NHL Power Rankings: Michael Grabner and the Top Rookies on Each Team
There have been many rookies that have made a big impact on their respective clubs this year.
Logan Couture is keeping the San Jose Sharks afloat while the Thornton-Marleau-Heatley line tries to find their production from last year.
Jeff Skinner and Jamie McBain are both a major reason why the Carolina Hurricanes are in playoff position down the stretch.
And Michael Grabner is giving fans on the Island a reason to watch their moribund franchise.
The following are the best rookies on each of the NHL's 30 clubs.
Dallas Stars: Philip Larsen
1 of 30
Drafted: 5th round, 149th overall 2008
Season stats: 6 gp, 0g, 2pt, plus-one, 0 pim
The parsimonious Stars often rely on young talent to get the job done.
However, in a year when the team is making a serious playoff push, they've gone with an older squad and will let Denmark's Philip Larsen marinade in the minors.
Ottawa Senators: Zach Smith
2 of 30
Drafted: 3rd round, 79th overall 2008
Season stats: 36 gp, 4g, 6pt, minus-9, 61 pim
The Senators are in a state of turmoil, creating an atmosphere that is not conducive to the development of players.
However, Smith has been able to make an impact in the 36 games he's played in Canada's capital.
Vancouver Canucks: Cody Hodgson
3 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 10th overall 2008
Season stats: 8 gp, 1g, 2pt, plus-one, 0 pim
Vancouver is a veteran team that expects to compete for a championship this year.
However, they have gotten Hodgson some ice time this year before he becomes an integral part of their team going forward.
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New Jersey Devils: Mark Fayne
4 of 30
Drafted: 5th round, 155th overall 2005
Season stats: 38 gp, 4g, 11pt, plus-seven, 19 pim
Like the Ottawa Senators, the Devils are not creating an atmosphere that will turn prospects into superstars.
Their recent winning streak is nice, but Jacques Lemaire's trap system curtailed the potential of prospects like James Sheppard, Benoit Pouliot and Brent Burns in Minnesota.
Nashville Predators: Matt Halischuk
5 of 30
Drafted: 4th round, 117th overall 2007 (New Jersey)
Season stats: 14 gp, 1g, 4pt, plus-one, 2 pim
The cash-strapped Predators often rely on young players to keep their scrappy team afloat, but, in a year when the team is expected to win, the team has gone (a little bit) older.
Halischuk is their most productive rookie, but has only played in 14 games.
Detroit Red Wings: Jakub Kindl
6 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 19th overall 2005
Season stats: 32 gp, 1g, 3pt, minus-one, 26 pim
He has had limited playing time so it is difficult to determine if Kindl will develop into a productive player at the game's highest level.
However, the Wings have remained competitive by developing players well, so the Czech defenseman should be in good hands.
Florida Panthers: Keaton Ellerby
7 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 10th overall 2007
Season stats: 35 gp, 1g, 8pt, minus-six, 16 pim
Although he is minus-five in his last five contests, Keating Ellerby has done well with limited playing time in Florida's defensive system.
If the team around him improves, the Alberta native has the potential to become a plus player.
Minnesota Wild: Jared Spurgeon
8 of 30
Drafted: 6th round, 156th overall 2008 (Islanders)
Season statistics: 36 gp, 1g, 7pt, plus-four, 2 pim
The Wild are in flux and need to get more production from their young talent.
Cam Barker looks like he may join James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot as projects that never panned out.
Spurgeon may turn out to be a diamond in the rough, however. He's been the Wild's most productive rookie since signing with the Wild.
Colorado Avalanche: Philippe Dupuis
9 of 30
Drafted: 4th round, 104th overall 2003 (Columbus)
Season stats: 60 gp, 4g, 13pt, even, 38 pim
Colorado dealt their most promising rookie, Kevin Shattenkirk, to St. Louis in the Erik Johnson trade.
Dupuis, another product of the plush 2003 draft, has finally made a place for himself in Denver after two short stints in blue over the last two seasons.
Los Angeles Kings: Alec Martinez
10 of 30
Drafted: 4th round, 95th overall 2007
Season stats: 41 gp, 4g, 11pt, plus-six, 14 pim
Responsible in his own end and productive on the other side of the sheet, Martinez is developing into a solid defenseman for the Kings.
LA has become more competitive over the years by developing talent and the Michigan native should see his minutes increase each year.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Mark Letestu
11 of 30
Drafted: undrafted
Season stats: 52 gp, 11g, 22pt, plus-two, 13 pim
The Penguins may have found a hidden gem in Mark Letestu.
While nobody is going to compare him to Jordan Staal or Sidney Crosby, the Elk Point, Alberta native has held his own in the Steel City this year.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Dana Tyrell
12 of 30
Drafted: 2nd round, 47th overall 2007
Season stats: 59 gp, 5g, 12pt, minus-two, 4 pim
The Lightning have developed Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman well and, as a result, have a strong core going forward.
Dana Tyrell will not make the impact of either player, at least in the short term, but plays well in his own right.
Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund
13 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 24th overall 2007
Season stats: 58 gp, 7g, 16pt, plus-six, 10 pim
Despite a difficult season in Calgary, Backlund has been able to put the organization's issues behind him and make an impact on the ice.
Certainly the Flames have to be happy with how the 21-year-old Swedish pivot is progressing.
Toronto Maple Leafs: James Reimer
14 of 30
Drafted: 4th round, 99th overall 2006
Season stats: 21 gp, 12w, 4l, 3ot, .929 sv%, 2.28 gaa
Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Gustavsson were supposed to man the net for the Leafs.
