Team: 2020-21 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 9, 2020

Published: Nov. 10, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Thought it would be fun:

ANA: Troy Terry - plenty of hype, I think he'll finally have the confidence to start producing - I'm gonna predict 18-28-46 which would be a pretty solid boxcar on the Ducks
ARI: I think Chychrun will become a top pair guy this year, his "breakout" has been relatively slow but impressive
BOS: Could go a few ways here, but I'll say Grz because I think he can play a perfect support role in their top 4
BUF: Cozens shouldn't have much issue translating his play to the NHL, but he's also not a sure thing
CGY: Dube was great in the bubble, lugging around some pretty meh linemates from what I saw
CAR: Necas has elite potential in my book, if he doesn't ever live up to it I think you could blame the other young stars in the Canes' fwd group.
CHI: I see a lot of John Marino in Ian Mitchell so he's my breakout candidate
COL: kind of a tricky one here but I'll go with Compher, I think he'll play into a bigger role than he's had so far, especially if they decide to break up their big line and try to find some chemistry in a 4-line approach
CBJ: So many to choose from (Foudy, Elvis, Texier, even Bjorkstrand could still fully break out) but I'm going with Bemstrom - once he starts using that 1-timer more he's gonna be a big-time goal scorer IMO
DAL: little bit of a hot take but I'm going with Harley - I think he may force his way onto the team after dominating the OHL and potentially dominating this-coming WJC. Even on a defense where it will be hard to find offensive minutes, I think he'll break out into a 19-yr old NHL regular on the 3rd pair, no small feat.
DET: Gonna say Stecher has a career year on a light Wings defense where he should get fed 20+ minutes
EDM: the underlying numbers say that Jones is ready for a bigger role, and the injuries they've had will open up the room for him
FLA: Tippett seems like a safe choice, great prospect that should have a good time in the NHL
LAK: Vilardi could contend for the Calder, depending on the role he is given
MIN: Fiala already broke out last year, but it was a little hushed in some circles, so I'll go with him and say he leads the team in scoring with a 30-40-70 season, star numbers
MTL: another team with plenty of options... I'll say Romanov mostly because of how highly the organization talks of him. I think he grabs a significant role.
NSH: Preds really need a big-time forward to boost their group and I think it will be Tomasino, almost instantly
NJD: again a team with a few solid choices... I'll say Hughes hits his stride with a little more strength on the puck and finishing luck - 20-40-60 season for him
NYI: I say Sorokin ends up their top goalie before the season ends
NYR: I like Chytil and if he can break out to be a legit 2C it solves some things in NY
OTT: comes down to Batherson vs Brannstrom to me; I'll go with Batherson
PHI: I think Myers will stick on the top pair and have a great season; also considered Lindblom since he was breaking out right before his cancer diagnosis
PIT: Poulin might make the team but I think the more obvious breakout has to be Jarry if the Pens have cup aspirations; he put together a good season last year but could potentially break into the top of the starters list
SJS: I think this is the season that Timo puts up a pt per game pace
STL: Blues have a few options but I'll go with Robby Thomas; his scoring rates are already top-notch, just give him more ice and his boxcars will explode
TBL: hard to predict without knowing how they solve their cap issues but if there is room for an ABB call-up he's my pick. classic tampa, small undrafted guy out of nowhere.
TOR: big roster turnover so plenty of choices, I think KHL stats can be misleading for the older guys but Lehtonen could really excel with the Leafs - he looks like he's really peaking right now.
VAN: Demko should be able to steal some starts from Holtby and break into starter territory
VGK: a Glass breakout is exactly what the Knights could use
WSH: Siegenthaler has guys in front of him on the depth chart but I wouldn't be surprised if he breaks into a top 4 role; was also thinking about McMichael here if he makes the team
WPG: been waiting for Roslovic and Niku to break out, but I think Appleton is another guy that may end up seeing a big jump in his minutes. If Heinola, Samberg, Vesalainen, or Perfetti can make the team, they'd all be in the conversation. (worth noting that Perfetti will be 19 when the NHL season starts so it isn't crazy to see him make the team IMO)

Keep in mind a "breakout" is different for each guy based on their starting points, and most of it really depends on external things like coaching decisions, injuries, etc. Lmk what you think - let's hear some predictions from the fans of these teams.