The freshman class of 2006-07 is not likely to be as high impact as last year's new wave, led by Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Dion Phaneuf.
But there's clearly one brilliant jewel, and no doubt some hidden gems amongst this year's list of top 10 rookies:
No. 10 - Boston netminder Hannu Toivonen. He showed glimpses of star power in 20 games last season and looks ready to take the next step.
No. 9 - Patrick O'Sullivan of the Los Angeles Kings. Coming off a 47-goal AHL season, the former Minnesota prospect gets a chance for prime time duty in L.A.
No. 8 - Detroit's Jiri Hudler. The diminutive fourth-year pro will get many power play minutes that once belonged to guys named Shanahan and Yzerman.
No. 7 - Kings centre Anze Kopitar. With a chance to play on the Kings' top line, Kopitar could put Slovenia on the hockey map.
No. 6 - Columbus Blue Jackets forward Gilbert Brule. As long as the Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em middleweight stays healthy, he could be prolific.
No. 5 - Colorado's Wojtek Wolski. Polish-born and Canadian-trained, Wolski will get top-six forward minutes with the Avs.
No. 4 - Boston's Phil Kessel. Dynamic speed and scoring ability, Kessel will have to play himself out of the Bruins' top six forwards.
No. 3 - San Jose defenceman Matt Carle. After a successful playoff audition, the Hobey Baker Trophy winner will get quality minutes and power play time.
No. 2 - Anaheim's Dustin Penner. He is big, strong, fast and skilled. The Ducks' classic late bloomer was a playoff revelation and now he'll do it as a front-line guy.
No. 1 - Pittsburgh's Evgeny Malkin. Was there ever any doubt? If he can stay healthy, or doesn't get hung up in the courts, there's no reason why Malkin won't do this season what Ovechkin and Crosby did last year.
Hannu in nets is the real thing. Kessel has much to prove. Chara is a rock on d. And Lewis is a good coach. All reasons I guarantee that Boston makes the playoffs this year.
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I'm as confused as a starving baby in a topless bar!
plouf wrote: ...a handshake wager here. I will equally guarantee they do not.
And-o thinks Plouffy has shown some serious 'jam' here.....but Chara alone adds an average of 27 minutes played to the back-end of the Bruins! TWENTY SEVEN QUALITY MINUTES!!!
...And-o has got to side with BarCat on this one!!!
(Just imagine if the Habs had a BIG Moose like Chara to take 27 minutes of ice??? WOW!)