In last month's poll I asked you to vote on which players exceeding expectations were likely to continue to do so for the entire season, versus coming back to earth. Now it's time to turn our attention to those who, entering this season, were considered by most to be underperformers, whether based on draft position, pre-NHL results, or just hype in general. Our goal is to try and separate those for whom there is still hope they can deliver on their expectations versus those who will never ultimately fulfill their former promise.

The 20 skaters listed below have all yet to score – if a forward – at a 65+ point pace or – if a defenseman – at a 45+ point pace at the conclusion of any of their prior NHL seasons. Your job is to pick those who will – either this season or any season in the future – reach their applicable threshold at least once. Let me stress that a player should still receive your vote if, although you don't see him meeting his applicable threshold this season, you're confident he will do so at the culmination of any future NHL campaign.

It's a player's scoring rate at the end of the season that matters; so don't vote for a player just because he can – or already has – reached that pace during the course of a season. In fact, you'll notice several of the voting choices are already pacing above their applicable threshold; so in their cases it's also a question of whether you think they're for real in 2022-23 or will fade by season's end. Lastly, I purposely said 65+ and 45+ point paces, as a player should get your vote if you think he will be able to finish a season at the pace that applies to him even if he doesn't reach that many actual points.

With all that out of the way, here are the 20 voting choices. You should vote for as many of the players as you think will meet their respective threshold. The link to cast your votes appears at the end of the column.

Sam Bennett

Let's face facts – Bennett likely wouldn't be one of the choices but for the 15 points he scored in just ten games after he was traded to the Panthers in 2020. Since then he's been good but not great, with as many cold stretches as hot ones. And with Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell both very capable centers, it's not clear how long Bennett can maintain his grasp on the second line pivot gig. If he does, then one of these years everything should align for him, especially considering he's still only 26 years old.

Oliver Bjorkstrand

Of the two offseason additions that Seattle made, many – myself included – felt Bjorkstrand would be the one to see a career breakthrough. But here we are a good chunk into 2022-23 and it's been Andre Burakovsky who's elevated his game, while Bjorkstrand has disappointed. Still, Bjorkstrand has run red hot for chunks of several seasons such that it seems like one day he'll be able to connect the dots.

Andrew Copp

After seeing his scoring rate climb an amazing six seasons in a row heading into 2022-23, the hope was he'd be able to rise to still further heights. Let's not forget it took a scorching 21 points in 17 games run at the end of 2021-22 on the Rangers alongside Artemi Panarin for Copp to keep his streak alive, and he's less featured in Detroit. He's definitely talented; but he might not be quite good enough to ascend to a 65+ point pace.

Jake DeBrusk

Is DeBrusk finally making good on the talent that got him selected in the first round seven years ago? It's tough to say, although he had 16 points in 20 games both to end 2021-22 and to start 2022-23, and he's still just 26. Beyond that, DeBrusk is a UFA in 2024; so regardless of what happens this season and next, he'll get his chance to prove he's better than he's been for the Bs.

Vince Dunn

This was supposed to be the season Dunn became a true offensive d-man to run a PP1. At times he's done so, but the presence of Justin Schultz has thrown a bit of a monkey wrench into those plans. Still, Dunn is playing well and might be able to put together enough strong play to elbow Schultz out of the picture, in which case Dunn could reach a 45+ point pace.

Joel Erkisson Ek

Speaking of players whose scoring pace has been rising, Eriksson Ek might not be at six seasons like Copp, but he's at four, and, unlike Copp, on pace for a fifth for 2022-23. Eriksson Ek is a PP1 staple and his SOG rate this season is more than double what it was just three seasons ago. So what's the problem? How about a 38.4% offensive zone starting percentage? That doesn't only affect this season, as if he gets pigeonholed as a defensive specialist his chances of hitting the 65+ threshold will be very low.

Gustav Forsling

Meet the new MacKenzie Weegar in Florida. Forsling's SOG rate and TOI are way up, even if he's barely sniffing PP time. And yes, the Panthers are not the offensive dynamo they were last season. Weegar was above a 45-point pace the season before last too; so if Forsling is now doing what Weegar did, he should be able to remain above a 45 point rate for 2022-23.

Kevin Hayes

Yes, Hayes is now 30; however, with this being the first real time he's been a true top-line center at ES and on the PP, he might be able to sustain his pace. Then again, with him being a recent healthy scratch he could see his production plummet if he's deemphasized.

