Rank Your Team's Double Rookie Class Crop!

[RGM81]

Have some fun with it. Where do you rank your favourite team's group of rookies for the 2013-14 season? How do you like the cards? How many of player have you collected?

As a Habs fan, I know that my team's players will almost always have a lot of hype and hobby love. This year we've been very fortunate to have a very strong batch of rookies - guys that are not only getting in a game or two, but are featuring prominently in the team's success this year. The demand for the Habs in group breaks, singles sales, and all of that makes this an A+ year (on everything but the wallet) for Canadiens collectors.

Alex Galchenyuk - the #3 pick overall is the big seller. His cards are always in the highest tier if a set is SP'd with rookies. With the "future of the franchise" tag applied to the young man, he's had the most hype and biggest values of any Canadiens rookie since Carey Price. Definitely an A+ in the hobby.

Brendan Gallagher - Habs fans everywhere just love him. "Gallagher was soft on that play to the net" is a phrase you will never hear spoken. Though a 5th round pick, Gallagher's cards are hot. Not quite the same level as Galchenyuk but there's almost always competition for key cards on eBay and people are always happy to hit him in a break. He's having a great season on the ice too as he's been given top minutes. I'd say he's an A- overall.

Michael Bournival - he doesn't have the hype of the Gallys and indeed it took a while for him to start popping up in UD/Panini releases. For a good while into the season, the only card he had in a 2013-14 release was his YG Canvas in UD1. Cards are coming out at a good clip now, though. He doesn't have the same ceiling of the Gallys but Bournival is a hard worker who should solidify a spot on the roster for sure after this year. Call him a B.

Nathan Beaulieu - he's bounced up and down between Montreal and Hamilton this season. It's been frustrating for fans who want the future to be now; the people want to see him (and the next guy I'll talk about) instead of Bouillon and Murray. And of course blueliners don't get a lot of love, but he's still got some pretty darn nice cards out there. Rank: B-

Jarred Tinordi - the other future pillar of the Habs' blue line, Tinordi has a lot of tools and is that big guy the Habs have long sought. The future is not very far off for "Tiny." Cards can be had for cheap, which is nice. Rank: C+

Greg Pateryn - he's done very well down in Hamilton this year and may yet establish himself as a #6 guy on the depth chart. But he'll have to wait for the old guard to step down, and that's going to mean he'll be a very cheap acquisition in the hobby for some time yet. Rank: C

Patrick Holland & Joonas Nattinen - not likely to get cards in 13-14. Both only had a quick cup of coffee with the Habs so expect them to feature in 14-15 products, exclusively from Upper Deck.

Discuss.

[30ranfordfan]

I'll start with the 12-13 Rookies:

Nail Yakupov - #1 overall pick, has the skills to be a top goal scorer in this league. Cards are going for far less than they would be if he were on a team that had a coach with any clue how to use a skilled player properly. Once he's run out of town, and sent somewhere that he's utilized properly, look for his card values to climb.

Justin Schultz - Much talked about college free agent. Looked good (at times) last year, looked weak at time. This season, much like Yakupov, took a huge step back. Has the potential to be a middle of the pack dman in the league. Never going to be a top end guy liek Shea Weber, but could be an upper end points guy for defenceman, if used in a system that works.

Mark Arcobello - Great find by the Oilers. Small, skilled, but has shown the ability to put up points. He wasn't drafted high, so the team doesn't really give him much opertunity to succeed - but when they've been forced into it, he's played well. Shockingly, he's resigned for one more year (I assumed he'd walk as a UFA) so he's in the team's plans for next year.

Viktor Fasth - Started this season (and last season) with the Ducks. Came over @ the deadline becuase the Anahime crease was too crowded, and the Oilers' crease was desperatly thin. Has a chance to turn out really good, but who really knows???


13-14 Guys:

Will Acton - Has made his way into a few products already. Nothing with an auto yet though. Would likely have never made the NHL if his father wasn't an assistant coach on the team. Cards will never be worth much, probably not much of a future in the league.

