From the Press Box: Studs and Duds

Today, From the Pressbox: As we close the books on 2015, it seems like a good time to point out some of the "studs" and "duds" so far this season. We highlight a player from each of the 30 teams, who has veered dramatically, one way or the other, from preseason expectations.

Ryan Getzlaf - The Captain of the Ducks has only two goals and his lack of productivity is symptomatic of the entire Anaheim club. Getzlaf is the unchallenged centerpiece of the club's first scoring line. Is it any wonder that Anaheim has tumbled to the bottom of the Pacific Division?

Mikkel Boedker - Perhaps invigorated by the influx of young offensive talent, Boedker has a team-leading 29 points in 36 games and is well on his way to a career season. Prior to this year, he has toiled in relative anonymity in one of the NHL's smallest markets, but his 60-point pace is hard to ignore now.

Loui Eriksson - The Bruins paid a heavy price to acquire Eriksson (Tyler Seguin) a couple of seasons ago, but they thought that a responsible two-way forward who had three 70-point campaigns on his resume was worth the price. Well, after underachieving in his first two years in Beantown, Eriksson is finally back to that pace. He has also shown a penchant for important goal scoring, with seven power-play and two game-winning markers.

Rasmus Ristolainen - As part of the Sabres' rebuild, Ristolainen has emerged as that key offensive-minded defenseman that every successful team must have in their lineup. This looks like a great long-term situation for him as a stable of high-end talent gains experience among Buffalo's top-six forwards. He's on pace for a 50-point season as a third-year pro and has also tightened up his play in the defensive zone.

Dougie Hamilton - When Hamilton was added to this deep blueline corps in Calgary, it was assumed that his offensive skills would be showcased and blossom. Instead, he has lost out in the distribution of ice time, particularly on the power play. He has only 13 points in 36 games, but the Flames are hoping that the eight points in his last 12 games are more indicative of what's to come.

Eric Staal - There seems little doubt that Staal will be a prime trade candidate at the Feb. 29 deadline. Unfortunately, his 22 points in 37 games represents the worst totals since his rookie season. The hope is that he is only mired in this slump because of the lack of talent around him, but it's difficult to project what his upside might be and after reaching this nadir on an expiring $8.25M cap hit.

Marian Hossa - Throughout his career, Hossa has been a beacon of consistency with a complete, all-around game. This season looks like an anomaly, based on a career-low scoring pace of five goals in 33 games. In addition, a +2 rating, which is his lowest mark during seven years in Chicago. Is another indication of serious regression for this veteran top-six forward.

Nathan MacKinnon - It looks like MacKinnon has put the woes of a terrible sophomore campaign behind him. He has rebounded very nicely to take over the team scoring lead with the Avalanche and even smash through the lofty marks he posted in his impressive rookie campaign. Four of his 13 goals have been game-winners this season.

Jack Johnson - The 2005 third overall draft pick, Johnson has topped 40 points twice, one being last season. He was expected to thrive this year, retaining his role as the Jackets' top offensive blueliner and power-play quarterback, but his eight points in 37 games is indicative of a team-wide funk that has Columbus ranking as the NHL's doormat.

John Klingberg - The fortunes enjoyed by Klingberg and his Dallas club are diametrically opposite to Johnson as the Stars are first overall in league standings and Klingberg is among the league's top-scoring blueliners. He is a skilled puckmover who is taking full advantage of working within the league's most potent offense.

Mike Green - Green has not transitioned well in Detroit, after being the long-time leader of the defense corps in Washington. His 13 points in 31 games put him on pace for his worst season in nine years. He also has the Wings' second lowest plus/minus with a (-7) rating. These numbers fall well short of what the Wings expected when they signed him to a three-year, $18M deal in the last offseason.

Justin Schultz - He was once touted as the club's signature offensive defenseman, but his stock has fallen dramatically this year, as he has only four points and a (-10) rating to show for 24 games played. It's safe to say that he has fallen down the Oilers' depth chart to the point where he is no longer perceived as compatible with the expectations of supporting a young offensive corps that has significant upside.

Vincent Trocheck - The Panthers have made a surprising climb to the top of the Atlantic Division, thanks to contributions throughout their lineup. One of the most notable has come from Trocheck, who has taken advantage of Nick Bjugstad's lingering concussion issues and assume a more prominent top-six role. He has 22 points on the season, but eight have come in his last 10 games, where he has also seen a spike in his playing time.

Marian Gaborik - Gaborik can drive coaches and fantasy owners crazy. He has all kinds of talent, has a first-line role in L.A., yet he has only 13 points in 36 games this season. The 33-year old has an annual cap hit of almost $5M per year for another five years and suddenly looks very expendable when we see the Kings thriving, with their first-place ranking in the Pacific Division, in spite of him.

