With the preseason just over a month away, it's time to take a look at who has the best chance to give themselves a coming out party this year. I've taken my ideas for this list and narrowed it to ten. Here's who I think will be the biggest breakout stars of the 2013-14 season:
Brent Burns - The defenseman has been converted to forward and should play on the top line in San Jose this coming season. He figures to have Patrick Marleau on the opposite wing and either Joe Thornton or Logan Couture as his pivot. I'm expecting at least 60 points from Burns this season, and potentially more if he gets off to a fast start.
Mikkel Boedker - Another player who will be ascending into a top-line role, Boedker will have the added benefit of playing alongside the newly-signed Mike Ribeiro in Glendale. While his point totals have been pedestrian so far, he's only 23 and this will be his first crack at being the #1 left wing. Barring an injury or some other form of disaster, Boedker should shatter his career highs this season.
Jakob Silfverberg - Staying in the Pacific Division again, Silfverberg has the tall task of replacing Bobby Ryan in Anaheim's top six. He has already shown flashes of brilliance in his short time with the Ottawa Senators, and I believe that once he takes over as the #1 left wing (because, let's face it, Dustin Penner appearing there on the Ducks' depth chart is nothing more than 2007 nostalgia), he's going to be a force.
Jonathan Huberdeau - If you're reading this blog and you don't know who Huberdeau is, I highly recommend typing his name into the search bar on YouTube. You'll do well to spend time watching this kid's hands and some of the moves he has in his arsenal. He was already scoring at about a 53-point pace last season, and I fully expect that number to climb in 2013-14. He'll be given every opportunity to play in the top six in Florida, and there's some exciting young talent on its way up there.
Roman Josi - Here's a guy who will put up better numbers simply because he's going to see more ice time. He's firmly on the top pairing with Shea Weber, and given the current state of the Predators' depth chart, Josi figures to get a lion's share of the power play opportunities as well. Josi scored 9 points in 10 games for Switzerland at the World Championships, and was named the tournament MVP even though the Swiss came up short against Sweden in the Gold Medal Game. He will be a big factor for Nashville this coming season.
Mika Zibanejad - I'd be crazy not to have at least one Senator on this list, and Zibanejad is primed for a big season. He may not start the season on the second line, but he deserves to be there and I believe that Paul McLean will put him in the right place to succeed this season. He's only 20 years old and I believe that he will be a monster in this league someday, so why not now?
David Perron - Perron moves from a defense-first team in St. Louis to a defense-never team in Edmonton. His plus/minus will definitely take a hit with the Oilers, that much is obvious (he's plus-45 for his career). However, he'll be playing with some of the most gifted playmakers in the NHL. Edmonton's top six is absolutely frightening: Taylor Hall, Perron, Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Nail Yakupov. Throw in Ales Hemsky and you have a team where offense abounds. Perron's career high is 50 points, and I think he'll surpass that this season. The big if, however, is his health.
Vladimir Tarasenko - Perron's departure means more time for the big Russian, who battled a concussion that he suffered mid-season, missing 10 games. He was also a healthy scratch for all but one game of the Blues' first-round series loss to the Kings. However, this year he steps into a top six role and figures to shine for St. Louis. I like his chances of a 55-60 point campaign, if not more. He's going to make the Blues' front office very pleased that they spent their first round pick on him at the 2010 draft.
Marcus Johansson - Johansson will be asked to fill the void in the Caps' top six left by Mike Ribeiro, and they are certainly big skates to fill. Johansson was already scoring at a 53-point pace last season, and that was on the third line for coach Adam Oates. Playing alongside more established talent is only going to help his development and numbers increase. 60 points is a reasonable expectation for him, but he could put up a bigger number if he sees significant power play time.
Karri Ramo - If you follow international hockey (specifically the KHL in this case), Ramo is probably already a household name for you. Here's his stat line from the 2011-12 season playing for Avangard Omsk: 24 wins, 1.96 GAA, .925 SV%. As if that wasn't enough, he posted an obscene 1.54 GAA and .940 SV% in the playoffs as he carried his team to within one game of the Gagarin Cup, losing Game 7 against Dynamo Moscow, which was a 1-0 decision. He followed that up with 26 wins (in five fewer games than '11-'12), a 2.00 GAA and a .929 SV% last season. Ramo will step in as the #1 backstop in Calgary, and while the team will struggle to score, Ramo is already looking like a sleeper pick in fantasy leagues. He will definitely steal his share of games for the Flames this season.
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