The NHL's 9 most impressive bounce-back players this season

There’s very little sympathy for struggling NHL players.

Teams don’t owe them any long-term loyalty and can move on from a player at a moment’s notice. Fans can turn in a heartbeat, too, while the media picks apart flaws during bad stretches, especially in bigger markets.

It’s a brutal mental experience to go through and many players are even harder on themselves than whatever criticism they get from the outside. No amount of money can replace the peace of mind when they live up to or even exceed expectations.

That’s why it’s so easy to root for bounce-backs and redemption stories. Today, we’ll be breaking down nine players who are crushing it in response to a down/injury-plagued 2023-24 season (this isn’t a list of breakout players so don’t expect to see names like Connor McMichael, Philip Broberg, Anton Lundell, Ross Colton, Kirill Marchenko, etc.).

Thompson looked like a franchise center when he exploded for 47 goals and 94 points in 2022-23. He was among the most exciting players in the league to watch because of his rare combination of towering size, elite shooting ability and silky smooth hands. But he took a massive step back last season, scoring 29 goals and 56 points in 71 games. Considering his limited track record as an upper-echelon first-line center, it prompted questions about whether his 94-point breakout was a one-off.

Not only has Thompson bounced back as an elite offensive producer, but he’s also leveled up his all-around game to heights he’s never reached before.

The 27-year-old sniper scored 16 five-on-five goals last year. Through 16 games this season, he’s already up to a league-leading 10 goals at five-on-five.

Thompson’s line is feasting off the rush — by my count, six of his 10 even-strength goals have come from a counterattack. It also helps that he’s healthier than last season when a hand/wrist injury ailed him. He’s back to ripping one-time rockets, which is a key part of his game that was hindered last season.

TAGE RIPS ONE

WHAT A GOAL

THAT WAS MAGIC

GOD IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN A THOMPSON ONE TIMER pic.twitter.com/k88607WHkh

— Crossing Swords ⚔️ (@CrossSwordsPod) October 23, 2024

It’s also remarkable to see the glow-up of his two-way results. The Sabres are dominating opponents to the tune of a 61 percent expected goal share and have outscored opponents 15-4 during Thompson’s five-on-five shifts. His defensive metrics are miles better compared to his breakout 2022-23 campaign. He’s certainly playing the best hockey of his career.

Thompson left Monday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens with an injury and didn’t return but he’s considered day to day by the Sabres.

There are several reasons why the Devils had such a disappointing season last year, and their underperforming blue line is high on the list. Damon Severson and Ryan Graves’ offseason departures stung and Dougie Hamilton’s season-ending injury was a major blow, but Siegenthaler and John Marino’s down years were the final blow to the back end’s stability.

Siegenthaler, who’d been an underrated shutdown defender during his first two seasons in New Jersey, struggled mightily in 2023-24. Corey Sznajder’s tracking data revealed he was becoming a turnover machine and allowing rush chances at appalling rates. The Devils were outscored by 10 goals during his five-on-five minutes last season.

The 27-year-old defender is back to his reliable old self again. Siegenthaler and his new partner Johnathan Kovacevic (who’s been one of the most pleasant surprises in the NHL since being acquired from the Canadiens) have been assigned the toughest matchups on New Jersey’s blue line and are crushing it — Siegenthaler’s 57 percent expected goal share is the best mark of his career and they’re outscoring opponents 17-8 at five-on-five.

Siegenthaler has been the Devils’ most valuable defenseman so far this year, according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score model. He’s been one of the quiet drivers behind New Jersey’s rise back up the standings.

Necas dropped from 71 points in 2022-23 to 53 last season in addition to posting subpar defensive metrics. The 25-year-old has always flashed eye-popping skill, but many Canes analysts and fans wondered whether he was an ideal fit with Rod Brind’Amour’s system and playing style. Carolina preaches two-way commitment first and hasn’t given its forwards much freedom to freelance offensively in the past, which appeared to clash with Necas’ high-risk, high-reward offensive instincts.

