2014/15 Rookie Watch

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

almost every 1st round pick in junior has over a PPG in their draft season, some close to 2 ppg

they don't step up a level and continue that

I think some people's hype with Gaudreau is at insane levels to the effect that if he has a very good rookie season, i.e 40 points, people are going to be disappointed

He didn't have a good draft season, he had the best season that the NCAA has seen in some time. He had an NHLe of 65 pts, or among the top few in the last 10 years along with Crosby and Kane (who were obviously younger).

And it wasn't just that, but then he went to the WCs and was pretty dominant there. Then he came to camp and continued to show the same talent level.

It might be insane hype, but there is plenty of evidence to validate it.

Of course it is unlikely that he posts 60 pts or anything like that. But the excitement over this kid is justified and the hype is pretty legitimate (as legitimate as can be for an unproven player at this level).

[The Fonz]

Nylander on his way back to Sweden. I'm actually surprised neither him nor Ehlers made their NHL teams this year.

[AC]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Ehlers gets cut.

Sounds like Goldobin may stick with the Sharks? Anyone have his preseason stats?

http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=733245

Goldobin assigned back to the Finnish Elite League.

[The Fonz]

Pittsburgh lit up John Gibson in their home opener with 6 goals.

Burakovsky (WSH), 23rd in 2013, has a goal in his 1st NHL game.

[SoCalFlamesFan]

Mirco Mueller should be added to this list. Not many 19 year old Dmen make the NHL and look as composed as he did against LA last night. May not get that many points but if he ends up playing 20 minutes a night and gets 20 points he could be in contention.

[Henry Fool]

Florida fans on hfboards seem to think that Ekblad's debut was very strong.

[JJ1532]

Mixed night for the top end 2014 draft prospects. Elblad had an assist and was +1 for the night despite Florida losing 3-2 to Tampa. Reinhart couldn't even register a shot for Buffalo in their 3-1 loss to Colombus. Draisaitl obviously was -1 for Edmonton.

[FBI]

Johnny with an off night being a bit buried and not looking like his usual self (dumping picks in and changing etc)

But good news is he always takes a few games to learn at each new level before figuring it out..

[JJ1532]

First time I've really checked up on the draft guys, but it seems most from Dal Colle downwards has been sent straight back to their junior clubs. Obviously Ekblad, Reinhart and Draisaitl have all made their teams rosters, whilst Bennett was also likely to have been sent down. Is this proving the draft order correct? Top 3 making the rosters, 4 touch and go, 5 downwards all back to junior?

Also interesting when you compare it to last years draft. 7 of the top 10 in last years group could realistically be said to have made it in the NHL straight from the draft. Only Drouin, Nurse and Horvat went straight back to their junior clubs, compared to 6(probably 7 including Bennett) this time around. Definitely proving the experts right when they said this draft class was much weaker than the 2013 one.

You do wonder how many of next years class will step straight into the NHL.

[The Fonz]

Filip Forsberg (2012) off to a good start. 3A and a +3, in 2GP.

Burakovsky (2013) too. 1G + 2A, +2, in 2 GP. Anyone know what line he's on?

[The Fonz]

Unless Sam Reinhart does a complete 180 for the next 7 games, looks/sounds like he'll be getting sent back to junior.

[The Fonz]

10% into the season, here's our top10 rookie scorers:

1 - T. Pearson - 9GP, 7G, 2A, 9PTS, +2
2 - D. Severson - 9GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, +6
3 - A. Burakovsky - 8GP, 2G, 5, 7PTS, +4
4 - F. Forsberg - 8GP, 1G, 6, 7PTS, +9 (<---why did WSH trade this guy for Erat???)
5 - L. Vey - 9GP, 3G, 2A, 5PTS, -2
6 - C. Terry - 8GP, 3G, 2A, 5PTS, +1
7 - S. Griffith - 7GP, 3, 2A, 5PTS, +0
8 - A. Duclair - 7GP, 1G, 4A, 5PTS, +5
9 - J. Gaudreau - 10GP, 1G, 3A, 4PTS, +5
10 - J. Drouin - 5GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS, -1

Surprises:
- Tanner Pearson showing no sign of slowing down after his strong 2014 postseason performance
- 20 year old Dman, Damon Severson, making the jump directly from the WHL to the NHL, and posting incredible rookie numbers, especially for a Dman

[SuperMatt18]

What the Hell does Huska do with those d-men in Kelowna.

Severson is another in the line of d-men to come straight to the NHL from there to succeed.

Hopefully he can work that magic on Sieloff, Wotherspoon, Kulak, and Culkin.

[trackercowe]

If only Forsberg has dropped to us a few years back... only for Feaster to have traded down anyway.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think Pearson and Forsberg will be the ones that fight for the Calder. Both have strong roles on their team. Gaudreau, Drouin, and Burakovsky should make this an interesting race as I know they'll continue to make strong cases for themselves too.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

10% into the season, here's our top10 rookie scorers:

1 - T. Pearson - 9GP, 7G, 2A, 9PTS, +2
2 - D. Severson - 9GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, +6
3 - A. Burakovsky - 8GP, 2G, 5, 7PTS, +4
4 - F. Forsberg - 8GP, 1G, 6, 7PTS, +9 (<---why did WSH trade this guy for Erat???)
5 - L. Vey - 9GP, 3G, 2A, 5PTS, -2
6 - C. Terry - 8GP, 3G, 2A, 5PTS, +1
7 - S. Griffith - 7GP, 3, 2A, 5PTS, +0
8 - A. Duclair - 7GP, 1G, 4A, 5PTS, +5
9 - J. Gaudreau - 10GP, 1G, 3A, 4PTS, +5
10 - J. Drouin - 5GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS, -1

Surprises:
- Tanner Pearson showing no sign of slowing down after his strong 2014 postseason performance
- 20 year old Dman, Damon Severson, making the jump directly from the WHL to the NHL, and posting incredible rookie numbers, especially for a Dman

Poor Edmonton, probably realizing they are behind even LA in a rebuild.

[TKB]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Poor Edmonton, probably realizing they are behind even LA in a rebuild.

So by your logic every team that is going through a rebuild would currently be behind L.A?

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by TKB

So by your logic every team that is going through a rebuild would currently be behind L.A?

No, I think the logic is that every team is better than Edmonton at everything.

[Phanuthier]

pretty much

[savardandjokinen]

No one had Pearson in their top 3 or maybe top 5, this guy is good and I feel he deserved to be higher on people's lists. IMO Gibson will split games and maybe even get sent down if he continues to be not that great. Gibson only played a couple games last year and did well in a COUPLE games and everyone was going crazy, we need to lower our expectations on this guy, he will be good but I feel especially as a goalie he will not be amazing right from the start, we will need to be even just a tiny bit more patient.