Beau Bennett has been a PPG player for Wilkes-barre in the AHL, if he cracks the Penguins top 6 and can have chemistry with either Crosby or Malkin what stops him from winning the Calder?

Just a wee bit of homerism in this blog

Yakupov at 3rd? Considering his age and the world juniors he just had?

My top 10:

1. Granlund (he's going to be an absolute star in this league and will likely have the best career of all these kids)
2. Silfverberg (destroyed the SEL last year - won both the reg season and playoff MVPs.. top line or not in Ottawa, the kid is going to be great)
3. Shultz (hard to ignore his AHL numbers)
4. Krieder (age, NHL experience and will have some great players around him.. how did he not make the top 10? )
5. Tarasenko (could be higher, but I think the defense-first system of the blues may not play to his strengths)
6. Brendan Smith
7. Yakupov
8. Baertschi.
9. Strome


Well ok, it's a top 9. I'm not even confident any of the others will even make their big clubs.

Grigorenko is a poor mans Schremp
- RichardHertz

Schremp and potatoes, Schremp and macaroni, Schremp and biscuits, Schremp and turnip and it goes on like this for not nearly long enough.

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

This makes sense... Even though many disagree with you Spatso- I think you are very realistic... One question is doesnt Silfverberg have concussion issues or am I wrong?

Schremp and potatoes, Schremp and macaroni, Schremp and biscuits, Schremp and turnip and it goes on like this for not nearly long enough.
- laughs2907

Is that all you easterners diet on is 'schremp'? and 'heather brooke'?

Just a wee bit of homerism in this blog

Yakupov at 3rd? Considering his age and the world juniors he just had?

My top 10:

1. Granlund (he's going to be an absolute star in this league and will likely have the best career of all these kids)
2. Silfverberg (destroyed the SEL last year - won both the reg season and playoff MVPs.. top line or not in Ottawa, the kid is going to be great)
3. Shultz (hard to ignore his AHL numbers)
4. Krieder (age, NHL experience and will have some great players around him.. how did he not make the top 10? )
5. Tarasenko (could be higher, but I think the defense-first system of the blues may not play to his strengths)
6. Brendan Smith
7. Baertschi.
8. Strome


Well ok, it's a top 8. I'm not even confident any of the others will even make their big clubs.
- Charliebox

Tied for 1st in points for Russia.

Tied for 1st in scoring for Russia.
- laughs2907

I edited my post. After bashing him, I totally forgot to put him in!

Whooopsss.

Kreider = ROY

Just a wee bit of homerism in this blog

Yakupov at 3rd? Considering his age and the world juniors he just had?

My top 10:

1. Granlund (he's going to be an absolute star in this league and will likely have the best career of all these kids)
2. Silfverberg (destroyed the SEL last year - won both the reg season and playoff MVPs.. top line or not in Ottawa, the kid is going to be great)
3. Shultz (hard to ignore his AHL numbers)
4. Krieder (age, NHL experience and will have some great players around him.. how did he not make the top 10? )
5. Tarasenko (could be higher, but I think the defense-first system of the blues may not play to his strengths)
6. Brendan Smith
7. Yakupov
8. Baertschi.
9. Strome


Well ok, it's a top 9. I'm not even confident any of the others will even make their big clubs.
- Charliebox

Yakupov and Huberdeau should be in there.... I think Huberdeau will have a tonne of ice time in Florida thus might contend more than people think... Baertschi is an interesting one as he will be given the chance to play with some top vets and could surprise as well... out of the gates though its hard to not consider Schultz and the chemistry he has with 3 pretty good fwds whom which he played a few games with already...

this year more then any year, the Calder will be a turkey shoot regardless. There will be someone that will shine that wasn't expected and will garner some attention. The biggest factor will be staying healthy. This short season will not e very forgiving for any injury. Stay healthy, you get a shot. Most of these guys youve listed have been playing at a high level all year, so conditioning shouldnt be a problem......... but.

Yakupov and Huberdeau should be in there.... I think Huberdeau will have a tonne of ice time in Florida thus might contend more than people think...
- saskoil21

I'm not sold on Huberdeau at all.

I honestly think he has as much of a chance of being the next Alex Daigle as he does being a top 6 forward.

He's got great speed and decent hands, but it seems like his hockey IQ is lacking. Pretty damn soft, too.

I could have slotted him in at 10, cause he will probably make the team.. I just don't see him doing much so I didn't want to put him on the list.

Beau Bennett has been a PPG player for Wilkes-barre in the AHL, if he cracks the Penguins top 6 and can have chemistry with either Crosby or Malkin what stops him from winning the Calder?
- Ben37

You make a solid point. However wouldn't he probably have to earn a top spot? Wouldn't hurt to try him up there. I just don't know how Pittsburgh works in their rookies considering they haven't had to rush anyone in since Crosby and Malkin took over.

Also some people need to cut yakupov a break as clouts said. Try flying back and forth between Canada and Russia several times In half a year. It'll take it's toll folks. Less pressure will be on him in edmonton.

You make a solid point. However wouldn't he probably have to earn a top spot? Wouldn't hurt to try him up there. I just don't know how Pittsburgh works in their rookies considering they haven't had to rush anyone in since Crosby and Malkin took over.

