Once a young player transitions from junior or minor hockey into the NHL, his next challenge is proving that he has what it takes to make an impact at his sport's top level over the long term.
That's not always an easy task. Look at 2014 Calder Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon, who slipped from 63 points and a plus-20 in his rookie season to 38 points and a minus-20 in his sophomore year.
Last season, we saw a fascinating mix of rookies grab their share of the spotlight—whether it was a can't-miss prospect like No. 1 overall pick Aaron Ekblad, college underdog Johnny Gaudreau or out-of-nowhere phenom Mark Stone.
Of the 197 skaters and 25 goaltenders who were part of the rookie class of 2014-15, this list spotlights the 10 who look best positioned to make a splash next season.
In the Honorable Mention category, keep an eye on forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov of the Washington Capitals, the Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak, Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators and the Carolina Hurricanes' Victor Rask. In the goal crease, Andrew "The Hamburglar" Hammond of Ottawa, Petr Mrazek of Detroit and Michael Hutchinson of Winnipeg should keep life intere ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Carol Schram
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