Last week, we looked at 10 Players Who Flipped the Script. Well, this week, we are flipping that idea on its head. These 10 players were pegged for some sort of bounce-back season, but for one reason or another, the script stayed the same or got worse. Whether it was due to injury, reduced opportunity, age-related decline, or simply not living up to expectations, these players failed to recapture their previous form. Some of these names were popular rebound candidates in drafts and fantasy circles early in the season, but unfortunately, the results just weren't there. Let's get into it.

Enjoy!

10. Dougie Hamilton – New Jersey Devils

I boasted about Dougie Hamilton all season long so this one is somewhat frustrating. Hamilton has been marked by injuries that continue to define his recent seasons. After a torn pectoral ended his previous year early, he entered this season as a popular bounce-back pick. He delivered 40 points in 63 games (52-point pace) which is respectable but far from his previous highs.  He then got hurt again, right before fantasy playoffs. When healthy, Hamilton remains a top-tier power-play QB (for now), but "when" is doing a lot of heavy lifting these days.  The upside is still there, but durability keeps chipping away. He will be back on bounce-back radars next year, but with more hesitation than hype.

9. Andrei Svechnikov – Carolina Hurricanes

Andrei Svechnikov came into the season healthy and primed for a strong campaign, especially with Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen out of the picture. The setup was ideal, top-six minutes at the least, prime power-play time, and every chance to take the next step. Instead, he posted just 46 points (19G, 27A) in 68 games, a letdown given the opportunity. While he still chipped in for multi-cat leagues the offensive leap never materialized. It has now been three seasons since he hit the 70-point mark and while all the tools are all still there—great shot, physical edge, top-six talent, this year felt more like a step sideways or even slightly backward.

8. Joonas Korpisalo – Boston Bruins

Joonas Korpisalo was given a fresh start this season with Boston, a solid defense, and a chance to rebound after a rough stint in Ottawa. With Swayman's contract uncertain to start the season, he even looked like a potential 1A. The bounce-back never materialized. In 27 games, Korpisalo posted a 2.90 GAA and .893 SV%, not much better than last year. Inconsistent play kept him from locking down a meaningful role, and by midseason, Boston also shifted into a semi-rebuild. Korpisalo did not prove enough to shed the "placeholder" tag. He is now off the fantasy radar, only relevant in the deepest of formats.

7. Chris Kreider – New York Rangers

Chris Kreider has made a habit of outperforming expectations, but this past season was a clear step back. After posting 75 points last season, he dropped to just 30 points in 68 games, with only seven on the power play. His overall presence was just not the same. This was not about puck luck, his shooting percentage stayed level. It felt more like a reduced role and maybe even signs of physical decline. With Laviolette out, a bounce-back may be possible, but expectations should be tempered. Kreider carries more name value than upside heading into next season.

6. Elias Lindholm – Boston Bruins

Elias Lindholm entered with big expectations in Boston after a full offseason to reset. But from puck drop, something felt off and now we know why. A lingering back injury, sustained early in the year, never fully healed. Lindholm managed just 44 points in 80 games, with reduced power-play time and limited offensive impact. His 14 PPPs and drop in shot volume underscored the lack of finish, and his offensive pace was well below past marks, especially the 82-point breakout from his days in Calgary. From a hockey and fantasy perspective, this year was a clear letdown.

5. Timo Meier – New Jersey Devils

From a point-per-game pace in San Jose to just 0.64 PPG in New Jersey, Timo Meier's seasons with the Devils seem to be more and more underwhelming. He finished with 25G and 25A in 78 games, a drop in both production and efficiency. His shooting percentage dropped to 10.9%, and his power-play points fell from 17 to 12. With Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt driving the offense, Meier's role has been secondary. Even with Hughes sidelined, the bump in TOI has not led to a skyrocket in this numbers. He still carries value in multi-cat formats, but without a clearer role or consistency on the top power-play unit, his fantasy outlook remains murky.

4. Erik Karlsson – Pittsburgh Penguins

Erik Karlsson's season has marked a significant decline from his 101-point season in San Jose just two years ago. He posted 53 points (11G, 42A) in 80 games. It is still a solid total, but far from his usual elite production, especially on a more talented Penguins roster. The system in Pittsburgh limited his offensive freedom, as reflected in just 15 power-play points. While his skill and vision remain, the Penguins' structure does not allow him to drive play as he once did. Unless there is a change in his role, system or team for that matter, his ceiling now seems capped at 50–55 points.

3. Mika Zibanejad – New York Rangers

Mika Zibanejad's season felt like a quiet unraveling. Just 68 points in 82 games, the lowest full-season output we have seen from him in well over five years. The once-reliable 35-goal, 80-point threat struggled to find consistency. He only scored 20 goals and his points-per-game pace has been on a decline year-over-year. Power-play production also took a hit with only 19 PPP and a smaller role on the man advantage. The good news? Again, Laviolette is gone. Much like Kreider, a coaching change might be what Zibanejad needs to get back to driving offense and regaining that mid-round fantasy relevance.

2. Juuse Saros – Nashville Predators

Juuse Saros was pegged for a decent season built on volume and consistency, but it went the other way. His .896 save percentage and 2.97 GAA were both career-worsts, and a -10.86 GSAx confirms it was more than just bad bounces. Really bad starts spiked to nearly 20%, quality starts decreased, and even with a lighter workload, efficiency vanished. Nashville's offensive game crumbled, a leaky PK, and poor zone coverage—but Saros, who once covered those flaws, could not do it this time. He may come at a discount next draft (possible buy low), but this was not the campaign managers were banking on.

1. Elias Pettersson – Vancouver Canucks

Labelling Petterson's season as a significant disappointment is fairly accurate coming from back-to-back 102 and 89-point seasons. He posted just 45 points in 64 games, projecting for only 58 points over 82 games. His offensive presence faded, and power-play production fell to 16 points despite over three minutes of PP time per game. Ice time and faceoff numbers also took a hit, and his defensive metrics slipped. Whether due to injuries, fatigue, or confidence issues, Pettersson seemed disengaged at times. Fantasy managers expecting elite value were left frustrated. With J.T. Miller traded, Pettersson has no choice but to rebound next season to re-establish his elite status.

Thanks for reading! See you next week! For more fantasy hockey content and analysis, follow me on X @Punters_hockey. If you have any questions about your team or a trade? My DMs are always open — happy to help!