30 NHL Players Set To Take off in 2012

Alexander Ovechkin is one of several NHL players who are ready to take off in 2012 and improve their play heading into the second half of the 2011-12 season.

While Ovechkin will be trying to improve his struggling form, players like Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux will be aiming to continue their brilliant play and take their talents even higher.

Let's look at 30 players set to take off in 2012.

Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin has been a big disappointment this season and is tied for 72nd in points with just 11 goals and 12 assists.

With the Capitals struggling and adjusting to a new coach, I'm willing to give Ovechkin a pass for the the early part of the season because I think he will dominate the new year.

He's way to talented to be ranked out of the top 20 in scoring.

Jeff Carter

With just 13 points this season, I think it's fair to say that Jeff Carter has been a huge disappointment, and I think the Columbus Blue Jackets as a team have been too.

As he continues to build chemistry with his teammates and feels more comfortable in his new home, he will play better. There's no way he has less than 20 goals by March.

Benoit Pouliot

The Boston Bruins took a gamble that Benoit Pouliot would fit in with them when they signed the former Montreal Canadiens forward to a one-year deal in the summer.

Head coach Claude Julien's faith in him has paid off and Pouliot is really starting to fit in with the Bruins.

I expect Pouliot to really improve in 2012 and prove why he's a former fourth overall draft pick.

Roberto Luongo

This has not been a good year for Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo going back to the playoffs, but I fully believe he will get things turned around and play like the top-tier player he is in 2012.

Luongo just needs to string a few wins together from now until the New Year and his confidence will rise. There's no reason to think Luongo cannot play like a Vezina candidate for the rest of this year.

Claude Giroux

Despite missing time with a concussion, Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux leads the NHL in points with 43.

Giroux will become a full superstar in 2012 and prove he's a top 10 player in the league and one who has the potential to be top five.

Giroux will dominate the league if healthy in the New Year.

Evgeni Malkin

Evgeni Malkin is healthy this season and playing well, but he will take his game to another level in 2012 with the Pittsburgh Penguins counting on him to lead the offense with star teammate Sidney Crosby's return uncertain.

Malkin is fourth in the league in points, and could easily end up as the top point man when the season concludes.

James Neal

One reason the Pittsburgh Penguins are still an elite team without Sidney Crosby is because of James Neal.

He is tied for second in the NHL with 19 goals scored, and he has stepped up tremendously with Crosby not being in the lineup.

Neal is a supreme talent and will continue his good season thus far into the New Year.

Jimmy Howard

If you don't think Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard is a star yet then you will in 2012. Howard has been great this season and he will really take off in the New Year and help the Red Wings make another deep postseason run.

His GAA is 1.99 and he looks very confident on the ice right now. Howard will be considered as a Vezina finalist this season.

Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin started the season off great by passing his goal mark from last season quite quickly and leads the Boston Bruins in points.

He has cooled off recently and has struggled to be consistent. As he gains more experience Seguin will show what he did at the start of the year, and be a consistent offensive threat for the Bruins in 2012.

Seguin does however, lead the NHL in plus/minus with a 22, tied with Ian White for Detroit.

Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel will score 50 goals this season and be a consistent offensive threat into the New Year. Toronto Maple Leafs fans want consistency from their young star, and he will show them that in 2012.

Kessel's goal scoring will be instrumental in getting the Leafs back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

Alexander Semin

Alexander Semin has been rather unimpressive for the Washington Capitals this season and it's clear the team and the player need to part ways.

Semin would really benefit from a change of scenery, and if he gets one he could be an offensive star capable of scoring goals on a nightly basis.

He's too talented to have just 13 points at this point in the season.

Jordan Eberle

Young Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle has an impressive 34 points this season and will be even better in 2012.

Eberle will hit the 30-goal mark and prove he can be effective as teammates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall on offense.

It's going to be exciting to watch Eberle in 2012.

Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane will excel in 2012 for the Chicago Blackhawks and improve his disappointing goal total of nine thus far.

Kane is a top offensive talent and on a Blackhawks team determined to return to the Stanley Cup Final. He will play very well in the New Year and hit 30 goals scored again.

Corey Perry

Corey Perry is the reigning Hart Trophy winner but he only has 14 goals this season after scoring 51 last year.

The Anaheim Ducks as a team have really struggled, and Perry's exceptional play in the New Year will take them back into playoff contention.

Zach Parise

With his future yet to be determined, Zach Parise will elevate his game in 2012 and prove to teams he's a superstar that they should build their team around.

