We can't believe that we haven't done it yet. Anyway, these are the boys who we think will make a difference on teams or at least play in the first nine games before being sent down.
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01. Colin Wilson -

Nashville Predators, forward
DOB: Oct 20, 1989
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Greenwich, CT, USA
HT: 6-1 WT: 213
Drafted by Nashville in 2008 (1/7).
He's the son of former NHL-er, Carey Wilson and played for the Boston Terriers. He actually chose to play for Team USA instead of Team Canada for the '09 World Juniors. Yeah, we don't know why either.
02. Simeon Varlamov -
Washington Capitals, goaltender
DOB: Apr 27, 1988
Age: 21
Place of Birth: Kuybyshev, USSR (now Russia)
HT: 6-1 WT: 200
Drafted by Washington in 2006 (1/23).
We got a glimpse of Varlamov during the playoffs when he stepped in between the pipes for Jose Theodore. He's definitely a guilty pleasure for us, with that rat-tail/mullet thing he has going on and the outfit.
03. James Van Riemsdyk -

Philadelphia Flyers, forward
DOB: May 04, 1989
Age: 20
Place of Birth: Middletown, NJ, USA
HT: 6-3 WT: 205
Drafted by Philadelphia in 2007 (1/2).
With a name like Van Riemsdyk, the kid better be tough and huge. Jimmy is both, and yes we are on nickname terms with him. He's a Philly kid, what did you expect? We can't wait to be hating on him as soon as the first game against the Flyers.
04. John Tavares -

New York Islanders, forward
DOB: Sep 20, 1990
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Mississauga, Ont., Canada
HT: 6-0 WT: 195
Drafted by NY Islanders in 2009 (1/1).
The savior. The next, next, next one. The son of Henrik and Sidney Crosby. We are hoping for good things from him, if only for Henrik's sake and sanity. If he crashes and burns, its not our fault.
05. Mike Santorelli -

Nashville Predators, forward
DOB: Dec 14, 1985
Age: 23
Place of Birth: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
HT: 6-0 WT: 196
Drafted by Nashville in 2004 (6/178).
A diamond-in-the-rough for Nashville? They're in desperate need for scoring from their forwards (which if we have to hear it again from NHL pundits, we will freak out) and maybe he can provide that.
06. Tuukka Rask -

Boston Bruins, goaltender
DOB: Mar 10, 1987
Age: 22
Place of Birth: Savonlinna, Finland
HT: 6-2 WT: 171
Drafted by Toronto in 2005 (1/21).
Has the temper to play in Boston, just ask Timmy Thomas. They can freak out together when shit doesn't go their way. And hopefully it's against the Montreal Canadiens. He also has a Finnish head, something that almost all Fins share.
07. Tyler Myers -

Buffalo Sabres, defenseman
DOB: Feb 01, 1990
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Houston, TX, USA
HT: 6-7 WT: 210
Drafted by Buffalo in 2008 (1/12).
How is it that a nineteen-year-old can be so huge? It isn't fair at all. We love how awkward he looks in just about every picture he takes. We hope that he's a better skater than a picture-taker.
08. Teemu Laakso -

Nashville Predators, defenseman
DOB: Aug 27, 1987
Age: 22
Place of Birth: Tuusula, Finland
HT: 6-1 WT: 211
Drafted by Nashville in 2005 (3/78).
We saw him play against the Columbus Blue Jackets during our road trip. He wasn't bad but he didn't impress. We aren't passing judgement yet because it was only preseason and we were admittedly distracted by Antoine Vermette's hair.
09. Dmitry Kulikov -

Florida Panthers, defenseman
DOB: Oct 29, 1990
Age: 18
Place of Birth: Lipetsk, USSR (now Russia)
HT: 6-1 WT: 183
Drafted by Florida in 2009 (1/14).
If LeTude mentions one more time how much she loves Kulikov, we may have to make the Panthers brass send him back to juniors. We can't handle it much longer. We don't forsee him staying past the 9-game limit but then again, we aren't GMs.
10 Tim Kennedy -

Buffalo Sabres, forward
DOB: Apr 30, 1986
Age: 23
Place of Birth: Buffalo, NY, USA
HT: 5-9 WT: 176
Drafted by Washington in 2005 (6/181).
Little Timmy. We think that the Sabres are small and we can only imagine how much Pierre McGuire hates them. But Kennedy fits in well with the established Sabres system of small but speedy forwards.
11. Erik Karlsson -

