You may be wondering why you're seeing a poll for a second week in a row when the normal format of Roos Lets Loose is a rotating set of four columns. Well, it's because of the now annual tradition of Bubble Keeper Week at DobberHockey; and rather than devoting a special edition of Goldipucks and the Three Skaters to Bubble Keepers as I've always done in the past, I decided to mix things up and do a poll instead. How will the poll work? Read on….

I'll list 20 skaters, where, for 2024-25, each forward scored at a full season rate between 50 and 65 points and each defensemen between 30 and 40 points. You should vote for any and all of the 20 you believe will improve enough this season to "graduate" from being a bubble keeper. For forwards, this would mean they'd have a scoring rate of 66 or higher in 2025-26, while for defensemen they'd need a rate of 41+ points, i.e., at least a point per every other game. To be clear, I'm talking about scoring rate, not actual points. Also, when considering who to vote for, base it solely on points – that is, if a player is great in multicat or "real life" hockey it doesn't matter for purposes of this poll, only scoring rate. Lastly, I didn't include any players who are age 35+, as even if they rise again they nevertheless might not be keepers due to their age.

I realize these points ranges might be either too high or too low to qualify players as bubble keepers in your specific leagues; however, I felt they were most likely to be reflective of bubble players for the widest range of leagues. Even if some or all of them are not indeed bubble keepers to you, they might be among those you'd still consider drafting. Thus, it should benefit you not only to vote, but also to see who others opted to choose (and not choose) to vote for, to perhaps adjust your ratings of these players.

The 20 voting choices are listed below in alphabetical order with their 2024-25 scoring rate. A link to cast votes will appear at the end of the column.

Sam Bennett (55-point scoring rate for 2024-25)

I wondered if Bennett belonged here, as he's a veteran of ten NHL seasons and never finished with a scoring pace of 60, let alone 65. He has a prior history of doing well in the playoffs, only to fail to carry that momentum into the following regular season. But he'd never scored at a rate anywhere near as high as his 78-point pace in the 2025 playoffs. Could it be a sign of him having made a leap that can be sustained into and even beyond 2025-26?

Brock Boeser (55-point scoring rate)

On the one hand, Boeser has on four separate occasions exceeded the 65-point threshold for being a keeper according to this poll, including as recently as 2023-24. But last season, when he was looking to cash in as a UFA, he had his second worst NHL season, plus Vancouver's 2025-26 offense likely will not be as strong without J.T. Miller, who was Boeser's most frequent center. Still, someone will have to score for the Canucks, and Boeser's role might increase enough for him to do so at a rate which would make him better than a bubbler this time next year.

Philip Broberg (35-point scoring rate)

Prior to 2024-25, Broberg had logged 81 career NHL games spread across three seasons, but had tallied a mere 13 cumulative points. After landing in St. Louis though, his TOI rose to over 20:00 per game, and he produced far better. Still, it did not earn him much PP time, making it perhaps difficult for him to fare better. Then again, perhaps he was just scratching the surface, and, with a full season under his belt, will rise to the required point per every other game scoring rate?

Anthony Cirelli (60-point scoring rate)

The pairing of Cirelli and Brandon Hagel was pure magic early on, with both above the point per game mark after Q1. Hagel was able to sustain his scoring pace, soaring to a career best, while Cirelli slumped, with 37 points in 59 games over the remainder of 2024-25. The issue is, unlike Hagel, Cirelli did not see PP1 duty, and his TOI stayed about the same, whereas Hagel's rose by more than 90 seconds. Still, if Cirelli is able to do what he did in Q1, except for a longer stretch, he could rise to become keeper material.

Brandt Clarke (35-point scoring rate)

Speaking of fast starts, Clarke impressed with 12 points in 11 games out of the gate, albeit with half of those points coming in just two contests. Thereafter, however, he slowed….big time, with just 21 points in his remaining 67 games. It was not a case of Drew Doughty casting a large shadow, as Doughty only played about half those games. Still, with no other top defensemen prospects on the horizon, and Doughty not getting any younger, it seems a question of when, not if, Clarke will explode, after which he'll likely be a perennial keeper. Will a breakout occur in 2025-26? That's the question.

Ryan Donato (64-point scoring rate)

It is difficult to ignore when a player who not only had consistently scored at a pace between 30 and 37 points in each of the past six seasons, but also had been shuffled between no fewer than five different teams, suddenly rises to a 64-point scoring pace right when he's set to become a UFA. I could maybe buy that it was due to him getting a real chance with Chicago, were it not for the fact he played for the Hawks in 2023-24 and fared no better than he had elsewhere. Later career breakouts are not unheard of; so perhaps Donato will continue to rise? Let's see what your votes tell us.

Simon Edvinsson (32-point scoring rate)

Thanks to his TOI per game rising by nearly three minutes, Edvinsson fared much better. The issue is he doesn't shoot much and has only been given PP scraps. Still, as a former sixth overall pick, the Wings clearly want him to succeed. Whether he will, and, if so, to an extent this season to make him not a bubble keeper for 2026-27 remains to be seen.

Brock Faber (30-point scoring rate)

Myself and others warned poolies that despite Faber's superb 2023-24 season, the reality was essentially everything that could have gone right for him did. But even still, for him to see his scoring rate more than halved was an eye opener, especially since his SH% was actually higher, and he even saw more TO per game. It seems like he just might not be cut from a scoring cloth. The good news is Minnesota did not sign a PP1 QB, meaning that if Faber can stave off upstart Zeev Buium he might be able to rebound. But that is a big if.

