30 NHL Sophomores To Watch in the 2011-12 Season

Last year, over 200 players made their NHL debuts. While a few stuck with their teams for the whole season, others only got short cups of coffee. But they were all trying to do the same thing: make a positive impression on their coaches and general managers to become full-time NHL players.

The 30 players featured in this slideshow had varying degrees of success in their rookie seasons. Some were complete surprises to make their team's roster and ended up becoming key players, while others are still developing but showed promise at one point or another.

So which players will be looking to avoid the sophomore slump and lay down another brick on their path to success in the NHL?

Keep reading to find out.

30. Alexander Burmistrov, Center, Winnipeg Jets

Burmistrov heads north to join the new-look Winnipeg Jets after spending last year on a struggling Atlanta Thrashers team.

The 19-year-old forward had 20 points and two game-winning goals for Atlanta and ranked ninth with a 41.5 percent faceoff win percentage. He also averaged about 13 minutes a game.

Though he was not the Thrashers' top player, he will be one to watch as the former Thrashers franchise looks to make a fresh start and get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

29. Benn Ferriero, Center, San Jose Sharks

Ferriero is the guy who made everyone outside of San Jose go "Who the heck is THAT?" when he scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of San Jose's Western Conference Quarterfinal matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.

And oh yeah, it was an overtime goal and he got it even though he only had about five minutes of ice time in that game.

In addition to his playoff victory, Ferriero had nine points and a plus-eight in 33 regular season games. He also had one power-play goal and one game-winning goal.

If you're a Sharks fan, you'll want to see if Ferriero can once again come through in the clutch for San Jose.

28. Dana Tyrell, Center, Tampa Bay Lightning

Tyrell played his first full NHL season this year after spending 2009-10 with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. He posted 15 points and one game-winning goal in 78 games for the Bolts and led team rookies in scoring. 

He also finished eighth in faceoff wins (45.4 percent) and ninth in ice time on the penalty kill (1:41 of ice time per game). Unfortunately, he was injured for much of Tampa Bay's Cinderella run in the postseason and was scoreless in seven games.

Tyrell may not be a top-line forward, but there is definitely room for him to get better and maybe make his mark in the playoffs.

27. Matt Halischuk, Right Wing, Nashville Predators

Halischuk played 27 games, just over the NHL's rookie definition of 25 games, in the 2010-11 season. He had 12 points and one game-winning goal to lead Predators rookies in scoring.

In the playoffs, he had two goals in 12 playoff games, including the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Vancouver Canucks.

Halischuk was rewarded for his potential and unsung hero performance in the playoffs with a two-year contract with Nashville, which he inked in July.

26. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Defenseman, Phoenix Coyotes

Ekman-Larsson comes into Phoenix with high expectations, as he was drafted sixth overall by the Coyotes in the 2009 NHL Draft.

Last year, he made his debut and did well enough, posting 11 points and a plus-three rating through 48 games. He also averaged about 15 minutes of ice time a game.

Ekman-Larsson spent the other part of the season with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL, where he had 10 points in 15 games.

Even if he does not make the roster out of training camp, he will have more time in the AHL to get into more games and improve on his points total.

And I know this picture is from a preseason game, but the "A" on his chest should tell fans to expect big things from this 20-year-old prospect.

25. Devan Dubnyk, Goaltender, Edmonton Oilers

Dubnyk got a significant amount of playing time last year when injuries and poor play slowed down more experienced Oilers netminders in Nikolai Khabibulin and Jeff Deslauriers.

However, Deslauriers is now out of the organization (he signed with the Anaheim Ducks), and Khabibulin isn't getting any younger.

This is clearly Dubnyk's season to shine.

In 35 games last year, he had a record of 12-13-8 to go with a .916 save percentage and 2.71 GAA.

It's safe to assume that Dubynk will lead the Oilers in goal as they continue to rebuild with other young talent such as Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

24. Jacob Josefson, Center, New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are looking to get back into the playoffs this season, and Jacob Josefson's performance in a call-up last year could help him get a spot on the team to meet that goal.

In 2010-11, Josefson had 10 points and a plus-five rating in 28 games with one game-winning goal. His plus/minus rating was third on the Devils, and he was also seventh in faceoff wins (47 percent) and ninth in power play ice time (1:45 per game).

Josefson will join other up-and-coming players in Mattias Tedenby and Nick Palmieri to begin forming the next generation of talented forwards in the Devils organization.

23. Mark Letestu, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

If you know anything about me, you'll know that I don't keep it a secret that I love Mark Letestu. And it's more than just because he has an awesome last name.

