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.

 

[Retire91]

Simon Edvinsson is a bit subdued because of the overall situation, maybe more pre-breakout, someone to watch, 13 points and plus 5 in a really dismal situation.

 

[Machinehead]

Would Will Cuylle constitute quiet?

 

[Gliff]

what happaned to Mintyukov?

Nothing. He is a 20 year old second year defensemen. If he was on a real NHL team he would be in the AHL or 3rd pairing every night.

He hasn’t even been bad. Just not as good as last year.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

what happaned to Mintyukov?

Nothing per say, he's a second year pro Dman straight out of the CHL with no AHL time, just turned 21 in late Nov. Just going through the expected ups and downs. When I think back to impressions of him a couple years ago when playing junior, he's actually miles ahead of where most would have expected defensively, but not as dynamic offensively (to this point) as one may have thought. Still think he's going to become a really solid top 4 D who can do a bit of everything. LaCombe was drafted three years earlier, so it stands to reason that he may break out before Mintyukov

 

[MVP Zacha]

I have to vote for Kovacevic.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Kiefer Sherwood

 

[Raistlin]

Vlasic for me.

 

[Mattb124]

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.

Walman is the Sharks player who I think broke out the most year over year. He has really taken the opportunity presented to him and ran with it. 9th in D scoring across the league (eclipsed his point total from all of last season in only 27 games) and is a +6 on a not very good Sharks team while playing almost 23 minutes a night in all situations.

 

[amnesiac]

Barbashev
McMichael
Protas
Rossi

 

[TheBigLetowski]

Eric Robinson has been better than expected.

 

[mphmiles]

Cooley and Guenther in Utah are both on pace for 70+ points in < 17 minutes per game each.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

For guys who have taken big steps without as much fanfare:

Edvinsson
Cooley
L Hughes
Kovacevic
Vlasic
Protas
K Johnson
Eklund

Vlasic for me.

He's incredible

 

[Juxta Position]

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

Who?....

 

[HockeyVirus]

There actually hasn't been much if any hype around Toronto this year mostly due to the market not caring about regular season, but they are having a hell of a season so far and have a few players making waves.

Jake McCabe - He has been a quality 2nd pairing dman for a while but this year at his age under Berube, it is a match made in heaven. He's been top pairing quality for Toronto, physical, dependable in all situations and is carrying the defense to be honest.

Woll / Stolarz - Again, already had shown things before this year but they had to do it and so far they both have. Woll is establishing himself as one of the top young starters in the league. Stolarz showing he can be a starting goalie as well.

Matthews Knies - Has been so damn good.

 

[Warh1ppy]

Sherwood is making me absolute bank on my fantasy team.

Guenther is also just cleaning up.

Hagel Batherson, peterka

 

[hellstick]

Kent Johnson

 

[Czechboy]

Necas has taken a 'step'.

I'll add in Janmark for the Oilers. .he's having a banger year and is very noticeable.

He doesn't play with McDrai and he doesn't get PP time. Unheralded IMO. he got 34 points in 2017. He may get that again this year.

Anyone noticing Vejmelka at all?

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Noesen, Gaudette, Olofsson, Kovacevic

You think a former 28-goal scorer in his 7th NHL season is having his breakout season this year?

 

[Chainshot]

Aliaksei Protas seems to be tearing it up at 5-on-5, would be someone who I'm not hearing a lot about outside of stuff about the Caps. Cuylle in NY is another, but that's been a mention on some broadcast teams for folks playing the Rangers in parts of games I've caught.