However, rookie James Reimer has made a great impression in Toronto recently and could become a staple for the franchise in the future.
Phoenix Coyotes: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
15 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 6th overall 2009
Season stats: 45 gp, 1g, 11pt, plus-three, 22 pim
He may be slightly fettered by the cautious Coyotes, but Ekman-Larsson has the potential to make an impact in this league.
The Swedish defenseman is a plus player with 11 points and is helping his team reach the playoffs again this season.
Atlanta Thrashers: Alexander Burmistrov
16 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 8th overall 2010
Season stats: 57 gp, 5g, 17pts, minus-one, 23 pim
Atlanta has a strong young core to build upon and Alexander Burmistrov is certainly going to be a big part of it.
His production has not been high, but the uber-talented Russian can make heads spin with his stickhandling and staking.
Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Ennis
17 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 26th overall 2008
Season stats: 63 gp, 13g, 36 pt, even, 20 pim
The sky is the limit for Tyler Ennis, who will benefit from playing with the homegrown Sabres.
Ennis has received ample playing time as a rookie and should make an impact in Buffalo going forward.
Chicago Blackhawks: Corey Crawford
18 of 30
Drafted: 2nd round, 52nd overall 2003
Season stats: 39 gp, 24w, 12l, 3ot, .921 sv%, 2.17 gaa
After the departure of Antti Niemi (San Jose), Corey Crawford has stepped in and played well in his rookie campaign.
With strong play down the stretch, Crawford can make a major impact for the defending champs.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Matt Calvert
19 of 30
Drafted: 5th round, 127th overall 2008
Season stats: 23 gp, 11g, 15pt, plus-four, 10 pim
Matt Calvert has not played in many games, but the Brandon, Manitoba native has made an impact with his small body of work.
He already has a hat trick and should benefit from playing on the same team as Rick Nash and RJ Umberger.
St. Louis Blues: Kevin Shattenkirk
20 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 14th overall 2007 (Colorado)
Season stats: 54 gp, 7g, 29pts, minus-eight, 28 pim
It is rare to see a productive rookie moved mid-season, but Shattenkirk caught the eye of talent evaluators in St. Louis and has an opportunity to play with a young, rebuilding club.
The Greenwich, CT native will get plenty of ice time to prove himself in the coming years.
Washington Capitals: John Carlson
21 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 27th overall 2008
Season stats: 65 gp, 5g, 26pts, plus-13, 38 pim
The Capitals continue to replenish themselves with young talent, allowing the team to become a staple in the nation's capital.
John Carlson is in good hands in Washington.
Anaheim Ducks: Cam Fowler
22 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 12th overall 2010
Season stats: 58 gp, 7g, 29pts, minus-22, 16 pim
After a year with his hometown Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Cam Fowler, a top prospect, was left hanging in Los Angeles and has given the NHL a piece of his mind.
To this day he has made more of an impact than Erik Gundbrandson (3rd overall, Florida) and Dylan McIlrath (10th overall, Rangers) for his team.
Time will tell if he ends up playing both defensemen that were drafted before him.
Montreal Canadiens: PK Subban
23 of 30
Drafted: 2nd round, 43rd overall 2007
Season stats: 60 gp, 7g, 28pts, minus-five, 90 pim
A loquacious defenseman from Toronto, PK Subban has made a major impact for the Canadiens in his first year.
Philadelphia Flyers: Sergei Babrovsky
24 of 30
Drafted: undrafted
Season stats: 40 gp, 24w, 10l, 4ot, .918 sv%, 2.48 gaa
Sergei Bobrovsky has made a major impact in Philly, a team that was a goaltender away from being a major contender for the Stanley Cup.
Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand
25 of 30
Drafted: 3rd round, 71st overall 2006
Season stats: 61 gp, 19g, 35pts, plus-23, 43 pim
Second in the league with four shorthanded goals and eighth in the league with a plus-23 plus/minus, Brad Marchand is earning serious minutes with a bonafide contender.
New York Rangers: Derek Stepan
26 of 30
Drafted: 2nd round, 51st overall 2008
Season stats: 66 gp, 17g, 36pts, plus-three, 18 pim
Derek Stepan has provided the Rangers with much-needed secondary scoring in his rookie campaign.
The Hastings, MN native could be a difference-maker in the playoffs.
Edmonton Oilers: Taylor Hall
27 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 1st overall 2010
Season stats: 65 gp, 22g, 42pts, minus-nine, 27 pim
This year's first overall selection has not disappointed.
A Calgary-native, Taylor Hall is performing well for the Flames' Albertan rival.
Among rookies, he's tied for goal lead with 22 and third in points with 42.
New York Islanders: Michael Grabner
28 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 14th overall 2006 (Vancouver)
Season stats: 61 gp, 25g, 38pts, plus-10, 6 pim
Fifth in the league with three shorties, Michael Grabner is a bright spot in a dreary organization.
Among rookies, the Austrian is tied for league lead with 25 goals.
San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture
29 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 9th overall 2007
Season stats: 62 gp, 25g, 44pt, plus-17, 35 pim
Second in the league with eight game-winners, Logan Couture has kept the Sharks afloat with his outstanding play as a rookie.
He is tied for both team and rookie lead with 25 goals and is second among rookies with 44 points.
Carolina Hurricanes: Jeff Skinner
30 of 30
Drafted: 1st round, 7th overall 2010
Season stats: 65 gp, 22g, 48pt, minus-two, 36 pim
Carolina was fortunate that Jeff Skinner fell to them at seven last year, but they are making the best of it with the talented rookie.
Skinner leads first-year players with 48 points, second-best on his team, and has the has 'Canes in position to nab a late playoff spot in the East.
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