The next rookie race

John Tavares, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, Nazem Kadri and even Toni Rajala already have NHL contracts - not all of them will make their respective teams, but all will get a chance to get a spot in the NHL and fight to be the best rookie. Nikita Filatov and Alex Pietrangelo are still eligible, joining Cody Hodgson and Jordan Eberle as possible candidates for the Calder Trophy. James van Riemsdyk probably won't play with the Flyers due to his cap-hit - around $2 million with bonuses (Patrick Maroon is the rookie to root for in Philly) but his fellow 2007 draft pick Mikael Backlund from Calgary will be in the mix. The Rangers have as many as three off-the-board candidates in defensemen Mike Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh and Bob Sanguinetti.

Who has the best chance to win? It appears that Filatov is the hottest name, especially if Ken Hitchcock gives him the icetime he deserves. Tavares is the biggest talent but he won't get much support in NY, thus might even be overtaken by Duchene. Pietrangelo is also a good pick, especially if the Blues have a strong beggining of the season. As for the next Versteeg, a player not expected to fight for any honors - Eric Tangradi, the prospect traded by the Ducks to the Penguins for Ryan Whitney, could be the one, because he has a great chance of making the roster on one of the top two lines - he has enough skill to play either with Crosby or with Malkin, but has never played pro hockey.