Necas’ name was bandied in trade rumors all summer, but after signing a two-year bridge deal, he’s quickly become an indispensable offensive driver. He’s already up to nine goals and 25 points in 15 games, which is 11 points higher than the next-highest producer in Carolina. The Hurricanes appear to be giving their players more leash to aggressively push on the counterattack this season, which has unlocked Necas’ top offensive gear. He’s also gaining the coaching staff’s trust by improving his decision-making to cut down his turnovers and limiting his mistakes away from the puck.

Carolina goal!

Scored by Jesperi Kotkaniemi with 07:14 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Martin Necas and Eric Robinson.

Vegas: 0
Carolina: 2#CARvsVGK #VegasBorn #RaiseUp pic.twitter.com/uMfqnCsnVl

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 12, 2024

One of the most impressive parts about Necas’ breakout is that he’s producing at an elite clip without the help of any high-end linemates. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Eric Robinson have been his two most common running mates on the second line this season — Kotkaniemi and Robinson combined for just 36 points last year. Necas is doing the heavy lifting of driving a top-six line by himself; if he keeps this up, he’ll be in line for a massive payday as an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.

Chytil was on the cusp of breaking out as a legitimate top-six-caliber center before being derailed by a suspected concussion. He missed all but 10 regular-season games last year and understandably didn’t perform up to his potential in the playoffs when he did return, going without a point in six contests.

The speedy 25-year-old center is now driving arguably the best third line in the NHL this season. He’s up to four goals and nine points in 14 games on top of driving elite two-way results. The Rangers have controlled a commanding 65.5 percent of expected goals and outscored teams 12-2 during Chytil’s five-on-five minutes. Peter Laviolette is deploying Chytil’s line more like a second line than a third line, as they’ve played more five-on-five minutes this season than Mika Zibanejad and his linemates.

Chytil’s dynamic skill is unlocking more offense out of Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko, who are each enjoying breakout offensive campaigns. He’s been the Rangers’ best center in the early going, re-emerging as a game-changer for New York’s middle six now that he’s healthy.

Pionk’s arc in Winnipeg has been volatile.

He made an excellent first impression for the Jets as a high-end top-four defender to replace Jacob Trouba. He was rewarded with a lucrative extension carrying a $5.875 million cap hit and, yet, whether it’s because of previous injuries or other factors, he struggled in a top-four role last year.

But the 29-year-old right-shot defenseman is resurging in a major way to start 2024-25. He’s already notched 17 points in 16 games, more than half the production he managed last season which slots him second among all NHL defensemen in points so far. Pionk’s two-way impact has been stronger, too — this is the first time in his career that his team is generating more five-on-five scoring chances than they’re surrendering when he’s on the ice.

Getting back to full health has been a key part of Pionk’s redemption story. NHL Edge data shows his skating speed has improved compared to years past. Pionk is finally playing like a bona fide top-four player again which, coupled with other strong performances on the blue line, has contributed to the Jets’ historically dominant start.

The up-and-down, roller-coaster-like trajectory for many NHL goaltenders is enough to give you whiplash.

In 2022-23, Gustavsson burst onto the scene as one of the league’s most surprising breakout players, pitching a sparkling .931 save percentage in 39 games during his first season with the Wild. It earned him a sizable three-year extension at a $3.75 million cap hit, only for his performance to fall off a cliff last season.

Gustavsson dropped to a .899 save percentage and surrendered nearly eight goals more than you’d expect from a league-average netminder, according to Evolving Hockey’s model. He was remarkably inconsistent, one of the biggest reasons why the Wild missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. He was even possible trade bait last summer because the Wild had re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury and top goaltending prospect Jesper Wallstedt was knocking on the door of an NHL job.

The 26-year-old has rebounded with a .919 save percentage, starting 11 of 15 games for a red-hot Wild team that’s second in the Central Division. Minnesota’s defensive play has been significantly sharper compared to last year as well, which has to be noted because the environment in front of a goaltender often has a major impact.

Jensen had a long history of being a rock-solid two-way driver on Washington’s second pair, but his play fell off hard last season at 33 years old.

