Seven NHL sophomores poised to break out in 2025-26

Sep 15, 2025, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 14, 2025, 12:52 EDT

Seven NHL sophomores poised to break out in 2025-26

Credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Montreal’s Lane Hutson, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov were neck and neck all year for the NHL rookie scoring race.

They were the only three freshmen to crack the 50-point barrier, with all of them surpassing 60. In the end, Lane Hutson was the overwhelming choice for the Calder Trophy after putting up 66 points as a defenseman – and leading his team to the playoffs.

All three are expected to be big-time performers again this season. The same goes for Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, who nearly led them to the postseason as a rookie starter.

But what about the rest of the crop? Who’s set for a big breakout sophomore campaign? Look for these seven players to avoid the slump and become impact NHLers in 2025-26:

Cutter Gauthier, LW (Anaheim Ducks)

The Ducks look set to take positive steps forward this season, especially if they can get Chris Kreider’s game back on track. Gauthier is expected to play on the top line alongside Leo Carlsson, who, himself, is set for a big season after some big improvements over the past calendar year. While Gauthier wasn’t truly in the Calder conversation last year, he still managed to score 20 goals and 44 points on one of the worst teams in the NHL. He was a consistent threat, especially later on in the year, and was a big reason why USA won gold at the World Championship. Gauthier was also one of just two rookies to play in all 82 games, joining Hutson. As the Ducks continue to improve, expect Gauthier to be a leading point-producer for them.

Jiří Kulich, C (Buffalo Sabres)

Kulich finished with just 24 points in 62 games, but he did score 15 goals. He capped off the year with some great AHL playoff performances against Syracuse and Laval, proving how far his game had come over the season. Buffalo looks destined to miss the postseason again, but Kulich has a chance to surpass Josh Norris for the No. 1 center spot. If so, playing consistently alongside Tage Thompson and Zach Benson could prove huge for Kulich’s numbers. The Czech forward has been great at just about every level and there’s little reason to believe he won’t figure it out in Buffalo sooner rather than later.

Frank Nazar, C (Chicago Blackhawks)

Many questioned why the 21-year-old received such a big contract despite having just 27 points in 54 games to his credit. But that’s going to be a bargain in the very, very near future. Nazar might be on the small side, but he’s an incredible passer, skates so well, has a great shot, is exceptionally smart and will get in your face every time he possibly can. By all accounts, it’s hard not to see Nazar becoming a huge part of Chicago’s long-term success. If his World Championship performance in May was anything to go by, he’s going to enter 2025-26 with so much confidence.

Marco Kasper, C (Detroit Red Wings)

Kasper struggled early in his rookie season before becoming one of the most impressive rookies in the second half. The Austrian center played a bit down the middle and on the wing but looks set to serve between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on the second line. That alone should help Kasper’s numbers, but his increased confidence after how he played after January should make him feel good. A 50-point season should be on the cards this year.

Zack Bolduc, LW (Montreal Canadiens)

Bolduc lost his Calder eligibility after playing 25 games with St. Louis in 2023-24, but he still made a good impression in his 72 games with the team last year. He registered 19 goals and 36 points, pushing himself up the lineup as the season wore on. Now, he’s back in his native Quebec, where he’ll look to give the Canadiens a solid boost in the top six. He’ll likely have a chance to play alongside top prospect Ivan Demidov and veteran center Kirby Dach. If Dach stays healthy, it has the potential to be a dangerous line, with Bolduc potentially pushing himself in the 20-goal, 50-point category. That’s a tall order, for sure, but the Canadiens need someone who can shoot, and Bolduc clearly knows what he’s doing.

Arturs Silovs, G (Pittsburgh Penguins)

The Canucks seemingly had no room for their Calder Cup standout and decided to give him a chance to flourish in Pittsburgh. The Latvian netminder has found ways to shine at just about every level – including the Stanley Cup playoffs. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old looked shaky with the big club last year and wasn’t able to outperform veteran Kevin Lankinen. Silovs is expected to start the season with the Penguins as Tristan Jarry’s backup, although Joel Blomqvist might have something to say about that. Fortunately for Silovs, Jarry’s game has been all over the place the past few years, and he even found himself in the AHL for a bit last year. Can Silovs swoop in and steal the starter’s gig before Christmas? You shouldn’t bet against it.

Will Smith, C (San Jose Sharks)

Smith started the year struggling to produce, even with Celebrini on the sidelines. He finished the year strong, however, which included a 19-point run over the final 22 games. He was overshadowed by Celebrini throughout the year, but Smith was dangerous at both 5-on-5 and the power-play, and was easily one of the most creative rookies in the NHL. Smith finished the year with 45 points last year, but 60-plus looks very doable in his second year with the Sharks. He won’t have much to play with on the wings, but I expect Smith to still be a game-changer as San Jose’s No. 2 center.

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