Ottawa Senators, defenseman
DOB: May 31, 1990
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Landsbro, Sweden
HT: 5-11 WT: 165
Drafted by Ottawa in 2008 (1/15).
Aw, the Swede. We remember being at the draft when Alfredsson called his name. We are sure that was a proud moment for the babySwede. But we weren't impressed. And we think that the Sens blueline will benefit greatly from Karlsson.
12. Evander Kane -

Atlanta Thrashers, forward
DOB: Aug 02, 1991
Age: 18
Place of Birth: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
HT: 6-1 WT: 176
Drafted by Atlanta in 2009 (1/4).
We have to admit that we are surprised that he has stayed with the Thrashers this long but it's not like they really have anyone else besides Ilya Kovalchuk. It's going to be interesting to see how he does in Atlanta.
13. Cody Hodgson -

Vancouver Canucks, forward
DOB: Feb 18, 1990
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ont., Canada
HT: 6-0 WT: 185
Drafted by Vancouver in 2008 (1/10).
Last season, Hodgson had a great preseason. Then he was shipped off before anyone could even remember what he looked like. It looks like he will be staying with the Canucks this year.
14. Victor Hedman -

Tampa Bay Lightning, defenseman
DOB: Dec 18, 1990
Age: 18
Place of Birth: Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
HT: 6-6 WT: 220
Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2009 (1/2).
It's Victor. What else can be said about him? He's gigantic, poised and doesn't sweat. If Nick Lidstrom didn't already exist, we would think he was the best Swedish defenseman and he hasn't even played a game yet.
15. Jonas Gustavsson -

Toronto Maple Leafs, goaltender
DOB: Oct 24, 1984
Age: 24
Place of Birth: Danderyd, Sweden
HT: 6-3 WT: 180
Signed by Toronto in 2009.
Those eyes, they might be worse than Orpik-eyes. We were not surprised when Brian Burke of all GMs signed him. When doesn't Burke get what he wants? And we also cannot believe that Jonas has minor heary surgery then plays like a week later, wow.
16. Matt Gilroy -

New York Rangers, defenseman
DOB: Jul 30, 1984
Age: 25
Place of Birth: North Bellmore, NY, USA
HT: 6-2 WT: 205
Signed by NY Rangers in 2009.
Another sign of the apocalypse, the Rangers sign everyone that they can get their greedy little hands on. As you all know, he was the 09 Hobey Baker winner. We hope that Wade Redden doesn't destroy him...
17. Matt Duchene -

Colorado Avalanche, forward
DOB: Jan 16, 1991
Age: 18
Place of Birth: Haliburton, Ont., Canada
HT: 5-11 WT: 200
Drafted by Colorado in 2009 (1/3).
Oh our son, how we love thee. Just the thought of this man being in the NHL excites us. We can only imagine how he creeps around arenas and smells players gear, so creepy. Which is why we love him.
18. Jamie Benn -

Dallas Stars, forward
DOB: Jul 18, 1989
Age: 20
Place of Birth: Victoria, B.C., Canada
HT: 6-2 WT: 185
Drafted by Dallas in 2007 (5/129).
Jamie was a force in the WJC. Everywhere you looked, it was either Benn or Jordan Eberle scoring. They tore it up. Then he continued his success in the preseason for the Stars.
19. Justin Abdelkader -

Detroit Red Wings, forward
DOB: Feb 25, 1987
Age: 22
Place of Birth: Muskegon, MI, USA
HT: 6-1 WT: 195
Drafted by Detroit in 2005 (2/42).
Oh, Appledackers. We resented him for scoring against the Penguins but after you win the Cup, a goal against in the Final just doesn't seem something to worry about anymore. And now we have to love him because LeTude does.
20. Nikita Filatov -

Columbus Blue Jackets, forward
DOB: May 25, 1990
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Moscow, USSR (now Russia)
HT: 6-0 WT: 172
Drafted by Columbus in 2008 (1/6).
The kid's got his own website...filatovnikita.com 'Nuff said.
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If we forgot anyone, we apologize. Sometimes we think that we do okay but then wake up sweating in the middle of the night remembering that we forgot about that one player on the Blues.
So, just comment and just let us know. We learn something new every day.
(stole the stats from TSN.com, shocker)














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