Every year, there are players that take a step forward offensively, earning bigger roles, maybe with more power play time, and they produce more points than they have previously in their careers. Scott Cullen takes a look at some candidates for breakthrough performances this season: Mikael Granlund, C, Minnesota - Highly-touted coming out of Finland, where he scored 51 points in 45 games in 2011-2012, Granlund has taken some time to get acclimated to the North American game. He scored 28 points in 29 AHL games during the lockout in 2012-2013, but suffered an ankle injury while he was in the minors and managed just eight points in 27 games once he was called up. Last season, there was progress. Granlund scored 41 points in 63 games, including 21 in his last 24 regular-season games, earning a bigger offensive role with Mikko Koivu missing time due to injury. Ita€?s not easy to take the step from where Granlund has been to this point in his career to being a player who could score 65-70 points but, with a few breaks, thata€?s not an unreasonable target for Granlund. Alex Galchenyuk, LW, Montreal a€“ Though Galchenyuk has spent some time at centre in training camp, hea€?s still more likely a fit on the wing with the Canadiens at this point. Despite earning an extra couple minutes of ice time per game, hea€?s coming off a sophomore season in which his points-per-game dipped from 0.56 PPG as a rookie to 0.48 PPG last year, but a large part of that loss was a result of on-ice shooting percentage falling from an inflated 11.8% as a rookie to 7.3% last season. Provided that Galchenyuk stays healthy a€“ he suffered a broken hand then a late-season knee injury last season a€“ and continues to get more ice time, he is positioned to see a production boost in his third season, in part because the Canadiens dona€?t have a lot of highly-skilled forwards and Galchenyuk is one that has the potential to produce. The question may be whether the Canadiens are ready to give him that opportunity. Mika Zibanejad, C, Ottawa a€“ Oddly demoted to Binghamton of the AHL at the start of last season, where he scored seven points in six games before getting recalled, Zibanejad put up 33 points in 69 games for the Senators. With Jason Spezza leaving for Dallas, there is ample room for Zibanejad to move up the depth chart and play more than the 14:20 per game that he skated last season, when he was already one of the most prolific shooters on the club. More ice time should bring more production, especially since Zibanejad hasna€?t been reaping the rewards of any inflated shooting percentages to this point in his career. Patrick Maroon, LW, Anaheim a€“ A 26-year-old who finally stuck in the league as a regular last season, Maroon offers a rare combination of goal-scoring and penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4 winger had 118 goals and 544 penalty minutes in 353 AHL games before earning a spot with the Ducks last season. He started slowly, receiving limited ice time, but then finished the year with 12 points in the last 12 games, before adding seven points in 13 playoff games as he played a bigger role. While Maroon is due to have his on-ice shooting percentage (10.7%) decline, if that bigger role includes more regular opportunities on the wing with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, it would be easy to see Maroon flying past last seasona€?s 29-point output. Tyler Toffoli, RW, Los Angeles a€“ This 22-year-old winger forced his way into the spotlight during last seasona€?s Stanley Cup run, skating alongside Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson on the Kingsa€? second line. Toffoli, who was a big scorer in junior, tallying 109 goals in 133 games his last two seasons with Ottawa of the OHL, has scored 23 goals and 54 points in 110 (regular season plus playoff) games with the Kings over the past couple years, playing less than 13 minutes per game. Hea€?s improved his skating and still has the release of a goal-scorer, so dona€?t be surprised if a full season with regular ice time on a scoring line leads to a 25-goal campaign for Toffoli. Sean Couturier, C, Philadelphia a€“ Asked to play a defensive role early in his career because, unlike most young players, he was so adept defensively, 21-year-old Couturier did score a career-high 39 points last season, but that could just be scratching the surface. In junior, Couturier put up 192 points in 126 games over his last two seasons with Drummondville of the QMJHL, so hea€?s not lost in the offensive zone. It may just be a matter of getting put into more offensive situations and if the Flyers are prepared to do that with Couturier, who has been skating with