2009/2010 ROOKIE CLASS : Who to watch

Every year we have unbelievable young talented players that make their mark in the league. Just look at the Calder trophy winners in the past 50 years, such as Bobby Orr, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Luc Robitaille, Ray Bourque, Teemu Selanne, Alex Ovechkin, etc. Definitely exclusive company right? What we will be taking a look at is the 10 players this year that will be the next great Calder trophy winner, and the remainder of this year's star-studded rookie class that will be exciting to watch, nonetheless:

Starting off at number #10:

#10. LINUS OMARK - EDMONTON OILERS (Drafted 97th overall, 2007)

We've said it once, and we'll say it again. Edmonton has the best collection of young talent in their system in the entire league. And that may be a bold statement considering the unbelievable youngsters in the league. We have all heard of guys like Youtube sensation Rob Schremp, and of course the Canadian Junior hero and hometown Regina boy Jordan Eberle, but on top of that, Swedish youtube sensation Linus Omark can be added to the mix.

Just check this out:






You can't teach some of these sick skills, and creativity like this is just what the league and the Oilers need. Along with guys like Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano, the Oilers have an awesome group of top 6 forwards in development. Expect the 22-year old Omark to make a splash with the roster this year.

#9 JUSTIN ABDELKADER - DETROIT RED WINGS (Drafted 42nd overall, 2005)

Abdelkader's breakout performance cam in last year's playoffs, when team injuries landed him a spot on the roster in the Wings' second straight run to the Stanley cup finals. Categorized as a tough, gritty forward who has an exceptional work ethic, we think his style of play would fit on Detroit's 4th line perfectly this season. Pair him with young up-and-coming stars such as Darren Helm and SK product Jeremy Williams, you have one of the quickest and skilled 4th lines in the league, meaning if there's one thing the Wings have this year, it's depth. Don't expect Abdelkader to be a calder candidate, but he may be working his way up to a mainstay on the Wings' lineup, particularly in clutch situations, such as the PK team.

#8 COLIN WILSON - NASHVILLE PREDATORS (Drafted 7th overall, 2008)

The Prairiepuck proudly gives the "Owning the snow-blower in California" award to the Nashville Predators. They have all of this great young talent, but have no idea what to do with it. They do a great job in goaltender development and in the defense department, but they need to make a franchise overall in a hurry, before the team inevitably relocates. Colin Wilson may be the answer to this dilemma. Once a star on his collegiate team (Boston University), Wilson is a talented young forward who has excellent ability in clutch situations, particularly on the International stage in IIHF World Men's, U20, and U18 championships.


#7 NIKITA FILATOV - COLUMBUS BLUEJACKETS (Drafted 6th overall, 2008)

Drafted just before Wilson in 2008 was Russian sensation Nikita Filatov. If everything goes well for Filatov and he can produce the numbers we all know he can, he may be the dark horse for Calder trophy contention this season. Filatov began the season last year in Columbus, impressing many people along the way, but was sent back to Syracuse for the remainder of the season for development, as he was still only a small, 18 year old. If there's one thing that we know from these situations, it's that experience makes a hell of a difference when developing young prospects. After years of only having Rick Nash on their draft record to impress everyone, the BlueJackets are finally learning how to develop their own and make a run into the post season, with players like Filatov, Steve Mason, and Derrick Brassard on their resume in the last couple years.

#6 VICTOR HEDMAN - TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (Drafted 2nd overall, 2009)

A team like Tampa Bay really shouldn't be known for defense after last season, but kudos to the franchise for addressing this problem and drafting an impact defenseman like Victor Hedman from the Swedish Elite leagues. We actually believe that if Tampa Bay had the number one pick, they still would have chosen Hedman over the heavily favourited John Tavares of the London Knights (We'll get to him later). Not only did they lock up Hedman, but the team went out and signed all-around defenseman and fellow countryman Mattias Ohlund from the Vancouver Canucks. With Lecavalier, St. Louis, Stamkos, Hedman, and Ohlund to run the powerplay, we could see a huge improvement this year from the Bolts. Ohlund is expected to be a mentor to Hedman, and the two together will be a good fit.

#5 MATT DUCHENE - COLORADO AVALANCHE (Drafted 3rd overall, 2009)

If there is one player who impressed at the right time during last year's draft process, it was Matt Duchene of the OHL's Brampton Batallion. Many thought the Duchene could rival Hedman and Tavares for the top draft choice, but along with Tampa Bay, Colorado addressed a major concern and drafted the best possible player they could in Duchene. Already being compared to a "Joe Sakic with unbelievable speed", Duchene is going to work extremely well with forwards like Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski. We don't see him being the guy to win the Calder quite yet, but we have been wrong before.