The undrafted center from Western Michigan played his first full NHL season last year. He got off to a fast start, and early in the season, he even led NHL rookies in scoring. Unfortunately, he cooled off and then ended up missing time with a knee injury.

Despite this, Letestu still finished the year with 27 points and a plus-four rating. He also had four power-play goals, which is a positive on the Penguins' struggling power play, and three game-winning goals (second on the Penguins). He had one goal in seven playoff games.

Ray Shero was impressed enough with Letestu's performance that he signed him to a two-year contract extension in January.

Here's a fun fact: Last year, the Pens were 11-1 when Letestu had a goal and 19-2 when he scored a point.

The Pens need this guy for success, and you should know who he is. Keep an eye on him.

22. Jonathon Blum, Defenseman, Nashville Predators

Blum is the second Preds player to appear on our list, and with good reason.

He played 23 games last year and posted eight points and a plus-eight rating. He added one power-play goal and one game-winning goal, as well as two assists in 12 playoff games.

During the regular season, he was eighth in ice time with 17:45 per game. He was again eighth in playoff ice time with 18:51 a game.

In addition, he was second on Nashville with 24 blocked shots in the playoffs as the Predators went to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time in team history.

Any time a player gets increased responsibility in the playoffs, you know he will make an impact in years to come.

21. Clayton Stoner, Defenseman, Minnesota Wild

Stoner was a bright spot on a floundering Wild team last season. He had nine points in 57 games, and his plus-five rating was first on the team.

He was also sixth with 110 hits and 2:06 of ice time on the penalty kill, and finished fourth with 81 blocked shots and ninth with 16:51 of ice time per game.

Stoner shows he can handle responsibility and even has a physical edge to his game. Along with his 110 hits, he also had 96 penalty minutes.

20. Sergei Bobrovsky, Goaltender, Philadelphia Flyers

Bobrovsky had a solid first season in North America after coming over from Russia to play for the Flyers. In 54 games, he went 28-13-8 and posted a .915 save percentage and 2.59 GAA.

Last October, when the Flyers opened against the Penguins in the first regular season game at Consol Energy Center, it was Bobrovsky who helped the Flyers get a 3-2 victory. He became the youngest Flyers goalie to win a season opener and the first Philadelphia rookie to win his debut since Antero Nittymaki accomplished the feat in 2004.

Bobrovsky faltered in the playoffs, taking two losses out of the six games he played. But considering that Peter Laviolette changed goalies about every five minutes (or so it seemed), who could blame the kid?

Bobrovsky will back up Ilya Bryzgalov in Philadelphia this year, but he has the chance to learn from a former Stanley Cup winner. That could help him take great strides in his game.

19. Tyler Seguin, Center, Boston Bruins

Seguin was drafted second overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, made the Bruins out of camp and won a Stanley Cup in his rookie year.

In between all of that, he had 22 points in 74 regular season games and seven points in 13 playoff games to rank third among NHL rookies in playoff scoring. He also had a plus-five rating in the postseason.

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Lightning, Seguin had four points. He was the first teenager to score four points in a playoff game since Trevor Linden did so with the Canucks in 1989.

Seguin still has some time before he is a top forward on the Bruins, but not many rookies can say they have a Stanley Cup ring. The experience he gained in 2010-11 will only help him going forward.

18. Bobby Butler, Right Wing, Ottawa Senators

Ottawa needs a fresh start more than most teams in the NHL, and one of the young players they will rely on for help is forward Bobby Butler.

Butler played 36 games with the Senators last year and had 21 points in 36 games, as well as three game-winning goals. He was also sixth with 2:12 of ice time on the power play.

He spent most of his season with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL, where he had 33 points in 47 games. While that's not an out of the ordinary season, he helped the Baby Senators to the Calder Cup Finals, posting 17 points in 23 playoff games. He also had six power-play goals as Binghamton won their first Calder Cup.

He signed a two-year contract in July.

Like Tyler Seguin, Butler has championship experience on his side coming into the season. It may not be a Stanley Cup, but it shows he can handle a big stage and put up the points to help his team.

17. James Reimer, Goaltender, Toronto Maple Leafs

Reimer was thrust into the spotlight in Toronto last year when poor play and injuries rattled Jonas Gustavsson and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

And when the Leafs called, Reimer answered. 

In 37 games, "Optimus Rime" had a .921 save percentage (seventh among NHL rookie goaltenders) and 2.60 GAA to go with a record of 20-10-5 and three shutouts.

As a reward, he was given a three-year contract in June.

