It's 2 AM and I'm bored as hell so I'm screwing around thinking up some possible lines for the Oilers to start the season. What does everybody think of this:

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Hartikainen - Gagner - Yakupov
Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky
Eager - Belanger - Petrell
Hordichuk

Whitney - J. Schultz
Smid - Petry
Peckham - N. Schultz
Potter

At no point did I say he's guaranteed to finish outside of the top 3. "Guaranteeing" anything before the season even starts, ESPECIALLY regarding rookie players who we have yet to see play at NHL level is retarded.

Saying he's playing with "much of the same cast" is kind of ridiculous too. He's playing with the Big 3. That's likely it. He's not, at least initially, going to to get anywhere close to the same amount of ice time.

He will obviously get to play with the big 3 as well as some other really talented players. But Mikel Granlund is going to get to play with Parise, Heatley, Koivu. Huberdeau will get to play with Weiss, Versteeg, Flesichman. Tarasenko will get to play with Backes, Steen, Macdonald, Oshie, Berglund, etc.

"Guaranteeing" he will be rookie of the year is ridiculous. I am not and at no point discrediting his abilities. Simply stating that as a defensemen, he's a long shot to win the Calder from the jump.
- mochoson

At no point did i say that you said you "guarantee" him out of the top 3, you said you would be "surprised" if he was in the top 3. That means you feel there is little chance he is in the top 3. The top 3, plus one of at least hartikainen or MPS, and possibly one defenceman, is quite a bit of the same cast, when you consider the majority of his points come from setting up or being set up by those 3 is a pretty big deal, almost as big a deal is Ron Burgundy.
Using logic, we can also say that minni is not known for scoring a lot of goals in their system, so no matter who Granlund plays with, and who is also returning from injury, hard to put him in the top 3 either, that is of course if you are using logic.

It's 2 AM and I'm bored as hell so I'm screwing around thinking up some possible lines for the Oilers to start the season. What does everybody think of this:

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Hartikainen - Gagner - Yakupov
Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky
Eager - Belanger - Petrell
Hordichuk

Whitney - J. Schultz
Smid - Petry
Peckham - N. Schultz
Potter
- SteveTambellini

It is pretty good, but I don't think the Oil are gonna pay Hemsky to be on the third line. Plus i wanna see a schultz, schultz pairing just to confuse the (frank) out of the announcers

I have Freakarenko bed-sheets.
- laughs2907

Have you Freak-O-Ranked in them yet???

Looks like one heck of a rookie class, almost every guy mentioned could potentially win it if given a big enough role.

Calder race in a short season will be a bit different. Teams will want to win during the first 20 games. The only contenders are the players that get big ice time and contribute directly on their team's performance.

Three players stand out.

Tarasenko, huge talent, plays old style hockey, great team leader.

Silfverberg, natural sniper with great shot, will feed off Spezza and Karlsson

Schultz, great puck moving D man playing hardest position for rookie, much tougher job than the other two.

I believe the Calder will be one by one of those three and, likely it will be the one with the best numbers.

Calder race in a short season will be a bit different. Teams will want to win during the first 20 games. The only contenders are the players that get big ice time and contribute directly on their team's performance.

Three players stand out.

Tarasenko, huge talent, plays old style hockey, great team leader.

Silfverberg, natural sniper with great shot, will feed off Spezza and Karlsson

Schultz, great puck moving D man playing hardest position for rookie, much tougher job than the other two.

I believe the Calder will be one by one of those three and, likely it will be the one with the best numbers.
- spatso

I can agree for the most part. However, I think you've got to factor Strome into any Calder talk. With the departure of Parenteau, Moulson and Tavares are going to need a new RW playmaker. Strome plays a similar-albeit less physical- game to Parenteau. Seeing as there isn't really anyone else to fill such a role, he seems the likely recipient of that position. Besides, putting a rookie into a center ice role of significance and seeing them thrive is quite rare as most will start on a wing in order to acclimate themselves to the NHL with less responsibilities.

I can agree for the most part. However, I think you've got to factor Strome into any Calder talk. With the departure of Parenteau, Moulson and Tavares are going to need a new RW playmaker. Strome plays a similar-albeit less physical- game to Parenteau. Seeing as there isn't really anyone else to fill such a role, he seems the likely recipient of that position. Besides, putting a rookie into a center ice role of significance and seeing them thrive is quite rare as most will start on a wing in order to acclimate themselves to the NHL with less responsibilities.
- MaximumBone

Could be. I am thinking it is going to be all about ice time in a very short season where everyone believes they can make it if they win in the first 20 games. I believe the Islanders will be in the playoff hunt. If Strome is part of the winning and producing he will be in the mix. Tavaras can do for Strome what Spezza can do for Silfverburg, if either get the opportunity.

I think Ottawa was like, top 5 in goals scored last year, or something crazy like that. I'm too lazy to look right now. I also am pretty sure that Spezza was top 5 in points, and obviously Karlsson was good for like 80 points or so as well.

For me, it's pretty simple. If Silfverberg manages to stick with Spezza and Michalek for 48 games, and he manages to log some PP time with Spezza and Alfie and Karlsson, in the system that Paul MacLean coaches, then he should run away with the rookie scoring title. Whether that translates into a Calder, who knows? But if he ends up in that situation, he'll be better set up to win that race than anyone else.

I think Ottawa was like, top 5 in goals scored last year, or something crazy like that. I'm too lazy to look right now. I also am pretty sure that Spezza was top 5 in points, and obviously Karlsson was good for like 80 points or so as well.

