NHL Predictions: 10 Players Set To Take the Next Step After a Strong 2010-11

Each season, established top-flight players have down years while unproven, inexperienced players catch us all by surprise and take the league by storm. 

We saw several examples of this last year. Star sniper Dany Heatley, who was recently dealt to the Minnesota Wild, registered a career-low 26 goals and 64 points for San Jose. Former 40-point defenseman Jay Bouwmeester put up a lackluster 24 points in 82 games for the Flames.

On the flip side, young Flyers forward Claude Giroux tallied 76 points at just 23 years of age last season and power winger Core Perry, whose previous career-high for goals in a season was 32, lit the lamp 50 times and won the prestigious "Rocket" Richard trophy as the league's top goal scorer. 

Giroux and Perry weren't the only youngsters who saw their stock sky-rocket as a result of their tremendous performances in 2010-11. Numerous players throughout the NHL made drastic improvements on their previous point totals and secured a spot for themselves on their club's roster.  

Here are 10 players, listed in no particular order, who put together impressive campaigns last season and appear poised to build on that success this year.  

Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche

Drafted third overall in 2009, Matt Duchene made an immediate jump from juniors to the NHL and tallied 55 points in 81 games as an 18-year-old rookie. 

He improved his numbers last season with a strong 67-point campaign, establishing himself as a legitimate top six forward in the process.

Now considered Colorado's top offensive threat, Duchene will see huge amounts of ice time this season and will be relied on to put the puck in the back of the net. This, combined with the two full years of NHL experience he has under his belt, will help him score at the point-per-game pace we all know he's capable of scoring at this season.   

Derek Stepan, New York Rangers

Derek Stepan has been a reliable two-way pivot at every level of hockey he has played at throughout his young career. He scored at well above a point-per-game pace in high school and registered 87 points in 81 games over two years at the University of Wisconsin.

Skipping the AHL and transitioning from college hockey to the NHL last season, Stepan earned himself a full-time roster spot with New York and was an integral part of their offense. He notched 21 goals and added 24 helpers for 45 points in 82 games.

Though the addition of Brad Richards makes the likelihood of Stepan getting top-six ice time this season rather small, he will undoubtedly benefit from the invaluable experience he gained last year and up his point totals in 2011-12 while playing a responsible, two-way game for the Rangers.     

PK Subban, Montreal Canadiens

A shifty and elusive blueliner, PK Subban brings a rare blend of speed, skill, physicality, swagger and a booming shot to Montreal's lineup on a nightly basis. 

He posted 53 points in 75 games during his first pro season for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL in 2009-10 before securing a spot on the Canadiens' roster last season. 

Subban struggled to stay out of the penalty box last year with a whopping 124 PIMs, but his offensive game was consistently strong and he tallied 38 points while manning the point for Montreal. 

With a top four spot awaiting him and a strong supporting cast around him, he will continue to blossom into a terrific two-way defenseman and has a good shot at hitting the 50-point mark this season. 

Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks

Logan Couture was selected ninth overall in 2007 by San Jose following a sterling junior career with the Ottawa 67s. 

A smart two-way center with terrific hockey sense, he was voted a finalist for the Calder trophy this summer after an impressive 56-point rookie season that included 32 goals and a +18 rating. 

Couture continued his strong play well into the postseason, as he helped lead the Sharks to their second straight Western Conference Finals appearance with 14 points in 18 games. 

With San Jose aggressively improving their lineup and gearing up for another long playoff run this offseason, he will be a key player for the Sharks again this year and will benefit greatly from the acquisitions of speedy winger Martin Havlat and mobile, puck moving defenseman Brent Burns. 70 points is, without a doubt, within Couture's reach in 2011-12.  

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Drafted first overall just two years ago, John Tavares has quickly become the Islanders' top-line center and best forward. 

He enjoyed a successful rookie campaign with 24 goals and 30 assists and improved on those numbers last season with 67 points in 79 games. 

Tavares headlines a deep group of young forwards that includes Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey, Nino Niederreiter, Blake Comeau and Kyle Okposo, all of whom have made huge strides towards becoming bona-fide NHL quality players.

The emergence of Michael Grabner and Blake Comeau as legitimate scoring threats, coupled with Okposo's return from the injured reserve, gives New York a strong core of forwards to build around moving forward and will make them a potent team offensively this season. Expect to see Tavares leading the way.  

John Carlson, Washington Capitals

After splitting time with the Capitals and their minor league affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in 2009-10, John Carlson earned himself a full-time job with Washington last season and promptly demonstrated why he was taken in the first round of the 2008 entry draft with 37 points and a +21 rating. 

He has been an absolute force from the point ever since his 43-point season in the USHL in 2007-08 and has quickly adjusted and improved his overall game with each transition he has made throughout his hockey career. 

Carlson is poised to become a very effective offensive defenseman and power-play quarterback for the Capitals and will be a crucial piece of their squad this season. 

Mike Santorelli, Florida Panthers

Mike Santorelli has spent the bulk of his pro career in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he was a prolific scorer during his last two seasons with the team.

He was finally given a chance to crack an NHL roster last summer when he was dealt from Nashville to Florida at the draft and succeeded in doing so, playing a full 82 games for the Panthers last season.

The young center netted 20 goals and added 21 assists for 41 points while playing for one of the NHL's weakest clubs.

Though Florida revamped their offense and added several experienced forwards this offseason, making it unlikely that Santorelli will be given a spot in the top six, the fact that he has finally managed to translate his offensive game to the NHL renders him an effective secondary scorer capable of reaching 50 points this year.  

Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

A pesky but talented winger from the 2006 entry draft, Brad Marchand played a huge role in the Bruins' successful regular season and eventual Stanley Cup victory in 2010-11.

His heart and grit have made him a fan favorite in Boston and his scoring ability, which he displayed last season with 21 goals and 20 helpers in 77 games, has earned him a top nine spot and power-play time.

Marchand, who is currently a restricted free agent, has yet to re-sign with the Bruins, but assuming that terms are agreed upon by both parties in the near future, he will be a major contributor in the energy and scoring departments this season and will almost certainly see more ice time than he did last year.  

Jonathon Blum, Nashville Predators

Drafted 23rd overall in 2007, Jonathon Blum scored at a point-per-game pace his last two seasons in the WHL before being promoted to the American Hockey League in 2009-10. 

There, he suited up for the Milwaukee Admirals and put up 41 points and a +17 rating. 

Blum was quickly called up to the NHL and played 23 games for Nashville last season, posting three goals and five assists.

While his offensive production wasn't tremendous, his poise, positioning and on-ice awareness was stellar and immediately impressed coaches and fans alike. In fact, the coaching staff was so confident in his abilities that he suited up for each of the Predators' 12 playoff games, despite the fact that he had less than half a season of NHL experience under his belt.

Blum clearly feels ready for full-time NHL duty and Nashville management seems to feel the same way. Look for him to be a major contributor on both ends of the rink this season.  

Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall was the top pick in last summer's entry draft and stepped into Edmonton's lineup immediately after enjoying a decorated junior career with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. 

Joined on the Oilers' first line by roommate and fellow rookie Jordan Eberle, Hall scored 22 goals and 20 assists in 65 games last year before an injury sustained in a fight sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

He has made a full recovery and will be in playing condition by the time Game 1 rolls around in October. A 30-goal season is achievable for the dynamic winger this year and he may produce at an even higher rate with a stronger, more experienced supporting cast at his side.