Poor taking pictures luck, accidents, or only a down season in comparison with profession norms, there are all the time bounce-back candidates heading into a brand new season. After taking a look at 10 gamers who may regress this coming season, let’s have a look at 10 who may rebound after powerful 2023-24 campaigns.
Lukas Reichel
Lukas Reichel is clearly not Connor Bedard, however he was as soon as one of many Chicago Blackhawks’ prime prospects. Nonetheless 21 years outdated, there’s good purpose to imagine he can bounce again from a disappointing 2023-24 season that noticed him complete simply 5 objectives and 16 factors in 65 video games.
The explanation Reichel may enhance is the Blackhawks have a a lot better roster round him heading into 2024-25. They added Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi in free company, and a wholesome Taylor Corridor ought to convey extra pop to the lineup. That ought to profit Reichel by having extra talent round him.
It’s additionally value noting that Reichel put up some fairly spectacular numbers in his time within the AHL. He posted 57 factors in 56 video games in 2021-22 and 51 in 55 contests in 2022-23. That normally interprets into leads to the NHL, which can come this season after some bumps within the highway.
Yanni Gourde
The Seattle Kraken added Chandler Stephenson in free company to assist increase their offense, however inside enchancment would be the key to the staff bouncing again in 2024-25. Meaning rebound seasons from a participant like Yanni Gourde would go a good distance in serving to them get again into the playoff race.
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Gourde struggled in 2023-24, totaling solely 11 objectives and 33 factors in 80 video games. He shot simply 7.1 %, properly under his profession common of 13.3 %. Plus, shifting to a extra offense-oriented system underneath new head coach Dan Bylsma ought to assist Gourde and different gamers, like Matty Beniers, discover new life after regressing underneath Dave Hakstol.
André Burakovsky
Gourde’s teammate with the Kraken, André Burakovsy, can be a first-rate bounce-back candidate. Well being has been a problem for him over the past two years, with him taking part in in simply 49 video games every season. However there are indicators that there nonetheless could also be a high quality participant right here.
Burakovsy totaled simply seven objectives and 16 factors in 49 video games a season in the past, however his shot era (92 pictures on aim) was round his profession charges. He shot simply 7.6 %, properly under his 13.8 % profession common, and his particular person level proportion (IPP) of fifty % was the bottom he’s posted since his rookie season in 2014-15. He wants to remain wholesome, however like Gourde, he may discover new life underneath Bylsma.
Ilya Sorokin
Our first goalie on this listing could also be a little bit of a shock. Ilya Sorokin wasn’t terrible in 2023-24. Removed from it, however he actually wasn’t himself, both. Sorokin completed with a .908 save proportion and stopped simply 1.4 objectives above anticipated, a comparatively steep drop from his 2022-23 marketing campaign when he posted a .924 SV% and stopped 38.7 objectives above anticipated.
Stopping 38.7 objectives above anticipated in back-to-back seasons is an unreasonable ask, however you continue to presume Sorokin to be higher than simply barely above common. The one concern getting into 2024-25 is that Sorokin had offseason again surgical procedure, inflicting him to overlook the beginning of coaching camp. The New York Islanders’ brass doesn’t appear too frightened, however it’s one thing to look at. If there are not any lingering points, I’d anticipate Sorokin to be a lot better than he was a season in the past.
Ryan Graves
Ryan Graves was one of many Pittsburgh Penguins’ prime additions through the 2023 offseason, however his first season within the Metal Metropolis couldn’t have gone worse. His 14 factors in 70 video games weren’t an excessive amount of of a dropoff from his earlier profession outputs, however all the pieces else conceivable went fallacious.
Graves will not be a giant level producer, however he’s all the time been a trigger-happy shooter from the purpose. That didn’t occur final season, as he fired simply 77 pictures on aim. He struggled mightily to defend the push, one among his strengths earlier than becoming a member of the Penguins.
Graves is 28, and gamers his age normally don’t fall off a cliff in a single day. He was a more-than-capable top-four defender in his two prior seasons with the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins simply want to seek out the precise match for him, particularly since he’s underneath contract for 5 extra seasons, 2024-25 included.
