Trending ▲, Trending ▼: Sophomores' second-season wraps

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Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.

The 2016-17 season has been lined with the most exciting rookie class to enter the NHL in a decade, from Toronto's Auston Matthews, to Winnipeg's Patrik Laine, and Columbus' Zach Werenski, among others.

But let's not to forget the freshmen who graced the league a year ago, some who have built on their initial success to others, who haven't been as fruitful in their second seasons:

▲ Connor McDavid

It's one thing to produce as a rookie. It's another to climb the ranks and become the league's most dominant player in only your second season, but that's the case when it comes to the Edmonton Oilers captain.

McDavid sits first in league scoring with 95 points, seven ahead of runner-up Patrick Kane. He also ranks first league-wide in points per game, coming in at 1.20, ahead of Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos. The 20-year-old already sits among the NHL's best.

After his first season was cut short due to a collarbone injury, limiting him to just 45 games, McDavid played his 100th career game this season, collecting 108 points by then. That total has reached 143 points in 124 contests. Credit McDavid's performance in returning the Oilers to relevancy, as the club has locked down its first playoff berth since 2006.

▼ Shayne Gostisbehere

The Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner has taken a step back in his second season, not an uncommon occurrence for sophomore skaters, particularly on the back end.

After netting 17 goals and 29 assists a year ago, the Philadelphia defenseman regressed this season, as his production dropped off with 10 fewer tallies, despite playing in 10 more games, with two games remaining on the season. His point production also fell by eight points. On five occasions, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol made Gostisbehere a healthy scratch.

Still, it's key to remember that, despite his second-year struggles, the 23-year-old Gostisbehere remains a big piece of the Flyers' blue line, as he'll continue to grow into a critical role surrounded by the likes of rookie Ivan Provorov and up-and-comers Samuel Morin and Philippe Myers.

▲ Jonathan Marchessault

After toiling with the Tampa Bay Lightning a year ago, when Marchessault put up a respectable 18 points in 45 games, he moved cross-state, landing a deal with the Florida Panthers.

It may have been the best buy of the offseason. Agreeing to a two-year contract worth $750,000 per season, the Panthers got a prime bargain in Marchessault, now a 30-goal scorer. He's tops on the team in goal production, ahead of rising offensive stars like Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov.

As for the Panthers, the team will sit on the sidelines this postseason, unable to build on last year's playoff appearance. But with a healthy lineup next season, and continued production from Marchessault, the future looks bright in Florida.

▼ Dylan Larkin

After netting 23 goals and 22 assists in 2015-16, the Detroit Red Wings forward declined in both categories this season, totaling 16 and 14, respectively.

The good news is that most of Larkin's lagging production came in the season's first half, while his scoring touch picked up following a shift from the wing to center. Larkin played up the middle prior to turning pro and the Red Wings envision him as a center long term.

The Red Wings won't make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. But the future is now in Detroit, as the franchise turns the page and begins to lean on its young talent. Larkin, alongside Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou, are the next wave charged with returning the Red Wings to the winner's circle.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)