilers left wing Taylor Hall might have more 80-point performances on his resume. He reached that mark in 2013-14, but he is coming off a miserable 38-point performance in only 53 games last season.

With 25 points in 24 games this season, Hall could exceed 80 points. The 24-year-old winger is currently among the league's top 10 scorers. He sits second in shots (102), while his plus/minus of plus-12 also ranks among the league's best. 

Hall is playing with a level of poise and maturity this season that was previously missing from his game. While the Oilers are struggling once again, he's among their few consistently strong performers. He's stepping up as a team leader, which is reflected in his play. If he can stay healthy, he will add another 80-point campaign to his resume.

7. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

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In only his fourth NHL season, St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko has established himself as an elite scorer. He had a breakthrough performance last season, tallying 73 points in 77 games to lead the Blues in scoring. That performance earned him an eight-year, $60 million contract.

Tarasenko isn't having any difficulty playing up to heightened expectations. With 24 points in 23 games, the 23-year-old is on an 80-point trajectory. In addition to once again leading the Blues in scoring, his 14 goals tie him for second in the league. He's also among the top 10 in shots. 

An explosive offensive talent, Tarasenko is capable of scoring in bunches. If he can avoid injury over the remainder of this season, he should achieve his first 80-point season. 

6. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

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In today's NHL, defensemen almost never reach the 80-point mark. The last blueliner to do so was Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom in 2005-06. Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson stands a good chance of reaching that target this season. He's flirted with 80 points before, tallying 78 in 2011-12 to win the first of his two James Norris Memorial trophies as the NHL's top defenseman. 

Karlsson, 25, is currently among the NHL's leading scorers among defensemen and sits among the top 10 players in points. The linchpin of the Senators' offensive attack, he's on pace for a 91-point season. His 21 assists puts him tied for third in that category. Of the league's top 20 scorers, none comes close to his 27:01 of average ice time.

Now in his seventh NHL season, Karlsson has established himself among the league's superstars. Reaching 80 points is a challenge, but he has the skills to achieve that goal. Doing so will certainly bolster his chances of winning a third Norris Trophy. 

5. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

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One of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin remains a lethal offensive star. Since his NHL debut in 2005-06, the 30-year-old has exceeded 80 points seven times. The latest came in 2014-15, with 81 points in as many games. 

Ovechkin doesn't reach the offensive heights he once did, but he's still among the league's leading scorers. With 12 goals and 22 points in 22 games, the Capitals captain is once again on pace for another 80-point campaign. To no one's surprise, he's the league leader in shots and among the leaders in goals. 

As he enters an age when a scorer's production declines, it's easy to assume Ovechkin's days of reaching 80 points are behind him. Indeed, when his production declined in 2011-12 to only 65 points, there were assumptions his high-scoring days were in the past. As Ovechkin has subsequently proven, you cannot write him off as a scoring threat. 

4. John Tavares, New York Islanders

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Since reaching 81 points in 2011-12, New York Islanders captain John Tavares is well established among the NHL's most consistent offensive stars. During this period, he's averaged over a point per game. Last season's 86-point performance was the second time he exceeded 80 points. 

With 21 points in as many games, Tavares is once again the Islanders' top scorer. While currently sitting outside the NHL's top 10 scorers, he's only six points out of the top five. His four game-winning goals also rank among the league leaders. 

Last season, Tavares missed winning the Art Ross Trophy by one point. At 25, he's in his playing prime and remains the Islanders' best player. Given his offensive consistency in recent years, Tavares should once again reach or exceed 80 points. 

3. Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars

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Since joining the Dallas Stars via trade in 2013 from the Boston Bruins, center Tyler Seguin has quickly blossomed into a superstar. He and linemate Jamie Benn provide the Stars with a lethal one-two scoring punch. Seguin tallied 84 points in 2013-14 and would've exceeded that total last season if not for a knee injury limiting him to 71 games.

Seguin is currently on pace to easily exceed 80 points this season. He's third among the league's leading scorers with 34 points in 24 games. The 23-year-old is particularly dangerous on the power play, sitting among the leaders in points with the man advantage. Seguin has only been held off the score sheet three times thus far.

Thanks to Seguin's offense, the Stars are among this season's top teams. The best is yet to come from this young superstar. He should remain among the league's elite scorers for the next several years and will be among those challenging teammate Benn for the scoring title. 

2. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

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A key member of the Chicago Blackhawks' three Stanley Cup championships, right wing Patrick Kane tallied his only 80-point season (88) in 2009-10. Over the last two seasons, he's been on a point-per-game pace, but injuries limited him to two 60-plus point campaigns.

This season, Kane is heading toward a career-best performance. With 37 points in just 24 games, he's currently the NHL's scoring leader. He's been held scoreless only twice, the last time on Oct. 15. The 27-year-old is on a 19-game scoring streak, a record for American-born players. Kane is also among the league leaders in game-winning goals and power-play points. 

Kane has been honored with individual awards in the past. In 2007-08, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. In 2013, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. If he can avoid injury or a letdown in his production, he could add the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer to his trophy case. 

1. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

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Since his NHL debut in 2009-10, Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has steadily improved as a dominant scorer. Having reached 79 points in 2013-14, he broke through last season with a league-leading 87 points. What's more, he did it despite playing through hip pain that subsequently required offseason surgery. Benn was awarded the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer.

This season, Benn has already netted 35 points in only 24 games. The 26-year-old sits second in the NHL scoring race. He's well on track to eclipse 80 points this season. His consistency this season is impressive, as he's been held scoreless in only four games thus far. His three short-handed points tie him for the league lead.

Coming off his career-best performance, Benn is showing no lingering effects from hip surgery. Indeed, it's quite apparent winning the Art Ross last season was no fluke. The Stars captain is establishing himself among the league's elite players. Don't dismiss the possibility of his winning another scoring title this season.