Every September, the rookie hype begins. Some will hang in and make the big club, and some will be sent packing back to juniors or down to the minors for a more fine-tuning. Some will play for established clubs and struggle for ice time, some will be on teams desperately short on talent and be thrown to the wolves. Regardless of whether it's now or later, these rookies will be NHL regulars.
Here's a look at the cream of the crop:
New York Rangers
Jamie Lundmark, 21, 6-1, 195, Edmonton, Alberta
Last season with the Hartford Wolfpack, the slick-skating Lundmark was moved from center to right wing because of the plethora of centers on the Rangers roster (which then included Eric Lindros, Peter Nedved and Mark Messier, and since added Bobby Holik and Roman Lyashenko). During training camp, new coach Bryan Trottier plopped Lundmark on Holik's right wing. As of Oct. 1, Lundmark had four goals in five preseason games, including the tying goal against New Jersey and the OT winner against Boston. While Pavel Bure and Radek Dvorak will likely be the top two right wingers when their respective knees are sufficiently repaired, it would not be a stretch to see Lundmark playing the left wing on the second line with Holik and Dvorak. The Rangers are impressed with Lundmark's work ethic, and Trottier, not a man who tosses compliments around, says "he has a nose for the net."
Detroit Red Wings
Henrik Zetterberg, 21, 5-11, 185, Timra, Sweden
The Red Wings couldn't keep this kid under wraps for long. One of only three non-NHLers on Team Sweden, Zetterberg dazzled everyone with breakaway after breakaway in the Red Wings' intersquad games. He has two goals and two assists in four preseason games. He moves the puck well, has great hands, and can take a hit. It's no wonder that Timra, his Swedish team, retired his No. 20 before he even left for North America and that super-Swede Mats Sundin has compared him to Peter Forsberg. He's played with all of Detroit's big-wigs at all three forward positions, and has been a regular on the power play. Rumor has it he is better than Pavel Datsyuk was at the start of last year, and Datsyuk enjoyed a 34-point regular season and tons of playoff ice time. Zetterberg will make the roster, and he will have an impact. Now.
Philadelphia Flyers
Pavel Brendl, 21, 6-0, 205, Opocno, Czech Republic
Brendl was the highly touted prospect the Rangers gave up on and shipped to Philly in the deal for Eric Lindros. He's at his fourth NHL camp and is still showing a crazy amount of potential -- he has hall-of-fame hands, a big shot, and is a nifty passer -- the question is, when will he deliver? Brendl arrived at camp in great shape and immediately went on a tear, but his play has plateaued lately. Philly is blessed with a slew of newcomers, and Brendl is vying with Patrick Sharp, Radovan Somik, and Guillamme Lefebve for a roster spot. "He can't keep up with the pace. For a young player, it is all about keeping up with the pace," says head coach Ken Hitchcock. For Brendl only (more) time will tell.
Carolina Hurricanes
Jaroslav Svoboda, RW, 6-2, 190, Cervenka, Czech Republic
After his 23-game performance in last year's Stanley Cup run, it's hard to believe Svoboda is still a rookie. It was his perfect, defense-splitting, tape-to-tape pass that set up Ron Francis for the series winner in Game 6 of the conference quarterfinals against New Jersey, and Francis says he has the best hands on the team. Coming from Ronnie Franchise, that's a heck of a compliment. Svoboda could continue to skate with fellow countryman and 2000 World Junior Championship linemate Josef Vasicek, but the third wheel on last year's line, left winger Martin Gelinas, has gone off to Calgary. It's up to head coach Paul Maurice to pick a winger for Svoboda, who is a front-runner for this year's Calder Trophy.
(Note: To qualify for the Calder Trophy, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding regular season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. The player must not be older than 26 years before September 15 of the season in which he is eligible.)
Calgary Flames
Chuck Kobasew, RW, 20, 6-1, 190, Osoyoos, British Columbia
Kobasew won a national championship at Boston College in 2001, led the Flames in preseason goals last year, then posted 62 points in 55 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, but he hasn't had a particularly impressive training camp. Up until Oct. 1, the Flames were in desperate need of a second line right wing with an offensive touch to play alongside center Mark Savard and left winger Martin Gelinas. Kobasew was a perfect fit. But the addition of Chris Drury and Stephane Yelle make things more interesting, and it remains to be seen how Flames coach Greg Gilbert will use his new ammo. Kobasew has good foot speed and hockey sense -- the puck always seems to find him -- and he's excellent at finding passing seams. Conditioning is a question mark -- when Kobasew gets hit, he goes down hard. Eventually, he'll be great on the power play and penalty kill, but he needs to get stronger before he can make a name for himself in the league.
