The core issue is clear: the NHL season is spotlighting a new wave of players climbing to new heights, and those leaps are reshaping the power rankings in surprising ways. But here’s where it gets controversial: not every rising star is the same, and some teams are more dependent on veterans or system effects than flashy young talent. Now, let’s dive into who’s taking that next-step lift this season, while noting a few who seem to be stalling.
Colorado Avalanche, 19-2-6
Last week: 1
- Sean: 1
- Dom: 1
Typically, “the leap” is a term reserved for younger players, yet Colorado is proving it can come from a veteran-heavy lineup as well. The standout this week is Martin Necas, who’s not just scoring at a 100-point pace but doing so with measurable impact. Necas’s production in Carolina sometimes felt hollow, but in Colorado it isn’t mere filler. He benefits from playing with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, yet his performance remains genuinely standout in its own right.
Dallas Stars, 18-5-5
Last week: 2
- Sean: 3
- Dom: 2
Wyatt Johnston turned heads last season with a strong third year and a bigger role, posting a career-high in points (71) at just 21. Yet his five-on-five production dipped and his postseason play raised questions. So far this season, he’s answered those questions. While his five-on-five numbers have declined (2.13 to 1.74 points per 60), he’s become a true power-play weapon with a league-leading 10 goals and appears to be a long-term fit alongside Mikko Rantanen.
Washington Capitals, 17-9-2
Last week: 8
- Sean: 2
- Dom: 3
Jakob Chychrun gave a strong season last year, but the big question was whether he could sustain it. He’s answering that with authority: leading defensemen in goals (10) and delivering top-pair minutes with Matt Roy, his Net Rating sits near the very top, behind only Cale Makar. Washington is outscoring opponents 35-13 with him on the ice.
Tampa Bay Lightning, 16-9-2
Last week: 3
- Sean: 4
- Dom: 4
In his first year with Tampa Bay, J.J. Moser showed promise as a solid second-pair presence. This season he’s taking a real step toward top-pair status, boosting five-on-five impact and providing strong defensive play. Perhaps most telling is his ability to carry more responsibility in Hedman and McDonagh’s absence, suggesting he could be the team’s eventual No. 1 defenseman.
Minnesota Wild, 15-8-5
Last week: 5
- Sean: 5
- Dom: 5
Matt Boldy continues to shine among the league’s top wingers, with 29 points in 26 games and elite puck-possession influence. He’s performed at a rate that’s hard to ignore, even while facing tough matchups. In this year’s Player Tiers, Boldy sits just outside the franchise tier, signaling a genuine step toward joining that elite group.
Carolina Hurricanes, 16-8-2
Last week: 4
- Sean: 6
- Dom: 6
K’Andre Miller stands out among a strong lineup—Seth Jarvis is a known quantity, Logan Stankoven a complementary piece, and Miller is the one pushing closest to a full leap. Carolina acquired him with the expectation he’d regain top form, and he’s delivering: producing at his highest scoring rate yet and posting the best Defensive Rating on the team in tough minutes.
Vegas Golden Knights, 12-6-8
Last week: 11
- Sean: 8
- Dom: 7
On a completed, veteran-anchored roster, a dramatic individual leap is rarer. Still, Jack Eichel’s year-over-year improvements are undeniable. He’s trending toward a Hart Trophy-caliber season within the non-Colorado contingent, with a Net Rating projection north of 20 as a marker of his growing influence.
Pittsburgh Penguins, 14-7-5
Last week: 17
- Sean: 7
- Dom: 10
Sometimes the analysts get it right: Parker Wotherspoon has seized a golden opportunity. Viewed in isolation, his numbers suggested a solid defensive top-four role, and Pittsburgh gave him the chance to prove it. He’s thriving on the top pairing, logging over 21 minutes per night and posting the team’s best Defensive Rating at plus-2.4.
Philadelphia Flyers, 15-8-3
Last week: 14
- Sean: 9
- Dom: 9
Trevor Zegras has hit the ground running in Philadelphia, delivering a point-per-game pace, raising his scoring and play-driving impact beyond his Ducks years. He’s also been a driving force on the power play with 11 points there and remains one of the league’s top shootout performers. It’s a strong case for a contract extension.
