Bounce Back Performances to Keep an Eye on in the 2025-26 NHL Season
Every NHL year, a few big names get judged by one bad season. Injuries, cold shooting, or a role that never really fits can drag down the box scores, even when the underlying talent is still there.
Heading into 2025-26, these ten players look like prime rebound candidates. Some are veteran stars returning to full fitness, others are younger pieces stepping into bigger minutes, and each has a clear route back to driving play. If even a few of them catch fire early, the playoff race and award talk could look very different by spring.
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Elias Pettersson, who was expected to be a franchise centre in the 2024-25 season, struggled with injuries and inconsistent play. This resulted in a disappointing stat line of just 15 goals and 45 points over 64 games. The significant decrease in output from his 102-point season two years prior, coupled with reported locker room unrest, even led to trade rumours during the inaugural year of his $11.6 million contract.
His performances improved significantly late in the season, including an eight-game stretch in which he scored 10 points before his season-ending injury. Given his track record, including five seasons with more than 60 points, it’s reasonable to expect he will bounce back. With a likely return to full fitness and a spot on the top line, the conditions are right for him to return to his usual levels of performance.
Elias Pettersson's return to full health could be a major catalyst for the Canucks, potentially pushing him back to a point-per-game average. His ability to anchor the center of the ice and boost the power play is key. A strong start would quiet contract talk and re-establish him as the focal point of Vancouver’s offence.
Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames
Jonathan Huberdeau arrived in Calgary with elite numbers and a $10.5 million AAV, only to see his production drop from 115 points in Florida to 55 and then 52 in his first two Calgary seasons, before rebounding to 62 last season.
For a player expected to drive a top line and power play, that level of offence fell well short of what the Flames and fans had in mind and raised tough questions about his fit with the team. The talent is still evident, but his rhythm slipped after the trade, and the adjustment period dragged on longer than anyone expected.
There are, however, real signs he can steady things this year. He finished second on the team in scoring, took on more responsibility, and drew public praise for rounding out his game, which points to growing trust from the staff. With clearer usage, more stable linemates, and a renewed focus on attacking the interior, his playmaking should show up more often. A better environment around him would lift both his assist totals and his on-ice shooting luck.
Huberdeau has the tools to be one of the most interesting NHL bounce-back candidates this season. If things come together, he has a realistic path back toward the 70-point range. His hockey sense and vision are key to the Flames opening up the middle of the ice, and if the power play improves, his resurgence could play a major role in any push toward the playoffs.
Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators
Steven Stamkos’s first season with the Nashville Predators came with a clear dip in production after 16 straight years in Tampa Bay. He finished with 27 goals and 53 points and a minus-36 rating, which jumps off the page for the wrong reasons. That’s a big drop from the 40 goals and 81 points he put up the year before. The adjustment took longer than expected, with a prolonged February slump standing out and the inconsistency showing in his final numbers.
The good news is that he finished strong, with 10 goals and 20 points in his last 24 games, which hinted at better timing and comfort with his new teammates. With a full off-season to settle into the system and build chemistry, a step forward in year two is a fair expectation. His shot is still a major weapon, and he’s at his best when he’s a primary option on the power play.
It’s reasonable to expect him to push back toward 30 or more goals with clearer usage and renewed confidence. More impact at five-on-five and cleaner zone entries should set up his one-timer more often. If he finds his rhythm early, Stamkos can give Nashville’s offence the steady scoring and veteran presence they were hoping for last season.
Trevor Zegras, Philadelphia Flyers
Trevor Zegras looks set for a bounce-back season after a rough, injury-plagued 2024–25 in Anaheim. He managed only 12 goals and 32 points in 57 games and never really found his rhythm, a sharp drop from the two years before when he cleared 60 points each time. High expectations, the Ducks’ overall struggles, and a role that didn’t quite fit his strengths all fed into the slump and made a change of situation or usage feel necessary.
The move to Philadelphia has given him that reset, with a bigger role and steadier ice time that suits his creative style. Early on, he pushed close to a point-per-game pace and fit well with the Flyers’ fast, young core. With more chances to handle the puck in dangerous areas and the green light to drive entries and start plays, his confidence has started to come back. If Zegras stays healthy, he has a clear path to a strong rebound. His skill set fits a top-six role and should help lift the power play while easily clearing last season’s totals. A full year in a featured spot in Philadelphia gives him the platform to get back to the level people expect from a rising offensive talent.
Chris Kreider, Anaheim Ducks
Chris Kreider’s 2024–25 season was quietly disappointing, with injuries holding him to 22 goals and 30 points in 68 games. That’s a sharp drop from his recent track record, which includes 39 goals in 2023–24 and a career-high 52 in 2021–22. The dip came as the Rangers missed the playoffs and made it clear he was likely never fully healthy. For a winger who does most of his damage around the net, a rebound year and a fresh start feel overdue.
After a summer trade, he gets that reset in Anaheim, where he’s expected to be a veteran leader and steady scoring threat for a young Ducks roster. The plan is to use his net-front skills on the top power-play unit, a big boost for a group that struggled last season. That role should help him get back to his strengths and lean into the physical, crease-crashing style that has defined his career.
