FanShot

Top NHL prospects Incoming 2012-13

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Bleacher Report has a pretty good slideshow of each NHL team's top prospect. Four of the most promising (from Bleacher Report and other sources) appear to be Yakupov (EDM), Granlund (MIN), Tarasenko (STL), and Huberdeau (FLA). But, judging by this list and other information (Hockey's Future has its own list, Hockey Prospectus, etc) there appear to be quite a few promising rookies for 2012-13, such as: Hamilton (BOS), Bartschi (CGY), R Murphy (CAR), Saad (CHI), R Murray (CLB), B Smith (DET), Toffoli (LAK), R Ellis (NSH), Strome (NYI), Kreider (NYR), Gormley (PHO), F Hamilton (SJS), Colborne (TOR), Scheifele (WPG). Of course some of these players (such as Strome, F Hamilton, Colborne) may not stick with the NHL team this season. And some others (Schwartz STL; Kabanov NYI) are perhaps not their team's top prospect, but they have a chance of being impact players this season. For discussion: 1) Are Yakupov, Granlund, Tarasenko, and Huberdeau ahead of the pack, as far as having an impact next season in the NHL? Who will have the best season? 2) Who else will have an impact? (This is a little different than "who will win the Calder", because, for instance, a good two-way defenseman like Gormley most likely won't be nominated for Calder, but he may have an impact.) 3) Are there any rookie goalies worth keeping an eye on? Or will they have to wait their turn as Bernier, Rask, and Schneider have? 4) Who is the best goal-scorer? Set-up man? Offensive defenseman? All-around defenseman? (Amongst rookies)