Jordan Leopold, D, 22, 6-0, 190, Golden Valley, Minnesota
Leopold was last year's Hobey Baker winner at the University of Minnesota, and, as with Kobasew, the talent is obviously there. But as with all rookies, Leopold has made his share of training camp mistakes. He is excellent when moving forward with the puck, but shaky when backing up on defense. He is paired alongside veteran Bob Boughner, who will show him the ropes, calm him down, and help Leopold, known in college for his poise and smarts with the puck, to start using his head. Leopold will also have to grow stronger if he expects to hold his own in front of the net with the West's stock of big power forwards. With the departure of physical defenseman Derek Morris, the pressure on Leopold increases. The Flames will need him.
Edmonton Oilers
Jani Rita, 21, 6-1, 205, Helsinki, Finland
Rita helped lead the Hamilton Bulldogs to the Calder Cup conference finals last season, scoring eight goals in 15 playoff games. He showed a newfound niftiness with the puck in rookie camp. He's a speedy, powerful forward, is tenacious along the boards, and never fails to get back defensively. He'll fit in nicely with Edmonton's crop of speedy, gritty forwards -- Mike York, Ryan Smyth, Anson Carter, Mike Comrie.
Colorado Avalanche
Riku Hahl, 21, 6-0, 190, Hameenlinna, Finland
Hahl hasn't played a single game this preseason, and, as usual, the Avs have his injury shrouded in a veil of mystery. Everyone who asks what's up gets the same reply: "ribs." What about them? Who knows. Like Svoboda, Hahl is hardly a stranger to the NHL. He played 22 regular-season games last year -- three more, and he would no longer be considered a rookie -- and capped his season off with 21 playoff games. This season, with the league's alleged crackdown on obstruction, the Avs will want their third line to be more of a scoring threat. Hahl will likely replace recently departed Stephane Yelle and as the third line center. Jeff Shantz, the gritty center who came to the Avs in the deal, could fill Hahl's role on the fourth line.
Ottawa Senators
Jason Spezza, 19, 6-2, 206, Mississauga, Ontario
Spezza may have been a little bitter after being sent back to junior after last year's camp with the Sens, but instead of staying mad, he vowed to come back better. Over the summer, he lost 10 pounds and reduced his body fat to 10 percent. He has played with a number of lines during the preseason, but he's still on the bubble with the big club. He has deceptive speed, a long reach, and is blessed with Gretzky-like vision -- he sees plays before they unfold. But he can be unselfish to a fault -- he often passes up scoring opportunities to dish the puck to a teammate. But he's young. That'll change.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Rick Nash, 18, 6-3, 190, Brampton, Ontario
The Jackets are high on Nash, but as is the case with junior players, they have to sign him before they can count on his services. If he signs before the Oct. 8 deadline, he'll make the team, otherwise it's back to junior. Nash showed up at camp even bigger than he was on draft day in June. He has worked most with center Mike Sillinger and right winger Grant Marshall, but coach Dave King is still juggling lines. Whether his impact is immediate or not, Nash's skill level is exceptional. GM Doug Maclean will use Nash, defenseman Rostislav Klesla and goalie Pascal Leclaire as the core of his franchise for years to come.
Florida Panthers
Jay Bouwmeester, 19, 6-3, 205, Edmonton, Alberta
Panthers coach Mike Keenan, who has made a career out of acquiring big puck-moving defensemen -- Ed Jovanovski, Chris Chelios, Chris Pronger -- has got to be drooling. Bouwmeester can skate with the puck, can run the breakout, and can change the flow of a game with his speed alone. He has played a lot with newly acquired veteran defenseman Dmitri Yushkevich, but as with any rookie, there will be ups and downs. On a team that has little going for it, it is likely that Bouwmeester and fellow rookie d-man Lukas Krajicek will see plenty of ice time.
Stephen Weiss, C, 19, 6-0, 185, Toronto, Ontario
The Panthers desperately need what Weiss has to offer up the middle -- quick feet, forechecking speed, great passing skills, defensive responsibility -- but the smallish center has had some difficulty adjusting to the NHL game. He shows flashes of brilliance and hustle, but he is easily bumped off the puck and doesn't fight through checks. Weiss has good potential, but the Panthers are asking him to mature faster than may be physically or mentally possible. At 19, maybe potential is best left as just that.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Alexander Svitov, C, 19, 6-3, 200, Omsk, Russia
Because of a tug-of-war between Omsk and the Central Red Army, Svitov only logged five games last season -- three for Omsk, and five for Russia in the World Junior Championships. In spite of his hockey hiatus, Svitov has impressed everyone in the Lightning organization with his Holik-esque style of play and proficiency in the faceoff circle, but his highly anticipated mean streak has yet to emerge. He did administer one low hit against Hurricanes defenseman Bret Hedican in the preseason, but 'Canes coach Paul Maurice said Hedican made it look worse than it was by jumping out of the way. Unfortunately, Svitov's immediate fate depends more on what happens with other players within the organization and less on how well he plays. Head coach John Tortorella isn't hinting either way, but should Svitov begin the season in Springfield, he would be the Lightning's first call-up.
The Magazine's Lindsay Berra can be e-mailed at lindsay.berra@espnmag.com.
