In every hockey league season, there are always a few players who completely shock us with their production.

Last year saw guys like Eric Staal, Brad Marchand and Conor Sheary outperform pretty much every projection there was.

This year will be no different. Predicting these players is difficult, but it’s also a lot of fun.

Below you’ll find 10 potential surprises for the upcoming season. These players will be much better than many projections out there are currently giving them. Some will have a rebound season, some will experience a breakout and some are rookies that aren’t getting the love they deserve.

10. Steve Mason

I’m one of those who don’t believe the Jets signed Mason to $4.1 million per year for two years to put him in a timeshare. Connor Hellebuyck was awful for most of last season with a .907 SV % and a 2.89 GAA. The 26-19-4 record was nice, but imagine how many more wins the Jets could have had with even an average goalie in net. Mason is a small upgrade over Hellebuyck and has shown the ability to put together a great streak and, at times, season of hockey. Mason will get more than enough starts, at least for the first year of his contract.

9. Oscar Klefbom

Many people are expecting big things out of Klefbom, but I think he’s still being sold a little short. The projections I’ve seen have him between 35-45 points. I really like him for 55-plus points. Klefbom finds himself in a great situation as the Oilers power play quarterback. Last year, he lost that spot for the middle part of the season. Once he got it back at the end of the campaign, he had 18 points in 26 games. That won’t happen again this year.

8. Anders Lee

Many have Lee pegged for the low-50s range for points. And that’s a high. But should it really shock anyone if Lee hit 65 points? Lee spent the first quarter of last season playing with guys not named John Tavares, and Lee responded with five points in 20 games. Then he got moved alongside Tavares at both even strength and on the power play and immediately exploded with 30 goals and 47 points in his next 61 games. That’s a 63-point pace. Why would the Islanders want to mess with the chemistry Tavares has with Lee, especially when Tavares could leave next summer? Keep Tavares happy and hope that he stays. The best way to do that is a full year of playing next to Lee.

7. Cam Ward

I posted a couple of weeks ago about why I thought Scott Darling would disappoint. A lot of people haven’t been sold on Cam Ward the last few years and always believed a new goaltender was ready to usurp him. But it hasn’t happened. I think Ward starts at least 30-35 games, more if Darling struggles or can’t prove he can handle 50-plus starts.

6. Jonathan Huberdeau

Strange as it may sound, Huberdeau has never broken the 60-point barrier. Last year was supposed to be the year, but a pre-season injury ruined that. He was excellent once he got back in the lineup with 26 points in 31 games, a 69-point pace. I like Huberdeau to hit the 70-point mark this year. The Panthers as a whole should be much better after an injury-plagued season and Huberdeau will be the one leading the squad.

5. Fredrik Claesson

There was a lot of talk earlier this summer about who is going to be Erik Karlsson’s partner now that Marc Methot is in Dallas. For a while, the talk was Claesson was the right man for the job. Obviously Claesson’s fantasy relevance depends greatly on whether he does get a regular role with the Sens captain as he hasn’t shown any level of production at the professional level in North America. If it turns out he’s a good fit, he should be able to put up 30ish points.

4. Nick Schmaltz

I see a lot of projections for Patrick Kane getting to 80-plus points. But anyone outside of Jonathan Toews/Brandon Saad are pegged for less than 50. Schmaltz has been excellent every where he has played until his NHL rookie season last year. He struggled for a while, but once he lined up with Toews or Kane, he put up 24 points in 35 games, despite no power play time and 14 minutes per game overall. I like him to get at least some PP time and a more regular role with Kane and threaten for 60 points. 

3. Bryan Little

Little could be a consistent 60-point player if he stays healthy. And I have a hunch this will be the year it happens. Last year, out of players that played 1,000 minutes, Little was 28^th in goals per 60 minutes, and 29^th in points per 60 minutes. His biggest concern now is the emergence of the younger players, especially Mark Scheifele, taking away minutes. However, he’ll still play an important role on the power play and is guaranteed top-six ice time.  

2. Joshua Ho-Sang

While much attention will be paid to the 2017 draft class and players like Clayton Keller, Tyson Jost and Charlie McAvoy, don’t overlook Ho-Sang. The Islanders forward is still a rookie and will contend for the Calder Trophy all season. He played well in 21 games last year and should be able to see an increase in playing time and is pretty much a shoo-in for consistent power play time.

1. Robin Lehner

In 2016-17, Lehner gave up a goal every 12.57 shots, eighth best among goalies who faced at least 1,000 shots. The problem is Buffalo gave up the most shots against per game. So, while his .920 SV % is above average, his GAA is also higher because of the sheer amount of shots faced. Buffalo is a young team on the rise and new coach Phil Housley, plus defensemen Marco Scandella and Nathan Beaulieu, will work on bringing down the shots against. Lehner will benefit greatly from this.