He will be battling Gustavsson for the starting goaltender spot, and there's a good chance he'll run away with it.

16. Taylor Hall, Left Wing, Edmonton Oilers

Hall was the first overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft and made the young Oilers squad out of training camp. He put up 42 points in 65 games, but missed the last 17 games of the season because of an ankle injury.

Despite his injury, he was still second on Edmonton in scoring and was also first with eight power-play goals.

You know you're good when you can be one of the top scorers on the team even when you're not playing.

If Hall can stay healthy this year, the rest of the NHL better be on notice.

15. Derek Stepan, Center, New York Rangers

Stepan let the NHL know who he was right away last year by scoring a hat trick in his debut against the Buffalo Sabres. He became the fourth player in league history to score three goals in his first game.

He ended up finishing the season fourth on the Rangers with 45 points while adding three power-play goals and three game-winning goals. He also had a plus-eight rating. His 21 goals were fourth among NHL rookies, and his points total was fifth.

In addition, he was ninth with 2:22 of ice time on the power play and 20:29 of ice time per game in the playoffs. In the playoffs, he had 2:45 of power-play ice time (seventh on the Rangers) and was seventh with a 40 percent faceoff win percentage.

Stepan is a well-rounded player who made his mark in his rookie season. Look for him to keep putting up points on Broadway.

14. Tyler Ennis, Left Wing, Buffalo Sabres

Ennis had a solid rookie year with 49 points to rank third on the Sabres in scoring. He also tied for third on the team with five power-play goals and added one game-winning goal. He set a record for most points by a Sabres rookie since 1994 and was the first Buffalo rookie to have at least 20 goals since Thomas Vanek in 2005-06.

During the regular season, he was ninth with 2:16 of ice time per game on the power play.

In the postseason, he was tied for fourth on Buffalo with four points in seven playoff games. He was also seventh with 2:41 of ice time on the power play.

Ennis has potential to be a leading scorer for this team, especially on the man advantage, where the Sabres were ninth with a 19.4 percent success rate. He can definitely keep them in the top 10 in that category.

13. Grant Clitsome, Defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets

Clitsome will be given a chance to stand out on a revamped Blue Jackets roster that now includes James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter as the Jackets continue looking for regular season and playoff success.

Last year, Clitsome had 19 points and a plus-two rating in 31 games, as well as two power-play goals. He was fourth among Columbus defensemen in scoring.

In addition, he was handed big minutes, ranking second with 21:16 of ice time per game and third with 3:30 logged on the power play.

He signed a two-year contract in June to stay with the team. Now that the Jackets have some star power besides Rick Nash, this is Clitsome's time to make a name for himself and show he can be a top defenseman in this league.

12. Cory Schneider, Goaltender, Vancouver Canucks

Trade rumors swirled around Cory Schneider during the offseason, but for the time being, he will remain with the Canucks as Roberto Luongo's backup.

In 25 games last season, Schneider went 16-4-2 with one shutout. He was fifth among rookie netminders in wins, save percentage (.929) and GAA (2.23). His save percentage and GAA were third and fourth in the NHL, respectively.

When Luongo struggled during the Canucks' Stanley Cup Finals run, Schneider stepped up to the plate. He got into five playoff games and posted a .915 save percentage and 2.58 GAA.

If Luongo falters again at some point this year, it's good to know that Schneider is a dependable backup. The fact that he ranked better than many NHL goalies in key categories despite playing less games is remarkable in and of itself.

11. Michal Neuvirth, Goaltender, Washington Capitals

Like Sergei Bobrovsky, Michal Neuvirth is likely to spend more time on the bench now that the more experienced Tomas Vokoun will be suiting up for the Washington Capitals.

But again, that doesn't mean you can just forget about Neuvirth.

In 48 games last year, he went 27-12-4 and posted four shutouts, setting a record for wins by a Caps rookie netminder and tying the team record for shutouts by a first-year goalie. He was also third among all rookie goaltenders in wins.

In addition, he was ninth in the NHL with a 2.45 GAA and also had a .914 save percentage.

During the playoffs, Neuvirth was a bright spot as the Capitals were dealt more postseason disappointment. He went 4-5 to rank seventh in the NHL in wins. He also had a .912 save percentage (ninth in the league) and a 2.34 GAA (fourth). He was also the third Caps rookie to get a shutout in the playoffs, doing so in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Rangers.

Neuvirth won two Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears of the AHL, so he has what it takes to win a championship.

