Every Team’s Top Breakout Candidate for 2025-26: Central Division

[Big_G]

This is the second edition of my top breakout candidates for each team in 2025–26. Next up is the Central Division—let’s dive in.

From The Hockey Writers

HERE

[theograce]

I want my boy Jake to net 30

Also hoping for a big year from Hofer

[BalotelliMassive]

Bedard and Nazar? They've already had strong showings.

Sam Rinzel is the name people will remember at the end of the season imo.

[seattleblue]

Wait they picked the rookie who's going straight onto a scoring line as the breakout candidate? How did they sort through all the choices lol

[theograce]

Bedard and Nazar? They've already had strong showings.

Sam Rinzel is the name people will remember at the end of the season imo.

23 goals 67 points -36

If that’s a strong showing … yikes

[callitwhatyouwant]

what a poopy article. Bedard, Cooley, Perfetti? These guys aren't "breakout" candidates. They already showed their promise. It would be like saying Holloway is a breakout candidate. You should be choosing guys that you think are going make jumps that are career defining. Blues candidates would be guys like Torpedo, Snuggy, Mailloux, to a lesser extent Broberg since he had injury concern.

Saying guys that are already potting 65+ points and 50 points isn't a risky take. Tho that Bedard metric where hes 94th percentile per 60 on the PP but 48 during 5 on 5 is quite alarming. Except for the fact that the Hawks are a dumpster fire so not having an advantage means your team is going to have a couple jabronis out there.

[Big_G]

what a poopy article. Bedard, Cooley, Perfetti? These guys aren't "breakout" candidates. They already showed their promise. It would be like saying Holloway is a breakout candidate. You should be choosing guys that you think are going make jumps that are career defining. Blues candidates would be guys like Torpedo, Snuggy, Mailloux, to a lesser extent Broberg since he had injury concern.

Saying guys that are already potting 65+ points and 50 points isn't a risky take. Tho that Bedard metric where hes 94th percentile per 60 on the PP but 48 during 5 on 5 is quite alarming. Except for the fact that the Hawks are a dumpster fire so not having an advantage means your team is going to have a couple jabronis out there.

It's from The Hockey Writers, what'd you expect. I posted only because they/he mentioned Logan Mailloux as the honorable mention. Let's hope!

[skilles]

Wait they picked the rookie who's going straight onto a scoring line as the breakout candidate? How did they sort through all the choices lol

What did you guys expect them to do? Not pick that right guy because its obvious? I mean they mentioned the right guys IMO.

[BalotelliMassive]

Tho that Bedard metric where hes 94th percentile per 60 on the PP but 48 during 5 on 5 is quite alarming. Except for the fact that the Hawks are a dumpster fire so not having an advantage means your team is going to have a couple jabronis out there.

Chicago coaches have been changing the line mates every other game - one of the biggest reasons that they're ex coaches now.