The usually steady right-shot defender lost his matchups across the board (in shots, chances and actual goals) by fairly wide margins in 2023-24. Why? One reason he looked off may be that his skating — which is one of his best assets — declined last season. NHL Edge data shows that his speed bursts over 20 miles per hour and top speed fell compared to the year prior.

Jensen’s skating has rebounded (he ranks in the top 10 percent of all defensemen for speed bursts over 20 miles per hour) which has powered a renaissance start for him in Ottawa.

Data according to NHL Edge

He’s been the perfect fit next to Thomas Chabot, driving a near 56 percent share of shot attempts and a plus-8 goal differential at five-on-five. Jensen has been a stabilizing force because of his all-around impact — he moves the puck well, makes quick reads defensively, has secondary offensive chops (six points in 15 games) and plays a competitive, physical style.

He’s exactly what the Senators, who lacked a top-four-caliber right-shot defender besides Artem Zub, needed to solidify their blue line.

There have been a couple of minor knocks on Stone in recent times.

The first, most obvious one is health: He’s averaged 45 games played over his last three seasons. The more subtle difference is that his defensive numbers, which are usually elite, dipped last year. Vegas controlled just 50.6 percent of expected goals with Stone on the ice last year and he ranked 11th out of the club’s 13 forwards in conceded high-danger chances. This was a far cry from the monster two-way results we were accustomed to seeing Stone put up.

He also had an underwhelming first-round playoff series last year, producing three points in seven games, getting crushed territorially (controlling less than 40 percent of scoring chances) and outscored 4-0 during his five-on-five shifts against Dallas.

Because of these factors, Stone’s name has come up less frequently in fan and media discussions about the league’s best, franchise-caliber wingers. But his electric start to the 2024-25 campaign is a reminder he’s still an elite player.

The 32-year-old has raced away to 21 points in 13 games. He’s missed the last three games because of an injury, but he’s expected back in the lineup soon. If anything, his absence over the last three games (Vegas’ only win in that span has been against Anaheim) has only underscored how irreplaceable he is.

Stone has mostly played on the top line with Jack Eichel, a combination the Golden Knights haven’t often turned to in the past. Together, they’ve been a dynamic duo, outscoring opponents 12-5 at five-on-five.

Detroit’s offseason decision to pay San Jose a second-round pick to take on Walman and his modest contract ($3.4 million cap hit) seemed puzzling at the time and already isn’t aging very well.

Walman had a down year in 2023-24 but it came with the context that he and top pair partner Moritz Seider were handling some of the toughest matchups of all NHL defensemen. Plus, the smooth-skating left-shot defender demonstrated his ability to effectively contribute in a top-four role the year prior when he first broke out. But the Red Wings, facing a logjam on the blue line, clearly didn’t view Walman as a key piece and preferred the cap relief.

The 28-year-old is quickly rebuilding his stock in San Jose. Walman’s up to nine points in 13 games while logging nearly 23 minutes per game. Most impressively, he’s somehow winning his matchups despite playing on a dreadful Sharks team. Walman is the only defenseman on the team with whom the Sharks are generating more shots and expected goals than they’re giving up. It’s paying off on the scoreboard, too, with San Jose earning an 8-7 edge in five-on-five goals during Walman’s minutes. He’s been by far the team’s best defenseman.

Walman’s missed four games this season — three of them because of an upper-body injury and one of them as a healthy scratch because he missed a treatment session — but he’s expected back in the lineup soon.

Honorable mentions: Tim Stützle, Alex Ovechkin, Kaapo Kakko, Tyler Seguin, Jake Oettinger, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jared Spurgeon, Jake Middleton, Brandon Montour, Jared McCann, Brendan Gallagher, Jack Roslovic, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nico Hischier, Alex Pietrangelo, Rasmus Andersson, Barrett Hayton, Rickard Rakell, Tom Wilson, Dougie Hamilton, John Carlson, Mikhail Sergachev

(Photos of Mark Stone and Tage Thompson: Candice Ward and Timothy T. Ludwig / Imagn Images)