10 NHLers ready to become breakout stars in 2024-25
Just as a clean breakout is a key element for success throughout the course of a game, breakout players are essential for team success over the course of an 82-game season. Stanley Cup hopes rise and fall not just on the backs of superstars, but also on teammates who can rise to the occasion.
You won’t find the obvious candidates here. That means no Dylan Guenther, not after a $50 million contract, and no Lane Hutson or Macklin Celebrini – who all appear ready to take the league by storm.
Here are 10 players poised to become breakout stars in the 2024-25 NHL season:
The Rookies
CAL RITCHIE
Right Wing, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 19
Last Year: 50 GP, 28 G, 52 A, 82 Pts (OHL)
Seravalli Sees: 75 GP, 15 G, 34 A, 49 Pts
Scoop: In a year with a serious cap crunch, Ritchie might be just what Dr. MacFarland ordered in Denver. Ritchie is ready to step right into the NHL from Oshawa as one of the smartest prospects in the game. The 2023 No. 27 overall pick learned how to be more than just a creative scorer, transforming into a versatile two-way player. There are no holes in his game. He can outthink opponents. Ritchie has brought all his teammates up to another level in junior, and now he’ll lean on the Avs’ veterans to show him the ropes, where he’ll adapt quickly.
ZACHARY L’HEUREUX
Left Wing, Nashville Predators
Age: 21
Last Year: 66 GP, 19 G, 29 A, 48 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 77 GP, 13 G, 22 A, 35 Pts
Scoop: Meet the new player your team loves to hate. There’s no one in the prospect pool quite like L’Heureux, who quite literally scared opponents in the Calder Cup playoffs last year for the Milwaukee Admirals. L’Heureux can do it all. He can score, he can dish, and he can fight. This is a much different Nashville roster to crack this year given all their additions, but it’s hard not to envision the Preds utilizing this one-of-a-kind agitator.
Keep an eye on: Mavrik Bourque, Dallas Stars
The Sophomores
SIMON EDVINSSON
Left Defense, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 21
Last Year: 16 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 70 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts
Scoop: Without making too bold of a prediction, Edvinsson is already the Wings’ second-best defenseman behind only Moritz Seider. It’s been a methodical development from Grands Rapids to Motown, with a taste of the NHL each of the last two seasons. But it’s only been a taste. Edvinsson is ready for more. He might not be a significant point producer at the NHL level, but the 6-foot-6, No. 6 overall pick from 2021 has a strong shot and moves really well for a mountain of a man. He should be chewing up 20 minutes a night this season.
BRANDT CLARKE
Right Defense, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 21
Last Year: 16 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 81 GP, 10 G, 32 A, 42 Pts
Scoop: Clarke was picked two slots behind Edvinsson in 2021 and the Kings have been patiently waiting for the Ottawa native to take reign. Oddly, both Clarke and Edvinsson have each played in the same exact number of NHL games over the last two seasons (nine and 16, respectively), but their games are totally different. Clarke is no shrinking violet at 6-foot-2, but he’s a supremely creative defenseman. He has vision, poise and awareness that make him a threat. With Drew Doughty helped off the ice with a leg injury in pre-season action Thursday, the Kings will likely need fellow right-shot Clarke to handle a prominent puck-moving role right away.
CONNOR ZARY
Left Wing, Calgary Flames
Age: 23
Last Year: 63 GP, 14 G, 20 A, 34 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 80 GP, 22 G, 43 A, 65 Pts
Scoop: There’s no doubt it’s been an impressive training camp for Zary, who appears poised to take the next step and avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. While he may lean toward a natural center, Zary has been impressive on the flank. No need to bleep with happy. It’s working. There weren’t many lulls in his season last year. He had six multi-point games, which means he collected at least one point in nearly half (28) of his 63 games. Zary could well double that this year playing at the top of Ryan Huska’s lineup card.
TY EMBERSON
Right Defense, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 24
Last Year: 30 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 71 GP, 8 G, 14 A, 22 Pts
Scoop: If you dig into the numbers, Emberson actually posted a strong rookie season with the Sharks in limited showing. Aside from the shots he’s averaged per game, Emberson makes a good first pass – which should be priority No. 1 for any Edmonton blueliner with the forwards on their roster. Emberson may not be a household name, but he played for Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch two seasons ago in AHL Hartford. This is a player Knoblauch knows and trusts. It’s a tall task to replace Cody Ceci and Philip Broberg in one shot, but Emberson is up to the task.
Gonna repeat myself here. I saw Ty Emberson play 50 times between Wisconsin and Tuscon in the AHL. His skills match the Oil.
His 5v5 pts/60 would have placed him 3rd on Oilers D behind 2/14. He also averaged 3.7 shots/g. 2,14 and 25 were over 6 shots/g.
Analytical trade IMO
OLEN ZELLWEGER
Left Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 21
Last Year: 26 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 74 GP, 10 G, 18 A, 28 Pts
Scoop: There’s nothing left for Zellweger to accomplish in the AHL. He proved last season that he could dominate, even as a rookie. The 2023 CHL Defenseman of the Year, Zellweger may not have a ton of size at 5-foot-9, but he is such an effortless skater that he’ll make your head spin. He can also play the right side, which adds to his versatility in Greg Cronin’s lineup. His emergence this season in a full-time role will make the Ducks’ eventual departure of Cam Fowler much more palatable.
🚨 OLEN ZELLWEGER FIRST NHL GOAL 🚨
What a snipe! #FlyTogether | @OlenZellweger pic.twitter.com/AZPKNA2t7K
Keep an eye on: David Jiricek, Columbus Blue Jackets; Ryker Evans, Seattle Kraken
The Comeback Kids
JAMIE DRYSDALE
Right Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 22
Last Year: 34 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 78 GP, 8 G, 46 A, 54 Pts
Scoop: The way the last two seasons have gone, we wouldn’t blame you if Drysdale slid off your radar. Drysdale has played in just 42 of a possible 164 games, unable to capitalize on his tremendous 32-point season in 2021-22. That time missed also robbed the Flyers of any immediate gratification from the difficult trade for Cutter Gauthier. Drysdale is ready to make up for that now. He’s healthy and some of the Flyers’ staff has whispered that he’s in some of the best shape on the team, having adding muscle. Keep in mind, Drysdale is only 22, only one year older than some of the rookies on this list.
JACK QUINN
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Last Year: 27 GP, 9 G, 10 A, 19 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 76 GP, 28 G, 46 A, 74 Pts
Scoop: Lofty projection? Maybe. Missing Quinn for 55 games last season really damaged Buffalo’s playoff chances, as their team as a whole struggled to score. Quinn is dogged and determined and ready to return from an Achilles injury that derailed his season. This training camp, he’s gotten time on the Lindy Ruff’s first power play unit, where he should be able to pile up points if he sticks there. Notice served.
KIRBY DACH
Center, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 23
Last Year: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 73 GP, 24 G, 42 A, 66 Pts
Scoop: Hard to believe this is going to be Dash’s sixth NHL season. Not often guys still fall in the ‘Breakout’ category at that point of their careers, but there is still so much untapped potential there. Last season, the Canadiens’ front office felt like Dach might have been their best player in the preseason. Then he hurt his knee in Game 2 – a torn ACL and MCL. Could the 2019 No. 3 overall pick be the long-lost, game breaking center that Montreal has been craving?
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