NHL Stars of Tomorrow: Top 25 Rising Forwards
We just passed the halfway point of the current NHL season and I thought it would be a good time to update the top rising forwards in the league today.
All throughout the NHL season, I will be following the stars of tomorrow. My criteria for these players is two years in the NHL or less than 160 games combined (with minor exceptions).
Many players take that next big step in their third year and they really come into their own. For some it's sooner and for others later, but the development of a star is fascinating to watch.
Let's get to it and see which 25 made the list...
25: Bryan Bickell
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When Chicago gutted its Stanley Cup roster last offseason, many people wondered who would pick up the slack.
Enter Bryan Bickell. This young power forward has all the makings of an impact player in the NHL and has put up some nice numbers as a rookie this year. He's on pace for a 20-goal season and has the size and strength to be a factor come playoff time.
It also doesn't hurt that he's defensively responsible.
24: Mathieu Perreault
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After Washington was bounced from the playoffs last year, fans and critics were expecting changes to be made to the Capitals lineup. Part of the reason why they stood pat is that they believe in the players they have.
Part of that core is young center Mathieu Perreault. With time it's possible that he becomes the Caps' second-line center of the future, but he'll need to continue his strong play to secure the spot. For now he's still learning how to avoid the traditional ups and downs of life as a rookie.
He's a little on the small side, but it isn't the same obstacle that it used to be. The new rules are tailored so that players like him can thrive.
23: T.J. Galiardi
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Another player who has turned heads this season is the Avalanche's young star T.J. Galiardi. Unfortunately, people are paying more attention to him because of his lack of confidence. He started the year strong playing alongside Stastny and Stewart, but injuries have hampered his development.
He was even sent down to the AHL for a brief stint to help him regain some of his self-belief. I'm not sure anyone expected this to happen after what they saw in the playoffs last year.
Despite this, his future remains bright and he will undoubtedly be a key cog in Colorado's future plans.
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22: Nikolai Kulemin
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There were a lot of questions about Kulemin heading into this season. Some of them even came from the top as Burke publicly questioned his game.
This 24-year-old Russian has answered the bell in a big way. He's on pace for a 30-goal breakout season and he's done it on a scoring-starved Leafs team.
He was never really scouted as a huge talent coming out of Russia as he was often overlooked by other big names, but his work ethic and attention to detail made him an eventual standout.
There isn't a lot to like about Toronto this year, but Kulemin is one of the lone bright spots.
21: Derek Stepan
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Derek Stepan began his NHL career with a hat trick in his first game. This obviously got many people in New York excited about his future, but he had a hard time finding the back of the net after that. He's touted as a playmaker first, scorer second.
Having said that, he's managed to bounce back from a rough start and put together a solid rookie year. He's very creative with the puck and his upside is sky high.
Stepan has centered the Rangers' top line this year and don't be surprised if he stays there for good heading into the future. At 20 years of age, this kid is primed for a nice career.
20: Colin Wilson
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A player that has had a more difficult time with a league that rewards quickness and speed is the Predators' young star Colin Wilson. Yet despite this, he has been able to adapt well to the rigors of NHL life. He's on pace for a 20 goal, 20 assist season and is one of the few players on the team who has offensive upside.
He's only 21 so there is a lot of room for growth, but he's very mature for his age and should develop into a bonafide leader. Wilson could also be more physical because he's blessed with size and strength, but his game should round into shape with another year or two under his belt.
He's better suited for center, but Nashville has experimented with him at wing too. Keep an eye on this guy because once he settles in, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.
19: T.J. Oshie
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As the image indicates, T.J. Oshie has had injury problems this year. It's a shame because he was being counted on to help take the Blues to that next level. Ankle surgery put a quick end to that plan, but he's been able to rehab the injury and make it back into the lineup before the All-Star game. He'll need more time before he's completely recovered, but once he does, look out.
I don't expect him to back down from his physical nature, and he should be the same versatile threat that he was before the season started. He has a great two-way game and the future is bright for Oshie.
He would've been much higher on this list if it wasn't for the injury, but it won't take long before he's one of the league's best young players once again.
18: Magnus Paajarvi
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I thought that the Oilers would be much better than they have been this year. Most of that belief came from the trio of young guns entering the lineup. Among them is young standout Magnus Paajarvi. It's possible that expectations were unrealistic because, at the end of the day, these are still kids, but the future remains bright as long as Paajarvi is part of the equation.
He has potential star winger written all over him despite the mediocre numbers he's put up in his rookie season. The talent is still there because he can skate with anyone, he is stronger on his skates than people think and he has two-way potential.
