For a number of years during bubble keeper week I did a Goldipucks column. However, since that only covered three players, once again I'm doing a more encompassing poll instead. This time it's a simple topic: which forwards will score 60+ points for the first time in 2026-27. Why did I pick 60 points? Because in many leagues that's the cut off between a player being keepable, what with there having been 43 forwards who scored 50-59 points, but only 26 who tallied 60-69.

How did I land on the 20 forwards who are voting choices? Other than none having actually scored 60+ points in a season, I tried to select those for whom there is a realistic chance to do so, but also where it's not already presumed by most they'll reach the mark this season. That means you won't see Quinton Byfield, Alexis Lafreniere, William Eklund, Will Smith, Adam Fantilli, Jackson Blake, Logan Stankhoven, Frank Nazar, Dylan Holloway or Jimmy Snuggerud, to name a few, since I feel like most expect them to reach the milestone in 2026-27, whether due to having come close previously or their envisioned progression as a player, or both. Also, in casting your vote, this is about actually reaching 60 points, not a 60+ point scoring pace, which some of the choices have already accomplished. Injury risk and durability matter.

Here are the 20 voting choices in alphabetical order. A link to cast your votes will appear at the end of the column.

Matty Beniers

After how well he did in his brief first year cameo, then winning the Calder with 57 points in 80 games, I think most would've thought he'd not only have posted 60 points by now, and perhaps well beyond that. Yet three more seasons have passed and Beniers not only has yet to reach 60 points, but only this past season rose to 50 again. No question Seattle's offensive system is not doing him any favors; however, at least some blame does have to land squarely on him. Still, with 27 points in his last 43 games for 2025-26, maybe this season he could make the leap?

Sam Bennett

For 2025-26, Bennett scored at a 63 point pace; but due to missed games, his point total was actually 58. That was a career high from the now 30 year old veteran of 11 NHL seasons. As to whether he can reach 60 this season, the Panthers figure to be an offensive powerhouse; but they were in 2021-22 as well, and Bennett managed only a 57 point pace back then. And he likely will be relegated to PP2, after getting PP1 minutes for 2025-26. It might be if he hasn't hit the mark yet he never will. Or perhaps this is the season he finally does so?

Zach Benson

Although his season-long scoring pace was 54, Benson had 16 points in his last 20 games, right as he was hitting his breakout threshold. He also garnered a lot of attention during the playoffs, yet his scoring pace was barely higher and still under 60, plus he was not on PP1 for the most part. Will he get a coveted spot on PP1 for 2026-27? Let's not forget Alex Tuch was not on PP1 last season, but he still was able to tally 66 points, although he shot the puck a lot more than Benson. It remains to be seen if Benson can make the leap in 2026-27.

Mavrik Bourque

A player who was only a point per every other game scorer rising to 60 points – is it plausible? Maybe, as Bourque had 27 points in his last 40 games for Dallas, plus should be a top six fixture in Nashville. But PP1 might be out of reach, and, with that, as well a rise all the way to 60.

Egor Chinakhov

Among the more well disguised season-long totals is that of Chinakhov, as 22 of his 42 points came in his last 20 games alone. He was also on PP1 more often than not. But the Pens now have Andrei Kuzmenko, whose one constant has been thriving on the PP. Also lurking is Nick Robertson. Still, Chinakhov likely did enough to give him a starting spot in the top six at ES. But can he keep it, and is there a place for him on PP1 if everyone is healthy?

Anthony Cirelli

Although his scoring pace was exactly 60 in each of the past two seasons, Cirelli missed games such that he still has yet to reach the 60-point mark. He played at ES with Nikita Kucherov, who thrived, so one has to think that will continue. But can Cirelli shoot 18.4% again, and do as well despite ice time barely above 17:00 per game, with only about a minute of that on the PP?

Matt Coronato

Thought by many to be poised for a breakout in 2025-26, Coronato instead took a step back. But he finished with 15 points in his last 20 games, which is a 60 point full season pace, plus he sits at 192 career games, meaning he'll begin 2026-27 right at his breakout threshold. Even if Calgary is as bad as many envision them to be, someone still has to score, and that someone could be Coronato.

Josh Doan

After looking not great in Arizona/Utah, Doan came to Buffalo and hit the ground running. He even was able to stick on PP1, over the likes of Alex Tuch and Zach Benson. Like Benson Doan did do a bit better in the playoffs, yet he too still was below a 60-point pace and off PP1 more than on it. If he sticks on the top PP unit, he could reach 60+, especially since he too will reach his 200 game breakout threshold during the season.

Luke Evangelista

Last season was the 200-game breakout threshold for Evangelista, and he seemingly did break out to the tune of 56 points. But he only had nine of those points in his last 20 games, making some question whether it was a true breakout, or just a hot stretch. Plus, Nashville added a number of players this offseason, including the aforementioned Bourque, making the top six and PP picture cloudier. While at the end of 2025-26 it might've been a foregone conclusion that Evangelista would rise to 60+ this season, now it's less certain.

