At the end of each season, we like to take a look at some of the individuals that elevated their games and transformed themselves from average guys that get great discounts on NHLPA merchandise to legitimate NHL stars. Here, in alphabetical order by team, is the 1998-99 crop of breakthrough players:

Miroslav Satan, Buffalo Sabres: Throughout history he's been known as the Devil, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, the Prince of Darkness, Old Scratch, Oprah... but his friends just call him Miro.

Miroslav Satan by Meredith Martini

Yes, Miroslav Satan rose from the fiery pits of hell to impose his evil will upon the NHL this season, posting career highs in goals (40), assists (26), points (66), power-play goals (13), short-handed goals (3), game-winning goals (6), and plus/minus (+24).

Satan's just all about stealing souls and scoring goals. Michal Grosek called him a "puck hog", and there might be something to it since 26 assists shouldn't exactly be career high material, but Satan knows how to light the lamp. He has amazing hands and protects the puck well. And once he dips and dekes his way through the defense, Satan's wrist shot is both accurate and full of pep. He's a tough guy to stop. And then he also has that pitchfork and prehensile tail, not to mention the goat hooves. Goaltenders better get wise, they better get to church!

Aaron Miller, Colorado Avalanche: The first few weeks of the season in Colorado were like one long episode of M*A*S*H. And not one of the good ones with Trapper and Colonel Blake, either. No, sirree, it was like one of the later shows that put social commentary ahead of the comedy. That's never fun. The Avalanche were in desperate need of some of Hawkeye Pierce's wacky bedside manner when injuries to Adam Foote, Sylvain Lefebvre, Alexei Gusarov, and Jon Klemm, combined with the holdout of Sandis Ozolinsh, left the Colorado blue line thinner than Frank Burns' skin.

Aaron Miller by Meredith Martini

While the club struggled under the burdensome weight of the injured, the chance was given to Aaron Miller to prove himself. And that's exactly what the second-year man did. Miller stepped up and played like a number one defender during the stretch and would eventually settle into the number three hole behind Foote and Ozolinsh. A big, strong defender with good mobility for his size, Miller saved his best for the playoffs, where he posted a goal and six points in 19 games while leading the men with feet on their shoulders in plus/minus at a +8. With the incomparable Foote already on board, Miller's emergence should give the Avalanche a powerful one-two punch for years to come.

Petr Sykora, New Jersey Devils: Sykora appeared a sure shot for superstardom when he bagged 18 goals and 42 points in his rookie season of 1995-96. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury coupled with difficulties fitting in with Jacques Lemaire's defensive system had the young Czech on the outside looking in for much of the next two seasons. He was able to get his foot back in the door last year with 16 goals and 36 points in 58 games, but it wasn't until Robbie Ftorek took over behind the New Jersey bench that Sykora hit his true stride.

The 22-year-old native of that zany town Plzen, known as little Las Vegas among the European crowd, went buckwild in '98-99, collecting 29 goals and 72 points in 80 games. Along with Jason Arnott and Patrik Elias, Sykora was one third of the hottest line in hockey down the stretch. While he's a little fella without much in the way of physical presence, Sykora has a quick first step, sees the entire ice, and owns a rocket shot. He'll pull the trigger from anywhere. The guy's crafty. Put the 666 on his forehead now, Sykora's the future of El Diablo.

Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders: The Isles' 6'9", 255- pound Slovakian blueliner is more than just a sideshow attraction. Chara can play some hockey. Usually rookies don't get listed as breakthrough guys, but it's impossible to ignore the progress Chara made from the 25 games he played in 1997-98 to the 59-game slate he logged for the Islanders in this his official rookie season.

Zdeno Chara by Meredith Martini

The biggest area of improvement is in the skating department. While he'll never be confused for Sergei Zubov, Chara gets around better than most players half his size. And when he gets where he's going, look out. Chara hits like Rod Carew. Between his massive wingspan and sheer brute strength, Chara is quickly gaining the reputation as one of the toughest one-on-one defenders in the league.

