It’s a good bet that a teenager will win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, and you can add Peter Mueller’s name to the mix.

The eighth overall pick by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2006 draft, the Minnesota native has the gifts to make an immediate impact. The 6-foot-2 center rarely figured in the scoring for the first two months of the season, however, as he managed just a goal and an assist in his first 11 games.

Mueller broke through with a hat trick in a 6-5 road win against the defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks on Nov. 7, but then he didn’t score a goal in six straight games.

The drought is over. Mueller has been held without a point in only three of the Coyotes’ last 16 games. It’s a run in which the teenager has tallied 10 goals and 10 assists. In that stretch, he’s surpassed his point total of the first 40 games of the season.

Mueller’s Scoring Surge

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gms. . . . . . . . G. . . . . . . . . .A. . . . . . . . .Pts
Through Jan. 8. . . . . . . . . .40. . . . . . . . . .9. . . . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . . .19
Jan. 9 & Since. . . . . . . . . . 16. . . . . . . . .10. . . . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . . .20

The goal-scoring surge began on Jan. 17. Mueller had picked up just two goals in his previous 19 games when he scored in three straight contests. After his streak was halted at three games, Mueller bounced back with two of four Phoenix goals in a 4-2 win in Columbus on Jan. 29.

Mueller registered his second career hat trick a week ago, giving Phoenix a 3-0 lead over Calgary after two periods on Feb. 5. The Flames rebounded with three third-period goals and went on to win in a shootout.

"It's bittersweet," Mueller said. "It's always nice when your line puts a few points up, but right now, those two points for the team are the biggest thing on our minds right now." With the loss, the Coyotes failed to jump over the Flames in their pursuit of a Western Conference playoff berth. Still, Mueller has to be excited about his recent scoring touch.

Mueller’s goal-scoring surge has pushed him to the top of the leader board among rookies. He’s one of four teenagers who have been finding the net this season.

Goal Leaders among Rookies, 2007-08

Rookie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Age. . . . . . . .Goals
Peter Mueller, Pho. . . . . . .19. . . . . . . . . 19
Jonathan Toews, Chi. . . . . .19. . . . . . . . . 15
Patrick Kane, Chi. . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . . . . 12
David Perron, StL. . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . . . . 10
Five rookies tied with. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

For what it’s worth, Mueller is the elder of the group. He turns 20 on April 14. The youngest is Chicago’s Patrick Kane, who remains a teenager until mid-November. One of these four teens will celebrate his 20th birthday soon after winning the Calder Trophy for an impressive NHL debut.