ESPN's fresh NHL season point projections are causing a stir.

They anticipate Juraj Slafkovský to notch 55 points in his sophomore NHL season, while Brad Marchand's prediction sits at a modest 46 points.

The Bruins' loss of key players and Marchand's advancing age raise doubts.

Marchand's has a strong track record, last year he averaged just over a point per game, and in the later part of his career he has been hovering around a point per game pace.

The controversy stems from uncertainty about such a notable downturn being plausible.