ROOS LETS LOOSE POLL: First Time Point Per Gamer Scorers

[RizzeeDizzee]

Here's a fun fact; in 2021-22, 29% (i.e., 13 of 44) of the players who appeared in 41 games and averaged point per game or better in scoring did so for the first time in their career. What percentage did so for the first time in 2022-23? Believe it or not, 29% again (i.e., 11 of 38). Who will be the first timers in 2023-24? That's for your votes to predict.

I've chosen the 20 players - listed as voting choices in alphabetical order - who have yet to ever score at the point per game level in 41+ games, and your job is to vote for any and all you believe will indeed appear in 41+ games while also averaging a point per game or higher. To be clear, none of these players has to score 82 points, unless of course they play in all 82 games. This is based on appearing in 41+ games and having a games played total equal to or lower than one's point total.

As usual, please post in this thread who you voted for and why, for added enjoyment and insight.

[RizzeeDizzee]

My votes went to:

Dahlin - He'd have been well over the mark in 2022-23 except for ten points in his final 23 games when he was likely still not fully over his injury
DeBrincat/Larkin - I think they are exactly what the other needs to explode
Hischier - Meet the new Patrice Bergeron
Suzuki - An all-around great talent who will benefit more from Caufield than vice versa
Zegras - If Hughes and Stutzle could break out at this stage in their careers, so too can Zegras

[senryu]

Dahlin and Bratt seem like easy calls, emerging talents, surrounded by players who also seem to be raising their games.
Fox and Q. Hughes - They're close and my gut says that the surrounding pieces are there, along with their own maturation, to edge over a point per game.
Zegras - Seems like the right time for his leap, also has surrounding talent which should ostensibly help.
Svechnikov - Carolina's balancing of lines and TOI might prevent this, but I think he's at the age where he could still have a leap.

[loppantorkel]

voted for:
Bratt
Cozens
Dahlin
Ehlers
Hughes
Larkin
Svechnikov
The time seems right for these players.
I guess that Zegras, DeBrincat and Bedard will be close, but for Bedard and Zegras - their teams and support aren't enough yet.

[Invictus]

My votes went to:

Dahlin - He'd have been well over the mark in 2022-23 except for ten points in his final 23 games when he was likely still not fully over his injury
DeBrincat/Larkin - I think they are exactly what the other needs to explode
Hischier - Meet the new Patrice Bergeron
Suzuki - An all-around great talent who will benefit more from Caufield than vice versa
Zegras - If Hughes and Stutzle could break out at this stage in their careers, so too can Zegras

This is my list, exclude Suzuki, include Quinn Hughes.

I think those big guns from Vancouver will turn it up another notch this year.

[chuckcouples]

I wanted to vote for nobody but since that isn't allowed, I voted for Nik Ehlers as my only one.

[McTalbot]

Where is the list?

[chuckcouples]

Where is the list?

Polls can't be seen on the mobile version. You either have to switch to view desktop site or switch to an actual desktop.

[McTalbot]

Got it, thanks.

In addition to the choices mentioned above, I think Nick Schmaltz become a PPG player as the coyotes gets better (even though he won't play 82 games).

Verhaeghe : 40 pts over the last 38 games. Played with M. Tkachuk more than half the year.

Also, shouldn't Boldy be on that list?

[Wonko]

I voted for Hischier and Larking only. A few close calls. For D men, even Dahlin and Fox, getting a point per game takes everything in the universe to come together perfectly. Just no percentage in it imo.

[Dr.Brad]

I also like the Boldy addition (yeah, I know he’s not added - yet).

Larkin
Meier

I think others get close, but to list more than three is optimistic.

[Pengwin7]

I went with Dylan Larkin.
Sniper (DeBrincat) on board + improving offensive D-men in Detroit.

[ross10019]

Super interesting poll and comments.

I agree Larkin gets there, and pulls DeB along with him. So much offense will flow through them, especially with the Comphers and Copps there to take on some defensive load, that they are bound to rack up the points.

Otherwise, I think Bratt is a very good bet given his success with Hughes - and incidentally am super pissed Dr Brad snagged him one pick before mine in the 8th (!?!) round of our Dobber mock draft!

Of the others:

- Schmaltz - sure he might play only 62 because he’s made of styrofoam, but with Keller there and all the PP time in the world, he should put up an assist-heavy close to PPG.

- Suzuki - Habs will score more this year, despite continuing to struggle defensively, and Suzuki/Caufield will be the prime beneficiaries. Full season with Matheson QBing the PP will help, and I think Dach and Newhook will help.

- Hischier - Meier on his wing, but question whether he tops out as a mid 70s guy (which would suit the Devils just fine). I like the “new Bergeron” references, but people forget that Bergeron did not have a Jack Hughes ahead of him as C1 - Krejci was great but a bit short of that. Still, wouldn’t be surprised if he does it.

[LafayetteAvsFan]

I think only Larkin.

[Must_Love_Pogs]

My choices in order of confidence Larkin, Bratt, Verhaeghe, Ehlers.

Seems like there's a pretty strong consensus around Larkin and Bratt so I won't rehash. I will say that DeBrincat has played with great talent his whole career and never been a point per game guy so I don't expect Larkin to help him take the next step.

Verhaeghe will truly depend on PP deployment. He's in that spot on the panthers power-play that seems to always have a different player cycling in and out when they hit a dry spell, like it's somehow just one guy's fault.

Ehlers... I don't know what to say. He's a fantasy enigma. Seems like he should be a lock first line, first PP guy on probably. 90% of NHL teams (including his own,) but never gets the deployment. Not sure what he does that coaches hate so much. I watch Schiefele not even attempt to back check all the time and they don't seem to care about that.

There's no player I've wanted to be traded for fantasy purposes in my life more than him. I put him on my draft list essentially every year and every year he burns me for the draft capital I have to spend on him. Here's hoping the loss of Wheeler and Dubois forces him onto that top PP.