Sophomore Studs

[Chuckalinsky]

Who is going to have the best sophomore season this year? (Assuming there is one). It was obviously Nash this past year, with guys like Hemsky and Chistov falling victom to the sophomore slump. Personally, I think that it will be Eric Staal. This kid has got all the tools. Last season he had 31 points and he played on a brutal Carolina Hurricanes team. Plus he is still filling out. Staal all the way. Honourable mentions to Horton and Pitkanen though as well.

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[bizzz*]

Ruutu and Zherdev. They've been improving their game all last season and became the best rookies of April 2004.

 

[montreal]

Michael Ryder and Mike Komisarek hopefully will have big sophmore seasons.

Staal and Ruutu would be good bets.

 

[Taranis_24]

Alexander Semin. Finished off last season well with a poor Caps team and hopefully will start the next season where he left off. Had heard that he has put on a little extra muscle during the offseason which should be very beneficial.

 

[triggrman]

Hopefully Dan Hamhuis will continue to improve.

 

[hardcore_fan]

If Spezza can be considered a sophmore(it'll be his second full season) he's my homer pick.He will get more playing time with better linemates, as well as a supposedly less restrictive coaching system.My non-homer pick is Ryan Malone.He's got all the skills and he'll have guys like Recchi and hopefully a healthy Lemiuex to take some of the focus off him.

 

[McDonald19]

Lupul could really take off if he plays all season on Fedorov's line.

 

[417]

IMO, Tuomo Ruutu and Alexander Semin are going to have HUGE seasons, especially in the case of Ruutu, I think Ryder will put up similar number to last years totals, Nathan Horton should be a force as well

 

[Double O Soul]

Ruutu and Staal

 

[EroCaps]

IMO, Tuomo Ruutu and Alexander Semin are going to have HUGE seasons, especially in the case of Ruutu, I think Ryder will put up similar number to last years totals, Nathan Horton should be a force as well

You hit everyone of my notes: Ruutu, Semin, and Horton will be beasts. If Ovechkin plays, Semin will be even better.

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

No love for Bergeron? I think he will improve, especially since he won't be on the third line for more than half a season. This year, he will get second line duty for a full season, and I think his stats will improve.

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

If Spezza can be considered a sophmore(it'll be his second full season) he's my homer pick.He will get more playing time with better linemates, as well as a supposedly less restrictive coaching system.My non-homer pick is Ryan Malone.He's got all the skills and he'll have guys like Recchi and hopefully a healthy Lemiuex to take some of the focus off him.

Spezza won't be a sophmore.

 

[guitaraholic*]

I expect Bergeron to take a small step back.... I expect T. Ruutu to take the next step forward and be a stud that gets the Hawks close to the playoffs (no, I'm not a homer, I hate the Hawks) and (here's my homer pick) I expect the rest of you to come to the conclusion all intelligent, informed Blues fans already know: Christian Backman is going to be an elite level dman in the NHL for many, many years.

 

[Enoch]

Hamhuis, Liles, and Backman all should continue to be huge parts for their clubs.

 

[eatwake]

i guess people aren't expecting much from bergeron because he exceeded expectations so much this past season.
most of the guys being mentioned in this thread had a lot of hype surrounding them going into last season, and that'll continue until they have proven themselves.

i think another similar season for bergeron would be fantastic, but i doubt people are going to expect more from him.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Brent Burns if he stays at D

 

[heygarebear]

Christian Backman!

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

Ruutu.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

i think another similar season for bergeron would be fantastic, but i doubt people are going to expect more from him.

You haven't see him play much i guess...
He will only improve.
50-65pts should be what you'll see Bergeron put next year.

 

[Sum1winachampionship]

Huge homer response here but if Pitkanen can get used to the grind and play how he did at his peak throughout the season he could put up some great numbers on a decent Flyers team

 

[Clancy]

Zherdev could get 30 goals and at least 60 points.
Pitkanen should be more consistent this year and will help the Philly powerplay even more.
Semin will have a season much like Datsyuk this past year, putting up some very pretty goals.
Horton's stats will improve but i dont think he is going to have his big year until next year, as it takes a while longer for power forwards to find their game.

 

[topshelf331]

Christian Backman!

If Backman progresses as much as he did from last year to this year again, he will make his mark.

 

[CapsCrazyX17]

Semin is gonna be a go-to guy this time around in DC so I expect his numbers to increase accordingly. Horton, Ruutu and Zherdev will all perform admirably as well.

 

[BDubinskyNYR17*]

LW Ryan Malone. He did it on a bad pens team, now pens are a little better.

 

[me2]

ruutu, ruutu and ruutu