Well, I've made my December Calder list (top five) and I've checked it twice. From my vantage point, the freshmen in this year's class have been very nice, though perhaps a little naughty as well. While I might not have a gift for your favorite rook, you shouldn't be discouraged. We haven't even reached the mid-way point of the season. There's still plenty of time for every newcomer to make a good impression.
1. John Tavares, C, New York Islanders
The high expectations that come with being selected first in the 2009 draft class haven't bothered this young pivot. In 33 games, Tavares leads all rookies with 15 goals and 27 points. And he's logging 18:49 minutes -- more than any other freshman forward. I like that he's winning a respectable 49.5 percent of his draws. The faceoff circle can be a tough place for a 19-year-old kid. Also, Tavares' minus-3 rating is pretty good, too, especially when you consider that the Islanders are a minus-23 as a team.
To find out who the top five rookies are this season (Varlamov fans, you'll be happy) as well as how top 2010 NHL prospects are doing, you must be an ESPN Insider.
E.J. Hradek
Senior Writer, ESPN The MagazineABOUT THIS BLOG
E.J. Hradek
E.J. Hradek is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine, joining the staff prior to its launch in 1998. He began covering hockey as a writer/editor for Hockey Illustrated in 1989. The following year, he beat the Stars to Dallas (by three years), taking over as the editor of Beckett Hockey Monthly. When the Stars finally did arrive in Big D, he hosted a weekly hockey radio show and tried (unsuccessfully) to convert ESPN's Skip Bayless to the greatest game on ice.
In 1996, Hradek left Dallas, but not the Stars. Relocating back to the New York area, he became a part-time pro scout for the club, seeing more than 100 NHL/AHL games for each of the next two seasons. The scouting gig was a great learning experience, offering a different view of the game.
Hradek grew up in Tuckahoe, N.Y., about a 40-minute train ride from New York City. Despite the proximity to the Rangers, Hradek embraced the Islanders when the expansion franchise debuted in 1972. Eight years later, he was part of the sellout crowd at the Nassau Coliseum that witnessed the Islanders' first Stanley Cup championship.
