Eighteen-year-olds have been popping up all over the league and making it look like they've been in the NHL for years.
There were many who predicted doom and gloom in Colorado this season.
After all, on paper, the Avalanche looked very much like a team that had the potential to live up to its name. So who could have guessed a couple of kids - a couple of 18-year-olds - could have saved the day?
Matt Duchene, chosen third overall in the 2009 Entry Draft, and Ryan O'Reilly, picked 33rd, have both played a large hand in the Avs startling beginning to the 2009-10 season. O'Reilly had a goal and seven points through nine games while Duchene had a goal and four points and led the team in scoring chances. One certainly cannot downplay the contribution made by goaltender Craig Anderson, but that was probably a little more predictable than a couple of baby-faced teenagers waltzing into town and stealing the show.
Funny thing is, they are not alone. Eighteen-year-olds have been popping up all over the league and making it look like they've been in the NHL for years. Check out John Tavares, picked No. 1 overall by the New York Islanders. Amid all the speculation his skating might hold him back, the Oakville, Ont. native had three goals and seven points in his first eight games to go with a shootout winner.
Victor Hedman, picked second, had four assists in the Tampa Bay Lightning's first eight games and was leading the team in ice time at 24:34. Evander Kane was chosen fourth overall and had two goals and four points in eight games with the upstart Atlanta Thrashers while Dmitry Kulikov, the 14th pick in the draft, had three assists in seven games with the Florida Panthers.
If you think this is a new trend, forget it. A number of 18-year-olds showed signs of stardom last season including Steven Stamkos with the Lightning, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Zack Bogosian, a defenceman who scored nine goals in 47 games despite missing 35 games with a broken leg playing for Atlanta.
It's not as though 18-year-olds haven't made their mark in the past, but generally it was players who were identified as child prodigies - the Wayne Gretzkys, Mario Lemieuxs and Eric Lindroses of the world.
"Things are different today," says Los Angeles Kings' GM Dean Lombardi. "The kids are more ready now. A lot of the kids, unlike the past, do more training in preparation for the NHL. That said, second-rounders like (Patrice Bergeron (Boston) and O'Reilly are making it now. You never would have seen that years ago."
In 1981-82 the Toronto Maple Leafs opened their season with three 18-year-olds on defence, Jim Benning, Bob McGill and Fred Boimstruck. It was a reflection of the team's ineptitude and lack of depth as much as it was the kids actually deserving to be in the NHL.
The swift-skating Benning had a decent year points-wise, chalking up seven goals and 31 points in 74 games while McGill (Bid Daddy) made his mark physically leading the team with 263 penalty minutes. Boimstruck plodded along trying to survive and was out of hockey six years later.
"One of the biggest differences when I broke in is the systems teams play now compared to back then when it was more about individual's talents," says Benning, now assistant GM of the Boston Bruins. "The kids today clearly have the skill set to be in the NHL and they know if they make a mistake chances are they'll be backed up by a teammate. They aren't as worried about getting burned by making mistakes so they take more chances and show their skill.
"You have to remember it's a young player's league now. One of the biggest advantages of using younger players is we live in a cap worlds and they are generally cheaper than the older players, even middle of the road players. Think about a veteran who scored 20 goals; he's probably making way more than an 18-year old on an entry-level contract."
Rookie can earn a maximum $950,000 in base salary, although they are eligible to make additional bonus money.
With the early success of some 18-year olds this season on the heels of last year's influx of kids, one might be tempted to suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs missed the boat by sending their top draft choice, Nazem Kadri back to junior with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Kadri was Toronto's best player during pre-season games. Or that the Kings were mistaken in demoting Brayden Schenn back to junior.
But not so fast. NHL history is riddled with players that were brought up too early only to have potentially great careers fade into oblivion. If you don't believe me, check the history of players such as Roger Belanger, Tim Hrynewich or Doug Smith. As well as Kadri played in pre-season, there are no guarantees his success would spill over to the regular season.
The Leafs deemed him to be not physically ready to compete at the NHL level, particularly on a team that is expected to struggle to make the playoffs. Kadri will likely benefit from playing for Canada at the World Junior Championship and has the opportunity to be stronger next season when he auditions for the Leafs again.
"Schenn probably would have made our team two years ago, but we're in a different place now," Lombardi says.
Still, other 18-year olds will continue to prosper at the NHL level and Lombardi says nobody should be surprised.
"A big part of it, whether people want to admit it or not, is the fact with 30 teams the league (talent pool) is more deluded," he says. "There aren't the powerhouse teams like before when Dallas and Detroit could really expose a kid."
As for Duchene, he has already been pegged by Don Cherry to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, Lombardi says he saw this success story coming.
"I am not at all surprised by Duchene," Lombardi insists. "Some people thought he might get picked ahead of Tavares. He was in everybody's top three. When the rumours started last year that he might go first overall, I wasn't the least bit surprised. He's more of a complete player than Tavares."
