Which Eastern Conference players need to bounce back in 2024-25?

Training camps are open, medicals are in the books, and it’s time to hit the ice on what’s going to be a very entertaining 2024-25 NHL season.

Each campaign, there’s a select few from around the league who desperately need to put last season behind them and focus on the task at hand. Perhaps 2023-24 was a season littered with bad injury luck, a dip in ice-time or lack of opportunity, or perhaps it was solely on the player who couldn’t provide consistent production.

After diving into which Western Conference players needed a bounce-back year, here’s a candidate from each Eastern Conference team:

Metropolitan Division

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Carolina Hurricanes
2023-24 Stats: 79 GP, 12 G, 15 A, 27 Pts

The former 2018 third-overall pick had a dip of 16 points in his production last season, including finishing December with just one point in 15 games and only 11 points combined the last four months of the year. Kotkaniemi’s ice-time dropped from 14:44 per game in ’22-23 to 12:58 last year. With Jake Guentzel in Tampa Bay and Teuvo Teravainen back in Chicago, Kotkaniemi could be in line for a bigger role this season in Carolina and he needs to make the most of it. His modified 10-team no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until 2026-27, so if he gets off to another slow start this season some trade buzz could be on the horizon.

Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
2023-24 Stats: 41 GP, 13-17-8, 3.45 GAA, .897 Sv.%

Merzlikins has only posted a winning record twice in his five-year tenure in Columbus. Even though he’d likely still prefer to be dealt, GM Don Waddell stated earlier in the offseason the goaltender’s $5.4-million cap hit the next three seasons isn’t very appealing to onlooking GMs. At 30 years old and on a Blue Jackets team that isn’t very deep organizationally in net, Merzlikins has a chance to solidify himself in Columbus as ‘the guy’ for at least the next three seasons. That’s if he truly wants to be there.

Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils
2023-24 Stats: 20 GP, 5 G, 11 A, 16 P

This pick is solely based on health. Hamilton had his year cut short thanks to a torn pec muscle and if he’s able to regain his form, the Devils could take a giant step forward. Hamilton had a career season in ’22-23 and will have all the opportunity in the world to get back to this level. Look for the 31-year-old blueliner to be given the keys to the top power-play unit and once again log well north of 20 minutes per game. If the Devils make some serious noise this season, it’s very likely Hamilton is smack in the middle of it all.

Anders Lee, New York Islanders
2023-24 Stats: 81 GP, 20 G, 17 A, 37 Pts

As far as points-per-game go, Lee had his worst season since ’15-16. He saw his power-play time almost cut in half last season and while he brings a ton of intangibles to the rink as the Isles’ captain, New York needs more from their leader offensively. $7 million for 37 points isn’t cutting it. Ilya Sorokin doesn’t get a pass either as his save percentage dropped .15 points last season, and if these two pillars aren’t stabilizing the core, it could be a very underwhelming season on Long Island.

Filip Chytil, New York Rangers
2023-24 Stats: 10 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 6 Pts

A serious concussion derailed Chytil last season and he’ll look to play a much bigger role on Broadway this year. The former 2017 first-round pick didn’t score a goal during the regular season or in six appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so perhaps it would be appropriate if he lit the lamp to open the Rangers ’24-25 campaign? Chytil’s versatile enough to play down the middle or on the wing, and he showed in ’22-23 that he can produce consistently with 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games. A strong start will be vital for the 25-year-old after Rangers’ GM Chris Drury recently confirmed Chytil’s “full go” this season.

Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
2023-24 Stats: 74 GP, 11 G, 27 A, 38 Pts

Injuries, getting called out by his coach, lack of offense, it’s been a rough couple of seasons for the Flyers’ captain and Couturier could use a bounce-back year more than anyone in Philly. The 31-year-old is the highest paid player on the team and while they continue to rebuild/re-tool on the fly, Couturier needs to do his part offensively to help push the Flyers from hovering around the basement of the league in goals-per-game. Yes, he’s most effective playing a strong two-way game, but Couturier must sniff a point-a-game if the Flyers have any chance of sneaking in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
2023-24 Stats: 70 GP, 15 G, 22 A, 37 Pts

The Penguins are paying Rakell $5 million per year and have provided him a golden opportunity among their top six, so it’s time for the veteran winger to put up some consistent numbers. Anything less than 20 goals is not going to cut it and could wind up making GM Kyle Dubas think long and hard about Rakell’s fit with the Penguins. His no-trade clause is only a modified eight-team list. Considering the term left on his deal, however, it won’t be an easy transaction to complete. Shot volume is something to keep an eye on here as Rakell scored 28 goals two seasons ago on 243 shots. Meanwhile last season he only hit the net 165 times in just 12 fewer games.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Washington Capitals
2023-24 Stats: 82 GP, 16 G, 24 A, 40 Pts

Dubois debuts in Washington this season after an offseason swap with the Los Angeles Kings. He could see some time with Alex Ovechkin on his wing, which will certainly help his distribution numbers and could open up some room in the middle of the ice. Dubois makes $8.5 million, so 40 points are half of what Washington is looking for. Especially on a Capitals team who will be without T.J. Oshie and is desperate for the next wave of talent to become their core moving forward.

