Red-Hot NHL Players Most Likely to Cool Off

Several NHL players, such as Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine and Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov, are off to sizzling starts to the 2016-17 season. However, they could find it difficult maintaining their current rates of production.

A rookie such as Laine tends to cool off over the course of their first full NHL season. Meanwhile, a second-tier veteran on pace to exceed his career-high numbers, such as Anisimov, eventually struggles to maintain that pace.

Here's a look at the red-hot NHL players most likely to cool off over the course of this season. You can voice your opinion on this topic in the comments section below. 

Paul Byron, Montreal Canadiens

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A speedy checking-line winger, Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron is enjoying a strong start to this season. The 27-year-old is tied for the club lead in goals and is among their points leaders. Given his usual role and previous levels of production, however, his present scoring pace should decline in the coming weeks.

With seven goals and 12 points in 19 games, Byron's on track for a 30-goal, 50-point output. He tallied a career-best 11 goals in 2015-16, his first season with the Canadiens. His highest single-season point total (21) came with the Calgary Flames in 2013-14. 

Injuries, however, have hampered the 5'9", 160-bound Byron throughout his NHL career. While his speed works well with the Habs' uptempo attack, he's not a natural scorer. As this season progresses, his production is bound to drop. 

Patrick Eaves, Dallas Stars

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Now in his 12th NHL season, Dallas Stars checking-line right wing Patrick Eaves is having an impressive start. He's on pace to exceed 65 points, but it's doubtful he'll come close to that total. 

In 18 games, the 32-year-old Eaves has nine goals and six assists for 15 points. That puts him tied for second in scoring on the Stars. He's almost halfway to matching his career-high of 20 goals (2005-06) and 32 points in 2006-07. 

Eaves' age and injury history, however, will likely catch up with him over the course of this season. The last time he played more than 65 games was in 2008-09 with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers

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Prior to signing last summer with the Florida Panthers, left wing Jonathan Marchessault netted only eight goals and 11 assists in 49 career NHL games. Only 19 games into this season, however, he's already scored nine times and set up six others for 15 points. It remains to be seen, however, if he can maintain this pace.

The 25-year-old Marchessault leads the Panthers in goals and points. He's also among the league's goal-scoring leaders and on pace to exceed 35 goals and 65 points. However, it appears his production is tailing off. In a 10-game stretch from Oct. 29 to Nov. 17, he managed only two goals and an assist. 

Marchessault could remain an effective offensive forward for the Panthers. He's already exceeded his previous career high of seven goals. But as this season progresses, it's unlikely he'll remain among their leading scorers. 

Michael Grabner, New York Rangers

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A swift skater with a good scoring touch, New York Rangers right wing Michael Grabner is enjoying the best start of his NHL career. While he's on track for a 50-goal season, it's unlikely the 29-year-old can stay on his current pace. 

Grabner's debut NHL season (2010-11) was also his best, scoring 34 goals and 52 points to finish third in rookie scoring. He's never come close to returning to those heights until this season. Only 19 games into this season, Grabner leads the Rangers in goals (11) and is among the league's goal-scoring leaders. 

Five of Grabner's 11 goals, however, came in just two games. He was also held off the score sheet in 10 of his 19 games. Given his streaky scoring, it's only a matter of time until his production falls off. 

Mitchell Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs rookie forward Mitchell Marner is stealing the spotlight from teammate Auston Matthews, the first-round pick in this year's NHL draft. Despite his promising debut, the 19-year-old Marner could find it challenging to maintain his current scoring pace. 

A center converted to right wing, Marner began this season with six points in nine games in October. He's followed up with 10 points in November, sitting only one point behind James van Riemsdyk for the Leafs' scoring lead. 

The 6'0", 170-pound Marner has defied expectations, but it remains to be seen if he can withstand the physical demands of his first NHL season. His offensive production will ensure he draws more attention from bigger opponents, who'll put more effort in trying to shut him down. 

Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

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Rookie defenseman Zach Werenski is tearing it up offensively for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 19-year-old blueliner faces a steep challenge, however, to maintain his impressive early-season play over the remainder of this season. 

In just 16 games, Werenski has collected five goals and nine assists for 14 points. That puts him on pace for 70 points in 82 games. He sits third among this season's highest-scoring defensemen and fourth among Blue Jackets' scorers.

Maintaining that pace, however, will be difficult for Werenski. The last rookie defenseman to reach 70 points was Brian Leetch in 1988-89, and the game was more wide-open back then. As the season goes on, opponents will put more focus on containing him. He must also adjust to the grind of a long NHL season. 

Artem Anisimov, Chicago Blackhawks

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A versatile two-way center, Anisimov is among the NHL's top 10 scorers. It remains to be seen, however, if the 28-year-old can keep up his current scoring pace. 

With 18 points in as many games, Anisimov is also tied for second on the Blackhawks in scoring with Artemi Panarin. He's on track for a 35-goal, 80-point performance. That would far exceed his current career highs of 22 goals in 2013-14 with the Columbus Blue Jackets and 44 points in 2010-11 with the New York Rangers. 

Panarin, however, has a history of inconsistent play. It appears he's already cooling off. All but one of his 18 points this season came between Oct. 15 and Nov. 6. In his last five games, he managed only one point.

Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets

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Only 18 years old, Laine is off to a blazing start to his NHL rookie season. He's a natural scorer with a quick, accurate shot. However, he will find it difficult to maintain his offensive pace. 

With 12 goals in 21 games, Laine leads the Jets, this season's NHL rookie class and the league in that category. His 18 points also lead all rookies and ranks second on the Jets. 

At his current rate of production, Laine could reach 50 goals this season. That's rarefied air for an NHL rookie, as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin was the last to reach that mark back in 2005-06. While Laine has 50-goal potential, he'll be hard pressed to keep up his present output in his rookie campaign. 

Laine has never played through the physical grind of an 82-game NHL season. As teams become more accustomed to his style of play, they'll put more focus on shutting him down. He's also a streaky scorer. Of his 21 games, he was held scoreless 11 times.  

Player stats (as of Nov. 20, 2016) via NHL.com.