I'll save you folks a bunch of reading. Justin Schultz, provided he stays healthy, will win the Calder Trophy in the NHL this season as the league's top rookie.
But, sigh, I suppose I need to humor fans of other teams by half-heartedly and somewhat sarcastically naming nine other players as potential challengers for the honor. I've done this for the last two seasons, and I'm batting .500. I said Taylor Hall was going to win in 2010/2011, and he didn't, thanks to injury mostly. Jeff Skinner took it that season. I predicted correctly when I said Gabe Landeskog was going to win in 2011/2012, although Ryan Nugent-Hopkins should have won. So this year is the tie-breaker? We'll see. And if I'm wrong, I'll just blame it on the short season.
I'll put these in order of their potential to win the trophy.
Top 10 Rookies in the NHL - 2012/2013 Season
1. Justin Schultz, Defense, Edmonton Oilers
Obviously. Was second in scoring in the AHL this season. Slick, slick, slick defenseman. Points just seem to follow him around. Could you imagine the pairing in Anaheim if he and Jake Gardiner would have stuck around? And how about that 2008 draft for defensemen in particular? Best draft for defensemen in NHL history.
2. Vladimir Tarasenko, Right Wing, St. Louis Blues
If Schultz is slick, slick, slick, Tarasenko is sick, sick, sick. And he's headed for a sweet team in St. Louis; perhaps the most interesting and stacked team in the entire league. Was a point-per-game player in the KHL this season, and that's a league that doesn't give away many assists on goals. Considering the supporting cast he has on the Blues, Tarasenko could put up 35-40pts in 48 games in the NHL.
3. Nail Yakupov, Forward, Edmonton Oilers
He has the potential to be a point-per-game, 25 goal scorer. He also could be the biggest let-down of the season. Like most fans of the mighty Oil, I've very curious to see how Yakupov translates to the NHL. He's had an up-and-down year; looked great in Oilers development camp and in the first part of the KHL season...then he disappeared half-way through the Subway Series and looked frustrated during the WJC. Somewhere in between Junior activities, he returned to the KHL and experienced a serious slump. My guess is that he's brunt out, which means bad things in the NHL. Or maybe he's had too much pressure on him? There will be less pressure on the Oilers, where he's surrounded by super-prospects. Will start the year playing the left wing on a line with Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner, but he could be moved to either wing depending on how he's doing and who he fits best with.
4. Mikael Granlund, Center, Minnesota Wild
Times are a changing in Minnie. The summer signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter demonstrated a clear desire to eliminate the paralyzingly dull trap hockey style played by the Wild previously. Granlund's top rookie chance is elevated by his immediate opportunity to play Top 6 minutes on a team starving for offense. If he and Parise end up on the same line and the same powerplay unit, there will be points and success. Swift skating, Granlund possesses a superior hockey IQ. A thinking-fans hero.
5. Alex Galchenyuk, Center, Montreal Canadiens
I'm going with my gut on this one. Most of the time, very few players make the NHL the same year they are drafted. And most of those players struggle. Often, struggling occurs because 18-19 year-old players just aren't physically developed enough to battle against men on a game-to-game basis. You won't have that issue with the sturdy Galchenyuk. At the time I write this, I have no idea if he'll even make the Habs...But this team has been starving for years for a big skilled center. Galchenyuk looked great in Junior, and was a key part of Team USA's WJC gold medal. This kid is a superstar, and the Habs will use him more and more in key situations as the season continues. I heart this kid.
6. Jakob Silfverberg, Right Wing, Ottawa Senators
Silfverberg is a talented offensive forward with great hands, smooth skating, and all of that...but often the winner of the Calder is the guy with the best boxcars. Silfverberg has a chance as some quality numbers, considering he'll be on a like with the consistently successful Jason Spezza and 35g man Milan Michalek. And then there is Erik Karlsson's offensive support to also consider. Silverberg might have the best opportunity of all the rookies, and that could equal immediate success.
7. Ryan Strome, Center, New York Islanders
Next to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Strome was Canada's next best forward at the WJC. Strome is stepping onto an Islanders roster that will have a solid Top 6...Don't mistake this as me saying they'll be a good team, because they won't. There's no D or goaltending on this team. Strome is a complete player, in my estimation: A guy who can skate, has size, has plenty of offensive flare and potential. The Islanders definitely needed a #2 center, and they have it in Strome.
8. Sven Baertschi, Left Wing, Calgary Flames
Here's another player I absolutely adore. Man, he can skate. A sniper with afterburners. What might derail Baertschi's opportunity is how bad the Flames will be. I'm not just saying this because it's the Flames, either. The issue is at center. The Flames signed Roman Cevenka in hopes that he'd be their #1 center, but he's stuck in Europe with a blood clot and a no-fly order. Mikael Backlund was suppose to save the Flames at center, but he's Mr. Injury and last season was underwhelming for him. If Baertschi ends up on a line with Mike Cammalleri and Iggy, there could be some real numbers from him.
9. Brendan Smith, Defense, Detroit Red Wings - The long, lonely journey without Nicklas Lidstrom begins this season. Smith, who played a little NHL hockey last season (scoring a respectable 7pts and a possessing +3 rating in 14 games) has solid numbers playing for Grand Rapids the AHL in 2012. Offensively gifted, Smith will get all sorts of looks on the Wings powerplay. Add to that the fact that the Wings never seem to be a bad team (so his +/- will be solid), and statistically, you have a challenger for the Calder.
10. Jacob Markstrom, Goaltender, Florida Panthers
Another hunch pick. Hey, I don't even know if Markstrom will make the team...This is not to say they have good goalies in Florida. In fact, that's precisely the point here: The goalies in Florida are old and Markstrom needs to be brought in and prepared for the future. Everyone thought the Panthers were going to be terrible last season, but they weren't. If they're not bad again this season, and if Markstrom gets in the net and starts winning, he could have a huge rookie year.
Other Potentials:
Jonathan Huberdeau, Forward, Florida Panthers - Big, offensively gifted forward who will get a chance to play this season. Perhaps he's a bit overrated as a prospect, but there's talent there. Has some very sick hands and is known to make highlight reel plays once in a while.
Chris Kreider, Left Wing, New York Rangers - Big, physical forward who played some brilliant hockey last year in the playoffs. A bit older than other rookies, so he might be more ready to handle life in the NHL. He'll certainly play on a stacked team.
Mark Schiefele, Center, Winnipeg Jets - Do we even know if Sir Divesalot will make the Jets this season? I have no idea. If he's invited to camp, and if he's given a roster spot, and if he can stay on his skates long enough to touch the puck, he'll get some points this season. Big center who skates okay and has some skills. Yadda yadda yadda, I hate this kid.
Mika Zibanejad, Center, Ottawa Senators - If Zibanejad wasn't in concussion-land, I'd have him in the Top 10 of this list. Big, talented center who possesses a little grit to go with his offensive skill. Can score and give you two-way minutes; capable in all situations. I'm not sure he's able to pursue the NHL this season, but if he does and if he's healthy, there's a hell of a player here.
Dougie Hamilton, Defenseman, Boston Bruins - "Dookie Hoser" won't be anywhere near the best rookie this season, but he'll be in Boston, and the people who pick the award winners have a massive Eastern bias. He'll play one good game and all the media will fall over with their legs in the air. Hamilton looked huge, slow and lame during the WJC, but Boston has one other huge, slow and lame defenseman who's pretty much turned into the best defenseman in the world. Can lightning strike the same place twice? It can if you're the tallest.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»