Best Sophmore Next Year?

[MattintheHatt]

This thread kinda has one foot in Prospects board, one in the NHL talk board, if mods feel it should be moved they can.

But who do you think will be the best SECOND YEAR player in the NHL next year? We all know how Nash went from a pretty good rookie to an excellent sophmore, which rookie will make that next step and really step it up from what they did last year?

And on the flipside, who will experience the dreaded sophmore slump?

I think Nikolai Zherdev will follow in Nash's footsteps and become an excellent sophmore, especially with a full season in the NHL. I remember the last Canucks game vs the Blue Jackets last season...the canucks were leading 4-2 in the third, and Zherdev absolutly took control, had a coming out party...5-4 with 2 goals and 2 assists for Zherdev. He'll be a great player.

Other possibilities: Tuomo Ruutu, Joffrey Lupul

Click to read more...

 

[X0ssbar]

No question - Zherdev.

Ruutu should give him a run. They'll both get plenty of ice time on their respective squads including first line PP duty.

 

[TRask]

hmm the obvious candidates are Zherdev,Ruutu,Bergeron,Raycroft,Ryder,Hunter

 

[Transplanted Caper]

Zherdev, Ruutu and Bergeron

 

[Vman]

Zherdev, Ruutu, Bergeron, Raycroft, Ryder, Hunter, Kesler

 

[EroCaps]

Alex Semin had a monster year in the RSL, a great World Championship, and will be a consistent starter likely seeing time w/Ovechkin.

He's a contender here.

 

[Vincent_TheGreat]

I know Zherdev played well and plays with Nash, but Ruutu came on real strong, he's my choice!

 

[19 for president]

Well depending on whether we consider him a sophomore, Kronwall is a posibility. He will prob get a 4 or 3 spot on the Wings, and possibly get some good PP time depending onwho the Wings pick up on defense. I would not at all be surprised if he had a 30 point + year.

 

[kasper11]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Staal or Horton. Both were solid as rookies and should have a big role on their teams.

 

[WhitePony]

Mattias Weinhandl....you heard it here first, although he "technically" wasn't a rookie last season, if you combine the games he played in his first season, plus his last season, I don't think its 82, so I'll throw him in this.


I think Zherdev will also really improve this coming season.

 

[TML]

Zherdev
Semin
Ruutu
Staal

 

[TML]

Mattias Weinhandl....you heard it here first, although he "technically" wasn't a rookie last season, if you combine the games he played in his first season, plus his last season, I don't think its 82, so I'll throw him in this.


I think Zherdev will also really improve this coming season.

What line do you see him playing on.... for fantasy hockey purposes?

 

[Baron Von Shark]

^^^I see Vida's invaded Canada as well, lol.

Zherdev. Hopefully Chicago signs a good UFA to play along with Ruutu.

 

[KH1]

What line do you see him playing on.... for fantasy hockey purposes?

He will probably (though it depends on which free agents are signed) play with Alexei Yashin, which gives him nice fantasy potential.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Surprises me no one has mentioned Joni Pitkanen yet..

 

[AnThGrt]

A. Semin then Zherdev

 

[Hedberg]

Eric Staal

 

[nomorekids]

Dan Hamhuis. Had a terrific rookie year, was the number 1 d-man on one of the better teams in the AHL last year....should be primed to be even better this year.

 

[jmelm]

Pitkanen
Zherdev
Malone (surprised no one's mentioned him yet either)

 

[CrossCheck]

Mr. Joffrey Lupul

 

[Brock]

So everyone seems to agree on a candidates for the best sophomore. So how about the worst sophomore. Who will stumble into the sophomore slump?

If I were to pick someone, it would probably be either Andrew Raycroft or Michael Ryder. I really like both of these players, but I could see both having the highest stumbling potential seing as they may have both performed much better then people had envisioned for them.

BTW another good pick for a solid sophomore season would be Konstantiin Koltsov. He's going to get to play with either Mario, Sidney or perhaps Malkin, or maybe a combo of two of those guys. Thats a lot of playmaking skill to help him break out of the potential no hands department.

 

[Vincent_TheGreat]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Staal or Horton. Both were solid as rookies and should have a big role on their teams.

I wanted to say Horton, but he's had injuries in each of his last 2 seasons.

 

[SENSational]

Id say either Zherdev or Staal

 

[MattintheHatt]

So many good answers I almost forgot about.

Staal, Bergeron, and some of the defesemen like Hamhuis too.

Here's one, how about Paul Martin? He could have a huge role in NJ potentially.

 

[cassius]

F: Semin
D: Pitkanen