Before we move on, let's consider for a moment all the talented defensemen that have passed through the Islander organization in recent years: Darius Kasparaitis, Vladimir Malakhov, Mathieu Schneider, Wade Redden, Bryan Berard, Bryan McCabe. Even after wasting all that talent, the Isles still have the likes of Chara, Kenny Jonsson, and Eric Brewer in the system. If only they had a General Manager to go with 'em. Oh wait, I guess there's Mike Milbury. So, like I said, if only they had a General Manager to go with 'em. It's probably only a matter of time before Milbury sends Chara, Jonsson, and Brewer packing. And who says Milbury's an idiot? Well, come to think of it, I guess that would be everybody.

Magnus Arvedson, Ottawa Senators: He's only been in the league two seasons and Arvedson has already established himself as one of the game's premier defensive forwards, earning his place along names like Michael Peca, Jere Lehtinen, and Peter Forsberg. Arvedson should be a lock to win the Selke this year after posting a +33 while also contributing 21 goals and 47 points to the Ottawa cause. Those numbers are up dramatically from the 11 goals and 26 points of his rookie campaign.

Magnus Arvedson by Meredith Martini

Arvedson is a tremendous physical specimen and could very well be, pound for pound, the strongest player in the NHL. He's a bull along the wall and around the cage. He also has unbelievable straight-ahead speed. Arvedson can go zero to 60 in like, well, the time it takes something really fast to go from zero to 60. And once in the open he's got the hands to finish the play. This may sound a bit strong, but the more I think about it, Arvedson is really one of the coolest players in hockey. Spread the word.

Dan McGillis, Philadelphia Flyers: Okay, so even Bobby Clarke can make a good trade once in a while. When Clarke shipped Janne Niinimaa to Edmonton for McGillis, I was quick to rip on him for trading away the smooth skating, puck sure Finn. But McGillis has proven Clarke to be a genius. Well, a lucky bastard that nailed one trade in 1,000 would be more like it, but I guess that could pass as genius considering the current state of the American public school systems.

McGillis had a damn fine season for the Flyers, bagging eight goals and 45 points in 78 games while playing at an impressive +16, a healthy gain on the -21 he worked in '97-98. While he still can't skate or move the puck quite as well as Niinimaa, McGillis' mobility and puck skills have steadily improved over his first three years in the league. However, his true value to the Fly Guys comes in having his sturdy 6'3" frame in front of the net and his cannon shot at the point. McGillis is that rare breed of defenseman that can mix size and skill. He still needs to play a bit nastier, but if he lives in Philly long enough that will probably just happen naturally over time.

Martin Straka, Pittsburgh Penguins: People can talk about Jaromir Jagr all they want, Marty Straka was Pittsburgh's best player night in and night out. The scrappy little Czech established career highs in goals (35), assists (48), and points (83) and was by far the most consistent and versatile Bird, starring at even-strength, during the kill, or at the point on the power play. Straka did it all. And his success carried over into the postseason, as he led the Penguins in scoring with six goals and 15 points in 13 games.

What makes Straka so cool is that despite being smaller than my bar tab, he doesn't shy away from traffic. Marty loves to mix it up in the corners and along the wood. He'll finish his checks. He also has surprising strength. Combine his deceptive power with his frightening speed, and Straka can be torture to defensemen. Just ask Scott Niedermayer, who Marty humiliated in overtime of Game Six in the opening round by bowling him over along the boards before streaking to the net and setting up Jagr for the winner. You know you're quick when you can make Niedermayer look sluggish. Fast, creative, and possessing a seemingly bottomless well of energy, Straka makes it fun to watch hockey. Too bad the same can't be said for more players in the NHL.

Steve Shields by Meredith Martini

Steve Shields, San Jose Sharks: Freed from the role of being Dominik Hasek's backup, Shields swam to San Jose in order to become, well, Mike Vernon's backup! While that may not seem like a step up in the world, the change did lead to an enormous increase in playing time. In '97-98, Shields appeared in 16 games as the Dominator's understudy. Compare that to this season with the Fish when Shields saw action in 37 games, and it's easy to see why he'd much rather carry Vernon's clubs.

In those 37 games as a Shark, Shields posted career highs in every category with a 15-11-8 record, a 2.22 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and four shutouts. A 6'3", 210- pound netminder, Shields takes up a lot of net and still has the quickness and agility to make the occasional acrobatic save when needed. Shields will be the number one man in San Jose next season.

