Popular Top 10 NHL Rookies of All Time

A week ago the NHL’s new crop of rookies collected to have their pictures taken for his or her rookie cards. To many it was an excellent recognition since most kids possess some kind of childhood memory including collector cards. The wedding also marks another step for the NHL being a reality.

Not all rookies can survive training camping making the large club, however with the youth movement entirely effect there must be a great deal of these youngsters who’ll see NHL action this year.

For any choose couple of, anticipation is going to be much, much greater than simply making they. A few of them come in the important for any Calder Trophy nomination this year. It’s even possible that certain or two of them go lower as you of the very best rookies ever. However, because you will check this out list is going to be difficult to crack.

As training camping looms, I have a look at the very top 10 rookies of all time.

10. John Leetch

Another player to create a huge impact in the first full NHL season was New You are able to Rangers great John Leetch. This quiet leader stunned fans together with his offensive ability and finally won league honors because the NHL’s best defenseman.

Although she got an idea of the NHL with 17 games later, it had not been before the following season where he established themself as you of the very best. In the rookie year he notched an incredible 23 goals in the blueline which still ranks because the most goals with a rookie defenseman even today. Much more amazing is he made it happen in just 68 games performed.

He seemed to be the very first US born player to win the Calder which paved the way in which for Berard, Drury, and Kane.

9. Dale Hawerchuk

Using the first of two Winnipeg Jets to create their email list is Dale Hawerchuk. The Jets were a pathetic excuse of a group in 1980, but selected this jewel using the first overall selection within the 1981 entry draft. Worries in regards to a bust were rapidly allayed because he immediately required the NHL by storm.

He grew to become the youngest player in NHL history to achieve the 100 point mark and brought the Jets for their very first playoff appearance.

With 45 goals and 103 points, Hawerchuk easily won the Calder Memorial Trophy on path to an outstanding NHL career.

8. Ray Murphy

In a single of the worst trades in NHL history, the LA Nobleman sent Ray Murphy towards the Winnipeg Jets in 1983. Even though the trade did not internet a good return, the trade is much more mind-dazzling after seeing the very best offensive rookie season from the defensemen in league history.

Even today, no rookie defenseman originates near to beating Murphy’s rookie totals. He set up an NHL record 60 assists and 76 points. Most rookie forwards would be pleased with an almost point-a-game total, however for a defenseman to get it done is much more amazing. He’d eventually complete his game and notch two Norris trophy nominations, but nobody will forget his offensive explosion in the rookie season.

7. Tony Esposito

The Montreal Canadiens have experienced a lengthy history of great goaltending, but someone should have been fired once the Blackhawks acquired Tony Esposito from their store off waivers in 1969. What adopted was an incredible debut within the league’s best jersey because he published a league record 15 shutouts in the rookie season. That’s probably the most shutouts by goalkeeper ever, not to mention rookies.

Esposito not just won the Calder effortlessly, but also, he required home the Vezina trophy because the league’s best goaltender. Possibly even better was the truth that he was runner-up for that Hart trophy because the NHL’s best player. Tony ‘O’ easily helps make the top ten list as you of the finest rookies in NHL history.

6. Mario Lemieux

Very couple of franchises within the NHL were in as desperate need of a celebrity because the Pittsburgh Penguins were back in 1984. Fortunately on their behalf, they hit the motherload with Mario Lemieux. In the first NHL game, he infamously stole the puck from Raymond Bourque and obtained on his first shot. Discuss an indication of items to come.

In the rookie season, Mario skipped 7 games but nonetheless handled an amazing 100 points on the lethargic team. Also, he grew to become the very first rookie to win the All-Star MVP. Ok, to ensure that is not a groundbreaking achievement, but to depart him off their list could be blasphemy.

Lemieux appeared as if a males among boys together with his lengthy achieve, soft hands, as well as on-ice vision. Defenders did not determine if they ought to take part in the pass or even the shot while he could kill you with each one.

