Most improved player of 2024-25

[Felidae]

Another year over.

Which player(s) do you think improved the most this year?

You can go by stats but doesn't have to be. Could also be a player you watched improve significantly even if the surface level stays don't reflect it.

Brandon Hagel is an obvious one
went from 75(39th in scoring) to 90 points (11th in scoring)

And for someone I watched regularly,Coronato went from struggling a lot in his first 30 games with the occasional flash, pacing for 21 points and 9 goals.
To being one of the most consistent offensive threats for the flames, scoring 22 goals and 47 points. Looked way more confident this year, particularly with his skating and puck carrying ability.

 

[weems]

Jackson LaCombe

 

[HighNote]

Holloway, 18 points in his first 89 NHL games to 63 points in his next 77 games.

 

[Baksfamous112]

F - Aleksia Protas
D- Jackson LaCombe
G - Mackenzie Blackwood

 

[alphafox]

Kirill Marchenko turned into one of the best two way wings in the NHL last year: Massive step up across the board.

 

[Bender Duster]

Not sure if he's the most improved overall but I would think Dylan Samberg would be in the conversation.

 

[stl76]

All good suggestions so far TBH.

 

[HockeyVirus]

It's not purely stats but Knies really broke out this season. Nearly double his career high in goals and points sure, but he really took a step in confidence on the ice and imposing his frame. Before he had the tools, this was the first year he put them together and played a mature power forward game.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

It's not purely stats but Knies really broke out this season. Nearly double his career high in goals and points sure, but he really took a step in confidence on the ice and imposing his frame. Before he had the tools, this was the first year he put them together and played a mature power forward game.

Biggest Leafs hater on earth here and I second this

 

[D1az]

F - Aleksia Protas
D- Jackson LaCombe
G - Mackenzie Blackwood

Protas going from 6 to 30 goals was the first one I thought of when I saw this thread.

 

[SavBigMoneyAtBedards]

Ryan Donato has to be up there.

78games - 12 goals 18 assists 30 points
to
80 games - 31 goals - 31 assists - 62 points

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Aliaksei Protas went from being just a guy to arguably the best player on a team that almost won the President's Trophy.

 

[thomast]

Protas by good margin for me, he ranked 12th in the league in 5-on-5 points. Not far from doubling his totals from last season.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Protas by good margin for me, he ranked 12th in the league in 5-on-5 points. Not far from doubling his totals from last season.

I'm biased but I don't see how it's anyone other than Protas. 30+36 with only one point coming on the PP. Ridiculous jump by the big man. He won't shoot 21% next year but he's the real deal. The Caps have two of the best value contracts in the league with him and Strome making a combined $8.375M/year.

 

[OddManRush]

Holloway, 9 points in his first 89 NHL games to 63 points in his next 77 games.

What? Holloway had 9 points in his first 51 games alone.

 

[tfwnogf]

PL Dubois went from -9 16-24-40 points last year to +27 20-46-66 points this year with a strong defensive game

 

[HighNote]

What? Holloway had 9 points in his first 51 games alone.

Apologies, misread his stat line. He had 9 points in his first season, 9 in his second season. So 18 points in his first 89 games.

That’s 3.5x more points in 12 less games.

 

[Killakirillthethrill]

Marco Rossi

 

[Holtbyisms]

Protas AINEC. Anything else is the wrong answer.

 

[HansonBro]

Thought Harley n Sanderson made good strides this season. Definitely shedding the prospect label

 

[HighNote]

Protas AINEC. Anything else is the wrong answer.

Protas: 29 pts in 78 games -> 66 pts in 76 games. 37 more pts, 24 more goals
Holloway: 18 pts in 89 games -> 63 pts in 77 games. 45 more pts, 20 more goals

Holloway starts off with less points in more games than Protas and completes the 24-25 season with almost as many points in almost the exact same amount of games. From a production standpoint, Holloway has Protas beat from last season to this season, so it's not a scenario where it's not close. I lean Holloway actually, but it's not a big gap.

 

[Regal]

Apologies, misread his stat line. He had 9 points in his first season, 9 in his second season. So 18 points in his first 89 games.

That’s 3.5x more points in 12 less games.

Yea, I have to think Holloway had at least as big of a jump as Protas.

 

[Baksfamous112]

Protas going from 6 to 30 goals was the first one I thought of when I saw this thread.

Yeah he had an amazing year all around.

 

[NVious]

Lane Hutson only had 2 points his entire 23/24 year, this year he had 6g/60a, an improvement of 3400% which I expect will continue next year as he puts up 204g/2040a.