For me, it's pretty simple. If Silfverberg manages to stick with Spezza and Michalek for 48 games, and he manages to log some PP time with Spezza and Alfie and Karlsson, in the system that Paul MacLean coaches, then he should run away with the rookie scoring title. Whether that translates into a Calder, who knows? But if he ends up in that situation, he'll be better set up to win that race than anyone else.
- the_terror

If I had a choice between Tarasenko and Silfverburg, I take the Russian kid. But in terms of the Calder the Swede has the advantage because of Spezza and Karlsson. Also, McLean will help. Hitch will not offer up the kind of offensive opportunity to a rookie unless he is gold plate on day one.

Not sure how you think Huberdeau is overrated as a prospect. The guy only lit the world on fire in the minors and is in everyone else's top 5 rookie watch.

Not sure how you think Huberdeau is overrated as a prospect. The guy only lit the world on fire in the minors and is in everyone else's top 5 rookie watch.
- jacke1ope

Doesnt matter. Schultz will be the 6th D man all time with 100 points.

Not sure how you think Huberdeau is overrated as a prospect. The guy only lit the world on fire in the minors and is in everyone else's top 5 rookie watch.
- jacke1ope

I think we all love Huberdeau. But, he is still too soft on his skates and knocked off the puck too easily. He will learn to adapt his game against bigger, stronger players but he has not made that adjustment yet.

Interesting list for sure. I dont see Galchenyuk sticking it out with Mtl this year. Like Grigorenko, he will play the year in Jr. Gustav Nyqvist is another name I would have thrown in the ring as a possible top rookie. Baertschi is one I like but he is having his own injury issues right now. Markstrom will play in the AHL again this year, unless injuries to Theo or Clemmenson happen. Both of them are still signed for this year and I dont see Markstrom bumping either of them this season, and then there's still the Loungo probability.

My top 10:

1. Granlund
2. Tarasenko
3. Yakupov
4. Huberdeau
5. Schultz
6. Silfverberg
7. Baerstchi
8. Nyqvist
9. Hamilton
10. Kreider

Honorable mention - Jaden Schwartz

If they're expecting Schultz on the Top-4, in a shortened season, I think it will be hard for him. Over and 82-game season, it gives him time to adjust to top-flight NHL talent. But over a 48-game season, he's going to have to play like a vet night-in and night-out to win the Calder as a defenseman.
I think the smarter money is either on Granlund (will see top-6 minutes with Parise or Heatley as well as some 1st unit PP time) or Kreider (seamlessly went from college to NHL playoff hockey). Also a big Markstrom fan.

Doesnt matter. Schultz will be the 6th D man all time with 100 points.
- doon

Whoa! Remember Schultz is the same age and from the same draft as Karlsson. He has to go a long way still to get into the same class as Karlsson.

Clouts Cevenka will actually be in Cow-town for training camp as per the Flames Twitter page. Does it really matter because there depth down the middle is pathetic as usual.

Whoa! Remember Schultz is the same age and from the same draft as Karlsson. He has to go a long way still to get into the same class as Karlsson.
- spatso

I know, some people here dont.

Good list of prospects. All 10 will probably make a lot of noise. It's important to note this season rookies are probably going to be better than usual having played all year already, while some NHL regulars have been taking a hockey break. Should be interesting.

I secretly hope Schultz is a bust, because I am tired of his hype. However, those numbers in the AHL are very impressive. If he is half as good defensively Edmonton may be set for a long, long time.

Interesting list for sure. I dont see Galchenyuk sticking it out with Mtl this year. Like Grigorenko, he will play the year in Jr. Gustav Nyqvist is another name I would have thrown in the ring as a possible top rookie. Baertschi is one I like but he is having his own injury issues right now. Markstrom will play in the AHL again this year, unless injuries to Theo or Clemmenson happen. Both of them are still signed for this year and I dont see Markstrom bumping either of them this season, and then there's still the Loungo probability.

My top 10:

1. Granlund
2. Tarasenko
3. Yakupov
4. Huberdeau
5. Schultz
6. Silfverberg
7. Baerstchi
8. Nyqvist
9. Hamilton
10. Kreider

Honorable mention - Jaden Schwartz
- Axeman33

no strome?

Well also using that same logic is that the guy who did so well in the AHL, will be playing with much of the same cast he did well with in the AHL so hard to count him out of being the top 3 as he immediately comes in with chemistry. Yes his competition will be tougher and yes there will be a lot of great rookies coming in, but it is hard to ignore the advantage he comes in with. Guarantee for the calder is a pretty big reach, but so is will finish out of the top 3. No one really knows.
- ruttager17

Also important, is that he won't be playing against most of the same cast that he did in the AHL.

Whoa! Remember Schultz is the same age and from the same draft as Karlsson. He has to go a long way still to get into the same class as Karlsson.
- spatso

I think Karlsson is pretty much where Schultz ends up in the absolute best case scenario, which is not a bad thing. My suspicion is that he becomes more of a Mike Green at the high end. Capable of putting up big points, especially on the PP, but will continue be a liability defensively.

I have Freakarenko bed-sheets.
- laughs2907

Grigorenko is a poor mans Schremp

I think Karlsson is pretty much where Schultz ends up in the absolute best case scenario, which is not a bad thing. My suspicion is that he becomes more of a Mike Green at the high end. Capable of putting up big points, especially on the PP, but will continue be a liability defensively.
- p_zub

This comment pretty much tells me that you've never seen him play.

Have you Freak-O-Ranked in them yet???
- ruttager17

Nope. Freak-O-Bated in them several times though.