Although the Stanley Cup was lifted by Florida less than a month ago, between the passage of time, and the flurry of intervening activity relating to free agent signings, trades and buyouts, most poolies have understandably moved on. And although the playoffs of course represent only a brief snapshot as compared to an 82-game regular season, plus teams often deploy skaters differently in the playoffs than the regular season, playoff production nevertheless can serve as a barometer for whether a skater might be poised to do better or worse than expected during the following regular season. With that in mind, comes this month's poll.

I've listed 20 players whose playoff scoring pace differed enough from their regular season pace to beg the question: will their 2025-26 scoring rate be closer to their 2024-25 regular season rate, or their 2025 playoff rate? The way it will work is I'll list a player's 2024-25 regular season scoring rate and his 2025 playoff scoring rate, then the midpoint. Vote for any and all players you feel will produce, in 2025-26, at a rate closer to their 2025 playoff rate as compared to their 2024-25 regular season rate. The key is we're talking about scoring rate, not actual points.

Here are two examples to help illustrate what I mean, and how you should vote. Suppose a skater produced at a scoring rate of 77 points in the 2024-25 regular season, but fell to only 53 points in the 2025 playoffs. That would make the midpoint 65 points, meaning you should vote for him if you think he will produce at a rate of 65 points or less in 2025-26. If, however, a skater produced at a rate of 46 points in the 2024-25 regular season but rose to a rate of 70 in the 2025 playoffs, the midpoint would be 58 points, meaning you should vote for him if you believe he will produce at a rate of 58 points or more in 2025-26.

The 20 voting choices are listed below in alphabetical order. Note that if a player's midpoint is a round number, treat it as being closer to his playoff rate. Also, if you don't see a player here, it's because I tried to focus on those where there wasn't too wide or too small of a gap between their rates, plus for whom the answer would not be a foregone conclusion. A link to cast votes will appear at the end of the column.

Sam Bennett (Regular rate = 55; Playoff rate = 78; Midpoint = 66.5)

There is reason to be skeptical about Bennett's playoff scoring rate, since he's already shown in the past that even if he fares better in the playoffs, come the next regular season he reverts to his usual 55- to 60-point scoring rate. Beyond that, he shined so brightly this time as he was on the cusp of being a UFA. Now that we know he is indeed staying with Florida, chances are he'll be the same leopard with the same spots in the regular season, as if somehow Aleksander Barkov gets hurt, the team would opt to move Anton Lundell to the top line, leaving Bennett to do what he does best – provide a valuable combination for sandpaper and good-but-not-great scoring.

Matt Boldy (Regular rate = 73; Playoff rate = 95; Midpoint = 84)

The 2024-25 campaign was supposed to be when Boldy made a leap, as he was right at his 200-game breakout threshold, and seeing a lot more TOI than prior seasons. Unfortunately, he stayed stuck in neutral. His PPPt scoring rate went down, which likely was a direct result of games missed by Kirill Kaprizov. Plus, in Q1 when he had his usual center Joel Eriksson-Ek, he was over a point per game in scoring. However, once Marco Rossi became his most frequent center, his scoring slipped. Also, everyone was awaiting the Wild making a big splash in free agency due to being able to spend freely for the first time in years, but they made no real signings of consequence, so that likely won't help or hurt Boldy.

Evan Bouchard (Regular rate = 67; Playoff rate = 85; Midpoint = 76)

Even though 2024-25 was a disappointment for Bouchard, once again he came up big during the playoffs, and now has an amazing 72 points in his last 59 playoff games. With him still the unquestioned source for blueline scoring on what should remain one of the best offenses in the NHL, I like his chances of producing closer to his playoff rate in the 2025-26 regular season.

Pavel Buchnevich (Regular rate = 62; Playoff rate = 93; Midpoint = 77.5)

I bet many forget Buchnevich has topped the point-per-game mark not once but twice in his career, and in fact had a streak of six seasons of increased scoring rate, until he came back to earth in 2023-24. But those expecting a rebound for 2024-25 were disappointed; yet he did show signs of life even before the playoffs, with 24 points in his last 23 games. Although it is true that he's now on the other side of 30, he could rise again, especially if the Blues lean on PP1 more, as he is a staple there.

