Is it supposed to happen this way? Am I dreaming? Did I travel to another dimension? Or am I hallucinating after eating that week old burrito with the added green fuzz? (Hey, it was the only thing left in the fridge and I was famished. You would have done the same thing.)
All these questions have run through my mind as I try to make sense of why so many rookies and unknowns are making a significant impact in today's NHL.
It's intriguing to see proven veterans like Alex Tanguay, Nik Antropov, Slava Kozlov, Alexei Kovalev, Nathan Horton, Jaroslav Spacek and Wade Redden get toosed aside in exchange for the new wave of talent like Jamie Benn, James van Riemsdyk, Michael Grabner, Michael Del Zotto and Matt Moulson.
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| Rookie Evander Kane is with Atlanta to stay after proving he can hang with NHL caliber talent. (US Presswire) |
The toughest part for owners is to digest all this change and translate it for Fantasy purposes.
Count 'em -- six players from the 2009 NHL draft class are already making considerable contributions with their teams. They are John Tavares (first overall), Victor Hedman (second), Matt Duchene (third), Evander Kane (fourth), Dmitry Kulikov (14th) and Ryan O'Reilly (33rd).
"I think anytime you're in the evaluation process, especially with an 18-year-old, you're looking at can they keep pace with established NHL players," Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman told NHL.com. "These are difficult decisions and you want to do what's right for the franchise and you also want to do what's right for the player. You don't want to put a player, especially an 18-year-old player, in a position where he's not able to perform at that level."
We can probably thank the expansion of the Russian Kontinential Hockey League for opening the door for younger players. Stealing veterans like Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Fedorov and Jiri Hudler have put the onus on organizations to scout harder and develop talent from within at a much faster pace. To this point, it seems to be working.
I'm not surprised by the youth movement in the NHL. Training regimens have changed dramatically from 20 years ago. These kids are getting better tutelage at a younger age about how to take care of their bodies and also receiving better coaching, which is helping in their rapid development.
It seems we can no longer be age-biased as Fantasy owners since these fresh faces are changing the complexion of the NHL.
Evander Kane, C, Atlanta
Status: Rookie
Analysis: The 2009 draft class has been intriguing since Tavares and Hedman were the only players expected to be NHL-ready by opening night. Kane was clearly considered an upper-echelon prospect since he went fourth overall, but he just had his breakout junior season in 2008-09 (48 goals and 96 points in 61 games) and is still a little rough around the edges. Yet, Atlanta gave him the chance in training camp after having great success with Zach Bogosian, who was taken third overall in last year's draft. Kane impressed everyone from management to the veterans in camp, so Atlanta gave him a chance to audition for a permanent spot. Kane passed with flying colors as Atlanta announced Wednesday the 18-year-old rookie will stay with the team and not go back to his junior club.
Rating: Plus. What we like about Kane is that he is willing to put in the effort at both ends of the ice. While his strength is scoring, Kane is sacrificing his body on defense and is willing to make the plays to keep him in the lineup. His early success is being helped by the fact that Atlanta is playing him on the wing and not at center, which usually helps in a rookie forward's development. Kane now adds a potential sleeper element since Atlanta will look to him to help make up for the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk, who is out a few weeks with a foot injury. These next few weeks could go a long way in boosting Kane's confidence and Fantasy appeal.
Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly, Cs, Colorado
Status: Rookies
Analysis: The Avalanche completely turned over a new leaf after last year's embarrassing campaign and GM Greg Sherman was chosen to head the overhaul. His job didn't get any easier after Joe Sakic retired in the offseason. However, instead of trying to fix the problem through free agency, Sherman gave Duchene and O'Reilly a chance to showcase their skills in training camp. Both players exceeded expectations and continue to do so early in their rookie seasons. O'Reilly has been the real shocker as he is second among rookies with 11 points, but Duchene isn't far behind with six in the team's first 13 games.
Rating: Even. We would take a wait-and-see approach with the Avalanche. A lot of hockey insiders believe this hot start will last, but can a team really make that dramatic of a change in one year? Fantasy owners in larger formats should start adding Duchene and O'Reilly, but don't go dump a struggling veteran (i.e. Vincent Lecavalier) because you have an itchy trigger finger.
Tyler Myers, D, Buffalo
Status: Rookie
Analysis: Myers should thank Spacek for his defection to Montreal since it created a spot on Buffalo's blue line for the 2008 first-round pick (12th). Buffalo kept a close eye on Myers during training camp, but it definitely helped he was physically ready (6-8, 222 pounds) for the NHL. Myers took the next step offensively in his final year of junior hockey in 2008-09. He posted a career-high 42 points in 58 games for Kelowna (WHL). His previous high was 19. Myers has been a great point man on the power play for Buffalo and that has helped him post five points in his first nine games.