Parise has scored 11 goals this season and while that number isn't terrible, he can do a lot better. Parise will impress potential suitors and excel in the New Year.

Players normally raise their game with free agency in the near future, and I think this will be the case for the New Jersey Devils star.

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla has been a bit of a disappointment this season with just 13 goals, but there's no question he will take his game up a notch in the New Year.

The question is, will he do that with the Calgary Flames? It's no secret that Iginla won't win the Stanley Cup with the Flames, so if he wants to win one, he better start playing well so the Flames can get great talent in return for him.

Kyle Turris

Kyle Turris was finally traded from the Phoenix Coyotes last week, landing with the Ottawa Senators. Turris will excel in the New Year because many times for a young player having your future set in stone and being comfortable with where you are can mean everything.

With a team that wants him, Turris can focus on hockey and show his great talent.

Ryan Kesler

Ryan Kesler had to deal with injury early in the season, but the Vancouver Canucks forward will keep improving and show why he's a top player as 2012 gets underway.

Kesler is an elite defensive forward and will really help the Canucks get back into the race for the Northwest division, and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Derek Stepan

Derek Stepan has 24 points on seven goals and 17 assists, and in 2012 he will become a top talent that is capable of scoring 30 goals in a season.

Stepan has tremendous talent, and he will continue to get better in the New Year and be a major part of the New York Rangers' offense heading toward the playoffs.

Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand has not had the type of goal scoring season many expected from him after he dominated the playoffs last year, but he seems to be turning it around right now.

Marchand has exceptional offensive talent and playing with underrated center Patrice Bergeron will continue to help him improve and have quality scoring opportunities.

Ilya Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk has just 10 goals scored this season which is way too few for what the New Jersey Devils are paying him.

Kovalchuk is still an elite scoring talent, and he and Parise will find a groove in the New Year and start scoring goals with regularity.

There's no way someone as good as Kovalchuk will continue scoring at this pace.

TJ Oshie

TJ Oshie is a tremendous player and is playing well right now because he is healthy.

The St. Louis Blues forward has 11 goals and 12 assists this season, and will show everyone he is a true NHL star in the New Year when he leads the Blues back to the postseason.

Henrik Zetterberg

Henrik Zetterberg is projected to finish this season with 59 points which would be his lowest since the 2003-04 season.

Zetterberg will start to play much better for the Detroit Red Wings in the coming months and help lead them deep in the playoffs.

Erik Cole

Erik Cole has played well for the Montreal Canadiens this season as the team has been hurt by injuries at nearly every position.

Cole has stepped up while forwards Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez Travis Moen and others have missed game due to injury.

Cole has 13 goals and 10 assists thus far, and will play even better in 2012 as he gets more comfortable in Montreal.

Chris Kunitz

Without Sidney Crosby, someone who can step up for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season is Chris Kunitz.

He has scored 12 goals with 10 assists this season, and will provide more goal scoring and leadership for the team heading into 2012.

Matt Duchene

Matt Duchene will have a breakout second half of the season and prove to NHL fans everywhere that he will one day be a legitimate superstar.

Duchene has 11 goals and 11 assists this season, and he will take off in 2012 and impress offensively for the Colorado Avalanche.

The time is now for Duchene to become a star and take his talents to the next level.

Eric Staal

Eric Staal is way too good to have scored just seven goals at this point in the season. He is a superstar player and even though he doesn't have many good teammates with the Carolina Hurricanes, there's no excuse for his poor play this season.

Staal will have a great second half and prove the first few months of the season were just an anomaly and not something that will continue.

David Krejci

Boston Bruins forward David Krejci has point-per-game talent but he has not shown it this season. He will be more comfortable in 2012 now that he has signed a new contract with the team.

Krejci has improved since he started off the season poorly, and he will show why he's a top offensive player whose defensive skills are underrated.

James Van Riemsdyk

James van Riemsdyk is a fantastic young talent but the Philadelphia Flyers have not seen the best of him this season.

Van Riemsdyk has just eight goals and 18 assists this season which is not good enough for someone as good as he is offensively.

There's no question he will play better in the New Year and take another step in becoming a legitimate NHL star.

Brian Elliott

Brian Elliott has been consistent this season and is a major reason the St. Louis Blues are in the playoff race.

Elliott leads the NHL in GAA and save percentage, and in 2012 he will continue his amazing play and become a leading Vezina Trophy candidate.