Tyson Foerster

After ending 2024-25 on a high note, Foerster got hurt at the beginning of December and only played 29 total games for 2026-27. But he showed a goal-scoring touch when he did play, and was on the top line with Trevor Zegras and Owen Tippett. Also, due to his missed games he'll be starting 2026-27 right at his breakout threshold. Many see a bright future for Foerster; but does that start with a rise to 60+ points this season?

Collin Graf

The undrafted forward nearly doubled his 2024-25 scoring pace, thanks in large part to often taking the ice alongside Macklin Celebrini at ES. Graf didn't sniff the PP; but neither did Pascal Dupuis back in the day for the Penguins, and he nearly reached 60 great due to being stapled to Sidney Crosby at ES. If Graf is the new Dupuis, then 60+ points could be within realistic reach.

Artturi Lehkonen

Having scored above a 60-point pace twice already, Lehkonen clearly has the ability to produce at that level, whether due to his own talent or his amazing deployment, the latter in the form of being stapled to Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas at ES during all of last season. For Lehkonen, there are two ifs, namely his ability to stay healthy and to keep his coveted spot at ES. Should both work out though, he could indeed reach 60 for the first time.

Anton Lundell

Is Lundell Jordan Staal 2.0, namely a player who has talent but also is able to play tougher minutes such that his offensive output is deemphasized? Tough to say, although him having failed to reach 60 points last season despite Aleksander Barkov being out all year was not a great sign. Then again, the Panthers are going to have such a deep forward corps for 2026-27 that even if Lundell is on the third line he should have talented players flanking him, and still be on a very decent PP2, which may be enough to see him rise to 60+ points.

Matias Maccelli

Another player who technically has scored at a 60+ point pace already, Maccelli, to the surprise of many, failed to thrive when he was on Toronto, leading to some thinking he peaked early and won't rise back to his prior heights. But on the Islanders he will be a more of a focal point again, as he was when he scored at that higher pace earlier in his career. A change of scenery might be the ticket to him rising above 60.

Ryan McLeod

For the second season in a row McLeod put up one of the quietest 50+ point seasons. The big difference for 2025-26 is he saw some PP time, leading to seven PPPts. If he's able to continue getting man advantage minutes, even scraps, plus be a middle six center for what is now a very deep and offensively potent Sabres team, he could inch upward to finish above 60 points.

Bobby McMann

Although he was 29 when it happened, McMann hit his 200-game breakout threshold in Q4, and just so happened to finish with 14 points in 18 games for the Kraken. He never made a mark on the Leafs, but did well for Seattle, and, as a UFA to be, opted to stay there. The ingredients may be in place for McMann to rise above 60 points this season.

Connor McMichael

After tallying 54 points for Washington in 2024-25 to coincide with his breakout threshold, expectations for McMichael were to do even better last season. But he took a step backward despite similar TOIs. Now on St. Louis, he gets a chance to make his mark again. The question is whether there'll be room for Blues forwards to excel outside of Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, and Jimmy Snuggerud, who clicked amazingly and thus likely will be the offensive focal point for the team.

Mason McTavish

Speaking of new arrivals in St. Louis, there's McTavish, who had hovered just below a 60-point pace for two seasons before disappointing enough in 2025-26 that the Ducks traded him. With the Blues, he gets a fresh start, although as with McMichael the question is whether he'll be enough of a focal point at ES and on the PP to reach the 60-point mark for the first time.

Mason Marchment

Known for being a solid producer despite limited minutes, including seasons with scoring rates of 71 and 62, Marchment signed a hefty enough deal that he might be in line for more TOI, both overall and on the PP. In fact, some have him elbowing Graf off the top line to skate with Macklin Celebrini. If that happens, Marchment should be able to easily rise above 60 points; otherwise, he most likely settles back in the 50s.

Jack Quinn

With all the attention being paid to Josh Doan and Zach Benson due to their increases in scoring and new deals, Quinn feels like the forgotten Sabre forward. But he only produced a bit less than either of them, plus is an active shooter. It's not impossible to envision a scenario where those two fall short of expectations, while Quinn rises to 60 points.

Owen Tippett

In 2023-24, Tippett had among the highest SOG rates of any forward per 60 minutes of TOI. And he parlayed that into a nice contract extension, making it seem like 60 points would be a lay up. He then took a step back in 2024-25. In 2025-26 though, his SOG rate rebounded, though not to prior heights, and his TOI, both overall and on the PP, ticked back upward. As noted, both he and Foerster look to be earmarked for the top line, so like Foerster Tippett could finally rise to 60 this season.

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To reiterate, you should vote for as many of these 20 forwards you think will indeed score 60+ points this season. And to be clear, I mean 60 actual points, not at a 60 point pace. Here is the link to cast your votes.

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Questions for Mailbag Column

I'm thrilled at all the mailbag questions I've been receiving, and will do as many mailbags as I can before the start of the season. To get questions to me, either private message "rizzeedizzee" via the DobberHockey Forums or send an email [email protected] with "Roos Mailbag" as the subject line.