Many NHL players had breakout seasons and became stars last season. Who will make the jump this year?

Nick Suzuki: 71GP – 13G – 28A – 41PTS

If there is any player to bank on to have a breakout season, Nick Suzuki is that player. In his rookie season, he proved why he was the main piece in the Max Pacioretty trade that happened the previous summer. The 13th overall pick in 2017 showed elite two-way play and poise beyond his years. An incredible regular season that was cut short due to COVID-19 left fans wanting more. Fortunately, when the NHL resumed, Suzuki improved.

Scoring four goals, three assists and seven points in 10 playoff games gave fans a glimpse of what to expect from Suzuki. Playing in a market like Montreal may lead to unrealistic expectations, however, everything Suzuki has shown in the NHL warrants these large expectations. Now, with mystery surrounding Phillip Danault and his future with the Canadiens, Suzuki has a chance to seize the first-line center role with Montreal.

Kailer Yamamoto: 27GP – 11G – 15A – 26PTS

The linemates of Connor McDavid are a revolving door. Kailer Yamamoto will someday get a turn playing alongside the superstar. Producing at nearly a point per game following his call-up from Bakersfield last year, Yamamoto proved to be a potential top-six forward if his play keeps up. The issue was his play against the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL playoffs, where he went scoreless in four games.

It is fair to say that Edmonton was one of the teams that suffered the worst from the stoppage in play, as players like Yamamoto lost their groove they had in the regular season. For this upcoming season, a point-per-game pace may be as realistic for one of the newest NHL breakout stars.

That does not mean he won’t perform great though, as a 60-point season is realistic if he plays with McDavid or Draisaitl. It takes talent to play with McDavid, and Yamamoto has flashed this type of talent needed this past season. If he plays how he did in the regular season, he will be a mainstay on the first-line and be McDavid’s right-hand man for years to come.

Jake DeBrusk: 65GP – 19G – 16A – 35PTS

Jake Debrusk’s tenure with the Bruins so far has been very good. Scoring at a 40-point rate in each of his first three seasons is respectable for a player entering the league, yet following the 2018-19 season, it seemed like DeBrusk had something more to give. Scoring a career-high 27 goals, it seemed as if DeBrusk could enter the 30-goal realm, and from there, anything is a possibility. Unfortunately, he followed up that season with a disappointing one in 2019-20. His playoff totals also were lackluster, only scoring four goals and zero assists in 13 playoff games.

If he has seemingly stagnated, why is he a potential breakout candidate you may ask? The answer is injuries. The Boston Bruins will be without Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak for the start of the season, and even upon their return, there is always a fear of a player not returning to form post-injury. DeBrusk will have every opportunity to prove why he is a top-six forward in this league, and will presumably play with Patrice Bergeron on the Bruins top line. DeBrusk is a goal scorer, and with two of the Bruin’s top goal scorers being out for the start of the season, Boston will look to DeBrusk to have a breakout season and make the loss of Pastrnak and Marchand bearable.

Jack Hughes: 61GP – 7G – 14A – 21PTS

Jack Hughes did not have the rookie season many expected. While he was never touted to be the savior of the Devils, in comparison to recent first overall picks, he underperformed greatly. In his defense, the team around him simply was not good. The Devils were one of the worst teams in the NHL last season and will look to bounce back from another disappointing season.

Jack Hughes has all the talent in the world to become a point-per-game player, and this reason is exactly why he is mentioned. While he has a smaller frame in comparison to many NHL players, smaller, skilled players still succeed in today’s NHL, some examples being Mitch Marner and Patrick Kane. The raw skill he possesses makes him a threat every time he enters the ice, and with his first year under his belt, Jack Hughes should become one of the newest NHL breakout stars next season.

John Smark