Five likely NHL bounce-back candidates for 2025-26

Perhaps no sport has as many variables as hockey when it comes to statistical outcomes. Hockey players routinely play hurt and coaching systems can have enormous impact year to year. Excluding the elite of the elite, it's fairly common to see significant statistical variability in player performance from year to year. 

With that in mind, here are five potential bounce-back candidates for the 2025-26 season. 

 St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington 

2024-25 season: 56 games, 28-22-5, three shutouts, 2.69 GAA, .900 save percentage

The Blues made several major additions that should help them suppress offenses at five-on-five and on special teams (centers Nick Bjugstad and Pius Suter). Binnington's save percentage improved from .891 to .905 after Jim Montgomery took over behind the bench in late November, per Natural Stat Trick. 

Los Angeles Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko

2024-25 season: 66 games, 11 goals, 26 assists, 15:38 time on ice per game, minus-one at five-on-five (according to Natural Stat Trick)

Kuzmenko probably will never match his absurd 39-goal rookie year in 2022-23 with Vancouver, when he shot an absurd 27.3 percent. But there were signs of hope that some semblance of the player from his rookie year might still be around after the Kings acquired him at the trade deadline from the Philadelphia Flyers.

In Los Angeles, Kuzmenko was plus-nine at five-on-five, above water on every possession metric, finished the regular season with 17 points in 22 games and was a point-per-game player in Los Angeles' short-lived playoff appearance. The Kings lost defensive acumen in free agency, but a focused Kuzmenko could make up some of the difference in the offensive zone. 

Edmonton Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane

2024-25 season: 81 games, 14 goals, 14 assists, 13:02 time on ice per game, plus-one at five-on-five (according to Natural Stat Trick)

Mangiapane scored 35 goals for Calgary during the 2021-22 season, but he hasn't tallied more than 17 in a season since. Edmonton is always looking for value on the wing to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This might be an issue of comfort for Mangiapane, who played his best hockey with Edmonton's provincial rival Calgary. Now back in western Canada after a one-year stint in Washington, Mangiapane could find his scoring touch playing with elite centermen. 

Vancouver Canucks center/winger Elias Pettersson

2024-25 season: 64 games, 15 goals, 30 assists, 18:40 time on ice per game, minus-one at five-on-five (per Natural Stat Trick)

Perhaps it was his constant battle with health or a shorter offseason leading to less recovery time, but there's almost no explanation for Pettersson's disastrous 2024-25. His offensive metrics collapsed in nearly every possession category even while his defensive metrics remained solid. A coaching change could help (Adam Foote replaced Rick Tocchet), but much of this is on the player — something he has acknowledged.

New York Rangers center/right wing Mika Zibanejad

2024-25 season: 82 games, 20 goals, 42 assists, 18:46 time on ice per game, minus-nine at 5-on-5 (per Natural Stat Trick)

A chaotic, nightmare of a season for Zibanejad included a painfully slow start — 29 points in his first 50 games and a dreadful minus-15 at five-on-five in that span, according to Natural Stat Trick. Zibanejad's team, like Pettersson's, will be counting on him to be an integral piece. 

Zibanejad cooked in the final 32 games last season, scoring 33 points (19 at five-on-five, 21st among all 828 skaters who played in that stretch) and playing some of his best hockey alongside newly acquired center J.T. Miller. The big question: Will new head coach Mike Sullivan stick Zibanejad back on Miller's wing?