Senators' Hoffman still progressing after tumultuous 2015-16

Mike Hoffman's time with the Ottawa Senators hasn't been the smoothest of tenures thus far. But that hasn't stopped the 27-year-old from continuing to grow his game with each passing season.

Hoffman broke out during his first full campaign in the big leagues, piling in 27 goals - tops among rookies that year - and 48 points to help the Senators return to the playoffs.

And yet, Ottawa hesitated to bet long term on Hoffman, instead taking him to arbitration and eventually inking him to a one-year deal. Hoffman answered with career highs of 29 goals and 59 points in 2015-16, earning a four-year, $20.8-million contract in the process.

But even last year, Hoffman's second consecutive strong campaign, didn't come without a few obstacles. The central roadblock: former head coach Dave Cameron, who demoted Hoffman to the fourth line for a lengthy stretch while unimpressed with his defensive play.

It's certainly not the type of treatment you'd expect of a young near-30 goal-scorer, especially on a team that isn't exactly brimming with snipers. But Hoffman has managed to take steps forward offensively regardless of the noise, and is doing so again this season.

Through 47 games, Hoffman has amassed 18 goals and 37 points, those totals ranking second and third among Senators skaters, respectively.

With the young sniper improving his goals per game and points per game rates for the third straight year, he's on pace to finish just a hair above his previous career-best offensive marks.

However, a closer look reveals some of the more poignant ways he's upped his game this season.

While Hoffman's overall totals may finish in a similar range as his 2015-16 numbers, he's managed to fine tune the ways in which he's contributing.

The smooth-skating winger currently ranks second in the NHL in power-play goals, already boasting a career-best 11 with plenty of time left in 2016-17. He's also racked up the third-most game-winning goals in the league thus far, scoring six up to this point.

His most dominant performance came in a late November loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Hoffman's club fell short, but clearly through no fault of his own, as he finished with a hat trick and an assist for the first four-point game of his career.

That effort made Hoffman the only Senators skater other than captain Erik Karlsson to post four points in a game in the past two seasons.

With 30 games left to go, the Senators sit second in the Atlantic Division, their 62 points giving them a good chance at returning to the playoffs either by keeping their divisional spot or dropping into the wild-card race.

Hoffman has been crucial in getting them this far, and the quickly rising winger is sure be at the center of any postseason success the Senators are able to attain come playoff time.