The Calder trophy only agreed to be the very first of many honours for just one of the finest rookies in NHL history.

5. Ken Dryden

Referred to as a hockey intellectual, Ken Dryden postponed his entry within the NHL to pursue a b -.A. at Cornell College. As he made his NHL debut in 1971 he only performed in six regular season games in the finish of the entire year, but stole the main job and brought the Canadiens to some Stanley Cup having a Conne Smythe trophy performance.

The year after he won the Calder trophy effortlessly because he backstopped the Habs to a different amazing regular season. Almost 4 decades later, he remains the only player to win the Conne Smythe prior to the Calder. A task which should are a symbol of a lengthy, lengthy time.

4. Alexander Ovechkin

In 2005, all the talk revolved around Sidney Crosby winning the Calder trophy. However, fans round the league soon recognized that Alexander Ovechkin would be a pressure to become believed with. This marked the start of the NHL’s best competition and Ovechkin won round one if you take home the rookie of the entire year award.

Ovie blazed in to the league by having an impressive 52 goals and 106 points. Adequate for third best of all time and 3rd in NHL scoring for 2005. Also, he grew to become the 2nd player to attain 50 goals and 100 assists inside a rookie season. Also, he supports the record for many shots with a rookie by having an eye-popping 425.

He performed with amazing dazzle and lightning speed that season as fans round the league heavily used the edge of their seats. Vacation lower memory lane and look for this goal from his rookie season.

3. Raymond Bourque

Very couple of defensemen made as large of an effect within their first season as legendary Raymond Bourque. In the time, he set an NHL record for any rookie blueliner with 65 points. In 1980, not one other player have been granted the Calder trophy and first team All-Star selection, but Bourque gained that achievement like a 20 years old.

Having fun with poise well beyond his years, Bourque would rapidly establish themself was one of the league’s most dependable defensemen. This steadiness was reflected in the astonishing +52 plus/mining rating. Bourque would go onto end up being the face of the Bruins franchise for the following two decades.

2. Wayne Gretzky

Making their email list like a large exception may be the Great One. Virtually every person leaves him off their list while he wasn’t technically eligable for rookie status within the NHL while he performed for that WHA in the time. In individuals years, the WHA was at direct competition using the NHL and was without rules about signing gamers underneath the age of 20.

The Indiana Racers eventually offered Gretzky towards the Oilers for $700,000 and as they say, the relaxation is history. It may be a coincidence the WHA folded one year later Gretzky left, but to discount his rookie status within the NHL because of just one season with what most considered an improvement league is simply silly.

Gretzky wasted no time making his mark around the league because he tied Marcel Dionne for that scoring lead having a scintillating 137 point season. It was sufficiently good to generate the Hart trophy because the league’s best player.

The NHL might possibly not have recognized him being an qualified rookie, however they aren’t kidding anybody. Gretzky perhaps had the very best newbie of any player within the history of the overall game and will get his due because the 2nd best rookie of all-time.

1. Teemu Selanne

Topping their email list may be the Finnish Expensive. Not one other rookie within the NHL originates near to his show-preventing 76 goals. Gretzky might have had more points with 137, but at 132 Selanne’s debut was equally impressive. Also, he performed with less talent in Winnipeg and was most likely the only cause of the large spike in insomnia rates in 1992. Defenders lost a great deal of sleep worrying concerning how to defend him and lost much more once they discovered they could not.

Only seven other gamers have obtained a lot more than 70 goals inside a season as well as grew to become the very first European to guide the league in scoring. Selanne would not go onto equal the totals he set up in the rookie season, but individuals that observed it’ll always remember precisely how dominant he was. For individuals that skipped it, you are able to experience again one of the truly amazing moments in the 1992 season here.

A category act both off and on the ice, the conclusion Expensive continues to be best rookie the NHL has seen.

Read Full Story at Popular Top 10 NHL Rookies of All Time