My annual June poll looks at players who've either strung together a streak of three of more seasons where their scoring pace has increased in each, or who've played a total of only three seasons but scored at a higher pace in each one thus far, and, in both cases, they averaged at least a point per every other game this past season. You're probably thinking these are not so hard to do, right? Wrong, as only 12 players have done so for three straight seasons, with only five of them having a streak greater than three, the longest being five. On top of them, only ten have played just three NHL seasons but have seen their scoring rate rise in each. If you do the math, that's 22 choices, and the poll only allows for 20 to be included, so I went with the names that are most likely to be most relevant to the most leagues, meaning Darren Raddysh (three straight years) and Jake Walman (five straight years) were omissions.

Listed below are the 20 actual choices, in alphabetical order with their scoring rate for 2024-25, plus either the number of consecutive seasons, through 2024-25, of scoring rate increases, or an indication they're one of those who've only played in three NHL seasons but has had an increase in scoring rate in each one thus far. Deciding your votes is simple – vote for any and all players you believe will score at an even higher pace in 2025-26 than they did in 2024-25. The key word is pace, not actual points, meaning they just need to end the season with a higher scoring pace to earn your vote. A link to cast your votes will be at the end of the column.

Will Cuylle (45-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

Although Cuylle was drafted by many with expectations of tons of hits, few likely figured he'd produce a 20/20 season in just his second full campaign. But that he did, although it did not result in him seeing more TOI as the season unfolded, either overall or on the PP, making me wonder whether it is realistic for his scoring pace to rise further, at least for now.

Pavel Dorofeyev (52-point scoring pace; three straight seasons of scoring rate increase)

Vegas likely had visions of Victor Olofsson in the top-six and on PP1, but it was Dorofeyev who stepped up when Olofsson missed a chunk of early time, finishing with not only 35 goals but 3.1 SOG per game. He seems to have solidified a top-six spot, and regular PP time, and hits his 200-game breakout threshold this coming season, making it seem realistic he could see further gains.

Jack Eichel (100-point scoring pace; three seasons)

I'm not sure I remember a quieter 100-point pace season. Eichel just went out there and made offense happen at ES and on the PP. He's no longer the super high-volume shooter he once was, but that might be a net positive since as a playmaker he was able to find yet another gear. The worry though is he started so strong, with 33 points in his first 22 games, meaning after that his had just 61 points in 55 games, or nowhere near a 100-point pace.

Morgan Geekie (61-point scoring pace; four seasons)

In his first season as a B, Geekie played fine, but far from great. Then, in 2024-25 he found his way onto a line with superstar David Pastrnak; and after that it was pure magic, culminating in an 11-game point streak for Geekie to end the season, and suggesting better things to come.

Dylan Guenther (70-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

Those who thought 2023-24 was too much too soon for Guenther saw him take further strides in 2024-25. He also still has realistic room for more TOI, and has yet to hit is 200-game breakout threshold. He really could just be starting to scratch the surface.

Brandon Hagel (90-point scoring pace; five seasons)

I'm guessing that after Hagel posted a 75-point scoring rate for 2023-24, and Tampa went and signed Jake Guentzel to occupy Hagel's coveted spot alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, most envisioned he'd do worse, even markedly so. Yet lo and behold he thrived, and that was despite hardly any PPPts even though he had a locked in spot on PP1. But a 90-point pace is a lot, and maybe this is his realistic ceiling.

Thomas Harley (53-point pace; three seasons)

It took nearly point per game scoring during the absence of Miro Heiskanen for Harley to be able to barely best his rate from 2023-24. The issue remains that when Heiskanen is healthy, Harley has not been able to produce, and doesn't sniff PP1. He's an RFA next summer, and thus might be motivated to play well to pad his wallet; however, barring another long-term injury to Miro, Harley might have a tough time matching, let alone improving upon, his 2024-25 scoring pace.

Dylan Holloway (67-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

After looking like a potential bust in the making with Edmonton, Holloway thrived once traded to the Blues. I'm guessing that a spot in the top-six is now his to lose, and the Blues are a team that rolls two fairly even PP lines; so even if he's on PP2, he should still see a good chunk of man advantage time per game. But can he rise even futher? He'll be hitting his breakout threshold in 2025-26, so the answer could indeed be yes.

Wyatt Johnston (71-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

Another season, another 30+ goals for Wyatt, who is still just 21. The issue is will he fall victim to his production being throttled by Dallas spreading around ice time, and not even giving the best of the best heaps of PP time? If so, then further improvement might be difficult.

