Chris Versteeg,i mean the guy showed that he has some promise,especially in the first half of last season,and he also showed he just needs more time to be succesful for his team and himself,he started last year with a whopping plus 11.

I'm going to take a gamble on Scott Gomez. I think he could hit that three goal mark, I really do.

Could be Matt Duchene, but when I think of surprises only one name comes to mind. Now, I'm a diehard Pens and Leafs fan so it pains me to say this....but it's gonna be Jordan Staal. I've watched him play for years in PIT and the kid is a monster. Absolute beast. He's become so good even without prime ice time and linemates for the majority of his career, and he's getting both in Carolina now. I say minimum 70 points and dynamite defensive play. Good times in Pittsburgh with him (Yeah....I miss the guy just a little bit...just a little...ok maybe a lot. Definitely a lot)

James Neal or JVR

My surprise? I think Ilya Bryzgalov will surprise people considering the expectations people have for Flyers goaltenders, I feel he'll overachieve quite a bit now.

I think it will be Milan Lucic

The player that I think that is going to be a surprising player whenever the NHL starts is Jason Garrison of the Vancouver Canucks. Why? Because firstly, Jason is from British Columbia and playing in front of his home fans/family, what more would a player want. He led all defencemans in Florida with goals and he has a big body. Trust me folks, this guy is gonna be on every sports channel there is.

-Ronnie Randhawa

i think it will be Oliver Ekman-larsson or Magnus Paajarvi.

Brandon Sutter of the Penguins. Playing with superstars like Malkin and Crosby can only help. Plus, if he get time on the PP, he should rack up the points. The new Jordan Staal of the Penguins.

Dion Phaneuf!

If his line-mates can help him i think Matt Duchene could be a huge surprise to people... hes not slick hands and can do mostly everything but if his line cant produce with him them probably Craig SMith of the Predators, he's a stud of a player in his second year; i think hell do well

*got

Jamie Benn, because Dallas got Jagr and Derek Roy this off season, so I see their offense improving a lot for this year which means more points for Jamie Benn.

I think James Reimer would be able to surprise everyone this season and would help the leafs become a playoff contending team. Probably not a cup contending team though

I'd personally say Michael Del Zotto.

even though he plays as Defense he still had a solid 41 point season. I Can see him coming up and surprising everyone next season and hitting the likes of Chara or karlsson someday in points.

Assuming we get a season (which I'm praying to the hockey gods for!) I'm going to go with Mikael Backlund of the Calgary Flames. If he gets a FULL shot, and not some 2 game stint with one of the top 2 lines, he should put out some solid numbers.

Like every year I think Matt Moulson will surprise everyone but he won't be noticed...as usual.

Rick Nash - Playing with guys like Richards & Gaborik, Nash will be an elite goal scorer this coming season. He has already proved he can put the puck in the net and now he will since he has guys to play with. Expect NYR to do big things this season and expect Rick Nash to be one of, if not the, main guys to do it.

if you do choose to pick me as the winner, can you please email me at Griffin.Brandon95@gmail.com

ps. GO LEAFS GO

Andrew Cogliano of the Anaheim Ducks. With Bruce Boudreau getting the opportunity to coach the Ducks a full season, well at least as close to a full season as this damned lockout will choose to let us have. It will be interesting to see how he does, he has a ton of potential and ever since he was traded from Edmonton I have believed he could really flourish with the Ducks down the road.

Im gunna say something crazy and say matthew lombardi . hes had time to train now and get in shape after missing a training camp last year and coming back from that bad injury. He should be alot better this year.

I think it's gonna be kadri, just because if he makes the lineup this year, he should get close to top line minutes, and that will make him have a breakout year for the leafs and hopefully be enough to get them to the playoffs.

I think Ovechkin will suprise everyone and bouce back to a 50 or more goal scorer.

I'm gonna go with Kid Nazty Nazem Kadri. Working with Gary Roberts over the summer can only do go things for the kid, and seeing as the physical side of the game is where he needed the most work, seems almost like the perfect fit.

Nash- Primary reason is he actually has good teamates to work with now.

I'm gonna say either Lucic or Jordan Caron

Joe Colbourne is going to be a huge surprise player, I think he's got what it takes to take a run for the Calder Trophy in his rookie year.

