By Matt Canamucio, Sportsbooks NHL Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbooks) - With the National Hockey League lockout in effect and the two sides not talking, what a better time to talk about what might have been.
Had this labor mess been averted, we would all be anticipating teams opening their seasons next week. And one of the best aspects of a new campaign are those fresh faces who provide hope for now and the future.
The following is a list of players on the cusp of their NHL careers. Some you've heard of, some you haven't. But most were expected to make some impact or another on an NHL roster in the coming months.
Now, some are stuck in the American Hockey League, or worse some have been sent back to Juniors.
There's nothing like hampering the growth of your sport's future.
MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM, RW-Ryan Getzlaf - The 19th overall pick in 2003, Getzlaf is coming off a season in Juniors which saw him score 28 goals with 47 assists in 49 games for the Calgary Hitmen. The 6-2, 195-pounder already has decent NHL size, but upon signing with the Ducks on September 14 he was shipped back to the Western Hockey League for the season.
ATLANTA THRASHERS, G-Kari Lehtonen - The second overall pick in 2002 was going to get his first real shot at playing in the NHL this season after spending most of last campaign with Chicago in the AHL. Lehtonen was terrific for the Wolves, and won all four of his appearances for the Thrashers late in the season -- 1.25 goals-against average, .953 save percentage. He is the team's future.
BOSTON BRUINS, C-Brad Boyes - Despite having been traded twice since being selected by Toronto in the 2000 Entry Draft, Boyes is regarded as a solid prospect. The undersized centerman tallied 31 goals and 41 assists in 78 AHL games last season, leading most to believe he is ready to take a regular shift in the NHL. Boyes was acquired in a three-way March deal between the Bruins, Sharks and Sabres.
BUFFALO SABRES, LW-Thomas Vanek - The University of Minnesota star would have likely began the season in the AHL anyway had there not been a lockout, but who knows what would have happened had he been able to showcase himself at training camp. Vanek, who led the Golden Gophers with 51 points last season, has dynamic offensive skills and will likely be a star. His pro career will begin in Rochester (AHL) as he recently signed an entry-level contract.
CALGARY FLAMES, D-Dion Phaneuf - The 6-2, 205-pounder was selected ninth overall in 2003, and was the best blueliner in the Western Hockey League last season. In addition to being a solid defender, Phaneuf scored 19 goals in 62 games for Red Deer.
CAROLINA HURRICANES, G-Cam Ward - A first-round pick in 2002, Ward is expected to back up Martin Gerber for the Canes if/when the season begins. After impressing during training camp last fall, Ward was sent back to Juniors and was among the Western Hockey League's premier netminders for Red Deer (31-16-8, 2.05 GAA, .926 SP).
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS, D-Anton Babchuk - A first-rounder in '02, the 6-5 Babchuk got his first taste of North American hockey with Norfolk of the AHL and was extremely impressive. Babchuk contributes a decent amount of offense -- 8g, 14a -- for a defenseman, but is more known for utilizing his imposing frame as a defender.
COLORADO AVALANCHE, RW-Marek Svatos - The Slovakian made his NHL debut last April, appearing in four regular season games and 11 more in the playoffs. He chipped in a goal and five assists in the postseason, providing hope that he could be a second-line winger for the Avs this season.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS, G-Pascal Leclaire - He was drafted high back in 2001 and is still waiting for his shot at regular duty in the NHL. Chances are he was going to start the season third on the depth chart behind Marc Denis and Arturs Irbe, but at some point he will likely be given a chance to prove himself. Leclaire has been very average in two minor league seasons, as his GAA has never been below 3.00.
DALLAS STARS, RW-Junior Lessard - The 2004 Hobey Baker Award winner from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Lessard was expected to make a run at a roster spot in training camp. He tallied 31 goals and 31 assists in 45 games last season, leading the NCAA, and helped his team to the national semifinals.
DETROIT RED WINGS, C-Jiri Hudler - The diminutive Czech was expected to make an impact for the Wings last season, but early struggles forced the club to send him down to the AHL, where he scored 17 goals with 32 assists in 57 games for Grand Rapids. The hope was that his season in the minors will ease the transition from Europe to the NHL.
EDMONTON OILERS, D-Jeff Woywitka - The Philadelphia Flyers probably wish they could have held on to this blueliner, but he was shipped to the Oilers in the Mike Comrie trade last year. A late first-rounder in 2001, Woywitka was very solid in his first AHL season, and is expected to be ready for the back end of Edmonton's defense rotation. While he doesn't have superstar qualities, he can do everything very well, and his offensive capabilities are improving.
FLORIDA PANTHERS, RW-Anthony Stewart - The second of Florida's first-rounders in 2003, Stewart impressed last training camp but was sent back to Juniors for more growth. The power forward, who is an imposing 6-1, 225 pounds, tallied 35 goals and 23 assists in 53 games for Kingston of the OHL.
