The NHL Is Awesome Reason #1...Rookie Success

Since the drafting of Gretzky heir-apparent Sidney Crosby in 2005, the NHL Draft has become a bit of a circus. The expectations surrounding the top prospects every year are ridiculous. But the amazing thing is that every year the top players in the class have delivered from day one.

This year the top four picks in order were John Tavares, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, and Evander Kane. In their first games, Tavares had a goal and an assist, Hedman had an assist, Duchene had an assist, and Kane had an assist.

Tavares 1st NHL goal

Points are one thing, but all four players were extremely impressive throughout their first games. Duchene in particular was all over the ice for the Avalanche.

Every sport has highly-touted prospects. But there isn’t another sport that has rookies consistently come in and dominate like the NHL. In football, quarterbacks typically take several years to develop into top statistical performers. In baseball, draftees take years to see the majors. And in basketball, top picks turn out to be busts far more often than they succeed.

But starting in 2005 with Crosby the top picks in the NHL draft every year have had instant impacts. It’s so exciting for fans of terrible teams to realize that they’ll have a sparkling new superstar at the end of the season.

There’s almost more incentive for a mediocre team to tank and end up with a player like Tavares. Crosby single-handedly saved the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Tavares is entrusted with the task of keeping the Islanders on Long Island.

That’s a lot for kids younger than me to handle. But year after year they’ve done it. That’s pretty awesome.