1. Teemu Selänne, Winnipeg Jets (1992-93)
In the 1992-93 NHL season Teemu Selänne, also known as the "Finnish Flash", burst on to the scene and became one of the league's best offensive players setting a NHL rookie record of 76 goals and 132 points for the Winnipeg Jets. Selänne was a first…
Honorable Mentions
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers (1988-89) One of the greatest offensive defensemen in League history, Brian Leetch enjoyed a highly productive rookie season in the NHL. Over 68 games played in the 1988-89 season, Leetch displayed the offensive flair which…
2. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (2005-06)
Alexander Ovechkin put together a legendary season as a rookie to win the Calder Trophy ahead of Sidney Crosby, who tallied 102 points for the Penguins. Ovechkin scored 52 goals, including 21 on the power play, and chipped in 54 assists to lead all…
8. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (2005-06)
Sidney Crosby was born August 7, 1987 in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. The first round, first overall selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby was given the task of saving the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise after the team won the draft lottery…
9. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins (1984-85)
Mario Lemieux had a dominating first year as a rookie scoring 100-points (43 goals, 57 assists) for the Pittsburgh Penguins as a 19-year-old center. The Montreal, Quebec native Lemieux earned the Calder Trophy that year as the league's top rookie,…
4. Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens (1971-72)
Ken Dryden became a part of Montreal Canadiens lore in the 1971 NHL playoffs when he led the underdog Original Six club to a Stanley Cup title without any previous postseason experience. That magical playoff run included an upset victory…
6. Joe Juneau, Boston Bruins (1992-93)
The Bruins 81st overall draft choice back in 1988, Joe Juneau was far from a blue chip prospect and elected to play college hockey at RPI where he was well known for having a 4.0 grade point average and earning…
5. Peter Stastny, Quebec Nordiques (1980-81)
For years the Stastny brothers, Marian, Peter, and Anton were the folk heroes of Czechoslovakia in hockey. That was until shortly after the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980 when both Peter and Anton defected to play for the Quebec Nordiques of the National…
7. Dale Hawerchuk, Winnipeg Jets (1981-82)
Dale Hawerchuk Hawerchuk was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in nearby Oshawa. He was a young prodigy who received his first pair of skates at age 2 and, according to his father, "was skating before he could walk."…
10. Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins (1979-80)
Ray Bourque was the 8th overall pick for the Boston Bruins in the 1979 NHL Draft. He broke into the NHL at 19 years old and immediately displayed the exceptional two-way talent that would see him eventually become the NHL's…
3. Mike Bossy, New York Islanders (1977-78)
Mike "the Boss" Bossy was born on January 22, 1957 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He played his minor hockey with the Laval National of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and was drafted 15th overall in the first round…
NHL Rumors: Predators, Maple Leafs and Penguins
On the Nashville Predators ... Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: (mailbag) Odds of Jimmy Vesey joining the Predators for the playoffs. Predators GM David Poile chose not to trade for anyone at the deadline, feeling that he didn't want to…