Darkhorse ROTY \'09

[hockeypoolfanatic]

I know it\'s early but I love talking about prospects and thought it would be interesting to see who people thought might take home the Calder next year?

I\'m gonna go with Teddy Purcell. This guy has lit it up everywhere he\'s played. As Dobber mentioned in his article in THN Purcell might have led the AHL in scoring if the Kings hadn\'t called him up. Lombardi is huge on him (24 other teams were trying to sign him but Purcell liked where LA was heading so he chose them) and I\'ve read numerous quotes of him saying that Purcell will be playing on the first line some day (next to Kopitar..sick) He\'ll probably line up on the 2nd line to begin the season and I am excited to see how he does. Would love to see Boyle and him reunite. They tore it up together for the Monarchs.

[BigB]

I think Bobby Ryan will make an impact much sooner than people anticipate. Could be a 30-30 guy next year.

[angus]

good call with Purcell. He will be on the second line there with Stoll and Frolov, and will get some good minutes.

[miked]

what about that russian dude from phoenix? tikhinov?

with no support in atlanta, does little play with kovy?

[playmaker26]

Shawn Matthias is a dark horse for me. I don\'t see any chance Bobby Ryan has of getting 30 goals and 30 assists next season.

[enfuego]

i\'m going to go with who i feel is the most nhl-ready prospect with who despite playing for a defense-first coach, will impress this year.

mr. jakub voracek.

i think he has the potential to play on one of the top two lines this year and the news that he\'s put on some muscle and the fact that he was close to nhl-ready last year, has me drooling. not over the muscle part, but what that could mean to his game....

[horton2411]

I could see kyle turris having a pat kane type season

[Fighting_Emu]

I like Berglund to make an impact. I could see a Kopitar/Osullivan thing happening over there with Oshie being Osully in terms of hype. Berglund could come in and quietly take the job on the saecond line, and post sick numbers...

[playmaker26]

I like Oshie to have a better year than Berglund this season.

[veronesepk]

Purcell, MAYBE (and a very slight maybe) Patric Hornqvist of Nashville if he ends up making the team.

[veronesepk]

horton2411 wrote:

I could see kyle turris having a pat kane type season

If Kyle Turris is a dark horse, then who the heck is a regular \'ol \"horse\"?

[playmaker26]

Yeah the thread has transformed from a darkhose rookie to any rookie.

[jlucas09]

Tlusty in TO if hes still eligable, with the leaf rebuilding i think he gets a lot of playing time

[frost]

I think Kulemin could be a darkhorse. He will be older than most other rookies, has been putting up good numbers against older players in Russia, and will get good ice time playing for the leafs.

[gmoney]

I like Kyle Okposo. He\'ll get big minutes on Long Island.

Blake Wheeler\'s bold move out of a loaded Coyotes depth chart may just open the door for him in Bean Town for top 6 minutes.

Claude Giroux was a scoring machine in the Q, almost made the team last year and played a few games on an emergency call up. He is the reason Umberger got traded.

The 2nd line center position is wide open and Derrick Brassard has his sights set on it. Imagine a 2nd line in Columbus of Voracek-Brassard-Filatov!

Brian Boyle put up some great numbers in his brief NHL call up last season (better than Prucell\'s). Imagine if these 2 can bring their chemistry to the NHL.

And who can forget the international man of mystery, Fabian Brunnstrom. Brad Richards may have finally found his winger.