Anaheim Ducks, 16-10-1
Last week: 6
- Sean: 10
- Dom: 8
We’ve already celebrated Leo Carlsson, so it’s worth spotlighting Cutter Gauthier. His November production dipped briefly, but he’s heating up again, scoring three goals in his last five games. He fires the puck at a high rate (14 shots per 60, second only to Brady Tkachuk) and the five-on-five results are strong. Ducks have produced 28 goals with him on ice in five-on-five play, the best on the team, and his defensive metrics support the overall contribution.
New York Islanders, 15-10-3
Last week: 12
- Sean: 11
- Dom: 11
Emil Heineman matched his rookie-year goal total in 25 games this season, already at eight five-on-five goals—tied with notable scorers—while playing on a line with Bo Horvat. That’s a noteworthy contribution for a player many viewed as a supplementary return in the Noah Dobson trade.
New Jersey Devils, 16-10-1
Last week: 7
- Sean: 12
- Dom: 12
Dawson Mercer is finally aligning with the expectations that followed his strong 21-year-old season. This year he’s on pace for a career-best 61 points, signaling a return to form after a couple of uneven campaigns.
Los Angeles Kings, 12-8-7
Last week: 10
- Sean: 14
- Dom: 13
Brandt Clarke’s continued growth is notable: he’s averaging roughly two extra minutes per game, especially in the top four. With him on the ice five-on-five, the Kings outscore opponents 18-11 and control about 55 percent of expected goals. His Defensive Rating trails only Mikey Anderson, and his five-on-five scoring has risen from 1.21 to 1.54 points per 60.
Ottawa Senators, 13-10-4
Last week: 9
- Sean: 13
- Dom: 14
Jake Sanderson has emerged as a franchise-worthy defenseman in the making. He’s locking down five-on-five play to an even higher degree this season, already on pace to surpass last year’s 58 points with 23 in 27 games. Sanderson is Ottawa’s engine and sits ninth in the league among defensemen in Net Rating.
Montreal Canadiens, 14-9-3
Last week: 16
- Sean: 16
- Dom: 16
Cole Caufield has become a true playmaker and play-driver without sacrificing his scoring touch. He’s producing 1.25 primary assists per 60, a substantial improvement, suggesting it’s time to view him as more than a one-dimensional scorer.
Columbus Blue Jackets, 13-9-5
Last week: 20
- Sean: 17
- Dom: 15
Adam Fantilli isn’t flailing, but watching Carlsson surge while Fantilli stabilizes is a tough contrast for Columbus fans. Fantilli’s pace mirrors last season’s output, but five-on-five minutes are being stretched thinner (25-15 in favor of Carlsson’s line), signaling a work-in-progress rather than a setback.
New York Rangers, 15-12-2
Last week: 23
- Sean: 15
- Dom: 17
Alexis Lafrenière’s arc is a tale of highs and frustrations. Early flashes of elite play in the 2024 playoffs raised expectations, yet this season has been underwhelming with only 14 points in 29 games. He’s shown play-driving capability, but consistency remains elusive, limiting impact without steady scoring output.
Toronto Maple Leafs, 13-11-3
Last week: 25
- Sean: 18
- Dom: 18
Joseph Woll’s return has stabilized Toronto’s goaltending, particularly behind a tightened defense. Woll’s .921 save percentage and 0.73 goalssavedabove_expected per game mark a strong future outlook—though Thursday’s game against Carolina ended early for him after two periods, a setback rather than a setback on his potential.
Detroit Red Wings, 14-11-3
Last week: 19
- Sean: 19
- Dom: 19
Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are driving a true leap, both approaching plus-20 Net Rating pace and vaulting toward elite status. That duo’s growth is exactly what Detroit needs to elevate the rest of the roster, which remains a work in progress beyond Larkin and DeBrincat.
Boston Bruins, 16-13-0
Last week: 21
- Sean: 20
- Dom: 20
Jeremy Swayman has fully realized his potential as a franchise goalie, especially after a rocky first season as the starter. He’s back to form, anchoring Boston’s hopes with reliable goaltending.
