The Nationwide Hockey League has witnessed a variety of sensational rookie campaigns all through its storied historical past and this development is about to proceed. With the subsequent squad of remarkable younger stars, the NHL is stronger than ever when it comes to elite younger expertise.
Nonetheless, regardless of the unimaginable expertise of those gamers, it’s extremely unlikely that any rookie this season will come near the jaw-dropping success of varied rookies in seasons previous.
So, simply how superb have explicit NHL rookies been of their first seasons of play within the NHL? The next listing examines a variety of the best rookie seasons in NHL historical past.
In no explicit order:
Biggest NHL Rookie Seasons: Alexander Ovechkin (2005-06)
Though the NHL lockout held Ovechkin off of the ice in 2004-05, he set the league on hearth in 2005-06 in one of the vital dominant rookie seasons in latest historical past.
Chosen first general by the Washington Capitals within the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ovechkin scored a mind-boggling 52 objectives in 81 video games as a rookie, whereas including a further 54 assists. In doing so, not solely did he seize the Calder Trophy because the NHL’s rookie of the 12 months, however he additionally completed in a tie for third in league goal-scoring alongside Ilya Kovalchuk.
A primary-team all-star, Ovechkin additionally led the NHL in pictures on objective as a 20-year-old rookie, whereas he scored one of the vital iconic objectives up to now decade.
Wayne Gretzky (1979-80)
No shock right here.
In 1979-80, Gretzky wasted no time acclimatizing himself to the NHL, wreaking absolute havoc on the League along with his intricate playmaking skills.
By the point the smoke had settled, Gretzky had not solely scored 51 objectives, a formidable complete in itself, however he had additionally recorded 86 assists, essentially the most within the NHL. In all, his 137 factors, which additionally led the league in 79 video games, was solely a glimpse into his future, who went on to undoubtedly change into the best participant to play the sport.
Gretzky’s rookie season was so dominant in reality that he was not solely named an all-star, however he was additionally capable of safe each the Girl Byng and Hart Memorial Trophies because the league’s most gentlemanly and most respected participant.
Wanting again, Gretzky’s rookie NHL season will go down within the report books as one of many biggest ever, and definitely one which is able to by no means be surpassed, much like Gretzky himself. Nonetheless, he was not eligible for the Calder Trophy as a result of he performed a full season within the World Hockey Affiliation the earlier 12 months.
Teemu Selanne (1992-93)
In his first skilled hockey season in North America, the “Finnish-Flash” was downright unstoppable, scoring an unimaginable 76 objectives for the Winnipeg Jets in 84 video games. In all, Selanne scored 132 factors as a rookie, the fifth-highest complete within the NHL in 1992-93, as he additionally added a further 56 assists.
Because of this, Selanne fairly simply claimed the Calder Trophy and was additionally named a first-team all-star alongside fellow NHL greats and Corridor of Famers in Mario Lemieux, Luc Robitaille, Ray Bourque and Chris Chelios.
Though the Jets would quickly be off to Phoenix, Selanne’s profession would endure for much longer, 21 years longer in reality, throughout which he secured a Stanley Cup championship and accrued practically 1500 profession factors.
Tony Esposito (1969-70)
Inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1988, Esposito not solely produced one of many biggest rookie seasons of all-time but additionally stays one of many biggest goaltenders in NHL historical past.
Esposito first broke into the NHL in 1968-69, taking part in in 13 video games for the Montreal Canadiens earlier than being claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks. Because of this, 1969-70 was Esposito’s true rookie season, as he performed 63 video games for the Blackhawks and was merely superb.
In his rookie marketing campaign, Esposito was the spine of the Blackhawks, profitable 38 video games together with an incomprehensible 15 shutouts, each totals which led the NHL. On prime of his sheer capability to win, he posted a 2.17 goals-against common (GAA), one of the best common of all full-time goaltenders. Because of this, he earned quite a few particular person rewards. Undoubtedly, Esposito secured the Calder Trophy, nonetheless, he additionally was awarded the Vezina Trophy because the league’s prime goaltender and named a first-team all-star.
Terry Sawchuk (1950-51)
In 1950-51, Sawchuk compiled arguably the best rookie season for a goaltender in NHL historical past.
