{coyotes} 10 NHL rookies (not McDavid/Eichel) you need to know for 2015-16

 

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Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres) are the highest- profile players in this season's rookie class, but here are others who could play a significant role on their teams:

Wing Artemi Panarin (Chicago Blackhawks): The Kontinental Hockey League veteran has the ability to play on one of Chicago's top two lines.

Panarin, 23, netted 26 goals and 62 points in 54 games last season for St. Petersburg SKA.

"He's a really good player," says former NHL team executive Craig Button, now a draft expert for TSN.ca. "He's one of those quick, agile, nifty guys. He's fast and he can change gears on you. He has great offensive instincts."

He reminds Button of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov. "He doesn't shoot the puck as well as Kucherov," Button says. "But he has the ability in the offensive zone, to make a play every time the puck is on his stick."

Wing Max Domi (Arizona Coyotes): While most of the NHL rookie talk centers on McDavid and Eichel, it's easy to build a case that Domi might be as essential to the Arizona Coyotes' future as Eichel and McDavid are to their teams.

Domi doesn't own the same potential superstar label that McDavid and Eichel command, but the Coyotes have an intense need for what he may be able to offer. He's a speedy scorer with a bundle of moves.

It appears to be a lock that he will make the team, and the Coyotes, who were ranked 29th in scoring, will give Domi the opportunity to prove he's ready to be a scorer at the NHL level. He has scored 126 goals in four seasons with the London Knights. He had 102 points in 57 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League.

There is no doubt that he is going to play on Arizona's top line. The only question is how soon that will happen.

Forward Sam Bennett (Calgary Flames): Bennett, 19, showed poise and spunk late last season and could be a significant contributor for the Flames this season.

He's skilled, creative and feisty. Bennett scored three goals in his first 11 NHL playoff games.

Center Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings): The former University of Michigan player is the most eagerly-anticipated first round pick the Detroit Red Wings have owned since Steve Yzerman was drafted fourth overall 32 years ago.

He will eventually be a top-line center, but he's not quite ready for that role yet.  The Red Wings like to develop prospects slowly, but  Larkin is a special case. Larkin could still start the season at their AHL team in Grand Rapids (Mich.). But unquestionably he will be playing with the Red Wings at some point this season.

Larkin is a superior skater with a high hockey IQ. He has advanced defensive ability for a player his age, and they believe he will grow into a significant offensive contributor

Center Kevin Fiala (Nashville Predators): The dynamic Swiss scorer had 11 goals and 20 points in 33 American Hockey League games, then spent the summer training in Nashville.

At 19, he seems determined to make the Predators roster this season. Given the number of veterans in Nashville, he might have to start the season in Milwaukee but he will be called up at some point. His offensive skill allows him to make something out of nothing.

"We would like to get a little more offense going with our third line and that would enhance his chances," Predators general manager David Poile says. "We think he's a scorer. He likes to have the puck and he likes to shoot the puck."

Right wing Michael DalColle (New York Islanders): He's projected to become John Tavares' winger some day.

He has impressive offensive ability, scoring 42 goals in 54 games last season for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. In the playoffs, he had 31 points in 21 games as the Generals won the Memorial Cup.

At 19, Dal Colle might not be ready for top-line duty, but he has a good chance of playing for the Islanders this season.

Right wing Jake Virtanen (Vancouver Canucks): The aging Canucks need to begin infusing younger players into their lineup. Virtanen, 19, might get an opportunity because he has a physical edge to his game. The 212-pound winger averaged a point per game in the Western Hockey League last season.

Defenseman Stephen Johns (Dallas Stars): When the Stars made their big trade with the Blackhawks, they coveted Johns almost as much as they wanted Patrick Sharp.

Had Johns, 23, not been injured last season, he might have ended up in Chicago's third pairing during their Stanley Cup run.

"He's 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and he can skate," Stars general manager Jim Nill says. "He plays hard, and we need that presence."

Defenseman Mike Reilly (Minnesota Wild): Most NHL teams recruited Reilly after he left the University of Minnesota and became a free agent.

Reilly, 22, had 42 points in 39 games last season. The only question is whether he will have any difficulty adjusting to the rigors of a longer professional schedule.

Defenseman Ryan Pulock (Islanders): He commands a 100-mph slap shot and scored 17 goals in 54 games for Bridgeport (Conn.) in the AHL. Pulock could end up as the point man on the second power-play unit.

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