The Score's "NHL WEEKLY" (for the 2nd week of Sept.)
NHL WEEKLY
With the new CBA in place, this season could see an unprecedented influx of rookies into the league. The likes of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin jump to mind right away, but let's take a look at some players you may have forgotten and introduce you to few you may have never even heard of...
AVALANCHE
The biggest battle in Avalanche camp is in goal. Rookies
Peter Budaj,
Tom Lawson,
Vitaly Kolesnik and
Tyler Weiman will duke it out for the right to backup starter
David Aebischer. While some observers think Budaj will prevail in the end, others feel that the early edge goes to Kolesnik, who has been the top goaltender for the Kazakhstan National Team since 1999, and shined at the 2005 World Championships.
BLACKHAWKS
Three rookies have excellent chances of cracking the Hawks' lineup. Left-winger
Rene Bourque was the 2005 AHL rookie of the year and could climb to No. 3 on the depth chart if
Mark Bell is shifted to center permanently. On the blueline,
Anton Babchuk (drafted 21st overall in 2002) is expected to graduate after two years in the AHL.
Brent Seabrook (14th, 2003) should also get a long look, although jumping directly from junior to the NHL is a mighty big hurdle for defensemen.
BLUE JACKETS
Right-winger
Dan Fritsche is already lighting it up at rookie camp and the Jackets would love to make room for this Ohio native. Shoulder problems have plagued Fritsche for years, so durability is his biggest concern. In goal, the recent signing of
Martin Prusek would indicate that
Pascal Leclaire (eighth overall, 2001) is bound for another year in the minors. Leclaire has also battled the injury bug; groin problems have troubled him since his junior days. Forwards
Alexandre Picard and
Gilbert Brule are most likely long shots.
BLUES
Technically, left-winger
Peter Sejna is still a rookie and should earn a spot on the third line. He's been a disappointment since winning the Hobey Baker Trophy in 2003 and turns 26 in October. This is a crucial season for him. The Blues may be tempted to fast-track defensemen
Doug Lynch and
Jeff Woywitka, two prospects acquired in the
Chris Pronger deal.
BRUINS
Do the Bruins have another
Patrice Bergeron waiting in the wings? Probably not, but centerman
Brad Boyes is due for promotion after three seasons in the AHL. Can he latch onto a job? Finnish sensation
Hannu Toivonen should backup
Andrew Raycroft and could even steal his job if the 2004 Calder remains unsigned for long. Rugged rearguard
Mark Stuart has the physique to play in the NHL, but can he handle NHL tempo?
CANADIENS
Bob Gainey says three forward spots are up for grabs. Leading candidates are center
Tomas Plekanec, and left-wingers
Chris Higgins,
Alexander Perezhogin and
Andrei Kostitsyn. Plekanec was Montreal's top player in the minors last season and versatile forward Chris Higgins plays a simple two-way that only a coach truly appreciates. Perezhogin is immensely talented and Kostitsyn is a wild card at this point in time. Backup
Cristobal Huet could be out until the new year with a knee injury; that job becomes
Yann Danis's to lose.
CANUCKS
Unheralded defenseman
Kevin Bieksa is the highest-rated rookie on Vancouver's depth chart. Unknown to most, the 24-year-old Bowling Green grad relies on brain, not brawn, to get the job done. He'll battle veterans
Sven Butenschon and
Nolan Baumgartner for the No. 6 spot.
CAPITALS
You can pencil in left-winger
Alexander Ovechkin on the first line right now, the job is his. Fellow left-winger
Chris Bourque is only 5-foot-7, but has a knack for exceeding expectations. That said, he remains a dark horse. The hapless Caps may opt to keep their young defensemen in the minors although talented
Mike Green could get a look. In goal,
Maxime Ouellet,
Maxime Daigneault and
Rastislav Stana are competing to backup
Olaf Kolzig.
COYOTES
Former Cornell standout
David LeNeveu is the Coyotes' goalie of the future; he'll challenge inconsistent
Brian Boucher for the backup role. If Boucher rediscovers his touch, LeNeveu will return to the AHL. Defenseman
Keith Ballard reported to camp in quicker and stronger, but it will take a heroic effort to unseat one of the six veterans ahead of him.
DEVILS
Center
Zach Parise, (17th overall, 2003) has a great opportunity to stick with the Devils, especially if pivot
Viktor Kozlov is moved to clear salary. Poor
Ari Ahonen. The talented Finn has been buried in the AHL since 2001 and many scouts feel four years in the minors is the maximum for goaltenders. It's time to give this guy a chance or let him play elsewhere.
FLAMES
If all goes according to plan, hard rock defenseman
Dion Phaneuf will emerge as a Calder candidate. After all,
Scott Stevens's retirement creates a league-wide void for a devastating hitter.
Brent Krahn could push new backup
Philippe Sauve for the backup job. Rugged
Eric Nystrom will give it his all to stick up front, where there's not much room to wiggle.
FLYERS
OHL grads
Jeff Carter and
Mike Richards tasted success as AHL playoff call-ups last spring. The Flyers are thin at right wing, and Carter may even land on a scoring line. Richards, a centerman, could be caught in a numbers game, although rumor has it pivot
Michal Handzus is on the block. Goalie
Antero Niittymaki was the AHL playoff MVP; could he emerge as another
Andrew Raycroft?
HURRICANES
The 'Canes have a fine collection of young goaltenders, led by
Cam Ward. He'll likely backup
Martin Gerber. Power forward
Andrew Ladd (fourth overall, 2004) has a lot to prove after a struggling in the WHL last season. He's a long shot in 2005-06.