Rating: Plus. We don't think Myers is going to threaten as a point-per-game player, but the kid continues to impress. Teammate Henrik Tallinder compared Myers to Zdeno Chara and said, "It's scary how good (Myers) is going to be." If Del Zotto is being added like crazy in Fantasy, then Myers deserves the same attention.
Jakub Voracek, RW, Columbus
Status: Second year
Analysis: There was definitely more hype for Voracek during his rookie season. He was expected to provide an immediate boost to the top-six rotation after finishing his final junior season with 101 points for Halifax (QMJHL). Unfortunately, the 2007 first-round pick (seventh) finished with less than 10 goals and just 38 points in his first 80 NHL games. Voracek fell under the radar heading into this season, but with four goals and eight points in his first 11 games, Voracek is quickly ascending the Fantasy rankings.
Rating: Plus. If there is one thing we have learned about the Blue Jackets it's that they have the goalie (Steve Mason), the coach (Ken Hitchcock) and the superstar (Rick Nash) to be contenders in the Western Conference. Voracek has really clicked on a line with Antoine Vermette and has also drawn comparisons to another Kladno, Czech Republic native -- Jagr.
Jason Demers, D, San Jose
Status: Rookie
Analysis: Demers is definitely one of those late bloomers. He was a seventh-round pick in 2008 despite the fact he led defensemen in the QMJHL with 64 points in 2007-08. Still, teams weren't sure what to make of Demers. He turned pro last season and did quite well for Worcester (AHL). He totaled 31 assists and 33 points in his first pro season. That moved him up the Sharks' prospect rankings. Demers made the team out of training camp and hasn't disappointed with eight assists in his first 12 games.
Rating: Even. We are leaning toward recommending adding Demers since he does play for a contender. However, we are a little worried he is going to get overvalued and Fantasy owners are going to expect this production the rest of the season. Don't forget Dan Boyle and Rob Blake are still around to steal points.
Curtis Glencross, LW, Calgary
Status: Fourth year
Analysis: The Flames clearly had concerns about their offensive production after losing Mike Cammalleri in free agency. They figured Rene Bourque would be the person counted on the most to help pick up the scoring slack and he has. But Glencross has really surprised playing on the left side of the ice. He has five points and a plus-8 rating in his first 10 games.
Rating: Minus. Glencross had his best season as a pro in 2008-09, his first with the Flames. He had 40 points (13 goals) and has continued to show improvement with each NHL season. But the reason we aren't high on Glencross is that he does most of his damage at even strength. He has 33 career goals in 156 games and only two have come on the power play. None of his four goals this season have come on the man advantage. Most of the top scorers in the NHL have a mixture of even-strength and special-teams points.
Nigel Dawes, LW, Calgary
Status: Fourth year
Analysis: Sticking with Calgary, Dawes has also been a pleasant surprise for the Flames after they nabbed him off the free-agent market. He has logged consistent top-six minutes and that has resulted in the best start to a season in his young career. Dawes has posted four goals and six points in his first 11 games. The only negative is that he is at minus-8.
Rating: Even. Here is why we like Dawes more than Glencross. Aside from the fact he is contributing heavily on the power play, Dawes was a rising prospect during his days with the Rangers. He just never fully tapped into his potential and that is why New York parted ways with the 2003 fifth-round pick. First-year Calgary coach Brent Sutter is putting Dawes in situations to succeed and now it is up to the 24-year-old forward to seize them.
Artem Anisimov, C, N.Y. Rangers
Status: Rookie
Analysis: As much publicity as Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy got this preseason in Rangers camp, Anisimov fell into the background. He was pretty much expected to make the roster after his standout AHL season in 2008-09 (37 goals and 81 points in 80 games), but he was going to have to bide his time on the lower lines to begin his NHL career. Apparently, it is not that big of an issue. Anisimov is averaging less than 10 minutes per game, but is still tied for seventh in the NHL among rookies with six points and tied for second with three goals.
Rating: Plus. This might be a stretch for a fourth-line center, but if Anisimov continues to produce at this pace, the Rangers will have to find more ways to get him on the ice. The kid can clearly score as a pro.
Wayne Simmonds, RW, Los Angeles
Status: Second year
Analysis: Simmonds, a 2007 second-round pick, made the unexpected jump from junior hockey to the NHL in 2008-09. He played an entire 82-game schedule with the Kings, but he spent a great deal of time working on learning Terry Murray's defensive system. Simmonds managed just nine goals and 23 points as primarily a third-line forward. He started there this season before an injury to Justin Williams earned Simmonds a promotion to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. The highlight of Simmonds' season has been a three-game goal streak.
Rating: Minus. While Simmonds is making the most of his opportunities, he was drafted because of his defensive prowess and skating skills. Simmonds is still a raw prospect and has a pretty good shot, but there are other Fantasy options we would rather invest in.
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