As a rookie, Sawchuk performed in all 70 of the Detroit Purple Wings’ video games through the season. In actual fact, he performed each single minute, 4200 to be actual, a feat which he completed 3 times in his profession.
In these 70 video games, Sawchuk recorded 44 wins, a 1.99 GAA and an unimaginable 11 shutouts which had been tops within the league through the 1950-51 season. Ensuing from a merely phenomenal season, he was awarded the Calder Trophy as rookie of the 12 months and was additionally named a first-team all-star. He would go on to win each the Stanley Cup and Vezina 4 instances in his illustrious profession and was a seven-time all-star.
Sidney Crosby (2005-06)
Crosby is likely one of the biggest gamers in NHL historical past, so it might come as a shock to some to study that he didn’t win the Calder because the rookie of the 12 months in his first season within the league, much like Gretzky.
In Crosby’s case, his Russian rival in Ovechkin secured the Calder, nonetheless, this under no circumstances insinuates that he had a poor rookie marketing campaign. In actual fact, he had one of the vital dominant rookie seasons in latest NHL historical past.
In 2005-06, Crosby dominated, scoring 39 objectives and 102 factors, a complete which was practically double the manufacturing of his closest teammate. Nonetheless, he, in contrast to the overwhelming majority listed right here, was unable to safe any main particular person award. He completed because the runner-up for the Calder Trophy and twenty fourth in Hart voting, whereas he was named a third-team NHL all-star.
Mario Lemieux (1984-85)
A Hockey Corridor of Fame inductee in 1997, Lemieux was the definition of an influence ahead. At 6-foot-4 and 230 kilos, Lemieux dominated his friends along with his giant body and talent to guard the puck.
Because of this, Lemieux was sensational in his first NHL season regardless of starting his profession at simply 19 years of age. As a rookie, he performed in 73 video games, scoring 43 objectives and 57 assists for a complete of 100 factors, good for thirteenth in scoring.
Naturally, with such nice manufacturing, Lemieux was a digital assure to win the Calder Trophy and did so.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time Hart winner, Lemieux’s incredible rookie season helped to kick-start his extremely profitable NHL profession.
Brian Leetch (1988-89)
One of many biggest offensive defensemen in league historical past, Leetch loved a extremely productive rookie season.
Over 68 video games performed within the 1988-89 season, Leetch displayed the offensive aptitude which might result in his eventual Corridor of Fame induction in 2009, scoring 23 objectives and 71 factors in his rookie marketing campaign.
Leetch’s unimaginable offensive manufacturing paired along with his strong defensive play resulted in his reception of the Calder Trophy in 1989 whereas ending eleventh in Norris voting for the defenseman of the 12 months.
A Stanley Cup champion with the New York Rangers, he twice captured the Norris Trophy in his profession, thanks largely partially to his mixed offensive manufacturing and high quality defensive play.
Mike Bossy (1977-78)
Identified all through his whole NHL profession as an elite objective scorer, Bossy wasted no time illustrating his uncooked scoring skills in his rookie season, netting 53 objectives and 91 factors with the New York Islanders.
A Calder winner in 1978, Bossy led the NHL in power-play objectives and was named an all-star in his first profession season. He additionally completed fourth in Girl Byng voting.
Inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1991, Bossy scored 573 objectives in his ten-year profession, all of which, together with 4 Stanley Cup championships, got here with the dynastic Islanders of the Eighties.
Ray Bourque (1979-80)
It ought to come as no shock to see Bourque on this listing.
Arguably the biggest defenseman in NHL historical past, Bourque was not solely deadly offensively, however he was additionally among the finest within the league defensively.
In his rookie season as a 19-year-old, Bourque scored 17 objectives and 48 assists, totaling 65 factors. Whereas he put up unimaginable manufacturing from a defenseman, he additionally shone defensively, recording a plus-52 ranking. Additional, he scored a further 11 factors in 10 playoff video games with the Boston Bruins.
Because of this, Bourque captured the Calder in 1980 and was named a first-team all-star, whereas he completed fourth in Norris voting.
A Hockey Corridor of Fame inductee in 2004, Bourque captured 5 Norris Trophies in his profession, whereas he secured his one and solely Stanley Cup in his remaining NHL season with the Colorado Avalanche.
This text was initially printed in September 2015.
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