Trevor Zegras
“Progress isn’t all the time linear” could be a great way to explain Trevor Zegras’ 2023-24 marketing campaign. It began with a contract dispute that induced him to overlook the beginning of the common season, after which accidents ruined any probability he had at constructing on his earlier two campaigns.
Zegras completed final season with 15 factors in 31 video games — a 40-point tempo over 82 video games; he was a 60-plus point-scorer in his first two NHL seasons. Well being would go a good distance, however not lacking coaching camp and the beginning of the common season ought to assist since there’s no contract dispute to fret about. I don’t anticipate the Anaheim Geese to be playoff contenders, however they need to take a step ahead, and Zegras needs to be a part of that.
Patrik Laine
Patrik Laine appears straightforward to root for, and I’m positive loads of individuals will cheer for his success with the Montreal Canadiens. After struggling together with his psychological well being, he’s getting a brand new begin in Montreal after getting dealt there by the Columbus Blue Jackets this offseason.
Other than the psychological a part of the sport, Laine has struggled together with his bodily well being in current seasons, too. He wants to remain on the ice, however when he’s within the lineup, he’s nonetheless a really productive participant; he posted 108 factors in his ultimate 111 video games with the Blue Jackets. Laine is without doubt one of the finest shooters within the sport, and there’s some expertise to work with within the Canadiens’ prime six. Assuming accidents don’t maintain him off the ice, I like his odds of bouncing again this season.
Juuse Saros
There’s quite a lot of hype across the Nashville Predators after the offseason they’d, however they may want their star goalie to be higher than he was a season in the past to make a big leap ahead. Like Sorokin, Juuse Saros wasn’t terrible final season, however he actually wasn’t himself. He completed with a .906 SV% whereas giving up three extra objectives than anticipated.
Goalies are the toughest place to foretell from 12 months to 12 months, so you’ll be able to’t assure a rebound effort from Saros. Nonetheless, his profession averages would recommend he ought to bounce again. He posted a .920 SV% throughout his earlier three seasons, and with an improved roster, one must assume he finishes nearer to that quantity.
Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton performed simply 20 video games a season in the past earlier than tearing his pectoral muscle. Nonetheless, he was extremely productive, producing at a 21-goal, 66-point tempo over 82 video games. Now, he’s getting into the 2024-25 marketing campaign wholesome, and may make a big distinction for the Devils in a number of areas.
One) Hamilton is without doubt one of the finest five-on-five play drivers from the again finish. Two) The Devils’ energy play stunk final season, and never having Hamilton was a big purpose. His shot from the purpose ought to make a distinction, and there aren’t many higher power-play quarterbacks within the NHL. Assuming he stays wholesome, you’ll be able to guess on him to flirt with 20 objectives and 60 factors once more.
Joonas Korpisalo
I’m taking a little bit of a bet calling Joonas Korpisalo a bounce-back candidate as a result of it doesn’t appear to be there’s a lot center floor with him as a goaltender. He’s both a top-15 or bottom-10 netminder within the NHL. Final season, he was within the latter, ending with an .890 SV% whereas permitting 16.1 objectives above anticipated. That latter quantity ranked second worst within the NHL to Arvid Soderblom.
Nevertheless, I’d guess on Korpisalo’s struggles being partly because of a porous Ottawa Senators protection. Now, he’ll be a part of a Boston Bruins group that is aware of the best way to get essentially the most out of its goaltenders.
This isn’t to say Korpisalo will turn out to be a Vezina contender, however he did put up a .914 SV% between the Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings in 2022-23. Behind a sound Bruins protection, it wouldn’t shock me if he flirts with a .910 SV% once more. And the Bruins may have that if they will’t get Jeremy Swayman re-signed earlier than the beginning of the common season.
Like gamers who could also be because of regress, bounce-back seasons will not be a assure for these ten gamers. Nevertheless, modifications in sceneries, higher well being, and so on. put them ready to rebound after struggling in 2023-24.
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