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Tsn's Top 100 Rookies


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Obv homer opinion, but I think Leino should be higher. Other than that, pretty solid list.

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if you're talking about berglund, I think he's probably in the right spot. he's going to be a good one.

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i think doughty and versteeg should be higher purely for the number of minutes and situations they are playing per game, plus their consistency merits higher ranking. stamkos has been great lately but shouldnt be in the top 3 given the start he had - appreciate he was an 18 year old but so was doughty.

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HOW IS JAMES NEAL #13 WITH THE NUMBER OF GOALS HE HAS SCOREDTHERE I SAID IT
I just read the link and saw Neal and figured you would be commenting on that in this thread.
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I just read the link and saw Neal and figured you would be commenting on that in this thread.
you can't make allowances for current contributions without putting neal top 5, given that he is #2 in goals and all...not that I care much about TSN. there's such a heavy canadian bias there by necessity.
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Keep in mind they are "ranked in terms of long-term potential, with some allowances made for immediate impact."1. Steve Mason, G, ColumbusAge: 20Stats: 29-17-3, 9 SO, 2.25 GAA, .918 SVPCT in 50 GPComment: It's no sure thing that a successful rookie season will mean a long and fruitful career, particularly as a goaltender, but Mason has the chance to be a franchise goaltender.2. Bobby Ryan, LW, AnaheimAge: 22Stats: 24-21-45, plus-13, 22 PIM in 53 GPComment: Didn't deserve to get demoted to AHL at the start of the season, but has been an impact player since getting recalled, displaying super soft hands for a power forward as he's scored a few highlight-reel goals.3. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa BayAge: 19Stats: 16-20-36, minus-12, 35 PIM in 68 GPComment: Started slowly, as head coach Barry Melrose was probably right that he wasn't ready but, under the guidance of new coach Rick Tocchet, Stamkos is already getting stronger, logging lots of ice time and showing high-end offensive skills.4. Zach Bogosian, D, AtlantaAge: 18Stats: 5-7-12, plus-8, 28 PIM in 36 GPComment: A broken ankle cost him a lot of time, but Bogosian has been an impact player as an 18-year-old. As he matures, his offensive production will improve and he'll be a top-pair defender soon enough (if he isn't already).5. Drew Doughty, D, Los AngelesAge: 19Stats: 5-18-23, minus-11, 48 PIM in 69 GPComment: Thrust into workhorse duty right off the bat, Doughty is playing nearly 24 minutes per game. While his defensive game needs to get better, he's gained a lot of valuable experience this year and shown poise to keep expectations high.6. Pekka Rinne, G, NashvilleAge: 26Stats: 24-11-3, 7 SO, 2.26 GAA, .922 SVPCT in 42 GPComment: His numbers are awfully similar to Mason's, but it's taken some time for the 26-year-old to finally make his mark in the NHL.7. Blake Wheeler, LW, BostonAge: 22Stats: 18-22-40, plus-36, 40 PIM in 71 GPComment: Signed as a free agent when he couldn't come to terms with the Coyotes after leaving the University of Minnesota, Wheeler has been sensational, bringing a rare combination of size (6-foot-5, 214 pounds) and speed.8. Patrik Berglund, C, St. LouisAge: 20Stats: 17-23-40, plus-16, 16 PIM in 65 GPComment: Big, skilled and already playing a sound two-way game, Berglund is going to be a number one centre for years to come.9. Derick Brassard, C, ColumbusAge: 21Stats: 10-15-25, plus-12, 17 PIM in 31 GPComment: Was off to a fantastic start before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in a rare fight. Injuries have been a problem in each of the last three seasons, though, so he has to prove he can stay healthy.10. Kris Versteeg, LW, ChicagoAge: 22Stats: 20-29-49, plus-16, 55 PIM in 66 GPComment: A steal of a trade from Boston (for Brandon Bochenski), the scrappy skilled winger leads all NHL rookies with 49 points this season. 