Morgan Geekie (61-point scoring rate)

If we go by what Geekie did in the second half, then seemingly this is a layup, as Geekie was nearly a point per gamer over the last 37 contests. Beyond that, him being tethered to David Pastrnak served to ignite Pasta as well, such that it seems unlikely the two will be separated. Geekie is only 27; and although the Bruins look to be a team poised to struggle, someone has to score, and Geekie, if 2024-25 is any indication, might be the only other forward for the Bs with a chance to reach the 66+ points scoring pace needed to graduate to keeper status.

Patrik Laine (52-point scoring rate)

It seems like even longer ago than 2017-18 when Laine finished his second season having scored 80 goals as a teen and seemingly on the fast track to becoming the next bona fide NHL sniper. But since then injuries and inconsistency led to him becoming almost a glorified PP specialist, as he didn't even manage to take the ice for 15 minutes a game in 2024-25, this despite averaging 2:48 of PP time per contest. Still, if we remove his one point in nine games to end the season, his scoring rate would've been 61, or not far below the 65-point threshold. So maybe there's life left in him yet?

Mason Lohrei (35-point scoring rate)

Going into the season, expectations were…no pun intended….low for Lohrei, as he had yet to spend an entire season in the NHL and Charlie McAvoy was seemingly a "the guy" defenseman. When McAvoy got hurt, Lohrei was put onto PP1 and the results were quite good, such that some now wonder if he'll keep the gig for 2025-26. If so, rising to a point per every other game should be doable.

Mason Marchment (62-point scoring rate)

With the Stars, Marchment carved out a niche as a top nine, PP2 forward who made the most of limited TOI. On Seattle, he stands to be more of a featured player; but will that help him thrive, or instead result in disappointment? It is uncharted territory, and thus tough to predict.

Connor McMichael (57-point scoring rate)

After 20 points in his first 22 games, McMichael came back to earth in a major way. Also, even as he was thriving, that did not buy him a ticket to PP1. Still, the Caps kept him in the top-six. The question is if 2024-25 was a steppingstone, or roughly the best we'll see from McMichael?

Timo Meier (54-point scoring rate)

Since coming to the Devils, Meier has been a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He is not well suited for playing alongside Jack Hughes, since both are shoot first players, and pairing him with Nico Hischier, who is a strong two-way player, has not helped Meier either. His salary all but assures he'll stay in the top six; however, he's not cemented a spot on PP1, and if he fails to lock one down then a 65+ point pace might be elusive again.

Brock Nelson (57-point scoring rate)

Upon arriving in Colorado Nelson did…..okay. The good news was by the last few games he'd seemingly locked down a spot on Colorado's vaunted PP1, although that was prior to the playoff return of PP1 mainstay Gabriel Landeskog. We know from what Nazem Kadri did not long ago that there is room for a second line center to thrive in Colorado; but can Nelson do so at age 34, and without a continued PP1 spot guaranteed?

Marco Rossi (60-point scoring rate)

On the surface, Rossi's 2024-25 seemed like a major success, what with his scoring rate rising by 50% and his ice time exceeding 18:00 per game. That was without Joel-Eriksson-Ek in the picture for much of the season. Also, when the best of the best on Minnesota were centered by Rossi, they tended to do worse. He also hardly shoots and is not a PPPts magnet. Still, he was a former top ten pick and will only be 24 when 2025-26 starts, so he might rise, whether with Minnesota or for another team if, as is rumored, he's traded. 

Juraj Slafkovsky (53-point scoring rate)

Sure enough Slaf's scoring rate rose, but only slightly, and after 16 points in his last 21 games. Is he Alexis Lafreniere 2.0, or just someone who'll need more time due to his larger frame? With Montreal improving, Slaf's "spot" is no longer as secure as it had been, although as a first overall pick one has to think he'll keep getting chances.

Andrei Svechnikov (55-point scoring rate)

With a 70+ point scoring pace in four of the prior five seasons, most were awaiting the time when the former second overall pick would connect all the dots and perhaps rise to the point-per-game level. Instead he sunk to his worst non-rookie scoring pace and suddenly the worry is less about how high he might rise, but whether he'll get back to where he once was, especially with Seth Jarvis coming into his own and now Nikolaj Ehlers in the mix.

Troy Terry (59-point scoring rate)

Breaking out right near the 200-game mark, and following that up with another 70+ point scoring pace, Terry seemed to be immune to Anaheim's struggles. But 2024-25 marked the second season in a row of a sub-60-point pace. What's more – he's no longer far and away better than the other forward options in Anaheim. Perhaps if the team improves he'll rise again? Or maybe he will struggle even more.

Vincent Trocheck (59-point scoring rate)

Almost like clockwork, Trocheck has had a great season, followed by two weaker ones. Well, if that holds true to form, 2025-26 should be another weak season. Let's also not forget that he is now 32 years old and his rough and tumble style may make it less likely that he'll rise ever again, let alone in 2025-26.

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Again, the magic question is whether these players will rise in 2025-26 to have a scoring pace which would, by my definition, make them a regular keeper for 2026-27, rather than a bubble keeper or even non-keeper. To repeat, for a skater to "graduate" to keeper status, he'd need to score at a 66+ point pace in 2025-26 if a forward, or a 41+ point pace if a defenseman. Also remember, this is scoring pace, not actual points. All that matters is scoring here, not multicat or real life factors. In sum, vote for all players you believe will rise to become actual keepers by my standards, and you can cast your votes here.

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Questions for Mailbag Column

I'm thrilled at all the mailbag questions I've been receiving, especially since it will allow me to do at least two weeks of consecutive mailbags. And that means there is certainly room for me to answer even more questions. To get your questions to me, private message "rizzeedizzee" via the DobberHockey Forums or email [email protected] with "Roos Mailbag" as the subject line.