by Friends of the Program on November 17 at 3:13AM
By: GordonBombay
What a down year for sports in the city of Chicago. The Sox and Bears have been huge disappointments to say the least and so far the Bulls are way too inconsistent. Oh yeah, the Cubs?- who gives a shit. But wait, what about a team that has not been uttered in the same sentence as winning in Chicago since the early 90’s. Yes, the Hawks are doing very well for a young and up-and-coming team. The Hawks are currently in a three-way tie for second place in the only division in the NHL in which every team is over .500 (as of November 16th).
The Hawks are currently 10-8-1 with three of their wins coming against their old school rival, Detroit. A big part of the Hawks success can be attributed to their power play. They boast the third best power play percentage in the league, scoring on 23% of their opportunities, and the men that put the puck in the net are only going to do it more in the coming years. Toews and Kane have been nothing short of great so far this year. Kane currently leads the Hawks in points with 22, 7 goals and 15 assists. 10 of his 22 points have come on the power play. Toews is the third leading point getter on the Hawks with 15, 8 goals and 7 assists. 9 of his 15 points have come on the power play. Both Lang and Williams are tied for second with 18 points each. I want to point out one stat that in my opinion is extremely underrated, +/-. Robert Lang currently leads the Hawks with a +7. This stat is more usually coveted by defensemen and is a good marker for overall success on the ice.
Also in recent news, the Hawks are going to be on TV! Rocky Wirtz announced the Hawks are having talks with Comcast to set up home games on TV and they announced 7 games that are going to be aired:
• Sunday, November 11 6:00 p.m. vs. Detroit Red Wings- W- 3-2
• Friday, November 30 7:30 p.m. vs. Phoenix Coyotes
• Sunday, December 9 6:00 p.m. vs. Calgary Flames
• Wednesday, December 26 7:30 p.m. vs. Nashville Predators
• Sunday, January 6 6:00 p.m. vs. Detroit Red Wings
• Friday, March 7 7:30 p.m. vs. San Jose Sharks
• Sunday, March 23 2:00 p.m. vs. St. Louis Blues
This is going to be huge for hockey in Chicago and a new generation of fans will hopefully emerge.
I thought it would be fun to give you a look at some up-and-coming stars in the NHL not just from the Hawks. I have comprised a list of who I think will be the top-11 future stars of the NHL that are currently playing (I couldn’t cut it down to 10). The important thing to note about this list is that every player on it can’t legally drink in the U.S., thus all are under the age of 21. I have made one exception for Evgeni Malkin because his just turned 21 last July and keeping him off the list just seems unfair. Ovechkin is 22 so he will not be included, though we all know what kind of star he will be.
On this list I have included their age, country of origin, position, current team, and current stats.
1. Sidney Crosby, 20, Canada- C, Pittsburgh Penguins ( 28 points, 10 G, 18 A): Who else? Sid the Kid has already proven that he is the future of the NHL and that the sky is the limit. Will he be the next Gretzky? I don’t think anyone will every be “the next Gretzky” but he will re-define the NHL.
2. Carey Price, 20, Canada- G, Montreal Canadians ( 4-1-1, .919 SV%, 2.44 GAA): Already putting up some impressive stats for what seems will be a great career.
3. Evgeni Malkin, 21, Russia- C/LW, Pittsburgh Penguins ( 26 points, 7 G, 19 A): Pittsburgh is going to be a team to reckon with in the future with two young stars that are already at the top of the league.
4. Phil Kessel, 20, USA- C/RW, Boston Bruins ( 11 points, 6 G, 5 A): I had the opportunity to play against Phil a few years back and he single-handedly brought his Madison, Wisconsin based team to second place in the national championship. His stats that year: in 86 games, 176 goals, 110 assists, for a total of 286 points (in 86 games!). He left college after a year at Minnesota to play in the NHL only to be side-lined for some time due to testicular cancer.
5. Erik Johnson, 19, USA- D, St. Louis Blues ( 4 points, 1 G, 3 A, E +/- ) : This kid’s size alone shouts NHL, he is 6-4, 220 pounds. He was the first pick in the 2006 draft and is already helping out the Blues this season recently putting up a multi-point effort up to beat the Wings.
6. Patrick Kane, 18 (19 this Monday), USA- RW. Chicago Blackhawks ( 22 points, 7 G, 15 A): Bringing hockey back to the Windy City.
7. Jonathan Toews, 19, Canada- C, Chicago Blackhawks ( 15 points, 8 G, 7 A): Kane’s partner in crime, taking back Lord Stanley’s Cup, hopefully soon.
