Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlantic Division Potential 2024-25 Breakout Players
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the teams that make the Atlantic Division so competitive. Within the Atlantic Division, there are many good young players who are looking to have a breakout season. Here is a look at which young players could breakout.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the teams that make the Atlantic Division so competitive. Sharing a division with the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers and division heavyweights like the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning makes it a tough division to compete in.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have finished within the top three teams of the Atlantic Division for three consecutive seasons.
As they try to remain at or near the top of the division, teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres are inching closer to joining the battle for divisional playoff spots.
Having a few star players is important, but teams need scoring from their younger players as well. In the salary cap era, the players on entry level contracts (ELC) need to produce.
Even though they may not be in the mix for a playoff spot yet, the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators have some talented young players. Both teams have been filling their prospect pools over the past few seasons.
Some of those prospects are looking to achieve more this season.
Within the Atlantic Division, there are many good young players who are looking to have a breakout season.
Depending on the team, some of them will have bigger roles than others, but each of them is on the cusp of taking that next step. Here is a look at which young players from each team in the Atlantic Division could have a breakout season.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlantic Division Potential Breakouts
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have a lot of veterans on their team, so there are not many choices for picking which young player will have a breakout season.
Anton Lundell
Anton Lundell is a first-round pick of the Panthers. He was selected 12th overall in the 2020 NHL draft. He had a decent rookie season (2021-22) with 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points in 65 games. Since then, he's failed to record more than 13 goals or 35 points a season. Lundell could potentially be a 20+ goal player who should be able to reach 50+ points.
(All stats from hockey-reference.com)
Adam Boqvist
Adam Boqvist signed a one-year deal with the Panthers for the league minimum ($775,000). The Panthers will be Boqvist's third team in six seasons since being drafted 8th overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
He spent two seasons with the Blackhawks (2019-20 to 2020-21) and three with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2021-22 to 2023-24). The soon-to-be 24-year-old defenseman is looking for a fresh start and hopefully, a breakout season with the Panthers.
(Salary cap info from puckpedia.com)
Tobias Bjornfot
Tobias Bjornfot has played in parts of five NHL seasons and has 15 points in 120 games. The 23-year-old only played in four games last season. However, with the Panthers losing Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto) and Brandon Montour (Seattle) in free agency, he hopes to become a regular everyday NHL defenseman this season. He will not be guaranteed playing time, but if he does, now is the time to have a breakout season.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have a decent mix of veterans and young players in their lineup. Some of the younger guys showed good potential last season and will be looking to take that next step.
John Beecher
John Beecher registered seven goals and three assists for ten points in 52 games with the Bruins last season. The 23-year-old is a first-round pick (30th overall) of the Bruins from the 2019 NHL draft. This season will be his sophomore season, and he's hoping for a sophomore breakout and not a sophomore slump. Beecher will become a restricted free agent (RFA) after this season, so a breakout season could lead to a bigger payday.
Matthew Poitras
Matthew Poitras is a 20-year-old forward who registered five goals and ten assists for 15 points in 33 games last season for the Bruins. He was drafted by the Bruins in the second round of the 2022 NHL draft with the 54th overall pick. Like Beecher, Poitras is looking for a breakout and not a slump in his sophomore season.
Mason Lohrei
Mason Lohrei is a 23-year-old defenseman. After two seasons at Ohio State University, he turned pro last season. He split his time between the AHL and the NHL. With the Bruins, Lohrei registered four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 41 games. During the Bruins 2024 playoff run, Lohrei looked like he belonged in the NHL, so expect to see him get more playing time, which could lead to a nice breakout season.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a predominately veteran team. According to puckpedia.com, their active roster only has three players under 25 years of age. In a way, it makes it easier to select players who are looking for a breakout season.
Jesse Ylonen
After playing parts of four seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Jesse Ylonen is looking for a fresh start with the Lightning. He signed a one-year deal for the league minimum of $775,000. This will be a show us what you got season for Ylonen. That is why I think we could see him have a breakout season. He wants to prove himself and make a statement that he can reach that next level. Two seasons ago, he registered 16 points in 37 games. If he can play at that pace over an 82-game season, he'd have 35 points.
Emil Lilleberg
Emil Lilleberg is a 23-year-old defenseman coming off his first taste of the NHL last season. He registered five assists in 37 games. As a more defensive-style defenseman, Lilleberg will not have many offensive points. He is looking to be a reliable stay-at-home defenseman for the Lightning. His physical style of play will help the Lightning in the Atlantic Division.
Janis Jerome Moser
Some would say that J.J. Moser has already had his breakout season with seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points in 82 games during the 2022-23 season, but I think he has yet to tap into his full potential. I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility for Moser to be a 45 to 50-point guy. He's leaving the Coyotes (Utah HC) behind for a much more talented Lightning team. We'll see if the change in teams helps him surpass expectations.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have three exceptional players looking to take the next step this season. Two of the players recently signed contract extensions, so they will want to prove to the Leafs that the team made the right choice.
Matthew Knies
Matthew Knies had a decent rookie season with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 80 games last season. He proved he could play in the NHL and might be given more playing time this season with the Leafs. Under new Leafs head coach Craig Berube, Knies could turn into a very productive power forward. I don't think 25 goals and 50 points are out of reach for the 21-year-old.