#4 CODY HODGSON - VANCOUVER CANUCKS (Drafted 10th overall, 2008)

Coming off a year that was capped off with the CHL Player of the Year award, Cody Hodgson is the complete deal. He is a quick, gritty, skilled forward who can score, and just as importantly LEAD his team. Hodgson is said to possibly crack the 2nd or even top line this season, and we believe his strong play with the Brampton Batallion last season will continue with the Canucks, and could be another face for this growing franchise. Fellow Batallion allumni, now divison rival Matt Duchene and Cody Hodgson will provide some very entertaining rivalries in years to come. **CALDER CANDIDATE**

#3 SIMEON VARLAMOV - WASHINGTON CAPITALS (Drafted 23rd overall, 2006)

Last year's playoffs were this young Russian's chance to prove himself after assuming the starting job over Jose Theodore, and he didn't disappoint. Maybe he did in game 7 against the eventual Cup Champion Penguins, but let's blame that on inexperience. This young goaltender has an incredible opportunity this season, in proving that he can remain the #1 guy, and take the Caps deeper in the playoffs, which we believe he will do. A solid first half of the season will also see the young Russian as a candidate to be the 3rd goaltender for the Russian Olympic team behind San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov and Edmonton's Nikolai Khabibulin. **CALDER CANDIDATE**

#2 JOHN TAVARES - NEW YORK ISLANDERS (Drafted 1st overall, 2009)

You may think we're crazy not having Tavares as #1, but this does not mean that he's not the guy to watch. We all know that Tavares is one of the greatest Canadian players every to play on the World Junior stage, and that he also broke some of Wayne Gretzky's Junior Hockey scoring records. He is an excellent player, with excellent potential, and he will bring a winning tradition back to Long Island. The only thing is that Tavares does not have a very good supporting cast, and he will not be a saviour to this team quite yet, so don't expect them to make a push to the playoffs for a couple years, but still, definitely a **CALDER CANDIDATE**

#1. JONAS GUSTAVSSON - TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (Signed as Free Agent)

How's that for irony eh? The team we all love to despise actually has shown rays of hope for the future. In signing perhaps the most coveted free agent from both the NCAA and European Elite Leagues combined, Brian Burke is actually accomplishing what he set out to do. He is rebuilding this team from the inside out by weaning out the bad and bringing in quality players. Sure, guys like Colton Orr aren't quality players, but the Leafs have completely revamped their blue line, and added some extra help with the signing of Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson. The Monster was highly regarded as the top goaltender in the world outside the NHL last season, and his numbers prove it. Standing at 6"3, we believe this keeper will contend for the starting position, when we all know that Toskala is going to choke. It's simple. Vesa Toskala does not have the capacity, nor ability to be a starting goaltender, and Jonas Gustavsson will steal the starting job from him this season. Will he be a candidate for the Calder? Only time will tell. Will he take the Leafs to the playoffs this year? Probably not, but he really can't hurt their chances.



HONOURABLE MENTION


TUUKKA RASK - BOSTON BRUINS - (Drafted 21st overall, 2005)

Tuukka Rask is an excellent European goaltender, and really hasn't yet been given the opportunity to show his stuff in the league. The 22 year old netminder was drafted 21st overall by of all teams, the Leafs in 2005. In a bonehead move, the Leafs fell head over heels for the flavour at the week of the time, Calder trophy winner Andrew Raycroft, and traded their #1 prospect Rask to Boston for Raycroft. Well we all know how that turned out. The Leafs haven't made the playoffs since and Boston won the Eastern conference last year. With no contract offered to Manny Fernandez at this time, we must assume that Rask may be getting the opportunity to backup Vezina-winner Tim Thomas, and will be seen as the new goaltender of the future in bean town.


SK HONOURABLE MENTION


1. Jordan Eberle - EDMONTON OILERS (Drafted 22nd overall, 2008)
2. Brayden Schenn - LOS ANGELES KINGS (Drafted 5th overall, 2009)
3. Dustin Tokarski - TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (Drafted 122nd overall, 2008)
4. Jared Cowen - OTTAWA SENATORS (Drafted 9th overall, 2009)
5. Keith Aulie - CALGARY FLAMES (Drafted 116th overall, 2007)
6. Riley Holzapfel - ATLANTA THRASHERS (Drafted 43rd overall, 2006)

It is interesting to note here that out of the top prospects from Saskatchewan, Riley Holzapfel is currently tagged as the player that has the best chance of cracking the lineup this season. Holzapfel, a native of Regina, is a rugged forward that would fit in nicely on an Atlanta team that really needs his presence. Most likely a 3rd or 4th line centreman, it will be interesting to see what this 21 year old can do. Of course, we are overlooking a great deal of talent here. We all hope that Jordan Eberle will be able to crack the Oilers lineup this season, however a player like Eberle should not be rushed into the spotlight unless he is 100% ready. A season with Springfield in the AHL could make a world of difference in his development. Tokarski is another interesting player, because goaltending seems to be the one area that is unnaddressed in Tampa Bay coming into the 2009/2010 campaign. Mike Smith has yet to prove he really is a starter in this league, so who knows, maybe we will see this Allan, SK. native between the pipes in Tampa sooner than we think.



PP