If he stays fit, Kreider has a clear path to a 25–30 goal bounce-back built on tips, rebounds, and rush chances. Anaheim badly needs a steady net-front presence on the power play, and that fits his game perfectly. With a reliable playmaker beside him and consistent ice time, he has a real chance to rediscover the scoring touch he showed in his best years with the Rangers.
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
By his own standard, Adam Fox enters 2025–26 with something to prove, coming off a season of 10 goals and 61 points in 74 games that would be strong for most defencemen but falls short of the 70+ point runs that followed his 2021 Norris Trophy. Expectations in New York match that ceiling, and even a small step back lined up with a year that ended outside the playoffs.
At 27, he is still in his prime and runs the Rangers’ blue line in every situation, from even strength to the top power play. A rebound would mean getting back into the 70+ point range, sharpening the first-unit power play, and driving transition at five-on-five. His skating and vision open lanes many defenders never see, and his numbers usually rise when his defence pair stays consistent.
Among NHL bounce-back players, Fox stands out because for him a bounce back means improving from good to the elite level he normally reaches. Better finishing around him and cleaner breakout timing give him a clear path back into Norris conversations, placing him near the top of bounce-back candidates' lists in the NHL. If he hits that stride, New York’s route back to the postseason becomes far more realistic.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
Morgan Rielly is coming off a season that fell short of his usual standard, finishing with 7 goals and 41 points and a minus-8 in 82 games. Those totals marked his lowest full-season output since 2016–17, and a career-high 99 giveaways highlighted puck management problems in his own zone. The drop from 58 points in 72 games the year before showed how uneven the year became.
For him to rebound, he needs to focus on more decisive touches, which will enhance the flow of the offence and ease his defensive responsibilities. This process begins with tidier zone exits and sharper first passes, ultimately minimizing the time he spends under forecheck pressure. Establishing stable defensive pairings and securing a consistent role on the top unit should allow him to better utilize his strengths as a puck transporter and distributor.
The player's potential remains high, shown by a 72-point season in 2018-19 and several seasons close to the 60-point mark. A reasonable target is for him to reach 50 or more points again, while simultaneously reducing mistakes, playing more efficiently, and improving his defensive consistency. Achieving this would provide the Toronto Maple Leafs with the stability they lacked last postseason.
Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils
Dougie Hamilton is still one of the league’s most dangerous offensive defencemen when he’s fit, but the last two seasons have cut into his momentum. He played only 20 games in 2023-24, then followed with 64 games at 9 goals and 40 points, a clear step down from his 22 goals and 74 points in 2022-23. That slide, along with durability concerns and a big cap hit, even sparked summer trade talk, but he stayed in New Jersey for another shot.
The rebound path is straightforward, built on steady fitness and consistent PP1 deployment with the puck on his stick above the circles. His shot still scares goalies, and his instincts open seams, which lifts both his totals and the unit’s tempo. If the minutes stabilize, his per-game production should push back toward his established level.
Among NHL bounce-back players, Hamilton checks every box for a quick correction. A fit year puts double-digit goals and 50+ points back in play and gives the Devils a sharper point of attack. He belongs on early bounce-back candidates NHL lists because the skill remains intact, and availability is the swing factor.
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers
Igor Shesterkin did not fall apart last season, but for the first time in his young career, he looked closer to ordinary than to the standard he had set. He finished 27-29-5 with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage, career lows after five seasons at .912 or better. Just two years earlier, he had led the league in goals saved above expected and had a real claim as the top goaltender in the sport, so the drop-off was hard to miss, and the year ended without a playoff spot.
The slide had a lot to do with shaky defence in front of him and some fatigue, yet he still finished with more than twenty goals saved above expected, which shows his ceiling is intact. At 29, he is in a prime age range for a goalie, and his track record points toward a bounce-back if the team in front of him tightens up.
A return to form would change the picture in New York in a hurry, because Igor has the quickness and calm movement to carry nights when the offence goes quiet. If his early numbers trend up, he should move back near the top tier in save percentage and once again steal the kind of games that decide a season.
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Juuse Saros has held Nashville’s defence for years, which made last season’s slip in form hard to reconcile with considering his track record. He finished 20-31-6 with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage, well below his usual .915 to .925 range. Team play sagged in front of him, and his reads were a touch off, a rare dip for someone who led the league in goals saved above expected in 2022/23.
At 30, he remains in a prime window, and before last year, he had never recorded a save percentage below .906. With a tighter structure under him, the setup points to a correction rather than a trend. If he settles early, his numbers can climb back toward .915, and he again becomes a nightly advantage for the Predators.
Final Word
These ten players enter 2025-26 with real comeback arcs that could rewrite storylines by spring. Some are decorated veterans returning to fitness, others are young talents stepping into bigger roles, and each has a clear path back to impact.
If a few of them find their form, their careers pick up again, and their teams get a real boost in the standings. Keep an eye on their early games, because one hot month can change expectations and turn quiet rebound talk into one of the season’s main stories.