Malkin Leads Rookie Class in Goals, Points
Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin leads all rookies in goals (24) and points (47), which maybe isn’t all that surprising. Still, Malkin’s early success is impressive, as the 20-year-old phenom is averaging more than a point a game through his first 41 NHL contests. He’s the only rookie doing that. Malkin, who leads the Penguins with 10 power play goals, has five goals and seven points in his last four games.
Looking down the rookie leader board, next in goals are Anaheim’s Dustin Penner and Wojtek Wolski of the Avalanche (16 goals each), Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal (15) and Wolski’s teammate in Colorado, Paul Stasny (14). The points leaders after Malkin are Anze Kopitar of the Kings (41 points), Stasny (37), Wolski (32) and Penner (26).
One of the many other rookies worth watching as the season moves along is San Jose’s Ryane Clowe (no relation to Dwyane Wade). He has 12 goals and 17 points in 23 games, which is respectable enough, but the 24-year-old right wing has been especially hot since the start of the new year. Clowe has scored nine of his 12 goals in just seven games this month. Getting ice time on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau hasn’t hurt his cause.
Comments
so malkin is a great player but who really cares. everyone heard of him before the NHL started he had a big name to come up on and he did it but look at the players no one heard of before the NHL started this year. look at there stats they arnt that far behind form him. if melkin gets injured or his agent does something he will be passed and then see what happens after that. this is not a thing to dis malkin but it was the same with crosby he came in and he was fantastic and set some records and he will be beat one day by some other great hockey player. but what this does it makes the NHL get more money because of the advertisments. thanks for taking the time to read this and i hope you post something as well. :)
Posted by: ray ray | January 23, 2007 07:49 PM
The young stars such as Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are critical to the league's growth and success, but I agree there are many other rookies who deserve some attention. That's one reason I wrote up a leader board, so that the names of guys who are flying under the radar -- Penner, Wolski, Kopitar and others -- would get mentioned. That's also why I mention San Jose's Ryane Clowe, as he could be a pleasant second-half surprise for the Sharks. He has nine goals and 12 points in his last eight games.
Posted by: TH | January 24, 2007 08:52 PM