11. T.J. Oshie, RW, St. LouisAge: 22Stats: 10-20-30, plus-12, 20 PIM in 46 GPComment: High-energy, hard-hitting forward has been slowed by injuries, which may indicate a need to dial-back his physical game, but Oshie has been very productive when healthy.12. Michael Frolik, LW, FloridaAge: 21Stats: 18-18-36, plus-4, 22 PIM in 68 GPComment: Skilled forward has the scoring touch that was expected, with possibly a more responsible two-way game than would have been anticipated right away.13. Kyle Okposo, RW, N.Y. IslandersAge: 20Stats: 16-14-30, minus-8, 28 PIM in 57 GPComment: Started slowly, though some of that may have been due to ice time and line combinations, but the scoring winger has showcased his skills much more in the second half.14. Claude Giroux, RW, PhiladelphiaAge: 21Stats: 5-10-15, plus-7, 12 PIM in 29 GPComment: Talented scorer who will be highly productive once he gets consistent quality ice time. As a rookie, he's still battling for ice time among Philadelphia's deep forward corps, but his role will expand in the coming years.15. Luke Schenn, D, TorontoAge: 19Stats: 1-8-9, minus-13, 50 PIM in 60 GPComment: Aside from Doughty, the only rookie getting more than 20 minutes of ice time per game. It's been a learning experience with the rebuilding Maple Leafs, but Schenn still looks like he will be every bit the shutdown defenceman one day.16. James Neal, LW, DallasAge: 21Stats: 23-11,34, minus-10, 39 PIM in 66 GPComment: Desperate times on the wings forced the Stars to put Neal into a more prominent role than expected and the promising power forward has proven that he can put the puck in the net. Now, it's a matter of rounding out the rest of his game. 17. Jakub Voracek, RW, ColumbusAge: 19Stats: 9-26-35, plus-10, 30 PIM in 69 GPComment: Putting up respectable scoring numbers, but has been a pleasant surprise as a two-way player in his first season. There is still untapped offensive potential here.18. Mikkel Boedker, LW, PhoenixAge: 19Stats: 10-17-27, minus-2, 16 PIM in 70 GPComment: Responsible young player can already play in every situation, but his scoring will increase in the coming years. 19. Kyle TurrisAge: 19Stats: 8-12-20, minus-13, 17 PIM in 56 GPComment: Probably rushed out of the University of Wisconsin, Turris wasn't ready yet and spent some time in the AHL (4-3-7, minus-1 in 8 GP) before getting recalled. Definitely skilled, but it could be a few years before he's an impact player.20. Karl Alzner, D, WashingtonAge: 20Stats: 1-4-5, minus-1, 2 PIM in 30 GPComment: Has split the season between the AHL and NHL, but his strong numbers with Hershey (3-11-14, plus-21 in 35 GP) indicate that he'll be ready for a big role in D.C. soon.21. Josh Bailey, C, N.Y. IslandersAge: 19Stats: 3-17-20, minus-10, 14 PIM in 56 GPComment: Surprised by making the team out of training camp (even if he was injured) and has shown promise as a playmaker. Even if his role is that of setup man, he'll have to light the lamp more often.22. Jonathan Quick, G, Los AngelesAge: 23Stats: 17-12-1, 3 SO, 2.62 GAA, .908 SVPCT in 33 GPComment: A strong start with Manchester of the AHL opened the door for his promotion and Quick hasn't looked out of place at all. How will his development affect highly-touted first-rounder Jonathan Bernier, who remains in Manchester?23. Oscar Moller, RW, Los AngelesAge: 20Stats: 7-8-15, minus-3, 14 PIM in 36 GPComment: Impressive early, the skilled winger has been slow to rebound from an injury suffered at the World Junior Hockey Championships.24. Ville Leino, LW, DetroitAge: 25Stats: 5-4-9, plus-5, 6 PIM in 13 GP Comment: Was very productive in a limited amount of time with the Wings and could (perhaps should) be a Top Six forward as soon as next season.25. Matt Hunwick, D, BostonAge: 23Stats: 6-14-20, plus-14, 25 PIM in 43 GPComment: Mobile, puck-moving defenceman made a huge impact early, but is now on the fringe of the lineup as the Bruins bulked up the blueline. Interesting potential if he can get an opportunity with consistent playing time.26. Troy Brouwer, RW, ChicagoAge: 23Stats: 10-16-26, plus-7, 50 PIM in 60 GPComment: Strong