For some time, the effect of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews dominating from the minute they started their career skewed the expectations of other top picks entering the NHL.
Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini met those high expectations and once again negatively affected the way fans view young players.
Youngsters such as Logan Cooley, William Eklund, Dylan Guenther and Wyatt Johnston have figured things out and found consistency, but the process isn’t always as fast for other players.
Although the opinions have been skewed, these five NHL players show that finding their games can take some time but is starting to pay off as the season progresses.
Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Krakentraded three veteran forwards at the trade deadline. Part of the reason they felt comfortable doing so is because of the emergence of Shane Wright. Playing in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds last season, Wright gave the organization every reason to believe he was ready for the NHL.
The season started poorly for the 21-year-old, struggling to produce and impact the game. As the struggles continued into mid-November, the Kraken decided healthy scratching Wright would allow him to view the game from a different perspective, helping him re-find his game. It did just that.
Since then, Wright has scored 14 goals and 36 points in 45 games. His ice time has grown, and although the points have followed, his focus on the defensive side of the puck hasn’t wavered.
The next step in Wright’s development is to search for more offensive plays, fire the puck on net more frequently and be more creative offensively.
Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Adam Fantilli showed signs of breaking out in Columbus when playing as a second-line center, but the production wasn’t following.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds, Fantilli has the size to be a force in the NHL. Since moving up to the first line, he’s proving to be a force.
Sean Monahan has been out since Jan. 7 after suffering a wrist injury, and since then, Fantilli has scored 12 goals and 23 points in 24 games.
The 20-year-old has recorded just two power-play goals and four power-play points. When the power-play numbers improve, it won’t be long before we see Fantilli scoring near a point-per-game pace across an entire season.
Surging NHL Sophomore Adam Fantilli Fuels The Blue Jackets' Playoff DriveThe Columbus Blue Jackets emerged in the NHL this season in more ways than one.
Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles Kings
Heading into the season, a consensus opinion was the 2024-25 season would be the breakout campaign for Quinton Byfield. It did not look that way from the get-go, not scoring in his first 13 games. On the season, the 22-year-old has recorded 15 goals and 38 points in 63 games, but lately, Byfield looks to have turned the corner with the Kings.
In his last 15 games, Byfield scored five goals and 16 points, including goals in five consecutive games. His recent offensive surge has him inching closer to the career highs he set last season. Averaging over two more minutes of ice time than he previously was, Byfield is being handed the opportunity to produce more and looks to have found his game at the right time to do so.
Will Smith, RW/C, San Jose Sharks
Playing on a young Sharks team, Will Smith’s transition into the NHL wasn’t smooth initially. He’s spent nearly the entire season playing as a right winger, although his natural position is as a center. During the season, the rookie averaged 15:05 ice time, but following the trade deadline, which saw multiple Sharks forwards exit the club, Smith saw an increase in ice time. The production tagged along.
The 19-year-old has registered five goals and 11 points in 10 games since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, including four multi-point games.
Smith and Macklin Celebrini are the future of the franchise, and their rookie campaigns should give Sharks fans a lot to look forward to.
Cutter Gauthier, LW, Anaheim Ducks
Cutter Gauthier surprised the hockey world when he demanded a trade out of Philadelphia. An outstanding player throughout his NCAA career with Boston College and at the world juniors, fans expected the 6-foot-2 left winger to transition into the NHL fairly easily.
The expectations were unfair, but Gauthier showed he was ready for the NHL. The 21-year-old generates a ton of shots, but his finishing hasn’t translated from his junior career to the NHL. Gauthier has an 8.6-percent shooting percentage, scoring on just 12 of his 140 shots. Only three rookies have taken more shots on net than Gauthier.
Gauthier has also seen an uptick in offensive production since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off. In 11 games, Gauthier has scored three goals and 10 points.
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