National Hockey League Rookie Ladder November 2013

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Hockeyland Canada will profile the top 10 NHL rookies each month by ranking them according to overall impact on their teams, and ultimately their chances to win the Calder trophy as the league’s best rookie, you can take a look at past winners http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=24931. To be eligible for the award, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league.  Furthermore, a player must not have attained his twenty-sixth birthday by September 15th of the season in which he is eligible.

1.  Tomas Hertl (San Jose Sharks) – After a torrid opening to his career, Tomas Hertl has cooled down relatively speaking, but he is still putting up points for the Sharks’ high octane offense.  Pacing all rookies with 13 goals and 21 points, while being second in shots with 67 and plus minus at +10, its hard to knock the Czech sniper off the top spot.  The Sharks rookie already has October Rookie of the Month honors locked up, but needs to stay consistent if he wants to fend off the many contenders for the Calder.

Hertl1 ROOKIE LADDER

2.  Torey Krug (Boston Bruins) – The 5-9 Torey Krug is playing big for the Boston Bruins this regular season after introducing himself to the hockey world in last year’s playoffs.  Krug leads all rookie defenceman in scoring and is tied for second in the overall lead, while playing a sound 17 minutes a night for coach Claude Julien.  Especially impressive is his 7 goals in just 27 games, which suggests he could top 20 goals in his rookie year, not an easy feat to accomplish.  Krug uses a keen hockey sense and nose for the net (http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/11/27/torey-krug-making-his-mark-with-bruins/nT5krB6tIfFIZB8nv2N4aK/story.html) to make an impact for the Bruins.

Dallas Stars v Boston Bruins

3.  Chris Kreider (New York Rangers) – The Boxford, Massachusetts native, Chris Kreider has been on a tear since being called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, with 16 points in 20 games and a +8 rating.  Early on, he formed chemistry on a productive line with former World Junior Team USA teammate, Derek Stepan, and Norwegian dynamo, Mats Zuccarello.  Kreider has finally figured out when to pick his spots and utilize his obscene trifecta of physical tools.  Kreider seems to get at every loose puck and is making something happen each shift he is out there.  A hat trick on Saturday against former coach John Tortorella while lined up with Stepan and Rick Nash will only help his cause for the Calder VIDEO http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/24305500/video-chris-kreider-records-first-hat-trick-against-former-coach-torts     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/rangers/post/_/id/364/kreider-tricks-but-doesnt-trash-torts

Kreider ROOKIE LADDER

4.  Sean Monahan (Calgary Flames) – It’s a shame that Monahan has had a very promising rookie season derailed by a hairline fracture in his foot (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/flames-sean-monahan-has-hairline-fracture-1.2444078).  Monahan has logged 14:33 of ice time, while leading the team in goals with 9 and is in second for points with 15 in 24 games.  As a 19 year old, Monahan stepped in to be the first line center that the Calgary Flames have been waiting years for.  The former Ottawa 67’s leader is on injured reserve and week to week, so capturing the Calder may not be possible.  Nevertheless, the future is bright for Sean Monahan once he returns from injury.

Monahan2 ROOKIE LADDER

5.  Nathan Mackinnon (Colorado Avalanche) – Nate Mackinnon has played up and down head coach Patrick Roy’s lineup and seems to find a way to be a game changer regardless of who he is lining up with.  Creating chances as evidenced by a rookie leading 70 shots on net,  Mackinnon is right in the thick of the rookie scoring race with 15 points in 24 games.  Don’t be surprised if this 18 year old Next One explodes as he is due for a scoring rampage at any moment.

Anaheim Ducks v Colorado Avalanche

6.  Seth Jones (Nashville Predators) – Seth Jones has stepped into the NHL as a 19 year old defenseman and comfortably handled a rookie leading 23:42 minutes of ice time.  Teammate Shea Weber is astonished to think how dominant Seth can become once he is a bit older and fully developed.  Even at a young age today, Jones is playing solid defensively and contributing offensively with 9 points so far.  His -10 rating is a blemish but 19 year olds don’t face the matchups and level of competition that Jones is on a nightly basis as a baby faced rookie.

Jones1 ROOKIE LADDER

7.  Hampus Lindholm (Anaheim Ducks) – Hampus Lindholm’s role and playing time has continued to grow all season as coach Bruce Boudreau realizes more and more that Lindholm is his best all around defender.  Over the past few weeks, he has topped 20 minutes per game and is leading all rookies with a +12 rating on the season.  Similar to Seth Jones, Lindholm is a 19 year old defenseman who is playing in a top 3 role, but Lindholm’s Ducks are near the top of the NHL standings while Jones’ Predators are outside the playoff picture.  Throw in 8 points and continued steady growth for this Helsingborg, Sweden native, and Hampus could make a push for the Calder.

Lindholm3 ROOKIE LADDER

8.  Frederik Andersen (Anaheim Ducks) – Frederik Anderson is the first goalie from Denmark to play in the NHL, and is doing it in remarkable fashion.  Due to the goalie factory in Anaheim, he has only played in 8 games this season but has been dominant with a 7-1 record.  Among all NHL goaltenders, Andersen currently stands 4th in GAA with 1.70, and is 3rd in save % with  0.939.  With a trade and subsequent chance to rule the Ducks crease, Andersen could put up gaudy numbers on a strong Anaheim Ducks team.

Andersen ROOKIE LADDER

9.  Tyler Johnson (Tampa Bay Lightning) – When Steven Stamkos went down with a broken right leg, it rocked the hockey world with implications on the NHL standings and potential Team Canada Olympic hockey roster.  For the Tampa Bay Lightning, they have never had to get by without Stamkos as he has been an iron man, but in his absence, center Tyler Johnson has been looked upon.  With the top center down, both Johnson and Valtteri Filppula have stepped up to keep the Lightning afloat.  Johnson is 7th in rookie scoring with 13 points and winning on greater than 50% of his faceoffs.  A former 50 goal scorer in the CHL and 37 goal scorer in the AHL, Johnson is bound to score more goals with a bigger role http://tbo.com/sports/lightning/near-misses-not-a-worry-for-bolts-johnson-20131128/

Johnson ROOKIE LADDER

10.  Alex Chiasson (Dallas Stars) – After scoring 9 goals in his first 10 career NHL games dating back to the end of last year, Chiasson has come back down to earth and cooled considerably.    Formerly 5th on these rankings, Chiasson is learning that its hard to score goals consistently in the NHL.  Dropping off the top line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, Chiasson needs to form chemistry with linemate Cody Eakin if he wants to get back in the Calder race.  Even still, Chiasson sits 6th in rookie scoring with 7 goals and 14 points, while we know he is capable of heating up in a hurry so don’t count him out so fast.

Chiasson2 ROOKIE LADDER

For Hockeyland Canada,

Ahmad Scientist

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