power forward who still needs to improve his skating, but he's been reliable and does have a minor-league track record as a goal-scorer.27. Alex Goligoski, D, PittsburghAge: 23Stats: 6-14-20, plus-5, 16 PIM in 45 GPComment: Talented puck-handler who can run the point on the power play, Goligoski isn't particularly strong so, even with solid production, he has been demoted to the AHL (where he has 2-11-13 and is plus-2 in 17 GP).28. Luca Sbisa, D, PhiladelphiaAge: 19Stats: 0-7-7, minus-6, 36 PIM in 39 GPComment: Ready sooner than expected and could very well have finished the season with the Flyers if they weren't pushing for a playoff spot and trying to squeeze veterans in under the salary cap.29. Teddy Purcell, RW, Los AngelesAge: 23Stats: 4-11-15, minus-3, 4 PIM in 29 GPComment: Surprisingly cut in training camp, Purcell hasn't received a really good look until recently and continues to show the puck skills that should make him a solid scorer, if he can get consistent minutes. 30. Mikhail Grabovski, C, TorontoAge: 25Stats: 17-19-36, minus-6, 76 PIM in 68 GPComment: It's been an up-and-down season, but Grabovksi has some offensive flair to his game and it would be interesting to see if more skilled teammates could help elevate his play.31. Brian Lee, D, OttawaAge: 21Stats: 2-9-11, minus-4, 18 PIM in 42 GPComment: May not live up to being drafted 9th overall, but has good size and can move the puck well enough to be a defensive regular for many years.32. Max Pacioretty, LW, MontrealAge: 20Stats: 3-8-11, minus-2, 25 PIM in 33 GPComment: Power forward prospect was rushed to the NHL, so he'll have to develop scoring touch on the fly.33. Brian Elliott, G, OttawaAge: 23Stats: 14-4-3, 2.70 GAA, .905 SVPCT in 25 GPComment: Proving that he's NHL-calibre, but will likely be battling for backup job next season.34. Fabian Brunnstrom, LW, DallasAge: 24Stats: 13-10-23, minus-7, 4 PIM in 46 GPComment: Definitely skilled, but has a long way to go in terms of aggressiveness and defensive responsibility. If he improves in those areas, Brunnstrom could be a regular 20-goal scorer.35. Jannik Hansen, RW, VancouverAge: 23Stats: 6-15-21, plus-7, 37 PIM in 52 GPComment: Made an impression early as a checking winger, but has had trouble getting back into the lineup since getting hurt, since the Canucks are playing so well.36. Wayne Simmonds, RW, Los AngelesAge: 20Stats: 6-12-18, minus-5, 50 PIM in 70 GPComment: Limited offensively, but goes up and down the wing, does his job and enjoys getting involved in the physical play.37. Andrew Ebbett, C, AnaheimAge: 26Stats: 5-18-23, plus-5, 4 PIM in 37 GPComment: Undersized and undrafted, the University of Michigan grad put up 166 points in 173 AHL games before earning a spot with the Ducks this year.38. Chris Stewart, RW, ColoradoAge: 21 Stats: 10-8-18, minus-17, 54 PIM in 46 GPComment: Strong forward with decent hands and a willingness to mix it up, but has struggled defensively.39. Brandon Sutter, C, CarolinaAge: 20Stats: 1-5-6, minus-1, 16 PIM in 50 GPComment: Has seen limited playing time with the Hurricanes (only 8:49 per game), but should get more of a chance in the future.40. Kevin Klein, D, NashvilleAge: 24Stats: 4-7-11, minus-1, 17 PIM in 53 GPComment: Only sees limited playing time in Nashville, and could probably handle more elsewhere, but finally cracked the lineup after knocking on the door for several seasons.41. Ryan Jones, LW, NashvilleAge: 24Stats: 7-9-16, plus-1, 20 PIM in 43 GPComment: Hard-working winger who was acquired in the Marek Zidlicky deal and spent some time in the AHL this season. Willingness to go to the net could make him a 20-goal scorer.42. Ryan Parent, D, PhiladelphiaAge: 22 Stats: 0-2-2, plus-3, 8 PIM in 20 GPComment: Steady and reliable, with a mature approach, Parent is back from injury and taking a regular turn on the Flyers blueline.43. Adam Pardy, D, CalgaryAge: 24Stats: 1-9-10, plus-5, 47 PIM in 50 GPComment: Steady and safe, Pardy has emerged as a reliable pro, but has been bumped from the lineup thanks to the trade deadline acquisition of Jordan Leopold.44. Colton Gillies, LW, MinnesotaAge: 20Stats: 2-4-6, minus-2, 14 PIM in 38 GPComment: Not yet ready for