Atlantic Division

Joonas Korpisalo, Boston Bruins
2023-24 Stats: 55 GP, 21-26-4, 3.27 GAA, .890 Sv.%

Bruins fans weren’t particularly happy seeing Linus Ullmark dealt to the rival Ottawa Senators and many felt Korpisalo was an underwhelming element of the return. The 30-year-old netminder had a rough season in Ottawa last year and with Jeremy Swayman’s contract talks ongoing, Korpisalo could be thrown into the deep waters of Beantown rather quickly. Sink or swim? If he can’t handle the duties, perhaps GM Don Sweeney will give in a little bit to Swayman’s camp. Two years ago Korpisalo posted a 2.13 GAA and .921 SV.% in a short stint with the L.A. Kings. The Bruins’ faithful are hopeful he can get back to this type of production in Boston.

Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
2023-24 Stats: 71 GP, 29 G, 27 A, 56 Pts

While 29 goals and 56 points may be a career year for some, Thompson is a different beast. The towering forward put up 47 goals and 94 points the year before and if Buffalo wants to finally take a step forward, they need Thompson to regain his form. Lindy Ruff should help provide some better structure behind the bench and it’s going to be on Thompson to lead the charge offensively. The Phoenix, AZ native played a career-high in terms of penalty-kill minutes last season, but it’s on the power-play that will garner some attention. Thompson went from 20 power-play goals in ’22-23 to just nine last year.

Justin Holl, Detroit Red Wings
2023-24 Stats: 38 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 Pts

Year 1 of Holl’s $10.2 million contract did not go over very well in Detroit as he was a healthy scratch throughout portions of the regular season. He’s at his best when he’s keeping things simple, clearing out the front of the net and being effective on the penalty kill. Not a lot of anything went right for Holl last year. With a $3.4-million cap hit, GM Steve Yzerman is hopeful Holl can improve in year two, or else this contract could go down as one of Yzerman’s biggest mistakes. That’s assuming Holl can still crack the lineup as a regular. With Erik Gustafsson in the fray now, it’s possible Holl opens the year as Detroit’s seventh defenseman.

Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers
2023-24 Stats: (AHL) 25-14-5, 2.41 GAA, .905 Sv.%

After bursting onto the scene in ’21-22, Knight has been through a lot in Florida, both on and off the ice. With Anthony Stolarz signing in Toronto, Knight returns to the Panthers’ crease and will look to push starter Sergei Bobrovsky for minutes. The Stanley Cup winners will once again contend this season and if Knight can return to form, they could have one of the best goaltender tandems in the league. At a $4.5-million AAV, Panthers’ GM Bill Zito certainly hopes so.

Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadiens
2023-24 Stats: 30 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 Pts

While Patrik Laine warrants a look, Dvorak also needs a bounce-back season in Montreal. He’s coming off an injury-riddled campaign and is entering a contract year, so there’s a lot riding on his production. The Canadiens want to get themselves back into playoff contention in the East, and having Dvorak as their third-line shut-down center could go a long way. At 28 years old, Dvorak has a chance to solidify himself as part of the Canadiens’ core but a slow start to another season could derail any hope.

Josh Norris, Ottawa Senators
2023-24 Stats: 50 GP, 16 G, 14 A, 30 Pts

Norris underwent his third shoulder surgery last season and if he’s not able to get back to his ’21-22 form when he scored 35 goals in 66 games, Ottawa could have some issues up front. At a $7.95-million AAV, the Sens have committed some major dollars into Norris. His contract runs through the 2027-28 season, but he doesn’t have any trade protection for two more years. A slow start for a Sens team with very high hopes could quickly put Norris on the trade block.

Cam Atkinson, Tampa Bay Lightning
2023-24 Stats: 70 GP, 13 G, 15 A, 28 Pts

Atkinson joins the Lightning on a very affordable one-year contract and has a prime opportunity for top-six minutes. He was put through the ringer in Philly thanks to a somewhat shaky relationship with John Tortorella and Atkinson is looking to put his worst season in a decade behind him. At just a $900,000 cap hit, Atkinson could be in the running for the best value add of any off-season acquisition. He’s likely to start the season playing on the team’s second line with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel.

Calle Jarnkrok, Toronto Maple Leafs
2023-24 Stats: 52 GP, 10 G, 11 A, 21 Pts

Jarnkrok dealt with some injury troubles last season and has a prime opportunity knocking on his door with Craig Berube now behind the Leafs’ bench. Berube loves workhorses and Jarnkrok has one of the best motors in the league. He showed two seasons ago he can hit the back of the net, scoring 20 goals. Look for Jarnkrok to be a bit of a Swiss-army knife this year in Toronto. At just $2.1 million against the cap, a potential 20-goal scorer who plays in all situations and can fit in all over your lineup, Jarnkrok is more valuable to the Maple Leafs than many people realize.

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