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PredDave · December 21st, 2006, 06:06 AM

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nhl/story/9882984

Wes Goldstein: Everyone knows about Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, who is this year's version of the dominant first-year player a la Sidney Crosby/Alexander Ovechkin. Anze Kopitar of the Kings is making the most of playing in Tinseltown by taking on a starring role on the ice. Beyond them, a pretty good freshman class is flying largely under the league-wide radar. There has been a bit of spotlight at times focused on San Jose defensemen Matt Carle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and forward Joe Pavelski and on Colorado's Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski. One of the most exciting new young talents is a kid in Nashville who seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. That's because Alexander Radulov had trouble sticking with a very deep Predators team earlier in the season. Nashville wanted him playing in the minors instead of sitting on their bench, but Radulov has been up a few times and has scored 10 goals in just 20 games while converting 40 percent of his shots. He's an exciting player whose exuberance thrills Nashville fans as much as it irritates opponents, and he's there to stay.

Greg Cimilluca: Once again the NHL's newest have come out to shine this year as they did last. While Evgeni Malkin and others are making the headlines, one guy I think has been overlooked is Alexander Radulov in Nashville. Perhaps it is the two stints Radulov has spent in the AHL that has made the highly touted Predators youngster lurk below the radar. While he did not start out the season in the NHL and was sent down after his first call up, his production while with the big club can not be ignored. Having only played 20 games (compared to rookie leaders averaging around 10 more games), he has made the most of the ice time he has had (which has also been minimal in comparison). With 10 goals, he ranks third among all rookies and leads his fellow first-year players in shooting percentage at an astounding 40 percent. He has also been clutch with a team- and rookie-leading three game-winning goals. He has definitely made the most of his time in the NHL and has proven he deserves more than the eight-plus minutes a night he has been getting.

December 21st, 2006, 06:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
PredDave Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	http://cbs.sportsline.com/nhl/story/9882984 Wes Goldstein: Everyone knows about Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, who is this year's version of the dominant first-year player a la Sidney Crosby/Alexander Ovechkin. Anze Kopitar of the Kings is making the most of playing in Tinseltown by taking on a starring role on the ice. Beyond them, a pretty good freshman class is flying largely under the league-wide radar. There has been a bit of spotlight at times focused on San Jose defensemen Matt Carle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and forward Joe Pavelski and on Colorado's Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski. One of the most exciting new young talents is a kid in Nashville who seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. That's because Alexander Radulov had trouble sticking with a very deep Predators team earlier in the season. Nashville wanted him playing in the minors instead of sitting on their bench, but Radulov has been up a few times and has scored 10 goals in just 20 games while converting 40 percent of his shots. He's an exciting player whose exuberance thrills Nashville fans as much as it irritates opponents, and he's there to stay. Greg Cimilluca: Once again the NHL's newest have come out to shine this year as they did last. While Evgeni Malkin and others are making the headlines, one guy I think has been overlooked is Alexander Radulov in Nashville. Perhaps it is the two stints Radulov has spent in the AHL that has made the highly touted Predators youngster lurk below the radar. While he did not start out the season in the NHL and was sent down after his first call up, his production while with the big club can not be ignored. Having only played 20 games (compared to rookie leaders averaging around 10 more games), he has made the most of the ice time he has had (which has also been minimal in comparison). With 10 goals, he ranks third among all rookies and leads his fellow first-year players in shooting percentage at an astounding 40 percent. He has also been clutch with a team- and rookie-leading three game-winning goals. He has definitely made the most of his time in the NHL and has proven he deserves more than the eight-plus minutes a night he has been getting.