8. Andrew Cogliano, 20, Canada- C, Edmonton Oilers ( 11 points, 3 G, 8 A): I also had the opportunity to play against Cogliano in several Canadian tournaments a few years back, and like Kessel, Cogliano’s names was known by ever player on every team he played against. Left the University of Michigan early to start what should be a great NHL career.
9. Jack Johnson, 20, USA- D, Los Angeles Kings ( 3 points, 1 G, 2 A, E +/- ): Johnson also left the University of Michigan early to play in the league. The winner of the CCHA’s Offensive Defenseman of the year award in 2007 very well could be one the top defensemen in the league in the years to come.
10. Sam Gagner, 18, Canada- C, Edmonton Oilers ( 8 points, 2 G, 6 A): I don’t know much about Gagner but he was drafted 6th overall in the 2007 draft and is putting up some numbers so far for just turning 18 3 months ago. From what I have heard, this kid is legit and Edmonton looks to also have a bright future with some young stars.
11. Nicklas Backstrom, 19, Sweden- C, Washington Capitals ( 8 points, 1 G, 7 A ): Not to be confused with the stud Goalie Nicklas Backstrom in Minnesota, Backstrom should make his own name known soon. Look out for the Capitals in the future with this kid and Ovechkin.
So that is my list of future (and current) stars now playing in the NHL. Please feel free to criticize and let me know what you think.
Just as a side note, we must not forget about a recent high draft pick (7th overall in 2005) of the Hawks whom I believe will turn out to be one hell of a player, Jack Skille. He currently plays for Rockford in the AHL and has 7 points in 13 games. In May 2007, Hockeysfuture.com ranked the Chicago Blackhawks third behind the Kings and Canadians for the top organization rankings. The rankings were put together in May of 2007, even before the Hawks selected Kane.
There is also a kid named John Tavares who is supposedly a hockey phenom in Canada. He is currently playing in the OHL and won’t be eligible for the draft until 2009.
By Gordon Bombay
What a down year for sports in the city of Chicago. The Sox and Bears have been huge disappointments to say the least and so far the Bulls are way too inconsistent. Oh yeah, the Cubs?- who gives a shit. But wait, what about a team that has not been uttered in the same sentence as winning in Chicago since the early 90’s. Yes, the Hawks are doing very well for a young and up-and-coming team. The Hawks are currently in a three-way tie for second place in the only division in the NHL in which every team is over .500 (as of November 16th).The Hawks are currently 10-8-1 with three of their wins coming against their old school rival, Detroit. A big part of the Hawks success can be attributed to their power play. They boast the third best power play percentage in the league, scoring on 23% of their opportunities, and the men that put the puck in the net are only going to do it more in the coming years. Toews and Kane have been nothing short of great so far this year. Kane currently leads the Hawks in points with 22, 7 goals and 15 assists. 10 of his 22 points have come on the power play. Toews is the third leading point getter on the Hawks with 15, 8 goals and 7 assists. 9 of his 15 points have come on the power play. Both Lang and Williams are tied for second with 18 points each. I want to point out one stat that in my opinion is extremely underrated, +/-. Robert Lang currently leads the Hawks with a +7. This stat is more usually coveted by defensemen and is a good marker for overall success on the ice.
Also in recent news, the Hawks are going to be on TV! Rocky Wirtz announced the Hawks are having talks with Comcast to set up home games on TV and they announced 7 games that are going to be aired:
• Sunday, November 11 6:00 p.m. vs. Detroit Red Wings- W- 3-2
• Friday, November 30 7:30 p.m. vs. Phoenix Coyotes
• Sunday, December 9 6:00 p.m. vs. Calgary Flames
• Wednesday, December 26 7:30 p.m. vs. Nashville Predators
• Sunday, January 6 6:00 p.m. vs. Detroit Red Wings
• Friday, March 7 7:30 p.m. vs. San Jose Sharks
• Sunday, March 23 2:00 p.m. vs. St. Louis Blues
This is going to be huge for hockey in Chicago and a new generation of fans will hopefully emerge.
I thought it would be fun to give you a look at some up-and-coming stars in the NHL not just from the Hawks. I have comprised a list of who I think will be the top-11 future stars of the NHL that are currently playing (I couldn’t cut it down to 10). The important thing to note about this list is that every player on it can’t legally drink in the U.S., thus all are under the age of 21. I have made one exception for Evgeni Malkin because his just turned 21 last July and keeping him off the list just seems unfair. Ovechkin is 22 so he will not be included, though we all know what kind of star he will be.