wingers Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read, then this could be the year that Couturiera€?s production takes off. Dougie Hamilton, D, Boston a€“ The ninth overall pick in 2011, Hamilton has been eased into the lineup by the Bruins, but at the end of last season, he tallied 13 points in 25 (regular season plus playoff) games, showing a glimpse of his offensive potential. Hamilton has registered only 10 of his 41 career points with the man advantage, so that is one area of his game that should be primed for growth as the Bruins lean more on the talented 21-year-old. Nail Yakupov, RW, Edmonton a€“ Expectations for the first overall pick in the 2012 Draft have naturally been high, but were likely inflated by a late-season scoring surge at the end of the 2012-2013 season, when he scored 11 goals and 15 points in the last 14 games. However, his shooting percentage (21.0%) was unsustainable and, not surprisingly, it regressed last season (to 9.0%) so, even as Yakupov registered more shots on goal per game, he managed only 11 goals and 24 points in 63 games. The 20-year-old has the shot to be a top scoring threat for the Oilers a€“ and ita€?s best for the team if he can start to live up to his potential -- so if Yakupov can find workable chemistry with some of the Oilersa€? other skilled forwards, he could be ready to take off. Elias Lindholm, C, Carolina a€“ The fifth overall pick in 2013, Lindholm had a solid enough rookie year, putting up 21 points in 58 games, spending time midseason with the Swedish National Junior Team. He was already going to be expected to play a significant role for the Hurricanes this year, but with centre Jordan Staal suffering a broken leg, there will be all the more reason for Lindholm to play a bigger role in his second year. Whether Lindholm shifts back to centre or remains on the wing, hea€?s set to play a top-six role for the Hurricanes and for all their shortcomings, that does offer the chance to play with other skilled forwards, so Lindholm will have a chance to build on a rookie season that included a relatively-low (6.8%) on-ice shooting percentage. Sami Vatanen, D, Anaheim a€“ Therea€?s no denying that Vatanen, listed at 5-foot-10, is undersized for an NHL defenceman. Therea€?s also no denying that the Ducks are better when hea€?s in the lineup, yet it hasna€?t been easy for the 23-year-old to hold a regular spot on the Anaheim blueline. He scored 12 points in his last 15 regular-season games last season, but didna€?t get into playoff action until the Ducks were already trailing the Kings, two games to none, in the second round. Forecasting a breakthrough season for Vatanen relies on the Ducks to give him a regular role, and that could be a tad optimistic, but he has the skill to handle a significant role. Others: Brock Nelson, C/LW, N.Y. Islanders; Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis; Charlie Coyle, RW, Minnesota; Brandon Saad, LW, Chicago; Chris Kreider, LW, N.Y. Rangers. Denis Potvin Islanders Jersey . There was little fanfare, though, when the Yankees captain was taken out of his final regular-season Subway Series game in the eighth inning. Jeter watched the last four outs from the bench, pulled off the field during a double switch Thursday night as the Yankees held off the Mets 1-0. Scott Mayfield Islanders Jersey . As they are wont to do, the Spurs made things real easy. 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SAN DIEGO -- Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw wont be ready to come off the disabled list when hes eligible to be activated on April 14, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday. "This thing is going to take some time," Mattingly said before the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers said that after consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and a review of an MRI scan, Kershaw will be placed on a rehab that includes a submaximal throwing program for the next two to three weeks. He will then be re-evaluated by ElAttrache to determine when he can start throwing at increased velocity. Kersshaw will likely have to make a rehab start before he can return, Mattingly said.dddddddddddd Kershaw was placed on the DL on Sunday with a swollen muscle in his left upper back. He already had been scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday after an MRI revealed the problem. Mattingly says Kershaw was supposed to have thrown before Tuesdays game but didnt because it was cool and damp. Also Tuesday, Mattingly said outfielder Matt Kemp is close to coming off the disabled list, but hell have to prove that hes not afraid to slide into a base or stop quickly while rounding a base. Kemp is rehabbing from ankle surgery. ' ' '