It depends on how you choose to look at it.
If you look at it from what both players achieved season by season it's not very much different with exception of Connolly's last year. What does that portend for this season? Can anyone really make a conclusion based on what Connolly has shown? That was my point.
Of course the young players in general should improve but for everyone that take a step forward - maybe Pastrnak + Spooner there is usually someone who fizzles out.
And you're talking about guys that this team needs to be successful because the Top 6 forwards are extremely thin. I count 4 guys....Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand, and Eriksson. Pastrnak has the talent but still developing.