And boy, does he know how to stonewall an opponent. When I used to watch him in the AHL, I would call him "Annoy-virth" because it felt like he was literally a brick wall. But even though I was aggravated that my team couldn't get pucks past him, I knew he was the real deal.

I still believe that, and should Vokoun struggle or get injured, Bruce Boudreau can sleep well knowing he has Neuvirth to call on.

10. Cam Fowler, Defenseman, Anaheim Ducks

Fowler is another of the 2010 NHL Draft picks (12th overall) on this list who stepped right into the NHL just a few months after their draft day.

He had a solid rookie year, posting 40 points and ranking second among Ducks defensemen in scoring. He also had six power-play goals and three game-winning goals over 76 regular season games. Fowler was also fifth in ice time (22:07 per game), second in power play ice time (3:37 per game) and fifth with 93 blocked shots.

In the postseason, he was fourth on the Ducks and first among defensemen with four points, adding one power-play goal to his total. He also ranked fifth with six blocked shots and was fourth with 22:13 of ice time per game and third with four minutes of power play ice time.

Although Fowler didn't get as much attention as some other rookies last year, he immediately established a place for himself in Anaheim's defensive corps. Anaheim fans should be excited about his sophomore year.

9. Corey Crawford, Goaltender, Chicago Blackhawks

If you can take a starting netminder spot away from a veteran starter in Marty Turco, then everyone should know your name.

Say hello to Corey Crawford.

Turco came to the Blackhawks on a one-year deal but struggled in the early part of the season. The Hawks turned to Crawford to help them out, and the rest is history.

The rookie goalie finished with a record of 33-18-6 to record the most wins by a Chicago goalie since 2001 and lead first year netminders in wins. He also had a .917 save percentage and was eighth in the NHL with a 2.30 GAA. In addition, he posted four shutouts.

During the postseason, in which Chicago nearly came back from a 3-0 deficit against the Canucks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Crawford went 3-4 to rank seventh in the league in wins. His .927 save percentage and 2.21 GAA were third in the NHL, and he also recorded a shutout in Game 5 of that playoff series.

Of course, the only way to reward such a season was a three-year contract extension, which he signed in May.

Crawford has the reins in goal for the Hawks' immediate future, and there is no real threat to his spot.

8. Kevin Shattenkirk, Defenseman, St. Louis Blues

It seems like the St. Louis Blues are one of the NHL's forgotten teams (I've been guilty of overlooking them myself), but they have a lot of talent worth recognizing. One of those players you shouldn't look past is defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.

Shattenkirk, who came over to the Blues in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, led all rookie defensemen with 43 points in 72 games. He also added three power-play goals and two game-winning goals.

He also saw a fair amount of ice time, ranking fifth in both minutes per game (19:50) and power-play ice time (2:57 a game).

He'll likely be looked on to lead the Blues defense with Alex Pietrangelo as St. Louis looks to get on the map so people start talking about them again.

7. John Carlson, Defenseman, Washington Capitals

Carlson is the second member of the Capitals and a Hershey Bears Calder Cup team to appear on this list. Hershey, as you've learned, produces winners, and Carlson is one of the ones who translated his AHL success into a leading role in Washington.

In the 2010-11 regular season, Carlson had 37 points and a plus-21 to rank sixth in scoring and fourth in plus/minus rating. He also led the team with 160 blocked shots and was third with 22:38 of ice time. On special teams, he received 2:12 of ice time on the power play (ninth) and 2:19 on the penalty kill (sixth).

In the playoffs, he had three points in nine games and led the Caps with 24:23 of ice time. He was also fifth with 2:38 of penalty kill ice time and five hits. He had 19 blocked shots as well.

Carlson's regular season totals set a franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman.

Although he made himself well known during his first season, he has already shown that he is a cornerstone of the Capitals' future on defense. There doesn't seem to be anything he can't do.

6. P.K. Subban, Defenseman, Montreal Canadiens

Subban carved out a place for himself with his talent as well as his sometimes controversial play, so it's obvious the hard-to-please fans of Montreal will be keeping an eye on him during the 2011-12 season.

In his rookie year, he led Canadiens defensemen in scoring with 38 points and was tied for fifth on the team in points. He was also first with nine-power play goals and third with three game-winning goals.

When it came to playing time, Subban got plenty of it. He was tied for third with 22:16 of ice time and was fourth in power-play minutes (3:04) and fifth with 2:32 logged on the penalty kill. In addition, he showed his physical side with 110 hits (third on the Habs) and ranked fifth with 106 blocked shots.