On this list I have included their age, country of origin, position, current team, and current stats.
1. Sidney Crosby, 20, Canada- C, Pittsburgh Penguins ( 28 points, 10 G, 18 A): Who else? Sid the Kid has already proven that he is the future of the NHL and that the sky is the limit. Will he be the next Gretzky? I don’t think anyone will every be “the next Gretzky” but he will re-define the NHL.
2. Carey Price, 20, Canada- G, Montreal Canadians ( 4-1-1, .919 SV%, 2.44 GAA): Already putting up some impressive stats for what seems will be a great career.
3. Evgeni Malkin, 21, Russia- C/LW, Pittsburgh Penguins ( 26 points, 7 G, 19 A): Pittsburgh is going to be a team to reckon with in the future with two young stars that are already at the top of the league.
4. Phil Kessel, 20, USA- C/RW, Boston Bruins ( 11 points, 6 G, 5 A): I had the opportunity to play against Phil a few years back and he single-handedly brought his Madison, Wisconsin based team to second place in the national championship. His stats that year: in 86 games, 176 goals, 110 assists, for a total of 286 points (in 86 games!). He left college after a year at Minnesota to play in the NHL only to be side-lined for some time due to testicular cancer.
5. Erik Johnson, 19, USA- D, St. Louis Blues ( 4 points, 1 G, 3 A, E +/- ) : This kid’s size alone shouts NHL, he is 6-4, 220 pounds. He was the first pick in the 2006 draft and is already helping out the Blues this season recently putting up a multi-point effort up to beat the Wings.
6. Patrick Kane, 18 (19 this Monday), USA- RW. Chicago Blackhawks ( 22 points, 7 G, 15 A): Bringing hockey back to the Windy City.
7. Jonathan Toews, 19, Canada- C, Chicago Blackhawks ( 15 points, 8 G, 7 A): Kane’s partner in crime, taking back Lord Stanley’s Cup, hopefully soon.
8. Andrew Cogliano, 20, Canada- C, Edmonton Oilers ( 11 points, 3 G, 8 A): I also had the opportunity to play against Cogliano in several Canadian tournaments a few years back, and like Kessel, Cogliano’s names was known by ever player on every team he played against. Left the University of Michigan early to start what should be a great NHL career.
9. Jack Johnson, 20, USA- D, Los Angeles Kings ( 3 points, 1 G, 2 A, E +/- ): Johnson also left the University of Michigan early to play in the league. The winner of the CCHA’s Offensive Defenseman of the year award in 2007 very well could be one the top defensemen in the league in the years to come.
10. Sam Gagner, 18, Canada- C, Edmonton Oilers ( 8 points, 2 G, 6 A): I don’t know much about Gagner but he was drafted 6th overall in the 2007 draft and is putting up some numbers so far for just turning 18 3 months ago. From what I have heard, this kid is legit and Edmonton looks to also have a bright future with some young stars.
11. Nicklas Backstrom, 19, Sweden- C, Washington Capitals ( 8 points, 1 G, 7 A ): Not to be confused with the stud Goalie Nicklas Backstrom in Minnesota, Backstrom should make his own name known soon. Look out for the Capitals in the future with this kid and Ovechkin.
So that is my list of future (and current) stars now playing in the NHL. Please feel free to criticize and let me know what you think.
Just as a side note, we must not forget about a recent high draft pick (7th overall in 2005) of the Hawks whom I believe will turn out to be one hell of a player, Jack Skille. He currently plays for Rockford in the AHL and has 7 points in 13 games. In May 2007, Hockeysfuture.com ranked the Chicago Blackhawks third behind the Kings and Canadians for the top organization rankings. The rankings were put together in May of 2007, even before the Hawks selected Kane.
There is also a kid named John Tavares who is supposedly a hockey phenom in Canada. He is currently playing in the OHL and won’t be eligible for the draft until 2009.
By Gordon Bombay
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Comments
Thank you Master Rickau......as for Fluery, he is 22 and you're right they will be a contender for years to come. Staal, not playing great this year but still very young and probably does deserve to be on my list.
Quack, Quack, Quack....
Good article. For honorable mention, how about Richards of the Flyers?
This is the first discussion I've seen on hockey in any of the rooms! Here's to more hockey talk,
What about Jordan Staal and Mark-Andre Fluery? The Penguins have some good young players apparently. Well done, I didn't know about half of those guys.