The Biggest Busts of the 2015-16 NHL Season so Far

It's been a disappointing NHL season thus far for several notable players. Some, such as Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek (pictured above), hoped to build upon last season's career highs. For promising players such as Dallas Stars winger Valeri Nichushkin, they've failed thus far to achieve their anticipated breakout performances.

A variety of reasons can be cited for their mediocre play. Voracek appears to be struggling under a new head coach, while Nichushkin is trying to round back into form following hip surgery. Changing teams, ongoing adjustment to the NHL competition or playing up to high expectations are other factors. 

Here's a look at the players who are this season's biggest busts thus far. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below.

10. Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Called up midway through last season, versatile Chicago Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen played his way up to the third line. After tallying only nine points in 34 games, he scored 10 in 18 playoff games, including four during the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay.

Teravainen's playoff performance suggested he was poised for bigger and better things this season. While on pace for a respectable 38 points, he's bounced around the lineup. The 21-year-old is also a streaky scorer. In 25 games, he put up points in only 10 of them.

To be fair, Teravainen is still a young player in only his second NHL season. Over time, he could blossom into a reliable top-six forward. At this stage in his career, to expect more from him this season following a playoff hot streak was perhaps unreasonable. 

9. Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

After his promising NHL debut was cut short by a knee injury, San Jose Sharks winger Tomas Hertl struggled through a sophomore slump last season. His 31 points in 81 games was well off the promising pace of his rookie campaign of 2013-14.

So far, Hertl's shown little sign of a bounce-back performance this season. With only 13 points in 28 games, the 22-year-old is on pace for only 37 points. That's a marginal improvement over last season's numbers. 

At this point, Hertl's been a bust as a scoring winger. Maybe he's still adjusting to the system of new head coach Peter DeBoer. It's also possible his knee injury has made him a more cautious performer. 

8. Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The third overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft, Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin had a decent rookie season, scoring 32 points in 70 games. A promising young playmaker, it was hoped the 20-year-old would become a more effective point producer in his sophomore campaign.

Instead, it's been a difficult season for Drouin. After netting five points in his first five games, his production soon dried up. He's also been hampered by injuries, missing 11 games. At his current pace, Drouin will end up with roughly the same number of points as last season.

With the Lightning struggling to score, this is a golden opportunity for Drouin to prove himself as an offensive talent. If he fails to improve over the course of this season, questions could be raised over his ability to produce at the NHL level.

7. Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas Stars

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Following a promising debut in 2013-14, Dallas Stars winger Valeri Nichushkin missed all but eight games last season to hip surgery. Given his size (6'3", 205 pounds), speed and offensive skills, big things were expected of the 20-year-old this season.

For the most part, however, Nichushkin hasn't been much of a scoring threat. In his first 21 games, he managed only two goals and five points. His ice time was reduced, and he was even a healthy scratch for two early-October games. At his current rate, he'll finish with only 36 points.

In recent games, however, Nichushkin's been skating on the Stars' top line. He's tallied seven points in his last five outings. Perhaps the young winger is finally getting his game on track. He must find the back of the net with more consistency to get off this season's bust list.

6. Jakub Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg made a significant improvement in 2014-15, netting 39 points in 81 games. It was his playoff performance (18 points in 16 games) that seemed to indicate the young Swede was on the verge of a breakout season. He was rewarded in the summer with a new four-year contract worth $15 million. 

Sadly, Silfverberg's play has regressed this season. With only five points in 28 games, the 24-year-old winger is on pace for a career-worst 13-point performance. Compounding his offensive woes is the fact the Ducks are also among this season's lowest-scoring teams. 

Silfverberg has had slow starts before, so a strong second-half rally could substantially boost his numbers. Still, for someone supposedly poised to burst out as a scorer, Silfverberg's play has been a big disappointment this season. 

5. Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Nick Foligno enjoyed his best NHL performance last season. Skating alongside center Ryan Johansen on the Jackets' top line, Foligno tallied a career-high 31 goals and 42 assists for 73 points. He led the Jackets in scoring for 2014-15 and was named team captain in the offseason. It appeared the Jackets had a late-blooming scorer on their hands.

This season, however, Foligno has seemingly returned to earth. With 15 points in 30 games, the 28-year-old is on track for 40 points. That's roughly around his average in recent seasons but nowhere close to his 2014-15 stats. 

A versatile, hardworking forward who leads by example, Foligno remains a valuable part of the Columbus roster. As an offensive leader, however, he's fallen well short of expectations.

4. Dougie Hamilton, Calgary Flames

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Calgary Flames made headlines by acquiring defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins in June and signing him to a six-year, $34.5 million contract. Having netted a career-high 42 points in 72 games with the Bruins last season, the 22-year-old was expected to be a significant part of the Flames defense corps.

Hamilton's first season in Calgary, however, has left much to be desired. With nine points in 28 games, he's on track for 25 points—well off last season's numbers. At one point, he was skating on the third defense pairing with Ladislav Smid. 

In fairness, the Flames have played poorly as a team this season. Hamilton is a young defender and is still adjusting to new teammates in a new city. He could one day return to form as a top-pairing blueliner. For now, however, he's among this season's biggest busts.

3. Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Acquired from the New York Rangers in the summer, Cam Talbot was thought to be the quality starting goaltender the Edmonton Oilers desperately needed. Though he'd been a backup for two seasons with the Rangers, he distinguished himself with strong performances filling in for the sidelined Henrik Lundqvist in 2014-15. 

This season, the Oilers once again find themselves near the bottom of the NHL standings. Part of the reason is Talbot's shaky goaltending. Among goalies with more than 10 starts this season, the 28-year-old has the worst goals-against average and save percentage stats.

In his first opportunity as an NHL starter, Talbot's been a dud. He lost the starter's job to Anders Nilsson and seems to have lost the confidence of his head coach, Todd McLellan. An unrestricted free agent next summer, Talbot's also blowing his opportunity to land a lucrative new contract.

2. Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

When the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired right wing Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer, the five-time 30-goal scorer seemed a perfect fit alongside Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. On Sep. 8, Postmedia Network's Michael Traikos (via the Toronto Sun) reported of speculation suggesting Kessel could hit 40 or even 50 goals this season.

Talk of Kessel winning the Maurice Richard Trophy has since melted away. In less than a month, he was taken off the Crosby line and now skates alongside center Evgeni Malkin. With only nine goals and 17 points in 27 games, the 28-year-old is on track for a 27-goal, 51-point performance. They're decent numbers for most players but below normal for Kessel. 

Adjusting to a new team could be one factor behind Kessel's scoring struggles. Another could be the Penguins' decline in offensive production under head coach Mike Johnston. They're near the bottom of the league in goals per game, even-strength scoring and power-play percentage. 

1. Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers

Karl B DeBlaker/Associated Press

Last season was a banner year for Philadelphia Flyers right wing Jakub Voracek. He set a career high in points with 81, leading the Flyers in scoring while finishing fifth among the league leaders. As a result, the Flyers re-signed Voraek to an eight-year contract extension worth an annual salary-cap hit of $8.25 million.

Expectations were understandably high for Voracek entering this season. Unfortunately, he's looked nothing like the player who led the league in scoring throughout most of 2014-15. With only 15 points in 29 games, Voracek's on pace for only 41 points. That would be his lowest total since his rookie campaign in 2008-09.

Perhaps Voracek is still trying to adjust to new Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol. Maybe he's feeling the pressure to repeat or exceed last season's performance. Whatever the reason, as a newly emerged scoring star, Voracek's a bust so far in 2015-16. 

Player stats (as of Dec. 10, 2015) via NHL.com.