Although the Canadiens had a brief playoff run, Subban still ranked third with four points and was first with two power-play goals. He led the team with 28:33 of ice time, 4:02 played on the power play and 2:38 of ice time on the penalty kill. He was also fourth with 11 blocked shots and sixth with 11 hits.

I actually had to check to make sure Subban was a rookie in 2010-11. Although I knew he was, I had to confirm because he plays like someone who has been in the league longer.

5. Michael Grabner, Right Wing, New York Islanders

One of my best friends, a Canucks fan, is a Michael Grabner fan. She told me many times last season that she was hoping Grabner could get off the Islanders because she felt he deserved better than the struggling franchise.

While I understood her point, the Islanders are slowly leaving their days of being in the Eastern Conference basement behind. And it looks like Grabner is going with them.

He posted 52 points and ranked third on the Isles in scoring. He was also second in the NHL and on the team with six shorthanded goals. His 34 goals led all NHL rookies and was tied for first on the team with a plus-13 rating.

Grabner had a scoring streak of six games, becoming the first rookie to do so since Evgeni Malkin had the same streak with the Penguins in 2006-07. His performance earned him Calder Trophy finalist honors. 

He received a five-year contract in May and will be one of the young talents to watch as the Islanders look to continue their rebuild.

4. Jordan Eberle, Right Wing, Edmonton Oilers

Eberle is the third member of the developing Edmonton Oilers to land on this list, and rightfully so.

Last year, Eberle earned NHL Goal of the Year honors with this beauty of a shorthanded goal he scored against the Calgary Flames. He scored the goal on the Oilers' opening night, so he wasted no time telling the NHL world he was here and you should know it.

He finished the season with 43 points to lead the Oilers in scoring and added four power-play goals (fourth on the team), two shorthanded goals (first) and five game-winning goals (first again).

Eberle will help Taylor Hall lead Edmonton for years to come and can only add more highlight reel goals in the progress.

3. Brad Marchand, Center, Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand may not have been a finalist for the Calder Trophy or set any Bruins records this year, but he set himself up for big things with the franchise.

Marchand had 41 points in the regular season and was third in the league with five shorthanded goals. He also was eighth on Boston with 89 hits.

His 41 points seem a little pedestrian, but it's what he did in the playoffs that propelled him into the top three on this list.

As the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, Marchand tallied 11 playoff goals (second in the NHL) and led rookies with 19 points overall, not to mention he was also sixth in the league in postseason scoring. He ranked ninth on Boston with 16:46 of ice time during the playoffs.

He was a restricted free agent this summer, and his contract saga made for interesting discussion. It ended recently when he and the Bruins agreed on a two-year deal.

Marchand's incredible playoff performance, combined with the expectations of his new contract, make him one of the top rookies of 2010-11 you'll want to watch as he grows during his sophomore year.

2. Logan Couture, Center, San Jose Sharks

In 2010-11, Logan Couture showed us that his name has a deeper meaning besides all of the outrageous clothes in The Devil Wears Prada that normal people would never buy.

Couture, the runner-up for the 2011 Calder Trophy, was second among NHL rookies and sixth on the Sharks with 56 points. He was also second on the team with 10 power-play goals and eight-game winning goals (the latter of which was seventh in the league). He was seventh with a 53.4 percent faceoff win percentage and eighth with 66 blocked shots, as well as seventh with 2:11 of power-play ice time.

In the playoffs, he ranked fourth on San Jose with 14 points and second among league rookies. He was ninth with 2:31 of ice time on the power play, seventh with a 45.2 percent faceoff win percentage and sixth with 23 blocked shots.

To go back to fashion for a minute, it's safe to say that Couture's play is going to become a trend for his sophomore year.

1. Jeff Skinner, Center, Carolina Hurricanes

Skinner was drafted seventh overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, and the then-18-year-old surprised everyone when he made the Hurricanes for the 2010-11 season.

He didn't do too badly, either. He tallied 63 points to lead NHL rookies in scoring and rank second on the Canes behind team captain Eric Staal. He was also fourth on the team with six power-play goals and sixth with 3:10 of ice time per game on the power play.

He became the first 18-year-old to make an NHL All-Star Game since Steve Yzerman and was the first member of the 2010 draft class to attend the event.

The only way to wrap up the year, of course, is to win the 2011 Calder Trophy.

So to conclude: You rank second to a perennial All-Star and franchise face in scoring. You accomplish something that hasn't been done since the legendary Yzerman accomplished it. And then, you take home the outstanding rookie trophy despite the fact that your team didn't make the playoffs.

I'd say that lines up to make you something special.