Jack Eichel (Regular rate = 100; Playoff rate = 90; Midpoint = 95)

After a lackluster first season for Vegas, Eichel has gotten better and better, hitting the century mark in scoring rate in 2024-25. The concern is he was blazing out of the gate, with 34 points in 23 first quarter games, while after that he tallied 60 in 54 contests, which is superb, but not stratospheric. Given that, and what we saw from him in the playoffs, he might indeed be closer to a 90-point player. Still, with Mitch Marner now there, Vegas finally has a true top winger; so perhaps that will ensure Eichel's scoring hits triple digits again?

Kevin Fiala (Regular rate = 61; Playoff rate = 95; Midpoint = 78)

Like Buchnevich, Fiala had two straight seasons of better than point-per-game production. Poolies were intrigued since the second came for the Kings, who normally have good to very good scorers, but rarely anyone above a point per game. Yet in each of the last two seasons Fiala's scoring rate has fallen by double digits. But he's receiving the same deployment, so it's fair to expect a rebound, although all the way to 78 points might be a stretch.

Claude Giroux (Regular rate = 51; Playoff rate = 68; Midpoint = 59.5)

After defying father time for longer than most expected, Giroux finally showed his age during the 2024-25 season, with his worst scoring rate ever. Opting to stay in Ottawa; will he receive enough top-six and PP deployment to rise back to the 60-point level?

Jake Guentzel (Regular rate = 82; Playoff rate = 98; Midpoint = 90)

Those who'd hoped Guentzel would do for Tampa Bay what he had so reliably done for the Pens were disappointed in that he only managed point-per-game scoring. Hoping for more might be a stretch, since his scoring rate was as steady as could be, with his points and games played differing by no more than two in any quarter of 2024-25, and there not being realistic room for him to get more minutes.

Victor Hedman (Regular rate = 69, Playoff rate = 49; Midpoint = 59)

After many seasons of producing mainly at a scoring rate in the 60s, Hedman has yo-yoed the last few seasons, from 85 down to 53, then back up to 80, and then back down to 69 in 2024-25. Seemingly he's due for a rebound, although he also will be turning 35 in December, and not only has he played over 1100 regular season games, but the equivalent of over two regular seasons in the playoffs. Maybe age is catching up to him finally?

Lane Hutson (Regular rate = 66; Playoff rate = 82; Midpoint = 74)

What may have seemed like a lay-up prediction a couple of weeks ago, became a lot less certain with the Habs trading for Noah Dobson. Still, Hutson is pure offense, while Dobson, although no slouch in that area, is more of a complete defenseman; so perhaps it could become a situation where Hutson is Rasmus Dahlin to Dobson's Owen Power? But it's difficult to envision Dobson not cannibalizing at least some points that otherwise would've gone to Hutson.

Anton Lundell (Regular Rate = 47; Playoff rate = 64; Midpoint = 55.5)

Is there an argument to be made that Lundell is more skilled than Bennett? Absolutely. But if you win two Stanley Cups in a row you don't fix what isn't broken, meaning that Lundell will likely go back to being akin to Jordan Staal during the boom era of the Pens, relegated to the third line, and subpar scoring, until/unless someone gets injured.

Mitch Marner (Regular Rate = 103, Playoff rate = 82; Midpoint = 92.5)

How will Marner fare not only for a new team, but without the many potent members of the Toronto offense to support him, as they have his entire NHL career? Yes, Jack Eichel is no slouch, but he's not prime Auston Matthews, and the Knights do not have anywhere near as stacked of a line-up. But with what Vegas is paying Marner, they figure to give him every chance to shine. Can he the way he has in the past though? Tough to say.

