Western Conference Players Needing a 2024-25 Comeback

The 2024-25 NHL season is almost here.

Players are ready to forget past struggles and focus on new goals. The puck will soon drop, giving everyone a fresh start.

Let’s look at the Western Conference and pick one player from each team who needs a comeback season.

Pacific Division

John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
2023-24 Stats: 46 GP, 13-27-2, 3.54 GAA, .888 Sv.%
Gibson had a rough time last year. Even though the Ducks are rebuilding and not great defensively, GM Pat Verbeek made some big moves in free agency. Gibson hasn’t had a save percentage over .905 since 2018-19. With Lukas Dostal ready for more starts, Gibson must step up or Verbeek might have to find a way out of his contract. Trevor Zegras also needs to improve this season.

Daniel Vladar, Calgary Flames
2023-24 Stats: 20 GP, 8-9-2, 3.62 GAA .882 Sv.%
Vladar’s season ended early due to hip surgery in March. Jonathan Huberdeau also needs to bounce back, but with Jacob Markstrom now in New Jersey Vladar has a huge chance in front of him. Entering his contract year after his worst statistical season yet, he could become the main goalie if he returns to form quickly.

Connor Brown, Edmonton Oilers
2023-24 Stats: 71 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 P
Brown has faced major knee injuries and struggled to score early with the Oilers. He finally scored in game 55 when it bounced off his skate! Despite this tough start and carving out a bottom-six role during their Stanley Cup run fans hope Brown finds the scoresheet early on this season for confidence.

Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings
2023-24 Stats: 33 GP, 13-14-3, 3.31 GAA .890 Sv.%
Kuemper is back in LA after being traded from Washington for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Competing against David Rittich and Phoenix Copley for the starting spot Kuemper must improve his mid-range save percentage which was below league average last year.

Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
2023-24 Stats: 6 GP; no goals; one assist; one point
Couture missed most of last season due to groin injury issues that still linger today: “This injury has lingered for a long time already… I couldn’t imagine not playing hockey.” GM Mike Grier said Couture hasn’t skated yet so it’s unclear when he’ll return but Sharks need him on ice leading young core development!

Jaden Schwartz Seattle Kraken
2023–24 stats: 62 games played; thirteen goals scored; seventeen assists recorded thirty points total.
Schwartz missed over month last year upper-body injury needing better luck avoiding further absences since joining Kraken two years ago scoring only once final fourteen matches! He must start strong helping low-scoring Seattle get back into playoff contention alongside Matty Berniers Philipp Grubauer playing significant roles too.

Carson Soucy Vancouver Canucks
Twenty-twenty-three twenty-four statistics: forty games played two goals four assists six points overall.
Soucy signed three-year $9 million deal first-season injuries hampered performance Nikita Zadorov departure Boston means increased responsibilities defensive stopper especially penalty kill where Vancouver ranked seventeenth last term playoffs showed promise management hopes continues second-year Canucks jersey!

Ilya Samsonov Vegas Golden Knights
Twenty-twenty-three twenty-four numbers: forty games played twenty-three wins seven losses eight ties three-point-thirteen goals-against-average eighty-nine percent save rate.
Samsonov joins Vegas following inconsistent Toronto stint including mid-season break reset aiming push Adin Hill starts turn prove-it contract long-term deal ending Maple Leafs tenure allowing soft-goals first-round series Boston Bruins finishing playoffs eighty-nine percent save rate Linus Ullmark publicly admitted wrong goalie started!

Central Division

Taylor Hall Chicago Blackhawks
Twenty-twenty-three twenty-four figures: ten games played two goals two assists four points total.
Hall endured difficult seasons major injuries inconsistent offense entering final contract-year crucial campaign veteran winger proving worth extension solidifying place Connor Bedard era potentially taking off significantly entering second-year!

Samuel Girard Colorado Avalanche
Twenty-twenty-three twenty-four data: fifty-nine matches three-goals fifteen-assists eighteen-points overall.
Girard tough-season included entering NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program November Colorado supported trading Bowen Byram Buffalo Sabres opening substantial playing-time behind Cale Makar Devon Toews possessing tools impactful both ends rink many rooting big-year Colorado!

Evgenii Dadonov Dallas Stars
**Twenty-twenty-three twenty-four metrics fifty-one contests twelve-goals eleven-assists totaling twenty-three-points perhaps hardest team select Western Conference Dadonov secondary scorer necessary Joe Pavelski retiring pressure young forwards Dallas requiring Dadonov returning ‘twenty-one’ scoring ways netting twenty Golden Knights averaging thirteen minutes ten seconds ice-time curious top-six opportunity starting term!

Jared Spurgeon Minnesota Wild
Sixteen appearances zero-goals five-assists totaling five-points injury-riddled campaign veteran defenseman inadvertently passed torch Brock Faber pushing youngster avoid sophomore slump Wild desperate offensive output needing thirty-four-old hovering around forty-five-fifty points aiding playoff push believing capable returning top-pair option Minnesota requiring exactly happening!

Dante Fabbro Nashville Predators
Fifty-six outings three-goals ten-assists accumulating thirteen-points another team lacking candidates Fabbro chosen former first-rounder significant-season securing long-term plans win-now Predators potential effective both sides puck previously demonstrated thirty-thirty-five points consistency power-play time staying healthy contributing penalty-kill even-strength offense Nashville good shape blueline depth question heading term

Justin Faulk St Louis Blues sixty appearances two-goals twenty-eight assists accumulating thirty-points Torey Krug out-season Blues requiring Faulk staying healthy leading blueline scoring insufficient considering expected power-play time veteran defenseman remaining full no-move clause assisting Blues playoff return potentially different threads summer St Louis defense loaded questions Faulk cannot be one them

Barrett Hayton Utah HC
Thirty-three matches three-goals seven assists totaling ten points Utah making noise requiring former fifth-overall pick regaining form ‘twenty-two’ sniffing twenty-goals integral special teams dealing injury troubles productive healthy campaign pushing Utah closer playoff picture surpassing Nick Schmaltz number-one center strong-start significant distance

Nino Niederreiter Winnipeg Jets seventy-seven contests eighteen goals sixteen assists accumulating thirty-four points despite high league finish Jets offense middle pack Winnipeg necessitating Niederreiter providing secondary scoring supporting primary stars hopeful consistent twenty goal scorer remaining three years contract potential Nik Ehlers trade increasing opportunities Niederreiter direction

What do you think? Which player will have the biggest comeback?