Every NHL season brings surprises, but one thing that fans and analysts love to see is a player making a major jump in performance. While the league hands out many individual awards — like the Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy, and Vezina Trophy — there’s one category that’s missing: the Most Improved Player Award.
In the NBA, this award recognizes the player who has shown the most growth or bounced back from a disappointing season. The NHL doesn’t offer this honour officially, but if it did, these four players would absolutely be in the conversation.
Brandon Hagel – Tampa Bay Lightning’s New Offensive Powerhouse
Brandon Hagel has been on a steady climb since entering the league, but this season, he exploded in a big way. The 26-year-old winger set new career highs across the board, finishing the season with 35 goals, 55 assists, and 90 points in 82 games. His plus-33 rating and seven shorthanded points also made him one of the most well-rounded forwards in the league.
Hagel didn’t just show up on the scoresheet — he became a reliable two-way player, averaging over 20 minutes per game. His standout play earned him a spot on Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, showing that his progress hasn’t gone unnoticed on the international stage either.
With a long-term contract extension already in place at $6.5 million per season, the Lightning are clearly counting on Hagel to be a major piece of their future.
Dylan Holloway – Fresh Start Sparks Breakout in St. Louis
Dylan Holloway’s NHL career was slow to take off in Edmonton, but after joining the St. Louis Blues, the 22-year-old left winger transformed into a top contributor. In just one season with the Blues, Holloway scored 26 goals and 63 points in 77 games — a massive jump from his combined 9 goals and 18 points in 89 games with the Oilers.
He’s become a vital part of the Blues’ offence and was a key piece in their playoff push. Unfortunately, Holloway suffered an injury in early April, putting his availability for the playoffs in doubt. Still, his dramatic improvement and breakout year have made a big impression, proving that a change of scenery can be all a player needs.
Dylan Strome – A Perfect Fit in Washington
Dylan Strome’s career was filled with ups and downs in Arizona and Chicago, but since arriving in Washington, he’s truly found his place. This season, the 27-year-old centre delivered a point-per-game performance for the first time ever, tallying 29 goals and 82 points in 82 games.
Along with his personal bests in assists (53), power-play production, and more, Strome also played a key role in Alex Ovechkin’s historic goal-scoring milestone. Taking over as the Capitals’ No. 1 centre, he showed maturity, consistency, and the ability to lead the offence.
The Capitals are heading into the playoffs with momentum, and Strome is a big reason why. His growth this season has been nothing short of remarkable.
Filip Gustavsson – Rising to the Challenge in Minnesota
Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson quietly emerged as one of the NHL’s top goaltenders this season. After sharing time with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury in past years, Gustavsson fully took over the No. 1 spot this year and made the most of the opportunity.
In a career-high 58 starts, Gustavsson posted a solid 2.56 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and five shutouts. He ranked fourth in save percentage among all goalies with at least 40 games played — impressive numbers that speak to his consistency and calm presence in net.
With key players like Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek missing time due to injuries, Gustavsson was often the reason the Wild stayed competitive. His transition from backup to full-time starter has been smooth and successful.
While there’s no official NHL award for the most improved player, these four athletes deserve serious recognition for their outstanding leaps in performance. Brandon Hagel, Dylan Holloway, Dylan Strome, and Filip Gustavsson all proved that hard work, new roles, or fresh starts can lead to major success.
Whether it’s bouncing back from underperformance or taking their game to new heights, these players have not only improved themselves — they’ve made a huge impact on their teams. If the NHL ever introduces a Most Improved Player Award, these names would be leading the conversation this season.