I think it will be Matt Dueshane or Jamie Benn, someone along that line

I'm gunna have to go with Chris Kreider. He made his debut late in the season, in the playoffs to be exact, but in that short period of time he has showed Ranger fans exactly what he can do when given an opportunity. Also,I can't say enough about his speed. And you thought Carl Hagelin was fast? If he can do so much in such a small amount of time, I can't imagine what he can do playing a full season.

When it comes to breakout players people really need to watch out for i think Van Reimsdyke and Jordan Stall. Van Reimsdyke is coming over from a deep, deep, philly team. A team with at least 3 centres probably better than all of toronto`s centres. That is y i picked him, becuz hes goin back to his natural position and is goin to get a ton of ice time. He has so much potential, former second overall pick right after stamkos if i believe. Also hes goin to be playin with two all star wingers in lupul and kessel. Stall is not really goin to breakthrough as an all star but as a top player. Watch out for him to put datsyuk like stats. I believe he will be a candidate for defensive forward of the year and playin with his bro and semin, a 70 maybe 89 plus point scorer. If i could get the card that would be so awesome!!! Thanks if you read this long paragraph lol

I think the player to watch out for is Leafs defencemen Jake Gardiner because he has the potential to become an elite offence defencemen. He has amazing offensive awareness and he's not bad defensively. I hope the lockout ends soon

I think a big surprise will be Jonas Gustavsson. I could see him being number 1 goalie for detroit and doing quite well and going deep in the playoffs this year if there is one

My pick for the surprise of the year (whenever it begins) would have to be Joe Colborne. Essentially on paper he is what all Leaf fans have been waiting for since #13 was the pivot. He has size, 6'6 (grew an inch this year) he's got the hands and a scoring touch (hopefully the surgery on his wrists have brought him back to form with that point per game showing earlier last year). Having watched the Marlies in the regular season and the playoffs, I did notice the difference. Now that he is healthy I can see him fighting for a top six spot and surprising everyone.

I'm going to say Pekka Rinne, And be the Jonathan Quick of 2012/2013

It's so painful to say this as a Leafs fan, but Dougie Hamilton. I predict he has a breakout season with the Bruins (if there is one), contending for the Calder Trophy. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him paired with Zdeno Chara for at least some parts of the season.

Well when the season does eventually start, I hope it'll be some leaf like Kadri or JVR. Here's hopping we make the playoffs this year, if it happens.

I give my call on this one to David Perron. Maybe because we share the same first name, but have liked the guy for a while and think he'll really bounce back from his concussion issues in a big way. Whenever we have a season.

@Leafsfan2398 - I don't think Jake Gardiner will be that much of a surprise, not trying to be mean but I think it's more expected than anything.

I think the surprise player will be Jeff Skinner. This kid has talent and eventually he's going to use it to produce the most points, or be up there in the points. He's a great player and has potential to be one of the best.

I also think Jordan Staal could have a good season. Considering he will be a top guy for Carolina, he won't have to deal with 3rd line minutes or whatever it may be, he will be getting 1st line minutes.

Just my opinion. - Zach

I reckon Nikolai Kulemin is gonna be the surprise the next upcoming season whenever that will be. Yeah he had a stale /ok season last year but I think he is gonna be lights out this upcoming season.

I think Ryan O'Reilly of the Avalanche is going to have a great season this year (coming off a 55 point season last year as a 21 year old). I only watched him sparingly given that I'm a leafer, but what I saw was impressive.

Evander Kane ..

Jake Gardiner was the biggest surprise for me! It looked like he has played a whole season before. One of the best skaters for a defenceman!

I think it will be Jamie Benn

I would think Jordan Eberle would stand out, also I can see John Tavares doing very well.

Anders Lindback of the Tampa Bay Lightning. A lot of people are skeptical about whether or not he can make it as a starting goaltender, and I predict that he will provide the reliable goal-tending TBL require to return to elite status.

Gustav Nyquist for the Red Wings. That is, if he makes the roaster. It would be crazy if he didn't though.

First of all thanks for the contest Steve!, I'm gonna go with Kyle Turris. After signing with Ottawa, and showing some real talent in the playoffs, I think he's on the verge of a breakout season!

I think Jordan Eberle of the Oilers will be the surprise player of this season. He got 30 goals last year and not many people noticed him. But the oilers are very young and have alot of room to grow and im thinking eberle can be a point per game player if hall and the nuge can stay healthy.

If he drinks a lot of milk i think he might even reach four if there is a season.

Rick Nash - Playing with better players and not having to face the other team top defensive pairing will surely help his point totals.