Also some people need to cut yakupov a break as clouts said. Try flying back and forth between Canada and Russia several times In half a year. It'll take it's toll folks. Less pressure will be on him in edmonton.
- ystoil

I hope your right about the Edmonton pressure but somehow I think he will have a certain status to maintain as RNH and Hall all faired pretty well in their rookie years... esp if he is not producing... But I think Yaks will place alot of pressure on himself as he is similar or worse than hall in his desire to win and be the best... then you couple that with Edmonton's media it will only be amplified...

I hope your right about the Edmonton pressure but somehow I think he will have a certain status to maintain as RNH and Hall all faired pretty well in their rookie years... esp if he is not producing... But I think Yaks will place alot of pressure on himself as he is similar or worse than hall in his desire to win and be the best... then you couple that with Edmonton's media it will only be amplified...
- saskoil21

Ya I suppose edmonton media won't cut him slack but I am also hoping that the rnh and hall will tell him not to do too much as he was displaying in te whjcs. Only time will tell. Kid has the skill all he needs is to ensure his head is in the game and he will be a game breaking talent that should keep him in Calder contention.

Richard Cloutier: The Top 10 Rookies Blog
- Maxbone

Justin Schultz is an amazing rookie

an amazing rookie who definetly won't win the calder, i think the NHL will be a wake-up call

30 points will be great....but the -10 (or worse) wont win him the calder

i'm not hating but with this many impressive forward rookies i can't see it, the last 2 D to win the Calder won it due to their D, Myers put up 48 points but was a +13.....than you go to Jackman...all D....good luck Schultz but i dont see it

its not to hate on Schultz but in the past 3 years there's been an amazing crop of offensive defensemen who still didnt win the Calder....

Kreider = ROY
- Popcorn Kid

Thank you. I dont know how people could put Silferburg (sp?) ahead of Kreider when they both came into that playoff series for their NHL "debuts" and Kreider looked a hell of a lot better and more impactful than him. And I don't blame Clouts for being a tad homerish. When if comes to rookies and prospects, everyone is a homer and will over-rate their own guys.

Schultz being guaranteed the Calder is insane. Sure he could win it. But given the quality of forwards that will likely make their debut's in this shortened season, I'd be surprised if Schultz finished in the top 3 in Calder voting.
- mochoson

on point

You make a solid point. However wouldn't he probably have to earn a top spot? Wouldn't hurt to try him up there. I just don't know how Pittsburgh works in their rookies considering they haven't had to rush anyone in since Crosby and Malkin took over.

Also some people need to cut yakupov a break as clouts said. Try flying back and forth between Canada and Russia several times In half a year. It'll take it's toll folks. Less pressure will be on him in edmonton.
- ystoil

They are looking for a winger to play on either Crosby or Malkins wing and they are looking internally (Tangradi and Bennett). If Bennett can win one of those two spots he could put up very nice numbers.

Jaden Schwartz is definetly a sleeper pick to watch for and i'm pretty sure Hitch is already familiar with what he's dealing with when it comes to him, unlike Tarasenko (even if Tarasenko is probably the better player) who might need a full season for Hitch to adjust and fit him in properly

Thank you. I dont know how people could put Silferburg (sp?) ahead of Kreider when they both came into that playoff series for their NHL "debuts" and Kreider looked a hell of a lot better and more impactful than him. And I don't blame Clouts for being a tad homerish. When if comes to rookies and prospects, everyone is a homer and will over-rate their own guys.
- mrhattrick27

Silfverberg played two games. Prior to that, I don't think he had ever played on the small ice.

"Welcome to North America, Jacob.. jump on the small ice for the first time (games 6&7) against the #1 seed in the playoffs". hahaha.. I don't know how many guys would make an impact under those conditions.

Kreider is good, but Silfverberg has way more upside. Just broke Alfie's playoff goals record last year, and had the best year in that league since Forsberg.

This year in the AHL, he started slow (understandably, cause of the small ice) and has since been pretty dominant. I think he only had like 4 pts in his first 10 games and now is almost at a point per game (28 pts, 32 gp). Krieder has 12 pts in 33 games and is a -6.

If the Sens had him pegged as a 3rd liner to start the season, I would have put him lower, but playing with Spezza and Michalek should give him a pretty good headstart.

Just a wee bit of homerism in this blog

Yakupov at 3rd? Considering his age and the world juniors he just had?

My top 10:

1. Granlund (he's going to be an absolute star in this league and will likely have the best career of all these kids)
2. Silfverberg (destroyed the SEL last year - won both the reg season and playoff MVPs.. top line or not in Ottawa, the kid is going to be great)
3. Shultz (hard to ignore his AHL numbers)
4. Krieder (age, NHL experience and will have some great players around him.. how did he not make the top 10? )
5. Tarasenko (could be higher, but I think the defense-first system of the blues may not play to his strengths)
6. Brendan Smith
7. Yakupov
8. Baertschi.
9. Strome


Well ok, it's a top 9. I'm not even confident any of the others will even make their big clubs.
- Charliebox

Homerism? Sure. Yakupov was the 1st overall pick for a reason. Can't really not sing his praises.

Jaden Schwartz is definetly a sleeper pick to watch for and i'm pretty sure Hitch is already familiar with what he's dealing with when it comes to him, unlike Tarasenko (even if Tarasenko is probably the better player) who might need a full season for Hitch to adjust and fit him in properly
- Habitants98

Your Schwartz is as big as mine...

Glad someelse sees gregerenko as a bust besides me

Tied for 1st in points for Russia.
- laughs2907

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