Surging NHL Players Most Likely to Stay Hot in 2015-16

The long grind of an 82-game NHL regular season is filled with peaks and valleys.

Teams and individual players go through stretches where they can do no wrong. They also hit dark patches, where the main objective becomes to keep the slump as short as possible.

With less than two weeks to go before the annual Christmas break, we're seeing plenty of good hockey being played around the league. Some players are extending season-long hot streaks, while others are hitting their stride after slower starts.

Click through for a look at our surging stars all-star team—the players at each position who are putting up dazzling numbers and look well-positioned to continue their impressive play for the foreseeable future.

It wasn't easy to narrow this list down to just six players. Honourable mentions include, at forward, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, Daniel and Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks, Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames and Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings.

On defense, a nod to the Winnipeg Jets' Dustin Byfuglien, the Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty and to Mark Giordano and Dennis Wideman in Calgary.

Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals, Jonathan Quick of the Kings and rookie Connor Hellebuyck of the Jets earn the honorable mentions in net.

Now—here are your winners.

Patrick Kane: Chicago Blackhawks

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2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 18-26-44, first in NHL scoring

His Recent Surge: Patrick Kane has been surging for most of the season, leading the NHL in points and riding a 24-game scoring streak that's a Chicago Blackhawks team record and the longest ever for an American-born player.

Thanks to a coach's challenge that went his way in the dying minutes on December 10, Kane scored the only goal in the Chicago Blackhawks' 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, giving him seven points in his last five games.

Can He Keep It Up? As long as he stays healthy, sure.

Kane was among the NHL's top scorers in 2014-15 as well until he broke his collarbone in late February. The 27-year-old has played the best hockey of his career over the past two seasons.

Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of points in 51 straight games is still a long way away, but Gretzky himself thinks Kane could challenge the mark.

"He can get there, absolutely," Gretzky told Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune. "First of all, you have to be good, and you have to get a little bit lucky. You have to stay healthy, and you have to be surrounded by really good teammates. He has all the intangibles he needs."

Mike Cammalleri: New Jersey Devils

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2015-16 Season Stats: 28 GP, 11-19-30, sixth in NHL scoring

His Recent Surge: Mike Cammalleri was named the NHL's third star for the week ending December 6, thanks to a 4-3-7 showing in four games that week. 

Cammalleri has been the offensive leader on a New Jersey Devils team that is challenging for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Can He Keep It Up? Cammalleri has 30 points in 28 games played—a pace that would earn the 33-year-old the best numbers of his life if he can sustain it for the entire season.

Injuries have been an issue for the speedy left winger throughout his career—Cammalleri has never played a full 82-game season. The last time he managed to play more than 70 games, he tallied his career-high 82 points in 81 games with the Calgary Flames back in 2008-09.

If Cammalleri manages to defy the odds and stay healthy this season, there's no reason to think he won't keep producing for the resurgent Devils.

Claude Giroux: Philadelphia Flyers

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2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 11-16-27, 14th in NHL scoring

His Recent Surge: Captain Claude Giroux picked up three points, including the winning goal, in the Philadelphia Flyers' most recent game—a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on December 10. 

Philadelphia is part of the group that's gunning for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Giroux is leading the charge with eight points in his last five games.

Can He Keep It Up? Most likely. Giroux has already logged eight multi-point games this season and is helping the Flyers to find their way under new coach Dave Hakstol.

Philadelphia's 6-2-1 in its last nine games—impressive success considering the team's other big star, Jakub Voracek, has just two assists in his last five games and is still sitting at only one goal for the season.

If Voracek ever gets going, expect to see Giroux's output soar even higher.

Rasmus Ristolainen: Buffalo Sabres

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2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 7-14-21, minus-five

His Recent Surge: Thanks to his third-period natural hat trick against the Calgary Flames on December 10, Rasmus Ristolainen has collected seven points in his last five games and moved up to fifth place in scoring among defensemen.

Flying under the radar on a Buffalo Sabres team that's loaded with young talent, the 21-year-old might be the league's best emerging defenseman nobody's talking about.

Can He Keep It Up? In his 29th game of the year against the Flames, Ristolainen surpassed his point total from 78 games last season, so he's definitely trending upward.

At 6'4" and 207 pounds and already in his third NHL season, the eighth overall draft pick from 2013 has all the tools he needs to succeed at the NHL level and is progressing at an impressive space.

Ristolainen won't be a finalist for the Norris Trophy this season, but he'll get into the conversation before too long.

Shea Weber: Nashville Predators

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2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 9-10-19, minus-four

His Recent Surge: Shea Weber started the 2015-16 season quietly, with just four points in his first nine games. He also went through a six-game pointless slump in late November but has turned on the jets since the calendar flipped to December.

In his last six games, Weber's 3-6-9 and a plus-three, and his Nashville Predators are 3-2-1. He scored the first-ever hat trick by a Nashville defenseman in the Preds' 5-4 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on December 5, which helped earn him NHL second-star honours for the week ending December 6.

Can He Keep It Up? The Shea Weber we've seen over the last six weeks looks like the Shea Weber we know—a perennial Norris Trophy candidate who's a difference-maker for his team both offensively and defensively.

Weber underwent offseason surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap, which might help to explain his slow start. If he's now back to 100 percent, he should once again be dominant for the rest of the season.

John Gibson: Anaheim Ducks

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2015-16 Season Stats: 7 GP, 4-2-1, .944 save percentage, 1.47 goals-against average, two shutouts

His Recent Surge: With starter Frederik Andersen on the shelf with an injury, Gibson was named the NHL's first star for the week ending December 6 with a 3-1-0 record, 0.76 goals-against average, .968 save percentage and two shutouts.

Gibson allowed just three goals in four starts against the Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Can He Keep It Up? Once again, the issue is health. Gibson's planned ascent to No. 1 status in Anaheim in 2014-15 was derailed by two separate injuries, which led to general manager Bob Murray signing Anton Khudobin as an insurance policy for this season.

Because he's still waiver-exempt, Gibson's still the easiest netminder for Murray to demote to the AHL. Gibson has played well enough during his call-up that, for now, he's keeping the net, even though Andersen's healthy enough to play.

Gibson will need to continue to put up lights-out performances if he hopes to avoid being re-assigned to San Diego. 

All stats courtesy of NHL.com, current through games Thursday, December 10.