Sergei Berezin, Toronto Maple Leafs: Back in issue 77 of LCS Hockey, I said that Berezin was a guy to keep an eye on and that he'd be moving up the ranks of NHL scorers. So naturally he went out and tanked it that season, netting a mere 16 goals and 31 points in 68 games. Way to make me look like a jackass, Sergei. I appreciate it. Berezin made amends this season, though, busting out with 37 goals and 59 points in 76 games. But oddly enough, I'm still a jackass. Go figure.

Berezin is one of them there exciting players. He's got explosive speed, a powerful stride, and a shot heavier than a Jack Kerouac poem. The best part of his vast offensive arsenal is his shot release. It's quick like a bunny. A flick of the wrists and the puck's buried in twine. Goaltender's just don't have time to react. It's on his stick, it's off his stick. It's on his stick, it's off his stick. It's on... you get the idea.

Berezin's favorite move is to storm up the wing and get the defender backing up before cutting into the slot and letting fly with a wrister. It's his tag. Defenders know it's coming, but there's not much they can do about it. Step up and Berezin will blow right around you with his speed and stickhandling. Back up and it's automatic for the people; cut, wrister, goal. Pick your poison. I usually go with Scotch.

Markus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks: Oh, that wacky Markus Naslund. I remember back in the day when he and Forsberg were tearing up the Swedish leagues, Naslund was considered a can't miss prospect and future 40-goal scorer in the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted him 16th overall in 1991 with such high hopes. After his first couple years in the league, it looked like the Pens were just high when they drafted him.

Markus Naslund by Meredith Martini

To say that Naslund was a disappointment early in his career would be like saying Marlon Brando can eat some pie. The Penguins expected Naslund to step right in and contribute 20 to 30 goals his rookie season of 1993-94, instead Naslund stumbled to four goals and 11 points in 71 games and was the victim of the most vicious drubbing since Larry Holmes fought Tex Cobb when Randy Cunneyworth dropped the gloves and beat out a melody of pain on the young Swede's skull. Naslund, with his hands down at his sides, tried to skate away only to have Cunneyworth follow him around the ice, delivering punch after punch to the head. GreenPeace actually had to intervene to stop the slaughter. Then the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season saw Naslund accumulate a whole two goals and four points in 14 games. Pittsburgh fans were beginning to wish Cunneyworth had finished the job.

It wasn't until Naslund was moved to the wing alongside Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 that he finally started to produce. But, then again, a bag of donuts could score 49 goals playing with Lemieux. That bag of donuts' name? Robbie Brown. Aw, I tease in fun. Anyway, the Penguins let Lemieux drive up Naslund's market value to the tune of 19 goals and 55 points in 66 games and then they moved him to Vancouver for the always dangerous Alek Stojanov. Hey, let's not kid ourselves, Craig Patrick has made his share of bad trades. Even Picasso spilled some paint.

Upon arriving in Vancouver, Naslund continued to tantalize with his quick hands and laser shot, but never backed up the skill with the grit and determination needed to excel at the NHL level. In his first 164 games as a Canuck, spanning the final 10 games of '95-96 through to the end of the 1997-98 season, Naslund scored a grand total of 38 goals. Yee-haw.

But never fear, Naslund is listed as a breakthrough player for a reason. After years of hollow hype and painful frustration, Naslund finally began to deliver on his limitless potential this season, leading the Canucks in scoring with 36 goals and 66 points in 80 games. And those weren't just 36 average run-of- the-mill goals, either. Naslund broke out the funk on a regular basis, weaving through defenders and abusing goaltenders with casual ease. If his goals were any sweeter Diabetics wouldn't be able to watch him play.

There's still some that doubt the silky Swede's success, suggesting that he'll crash to Earth in 1999-2000. But I think he's here to stay. His talent is just too overwhelming. Watch this guy one-on-one with a goaltender and it's a one-way ticket to Freaksville. It's always been a matter of confidence with Naslund. As long as he believes in himself, his natural ability will take care of the rest. And it certainly doesn't hurt to have Todd Bertuzzi, Brad May, and Donald Brashear around to help provide some of that confidence. I don't want to say Naslund's a Mary, but Cameron Diaz was actually the second choice to play that role. When Naslund wakes up and sees his shadow it means six more weeks of cowardice. Why did the chicken cross the road? To help Markus Naslund get to the other side. Then there's the classic Dave Letterman college radio bit called All Things Yellow: "Banana. School bus. The Sun. Markus Naslund. Lemons... (prolonged pause) Lemonade." Aw, that's good stuff.

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