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Jan 21, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) warms up before facing the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

3. John Tavares

Just as Stamkos has seen has career project upwards for a number of years, John Tavares is on the rise as well, and seems ready to hang with the big boys in the 100-point club this season. While his numbers thus far have been marred by injury and a team with very few offensive weapons to help him out, the Islanders of 2014-15 boast a much deeper chest of toys with which Tavares can play.

With some other offensive options to both feed off of and distract opposing defenders, Tavares should be able to break out this season and make a serious run at his first Art Ross.

It may seem a bit premature, considering his highest total thus far was an 81-point season in 2011-12, but don’t forget this is a player who dominated so handily in his youth that the OHL had to create a new rule to allow him to be drafted into the major junior league at a younger age than any other player in history (14 years old). He’s got the goods, he just needs to put it all together – and a revamped Islanders squad could be just what he needs to do that this year.