NHL action, but has projectable size that can make him at least a solid checker.45. Ondrej Pavelec, G, AtlantaAge: 21Stats: 3-6, 3.55 GAA, .884 SVPCT in 11 GPComment: Excels at the AHL level; but could be blocked in Atlanta.46. Matt D'Agostini, RW, MontrealAge: 22Stats: 10-9-19, minus-14, 16 PIM in 48 GPComment: Has shown more of a scoring touch than expected, but has to improve as a two-way player if he's going to establish a long career.47. John Mitchell, C, TorontoAge: 24Stats: 9-16-25, minus-15, 29 PIM in 66 GP Comment: Steadily improving and getting a good look down the stretch, he could tighten up his defensive play to advance his NHL career.48. Cal Clutterbuck, RW, MinnesotaAge: 21Stats: 8-5-13, minus-5, 63 PIM in 66 GPComment: League's leading hitter can play a regular role as an agitator/checker.49. Nikolai Kulemin, LW, TorontoAge: 22Stats: 11-12-23, minus-9, 18 PIM in 64 GPComment: Hustles and isn't afraid to get involved, but offensive production may not be enough to climb the depth chart.50. Chris Butler, D, BuffaloAge: 22Stats: 0-3-3, plus-3, 16 PIM in 35 GPComment: Decent puck-moving defenceman was pressed into action when injuries hit the buffalo blueline. May have a future if he continues to develop.51. Anssi Salmela, D, AtlantaAge: 24Stats: 1-3-4, plus-3, 8 PIM in 20 GPComment: Hard-pressed to get into the lineup with New Jersey, but has played better than 20 minutes per game in first three games with Thrashers.52. Viktor Tikhonov, RW, PhoenixAge: 20Stats: 7-6-13, minus-2, 16 PIM in 51 GPComment: Good skater with a defensive conscience who can kill penalties. 53. Colin Fraser, C, ChicagoAge: 24Stats: 5-10-15, plus-2, 51 PIM in 69 GPComment: Gritty checking forward is making his mark after three full seasons in the American Hockey League.54. Darren Helm, LW, DetroitAge: 22Stats: 0-1-1, minus-7, 4 PIM in 16 GPComment: Good skater and checker has played well in AHL this season, struggled with Wings.55. Jack Hillen, D, N.Y. IslandersAge: 23Stats: 1-5-6, plus-2, 12 PIM in 28 GPComment: Undersized puck-moving defenceman who has played well in his second-half audition with the Isles.56. Lauri Korpikoski, LW, N.Y. RangersAge: 22Stats: 6-8-14, minus-8, 14 PIM in 57 GPComment: Strong blue-collar forward who could develop into a good checker.57. Boris Valabik, D, AtlantaAge: 23Stats: 0-5-5, minus-11, 128 PIM in 45 GPComment: Mammoth (6-foot-7, 240 pounds) blueliner whose lack of mobility can be exposed defensively, but he's also capable of tangling with the heavyweights.58. Antti Pihlstrom, LW, NashvilleAge: 24Stats: 2-5-7, minus-1, 10 PIM in 48 GPComment: Solid enough checking winger who sees limited ice time and produces little offensively.59. B.J. Crombeen, RW, St. LouisAge: 23Stats: 9-4-13, minus-8, 112 PIM in 55 GPComment: Tough guy who showed some offensive ability after coming over from Dallas, but he's settled into a fourth-line role.60. Brett Festerling, D, AnaheimAge: 23Stats: 0-5-5, plus-5, 18 PIM in 40 GPComment: Safe, steady and could very well earn a regular turn at some point in the future.The Next 40:61. Nathan Oystrick, D, Atlanta62. Tomas Plihal, LW, San Jose63. Benoit Pouliot, LW, Minnesota64. Byron Bitz, RW, Boston65. Karri Ramo, G, Tampa Bay66. Nathan Gerbe, C, Buffalo67. Patric Hornqvist, LW, Nashville 68. Jesse Winchester, C, Ottawa69. Kevin Porter, C, Phoenix70. Tyson Strachan, D, St. Louis71. Lukas Kaspar, LW, San Jose72. Martins Karsums, RW, Tampa Bay 73. Liam Reddox, RW, Edmonton74. Steven Wagner, D, St. Louis75. Matt Smaby, D, Tampa Bay76. Nathan McIver, D, Vancouver77. Darroll Powe, C, Philadelphia78. Paul Szczechura, C, Tampa Bay79. Brandon Prust, LW, Phoenix80. Tim Conboy, D, Carolina81. Peter Regin, LW, Ottawa82. Chris Conner, LW, Dallas83. Brian Boyle, C, Los Angeles84. Sean Collins, D, Washington85. Derek Dorsett, RW, Columbus86. Cody Bass, C, Ottawa87. Peter Olvecky, C, Minnesota88. Jaime Sifers, D, Toronto89. Joey Crabb, RW, Atlanta90. Jeremy Williams, RW, Toronto91. Nate Thompson, C, N.Y. Islanders92. Jason Jaffray, RW, Vancouver93. Patrick Dwyer, RW, Carolina94. Andreas Nodl, RW, Philadelphia95. Ilya Zubov, C, Ottawa96. Dustin Jeffrey, C, Pittsburgh97. Jamie McGinn, LW, San Jose98. Theo Peckham, D, Edmonton99. Chris Minard, LW, Pittsburgh100. Brendan Mikkelson, D, AnaheimNotables with Not Enough Action (fewer than 10 games)Nikita Filatov, LW, ColumbusAge: 18Stats: 4-0-4, plus-3, O PIM in 8 GPComment: A potential game-breaker who already has his first NHL hat trick.Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, G, EdmontonAge: 24Stats: 3-2, 3.57 GAA, .889 SVPCT in 8 GPComment: Earned a spot in the bigs, but plays little behind Roloson.Alex Pietrangelo, D, St. LouisAge: 19Stats: 0-1-1, even, 2 PIM in 8 GPComment: Future power play QB needed more time in junior to develop.Jonathan Ericsson, D, DetroitAge: 25Stats: 0-2-2, plus-1, 4 PIM in 8 GPComment: Recent call-up could be another late-round steal by Red Wings.

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i think doughty and versteeg should be higher purely for the number of minutes and situations they are playing per game, plus their consistency merits higher ranking. stamkos has been great lately but shouldnt be in the top 3 given the start he had - appreciate he was an 18 year old but so was doughty.
They have Doughty at #5. How much higher do you want him? I think too much is being read into the numbers. There really isn't much of a drop off over long spans in that list.
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By the way, the Canadian Gothic has 7 of those rookies on the roster and they're all in the top 40.
Lost Cause members:#2 - Bobby Ryan#8 - Patrik Berglund#23 - Oscar Moller#29 - Teddy Purcell#37 - Andrew Ebbett#66 - Nathan Gerbe
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oh screw you pal
in my defense, it was extremely late. neil was my second guess.
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I think I have 5? probably not bringing pardy back. I just hate the criteria. I would prefer a career projection, in which case my guys drop pretty hard imo. I don't think Neal is better than anyone ahead of him from a whole career standpoint.

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It depresses me greatly that Shawn Matthias doesn't even make the "not enough action" list.
Didn't he lose his eligibility last season?
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Gothic Players3. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa BayAge: 19Stats: 16-20-36, minus-12, 35 PIM in 68 GPComment: Started slowly, as head coach Barry Melrose was probably right that he wasn't ready but, under the guidance of new coach Rick Tocchet, Stamkos is already getting stronger, logging lots of ice time and showing high-end offensive skills.8. Patrik Berglund, C, St. LouisAge: 20Stats: 17-23-40, plus-16, 16 PIM in 65 GPComment: Big, skilled and already playing a sound two-way game, Berglund is going to be a number one centre for years to come.16. James Neal, LW, DallasAge: 21Stats: 23-11,34, minus-10, 39 PIM in 66 GPComment: Desperate times on the wings forced the Stars to put Neal into a more prominent role than expected and the promising power forward has proven that he can put the puck in the net. Now, it's a matter of rounding out the rest of his game. 25. Matt Hunwick, D, BostonAge: 23Stats: 6-14-20, plus-14, 25 PIM in 43 GPComment: Mobile, puck-moving defenceman made a huge impact early, but is now on the fringe of the lineup as the Bruins bulked up the blueline. Interesting potential if he can get an opportunity with consistent playing time.26. Troy Brouwer, RW, ChicagoAge: 23Stats: 10-16-26, plus-7, 50 PIM in 60 GPComment: Strong power forward who still needs to improve his skating, but he's been reliable and does have a minor-league track record as a goal-scorer.37. Andrew Ebbett, C, AnaheimAge: 26Stats: 5-18-23, plus-5, 4 PIM in 37 GPComment: Undersized and undrafted, the University of Michigan grad put up 166 points in 173 AHL games before earning a spot with the Ducks this year.40. Kevin Klein, D, NashvilleAge: 24Stats: 4-7-11, minus-1, 17 PIM in 53 GPComment: Only sees limited playing time in Nashville, and could probably handle more elsewhere, but finally cracked the lineup after knocking on the door for several seasons.

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