Greg Wyshynski's ESPN breakout tiers for the 2026-27 NHL season point to a bright future, with a deep rookie class ready to make an immediate impact and a few dozen young players poised to make the leap to stardom. Veterans who have changed teams are also expected to see their fortunes shift thanks to new environments and linemates.
In the "New scenery" tier, Bowen Byram stands out. The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman was tied for 10th in 5-on-5 points (63) among all defensemen over the past two seasons, yet he saw limited power-play time in Buffalo. In Chicago, he is set to quarterback the top unit and could obliterate his career high of 42 points, helping justify his $12.5 million cap hit. John Carlson, now with the Tampa Bay Lightning, gets his greatest offensive weaponry since the peak of the Washington Capitals' power play, after posting 60 points in 71 games last season.
Other newcomers are also drawing attention. Luke Evangelista has been buzzing at 5-on-5 for the New Jersey Devils and is already a staple in their top six. Hendrix Lapierre, who spent years bouncing between Washington and Hershey, has earned a fan in Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse, who calls him a "Swiss Army knife" player. Kirill Marchenko, a three-time leader in goals for the Columbus Blue Jackets, could push into point-per-game territory now that he has Auston Matthews as his center in Toronto.
The list also includes goaltender Devon Levi of the Edmonton Oilers, who is off to a 3-0-0 start, and Mason McTavish, whose offensive game may get a fresh start in St. Louis. JJ Peterka, with 25 goals last season, is back in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Bruins after a frustrating stint in Utah.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing