One of the most interesting storylines of the NHL season is how a talented rookie class from a year ago has performed in their second seasons. While a player like Auston Matthews has picked up from where he left off in his debut NHL season, his teammate William Nylander has experienced a sophomore slump early on. While last year’s top performers have been in the spotlight, there are also a number of players that have broken out in their second NHL seasons. Here is a look at the NHL’s best sophomores so far this season.
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews has picked up from where he left off following last year’s Calder trophy-winning season when he scored 40 goals and led all rookies with 69 points. Despite missing four games due to injury, Matthews has 12 goals and 23 points through his first 21 games of his second season. Matthews is actually on pace to produce a higher points per game than he did in his rookie year while becoming a more complete player at both ends of the ice. After dazzling in his rookie season, Matthews has set the bar high for an impressive encore performance.
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Werenski finished third in Calder voting a year ago when he recorded 11 goals and 47 points in 78 games for Columbus. Those would be impressive totals for a rookie forward so the fact that Werenski was able to produce at that level from the back end was even more impressive. The 20-year-old defenseman has picked up from where he left off with six goals and 12 points through 24 games while taking on more defensive responsibility for the Blue Jackets. Werenski will only continue to get better as he gains experience and develops at the NHL level.
Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
Point didn’t have the same productive rookie seasons as Matthews and Werenski. However, he is on pace for an incredible sophomore year after solidifying his position as the second-line center in Tampa Bay. Point is up to nine goals and 21 points in 23 games for the Lightning this season. Tampa Bay has arguably the deepest group of core forwards in the NHL. As long as Point continues to produce at his current pace, he will rival Matthews and Werenski among the most impressive sophomore performers this season.
Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
Laine scored 36 goals and recorded 64 points for the Jets in his rookie season. While he will be in tough to match those totals in his second year, Laine does have 11 goals and 17 points in 24 games this season. Winnipeg is loaded with talent up front and right now Laine is seeing second-line minutes at even strength as well as top powerplay minutes. It’s important to keep in mind that Laine is still just 19-years-old. The youngest player on this list has the potential to deliver another outstanding performance in his second NHL season before he even turns 20-years-old in April.
The Jets enter Saturday in first place in the Western Conference with 36 points. They are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. It’s been a long time since the Jets were able to say that they’re in the top spot in their conference, so the fans in Winnipeg have to be very excited.
Anthony Mantha, Detroit Red Wings
Mantha struggled at times throughout his rookie season with Detroit. However, his talent has never been questioned. The 6’5’’, 225-pound winger has shown signs that he is on the verge of a breakthrough in his sophomore season. Mantha has 11 goals and 20 points in 24 games for the Red Wings this year. Detroit will continue to give him every opportunity to produce as a top-six forward while also seeing powerplay time. The Red Wings are banking on young forwards like Mantha and Dylan Larkin to take another step forward in order to lead them to the playoffs this season. As long as Mantha continues to perform at the level he has through the first quarter of the year, he should rank among the most impressive sophomores in the NHL this season. Detroit has picked up 25 points in 26 games this season.
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