17: Tyler Seguin
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Taylor or Tyler? That was the undisputed question of the draft, but six months later it seems like Seguin's development has been on a much slower pace. This shouldn't be a surprise because some wondered if he'd even play in the NHL this year.
Boston decided to keep him in the big leagues and I think it was a good decision. He has the luxury of easing into the NHL and learning at a steadier pace. There isn't a lot of pressure on him to be the savior of the franchise like there is on Taylor Hall either.
The potential is still there for him to be an elite player, so don't let his rookie numbers deceive you.
16: Tyler Ennis
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Tyler Ennis got off to a scorching start this season and there were many rumors about him as a Calder Trophy candidate. That hype has cooled as he has taken the path that most rookies do at this level. There are natural peaks and valleys for most players, and even more so for freshmen.
Like Perreualt, Ennis is a diminutive forward, but he has All-Star caliber skills. He's on pace for a 20-goal, 25-assist rookie season. Thai is good considering he's had limited ice time and a multitude of linemates.
His hockey sense and puck savvy separate him from many other players on the ice and it's just a matter of time before he's locked in on a top line.
15: Michael Grabner
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Michael Grabner is one of the most intriguing young players on this list. He began his career in Vancouver where many thought his career would take flight. Things looked promising last year as he knotted his first career hat trick. However, for whatever reason he was shipped out to Florida during the draft.
Even more surprising was his release during training camp. Florida waived Grabner and the Islanders were quick to scoop him up. There must be something these other teams don't know, because all I see is a lot of skill and scoring ability.
He's on pace for a 25-goal season without top-six minutes. His defensive game will always be an issue, but there is little denying his knack for scoring goals. Grabner could turn out to be one of the biggest, unnoticed steals of the season.
14: Jamie Benn
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One player who is exceeding my expectations this year is Jamie Benn. It's not that I didn't think he had talent because I did, but he's producing at a much more consistent rate than I thought he would at this early stage of his career.
Surely part of his success can be attributed to the resurgence of the Dallas Stars, but give him credit for elevating his game to that next level. He has all-around upside, he is a great teammate and he is on pace for 60 points.
Not bad for a sophomore.
13: Niclas Bergfors
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Niclas Bergfors had a rough start to the season. He wasn't producing and was eventually benched as a healthy scratch. Yet he's bounced back strong and is on pace for a 50-point season. This is a testament to his character and he is already mature beyond his years.
He spent a full four seasons grooming before he was called up the NHL, and it's this experience that is serving him well now.
He continues to be one of the bright spots for Atlanta and will be counted on to take them to that next level.
12: James Van Reimsdyk
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James van Reimsdyk will always be linked to Patrick Kane due to his draft position, but that might be an unfair comparison. Different players develop at different rates and in different situations.
Philadelphia has taken a different path with JVR and has brought him along slowly. In the long run, it should pay dividends, but even if he wanted to play more, he wasn't able to due to the long list of talent and depth on the Flyers roster.
His great combination of strength and skill will make him a tour de force soon enough, and it won't be long until he's dominating games all by himself.
11: Arten Anisimov
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Arten Anisimov started the season blazing hot, and I was a little surprised that he began to produce so much offensively so fast. The potential is there and I thought he would get there eventually, but early on it seemed like he was headed for stardom this year.
Those plans might be on hold because he has cooled off a lot since then, but he's shown us what he's capable of. His defensive game made big strides last year, so he is already close to being a complete player.
With him and Stepan at the center position, Rangers fans can feel good about a critical position for years to come.
10: Jordan Eberle
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As we enter the top 10, we land on Jordan Eberle. One of the dynamic trio to debut in Edmonton this year, Eberle has all the makings of a superb talent. He is equally adept at playmaking or scoring, which makes him the perfect complement to any teammate that lines up beside him.
He's on pace for a 45-point season, which is an excellent feat when you consider the surrounding cast in Edmonton. At times he has overshadowed the much more heralded Taylor Hall, but it will be fun to see which of these three jumps to the top of the ranks as the years go by.
Hall might have the highest potential, but as we all know, things don't always play out as we expect them to.
9: Evander Kane
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Evander Kane is one of the most exciting young power forwards in the game today. He started the season off hot with a lot of goals and began to rack up some assists as the year unfolded, but he has been slowed by injuries.
It's too early to know if these are legitimate red flags or not, but he's had six-to-seven injuries in his short career, and one has to wonder if he will ever be able to stay in the lineup for an entire season.
If he can, then he will quickly become one of the most feared players on the ice. His unique combination of size and skill make him a valuable commodity that won't be easy to replace. Atlanta has a lot of great young players, but Kane could be at the top of that list.
