Last season 44 skaters produced at a point per game pace while appearing in at least half of their team's games. Of them, 13 hit that threshold for the first time in their careers. If you were astute enough to grab them, you likely did well in your leagues, as in doing so most exceeded expectations. Which skaters might make the leap in 2022-23? That's where this edition of the Roos Lets Loose Poll comes into play.

Below you will find the 20 skaters – listed in alphabetical order – who I think have the best odds of joining the exclusive point per game club for the first time in 2022-23. Your task is to vote for any and all you think will indeed achieve that honor. Note that for someone to meet the criteria he only needs to produce at a point per game level, not necessarily score 82+ points, unless you happen to think he'll play in all 82 of his team's games. The link to cast your vote(s) will appear at the end of the column.

Tyler Bertuzzi – Although Bertuzzi has yet to reach point per game status, his points and SOG per game have increased every season thus far. And the only other active player for whom that applies, and who has likewise played at least six seasons, is Pavel Buchnevich, who just so happened to be one of the 13 first time point per gamers in 2021-22. With Bertuzzi likely to remain a focal point of the Detroit offense and commanding a spot on what should be a better PP1, he has a realistic shot of replicating what Buchnevich was able to do in 2021-22.

Jesper Bratt – Last season Bratt might have scored the quietest 73 points of any player in recent memory. He just goes out there and produces. Better yet, he was able to succeed whether he skated with Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier – more on him below – at ES. Still only 24 and on a New Jersey team many figure to be vastly improved, Bratt's talent, plus a rising tide lifting all boats, could be enough to put him into point per game territory.

Cole Caufield – What a roller coaster 2021-22 was for Caufield. He went from can't miss phenom, to the AHL, then back to the NHL, where eventually he thrived to the tune of 35 points in his last 38 games. With the Habs likely to be at least somewhat improved this season, Caufield's talent could make him a new member of the point per game club in 2022-23.

Nikolaj Ehlers – Finishing just below the point per game level in each of the last two seasons, the hope, if you're an Ehlers owner, is with a new coach in town he might finally get a legitimate chance to stake a claim to a spot on PP1. If that happens, it should be more than enough to put Ehlers over the hump, which he also just might be able to do even if it doesn't occur, as he's just that talented.

Aaron Ekblad – No doubt Ekblad, like all Panther skaters, saw his numbers padded by Florida being the first team in more than 25 years to average over four goals per game. But Ekblad is a true #1 who shines at both ends of the ice. And with his offense finally taking hold, and him still being in his prime thanks to starting his career at age 18, Ekblad could have another gear. Or he could lose steam due to what, of late, have become annual injuries.

Adam Fox – Were it not for only seven points in ten games to end 2021-22, Fox might've made the list last season. He proceeded to rise to new levels in the playoffs when the spotlight was shining even brighter, and coinciding with hitting his 200-game breakout threshold. Given all his talent, and that of the players around him, Fox might indeed best the mark this season.

Roope Hintz – Whereas Fox ended the season slower, for Hintz it was an ice cold start that kept him from nearly becoming a point per gamer in 2021-22. Unlike last season, he should be skating with ultra-talented linemate Jason Robertson from game one (assuming he is re-signed by then); plus, with Rick Bowness and his stingy ice time philosophy now gone, Hintz should see more time at ES and on the PP, which could be enough to put him over the hurdle.

Nico Hischier – Yes, Hischier shined during a season when Jack Hughes missed nearly half the campaign. But even when the two were both healthy, Hischier held his own. Although there's no question this is Hughes' team, with New Jersey having arguably better winger depth than any season since Hischier joined the league, and Hischier just now entering his prime, he could form a one-two, point-per-game punch with Hughes.

Quinn Hughes – Jack's younger brother is blueline offense personified. With the Canucks and Hughes both having realistic room to improve, it's seemingly a question of when rather than if Hughes will reach the point per game mark.

