Upon Further Review

Last year Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Niklas Backstrom, Milan Lucic and Tobias Enstrom all turned heads as freshmen and this year should produce another bumper crop of young, exciting NHLers.

You can pretty well take it to the bank that Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos will be a standout (the surrounding cast he has to work with pretty well guarantees that fact) and is easily the front-runner in the early race for the Calder Trophy.

But who else?

I’m putting my money on Phoenix’s Kyle Turris winning the Calder and playing as a second-line centre behind Ollie Jokinen, not unlike the role Stamkos will occupy playing below Vincent Lecavalier.

Turris has some of the best young hands in tight that we’ve ever seen and although every goalie knows his bread and butter is to go high, his release is so fast that most netminders are powerless to stop it. Turris played a handful of games toward the end of last season with the Coyotes after his season with the Wisconsin Badgers was over and fit in nicely. Often compared to Steve Yzerman, Turris has the makings of a future franchise player for the Coyotes.

Others:

Fabian Brunnstrom, Dallas Stars: He was left off an offensively-challenged Swedish team at the world championship last year, a move most of the hockey world wrote off as political, while others questioned whether “the best player outside the NHL” is really all he’s rumoured to be. He’s strong, can make plays at top speed, has soft hands, but how will he survive in a defensively tight and physically punishing Western Conference? He may have been better suited for the East, but we shall see. No rookie will have greater expectations placed on him than Brunnstrom.

Ville Leino, Detroit Red Wings: On the heels of the Stars signing Brunnstrom, Detroit GM Ken Holland signed Leino, a highly skilled Finnish forward. Holland believes Leino can step right into the top six on the defending Stanley Cup champs. In his first season with Jokerit, Leino broke the storied franchise's record for most points in a season and was named the league's best player (the Lasse Oksanen Trophy). The presence of Marian Hossa may hurt his chances of a top-six forward spot, but if Mike Babcock sticks to his play of splitting up Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, the left-winger will have a highly-skilled centre to feed off of.

Teddy Purcell, Los Angeles Kings: While big numbers in the American Hockey League (83 points in 67 games last year in Manchester) don’t necessarily translate to NHL success, Purcell's game continues to improve in all areas. The big, lanky forward has outstanding hands and has a knack of scoring big goals at key times. While his natural instinct is to dish off and set up plays, Kings coach Terry Murray wants the former Maine Black Bear to shoot more often. Trivia note: Purcell could have been a Leaf last year but John Ferguson’s status as lame-duck GM cost the team his services, as Purcell did not want to be an outgoing GM’s guy. Sorry Leaf fans, this is another one that got away.

Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings: The last time a defenceman scooped up top freshman honours in the NHL? You have to go back to 2003 when Barrett Jackman of the St Louis Blues beat out Henrik Zetterberg (think about that now) for the Calder, but many experts think that may change this season. Drew Doughty brings slick skating, a great first pass and an elevated hockey IQ to a very young defensive corps, which will one day be the envy of the league (along with Jack Johnson, Colton Teubert and Thomas Hickey). Doughty has unlimited potential to go along with elite poise and confidence. He likely has a few Norris Trophies in him down the road.

Nicolai Kulemin, Toronto Maple Leafs: Leafs brass have their fingers crossed that they picked off a future great in the 2006 draft when they snagged this Russian winger in the second round. Another late bloomer, Kulemin was a former linemate of Evgeni Malkin at the world junior tournament and with club team Metallurg Magnitagorsk. Kulemin drives to the net hard with above average speed, but there are questions about his ability to finish on the smaller ice surface in North America. He’s not a flashy player but he works hard to get into scoring areas. On an offensively-challenged Maple Leafs squad, Kulemin will be given ample ice time and opportunity to prove he belongs.

Zach Bogosian, Atlanta Thrashers: Selected third overall by the Thrashers in the draft, the former Peterborough Pete already has the NHL size and shot and should start the season with the Thrashers. Big, strong and tough, Bogosian hits for keeps and has an elite skating ability that allows him to get back into position quickly in his own end. Many in the organization believe he’s a future captain of the team.

Other rookies to keep an eye on include Kyle Okposo of the Islanders, Jakub Voracek of the Blue Jackets, Hobey Baker finalist Nathan Gerbe of the Sabres, Jack Skille of the Blackhawks, Shawn Matthias of the Panthers, Ryan Parent of the Flyers and T.J Oshie of the Blues.

Hockey Night in Canada Radio returns to the airwaves Monday, Sept. 29 on Sirius channels 122 and 97. This year we’ve extended the show an hour and will now run 4-7 p.m. ET. Same great guest lineup and more of the stars of Hockey Night in Canada including Kelly Hrudey, Ron MacLean, Cassie Campbell, Craig Simpson, Elliotte Friedman, Scott Morrison and our new additions Marc Crawford and Mike Milbury.

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