Trying to figure out which teen-aged rookie is going to have an outstanding year can be a lot like trying predict which sports team Justin Bieber will be "repping" next week. It's unpredictable, and unscientific at best.
Still, we can examine the elements that allow a young player to succeed and try to determine who's going to be excellent and who will end up back in the minors.
The opportunity to be extraordinary is paramount in these matters. Will the young player even have a chance to crack the roster? And if he does, will he be playing inside of a top-six role as a forward or top-two pairing as a defenseman?
All the talent in the world won't do you any good when you're stuck behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the depth chart. Just ask Jordan Staal.
On top of the base element of opportunity, a player must also possess an abundance of maturity to deal with the rigors of an 82-game NHL schedule. Time needs to be put in at the gym. There are tapes to watch and skills to hone.
All while dealing with suddenly becoming a millionaire professional athlete—most of the time before the 21st birthday even ro ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Franklin Steele
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August 24th, 2013 by Franklin Steele Leave a reply »
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