Utah Mammoth, 13-12-3
Last week: 15
- Sean: 21
- Dom: 21
For Utah to contend, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther needed to take a dramatic leap. They’ve shown progress, especially five-on-five, but their power-play contributions haven’t followed. It’s positive momentum, yet a mammoth-sized leap is still needed to reach playoff contention.
Edmonton Oilers, 12-11-5
Last week: 27
- Sean: 22
- Dom: 22
If a leap means moving up multiple tiers, Mathias Ekholm’s decline serves as a counterexample. After several seasons of strong Net Rating, his numbers have slipped toward average (Net Rating around zero, and a -1.7 Defensive Rating). The team’s overall struggles amplify concerns about this drop-off, given Ekholm’s prior impact as a game-changer on the blue line.
Seattle Kraken, 11-8-6
Last week: 22
- Sean: 23
- Dom: 23
Matty Beniers remains a strong defensive presence, but his offensive returns have dipped. He sits around 1.75 points per 60, with a modest scoring output (three goals in 25 games). Seattle still benefits from elite defensive work, yet more production from its center would help push the team forward.
Florida Panthers, 12-12-2
Last week: 13
- Sean: 24
- Dom: 24
Anton Lundell appears to be taking a leap expected after last season, but it’s nuanced. He’s pacing for a 66-point season on increased opportunity, yet defensively he’s taking on a tougher role and hasn’t matched Barkov’s two-way dominance. Lundell’s numbers look different in this new context, suggesting a need to adapt rather than a straightforward upgrade.
Chicago Blackhawks, 12-9-6
Last week: 24
- Sean: 25
- Dom: 25
Connor Bedard anchors the offense, and Spencer Knight is delivering big-time value in net, leading the league in GSAx. Knight’s early-season performance confirms the hype and signals a bright future for Chicago’s goalie situation.
San Jose Sharks, 13-12-3
Last week: 26
- Sean: 26
- Dom: 27
Macklin Celebrini isn’t alone in making a leap in San Jose; Will Smith has surged to a near-point-per-game pace with 27 points in 28 games. While Smith’s defense remains a work in progress, the scoring jump is real, and that bodes well for the Sharks’ development trajectory.
Winnipeg Jets, 13-12-1
Last week: 18
- Sean: 28
- Dom: 26
Cole Perfetti stands out for less-than-ideal reasons: he’s Winnipeg’s under-25 centerpiece, yet he has just four points in 12 games (1.26 per 60), down from last season. Playing with Jonathan Toews hasn’t helped, and the Jets’ immediate upside hinges on a stronger showing from their homegrown talents.
Buffalo Sabres, 11-12-4
Last week: 29
- Sean: 27
- Dom: 28
Zach Benson hasn’t found the back of the net yet, but his playmaking and play-driving remain strong. He’s produced 11 assists in 14 games and pushed his expected goals share to 56 percent, up from 54 percent last season. His plus-1.9 Net Rating mirrors last year’s pace, signaling continued influence as the season progresses.
St. Louis Blues, 9-12-7
Last week: 30
- Sean: 29
- Dom: 30
Regression has hit more players than not, but Philip Broberg stands out as a rare bright spot, maintaining last year’s leap and showing he belongs at this level. Dylan Holloway, by contrast, has not continued his momentum.
Vancouver Canucks, 10-14-3
Last week: 28
- Sean: 32
- Dom: 29
Defensive struggles are widespread, but Filip Hronek has been a rare stabilizing force without the puck, reducing expected goals against per 60 by 0.19 relative to teammates. His defensive improvement is a meaningful bright spot on an otherwise rocky season.
Nashville Predators, 10-13-4
Last week: 32
- Sean: 30
- Dom: 31
Luke Evangelista keeps drawing attention. He’s on a mini-tear, with eight points in his last six games and strong puck possession numbers. He’s moving toward true top-six potential, which would be a major boost for Nashville’s rebuild.
Calgary Flames, 10-15-4
Last week: 31
- Sean: 31
- Dom: 32
The summer investments haven’t all paid off. The positives include Kevin Bahl’s emergence as a defensive force, while Matt Coronato’s production and expected-goals impact lag behind. Dustin Wolf has struggled, and backup Devin Cooley has outplayed him lately. Time remains to salvage the returns, but the path to the promised leap isn’t linear here.