ISLANDERS
Scandinavians dominate the Islanders' rookie hopefuls. GM Mike Milbury recently proclaimed right-winger
Robert Nilsson as one of the club's most talented players already. That should earn him extra consideration. Hustling center
Petteri Nokelainen is also high on Milbury's radar.
KINGS
Defenseman
Denis Grebeshkov (18th overall, 2002) has offensive upside but he's still raw. Under the new rules, his puck-moving skills may outweigh his defensive lapses; time will tell. After a stellar AHL career, goalie
Jason Labarbera finally gets a crack at NHL duty. Recently-signed forward
Anze Kopitar will play in Sweden this season.
LIGHTNING
The Stanley Cup champs are looking for a sixth defenseman.
Timo Helbling and
Mike Egener are the leading rookie candidates although recently-singed veteran
Todd Rohloff has the inside track.
MAPLE LEAFS
Coach Pat Quinn isn't a big fan of rookies, but salary cap issues could press a few into duty. Defenseman
Carlo Colaiacovo appeared overwhelmed in his NHL debut; he should be ready this time. Up front, 5-foot-11 center
Alexander Steen now tips the scales at 190 lbs. and has been the best player at the Leafs' rookie camp. He can also play the wing. Goalie
Mikael Tellqvist does not inspire confidence backing up 40-year-old
Ed Belfour.
MIGHTY DUCKS
As a prospect,
Ryan Getzlaf is the whole package and the
Steve Rucchin trade speaks to Getzlaf's stature with the club. After winning every trophy imaginable last season,
Corey Perry deserves a look as well, although he's still on the slender side for puck possession specialist. In goal, the emergence of Russian
Ilya Bryzgalov made
Martin Gerber expendable.
OILERS
Recently-acquired
Yan Stastny has been Edmonton's top player at rookie camp and the Oilers could use an infusion of talent at center. GM Kevin Lowe will also keep an eye on power-play specialist
Robbie Schremp. With backup
Jussi Markkanen out until October,
Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers can make a lasting impression.
PANTHERS
Like Toronto's Pat Quinn, GM Mike Keenan is leery of rookies, although he should have some time for Czech forward
Rostislav Olesz. The soon-to-be 20-year-old is mature and versatile; he appears destined for the wing given Florida's glut of veteran centers.
PENGUINS
What's left to be said about franchise player
Sidney Crosby? He'll probably line-up with
Mario Lemieux and
Mark Recchi, and take outlet passes from
Sergei Gonchar. That's a little more than arch-rival
Alexander Ovechkin has to work with. Defenseman
Ryan Whitney (fifth overall, 2002) handled himself well as an AHL rookie last season and is expected to stick with the big club.
PREDATORS
The Preds have two blue-chippers in defensemen
Ryan Suter (seventh overall, 2003) and
Shea Weber. However, breaking in two rookie blueliners is a lot to ask; Suter has a year of pro hockey under his belt, he has the upper hand, for now.
RANGERS
Streaky right-winger
Jozef Balej has already been penciled in as top-six forward but that's more an indictment of Glen Sather's woeful roster. Will he stick all season? Center
Jarkko Immonen, acquired in the
Brian Leetch deal, is coming off an outstanding season in Finland. Goaltenders
Al Montoya (sixth overall, 2004) and
Henrik Lundqvist will compete for the No. 2 spot behind
Kevin Weekes.
RED WINGS
Seems like the Red Wings trot out outstanding European rookies every season. This year, it could be 5-foot-11 defenseman
Niklas Kronwall, the 2005 AHL Defenseman of the Year. Don't let his height fool you, Kronwall was drawn comparisons to teammate
Mathieu Schneider. This could also be the year tiny pivot
Jiri Hudler cracks the lineup, especially now that
Pavel Datsyuk has checked out of Motown.
SABRES
The Sabres boast two outstanding rookies: Left-winger
Thomas Vanek and goalie
Ryan Miller. Vanek has been a consistent scorer at every level and at age 21, he's physically mature. GM Darcy Regier said Miller won't be back in the AHL, although there is a slim chance that he'll be traded because of a logjam in the crease.
SENATORS
German rearguard
Christoph Schubert has shown steady progress in the minors and the Sens are auditioning for a No. 6 defenseman. Forward
Brian McGrattan had 551 PIMS in the AHL last season; will he catch coach Bryan Murray's eye?
Ray Emery represents Ottawa's future between the pipes. This season, he's
Dominik Hasek's understudy.
SHARKS
Forward
Milan Michalek (sixth overall, 2003) made the team as an 18-year-old, but a serious knee injury sidelined him for almost two year. The Sharks will find out soon enough if he has fully recovered. If so, Michalek's virtually a lock to make the team, again. Big forward
Steve Bernier has impressed at rookie camp.
STARS
The Stars have as many as three openings up front and there's a surplus of smallish, Scandinavian forwards in the running. Left-winger
Antti Miettinen should land one spot but the other two appear to be up for grabs.
THRASHERS
If goalie
Kari Lehtonen plays with the same poise and confidence that he showed in the AHL, the Thrash have a chance to win every game he starts, period.
Braydon Coburn (eighth overall, 2003) has a bright future on Atlanta's blueline, but he won't be rushed.
WILD
Mikko Koivu,
Rickard Wallin and
Patrick O'Sullivan will compete for a spot at center; Koivu is the early favorite after honing his game in Finland and the AHL. Coach Jacques Lemaire will probably make room for Wallin as well. The Wild are guilty of rushing some young players (
Pierre-Marc Bouchard,
Brent Burns); they'd be wise to show patience with 2005 first-rounder
Benoit Pouliot.
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