He is one of the premier faces of tomorrow.
8: James Neal
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One rising star who has remained near the top of the pack over the last year is James Neal. Simply put, the guy just produces. He's set to have his first 30-plus goal season and there's no telling how good he will be with more experience. He is easily one of the best young power forwards in the game and a crucial factor in the Stars' success this year.
Blessed with an amazing shot, he knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. There is not much he can’t do on the ice. Neal can shoot, score, pass and play a two-way game.
He will be a great team leader for the Stars for years to come, as he has natural leadership ability. Opposing teams would be wise not to try to knock him off his game either, because Neal isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Dallas struck gold with this second round pick.
7: Taylor Hall
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Leading the youth movement in Edmonton is the phenom known as Taylor Hall. In any other season, he would be much higher on this list, but it just goes to show how much young talent is entering this league.
In the beginning of the season, there was a frivolous debate about whether or not Hall should be sent back down to the minors. Inside the organization, though, this debate never took place. It's a good thing they know what they are doing, because he is on the verge of a 50-point season.
By NHL standards, he is still very raw, but if he figures it out soon, we will see the newest addition to the league's superstar club.
6: Logan Couture
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Logan Couture officially goes down as one of the most surprising rookies of the year. OK, so he might not really be a rookie, as he played in 25 NHL games last year. But with his amazing 22 goals on the season, he has come out of nowhere to provide the Sharks with a huge boost in scoring.
He has a great two-way game which makes him that much more valuable to his team. A born leader, Couture will be part of a solid foundation in San Jose for many years to come.
5: Jeff Skinner
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Another surprise on the list is Carolina Hurricanes center Jeff Skinner. People knew he had talent, but no one expected him to take the league by storm this quickly. The only thing more amazing than his production is his age. Eighteen-year-olds shouldn't be this good, but he is.
We'll see how long he can go before he hits the rookie wall, but for now he's got the inside track on the coveted Calder Trophy.
4: John Tavares
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Last month I wrote an article comparing John Tavares and Matt Duchene. It is inevitable that the two will always be linked throughout their careers, but at this point, both of them are showing us why they were taken so high in the draft.
Tavares seems to be a very streaky player who goes on long point streaks that are only matched by equally long scoring droughts. Having said that, I'm sure a lot of this can be chalked up to the unfortunate situation he finds himself in.
Nevertheless, the talent is there and he is on his way to a very good 30-goal, 30-assist season. Not bad for a guy playing with a sub-par surrounding cast.
3: Claude Giroux
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Coming in at third on the list is Philadelphia's prized young gun, Claude Giroux. This 22 year old really broke out in the playoffs last year, as he was a key contributor in the march to the finals. He is supremely gifted offensively with great moves, scoring touch and playmaking abilities.
A gritty player despite his size, Giroux is willing to get dirty to win a battle or make a play. For most of this season, this is exactly what he has done. In fact he's almost scoring at a point-per-game clip. This is a monumental jump from his 46 points last year, and it is the typical third-year jump that I expect from prospects.
It won't be long before he graduates from the rising stars list and joins Doughty and Stamkos in the perennial All-Star club.
2: Chris Stewart
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Coming in at second on the list is Avalanche winger Chris Stewart. He might have missed some time due to injury this year, but his amazing start has kept him near the top spot of rising NHL stars. He is averaging a point per game and he is poised to show people that last season was no fluke.
He is not only one of the top rising stars of the league, but he's among the best overall, too. There is no reason to believe he'll fizzle out because he has all the skills and physical ability to keep it up the rest of the year.
If you get a chance to watch an Avalanche game soon, don't pass it up. This youngster is becoming a legitimate star.
1: Matt Duchene
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Topping the list is Stewart's Avalanche teammate Matt Duchene. I'm a little surprised that he isn't getting more national attention around the league, because what he is doing is simply remarkable. He is surrounded by a lot of legitimate talent, yet he leads his team in goals and points.
He is also making a strong argument that he should have been taken first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Draft. He is getting comparisons with Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, but in time people will be comparing young players to him. His unique combination of offensive ability and defensive awareness makes him one of the best all-around youngsters to hit the NHL in some time.
One of the things that sets Duchene apart is his speed and skating ability. He is dangerous in any situation on the ice. He loves the game and it shows with his fiery play.
Now he might even get to fulfill a childhood dream and suit up alongside boyhood hero Peter Forsberg. The glory days of the Avalanche offense might be coming full circle and Matt Duchene is front and center leading the charge.
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