Anton Belov - Has made his way itno a few products already. An older 'rookie' he's played a bunch in the KHL already. Has looked good a times, and can probably stick in this league as a 2nd or 3rd pairing guy. Hard hitter, sound defensivly, not going to excite anyone with his offense.

Taylor Fedun - A defensive prospect that will likely be squeezed out of contention for a roster spot next year, because the Oilers (believe it or not) actually have much better prospects. He does lots of things "okay" but nothing "really well". No cards yet, probably in next year's early releases.

Luke Gazdic - First Career Shift, First Career Shot, First Career Goal! He's played 66 more games since then, and managed 1 more (plus 2 helpers) so points are never going to be this guy's thing. He was brought in to fight, and that's what he's done. Has one RC already, I expect there will be more before the end of the year.

Oscar Klefbom - Recent call up, won't get a card until next year. Another first round pick of the Oilers, this kid has a chance to be a really good dman

Martin Marincin - Another defensive prospect with the Oilers.... he was called up early this year, and never looked out of place. Was part of Team Slovakia @ the Olympics. Just got his first RC (UD Series 2) expect he'll be in others. Don't think he'll ever be spectacular, but certainly could stick in the NHL for a long time.

Tyler Pitlick - Another center, called up late in the season. Won't get cards until next year (I suspect). He's the 4th line time, has a chance to stay in the NHL.... but probably nothing more than recall duty for another year or two.


**** Kurtis Mucha / Laurent Brossoit

These two goalies dressed for games, not sure if that makes them "eligible" or not. Mucha, probably not. He was a univeristy goalie signed for a day. Brossoit is part of the Oilers system though, a prospect under contract. He might get a RC or two early next season, as being a backup is all you need to do. I can't see him having an impact anywhere by the AHL next year.

[piper1]

The Habs are also my original team to follow and collect however, they are already covered. That's okay because I have lived in Ottawa for close to 10 years and go to many of the Senators home games, so I am hooked. The Rookie crop breakdown is as follows:

Cody Ceci - Already a fan favourite because he is a local boy who also starred with the Ottawa 67s was the Sens 2012 1st Round Pick, 15th overall. Has decent size and he is solid on both ends of the Puck. Many believe he will be the eventual successor to the Big Rig (Phillips) and early indications are that he will. Doesn't have many cards yet because he was a mid-season call-up so they aren't easy to find for trades even though he is a D-man.

Cory Conacher - Smallish forward with skill and speed who was given every opportunity to succeed; however, given the glut of prospects and his inconsistent play he was placed on waivers before the trade deadline and got picked up by Buffalo. He is right back into a situation of too many prospects at forward so will probably remain a marginal 3rd line forward for the Sabres if not a minor leaguer. So many cards in this years sets but now no one wants them in trade.

Eric Gryba - A big physical stay at home D-man which is really all you need to know. Fans look forward to his highlight reel hits and it has been easy to trade for his cards.

Derek Grant - The big center only gets called up when their are injuries to the starters. Will likely split his entire career between the minor leagues or as a fourth line center so his cards are readily available in trades.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Another local boy who starred for Gatineau in the Q so although he has bounced between the big club and Bingo he has a loyal fan base. Has shown flashes of Offensive brilliance but has been too inconsistent to stick with the Senators. Although his cards are tough to find in Ottawa they are easy to trade for on SCF.

Andrew Hammond - An injury call-up goaltender who has played the majority of Binghamptons games this season. Will need to improve his numbers if he hopes to play in the NHL. There are too many goaltending prospects ahead of him, including Chris Driedger who the Senators just signed to an entry level contract. No cards for Hammond as of yet and I doubt he will get one this year.

David Dziurzynski - A lot like Gryba but not quite as good so hasn't been into the Senators lineup this year. Might still crack an NHL lineup someday Cards are real easy to pick up in trade.

In conclusion, other than Ceci it is easy to obtain RCs of this years Ottawa Rookie crop