Who's the Next Big Forward?

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Seeing all the great discussion generated by the thread about what D-man makes the jump into elite territory, I figured we could use a thread for the forwards. So who will make the jump in 2014-2015, like Seguin did this year and Tavares did in 2011-2012?

[0PucksGiven]

if your talking players who will take it to another level next year this is my list of who will excel the most.

Taylor Hall is already elite but I think he could really take it to another level if he stays healthy and if Edmonton can get there shit together.
..that being said we could see RNH hitting another level as well.

With a new coach in Nashville I would like to take a flyer (pun intended) and said Craig Smith... Maybe not "elite" but a breakout season.

Evander Kane would be a great candidate for this discussion as well especially if he gets out of Winnipeg.
Jakub Voracek- will be 70+ next year.
Beau Bennet- depending on line combinations.
Jeff Skinner- new coach and line combo.
JVR- breakout year last year and can only improve.
and
Palat.... because well...Stamkos.

[plug]

My pick for a guy stepping up is Scheifele.

[jcairns]

Evander Kane would be a great candidate for this discussion as well especially if he gets out of Winnipeg.
Jakub Voracek- will be 70+ next year.
Beau Bennet- depending on line combinations.
Jeff Skinner- new coach and line combo.
JVR- breakout year last year and can only improve.
and
Palat.... because well...Stamkos.

Not a bad list. I don't think Voracek will ever be more than a 60-70 pt guy though, and not sure JVR will improve by much more than what he's already done.
Palat could be, but he's a big gamble due to the situation in TB and the young guns competing for spots. Palat is by no means a lock to play on Stamkos' wing.

[MXHockey]

Sean Monahan..........

[Oakville Squires]

My money is on Huberdeau and/or Yakupov. They both had solid rookie seasons and I think after regressing this past year they will take the next step forward.

[0PucksGiven]

Not a bad list. I don't think Voracek will ever be more than a 60-70 pt guy though, and not sure JVR will improve by much more than what he's already done.
Palat could be, but he's a big gamble due to the situation in TB and the young guns competing for spots. Palat is by no means a lock to play on Stamkos' wing.

I agree with you, Voracek did flirt with PPG in the Lockout shortened season so that's what I based that off of.
with palat he was a great player this year and hopefully he improves.
Johnson you could make the same argument for as well.

I would also like to add Logan Couture to my list.
and Kuznetsov

[Shake]

Evander Kane
Jonathan Huberdeau
Mark Scheifele
Gustav Nyquist
Sean Monahan

[petegreg21]

Based on the original post (Tavares jump of 14 pts to PPG, Seguin's jump of 17 pts from career high to PPG), I think the best candidates to make similar jumps will be...

MacKinnon
Landeskog
Johansen
Schwartz
Skinner (if healthy)
I like Mikael Granlund to take a huge leap, but I think 2015-2016 is a safer target for 75+ points

[Ed.]

Depends what we are defining as elite. I could see RNH making a jump this year or next, from the 50s into the 70s if the team around him gets its shit together. Ryan Johansen is another one who could add another 10 points just through increased usage. He played a lot of 13-17 minute games this year. When he is playing mostly 20 minute games, we should see some more numbers from him. Kucherov has quite a bit of promise, though he does have that Tampa logjam to deal with, and is probably 2-3 years from really great numbers, assuming he gets there at all.

If you're looking for the next 90+ guy though, I think it's Mackinnon. I don't know that he's going to hit that number this year, but I think of all the guys in the league who haven't topped 90, he is the most likely to do so in the next few years.

[ds760]

Drouin! Tied lemieux for most points in a minor league this year. Going to be a special player with Stamkos. Watch out.

[havanablast21]

Depends what we are defining as elite.

Why must we always nit pick the true meaning of people's choice of words? What does he me by elite? What do you mean by most skilled goalie?(previous post).

Pet peeve is all.

I think common sense answers those questions... And incidentally your choices ... I agree with.

[0PucksGiven]

Why must we always nit pick the true meaning of people's choice of words? What does he me by elite? What do you mean by most skilled goalie?(previous post).

Pet peeve is all.

I think common sense answers those questions... And incidentally your choices ... I agree with.

REP given.

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

As far as what constitutes "elite", when I first made the post I was thinking top-15, ppg+ players, but discussions about any player you feel is poised to make a big jump, even if they still fall outside that ralm, are welcome.

[HockeyProphet]

Coming in from Sudbury ON, at a looming 6'6, 204 pounds...

14-year-old, Ethan Lavalee, is the next 'big' forward.