Fantasy Hockey Rookies for 2008-09

Steven Stamkos - Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning. Age: 18

So this is the guy we're all waiting to see. Stamkos is a great skater who needs the puck to make things happen. He doesn't have NHL strength yet, so much depends on his wingers - coach Barry Melrose has mentioned Ryan Malone and Radim Vrbata as potential linemates - and whether they can get him the puck. If the line clicks, count on him for 60 points. If the retooled Lightning have a lousy year, he can still crack 40 playing on the third line.

Kyle Turris - Forward, Phoenix Coyotes. Age: 19

The Coyotes cleared out some dead wood at forward over the summer, meaning Turris has a chance to start the season as a second or third-line center. Barring training camp disaster, he will make the team. He has the potential to score 55-plus points and compete for the Calder Trophy. But given his age and size (180 pounds) and the transition from junior A to the big leagues, I would draft him for 30 points.

Claude Giroux - Forward, Philadelphia Flyers. Age: 20

This team is deep at forward, so first he has to crack the lineup. But the Flyers are over the salary cap, so a veteran will likely be moved before the season starts. That opens the door for Giroux. Philadelphia has Briere, Richards and Carter at center. If he plays regularly next to one of those guys, he has the skills to score 60 points and win the Calder Trophy. Check up on the Flyers training camp reports to get a sense of how his transition to the NHL is progressing.

Kyle Okposo - Forward, New York Islanders. Age: 20

The Islander will try to crawl back to respectability with a mix of veterans and youth. Possibilities are endless, but the guess here is that Okposo has the best chance of breaking into the top-six forward group. He looked terrific in last year’s late-season cameo appearance. If he’s on a line with Weight or Comrie, 30 points is certainly within reach. If last spring’s debut was more than just a hot streak, 60 points is not impossible.

Bobby Ryan - Forward, Anaheim Ducks. Age: 21

Since the lockout we've seen young players like Crosby, Malkin, and Ovechkin make their NHL debuts with immediate impact. For others, the transition takes a while. Ryan was drafted right behind Crosby in 2005, which seems ages ago. But last year was his first as a pro, and he averaged better than a point per game in the AHL. The Ducks have created some room on the wings, and Ryan could be ready for a 35-45 point season. Or he could be back in the American League.

Derick Brassard - Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets. Age: 22

In Brassard, Jakub Voracek and Nikita Filatov, the Blue Jackets have a trio of forwards expected to anchor the team for years to come. But the team acquired several veteran forwards over the summer – Torres; Umberger; Huselius – so don’t expect all the kids to break in this year. While the hype surrounding Filatov is huge, the safest bet for immediate results is Brassard, the oldest of the three. He’s the one most likely to backcheck, a prerequisite on a Ken Hitchcock team. In any case, the Blue Jackets’ camp bears close watching if you’re looking for rookies.

Teddy Purcell - Forward, Los Angeles Kings. Age: 23

With 83 points last year, Purcell was an AHL All Star and Rookie of the Year. Does that translate into a big-league job? The Kings are going with youth, but the word on Purcell is that his defense and all-around play are not up to par. His offensive skills can net him 30 points as an NHL rookie. But he has to make the team first.

Shawn Matthias - Forward, Florida Panthers Age: 20

Panthers GM Jacques Martin is known for bringing players along slowly. But this is a good situation for Matthias. The Jokinen trade has opened jobs at center, he is known to be defensively reliable, and new coach Peter Deboer saw plenty of him when they were both in the Ontario junior league. If the Panthers play it safe he goes to the AHL. If they commit to the youth movement his range is 25-35 points.

Drew Doughty - Defenseman, Los Angeles Kings. Age: 18

Last year, Erik Johnson scored 33 points as a 19-year-old rookie defenseman in St. Louis. The situation is similar here: Doughty is a top prospect on a rebuilding team, and physically mature for his age (listed at 219 pounds). But he won't turn 19 until December. The Kings blueline is very young. If they trade for a veteran defenseman or two, it likely means another year of junior hockey for Doughty. If he plays, don't count on more than 20 points.

Nikolai Kulemin - Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs. Age: 22

Almost nobody in North America has seen the guy play, so be wary of wild predictions made by optimistic Leafs fans. Various online scouting reports suggest a physical, hard-working forward with limited offensive skills. He was a 30-something point scorer in the Russian League. I wouldn't draft him without seeing him a few times.

Fabian Brunnstrom - Forward, Dallas Stars. Age: 23

The undrafted Swede is said to be a "classic late bloomer." We'll see. Assuming he's ready to play, he'll likely end up on the third line. As with Kulemin, I wouldn't go near him without seeing him. Many a fantasy manager has been burned by an unknown, much-hyped European, as those who drafted Jiri Dopita recall.

Janne Pesonen - Forward, Pittsburgh Penguins. Age: 26

Care to take a gamble? Crosby and Malkin need new wingers, and Pesonen scored a ton of points in Finland last year, so… So this is exactly the kind of blue-sky thinking that gets fantasy teams in trouble. Until you hear otherwise, Pesonen is a training camp experiment, nothing more. Draft him as if he was on the third line.