Kirill Marchenko (77-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

Interestingly, as Marchenko passed his 200-game breakout threshold, he actually slowed, as in the first half he had 47 points in 43 games, but then fell to 27 in his final 36 contests. By Q4 he was seeing under 18:00 per game and was not a PP1 staple. Columbus might just have too many quality wingers for him to truly continue to improve.

Mason McTavish (56-point scoring pace; three seasons)

After looking lost in the first half, McTavish hit his stride to the tune of 34 points in his final 38 games, firing nearly three SOG per game in Q4. Everyone had Trevor Zegras primed to be the top center for Anaheim, but McTavish may have other ideas.

Sean Monahan (87-point scoring pace; three seasons)

Amazingly, Monahan will be only 31 when 2025-26 starts, and he TRIPLED his scoring rate from just three seasons ago. He looks to be reborn, although it is worth noting that after the one and only prior time he bested a point-per-game scoring rate he saw his production drop for three straight seasons, so banking on him doing even better seems like it may be a long shot.

Jake Neighbours (45-point scoring pace; three seasons)

After a Cy Young season in 2023-24, Neighbours finished 2024-25 with nearly identical goal and assist totals. He also just hit his 200-game breakout threshold, and, likely not coincidentally, had his strongest production in Q4. Can he get ice time to continue to improve? Unclear.

J.J. Peterka (72-point scoring pace; three seasons)

Producing at exactly a point per game in both Q3 and Q4, Peterka seems to have risen above the other litany of Sabres wingers. What's also positive is in Q3 he did it alongside Tage Thompson, yet in Q4 it was when he was being centered by Ryan McLeod. Here again it was a case of a player thriving right in line with his 200-game breakout threshold. In short, his story seems to check out. Can he get batter though? Seemingly yes, but with the logjam of Sabres forward you never can be sure.

Marco Rossi (60-point scoring pace; three seasons)

Once again Rossi fared well when playing alongside Kirill Kaprizov. Yet after the star forward was injured, Rossi was put on a line with Matt Boldy and fared poorly while leading to Boldy being stuck in neutral. With the Wild able to spend freely this summer for the first time in many years, a top line center might be on their shopping list, in which case Rossi may be traded or relegated to the third line if Joel Eriksson-Ek retains his spot in the top-six. Of course, Rossi could find his groove and thrive, whether for the Wild or a new team. Tough to predict.

Jake Sanderson (59-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

With 33 points in his final 38 games despite a 5×5 team SH% at ES of a miniscule 6.2%, it seems Sanderson has only one way to go and that's up. Still, he had a pretty high rate of secondary assists, plus a high PP IPP, meaning additional man advantage points might be hard to come by. Still, this one – on paper – seems like one of the surer bets.

Juraj Slafkovsky (53-point scoring pace; only played in three NHL seasons)

Though not quite as glaringly as 2023-24, Slaf again saved his best for Q4. But this time he was better in the other quarters, albeit not by much. Unlike Sanderson, Slaf was a flop on the PP, though it would seem his spot on PP1 is safe due to his size and importance. It might be that we do have to wait for Slaf's "big man" 400-game breakout threshold to see him truly thrive, but even more baby steps of improvement for 2025-26 should be realistic.

Dylan Strome (82-point scoring pace; four seasons)

Four seasons of more goals, assists, points, and PPPts. It has to end at some point though, and it might be in 2025-26, as it took Strome having an OZ% of 77.6% to put up these numbers, on top of an 11.1% SH% at 5 on 5, after previously finishing in double digits just once in his career.

Nick Suzuki (89-point scoring pace; five seasons)

Another season, more scoring rate gains for Suzuki, who's yet to not improve over his prior campaign. With 46 points in his final 40 games, plus a Habs team that finally appears to be on its way to gelling, Suzuki looks poised to not see his streak end in 2025-26.

Gabe Vilardi (70-point scoring pace; three seasons)

Not only did Vilardi set a career best in games played, albeit just 71, but he had his best scoring rate. He was especially potent on the PP, but his SOG rate dipped, and nearly half his goals came with the man advantage. With him there is always the risk of injuries, although to date that has not has not taken a toll on his scoring. This one also is difficult to call.

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I'm guessing there were some unexpected names on – as well as not on – the list. Now it's up to you to decide, with your votes, whose streaks will continue by seeing their scoring pace rise yet again for 2025-26. Remember that you should vote for all you think will score at a higher pace in the 2024-25 season, meaning multiple votes are allowed. Click here to cast your votes.

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Questions for Mailbag Column

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