- Seven second-year players are named NHL breakout candidates for 2026-27
- Ryan Leonard, Zayne Parekh and Gabe Perreault headline the group
- Read below for the full list and why each one is set up for a jump
Ryan Leonard is the safest bet on this year’s breakout list.
Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff named seven sophomores as breakout candidates for 2026-27, and Leonard sits at the front of the group after a 20-goal, 45-point rookie season in Washington.
His first year tracked almost exactly with what Cutter Gauthier did in Anaheim in 2024-25. Gauthier doubled his goal total as a sophomore, and that is the number the Capitals would love to see.
Here’s the goal that made Leonard a 20-goal scorer:
Calgary landed two names on the list. Matvei Gridin put up 20 points in 37 games and told head coach Ryan Huska he wants to lead the Flames in scoring this season. Matt Coronato paced them with 45 points last year, so that target is not far-fetched.
Zayne Parekh played the same 37 games and now has a clear runway with MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson gone. His finish in the season finale against the Kings was the last goal Calgary scored on a goaltender all year.
Take a look at the goal:
Gabe Perreault made it on the strength of his second half. The Rangers winger finished with 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games, and 19 of those points came over New York’s final 23 nights. His first career hat trick landed in April against Detroit.
San Jose supplied two more. Igor Chernyshov had nine goals and 19 points in 28 games and projects to open the year on Macklin Celebrini’s wing. Michael Misa, the second pick in 2025, is lined up as the Sharks’ No. 2 center.
Danila Yurov rounds out the seven. He posted 12 goals and 27 points in 73 games while centering Kirill Kaprizov, and his name keeps surfacing in rumors as Bill Guerin hunts for another middle man. Minnesota’s opening-night group down the middle projects as Yurov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman and Michael McCarron.
Of the seven, only Leonard has a 20-goal NHL season on his resume. He also has the least room to hide, since he is the lone top-10 pick Washington has made since 2007.
