NHL player poll names breakout stars in action during Frozen Frenzy 

More than 600 players will take the ice in 16 arenas across the NHL on Tuesday when all 32 teams play in the first Frozen Frenzy night this season.

ESPN not only has a tripleheader, which starts when the New Jersey Devils visit the Detroit Red Wings (6 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN+) at Little Caesars Arena, it will also have a whiparound show starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Unquestionably, the whiparound coverage will highlight some of the biggest stars in the League, but it will also shine a light on players ready to break out.

But who? 

Before the season started, NHL.com asked players at the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour in Munich and the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas for those they saw having breakout seasons in 2026-27.

There was no consensus. In fact, no player received more than three votes.

Here is a guide to some of the players who have the attention of their peers as they take the ice Tuesday. 

Detroit forward Alex DeBrincat said fans should keep an eye on teammate Lucas Raymond, a forward who scored 156 points (52 goals, 104 assists) in 164 games across the past two seasons.

“We’ve already seen what he can do, but I think he’s going to explode even more than he has,” DeBrincat said. “I’m expecting him to have a big year. Yeah, I think that’s my guy.”

When the Buffalo Sabres visit the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre (6:30 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, MSG-B), forward Josh Doan  will likely draw some attention. 

“Playing with Josh Doan last year, I'd probably say him,” Buffalo forward Tage Thompson said. “Just how hard he works, and the way he plays the game. I think he's going to get rewarded for all the work that he's put in.”

Doan joined the Sabres last season after a trade from the Utah Mammoth. He had a career-best 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) last season, playing in all 82 regular-season games.

The Washington Capitals visit the Carolina Hurricanes in a battle of Metropolitan Division powers at Lenovo Center (6:45 p.m. ET; HHN, CARNHL, MNMT), giving fans a chance to see defenseman Cole Hutson, one of the favorites to win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. 

The 20-year-old had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 14 games for Washington last season.

“I hope Cole Hutson will continue to do what he kind of showed last season,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. “We have two or three really young guys that have a lot of potential. I think Cole has the ability to make a big, big jump.”

Another potential Calder winner, Porter Martone, will be on the ice when the Philadelphia Flyers host the Seattle Kraken at Xfinity Mobile Arena (7 p.m. ET; Prime Video, KONG, KING, NBCSP). 

The 19-year-old forward made quite the impression last season, joining the Flyers after his season with Michigan State University ended. He scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in nine regular-season games and added five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

“He looked good, yeah; fit right in,” said veteran Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser. “I'm excited to see him in a full year.”​

The Ottawa Senators, who host the St. Louis Blues (7:30 p.m. ET; RDSI, TSN5, STLNHL, BN+), have a bunch of potential breakout stars, defenseman Jake Sanderson said. 

In one breath, he was stumping for forwards Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens to each reach the 40-goal plateau.

In the next, he was talking about the all-around game of forward Shane Pinto. 

“Pinto can take a huge step,” Sanderson said. “He works so hard. He's so dedicated to his craft. He's so competitive. You know, I think with the role that he plays on our team, he's not really in those positions to put up 30, 40 goals, but his attention to detail on the defensive side of the game is just as important as that for our team to win games.”

But it is not just Sanderson who is high on Cozens, who had 28 goals and 59 points in 82 games last season.

“I think Dylan Cozens is an amazing player,” Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner said. “I got to skate with him again this summer, and just seeing him 1-on-1, it’s pretty fascinating how good he is and sneaky he is.”

Matthew Schaefer won the Calder Trophy in 2026 with a season for the ages. The New York Islanders defenseman, then 18 years old, had 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 82 games and played more than 24 minutes per game.

He can do more, Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider said. 

“Just position-wise, I hope, obviously, Schaefer can continue what he's done in the past season, really establish himself,” Seider said. “I'm curious to see what he's going to do for the team.

“I feel like if you want to become an elite player, I think you’ve got to follow up with an even better year and that's what I'm excited about.”

Schaefer and the Islanders host the Vancouver Canucks at UBS Arena (7:45 p.m. ET; MSGSN, SNP).

There’s another potential breakout defenseman in that game, according to Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek. It’s teammate Zeev Buium, who arrived last season in a trade with the Minnesota Wild that sent Quinn Hughes to the Wild.

“He's a skilled guy. He can skate well, move the puck,” Hronek said. “He sees the ice well. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.

“I think the tough part for him was that he came from college, and they play 35 games there or whatever, so I think that was a big adjustment to him. And obviously, our season wasn't going well, so it was even harder for him. And now he already has some experience from last year, and he worked on his game over the summer.”

The Chicago Blackhawks are loaded with young talent, spearheaded by Connor Bedard. But Bedard is out with a shoulder injury. Now, all eyes are on rookie center Anton Frondell, who had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 12 games last season.

“He’s got a lot of skill, lot of talent, wants to be good, wants to be the man,” Chicago forward Frank Nazar said. “I think he’s going to do really well and be a great player for us this year.”

The Blackhawks will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at United Center (8 p.m. ET; CHSN, SN-PIT).

Leo Carlsson was all the rage this offseason. He received an offer sheet from the Flyers and it was matched by the Anaheim Ducks, giving him a $90 million contract across the next five seasons. 

Carlsson and the Ducks will host the Calgary Flames at Honda Center (9:45 p.m. ET; Prime Video, KCOP-13, SNW).

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares could be among those checking him out.

“To me he’s still ascending,” Tavares said. “And now, with the contract that he signed, I think probably there’s the opportunity for him now really to kind of become a true superstar in the League, right? It just feels like there's still a lot to come there. 

“Maybe it’s not someone totally under the radar, but I think probably everyone’s got their eye on this kid and perhaps that he’s going to be a top-10, maybe top-five player in the game.”

The Frenzy finishes with the Boston Bruins visiting the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center (11 p.m. ET; ESPN, NESN, SN+) and there are plenty of stars on those teams, including Macklin Celebrini from the home team and David Pastrnak of the Bruins. 

But some up-and-coming players got some love as well. 

Ivar Stenberg is a 19-year-old forward who starred in Sweden last season. Now, he is a rookie with the Sharks, and big things are expected. 

Ottawa forward Tim Stutzle mentioned him as a breakout player.

“I think Ivar Stenberg can be a pretty good guy,” he said.

Frondell, who played against Stenberg in Sweden and with him on the national team, is also a fan. 

“He already showed it this year with Sweden at the (World Championship), he can play against men, and he can dominate if he wants to,” Frondell said. “So, the Sharks found a good player there.”

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele said he is quite high on Bruins forward Fraser Minten, who had 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) and was plus-21 in his first full season in 2025-26.

“I think he's going to be a special player,” Scheifele said. “I played with him at Worlds (for Canada) and just saw like, ‘Oh wow, he's got some game,’ and he's just kind of still coming into his own. And I think it might be this year, it might be next year, but he's going to be a good player.”