Nino Niederreiter - The Wild have a perception as one of the league's anonymous teams because they have no big name players. Niederreiter was on his way to dispelling that notion last season with a modest breakout campaign. This year, he has regressed, instead of building on that success, as he has only seven goals and 16 points in 35 games.

Jeff Petry - The Canadiens signed Petry to a big-dollar, long-term contract in the last offseason, thinking they had inked the eventual successor to Andrei Markov, an aging top-pairing defender. He was, at a minimum, expected to anchor a second pairing and provide some offensive spark, but 13 points in 37 games has to be viewed as a disappointment.

Seth Jones - This former high draft pick may just have wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Predators expected him to be an offensive force, but he is no better that a distant second- or third-pairing guy on this roster, particularly as he has only one goal, 11 points and a team-low (-6) rating. So, what was once viewed as a nice fit for a young defensemen with a big upside, Jones is now looking like a player who is lost in this depth chart.

Patrik Elias - It appears as though the 39-year old has finally succumbed to Father Time, after being the face of this franchise for much of his career. This slide began last year, but that 34-point effort was viewed as a mulligan in many quarters. Five points in an injury-plagued start to this season is likely a portent that the end is near for this future Hall of Famer.

Nick Leddy - Last year he was instrumental to the Islanders' successful campaign, in compiling career numbers across the board, he has regressed considerably in this season, as he has no goals and 11 assists to show for his offensive contributions to date. He is also on the bottom rung of the Islanders' plus/minus chart (-5).

Derek Stepan - The Rangers have counted on consistent scoring from this team leader throughout his tenure on Broadway, however he has fallen way off his normal productivity this season, with only 13 points in 27 games. He has a good chance to salvage this campaign as his team remains among the top clubs in the East.

Craig Anderson - Anderson came to camp, looking to regain his status as a team leader and the club's top goalie after suffering through an injury-marred season last year. He has done just that, in starting 30 games and collecting 16 wins, putting him on a pace that we haven't seen from him in four years.

Jakub Voracek - After climbing into the ranks of the league's elite scorers and parlaying that profile into an eight-year/$66M contract extension, Voracek has taken a huge backward step in producing only four goals and 24 points in 35 games played. He has even lost regular playing time on the first line, where he enjoyed great chemistry with Claude Giroux.

Sidney Crosby - While he has been a "face" of the NHL since his rookie year, we have rarely seen Crosby range too far from the league's leading scorers. It would appear that time has come in this campaign as the Pens' captain is on pace for his lowest scoring totals, in a full season, as a pro. A big part of the problem is the failure to find any chemistry with a number of other Pittsburgh forwards, but he's also accumulated a lot of injuries in a demanding role as the league's longtime premier player

Paul Martin - Martin was brought into the Sharks roster to contribute some offense from the San Jose blueline. Despite plenty of playing time alongside Brent Burns, he has not delivered the goods, as shown by his paltry eight-point total in 32 games. That's not very good return on a free-agent deal that will pay him $4.85M for the next three seasons.

Alex Pietrangelo - While he has enjoyed plenty of personal success and a lofty status as a top-pairing blueliner through much of his tenure in St Louis, it seems as though he has lost some ground this season. The emergence of Colton Parayko and the consistency of Kevin Shattenkirk, has led Pietrangelo into more of a shutdown pairing with Jay Bouwmeester, as well as a lesser presence on the Blues' power play.

Tyler Johnson - Last season's poster boy for most surprising offensive impact, Johnson has been limited by injuries, appearing in only 24 games and producing only 11 points. His decline from last season's lofty exploits goes a long way in explaining Tampa's subpar season.

Leo Komarov - Affectionately known as "Uncle Leo" to his teammates and fan base, for his fearless and selfless play, Komarov is the surprise leading goal-scorer on the Leafs roster. This scoring ability has given the club's management some pause because have to now weigh his value to this team against what he might fetch on the trade market as he looks like a sell-high candidate.

Ryan Miller - This story, unlike many others included in this column, may be a more current story, with more developments coming. Miller has posted ordinary numbers on the year (2.74 GAA, .909 save pct.) and has been scuffling in recent weeks, to the point where backup Jacob Markstrom has started the last four games. This may be a tipping point, where the Canucks realize that a commitment to a greater rebuild is coming.

Evgeny Kuznetsov - The Caps have nurtured this skilled center through a couple of nondescript seasons to start his NHL career, in the hopes that his vast potential would soon kick in. Well, it looks like that is happening as he has amassed 31 points in 35 games and enjoyed regular time as a center of one of the top two scoring lines for the East-Conference-leading Capitals.

Toby Enstrom - After being the club's top puck-mover and power-play quarterback for many seasons, Enstrom has been relegated to a depth role on the Jets' defenseman depth chart. This is more of a nod to the presence of Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba as opposed to a slight against Enstrom. He's no the No. 1 blueline option here any more, and his nine points in 36 games underscore that point.