LOS ANGELES KINGS, D-Denis Grebeshkov - This Russian is solid in his own end, but what has folks in LA excited is his offensive potential. Last season was his first playing in North America. While he spent most of the campaign with Manchester of the AHL, Grebeshkov got a taste of the NHL with a four-game call-up in February.
MINNESOTA WILD, C-Mikko Koivu - The younger, but bigger brother of Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, Mikko is stateside for his first North American season after playing the past four years for Turku in Finland. He isn't quite as skilled as his bro, but has the potential to be a solid two-way forward.
MONTREAL CANADIENS, D-Ron Hainsey - The 23-year-old has been spending his time in the AHL since being drafted in 2000, but some vacancies on the Habs' blueline were expected to give him a chance at a job. Hainsey, a former first- rounder, has been solid when called up -- a plus-2 in 32 career NHL contests.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS, D-Ryan Suter - The 2003 draftee gave up his college eligibility by signing last month, and will begin the season with Milwaukee of the AHL. With a true hockey pedigree, Suter is a stellar two-way rearguard who is nasty and can contribute offensively as well.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS, C-Zach Parise - The former University of North Dakota star was all set to step forward to the NHL after a stellar collegiate career, but he will have to begin in the AHL at Albany. Parise, despite being undersized, has a strong motor and inner-drive. He is so highly-regarded that the team toyed with the idea of debuting him during the playoffs last spring.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS, LW-Sean Bergenheim - The Finn isn't projected to be a star, but instead a solid third-liner. He started the season with the Isles last year, before being sent back to his Finnish club. He showed enough in 18 games to spur promise for 2004-05.
NEW YORK RANGERS, D-Fedor Tyutin - With Brian Leetch gone, the Rangers' future on defense starts with this guy. He was called up for 25 games late in the season, and impressed (2g, 5a in 25 games). A second-rounder in '01, Tyutin, who stands at 6-2, is a total package of skill.
OTTAWA SENATORS, G-Ray Emery - The Senators don't have much in the way of top- notch prospects who are on the cusp of NHL stardom. Emery's best hope was to beat out Martin Prusek for the backup job behind Dominik Hasek.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS, C-Jeff Carter - Carter, drafted in 2003, was expected to make the club out of camp this season. Still growing into his 6-3 frame, he scored 36 goals with 30 assists in 57 games for Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL last season. After his Junior campaign concluded, he held his own in playoff action for the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL, netting four goals in 12 games.
PHOENIX COYOTES, D-Keith Ballard - Acquired from Colorado in the Chris Gratton/Derek Morris deal last March, Ballard is already with his third organization at the age of 21, but is regarded as the top prospect in the Coyotes system. Is especially loaded with potential as an attacking defenseman, something he showed last season with the University of Minnesota (11g, 25a in 37 games).
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, D-Ryan Whitney - The Boston University product got a taste of pro hockey during the AHL playoffs last spring, and was impressive considering he was fresh off his junior season in college. Whitney is a terrific puck mover and passer, but if there will be a learning curve for him it will be with his defensive play.
SAN JOSE SHARKS, C-Marcel Goc - The 21-year-old stepped onto the scene in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Sharks, scoring the game-winner in Game 6 of the second round against Colorado. He isn't slated to be a star, but has excellent two-way hockey sense and could be a valuable asset on San Jose's third line.
ST. LOUIS BLUES, LW-Peter Sejna - The 24-year-old has a ton of offensive potential -- was a terrific NCAA scorer for Colorado College -- and tallied 12 goals and 29 assists in 59 AHL games last season. He also got his feet wet for 20 games with the Blues, netting two scores with two helpers.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING, D-Gerard Dicaire - The defending Cup champions likely would have left Dicaire in the AHL rather than limit his playing time as a seventh defenseman, but he would have probably seen time with the big club at some point. Dicaire, who stands at 6-2, can excel at both ends of the ice, and spurred tremendous hope during the Bolts' training camp a year ago.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS, G-Mikael Tellqvist - The Swedish netminder has been given some chances the last few seasons due to injury and has been impressive. This season he would have likely been Ed Belfour's backup, and given Belfour's injury problems could have seen significant time. Tellqvist is coming off his showing in the World Cup of Hockey, where he beat out veteran Tommy Salo for the starting job.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS, G-Alex Auld - Dan Cloutier has been solid in the regular season before flopping in the postseason since his arrival in 2001, yet the Canucks have stuck with him as their starter. Auld, who has seen spot duty in recent years while spending most of the time in the AHL, was slated to be on the Canucks' roster. In 14 NHL games, he is 6-5-2 with a 1.82 GAA and .932 SP.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS, C-Alexander Ovechkin - The top pick in this past June's draft, Ovechkin was the only real blue chipper in the selection field. This kid was as highly-regarded as countryman Ilya Kovalchuk was back in '01, but for now it's another season in Russia. Chances are if there wasn't a lockout, the Capitals wouldn't have paid the hefty $3 million transfer fee asked for by his club anyway, but we will never truly know.
