Five biggest breakout players of the NHL season so far

Interestingly enough, his 26 shots in 11 games would put him at about 194 shots for the entire season, which would be far below his totals of 230 and 241 in the past two seasons. While it is unlikely he will keep up his career-high 26.9 shooting percentage, he's finding plenty of chemistry with his linemate Jesperi Kotkaniemi and looks poised to lead the Hurricanes offensively.

Alex Laferriere, Los Angeles Kings

In just his second NHL season, the Kings forward is already set to pass his rookie season totals. Last season, the 23-year-old Laferriere put up 12 goals and 11 assists in 81 games; this season, he has eight goals and 13 points in 14 games. Laferriere's eight goals are tied for the third most in the league.

He's also seen his ice time skyrocket, going from just over 13 minutes a night in 2023-24 to an average of 15:38 per game this season. Additionally, he's also improved his plus/minus, from -14 last season to +9. Look for Laferriere to continue his pace and be a top producer for Los Angeles.

Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings

Clarke is another Kings player that is off to an excellent start. The rookie had played nine and 16 games over the past two seasons and has now officially stepped into the lineup for Los Angeles. With 12 points in 14 games, Clarke currently ranks in the top 10 league-wide for points by a blue liner.

As top defenseman Drew Doughty remains sidelined for a long time after an ankle injury in the preseason, Clarke has stepped into not just a top four role, but as the Kings top powerplay quarterback. Los Angeles will certainly hope that the former eighth-overall pick can continue his high-end play.

Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers

Lundell was solid for Florida in its Stanley Cup run last season, often centering their third line in a two-way role. In his first three seasons, the former first-round pick in 2020 produced at a rate of just above half a point per game. This season, he's added a new offensive level to his game, with six goals and 13 points in 13 games.

The coaching staff is certainly trusting him more, especially with an early season injury to Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov; Lundell has seen his ice time jump by quite a bit this season from last, rising over three minutes to 18:50 per game. 

As the 23-year-old takes on a bigger role, he'll most definitely be looked at as a go-to guy for the Panthers.

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

Dostal has been fantastic in net for the Anaheim Ducks this season, posting a .930 save percentage in 10 games, which is good for fourth in the league. In just his second full season, the 24-year-old has shown the Ducks that he is poised to be their future in goal. 

Additionally, Dostal also ranks first among qualified goaltenders in goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. He's also first in saves, with 332, which means not only is he producing, but he's doing so while facing a high number of shots. 

While Dostal might not end the season with a .930 save percentage, there's reason to believe he'll end up as one of the league's top goaltenders in 2024-25.