Mike Brophy

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy writes Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday on Sportsnet.ca and appears regularly on Hockeycentral.

Chris Stewart is not afraid to get physical if necessary.

There has been no sophomore slump for Chris Stewart of the Colorado Avalanche.

In fact, the case could be made the 22-year-old right winger is the most improved player in the NHL. Last season, in his rookie campaign, Stewart made a reasonable impression scoring 11 goals and 19 points in 53 games for an Avalanche team that finished 28th overall. This season, Stewart has developed into one of the league's best power forwards on a club that, despite a recent slide, has been one of the biggest surprises.

In 66 games Stewart has scored 27 goals (five game-winners) and 59 points (good for 37th in the league) and after finishing minus-18 last year, is a healthy plus-12 this year. Stewart, who is 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, has engaged in six fights. This guy is Clark Gillies, who just happens to be a Hall of Famer, but with more skill.

Stewart is currently one of the hottest point producers in the NHL, riding a seven-game point streak during which he has six goals and six assists. In his past 14 games Stewart has 10 goals and 23 points. As the Avalanche move forward, count on Stewart being one of the key building blocks.

While last season's Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie, goaltender Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has struggled, there are a host of second-year NHLers who are thriving. The league is in very good hands with the following second-year stars:

Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning: The NHL's fifth-leading scorer, Stamkos has been one of the bright lights on an otherwise inconsistent team. The No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft got off to a slow start in his rookie season, largely because then-coach Barry Melrose barely played him, but still managed to finish with 23 goals and 46 points in 79 games. This year Stamkos has been good from the get-go. In his first 12 games the Markham, Ont., native had 11 goals and 16 points and he currently has 43 goals and 83 points in 72 games. Even though the Lightning are a weak defensive team, Stamkos is even after finishing minus-13 last year. Stamkos, who turned 20 Feb. 7, became the first member of the Lightning to score 30 or more goals as a teenager and also established a franchise record with 17 power-play goals. He is the youngest player in NHL history to have an 18-game point streak.

Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks: After scoring just one goal in his first nine games, Ryan has emerged as one of the key stars on a team trying to re-establish itself after winning the Stanley Cup in 2006-07. One of the league's best puck-handlers, Ryan now has recorded back-to-back, 31-goal seasons and with 11 games remaining, he's sure to add to his total. The second overall pick in the 2005 draft, one pick behind Sidney Crosby, Ryan helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and his 31 goals rank second among American-born NHLers this season.

Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings: The Winter Olympics were something of a coming-out party for Kings defenceman Drew Doughty. That's because people in the Eastern Time zone finally got the opportunity to see this gifted young defender in action. In 70 games this season, Doughty is tied for third in scoring among defenceman (with Chris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers) with 13 goals (four game-winners) and 52 points. After being minus-17 last season, he is plus-17 this year.

T.J. Oshie, St. Louis Blues: Although his numbers aren't significantly different this season, Oshie is clearly becoming a more important player on a Blues team that is building for the future. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound centre is a grinder who doesn't mind banging to gain possession of the puck. With 15 goals and 42 points in 68 games, the 23-year-old ranks third in team scoring and has 22 points in his last 28 games.

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings: The Kings have a wealth of good young goaltenders in the organization, but for the moment, it is Quick who is driving the bus. Only two goaltenders, veterans Ilya Bryzgalov and Martin Brodeur, have more wins (39 each) than Quick's 38 which just happens to be a franchise record. The goal was to make the playoffs this season and it looks like Quick and Co. will do just that.