Josh Morrissey (Regular rate = 64; Playoff rate = 41; Midpoint = 52.5)

After nearly reaching the point-per-game mark in 2022-23, Morrissey's scoring rate has dropped in two straight seasons, first to 70 and in 2024-25 to only 64. Plus, he finished with 23 points in 36 games, for a scoring rate of 52. The Jets also paid Neal Pionk a lot to stay with them, and we can't forget that Pionk had 25 PPPts the one and only time he ran PP1. It could be a changing of the guard when it comes to blueline offense in Winnipeg, in which case Morrissey's scoring would drop even more.

Martin Necas (Regular rate = 87; Playoff rate = 58; Midpoint = 72.5)

When a player's scoring rate jumps from 56 to 87, after a prior career best of 71, that is usually a sign for optimism. Not so, however, when that player started the season with 37 points in his first 22 games, after which he had only 47 points in 57 games. But he did have 28 points in 30 games with the Avs, including seven multipoint efforts, suggesting that as he clicks with his new team he should be able to thrive.

Jake Neighbours (Regular rate = 45; Playoff rate = 70; Midpoint = 57.5)

In the playoffs, Neighbours took the ice for two more minutes per game, although somehow a smaller share of St. Louis' PP minutes. With him having solidified a spot on a line with Robert Thomas, who had 45 points in his last 30 regular season games, Neighbours stands to benefit quite a bit, likely enough to boost his scoring to exceed his midpoint.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Regular Rate = 52; Playoff rate = 74; Midpoint = 63)

After a season where his scoring rate somehow ended up merely half what it was two seasons ago, RNH rebounded in the playoffs. But a quick glance at 2023-24 saw he produced similarly in the second season then too, only fare poorly when the puck dropped on the following regular season. At this point in his career, he might be an older version of Sam Bennett, saving his best for when it matters most but not faring anywhere near as well come the regular season.

Mikko Rantanen (Regular rate = 88; Playoff rate = 100; Midpoint = 94)

One would think this will be a lay-up, as after all Rantanen was amazing in the playoffs and he should be able to carry that momentum into 2025-26 for the Stars. Although they are paying him a bundle, if they stick to their system of not bestowing heaps of ice time on even their top players, he, and his fantasy owners, might be in for a rude awakening. Then again, the Stars have a new coach, and that could usher in an era where the team's top-tier talent finally gets treated like…..stars.

Mark Stone (Regular rate = 83; Playoff rate = 65; Midpoint = 74)

What can be said about Stone that hasn't already? Amazingly, his 66 games played for 2024-25 was his highest since arriving in Vegas. With him now 33 years old, one has to think his injury issues are a risk to get worse not better, and could do what has yet to occur, which is negatively affect his scoring. On the flip side Marner's arrival might actually help him by raising the team tide and reducing Stone’s difficult minutes.

Brady Tkachuk (Regular rate = 62; Playoff rate = 95; Midpoint = 78.5)

Yes, he lost a minute of TOI per game from 2023-24 to 2024-25; however, his PP minutes were unchanged and he was still shooting the puck left and right. What seems to have caused his struggles were a 5×5 team SH% of only 6.6%, which is miniscule. He seems like a strong bet to return to his old self, which is a player who produced right around his midpoint.

Carter Verhaeghe (Regular rate = 82 points; Playoff rate = 54 points; Midpoint =68)

A come from nowhere story, it sure seemed like Verhaeghe had established himself as a 75- to 80-point player. But for 2024-25 his scoring dropped quite a bit, this despite a similar TOI and SOG rate. He did shed some PP time, but that alone does not explain his drop in scoring. The good news for him and his fantasy owners is he kept his top-six spot. If he falters again, and in view of Florida's tremendous depth, might that be a casualty?

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Those are your voting choices. Remember you can – and should – vote for any and all players who you think will produce in the 2025-26 regular season at a rate equal to or between their midpoint and their playoff rate, rather than their midpoint and their 2024-25 regular season rate. To cast your votes, click here.

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Questions for Mailbag Column

I am looking for questions to include in my next mailbag. To get your questions to me, private message "rizzeedizzee" via the DobberHockey Forums or email [email protected] with "Roos Mailbag" as the subject line.