Kaapo Kakko

Yes, it's still early, especially since as a larger player Kakko could take until game 400 to break out. I wonder if too little attention is being paid to the fact Kakko has Diabetes and Celiac Disease. It'd be tough to go through a normal life with those afflictions; but doing so under the rigors of the NHL? I wonder if it has negatively affected his play and will continue to do so.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Hyped when drafted, then after being offer sheeted KK has still failed to perform, and we're now well into his career. That's not to say he can't still right his ship; however, there haven't been signs to suggest he's likely to turn things around any time soon, if ever.

Dominik Kubalik

Considered more of an afterthought signing, thanks to Tyler Bertuzzi and Jakub Vrana (more on him below) missing most of the season thus far Kubalik has been able to thrive. Still, his ice time isn't superb and what will happen when both those guys reenter the line-up? Plus, Kubalik is 27, so a bona fide breakout is less easy to envision.

Artturi Lehkonen

Yes, he's done what he's done for 2022-23 thus far without Gabriel Landeskog and, for a big chunk of the season, Valeri Nichushkin, in the line-up. Let's not forget that while with the Avs Andrei Burakovsky produced at a 65+ point pace; and even when both those two are back in the line-up, Lehkonen should drop only to the second line and PP2, which might be good enough.

Hampus Lindholm

It seems like a stretch for Lindholm to be doing what he's doing after being so unproductive for so many years. But let's not forget he played for some awful Ducks teams and this is his first full season as a Bruin, where he's seeing more ice time than ever, including on the PP. He might be able to pull this off, if not in 2022-23 then in a future season as a B.

Casey Mittelstadt

Envisioned as the successor as #1 center for Buffalo after Jack Eichel left, Mittelstadt has been leapfrogged on the depth chart by Tage Thompson and now, arguably, Dylan Cozens. Perhaps a trade will come to give Mittelstadt a new lease on NHL life? Then again, with his recurring injury issues maybe that won't solve his production problem.

Brandon Montour

While he's quickly faded from his better than point per game pace, he is right at his 400 game breakout threshold. Still, the question is will he remain productive or come back to earth with a crashing thud? He's banked a lot of points and is still logging time on PP1. But will those be enough to get keep him above a 45 point pace by season's end?

Victor Olofsson

After scoring at a 64-point pace as a rookie and then ending 2021-22 with 21 points in 20 games, expectations were quite high for Olofsson entering 2022-23. But he's not looked great and, like Mittelstadt, has been pushed down the Buffalo depth chart. He's a UFA after next season; so perhaps like DeBrusk new digs might be just what he needs?

Ivan Provorov

A major scorer in juniors, Provorov has excelled in the NHL, just not in ways that translate to the score sheet. And as we've seen with Ryan Pulock and Darnell Nurse, rearguards with offensive talent get stuck in defensive roles. Will he end up like Pulock and never break out, or will his day come like it did once for Nurse? Only turning 26 in January, there's time to right his ship.

Jack Roslovic

After posting 34 points in 48 games in 2020-21, many felt Roslovic was on a fast track to fantasy success, especially with the Blue Jackets so thin at center. But he failed to sustain, let alone build upon, that momentum. So far for 2022-23 Roslovic has not been given the plum gig of centering Johnny Gaudreau, making us wonder if it will ever all come together for him.

Dylan Strome

The issue with Strome isn't talent, but instead consistency. Still, it took his older brother until age 26, which Dylan turns in March, to break out, although admittedly that was when playing alongside Artemi Panarin. Strome has had chances to skate with Alex Ovechkin. If he can stick on that line, plus find his way to getting a PP1 shift, 65+ likely could be within reach.

Jakub Vrana

He showed flashes of greatness in Washington; but injuries have now started to be a legitimate concern, and we're still not sure what put him in the player assistance program. Plus, Detroit is brimming with wingers, making it so it's not clear where Vrana would fit in if he did manage to stay healthy enough to be an everyday player again.

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If you've gotten this far you've got your list of the players you think can – if forwards – score at a 65+ point pace at the end of this season or a season in the future or – if a defenseman – score at a 45+ point for 2022-23 or down the road. You can, and should, vote for as many as you believe will hit their applicable points pace threshold. Click here to cast your votes.

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Questions for Mailbag Column

My monthly mailbag runs next week and I have room to answer a couple more questions. To get yours to me, you can either private message “rizzeedizzee” via the DobberHockey Forums or, instead, send an email to [email protected] with “Roos Mailbag” as the subject line.