Evander Kane – Go figure that letting Kane skate with Connor McDavid would finally get his head screwed on straight. Kane definitely thrived in Edmonton, and kept his nose literally and figuratively clean, including in the playoffs, when he nearly averaged a goal per game. If he can continue to focus solely on hockey, this might be the season Kane shows what he's truly capable of doing when his effort level is 100%.

Clayton Keller – Despite being stuck in the hockey wasteland that is Arizona, Keller thrived in 2021-22, and might've made the list were it not for a season-ending injury. Yes, defenses will key in on him and his line; however, his talent might be too great to suppress.

Dylan Larkin – Looking at Larkin's splits for 2021-22, in Q1, Q2 and Q3 he had between 18 and 20 games played and 19 and 21 points, with only his injury-affected Q4 holding him back from being a point per gamer. Plus, Larkin had only 13 PPPts in his 71 games played, which should improve with the addition of PP phenom David Perron, giving Larkin among the better chances of anyone on this list to reach point per game status.

Timo Meier – The hard hitting and ample shooting Swiss winger was well above the point-per-game mark for the first half of 2021-22; but a cool Q3 put him just below. Can he improve, especially on a Shark team that didn't get better in the offseason? Or did we unknowingly witness Meier's best already?

Josh Norris – The sniping center was nearly at the point per game level in the second half of last season, and then the Sens went out and landed Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux, who, even if they don't play alongside Norris at ES, should be on the top PP unit with him. The only question is whether Ottawa is now so deep that all its players will be very good, but no one will stand out as superb enough to be at or above the point per game threshold.

Elias Pettersson – Just when poolies were starting to sour on Pettersson following a couple of let-down seasons, he ignited after the Vancouver coaching change, finishing with 25 points in his last 19 games and firing 64 SOG in those 19 contests. The talent has always been there, but now the motivation finally might be as well.

Tim Stutzle – Even as he was stuck playing with lesser talented Sens, Stutzle still produced above the point per game level in the last third of the season. With DeBrincat and Giroux earmarked to skate alongside Stutzle at ES, one has to think his fortunes will only improve, although their addition might come as a cost of a PP1 spot for Stutzle, without which it might be difficult to produce at a point per game pace.

Nick Suzuki – As hot as Caufield was to end the season, his teammate Suzuki was even more so, racking up 36 points in his final 33 games. Suzuki managed his 20 PPPts last season despite his team – yes, his entire team – scoring only 34 total PPGs. Things should only get better for the Habs, and thus for Suzuki, it's top star.

Andrei Svechnikov – The hype surrounding Svechnikov has yet to pay dividends, whether due to him not being quite as good as advertised or stinginess on the part of the Carolina coaching staff when it comes to ice time, or both. Still though, with all he shoots and the talent surrounding him, on paper he could make the jump.

Tage Thompson – Fresh off signing a fat new contract, the hulking forward should be locked into the top line at ES and on the PP. With the Sabres flush with young talent, he should lead the way and perhaps be the first point per gamer for Buffalo since Jack Eichel.

Trevor Zegras – Brimming with skill and flare, Zegras had a first full season that was pretty much as good as advertised. With the Ducks having landed UFAs Ryan Strome, John Klingberg and Frank Vatrano in the offseason, Zegras now has a supporting cast, helping to push him toward or even above the point per game mark.

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Again, the task here is simple – vote for all players you believe will produce at a point per game rate or better in the 2022-23 regular season. And when I say point per game rate or better, I mean at least as many points as games played, not necessarily 82+ points unless you think that player will indeed appear in all his team's 82 games. To cast your votes, click here.

Scheduling note, and Questions for Mailbag Column

Next week Roos Lets Loose takes a break from regularly scheduled programming to bring you my annual 15 Fearless Forecasts column. After that though, it's back to business as usual with my monthly mailbag, which has room for more questions. To get question(s) 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. Just be sure not to include keeper or draft advice questions, as the column won't go live until after the start of the regular season. But anything else, from team audits, to line-ups, to predictions, to anything you want answered about fantasy hockey – send them my way.