NHL breakout tiers: Top players ready to level up in 2026-27 - ESPN

One thing became clear when compiling our NHL breakout tiers for the 2026-27 season: The future is extraordinarily bright.

Like staring at the exposed bulb of a powerful floor lamp. Like opening up the blackout curtains straight into the morning sun. That kind of bright.

This season features a deep rookie class that is poised to make an immediate impact, as well as a few dozen young players ready to make the leap to stardom.

But our tiers also honor a handful of veterans who should see their fortunes change thanks to new environments and linemates.

Here are 40 NHL players ready to break out in 2026-27, organized into tiers that explain the circumstances behind their potential emergence. Enjoy!

Jump to a tier:
New scenery
Young star to superstar
The wait is over
Goalie breakouts
Rookie sensations

These players switched teams and could see their profile rise with new scenery.

It was a pretty simple equation. Byram was tied for 10th in 5-on-5 points (63) over the past two seasons among all defensemen. He was 63rd in power-play points (nine) in that same span, with the 48th highest ice time with the man advantage, taking second-unit minutes on the Buffalo Sabres behind Rasmus Dahlin.

So he goes to Chicago and gets to quarterback the top unit on a team that'll allow him to put the pedal down offensively, no matter his defensive issues, at even strength. He obliterates his career high in points (42) and begins to justify his $12.5 million cap hit beginning next season. You know… theoretically.

This is an old star with a chance to be reignited. Carlson getting to run point on the Lightning power play gives the 36-year-old defenseman his greatest collection of offensive weaponry since the apex of Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kuznetsov