Year in Review 2016: NHL's biggest breakout stars

Auston Matthews showed early on why it was a no-brainer for the Toronto Maple Leafs to take him with the first-overall pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft. In his first NHL game, on the road against the Ottawa Senators, the 6-foot-3, 216-pound centre scored four goals. His scoring pace tempered in November, but his play and promise have given long-suffering Leafs fans a reason to be hopeful. (Getty Images)