Bobby McMann
It took Bobby McMann a bit longer than some to become an NHL regular, but at 27 years old, he did it last season. McMann registered 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points in 56 games with the Leafs. Like Knies, McMann will try to earn more playing time this season. The Leafs signed McMann to a 2-year contract extension, so they obviously see potential in him.
Joseph Woll
Joseph Woll will start the season playing as part of a tandem with newly signed goaltender Anthony Stolarz, but the goal is for him to become the Leafs number-one starter. Woll only has 36 games of NHL experience, but his stats are good enough that the Leafs didn't feel a need to acquire a starter in free agency. The Leafs signed him to a 3-year extension that begins in 2025, so they have high hopes for the 26-year-old.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have a lot of veteran players on their roster for the 2024-25 season. However, they have a few players who could have a breakout season if given the right opportunity.
Joseph Veleno
Joseph Veleno registered 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 80 games with the Red Wings last season. His production continues to move in the right direction. The Red Wings should expect Veleno to reach 15+ goals this season and hopefully become a 35+ point player. Under the right circumstances, Veleno could become a regular 20-goal scorer for the Red Wings.
Simon Edvinsson
Simon Edvinsson was selected 6th overall in the 2021 NHL draft by the Red Wings. He registered eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 54 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL last season. Edvinsson also registered two points in 16 games for the Red Wings. He is hoping to become a full-time NHL defenseman this season. The 21-year-old is 6'4, 209 Lbs, so he will fit in well within the Atlantic Division.
William Lagesson
William Lagesson has made his way through four teams in the past four seasons. From Edmonton to Montreal to Toronto to Anaheim, he is now looking for another fresh start with the Red Wings. He is not known for being an offensive defenseman, but he did register ten goals and 22 assists for 32 points with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL during the 2022-23 season.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a talented young team looking to become a part of the Atlantic Division's playoff picture. To help them achieve that goal, they will need the following young players to step up this season.
Jack Quinn
Some would say that Jack Quinn's breakout season came during the 2022-23 season when he registered 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 75 games. However, he registered 19 points last season in 27 games after returning from injury. His pace last season hints at what he is capable of if he can stay healthy. Quinn could be a 25+ goal scorer and produce 55+ points in an 82-game season.
Zach Benson
Zach Benson registered 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 71 games with the Sabres last season as an 18-year-old rookie. He was a scoring machine for the Winnipeg Ice in the WHL, which led to the Sabres drafting him 13th overall in the 2023 NHL draft.
The ceiling is high for this kid, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him explode into a 20-30-goal scorer. The 2024-25 season could be his breakout season.
Devon Levi
Devon Levi played in net for 23 games with the Sabres last season. He posted a 10-8-2 record with a 3.10 GAA and a .899 SV%.
His AHL numbers were much better, with a 16-6-4 record with a 2.42 GAA and a .927 SV% in 26 games for the Rochester Americans. Levi will be looking to improve on his NHL numbers and become a reliable goaltender for the Sabres.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators have the youngest team in the Atlantic Division. Several players could have a breakout this season, but I chose the three most likely to do so.
Jacob Bernard-Docker
Jacob Bernard-Docker registered four goals and ten assists for 14 points in 72 games for the Senators last season. He has the potential to achieve more. With more playing time, he could become a 25-30-point defenseman for the Senators. For this season, a breakout would be recording more than 20 points.
Shane Pinto
Due to a 41-game suspension by the NHL for violating the league's gambling policy, Shane Pinto only played in 41 games last season.
He still managed to register nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points. He recorded 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points during the 2022-23 season.
Improving on those numbers is the goal for this season. It is not out of the realm of possibility for him to register 30 goals and 50 points.
Ridly Greig
Ridly Greig had a decent season for the Senators last season. He registered 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 72 games.
The soon-to-be 22-year-old is just getting started. 20 goals and 35-40 points is more than possible for him this season. He has figured out the NHL level, now he needs to make it work to his advantage.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are in the later stages of their rebuild and will be looking to become a playoff contender in the near future.
They have 12 players on their roster over the age of 25, so they have a good mix of veterans and young guys. Here's a look at three players that could have a breakout season for the Canadiens.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard
Rafael Harvey-Pinard registered ten points in 45 games last season for the Canadiens and had 20 points in 34 games during the 2022-23 season. If Harvey-Pinard can stay healthy, he could reach 20 goals and 35 points this season. He will need to get back to playing 17+ minutes a game, so he needs to earn his minutes.
Kaiden Guhle
Kaiden Guhle is considered an offensive defenseman and is turning into a key piece to the Canadiens ongoing rebuild.
He registered four goals and 14 assists in 44 games during his rookie season (2022-23). Last season, he registered six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 70 games. A breakout season for Guhle would see him reach 10+ goals and 30+ points.
Jordan Harris
Jordan Harris is a defensive defenseman, so his point totals will never be flashy. However, when it does come to offense, I think Harris has another level he can reach and become a 25-point guy.
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On the defensive side, Harris is a good shot-blocker. A key area where he needs to improve is his number of giveaways. If he can do that, he will be a solid defender for the Canadiens for many years.