NHL Goal Droughts: Nine Well-Paid Forwards Who Have Yet To Score

The 2024-25 NHL season has not gotten off to a great start for a handful of noteworthy players.

There are always ups and downs to an 82-game season, but for those who are paid to be significant offensive contributors, a slow start can put you under the microscope very quickly.

Alexander Wennberg managed to take himself off this list after scoring the overtime-winner for the San Jose Sharks in their comeback victory over Utah Monday night.

While it might be too early to tell, let’s look at what factors might contribute to each player’s slow start and what their outlook for the rest of the season could be.

Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles Kings

As one of the best defensive centers in the NHL, Danault doesn’t need to be an elite producer to fit in as a top-six player with the Los Angeles Kings. His shot volume has decreased compared to previous seasons, which may be an early indication that he won’t reach the 15- to 20-goal range that we’re used to seeing, but that doesn’t make him any less valuable to his team.

Quinton Byfield, RW, Los Angeles Kings

Byfield is still playing on the top line and is averaging a career-high 17:48 of ice time. There’s still time for him to reach the 20- to 25-goal range, but he’ll need to have a more direct and net-front style of play to find advantages that work for him consistently at the NHL level.

Dylan Cozens, C, Buffalo Sabres

Three assists through 10 games isn’t the ideal start for Dylan Cozens, but it’s not from a lack of trying. The 23-year-old has taken 32 shots this year, making him the only forward in the NHL with 30 or more shots who has yet to pick up a goal. He’s generating scoring chances at a career-high pace and playing more ice time than ever before. If the Sabres’ power play sees even slight improvements, Cozens should be back on track in no time.

Related: The Buffalo Sabres Need Their Defense To Protect Their Young Goalies

Andre Burakovsky, LW, Seattle Kraken

Seattle’s offense has been extremely top-heavy through its first nine games, led by Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann. Andre Burakovsky is sixth in team scoring with six assists, but injuries have affected his goal-scoring ability over the past few seasons. His slow start could indicate a difficult road ahead, even with Chandler Stephenson on his line.

Nick Schmaltz, C, Utah Hockey Club

There were always signs pointing to Nick Schmaltz’s goal-scoring not being sustainable. His shooting percentage has inflated his totals, converting on 18.7 percent of his opportunities when he scored a career-high 23 goals in the 2021-22 season and at 16.7 percent the campaign after when he scored 22. With so much emerging talent around him, it’s much more likely for Schmaltz to contribute as a distributor throughout the season at even strength and on Utah’s top power-play unit.

Zach Hyman, LW, Edmonton Oilers

It was unreasonable to expect Zach Hyman to replicate the remarkable 54-goal campaign he put together in the 2023-24 season, but recording no goals through the first 10 games could be a greater sign of regression than initially anticipated.

To be clear, being a historically elite finisher alongside the league’s best playmaker makes Hyman’s floor of goals much higher than most of the NHL’s complementary wingers. However, the Oilers need to be comfortable knowing that Hyman’s best years are potentially behind him, and his lack of individual chance creation will limit his ability to be a dynamic offensive player as time progresses.

Related: Handling Zach Hyman’s Inevitable Drop-Off with the Oilers

Ondrej Palat, LW, New Jersey Devils

With his $6-million cap hit on their books until 2027, the New Jersey Devils are in a difficult situation with Ondrej Palat. The 33-year-old is no longer playing on either power play unit, and his ice time has taken a significant dip, averaging 12:33 compared to 15:39 last season. Considering the competition around him, it’s hard to believe he’ll be offered any more opportunities, which could signal the beginning of the end when it comes to his time as a strong secondary scorer in New Jersey.

Jake DeBrusk, LW, Vancouver Canucks

Canucks fans shouldn’t be concerned with Jake DeBrusk’s lack of goal-scoring just yet, because he’s a notorious slow starter. It took him nine games to score his first goal last season, and he only managed to record one in his first 15 contests despite finishing with 19. In 2022-23, he had a two-goal performance in the second game of the season, but that was the only time he scored in the Bruins’ opening seven games. While playing alongside Brock Boeser may limit his shooting opportunities, DeBrusk will get going in no time with his current deployment on the top forward unit in Vancouver.

Related: With Canucks On the Rise As The Penguins Falter, Pittsburgh Fans Can Wonder What Might Have Been

Yanni Gourde, C, Seattle Kraken

The lack of offensive production from Yanni Gourde this season shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. The Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a long-term contract and are giving Shane Wright a legitimate shot to become the team’s third-line center, which is where Gourde primarily played through his previous three seasons. He’s still an extremely effective defensive forward on the fourth line, but after already seeing a 15-point decline last season, it’s hard to imagine there will be any significant improvements while averaging just 14:30 of ice time this season.

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