Quiet breakout players this season

[WhatTheDuck]

A thread to note breakout players around the league who have shown notable improvement that may not have been thread worthy individually.

Ducks dman Jackson LaCombe is becoming an impact player before our eyes. Following last night's game, the coach referred to him as their best defenseman by far. 4G 3A is his last 7 games, and has put himself into the top 10 in the league for goals by defensemen, tied for ninth with the likes of Bouchard, Dahlin, Ghost, Andersson, Severson and Sanheim. LaCombe had multiple great chances to add another last night, which would have drawn him even with Josi and Hughes for seventh. Already tripled his goal total from his rookie season last year.

It's not a fluke run where he's had a few seeing eye shots find their way through. LaCombe is a fantastic skater, seems to be learning the right times to jump up into the play. He was a forward I believe well into his teens and doesn't look out of place at all around the opposing net. But he's also not just an offensive D, really has cleaned up his decision making and looks like he can be an all around impact guy.

I sort of had him pigeon holed as an intriguing/talented puck mover who would likely fall behind Mintyukov and Zellweger in the pecking order and perhaps end up the odd man out just not having quite the same upside. Granted he's older and should be further along in his development but LaCombe is playing at a level where he won't make himself easily expendable at all. Looking more like a two way gem who could partner with anyone.


Is there anyone on your team taking a big step forward, that other team's fans perhaps haven't noticed or heard about?

Click to read more...

 

[Rowlet]

Haven't heard much of Lane Hutson but he seemed pretty good when I watched him

 

[FlyguyOX]

Noesen, Gaudette, Olofsson, Kovacevic

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Haven't heard much of Lane Hutson but he seemed pretty good when I watched him

Haha looking more for the ones who don't already have a burgeoning star thread

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

what happaned to Mintyukov?

 

[CaptainShark]

I dunno about breakout, but William Eklund has taken another step.

After 16G, 29A, 45P and a -45 in 80 games he now has scored 5G, 20A and a +/- 0 in 33 games (80-game-pace: 12G, 48A, 60 points).

While he still struggles a little bit with consistency, he has looked really good. Doesn’t mind physical play and is quite feisty.

Kind of in the same mold are the improvements of Fabian Zetterlund, also powered by shooting 15% (sustainable?).

Jake Walman has broken out offensively, but that has been discussed at length in the trades-section.